We soon left for an outreach mission in Mexico. At first, it was exciting. But, we soon found it a tough test of our character. We learnt of others' heavy burdens, which often surpass our own significantly.

 

We had two vans that maintained radio contact with each other, as it was before the era of mobile phones. During the trip, we received a message from Mark, who was driving the other van. He shared the story of a man who had moved to Mexico with his family from another country. After arriving in Mexico, he became a follower of Jesus. His new-found faith was clear to everyone around him. It was clear that God had called him into full-time ministry. However, there was one issue. In his home country, it is legal to have more than one wife. This man had two wives and children from both. Mark posed a thought-provoking question to us: Would you allow this man to become a pastor in your church? This sparked some interesting discussions. I encourage you to think about what you would do if it were up to you!

 

In our ministry, we often faced tough situations. We needed God's wisdom to make difficult decisions. It’s worth noting that we did not reach any definitive conclusions about the man with two wives. If God called him, we felt it was a matter best left in His hands.

 

We spent some time in Tijuana, learning from a couple engaged in missionary work in Mexico for many years. I was used to seeing poverty in South Africa, where people gather materials such as pieces of corrugated iron, odd bricks, and scraps of wood to build houses on any available land. They often lacked access to water and basic conveniences. However, during my time in Mexico, I was shocked to see that many people use plastic bags or sheets of plastic as makeshift shelters.

Jesus warned us that the poor would always be among us. It is impossible to walk past such suffering without feeling compassion. The hardest experience for me was at Casa Dorcas, a small orphanage in a modest house in a Tijuana neighbourhood. A house they designed for nothing more than a typical household. But, what I saw in this orphanage broke my heart.

 

The initiative was started by a man who worked closely with the local jail. At that time, around eight children were living in the facility. Before they came to the orphanage, they had to live with their parents in the overcrowded jail, as no one could care for them. Sadly, their parents often exploited these children, while living with them. They used them as currency to get free drugs in the jail.

 

At the entrance, there was a six-foot-high sliding gate. Beyond it was an open concrete court-yard, about the size of two double bedrooms, where the kids could play. Upon arrival, we saw a beautiful, big-eyed girl, about five, at the gate, staring into the distance. The pain in her eyes was evident. She didn't speak to us or let us get close. One could only wonder what that poor little girl had endured in jail before she came to the orphanage.

 

As a Christian, I have travelled to many countries. I have been provided beds of kind Jesus followers. Some of these hosts were rich and famous, while others were ordinary people like me. Among those experiences, the bed offered to me by kids living in Casa Dorcas was the most memorable. These kids shared their beds with us, choosing to sleep on the floor somewhere in the house. I carry a piece of their generosity in my heart.

On our way back, we stopped by once again to pray with the children. Authorities ordered them to leave. They deemed the building unsuitable for an orphanage. With nowhere else to go, these children had to return to jail to live with their parents. All we could do was gather a few of the adults there and pray together. It was the most heartbreaking prayer session I have ever experienced. I sobbed throughout the entire time. I believe that Jesus heard our prayers, and I trust in Him.

 

After leaving Tijuana, we drove to Ensenada, a city in Mexico. We needed to stop there to get special visitor cards to continue into the Baja region. We exited our vehicles, and I began talking to the children who had come with us. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mark, the director, come out with our passports. He addressed the students, and they all formed a circle, preparing to pray. I walked over to join them and felt the tension in the air for a moment.

 

I asked them what we were praying for, and after a moment of silence, someone spoke up, saying, “We are praying for you. They do not have a good relationship with South Africa, so they do not want to let you in.”

 

It was an awful feeling, not knowing what would happen next. As they prayed, I began to plan my return to the ranch. I would not hinder their plans for the students in Mexico. Mark and one student who spoke Spanish went back to talk to them. In the end, God came through for me, and they allowed me to join them. Soon, we arrived at our destination, “Rancho la Hai Roi,” in Ensenada. The next day, we attended a Spanish speaking church. It was wonderful to experience all aspects of this culture. The worship was a remarkable sight to behold. I remember one worship session at a home group. One lady played the guitar and another played the tambourine. I have never seen anyone play a tambourine quite like that. At one point, the tambourine fell apart, with parts flying everywhere. As if it were normal, someone tossed her another tambourine. Without missing a beat, she caught it in mid-air and continued playing.

 

As always, the trip to Mexico had its share of challenges. We are all flawed individuals, and at times, I found some individuals getting on my nerves, as much as I probably got on their nerves. I suppose my past experiences, particularly my rejection issues, contributed to these moments.

 

One experience annoyed me. We as a team gathered around a man we met in Mexico to pray for him. While we had already started praying, one of the students behind me asked him if she could pray for him. She stepped forward and positioned herself in a way that prevented anyone from getting close to him. After she finished praying, she hugged and thanked him for the chance to pray. I stepped aside to let her leave, and the rest of us continued to pray for that dear man. We invited the Lord to come and minister to him. His tears created small puddles on the floor. God's love touched him profoundly and ministered to him in a special way.

I found it quite annoying, or rather rude when a group of people are praying for a person and someone pushes through to take prime location. It is almost like they say, stand back, I have arrived and God always hears my prayers. I had a similar experience in the UK at one of our Conferences. Maybe it is a lack of humility.