Mexico Youth Mission Trip
March 6 - 11, 1999

The Youth Report
A report from Mexico (Spanish) (English)

Friday

The preparations have been going fast and furious for the Youth mission trip to Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico (pop. 2 million, state capital of Hidalgo). Both countries have been preparing for all that God is about to do. We clearly see His hand at work here.

The churches rented the city theater and planned to have a drama Sunday night. With 1,000 seats to fill, there was a lot of doubt. But God has already filled it ... every ticket is gone! They have now rented the theater for a second performance later that night and now believe God will fill it two times!

The homes were the young people and adults will be staying are anxiously awaiting their arrival Saturday evening. The group will board an American Airlines jet Saturday morning and arrive in Mexico City about noon. We will drive (about an hour and a half) from Pachuca to meet them.

On the way, they will have an opportunity to stop and see the magnificent pyramids of ancient Mexico. Perhaps through those moments they will appreciate the grandeur of the heritage of today's proud Mexican people.

When they arrive in Pachuca, there will be a candlelight parade through the city. the plans sound wonderful. This is the first of any such thing for evangelicals to do here. After the parade will be a service of dedication and consecration for the work to be done.

Then introduction time between the host families and the gringos. Then bed.

I will try to get you a verbal snapshot of the early days of the campaign. I will be leaving on Tuesday to return to Dallas and McKinney, but the group returns Thursday.

Saturday

Everyone arrived fine this morning. We have 2 more arriving tonight, but they are in capable hands. We left Alan to stay at the airport and meet them at 9:35 pm. They should just now be getting to Pachuca.

We took the group by the Pyramids and I was shocked at the sheer size of them. The saddest part was the road of Death where the person to be sacrificed as led to the alter.

The youth participated in a parade for Jesus tonight. I have done that at the end of a campaign before, but never to kick it off. The local folks were expecting 300-400 people and we brought chemical candles for their use. The parade ended up with at leas 500 and maybe more. It was quite a site and very encouraging to the local Baptists. Never before in Pachuca have Baptists demonstrated their faith. The many very old women who have never had such an opportunity were especially beautiful to me. The parade when all the way through town and ended at a grand plaza. Many onlookers and a police escort.

We have everyone bedded down now, so I shall do likewise. Big day tomorrow!

Sunday

We have had a busy, full day. The services in the 4 churches and 1 mission went reasonably well with a few mix-ups of exactly who was supposed to be where. I promise you, this is much more complicated than a regular partnership, since we have youth and adults doing some activities together, some with their hosts, some with their church and who knows what else!

There are reports of many decisions today. Some in services, some in the plaza where clowns and puppets gathered attention and the young people and adults were able to share their testimony and then walk people through the questionnaire regarding their own faith. It appears that many have prayed to receive Christ.

This evening, the theater was filled for the first presentation and about 2/3 full on the second. A troupe from several countries presented a drama of two young people who had been infected with AIDS from their wild living and then found Christ. The point was strongly made that the consequences did not change, the destination did. The drama (with music and choreography) ended with a record of the girl, just before she died in 1993. It was very powerful. I am told there were about 150 decisions at the two invitations given.

We have sent everyone back to their homes and are ready for a great night's sleep. Everyone seems healthy, but tired.

The wife of one church came up to me tonight and shared that she was ready to fish out of the other side of the boat. I had preached on that this morning.

I had mentioned that the boats were designed especially for fishing with the keel offset for use of the net only on the left side, and to fish on the right (wrong) side was dangerous. But if the decision to be obedient seemed dangerous, then place your life in God's hands and fish on the wrong (right) side of the boat.

She told me that she believed her church must start "dangerous" ministries such as to AIDS victims, disabled people, gang members, the "other" part of Pachuca. Pray for her courage, and that of her church.

Continue to pray, for tomorrow some of the youth will be going to school with their host. The churches have more than 150 names of people who they have identified as being lost and planning for visits.

Your brother on the scene ....

