A SHORT-TERM MISSIONS TRIP TO THE BORDER

If you have never been on a short-term mission’s trip the border is just the place to start. The border offers your group a way to experience Mexico while staying in the United States at night. Safety is all ways a big concern for first time groups and your safety is always WOTC staff’s first priority. In all the years we have been taking groups to work and stay in Mexico we have never lost anyone, had anyone robbed or beaten in fact we have never even had anyone seriously hurt or injured. We believe the Lord has and continues to watch over not only each of the groups but also our staff who is in and out of Mexico almost on a daily basis.

You will find that before and after each trip into Mexico we stop and pray. One of the first things you will experience on a WOTC missions trip is we believe in prayer. We also know during your visit you are going to experience God answering many prayers for you and your group.

A border mission’s trip offers many more different ministry opportunities than any other place we go. The training center facilities have continued to improve each year so now we have air conditioned dorms along with an air conditioned chapel. We have a first class commercial kitchen with some great chef’s that will make sure you eat very well during your visit. You will also find a wonderful garden area that has been built in the shape of a cross with benches and plenty of quiet time for your daily devotions.

Matamoras, Mexico is a city with well over a million in population and most of the inhabitants are very poor. The city continues to expand in all directions with squatter’s camp popping up very quickly. People come from all over Mexico to Matamoras hoping they can get into the United States. Though many do get across the border the majority never makes it. They end up broke, hungry and without work in a city that is already filled with broke, hungry and out of work people. This makes Matamoras a great place to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A place that has become a legend within the groups that have come on missions trips on the border is the garbage dump in Matamoras. The dump is where the broke, hungry, and out of work people end up. Adults and children dig through the garbage looking for something to eat or sell. As each of the trucks come to empty their loads people will start digging. When we go we always take food and clothing to distribute. There is always a new crowd who will gather to listen to the message of hope your group will bring. God has used the dump to break many proud and envious hearts toward the poor and more grateful for the many blessings the Lord has given to each of us.

Many of those who come to the border area looking for a better life stay because they have no money to go back to where they came and they have little or no hope of a future where they came from. They will find their way to a squatter’s camp where they will mark off a small piece of land and begin to build some type of a shelter to stay in. These areas are also a great place to go and share the Good News along with food, clothing and medicine. They are friendly people who are doing their best to make it through just one more day. You can’t help falling in love with the children who love to play games or just listen to you speak English to them.

Squatter’s camps become small communities with dirt roads, better shelters, and a place where they can get running water and eventually a school and hopefully a clinic. They usually have a place where they play along with a soccer field. This is always a great place to have a block party or vacation bible school. The Mexican people love to have a Fiesta. We do that by having block parties. You never know what might happen at these parties. Sometimes we fly kites, cook hotdogs, make cotton candy or snow cones and of course the old favorite of popping popcorn over a campfire. The block parties always bring out the children, adults and grandparents giving us an opportunity to share testimonies along with the Gospel.

This is also a great place to build a church. There is an ongoing need to build churches in these areas. The believers come together and form congregations that will meet under a tree or some where that is temporary. Many of these congregations have been praying for years asking the Lord to provide them with a church building. So if you are interested in being an extra special blessing and doing something that will last for many years in the future you might just consider taking on the project of building a church.

 Another great way to share the message of Christ is through dramas and skits. So if your group would take the time before coming on your missions trip to learn some skits and drama's we have some neat places in mind for you to share Christ through drama's and skits. Not only do the children love them but also the parents. They break through all language barriers making the salvation message simple for all to understand.

In 2006 we plan on expanding our out reach into the local schools. The schools in Mexico are over flowing with young children who are eager to learn. They often respond in great numbers when hearing the Gospel for the first time. We love to take pens and candy to hand out before we leave.

We also love to do what we call mass evangelism. This includes getting together with local pastors with whom we have ongoing relationships with and putting out the word we will be in a certain place at a certain time. In Mexico you will find it is easy to get a good crowd together that enjoys singing while they listen to a message that offers them a future and hope found in Jesus Christ.

There are also some special fun things to do for your group when you stay on the border. There is shopping in Progresso where you will find great shops in a very safe environment. Plenty of things to buy and experience during a shopping spree in Progresso! Don’t forget they will always sell for less than the first price quoted so make sure you bargain for the best deal possible.

There is also South Padre Island where the sandy beaches are great and the ocean waves and water makes it a great place to spend a few hours. Don’t forget to bring your suntan lotion or you could go home a whole lot redder than when you left.

All in all a short-term mission’s trip to the border area of Texas and Mexico makes for a life time of memories. You will find you will grow closer to everyone who comes on the trip, you will find that your relationship with the Lord has grown as you have allowed Him to reveal Himself to you and you will find how fulfilling life can be when God uses you. One visit on the border will make you want to come back again and ready to tackle Aldama or Padilla on your next visit.