BLOG 2: CAMERON SMITH
Note: Cameron has had to rely heavily on the preparedness & generosity of others this week, needing to borrow materials as basic as shoes, a phone charger, and sunscreen. He also forgot his wedding ring. This sufficiently humbles him in advance of writing an account of the last few days, picking up where Rick left off...
Hola from Mexico! What a week it's been already. You don't have to scroll far down at all to see how and where God has continued to show up this week.
Tuesday
With air in our tires, we made the ~45 minute, at times steeply in- and de-clining, trip to the mission's first visit to the village of Las Vigas (cue homophone humor) - a village in a stunningly beautiful corridor of the valley, surrounded on all sides by breathtaking mountain views. We set up the clinic outside of a church built in 1959. Our patients included three sisters from the village, and then we had time for the church-based team's vitals and appointments with the doctors.
A later visitor was a woman who had a background of attending Vida Nueva church, and recently lost her husband. In fact, she was a primary reason for our visit to the village, and it was important to see her and demonstrate that the church is truly willing to connect with her, and to continue doing so, despite the considerable distance. This reminded Skye of Jesus the good shepherd leaving his flock of 99 sheep to seek the 1 that was lost. We have all at one time or another benefited from Christ's body, the Church, continuing this mission in His name. Dr. Esly also added that the Bible instructs us to take extra care for widows and orphans.
After the clinic, we did some home visits in a few different towns, starting in El Tunal. There, we connected with Gabi, who served as an amazing hostess and guide for two very moving visits. Our first was with Elsa, a woman who has experienced tremendous loss and as a result has significant anxiety for herself and her family’s health and safety. Ed, in particular, was moved by her story and Dr. Sandy's compassionately gentle, yet confident, founded-in Christ treatment.
And speaking of the team - what amazing people they are. Doctors Esly and Sandy Fuentes are incredible people, physicians, and preachers, as an all-in-one crusading couple. Other constants are: Javier and Karina of the children's ministry team; Juan, a caballero cantaron who will break into serenading song at any moment; Jose Luis nd Mari Tere, a lovely and dynamic duo; Claudia, who works at the clinic; Pastor Genaro, a uniquely warm person; and young girls Rosio and Yamilet (who have basically been dangling off of Amy, Regan, and Vanessa all week).
We then went to another home with a growing family facing health problems. Here we again prayed as a group in simultaneous and multilingual prayer, which stuck out to Aydan as a highlight in addition to admiration for the long days that the local-based team have. Throughout, was application of the the team's language and connection skills with all we encountered, embodied in particular by Vanessa, who assisted with translating between the care team and patients while hugging their families. We then returned to Gabi’s house where she and her family served us a delicious and seemingly bottomless meal before we prayed over her upcoming diagnostic test. Seriously, come to Mexico for the food and stay for the blessings.
We then returned to La Biznaga, where the medically-skilled people continued to shine in setting up IVs, changing dressings, giving occupational therapy orders, and making patients connected to the church feel more comfortable. It is an amazing privilege to witness these angels - Josh, Regan, and Rick alongside Doctors Esly and Sandy - in action, deploying their expertise and experience to administer care to patients needing physical, as well as spiritual, care.
One visit here was particularly memorable as it was with a multi-generational family-owned and operated cheese & queso business just a few doors down from Vida Nueva. We were able to treat a father-son duo and it was very moving for all involved. The older one initally said that he was "nueve" (9) years old - upon second examination; he was in fact "noventa" (90) years old. May we all be lucky to live so long to make such mistakes and he able to laugh at ourselves like he did.
Wednesday
Starting at the doctors' home, we continued with house visits throughout San Antonio, where many of the Vida Nueva church congregation live. It was a powerful experience to be serving and praying over those whom we had been serving alongside for the past 2 days. Included here were Mari Tari and Claudia.
Between playing games with their children outside, we heard many amazing stories of families who are transformed through Christ. One was of a women who had been serving at church, and whose husband was an alcoholic and abused her. The church provided them a washing machine and the husband was baptized this past Easter. We also checked up on an 82 year who has 6 children, 25 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. He repaired his own roof as recently as 2 years ago, around the same time he started going to church. While he lost his wife recently, he has peace through walking with Christ. We also met a young man named Hernan while caring for his mother who has throat cancer. He is 20 years old, just broke his arm, and does not have any friends. We prayed for healing and for him to meet and make friends.
We were treated to a surprise lunch at the house of a family connected to the church - again delicious! We then went to the church and helped to prepare for and then run the weekly Sharing Hope kids program. It was a great turnout, and produced the hot take that gluing paper model cars together was trickier than inserting an IV... 6/7?
And to cap off this long but amazing day, the church service was one to remember. Josh gave a stirring offering of "I Can Only Imagine" on piano for worship, and Rick preached a rock-solid sermon on the power of revival prayer. We didn't make it home in time for Skye's bedtime, but all would say it was worth it.
Also occurring are injuries sustained during Euchre games - both physical (faked) and emotional (real).
Thank you for your continued prayers - they are felt. We remain healthy and strong and are excited to share about the last part of our week.
