I went with NEXT worldwide on the trip. We brought 14 from my home church Tcal ( The Community at Lakeridge.) and had people from Prosper church, and Harvest church come with us. All together there were around 40 of us who went. I was the only one who knew enough Spanish in the group to communicate and translate. Thankfully we all had translators and Eduardo to help us communicate.
As a group we worked with the mother church in Xalapa called Vida Plena. The church was located in a building that the church rented out. On Sunday morning we helped set up around 150 chairs along with sound equipment and a projector for the service. At around 11 a.m. people started coming into the church. As a group we were all sitting in the back, but as the people began to sit in and fill the rows of the small church building I noticed a young lady who looked about my age sitting alone. So before Sunday school began I went and introduced my self to the beautiful Diana. She is 21 years old, she studies English at her University, and helps with the children in her church. She also served as mine and Ross' translator for the week. The actual church service started around noon, and the place was packed! Carlos led an amazing worship service, and Paul Mints (Pastor of Tcal) brought an amazing message on the importance of not giving up. For the next three afternoons we evangalized and went through leadership training as well.
So Sunday through tuesday afternoon we travelled to Cuatapec and evangalized in a park to the people in the community. Vida Plena is hoping to start a Bible study in the area and hope to eventually start a church in the Cuatapec. On Wednesday afternoon we went to Parke Natura in Xalapa where a group of us hiked for about two hours and then went to play soccer and volleyball with families in the area and from Vida Plena.
The entire trip was amazing and 188 people made a decision for christ while we were in Xalapa and Cuatapec. It was so amazing to see the Lord work and move in a totally different country just as He does here at my home church in Dallas. The Lord truly gave me the words to say when I had none and spoke for me many times. I know that the Lord is going to use the time we were there to bless the church and the community, and to encourage us a body of believers. I loved the people at Vida Plena and know that the Lord has brought us together for a reason. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have gone and to have learned so much through not only my experience but through Next and their training. I have been given a new prospective on life and a missions lifestyle, and I have made friendships that will last a lifetime. The Lord never ceases to amaze me!!
Most of the Tcal Group Eduardo, Brenda, Me and Elena Me with two of the Translators.
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