We're back! Mexico was awesome!

On March 15th at 6:00AM 47 sleepy students and adults trundled their luggage into a trailer and groggily boarded one of four vehicles. We then began the first stage of a two-day journey to Nuevo Progresso Mexico.

Over 900 miles and many gas-station breaks later, we were greeted by a smiling Bobby Culpepper enthusiastically waving the Mexican Flag at Camp Thicket. Camp Thicket is located about 5 miles from the Mexico Border in Texas' Rio Grande Valley near Weslaco Texas. Quite a change from past year’s accommodations, Camp Thicket is nestled in a small grove of native Texas brush trees. Its amenities included 10 person rooms with bunk beds, a large room for eating and gathering, a large kitchen, a Chapel and a pool.

After a full night’s rest, we awoke, ate breakfast and got back on the busses to go across the border into Mexico. The students and adults then divided into Painting, Distribution and Children’s/Evangelism teams and were given the day’s assignments. Everyone worked very hard painting houses, preparing for distribution of food and donated items and running a home-grown version of Vacation Bible School.

The schedule was the same for most of the week, but Wednesday was a very special day. Everyone got up a little later than usual and worked in the Colonia for about half a day. Then we all piled in the busses and drove to a secluded area of the Rio-Grande. After getting out of the busses, Bobby, Pastor Les, Fish (our Colonia Jardin representative and translator) and Jesus Rodreigus (a resident of Colonia Jardin) waded into the frigid water.

After praying to receive Christ into his heart, Jesus was baptized by Pastor Les in the river. We then returned to the Casa de Dios (House of the Lord) for a Wednesday night service. Over 80 people attended the service officiated by Pastor Les and translated by Fish. Jeff led worship with rousing versions of "Alabare," "Familia del Dios," and "How Great is our God." After the service, some of the residents submitted their names to receive more information about becoming a follower of Christ.

After two more days of work, the team spent half a day shopping in Progresso for rare and much sought after items. We then returned home.

At the end of the week, 24 houses were painted, beans and rice and many donated items were distributed to 193 families and the Gospel was shared with the residents of Colonia Jardin.

Tom Bird (aka T-Bird)

See below for more pictures from the trip.