By Hannah Poon

Before going on the short term missions trip to Mexicali, I had not spiritually prepared and I set a limit for God. I had gone the year before so I basically expected what happened last year to happen again this year. However, God showed me that He can do the impossible and He humbled me.

On the first day, we did homeless outreach, and I was so nervous to talk to the homeless. However, as I approached the first person, a sense of peace and love filled me and I wasn’t afraid anymore. During Vacation Bible School (VBS), I was scared to communicate because of the language barrier, so I tried to stay in my comfort zone. Despite my unpreparedness and fear, God revealed to me during the coming week that He had other plans for me.

During day 2, we did construction and God was so good that He made the temperature only 100 degrees at its highest and there was even a breeze! This showed me that God is truly in control of everything, even the weather. During VBS that day, I got to know the kids a lot more and was able to bond with them. There was a game that we played where two teams tossed a football back and forth and if a person couldn’t catch the ball, that person was out. This game was invented by the Mexicali people, and it was very fun. I learned to play their games and learned their culture instead of enforcing on them OUR games and culture. As the days went on, God showed me His healing and that He is always in control.

On day 4, we attended the Oasis Church service. And at the end, the Mexicali team prayed for the Oasis congregation. I was so touched when a little girl was the first to come up and it really taught me to have faith like a child and to learn how to be foolish for God. As we prayed I could sense that the Holy Spirit was there, ministering, and filling the church. The only word I can use to describe it is indescribable. After the service the Oasis congregation prayed for us and they hugged us and they were just so open and loving. During that service, I completely surrendered to God. During the next day, I met a man named Hamilton. He could speak a little English and we were able to have some conversation. I prayed for him to have spiritual and physical restoration for him and his family to get together. I also met a man named Mario. After I blessed him, he asked if he could pray for me and I was touched. At the VBS, I got to know kids named America and Leo more. They were so sweet and in the very limited Spanish I knew and through hand motions, we were able to talk and have fun together.

This trip has taught me not to limit or restrict God and to completely surrender every single thing to Him.