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| Quemado Mission Trip Testimonies |
Whenever I saw on Paul's facebook status that we were going to South Texas instead of Mexico, my first thought was "man that stinks." I wasn't as disappointed as some people were, but as the trip got closer I got less and less excited. There were things about Mexico I remembered and I began to prematurely miss them. At the meetings I saw so many people going who I didn't really know. Then when Paul announced that he wasn't going all my hope for the trip was lost. Not that I didn't trust Will, this just was not the trip I signed up for. However, after everything is said and done, this has been one of the best mission trips I've been on. I was thrilled to work with the kids in Quemado, and I actually got to have a special connection to Browning's kids. Lydia White and I got to spend a lot of time with them since our group never left Quemado, and I loved that. They would ask me all kinds of questions about everything under the sun and it was so cool to be able to teach them so many things they'd never heard before. I also really enjoyed the work projects we did. I had never been on a mission trip that did work projects before, and talk about learning to be selfless...it really strengthened me and stretched me just as much as not showering for a week in Mexico. I also was blessed with the group of people that went this year. I got to know a lot of people a whole lot better, and we all just had a great time. I think this trip was a true testament to what the Lord can do with 2 weeks of prep time. Every day we saw new doors popping open and that was awesome.
-Trace Pope
During this trip, I learned that God can work in many ways. I was in the group that was in Quemado for all three days. It was great because we really got to connect with the kids there. This trip gave me the opportunity to lead VBS and do music, which both are new for me. It was a great experience for me and I really believe it made me grow.
-Mike Fish
I've always been a kid/people person, so hanging out with little kids was not a big deal. I know I really gave myself to God this week. I'm somewhat shy and I got out of my bubble and did dramas and things of the sort. So overall I learned to grow out of my shell and do what God asks me to do. It also verified that I want to be a missionary for the rest of my life.
-Addy Bunch
We did many things while we were in Quemado but I guess the most important thing I got out of the trip was that on the first day we did work projects and after that day & my groups VBS I felt at first like I hadn't done anything, but Scott Sexton informed me that we were doing something, we touched people's lives and we helped build a missionary's home. So even though I didn't lead anyone to Christ, I did help a lot with other stuff like construction work so it was really encouraging to me.
-Anonymous
This week God has really broken me. He took me out physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The first day of ministry, after totally surrendering my whole self to His work, I felt so disappointed at the end of the day. I knew that I didn't give my all to the mission trip that day. God kind of revealed to me the second day that I'm not perfect. I won't be able to do exactly what God wants me to do every second of the day, but I can make how I follow God today better than yesterday. I gave more at VBS, and the work project. At the youth thing that night I actually hung out the entire time with Quemado girls and pulled one aside who I showed gospel, but she was already a Christian and I encouraged her to share her faith. We exchanged numbers to further encourage. When I woke up the next day though, somehow I hit the bottom of my trip. I can't explain how or why but I just had to cry. I felt like Job and read throughout the whole book. And then God challenged me by His answer to Job's words. Man it put me in perspective. Now all I had to do was go up. And he built me up. I actually shared my faith that night easily with Myrct, who ended up accepting Christ. I don't know that leaving today God is through. In fact, I know He will break me more and more, but He is still in the process of shaping my life to be more like His. And even though it hurt a lot, I know I'm stronger in my faith today than I was coming down Sunday. I asked to be challenged and He gave me that and more, but only to change me to who I need to be.
-Sarah Dickerson
This being my first "Mexico" mission trip, I didn't really know what to expect. I knew that like Africa I would need a translator. Upon hearing that Mexico was out and we were staying in South Texas I was excited. The language barrier was broken and I could form lasting relationships. That is what I did. I stayed in Quemado the 4 days we were there. At first we were only going to do the Monday bible school but God opened up doors and allowed us to do it all 3 days. I had the great pleasure to form a bond with Juanita and her three sons Gabriel, Isai, and Levi. Her and her husband are the local missionaries. The VBS was amazing.Each day the kids were more and more interested. The work project was amazing, the group effort of selflessness touched my heart. Although I never went to Mexico this mission trip was one of the best I've been on. Thank you so much for allowing me to go.