Hebrews 13:16 "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
Note: Cameron has had to rely heavily on the preparedness & generosity of others this week, needing to borrow materials as basic as shoes, a phone charger, and sunscreen. He also forgot his wedding ring. This sufficiently humbles him in advance of writing an account of the last few days, picking up where Rick left off...
Hola from Mexico! What a week it's been already. You don't have to scroll far down at all to see how and where God has continued to show up this week.
Tuesday
With air in our tires, we made the ~45 minute, at times steeply in- and de-clining, trip to the mission's first visit to the village of Las Vigas (cue homophone humor) - a village in a stunningly beautiful corridor of the valley, surrounded on all sides by breathtaking mountain views. We set up the clinic outside of a church built in 1959. Our patients included three sisters from the village, and then we had time for the church-based team's vitals and appointments with the doctors.
A later visitor was a woman who had a background of attending Vida Nueva church, and recently lost her husband. In fact, she was a primary reason for our visit to the village, and it was important to see her and demonstrate that the church is truly willing to connect with her, and to continue doing so, despite the considerable distance. This reminded Skye of Jesus the good shepherd leaving his flock of 99 sheep to seek the 1 that was lost. We have all at one time or another benefited from Christ's body, the Church, continuing this mission in His name. Dr. Esly also added that the Bible instructs us to take extra care for widows and orphans.
After the clinic, we did some home visits in a few different towns, starting in El Tunal. There, we connected with Gabi, who served as an amazing hostess and guide for two very moving visits. Our first was with Elsa, a woman who has experienced tremendous loss and as a result has significant anxiety for herself and her family’s health and safety. Ed, in particular, was moved by her story and Dr. Sandy's compassionately gentle, yet confident, founded-in Christ treatment.
And speaking of the team - what amazing people they are. Doctors Esly and Sandy Fuentes are incredible people, physicians, and preachers, as an all-in-one crusading couple. Other constants are: Javier and Karina of the children's ministry team; Juan, a caballero cantaron who will break into serenading song at any moment; Jose Luis nd Mari Tere, a lovely and dynamic duo; Claudia, who works at the clinic; Pastor Genaro, a uniquely warm person; and young girls Rosio and Yamilet (who have basically been dangling off of Amy, Regan, and Vanessa all week).
We then went to another home with a growing family facing health problems. Here we again prayed as a group in simultaneous and multilingual prayer, which stuck out to Aydan as a highlight in addition to admiration for the long days that the local-based team have. Throughout, was application of the the team's language and connection skills with all we encountered, embodied in particular by Vanessa, who assisted with translating between the care team and patients while hugging their families. We then returned to Gabi’s house where she and her family served us a delicious and seemingly bottomless meal before we prayed over her upcoming diagnostic test. Seriously, come to Mexico for the food and stay for the blessings.
We then returned to La Biznaga, where the medically-skilled people continued to shine in setting up IVs, changing dressings, giving occupational therapy orders, and making patients connected to the church feel more comfortable. It is an amazing privilege to witness these angels - Josh, Regan, and Rick alongside Doctors Esly and Sandy - in action, deploying their expertise and experience to administer care to patients needing physical, as well as spiritual, care.
One visit here was particularly memorable as it was with a multi-generational family-owned and operated cheese & queso business just a few doors down from Vida Nueva. We were able to treat a father-son duo and it was very moving for all involved. The older one initally said that he was "nueve" (9) years old - upon second examination; he was in fact "noventa" (90) years old. May we all be lucky to live so long to make such mistakes and he able to laugh at ourselves like he did.
Wednesday
Starting at the doctors' home, we continued with house visits throughout San Antonio, where many of the Vida Nueva church congregation live. It was a powerful experience to be serving and praying over those whom we had been serving alongside for the past 2 days. Included here were Mari Tari and Claudia.
Between playing games with their children outside, we heard many amazing stories of families who are transformed through Christ. One was of a women who had been serving at church, and whose husband was an alcoholic and abused her. The church provided them a washing machine and the husband was baptized this past Easter. We also checked up on an 82 year who has 6 children, 25 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. He repaired his own roof as recently as 2 years ago, around the same time he started going to church. While he lost his wife recently, he has peace through walking with Christ. We also met a young man named Hernan while caring for his mother who has throat cancer. He is 20 years old, just broke his arm, and does not have any friends. We prayed for healing and for him to meet and make friends.
We were treated to a surprise lunch at the house of a family connected to the church - again delicious! We then went to the church and helped to prepare for and then run the weekly Sharing Hope kids program. It was a great turnout, and produced the hot take that gluing paper model cars together was trickier than inserting an IV... 6/7?
And to cap off this long but amazing day, the church service was one to remember. Josh gave a stirring offering of "I Can Only Imagine" on piano for worship, and Rick preached a rock-solid sermon on the power of revival prayer. We didn't make it home in time for Skye's bedtime, but all would say it was worth it.
Also occurring are injuries sustained during Euchre games - both physical (faked) and emotional (real).
Thank you for your continued prayers - they are felt. We remain healthy and strong and are excited to share about the last part of our week.
Hebrews 13:16 "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."