Monday

This is the last report from me about Mexico. In the morning I return to Mexico City and then back to the US. You may be able to get up-to-date photos and information for the remaining days of the campaign here by checking the web site at http://www.acts431.org/awol/index.html. That is part of the youth home page.

Today was filled with activities including home visits many visits to schools and services in the churches. Everywhere, people prayed to receive the Lord.

We are not sure at this point, but it appears that more than 200 people have indicated a desire to know Christ so far. Everyone is so grateful at the work God is doing.

Please continue to pray for the last 2 days. It seems as if there is a great stirring of the Lord.

Tuesday-Wednesday

The Lord moved in a mighty way. As best as can be understood, more than 400 people indicated a desire to know Jesus personally.

Youth Report

AWOL Trip to Pachuca, Mexico - March 6, 1999

Today we travelled, boarded a bus, and waited to travel more! It seemed that traveling was much of our day. Everybody made it safely through customs and all the formalities of international travel. When we arrived, two-thirds of our student boarded a bus, and the remainding students waited for their bus to arrive! Once everyone learned patience and the bus arrived, we went into Mexico City and viewed the ancient pyramids for a while. We returned to La Primera Iglesia Bautista (FBC) in Pachuca and met our brothers and sisters here. In the parade in Pachuca an estimated 400-800 people marched through that evening!

Our students learned that Mexico is not always on the same schedule we are, found some Spanish from deep within and got to know their host homes. And yes, Amanda made it OK!

Here are some pictures, Mom!

AWOL Trip to Pachuca, Mexico - March 7, 1999

If we had not yet learned that Mexico City and McKinney were different, we learned it today! The students enjoyed various breakfasts (ask Nathan O'Connell about the sheep), and then split into 5 teams to minister at the different churches. Not everything went as planned this morning! For example, Greg Estes got a 20 second warning that he was preaching Sunday morning, by himself, in Spanish with no translator! Others preached and shared a personal testimony for the first time, and God truly worked through them.

In the afternoon we enjoyed a lunch at La Primera Iglesia Bautista, and then took part in various activities. Two Pachuca citizens prayed to receive Christ as students witnessed in the square, while others folded testimonies and set up for the huge gathering Sunday night. Well over 1,200 from Pachuca attended to hear a message on AIDS (from Pachucan students) and to enjoy hearing our teens sing and play some songs.

Please continue to pray, as God moves and kids try to get where God is blessing! We need God's help.

We have no pictures for today yet, due to some technical difficulties. But we promise your kids still look as goofy as ever!

AWOL Trip to Pachuca, Mexico - March 8, 1999

Monday was an interesting day, and definitely one in which God blessed! Students went to school with kids from their host homes, and many had very positive times. Some groups were able to sing and share why they were here. Other students partnered with a Pachucan and visited prospects, and many continued to share with people in public. Many people made a profession of faith as a result of our kids sharing their testimonies (in Spanish, of course). In the Ice Cream shop alone (pictured below) five people made a profession of faith!

We enjoyed lunch and a siesta, and then split up to our churches that evening. Much of the confusion was gone and most teens and adults ended up at the correct church. God is working, and we covet your prayers.

We have pictures today!

AWOL Trip to Pachuca, Mexico - March 9, 1999

Today we visited a downtown business and the owner invited all of the employees to the break room and we had a chance to give our testimony to them and tell them how they could be saved. We had one saved there and then invited the rest to come that night. We also got a chance to go to the park where we passed out suckers and our testimonies, and saw many come to Jesus. There were about 25 workers that took a break and we got a chance to share with them. It was a great day and God did a great work!

Here's what we did today!

AWOL Trip to Pachuca, Mexico - March 10, 1999

Our last day in Pachuca was really great! They worked real hard to show us a good time and boy did they! We had a big going away party at the home of one family and they had a big barbeque! They gave us hats, shirts and a clock! They were so generous! We had our big night at the theatre and many came to know Jesus there and we had a tearful goodbye. God was so good to us to let us visit these brothers and sisters!

Last day of pictures...

