Testimonies from Participants

Michelle Couch (Housewife and mother) Downers Grove, IL writes:

As my first mission trip was quickly approaching, I was trying really hard to get out of it.  Even though I was a committed Christian, I have probably never been further from God in my life...due to my own rebellion in certain areas of my life.  I wouldn't have been surprised if God had finally lost His patience and completely given up on me.  But, as we all know, He is ever-faithful and patient! 

Upon arriving in Juarez, I already felt God gently poking my heart.  Almost immediately, God revealed a verse to me from James 4:8--"Come near to God and He will come near to you."  I couldn't avoid coming near to God in this very special, all but hidden place on earth.  He lives in everyone I crossed paths with.  From Todd and Jaime, two of our coordinators, to Pastor Manuel and his sons, Pastor Baltazar, Felipe, Marta, Trinidad and all the rest...their lives ARE God!  They take every opportunity to talk about and glorify God that arises.  And because of their close walk with God, everything they do is Spirit-driven.  The joy emanating from Pastor Baltazar as he "preached" to me about creation was undeniably God-inspired.  The joy that bubbled from inside Jaime as he greeted his wife and children at the Christian Family Center one afternoon was undeniably Christ within him!  The Spirit moving in the worship service at Verdad Y Salvacion (even though I didn't understand one single word) gives me the chills to even think about.  I am so thankful to God for these encounters and experiences in Juarez!

What struck me the most was how these people that have so little materialistically have so much in Christ, while people at home have so much materialistically and yet are never really challenged to truly trust and rely on God for every provision.  My life has drastically changed.  This eye-opening, Spirit-filling experience has caused me to rededicate my life to Christ and to trust, obey and submit to Him daily.  Praise God for His grace and mercy which are new every morning!

Rick Carus (Associate General Presbyter, Grace Presbytery) writes:

From the moment that I arrived in Ciudad Juarez for my first trip, I found myself in the middle of an amazing experience. It was an experience of partnership: of working, learning, and sharing life together with strangers who quickly became part of our family -- brothers and sisters in Christ. As we shared experiences and worshiped each night, I marveled at the way that we all shared so openly. The things of faith were so easily transcended through cultural and language differences.

Words cannot fully describe the experience, but somehow I feel that I am a different person because of my experiences with Pasos de Fe. When I returned for a visit earlier this year, and again this past summer, I truly felt like I was coming home to a place, a people, and a ministry that has become very much a part of me and the young people whom I serve.

Ken Meisner (Chaplin, Buena Vista University) writes:

 I didn’t know what to expect as we crossed the border to Juarez from El Paso, TX. Traveling down the southern slope of the city into a sea of lights that blanketed the horizon caused a bit of apprehension in my gut, plus an element of anxiety for my soul. As I traveled into the strange city responsible for these 16 young men and women, it was my hope that a portion of faith I hold would cause my fear to pass.
 The next six days were filled with elements of service: painting, mixing cement and pouring concrete for a stairway and constructing two storage sheds beneath the staircase. We taught English classes, and played basketball and a variety of games with the children from the neighborhood. In the heat of the day and as temperatures rose into the 80’s, we stepped away from the ‘intensive’ labor to take road trips to one of the poorest neighborhoods as well as to one of the wealthiest neighborhoods of Juarez. Our innocent assumptions of the Mexican residents quickly transformed as we ventured deeper and deeper into real life situations that unfolded before our eyes. We began to capture a glimpse of the political, economical, emotional and spiritual dynamics of this border town as beggars and street-children came to our vans at every stoplight. Through a brief experiment at a local grocery store, the basic understanding of how to feed a family with a limited amount of pesos quickly became an exercise of futility for us. One afternoon we actually walked on the dry river bed of the once wild Rio Grande River (an area where as many as 5,000 immigrants cross each day into El Paso). The beaten down paths, discarded food containers and garbage that littered the area, offered evidence of the migrant’s daily struggle. As the dust swirled around our ankles during this short venture to the actual border, I reflected on how all of us truly do make a journey upon the dust of 
our ancestors.  In most instances, we came to the realization that most migrants appeared stronger in spirit and faith than those of us whose cup truly overflows with material wealth.
 During our stay at the mission, we had the blessing to worship and interact with the Verdad ye Fe Presbyterian Church. The pastor preached in Spanish from Ecclesiastes on Sunday morning and Todd translated the message. I was instantly caught up in how the powerful Word of God comes to us through many voices and many languages and is alive today through the faith of many generations. Each evening, following supper and individual journaling, we gathered for reflection and study as a large group. Throughout these powerful gatherings we laughed, cried, prayed, shared insights and thoughts, and through it all, gained a glimpse of how people struggled to feed and make a better life for their families   Needless to say, my heart was definitely tugged through this service experience and I honestly believe I saw a glimpse of Christ along the way. I will return, God willing.