day 1

All the nations you have made shall come 

and worship before you, O Lord,

and shall glorify your name.

(Psalm 86:9)

We've arrived in Mexico with health, good spirits, and eagerness to begin our work.  Last night was a chance to rest in our dorm-style rooms at the camp.  Today we headed into the Queretaro City to participate with our host church.  Less than a year old, this is a growing and vibrant group of people who are eager to greet us with hospitality.  They have grown to include a few families from a nearby village, and hope to plant a church more locally for this core group.  Our work this week will be to help them connect with neighbors and raise interest in this little rural village's new church.

Today, however, will be spent with the "mother" church, or the main congregation.  We drive through Mexican roads to a designated meeting place, and then are escorted with a host family to the church.  To our surprise, the van pulled up to the curb in a residential neighborhood.  This service is held in an enclosed, tiled courtyard in front of a modest but welcoming home.   For those familiar with "house churches," this would be somewhat familiar, but ours is a group accustomed to buildings and coffee bars, video projection and classrooms.

Our host explained that in Mexico, most people define a church's "success" by its large (nice) building, kids' clubs, programs, and the like.  Their ministry is counter-cultural in its vision.  This church sets out to plant churches that multiply, rather than grow into enormity.  They focus on discipleship, leader development, and building local church connected to others in the region.  They don't desire large programs or buildings.  Rather, they set out to build communities of Christ-followers and their (often unbelieving) neighbors, and avoid the common "insider" clubs of other evangelical churches in their country.  It is a challenging proposition, but one that is gaining strength and enthusiasm with those they serve.

The service was simple but beautiful.  A prayer began the time, then we sang a few songs.  A leader stood at the front and asked for prayer requests.  Somebody's father was ill, another's son is struggling in school, and similar stories of family needs described.  A few reports were given to share God's faithful answers to prior week's prayers.  Toward the end of this time, a young woman stood up, and with accented English, she shared that our team's arrival was an answer to many prayers for this congregation - reminders to them of God's provision and blessing across the world.  They were excited to share in the week ahead, and grateful to host us.   

Smiles and nodding heads told us that everyone in that courtyard shared her heartfelt words.  Just when we thought we could not be more welcomed, a few people came out of the home carrying trays of cake and drinks.  It seems this church has a "break" much like our home church enjoys, and today they were celebrating the arrival of new friends.  We mingled and spoke, some of us with clear Spanish and others of us (me included) in phrases mixed with pantomime.  As connections grew, we realized how much we all looked forward to this week.

As service continued, a leader stood to teach a short lesson.  He explained that this church first and always finds their teaching in scripture, not the dictates of a church or particular person.  While people may fail and churches may error, he reminds the group that God is faithful and true.  Those in attendance opened bibles or shared views over a shoulder of the friend next to them.  Together, the group read aloud from Psalms.  Then the teacher asked them to turn to the New Testament, where he read and began to explain a passage.  

Younger children gathered in a side room for a bible study geared toward their understanding, and the boys began to squirm in the growing heat and Spanish language.  I joined a couple of other mothers with very young kids in the living room.   To my delight, one of our hosts is from the Seattle area, so not only is she from the US (and speaks English!), but we have much to discuss (including a shared delight in Starbucks' coffee and vision for families growing together in faith).  Our children quickly introduced themselves to each other and began playing, and the mothers explained that each week, parents flow from courtyard to indoors with little children, helping to train their young ones to be part of the church while giving grace to those who have a hard time sitting still for a teaching time.  

After the teaching time, we all returned to the main group, and the young class' teacher announced they had some special recognition for the fathers in the group.  It was Dia del Padres, so each child has written the blessings they have from the fathers, recognizing and thanking their dads in a special way.  The dads were brought to the front of the room, and each child had a chance to share.  One little girl broke into tears part-way into her paragraph, and her father embraced her with tears in his own eyes.  Even my boys were invited to participate, complete with a hand-drawn picture of Mr. Kenobi in the company of Bob the Tomato & Larry the Cucumber.  In small voices they recognized the fun they enjoy with their daddy, then ran to give him enormous hugs.  

This tradition is one we will see repeated this week - taking time out to publicly recognize the people God has given into our lives, the gifts and love we've received through others.  These Christians make a priority to show gratitude for the gifts of God, and in the process remind each other of the treasures in his community.

How sweet it was to hear their words to one another and our team, and especially poignant to see each directed praise to our Father.  I'm not sure I've ever felt so welcome, anywhere, as I did this day.  As we mingle and say goodbyes to this church, I realized the first of my lessons:

We thought we came to give and to serve.  

It is apparent that we have also come to learn and receive.