AWOL Trip to Pachuca, Mexico - March 11, 1999

The trip to Pachuca was a great one. Between 400 and 500 people came to know The Lord. The local churches now must follow up and help these young Christians to grow and find God's will for their lives.

As always, we look forward to our next missions trip. If you would like more information about it, please contact us with your questions.

A report from Mexico

Spanish

Un saludo desde Pachuca. No quería escribir estas reflexiones sin antes tener nuestra reunión de evaluación. La reunión será el día de mañana.

Desde mi punto de vista quiero compartir lo siguiente:

Antes de que llegaran ustedes había mucha expectativa respecto a lo que iba a suceder durante el tiempo de la campaña. Antes se había tenido la experiencia de tener actividades con grupos de hermanos americanos, pero nunca en una cantidad tan grande. Básicamente se había trabajado con hermanos adultos y ahora el reto era trabajar con una mayoría de jóvenes. No sabíamos que iba a pasar. Gracias a Dios porque él fue acomodando todo para que este esfuerzo de trabajo conjunto fuera de bendición.
Creo que los jóvenes de McKinney se portaron a la altura de esta experiencia nueva para muchos de ellos. Al principio parece que la relación con los jóvenes de Pachuca era algo fría, pero el Señor obró y al empezar a relacionarse las cosas cambiaron radicalmente. Creo firmemente que el propósito de que hubiera entre los jóvenes "parnertship" se pudo cumplir de una manera natural y sin complicaciones.
Considero que el trabajo evangelístico que realizaron los jóvenes en compañía de algunos adultos fue de mucha bendición. Aunque pudiéramos pensar que 400 a 500 decisiones son pocas, creo que tenemos que reconocer y dar mérito a los jóvenes porque realmente ellos fueron los que trabajaron. Creo que tanto para jóvenes de Mckinney como para jóvenes de aquí fue su primer experiencia evangelizadora.
La actividad provocó que una buena cantidad de hermanos de la iglesia tomaran la decisión de participar en el trabajo de la campaña y no sólo eso, también fueron movidos a participar en la conservación de resultados.
Desde que decidimos que se llevara a cabo la actividad estabamos conscientes que esto implicaría muchas cosas, especialmente lo relacionado con la conservación de resultados. Estamos seguros que eso forma parte de la tarea y ya se están dando los pasos necesarios para ayudar a crecer a aquellos que tomaron una decisión por Cristo.
Creo que la actividad sirvió para que como Iglesias Bautistas nos pudiéramos dar a conocer más en nuestra ciudad. Por algunos comentarios nos hemos dado cuenta que la actividad no pasó desapercibida para mucha gente de la ciudad.
En lo personal, como responsable de la organización de la campaña, aprendí muchas cosas que para mi eran desconocidas. Sinceramente, hubo ocasiones en las cuales las cosas parecían ser más grandes que mis fuerzas, pero en esos momentos pude ver la mano del Señor actuando para levantarnos, ayudarnos y darnos la capacidad para poder hacer las cosas. Entiendo que cometimos errores, muchos de ellos debido a la falta de experiencia. Con todo, yo creo firmemente que el Señor hizo posible todo redundara en bendición no solamente para nosotros como iglesias, sino principalmente para aquellos que escucharon acerca del Señor.
Por lo anterior creo que a través de la actividad el Señor nos dio la visión de que podemos hacer grandes cosas en su Nombre. Creo que tanto ustedes como nosotros ahora compartimos la misma visión. Por lo cual considero que la actividad que pasó no debe ser la única que podamos tener juntos. Como pastor de la iglesia quisiera animarles y pedirles en el nombre de Jesús que consideremos la posibilidad de volver a unir nuestros esfuerzos para que juntos podamos realizar otras actividades. Como no sabíamos exactamente qué iba suceder durante el tiempo de estar ustedes aquí, no organizamos ningún otro tipo de trabajo. Si el Señor desea que volvamos a trabajar juntos ya tenemos una visión más amplia de las cosas que podemos hacer juntos.
La invitación para volver a venir a Pachuca está abierta, no sólo para jóvenes sino también para los adultos. Ya hubo "parnertship" entre jóvenes, puede haberlo también entre adultos.
Espero que los padres que tenían desconfianza de que sus hijos vinieran a México haya cambiado después de la actividad. Lamento mucho que algunos de los jóvenes se hayan enfermado. Nuestro deseo es que puedan estar bien de salud. Espero que eso no cambie su deseo de volver de nuevo a Pachuca.
Gracias a Dios por la Primera Iglesia Bautista de McKinney y la visión que ha dado a sus miembros. Que el Señor les bendiga ricamente.