-Lydia White
This week was awesome! It was so neat to watch the way God worked everything out to fulfill His will this week. We went on the trip knowing of one VBS and one work project that we could for sure do, but God made it so much more! Also, I can honestly say that I gave this trip to the Lord. I told Him from the beginning that I will do whatever He asks of me and asked Him to totally use me. When you make yourself available and are willing, God works in amazing ways through you! This week I had the privilege of leading 7 people to the Lord, giving my testimony, and forming new friendships with the kids there. God showed me if I'm a servant for Him, He will use me.
-Skyler Sexton
I have been on multiple mission trips with my church and each time I ask God to stretch me and use me. But for some reason this is the first time I actually feel like I allowed God to do that. In the past I haven't really gone out of my comfort zone but this week I would definitely say I did. My group stayed in Quemado for all 3 days and did the VBS for the kids there. On the third day Trace asked me to tell the bible story. For me, that is just something that is way out of my comfort zone because I don't normally get up and talk in front of people but I knew that is what this trip is all about. Just getting up and telling the story of David and Goliath to those kids showed me that even if I'm not able to personally lead a child to Christ I'm still impacting their lives in some way. All week I asked God to stretch me and prayed that He would use me in some way to spread the gospel to these kids and He did. I am so glad I had the opportunity to go on this mission trip with all these wonderful people.
-Lara Overman
This mission trip is different than any other trip I have ever been on. One of the coolest parts was being able to do work projects. That is a really neat way to help and something I've never done on a mission trip. I think God taught me a lot about flexibility and His perfect plan. I felt like in a way this trip was a mix of Mexico and the Wyoming trip. The kids could all speak Spanish but also English. We were able to incorporate things from both trips. God really showed me I've been getting too comfortable with my surroundings and I need to be willing and able to change them.
-Kimberly
This spring break has been like no other! It was way better! Just the whole experience was great. I loved how I could speak English to the kids and it helped me tell them about Christ. Speaking of which, I was at the Eagle Pass VBS on Wednesday and there was a kid named Benny and he was about 6 or 7. Me & Kristen Burns were with him when he was coloring. He said that his mom told him that when you get to heaven all you have to do is say "sorry" for all your sins and you will get in. We told him that wasn't true. The really cool thing was that it was quiet for a little bit and then I was like "Benny, do you have a Bible at home?" and he shook his head no so I was like well do you want one and he said yes. So I went and got him one. It was really uplifting because I've never done anything like this before and just the fact that Benny was that open to what we were saying.
-Laura Fish
Well, this was my first Mexas trip. I was a little disappointed because my main expectation was soccer everywhere. But that wasn't the case, no big deal. Every mission trip has always been completely different than I had thought, which threw me off but also stretched me. I live my life in a way that is organized, I always know where I'm going and what I'm going to do so I'm mentally prepared. But on every mission trip, including this one, God has really just said hey if you just trust me and go with what I say then everything will work out. And of course it did. I think that its awesome how God just opened doors when it seemed like they were all closed. But just seeing how awesome everything ends up just by listening to God constantly is very very encouraging to apply it to my life.
-Taylor Heinsohn
So coming into this trip I was actually pretty bummed about the whole lack of the Mexico experience, but I realized that stays in the border cities other than just overnight and that this was going to be a real blessing to the people there. This realization really changed my whole outlook on the trip. I ended up getting to encourage a guy named Derreck a lot throughout the week and I am praying that he could start a fire in the town of Quemado.
