STUDENT YUCATAN MISSION TRIP 2023

Pastor Travis Kingma

Next Generation & Contemporary Worship travisk@vpc.church

It is incredible to see how the Lord is at work all around the world and witness how Christ is specifically using VPC to embody his love by serving our neighbors near and far. At the tail end of May, a group of our High School students went on a 10-day/nine-night mission trip to the city of Tizimin on the Yucatan peninsula in the wonderful country of Mexico. Our team was privileged to serve alongside a local mission organization, Acción Ministries in association with the Presbyterian Church of Mexico to build a sport court, an education building floor, and a roof at a local church (Getsemani Presbyterian Church), and interact with the local children through facilitating VBS activities, crafts, and moments of worship.

Our students and leaders worked incredibly hard, making (and lifting), over ten tons of concrete to help build this local church. I was amazed and humbled to learn our team tackled the biggest project that had ever been done by this local ministry organization. Glory to God for this opportunity to make such an impact and serve alongside our Mayan brothers and sisters!

It’s quite poignant that we as a church have been diving deeper into the book of Philippians through the Growing Joy sermon series. Specifically deepening our understanding of what it means to live out one of the core fruits of the spirit: Joy (see Galatians 5:22-23). While in Mexico, we could see examples of the Mayan people living into joy constantly. To see the local children, adults, and ministry leaders celebrate Jesus, play, and express their gratitude for the completion of these new facilities was simply profound. Getsemani Presbyterian Church, the local church we served alongside to help build its facilities, had been waiting 12 years for this project to come to fruition. Additionally, the hospitality we received as a team from the local Mayan people not only highlighted their deep delight in the Lord but compelled us to rejoice in the Lord alongside them as well. To see a bunch of students from Scottsdale, Arizona getting uncomfortable for the kingdom of God was what this trip was all about (working, and even at times dancing while doing it). I think the Lord blessed us all with a little more joy during our time in Mexico.

We asked our students to reflect on some of their thoughts, feelings, observations, and impressions of the experiences of their time in Mexico and this is what some of them had to say:

I found this week really amazing. Being able to work with the community to help better their facilities and getting to play with all the children was truly amazing. Not only that but, also getting to build better relationships with other girls from our church as well. I have made so many more friends after being on this trip, it has been truly amazing. I loved every second (including making concrete)! —Olivia

Holliday

I have had the complete honor to help out the church in Tizimin; even though the work was challenging it gave me a different perspective on how hard these people work just to praise the Lord. [This is] A privilege we all share and being able to be a part of that made me very happy. What really made this trip great though was the kind people I was around. I got to meet new people and make new friends. I had so much fun spending time with everyone on this trip and I would do it again in a heartbeat. —Molly

McCusker

Throughout the past week, I have been shocked by the differences in culture and behavior of the people of Tizimin. I have been exposed to an extremely impoverished, yet interlinked and grateful community. My experience this week building alongside these people has made me realize things about myself and remind me that I should always be grateful for what I have. —Ryan

Yoder

“This past week in Tizimin and the knowledge I have gained through experiences and reflection would take a long time to describe but there were two things that stood out to me: (1) The love and kindness that the people of Tizimin show and (2) the love and kindness that we show each other. These were both a reflection of what God asks us to do and it was great to see them being lived out this week. —Chase

Braden