También me gustaría saber cuáles fueron sus impresiones respecto a la campaña. Espero noticias.

Que el Señor le bendiga a usted y su familia.

En el amor del Señor.

Juan Antonio Aguilar

English

A greeting from Pachuca. It did not want to write these reflections without before having our meeting of evaluation. The meeting will be at some future date.

From my point of view I want to share the following thing:

Before you arrived there was much expectation with respect to what was going to happen during the time of the campaign. Before the experience, we had had activities with groups of American brothers, but never in a so many. Basically, we had worked with adults believers and now the challenge was to work with a majority of young people. We did not know that it was going to happen. Thanks be to God because he worked out everything so that this effort of joint work was a grat blessing.
I believe that the young people of McKinney behaved well, with thsi being a new experience for many of them. It seems in the beginning that the relation with the young people of Pachuca was somewhat cool, but the Lord built something and when that started, things changed radically. I firmly believe that the intention to have "parnertship" between the young people did occur and happened in a natural way and without complications.
I consider that the evangelistic work which they did with the young people and accompanied by some adults was a great blessing. Although we might think that 400 to 500 decisions are only a few, I believe that we must recognize and give merit to the young people because they really worked hard. I also believe that for many of the young people of McKinney, as well as for young people of Pachuca, it was their first evangelistic experience.
The activities also involved many of the people of the church in participating in the work of the campaign and not only that, also were moved to participate in the Discipling of those that made decisions.
Ever since we decided to do this campaign, we were conscious that this would imply many things, specially the related thing to the conservation of results (discipling). We are sure that the task must be done and the necessary steps are already being put in palce to help to grow those who made a decision for Christ.
I believe that the project served to help the Baptists Churches be presented more in our city. By some commentaries we have realized that the project did not go unnoticed by many people of the city.
Personally, as the person in charge of the organization of the campaign, I learned many things that I did not know before. Honestly, there were occasions in which the things seemed to be greater than my own power, but at those moments I could see the hand of the Lord acting to lift me up, to help to us and to give us the capacity us to be able to do the right thing. I understand that we committed errors, many of them due to the lack of experience. With everything, I believe firmly that the Lord did everything possible, resulting not only in blessing for us as churches, but mainly for those who heard about the Lord..
Regarding this, I believe that through the project the Lord gave us a vision that we can do great things in his Name. I believe that you, as much as we, now share the same vision. By which I consider that the project that happened does not have to be the ony one that we do together. As pastor of the church, wanted to animate them and to request in the name of Jesus that we consider the possibility of returning to unite our efforts so that together we can do another project. As we did not know exactly what was going to happen during the time you were to be here, we did not organize any other type of work. If the Lord wishes that you return to work together, we already have more of a larger vision of the things that we can do together.
The invitation to return to come to Pachuca is open, not only for young people but also for the adults. Already there was " parnertship " between young people, so also, we can have it between adults.
I hope that the parents who had concerns about their children coming to Mexico have changed after the project. We lament that some of the young people became ill. Our desire is that they can stay healthy. I hope that that does not change its desire to return again to Pachuca.
Thanks to God for the First Church Baptist of McKinney and the vision that it has given to his members. I pray that the Lord will continue to bless them richly.

Also I would like to know what are your impressions with respect to the campaign. I wait for the news.

God bless to you and your families.

In the love of the Lord.