-Matthew Brooks
This was the first mission trip I've ever been on and I really had no idea what to expect. I knew we'd do
VBS every day but I honestly got way more out of it than I thought I would. Some of the things God pointed out to me didn't even have anything to do with what we've talked about this week. Being away from all my school friends and tv and cell phones and being around all these good, Christian people made me realize what kind of people I should be hanging around back in Longview. A lot of my friends aren't the strongest Christians out there and it kind of pulls me away from my relationship with God. I also learned a whole lot more about how to put myself out there to share God's word. That was the thing I was most worried about. I was scared I wouldn't know what to say to the kids, I wouldn't know anyone in my group (which I didn't), or it would just be really awkward doing skits, singing, and meeting new people. I prayed about all that and I think God put me in especially awkward situations to make me grow and every time I was meeting someone new, acting like I have tourettes in the hospital skit with a group of people I don't know, or talking to little kids that are scared of all of us, I gave myself a pep talk, reminded myself it was for God, prayed for courage and the right words to say, and he gave them to me. I put myself out there for Him and He blessed me with a bunch of new friendships with people that will only help me grow closer to Him. That's not even everything I got out of this trip, and I'm so glad I went. It beats sitting on my butt watching tv for a whole week, and I am definitely going on all the mission trips I can from now on.
-Lindsay Tatum
This trip has meant a lot to me. It's been a whole bunch of fun! It was like the best of everything. We got to talk to kids and do work around the town. I think that was the best first mission trip I've ever been able to visualize. I loved it and I want to go on every mission trip. I don't even want to go home! I think it was better than the Mexico trip would've been. I loved the kids and I'm pretty sure they loved me. The school was just so much fun for me. I loved it! I think the kids were really open to what we have to say. I think the school was my favorite thing. I really like how I've change on this trip. I'm more open to show my love for God now and I'll continue to do the same thing at school. I don't even want to go back to school! I've had the best time ever on this trip and I've got a ton of new friends. I'm going on more mission trips for sure!
-Anonymous
This past week has been amazing. I want to do missionary work when I grow up. It has been my dream since I was in the 8th grade. I learned a couple of things. The first thing I learned was to be happy with whatever God asks me to do. I've never lead someone to Christ, which I did with Alex. I didn't really tell it at testimony time. At first Alex didn't really want to but I kept talking to him and so he finally made the decision. By the time we got done he had really warmed up and told me he was going to miss me, then it really hit me. I can't be there to help him along with his walk with God. That is when I was like I have to give it to God, I have to trust in God to help him in his faith. Another thing I learned is how it is to actually tell my testimony. Personally I have a very rough testimony and it would be difficult at times to tell. I also know that I can't hold it back because it might inspire someone else.
-Anonymous
I have never been to Mexico, so I was very excited about this trip. However, when the plans changed, and I wasn't too disappointed since I didn't know what I was missing. This trip has been awesome because we haven't had a plan. It forced all of us to lean on God for all that we did. Even though I'm graduating I would not be disappointed at all if we went there again.
-Drew McGuire
I came into this trip with no expectations, partly because I wasn't really excited about it and partly because no one else had ever been before to tell me how it would go. However, I really started praying on the way down there that God would stretch me and use me, and that I would really put something into this trip as well as get something out of it. By Wednesday, I knew that this was my favorite mission trip I'd ever been on. Not so much the "South Texas" but as much as the individual trip itself. I'd really put my heart into it. I tried to over do everything with the kids, be a servant even when I really didn't want to be, get to know the kids, as well as the other people on the trip with me. Last trip to Mexico, I spent all the van rides with my nose in a book. I had a book this trip too, but I barely had half of it finished by the time we got back because I'd actually talked with other people on the van rides. The thing that I struggled with most this week was selfishness, but I think God helped me a lot, and I had a really great trip.
-Jenni Fogle
This is my first mission trip and from this experience I have gotten to know several people that I had only seen around. I also met some people in Quemado and Eagle Pass that are on fire for the Lord and that was very inspiring. Even though Eagle Pass is a lot different from Longview, the Christians there were not. From talking to the pastors I learned how optimistic they were even though there were not a lot of active youth.
-Anthony Domino
This week certainly opened my eyes. For one I now know that it’s not as bad as I thought it would be to talk to people openly about my beliefs. Also, though this trip was not in Mexico this year, it still brought me out of my comfort zone, but in turn brought me closer to God.
-Anonymous
This trip was a real eye opener for me. God revealed a ton of stuff to me this week. Perhaps the main thing he showed me was how jealous I am. I never realized how much envy I have toward others at times and it really hinders my walk. I hope that I can get over that. Another thing I learned was that I really love relying on God. The experience in Quemado of all the randomness was awesome.
-Brandon Bunt
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