Testimonies

There and Back Again: A Traveler's Tale

by Larz Yerian

Alpine Christian Academy Mexico Mission trip #7, my 5th (though only fourth with ACA.)

March 12, 2006- departure from the Americanos bus station in downtown Denver, Colorado. This departure took place with nine ACA students and three students from elsewhere. Also a couple from Wyoming who have accompanied all the trips, and a teacher from ACA.

March 13, 2006- crossing of the border to Mexico. It went so unbelievably smooth. Later the same day we arrived in Chihuas (slang for Chihuahua City) and met up with Maci Berkeley and switched buses. Still later the same day we arrived in Creel on the Copper Canyon and were picked up by the Shanks and none other than my good buddy Carlos. The ride to Samachique from Creel was about two hours. We listened to U2 and Pillar. Finally we were allowed to sleep after arriving at the Berkeley's home in Samachique.

It is at this point that the days become befuddled. We had no use for dates and times really. We simply began pounding metal posts for the fence around the little hospital airstrip. Then we did that some more. Then we mixed concrete and lay a slab of that near the hangar. Then we lay some around the support posts for the fence (after digging the holes and chopping the posts first of course.) Then we traveled to Pamachi with Carlos and we built a fence for Mayra and 'tilled' her garden and hiked to the Barranca vista and got a student wounded. Then we returned and worked some more at the hanger, pounding and digging and cementing. Oh, right, and we did all of this mostly sick. Some were sick every day. I lasted till the end. Few people ever have gotten sick on previous trips, it was odd. However, I strongly believe that the only reason we did was because we really were unified. We grew spiritually and were connected in prayer and devotion. It was more so than ever before. Usually there are spats and dramas and hard feelings that manifest, but only the tiniest, barest ones showed. Therefore, 's only toe-hold was health. And we still accomplished much even with the ailments. And we kept good spirit and joy and fellowship though it all.

I have come to a realization. I love people. All of them. I love living with these wonderful s. I love listening to people speak my native tongue. I love the security. The food. The freedom to spend (too much) money. I love it all. But I also it. Every bit.

I cannot do it. I don't want to deal with useless unpractical classes. I don't want to waste my time here when I know I can help others elsewhere. I want to never have to deal with Americans and their problems. It seems all I've had is an inundation with more or less petty problems. Now this is most definitely not to belittle anybody. For two weeks I was with twelve high schoolers in a third world country. And those high schoolers complained about as much as a team of sled dogs does when they are harnessed. That may not be a hugely helpful analogy. However, what I mean is that they complained very little. They were eager to serve. That is how I want to be every day all day. I want to look at what I have and wonder how much of it I can do without so as to benefit others. I want to roll out of bed at the of dawn and welcome the sun over the misted cliffs. I want to pray without ceasing. I have realized many important things about American Christians (this includes me.) One thing is that it is easy to forget to pray. You see, here in this country we have easy access to necessities. In Mexico that is not the case. In every moment of the day something comes up. Something that ordinary means cannot rectify. Something that everybody groups together and prays about briefly before continuing the day. I love this. I love the fellowship, the true necessity of spiritual growth. Here on this Christian campus I am sated with spiritual things, ideas, mantra. But they are really left unused. In Mexico I can see the things I do affect people every day. I can see the fruits of my labor. My physical and spiritual labor. And I love that feeling.

Here is an example:

In Mexico is a man I love, and man named Carlos. He has a wife who is a nurse at the hospital and two small children. Carlos drills wells in the villages surrounding the hospital. Carlos builds things. Carlos also runs the x-ray machine at the hospital. Carlos and Miriam and the kids live above the hospital in a very small, Carlos-built home. Carlos has a truck. This truck is rather old, but pretty beefy. However, the tires are very nearly bald and that is not good on the rough terrain. So we, the group of high schoolers, myself and four s decided to give Carlos the money to buy new tires for his truck. We each pulled money from our wallets and added it to the money that was in the Mexico fund. We then presented Carlos with about $500 for good new tires. While we did not actually get to see him purchase and utilize our gift, we did see the gratitude and relief that our gift caused.

Example #2:

In Mexico is a woman I love, a woman named Mayra. She lives all alone in a remote village two hours drive from the hospital. She is a nurse. She cares for the people of Pamachi. She walks long trails to visit the ill. She drives patients to the hospital. She has a garden and a chicken coup and a fence around both. We had the opportunity to mend the fence. To make it dog proof so her vegetables and animals are safe from pilfering. We also had the opportunity to serve with her. She knows many people in the vicinity who are slowly dying of hunger because of the drought and illnesses and various other reasons. We personally backpacked 15 kilos of beans each to several families and old people one day. I witnessed something I'd never seen on any of my six trips to that region. I saw a Tarahumara woman cry in gratitude. The Tarahumara seldom show emotions, even grief at s. I was so blessed to have been a part of helping people. It is possible that we saved some people from starvation that day. And all we did was carry semi-heavy loads to nearly inaccessible homes.

This is the sort of thing I wish to spend my life doing. I must be His hands and feet.

There are times when I want to burst in to tears. This, what I do here, is meaningless, useless and dumb. My heart is no longer in it. I don’t know if it ever was. I feel like a broken bone, grating, tender, out of place. It hurts. I am overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by the pettiness and pointlessness that surrounds me. Don’t people realize that there are others? Others who feel and hurt and love. Even on this Christian campus I find few who realize their selfishness. Can people realize it? Can they strive to rid themselves of it? I have striven to do so. And I have found it impossible. But I try. I find it much easier to ignore my own self when serving others. It is easier to accomplish away from American society. When I have to lean on God to provide for me and others. I can forget the self when I'm not catering to it, not worrying. I am not a worrier. Never have been. It helps me in everything. I forget things unless they are in front of me. I can adjust well and quickly. I don’t want to forget Mexico. The people, the experiences. To do so would cripple me, as my heart is in pieces. Each time I return to Mexico, more pieces stay behind. My heart is sundered. I must reunite the pieces. Only then can this pain leave me. The pressure of the pent up tears will decline. Only relief, only the Call will remain. That is all I need. That is why I must go. Why I continue to return. Until I return again I strive to contain the pressure.

Only a few understand. Those are the others who feel the tug. Who hear the Call. In them I find fellowship, comfort, and support. Thank you all.

 Student testimony:

  Mexico was a wonderful experience to me. It was the first mission trip that I had ever been on. I was happy that I was able to serve God and help the Tarahumaran people. It was fun because it was my first time out of the country. I enjoyed seeing other places. I had never seen extreme poverty like that before. It was a beautiful area and reminded me a lot of Colorado. It’s cool how the Berkley’s have created a hospital for the impoverished, indigenous people. God taught me not to take for granted all the stuff I have. I was proud to help and would do it again.

This provides a great assistance in increasing the Tarahumarans small capacity in helping the Tarahumarans get unsick.

- Louie -

  It was a fun trip! We spent a bunch of hours on a bus till we got were we were supposed to go. We spent time putting a fence around the landing strip.             

- Justin -

  Mexico was an awesome experience to test us and our relationships with God. Out of it I grew so much with God and am very grateful for this awesome experience.  I  would never take it back.  I look forward to more missions for my life in the future and this was awesome preparation for many years of serving God.  Wish I could have been able to speak Spanish.

- Jason -