An Uplifting Mission Trip
CB winter 2024
The vicissitudes (unwelcome change of circumstances) brought about by the Covid pandemic have affected the Crossing Borders mission trips, as every other facet of our society. Since the Covid days, attendance on the mission trip dropped dramatically. Thankfully, our financial donors continued their support, so we have been able to provide much-needed assistance to our Mexico ministry partners. Thank you!
This winter trip was a return to pre-Covid “normal”—with 15 people participating on the mission team. We had a great mix of ages (generational ministry) from teenage to septuagenarians. The older are energized by the vitality of the youth, and we hope the young are inspired by the faithful maturity of the older.
The actual cross-border work happens on only 2 days on the winter trip (normally 6 days on the summer trip). It is a busy time, up early and to bed late—but it is worth it. Here is a quick summary:
Team arrives at our base camp (on U.S. side of border) on Friday evening. We sort through 496 shoebox gifts and many boxes of other supplies. Dinner, then load two big vans with half of the gifts and supplies. Spend time practicing our original drama: “Here Comes Jesus.” Late at night, go to bed.
On Saturday, an early breakfast, then drive into Mexico. Stop and buy a bunch of paper goods, then arrive at Sister Juanita’s children’s home and donate the paper goods. Play soccer and basketball, mount some new swings to their much-worn swingset, appreciate the special program of singing the kids present to our team, feed the kids a pizza lunch, present shoebox gifts and watch the smiles and hear the squeals of excitement. Because of our CB donors, we are able to leave some cash gifts for Sister Juanita and her two helpers, and to purchase some much-needed supplies and take care of some critical repairs.
Headed to our next stop, we make a requested and unplanned stop at a giant “Dulceria”—candy store. Then on to Pastor Fernando’s church and unload lots of supplies. Our CB team works with their church members to create an assembly line and pack 150 gift bags (much like the shoebox gifts). The Mexico church then feeds us a yummy authentic Mexican meal and we all enjoy catching up on the happenings in each other’s lives since we last saw them in June. The CB team provides a short church service which includes our drama presentation, we quiz the kids (over 100 of them) about Christmas characters and events, then we distribute gift bags and snacks to all the kids. We leave some extra gift bags and 50 shoebox gifts for the pastor to pass along to some small churches farther into Mexico—churches poorer than the border region. Cross back into the U.S., back to base camp, pack the vans with supplies and shoebox gifts for the next day.
On Sunday we re-enter Mexico and arrive at Pastora Marta’s church where over 100 singing children are waiting for us. There is more music and laughter as we unload our vans. We share in a worship service for the kids, perform our drama, and serve pizza and juice. Then we distribute shoebox gifts to the happy kids. Out of the thousands of shoebox gifts we have personally distributed over the past 19 years of these trips, I’ve never seen two kids argue, fight or pout over their presents; they are truly grateful for these special gifts lovingly packed and provided by YOU—our U.S. home donors. Thank You! Pastora Marta’s church prepares another authentic Mexican meal for us, and there is much encouraging personal conversation. P.S. A thoughtful U.S. pastor donated two large tubs full of beautiful Communion supplies: cup holder trays and covers, bread trays, candles, lovely cloths and banners, and more. We present those to Pastora Marta, and she is thrilled.
Pastor Roel is a relatively new contact for Crossing Borders, and we already love him and his lovely congregation. We participate in a short worship service, then we introduce our CB mission team members. After performing our drama that speaks strongly to the central and needed role of Jesus in our salvation experience, we distribute shoeboxes to all the children. At the conclusion of the service, their church elders lay hands on our team and movingly pray for each of us individually—very heartfelt prayers. Then each of their members (all ages) files by our team to greet and thank us. Finally, we spend more time personally visiting with the pastor and his wife. We have a little extra time, so the pastor leads our vans to a market of native-made leather goods and jewelry, so our team does a bit of shopping.
Final stop is at Pastor Rendon’s orphanage. We have visited them for 19 years, so we have a very close bond. The pastor’s health is declining sharply; he appreciates prayers as he finds himself more and more limited in what he can do physically. While a few of us spend time visiting with Pastor Rendon to encourage him, the rest of the CB team plays with the kids, does some crafts, mounts some new swings onto their swingset frame, and visits with Mrs. Rendon and some of the staff. Then we present the shoebox gifts to the kids amid lots of joy. We leave some shoebox gifts for Pastor Rendon to share with very poor churches further interior into Mexico.
After a very full day, we cross back into the U.S., eat a group dinner, and then take some quality time to share our experiences and impressions from the trip. It is obvious that lives are being changed—on our CB team and among those we go to serve. The next morning, the team members head back home, taking with them memories to last a lifetime.
This was an uplifting mission trip, full of encouragement for many. God willing, we will host another mission trip for summer 2025, probably in June. Maybe God is moving you to attend a trip, or to spread the word to someone you feel would benefit from participating in mission ministry with Jesus in this way. Check our website (cbmission.org) in a month or so for the date. We can hardly wait to see what good things God has in store for our next trip!
Lee Berger, director 903-746-4463