TERI WILSON

Romancing the pet lover's soul

This past weekend, the first of 2009, I did something entirely different. I traveled to Mexico with other members of my church to build a playground at a church school in the border town of Piedras Negras.
 
Going on a mission trip is something I?ve wanted to do for years and I have no idea why I waited until now to give it a shot. Actually?when I really think about it, I do know why. It all boils down to one simple word ? FEAR. Not any one particular fear, but a whole bundle of little fears that, when taken together, make one big mess. Fear of the unknown. Fear of not knowing the language. Fear of getting sick from drinking the water in a foreign country. Fear of danger.

The list goes on?

And it culminates with perhaps the biggest fear ? fear that I would not be able to find any friends or family who wanted to go with me and I would be alone in a group of strangers.

Turns out that last fear came true. And guess what. I met loads of interesting, warm people who I never would have gotten to know otherwise. By nature, people who go on mission trips are the friendly sort. I was fine.

Once I took the leap and signed up for the trip, the fears hid for a while. I was elated and couldn?t wait to get down there and do something really meaningful to start the new year. I packed about a million bottles of water and tons of peanut butter. Being a vegetarian, I wasn?t sure if I?d want to eat any of the food. (In case you?re wondering, I had the best cheese enchiladas ever!)

Then, the morning of the trip the fear reared its ugly little head. I could think of nothing else but the reaction of my parents and my dog obedience teacher when they found out I was going to Mexico and had volunteered to drive my car across the border. They thought I was nuts. My obedience instructor was convinced I would be kidnapped (and that was the best-case scenario as far as he was concerned.) It?s a good thing I did volunteer to drive because that meant there was no backing out. People were counting on me. Over here in Texas? and over there in Mexico.

The crazy thing is, once I crossed that border and used my passport for the very first time, I forgot what I had been so afraid of. I became instantly enraptured by the smiling faces of the people we were there to serve. I raked sand in the hot Mexican sun until my hand bled with blisters. But when we were finished, the most miraculous thing happened. We carried the playground equipment onto the sand and before we could even set it down, kids were everywhere. Climbing, playing, laughing. The playground wasn?t the nicest I?d ever seen ? the equipment wasn?t even new ? but it was the best thing these children had. And watching them that day, I found it hard to believe I?d ever had any doubts about going on the trip.

I?ve posted some of my photos from Mexico below. And trust me when I say these pictures are only a tiny slice of my brief life as a missionary. These may be the only pictures I have in my camera, but my mind is filled with hundreds of images I will never forget ? the goat herder who seemed to materialize out of the hills with a long staff and dozens of goats at his feet, the old man who rode a bicycle so loaded down with bales of hay on the handlebars it was a wonder he remained upright, the sound of roosters crowing at all hours that was like music to my city girl ears and a border sunset such a vivid red it took my breath away.

The morning we left, we all held hands with members of that tiny church in the hills of Piedras Negras as their pastor prayed. His prayer was in Spanish, but an older lady there spoke English and translated for us. It was one of the most eloquent and beautiful prayers I?ve ever heard, especially the part when he said, ?though we speak different languages, we all stand hand-in-hand as brothers and sisters.?

I sit here now at my computer with the dust of Mexico still on my shoes and I know that this experience will transform everything about my life, including my writing. And wouldn?t it be a shame if this year had been just like all the others and I?d simply stayed home and dreamed about one day going on a mission trip?

This year, I?ve decided to adopt a Bible verse as my motto. John 10:10 ? ?I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.? This year I will live a life abundant with adventure and love, rich with all the experiences God doesn?t want me to miss. This is the year I refuse to let fear and doubt get in my way.

Won?t you join me in putting the NEW in NEW YEAR?

Blessings, Teri