Katelyn's trip to Mexico.

Sijbren, Katelyn and Christina with some locals.

Katelyn and Sijbren on their way to Mexico.

Sijbren and Katelyn ready to work hard.

Local family in Mexico.

Park Valley Girls!

Katelyn returned yesterday from a week long missions trip to Mexico. She had been worrying about it for weeks before the departure date. She knew she would be "roughing it" and that worried her. However, she also knew that there were many families in Mexico that needed assistance building houses and hearing the Lord's Word. So, so 13 teens, Pastor Kevven (Teen Pastor) and 3 chaperones from Park Valley Church left on July 29 heading out to Tijuana, Mexico. They flew to San Diego and took a bus across the border and to their compound. Before Friday the last we had heard from Katelyn was when she was on the bus heading to the compound. We were hopeful that she would have cell service and we would hear from her for a couple minutes a day. However, we quickly discovered that there is NO CELL SERVICE in the middle of nowhere in Mexico! On Friday afternoon we finally got to talk to her after praying for her and the team all week. The living conditions were harsh.... they showered with garden hoses, used outhouses, only drank warm water (READ: no soda!) and they ate rice and beans EVERYDAY. They slept in tents with their sleeping bags and evidently the tents leaked! But depsite all of this that Katelyn is absolutely NOT used to.... she was able to bond with many of the Mexican children, she helped build a HOUSE! She did drywall, roofing, etc. Things she would have NEVER done here! She saw what it is like to live in a desolate poor area. The kids arrived off of their flight at Dulles airport tired weary SMELLY travelers. They talked about having McDonalds Big Macs, sodas and warm showers. However, as they kept talking and as they thought about their time in Mexico.... their emotions changed a little. I think their time in Mexico may have been harsh personally (Katelyn has NEVER been camping!) but I think they forged friendships with the people they met, they grew closer as a group, they discovered wonderful things about themselves and most of all (at least for a little while) they are appreciative for all that they have here at home. Katelyn even emptied the dishwasher (her only REAL chore here at home) without being asked! We are thankful to the Lord for watching over this team as they went to Mexico to do His work. We are thankful that the Lord's favor was upon them.

Here are some pictures from their time in Mexico.