Mexico 2025 -- July 15-29

    Hey everyone! I've officially been in Mexico for about two weeks now. Before I jump into updates, I just want to thank you all for your incredible support and prayers. Exceeding my financial goal was a huge blessing—God is so good! Your prayers for this journey have also meant so much to me! I left for Guadalajara on the 15th and arrived that evening. To my surprise, customs and immigration were quick and easy. After that, the Chavez family greeted me at the airport. They've been incredibly kind and have truly made me feel at home here in Guadalajara. 

    My first few days were spent preparing for the VBS Kids Camp at their church. During this time, I met new friends who I'll be serving with for the next five months. Everyone I've met has been so welcoming and kind, which has made this transition much easier. I also had my first two Spanish lessons with Joanna, my tutor. She's fluent in both Spanish and English and wants to be a teacher, so her lessons have been really helpful. 

    On Sunday, five days after I arrived, I attended my first Sunday morning church service in Guadalajara. It was held outside under a pavilion with about 25 people, and the atmosphere was wonderful, filled with loving people. The VBS Kids Camp ran all week, Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 1 PM. My role was to lead the blue team, which consisted of about 10–12 year olds, and take them to each station. Since my Spanish is not there yet, a man named Christopher helped me translate throughout the week. I had an average of 10–11 kids in my group each day. They listened really well to the lessons and had a blast with the games. God was definitely impacting lives this week, and seeds were planted! 

    Outside of camp, I also had time to make new friends and hang out. I saw The Fantastic Four with a good friend, Juan Carlos, and spent other days playing board games, reading or playing my guitar. 

    The switch from English to Spanish has been difficult, which I expected, but I wasn't sure what it would truly be like. I really love the song "Don’t Stop the Madness" by Tenth Avenue North. Even before I left for Mexico, I sang this song as a prayer, asking God to do whatever it takes to bring me closer to Him. Seriously, give it a listen. Once I realized that my struggle with the language was actually an answer to that prayer, it brought me even closer to Him. 

    In Exodus, the Israelites had it hard. They were God's chosen people, destined to become a great nation, but Pharaoh enslaved them and wouldn't let them go. They were losing hope. Yet, God didn't forget His promise. He sent plagues to the Egyptians. After the plagues, He says in Exodus 10:1-2: "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs of mine among them, that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the Lord.'" God brings struggle into our lives so that we can know that only He can deliver us from the hardships we face. God is everywhere. God is good. 

    Looking Ahead

    For the next three weeks, I'll be with the Hadime Mas team, a program that involves bible studies and going out into missions. I'm ready to see more of what God will teach me! Prayer Requests 

* Please pray that I'll understand the Spanish language better. 

* Pray that the missions through the Hadime Mas team will change hearts for the Kingdom! 

Thank you all again for your prayers and support on this mission year. God is good!