ALL ARRIVED SAFELY

This is part of a prayer  that was tailored for groups  from the Uncommon Book of Prayer. 

It is a good opening for our Journey:

O God,

Expand our awareness to others whom we shall see today and tomorrow.

Help us to look for signs of

Of our common humanity among the people we meet.

Help us to listen to what people are saying.

Not just to their words

But to what they are really saying.

Today our team arrived safe and sound to McAllen, Texas for the start of our Walk in the Light- 2016 UMW Ubuntu Journey. We have come from all walks of life. Yet we come with a passion for mission and a desire to better understand the human issues along the U.S. and Mexican border.

Late this afternoon we visited McAllen First UMC for our welcome orientation. This is the home church for our host, Susan Hellums. Susan explained our “Please be flexible schedule”, some background and history of the Rio Grande Valley, and the various ministries and projects we will be visiting.

Tonight we worshiped at La Mesa United Methodist Church (La Mesa Mision Metodista), in Mercedes, TX. This Mission Church is in a colonia. The attendance on a Sunday is around 25 plus people. We were each warmly greeted with a smile, handshake and a kiss on the cheek. We sang songs, church members and team members gave testimonials of faith and how God has changed their lives. With the mix of English and Spanish we were able to trade stories of our families.

We quickly realized none of will go hungry on this Journey! Chalupas with picante sauce, nopales salad, fruit salad with a cheese and strawberry sauce and then dessert, chocolate flan cake, cinnamon cookies and Tres-Leches cake and a can of coke. We were fed both spiritually and bodily!

On the way back to the hotel we shared some of our many thoughts on the day:

            The Holy Spirit was with us

            Those who needed to be on the team were on the team. We’re glad to be together at last!

            We saw God reflected in the warm welcomes we received at La Mesa Mission      

            We were a part of their church family. It was not a them and us but we together

            Love the young women singing for us

            The testimonials were shared with grace and honesty

            Their appreciation for their pastor-Pastor Juan Jara.

Thank-you to Becky and Susan for their dedication and hard work to put this Journey together! 

Thank you to La Mesa Mision Metodista, Pastor Juan Jara and his congregation for a memorable evening and dinner!

AMEN