Reynosa, Mexico – More than Enough

Posted on April 30, 2024 by Jill English Johnston


What a beautiful journey it has been. Thank you for joining me as I reflected on our trip to Reynosa, Mexico. My last blog shared a lesson from Created Ministry’s Ashley Rogers on compassion and resourcefulness that struck a chord within my heart as I headed south to the border. Through the story of Jesus multiplying loaves and fishes, Ashely illuminated the power of bringing our meager offerings to God, who can amplify them beyond measure. Her lesson sharpened my perspective and guided me to recognize my own abilities and resources in serving others. I saw this compassion and resourcefulness exemplified by Roland and Carolyn Ashby and their work with Strategic Alliance.

For the first blog in this series, visit Reynosa, Mexico: An Introduction.

With a 330 am departure, we returned from Reynosa, Mexico and arrived back at Journey Fellowship early enough to attend the first service and hear Don Story’s sermon on More than Enough. For the blog about our return, visit Reynosa, Mexico: Day Six Return.

Don used the story from Exodus of the newly freed Israelites constructing the tabernacle (tent) where they would worship God as they traveled through the desert. Before they could even begin, they needed supplies. In Exodus 25:1-9, God instructs Moses to tell the people to bring what is needed as an offering.

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breast piece. “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you. Exodus 25:1-9

The Israelites abundantly responded to the call for supplies, so much so that they had more than enough to do the work God had instructed. In Exodus 36:7, Moses had to give the order everyone to stop bringing anything else.

Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.” Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work. Exodus 36:2-7

Don thanked everyone in that Sunday sermon. “Journey asked,” he said. “And you gave.” We had more than enough donations to purchase all the supplies to build and to furnish the house. But, as Ashley had pointed out, it’s more than just about money. It can also be the things we have that God prompts us to give. Or to use. Things like power tools and paint supplies that the volunteers brought with them to Reynosa. The sewing machines used to make the dresses for the little girls. As well as our time, our energy, our skills, and our presence. Not our leftovers. But our abundance. Our best, our quality, our excellence. (Although even leftovers and used items can be beautifully repurposed and given in love).

Once Moses had collected the supplies and materials, the work needed to begin. And to do that, workers were needed. God had beautiful plans for the tabernacle and that required those gifted with some special skills. Exodus 31:2-11 identifies metalworkers, jewelers, seamsters, among other artisans.

“See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent— the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand— and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.” Exodus 3:2-11

While most of us on the Reynosa team went because we wanted to help, we didn’t have any special skills other than being willing to jump in and work. But we had more than enough. Just like the Israelites had everything and everyone needed to build a tabernacle for worship, we had everything and everyone needed to build a house. Among us were a few experienced carpenters and painters. And along with two veteran Strategic Alliance builders, we also had a professional window washer, Spanish speakers, and some shoppers. Among the teams who came with us were a couple of young artists who painted personalized designs and images on the front doors. With the extra wood and scraps left over we had more than enough to build shelves and kitchen storage. Although we went through the paint rather quickly and thought we’d run out, somehow we had more than enough to finish. We even found some rebar on the lot that provided more than enough to make a dividing curtain rod and a clothing rod for the bedroom.

What else did we have more than enough of?

Days. Four days didn’t seem enough time for that pile of building supplies on the slab to turn into a home.

But it was. And that pile became a cozy little home for a family in Reynosa

Hours. On the last day, four hours didn’t seem enough time to finish the inside painting, shelving, and unpacking and decorating.

But it was. And we handed over the keys to the family with prayer and blessing.

Energy. Exhausted from so much travel before Reynosa, I didn’t think I’d have enough energy and people capacity for the week.

But I did. And I came back energized and overflowing with joy.

Don then moved from the Old Testament to the New Testament where, in John 6, he read the story of Jesus and the disciples facing a hungry crowd. When Jesus told his disciples to feed the people, they only saw the lack.

Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:7-8

But in the hands of Jesus, they fed the thousands. And they had food left over. Everyone had more than enough. With much left over.

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. John 6:12-13

What’s not enough in our hands, especially when we want to share it, is more than enough in Jesus’ hands. In our hands, what we have may seem meager, inadequate, and not enough. But in the hands of Jesus, it becomes sufficient, abundant, more than enough. And when we have the blessing, we can be faithful with the leftovers. Like we were with the wood and rebar.

Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians that our God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Don wrapped up with a question to challenge us. “Is what we have meant to be consumed (not enough) like the boy’s meal, or planted (for an abundant harvest) like the boy’s meal in Jesus’ hands?” He also reminded us that miracles don’t take place before we need it, the miracle takes place as we need it.

What will our attitude be when we see a need?

  • Frustration or Fulfillment
  • Poverty or Provision
  • Lack or Abundance

To hear Don Story’s sermon, visit: More than Enough

Is what we have meant to be consumed (not enough) like the boy’s meal, or planted (for an abundant harvest) like the boy’s meal in Jesus’ hands.

Don Story

The journey to Reynosa, Mexico was a profound experience, highlighting the power of compassion and resourcefulness. Our abundance of supplies and volunteers mirrored the story of the Israelites building the tabernacle in the desert. The message resonates with the idea that what may seem insufficient in our hands becomes more than enough in the hands of Jesus.

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Reynosa, Mexico – Loaves and Fishes

Posted on April 16, 2024 by Jill English Johnston

We’re now nearing the end of the series on Reynosa, Mexico. It has been such a joy sharing my experiences with you. I hope you come away with some glimpses of Jesus’ heart for the poor, the broken hearted, the powerless. In these last two blogs I’m sharing two teachings I heard that fits right into the mission trip. One came before we left and the other the day we returned.

For the first blog in this series, visit Reynosa, Mexico: An Introduction.

If you remember, the trip to Reynosa came toward the end of an insanely busy and exhausting couple of months. After an unexpected and emotionally draining family situation the end of September, my husband and I traveled from the soggy, cool northeastern states in October to the chilly Colorado mountains in November, to the warm, balmy Caribbean in December. In a space of three months we packed, unpacked, and repacked three different climate wardrobes. At Christmas, we packed again—with work clothes, tools and painting supplies—and despite having very little time for rest and recovery, I wanted to go.

I showed up to Journey Fellowship that morning ready to climb into the van. But truthfully, I was depleted. The chatter in the van as we drove south felt loud. I just wanted to check out and I did for some of the ride, reading my kindle while squeezed between Jon and a very excited Elizabeth Aguilar, whom I now know better and have come to love. On the drive home five days later, I found myself contributing to the excited chatter. Looking back, I can see how Jesus used the first teaching at the end of November to prepare me for his abundant overflow.

My dear friend and artist, Ashley Rogers, founder and director of Created Ministry, taught at a Tuesday morning Bible study on November 29th. She began with a very important question: What’s in your basket?She then taught on the needs of the many, the story of Loaves and Fishes from Matthew 14 and John 6.

The story comes on the heals of Jesus learning that his cousin, John the Immerser, had been beheaded by King Herod. When Jesus heard the news, he and his disciples left for a remote area to be alone. To grieve and to pray, I would imagine. But the crowds followed. Jesus saw them. Despite any fatigue or personal sorrow, he had compassion for them. He healed their sick. He saw their need for food. Ashley noted, “Even in our grief, our pain, our struggle, we aren’t exempt in giving compassion to others.”

“Even in our grief, our pain, our struggle, we aren’t exempt in giving compassion to others.”

Ashley Rogers

The gospel writers of Matthew and John reveal a problem: a large, hungry crowd quite a distance from town at dinner time. Jesus presents the dilemma to his disciples. They see the situation as bigger than they can handle. They want to send the crowds away. But Jesus sees something else. “Jesus always has a different perspective than the one we have,” Ashley pointed out. He sees through the eyes of compassion.

“Jesus always has a different perspective (compassion) than the one we have.”

Ashley Rogers

Some of the disciples bring to him what they’ve found: a more than adequate meal for a boy (five loaves of bread and two fish) but nothing for so many people. “What good is it with such a huge crowd,” one of his disciples wonder. It isn’t. Except in the hands of Jesus. A lunch of loaves and fishes was more than enough for one boy and Jesus made it more than enough for many people. So much so that the disciples collected twelve baskets of leftovers. “Jesus takes our ‘just right amount’ and multiplies it,” Ashely said.

“Jesus takes our ‘just right amount’ and multiplies it.”

Ashley Rogers

During her lesson, Ashley shared several takeaways that resonated with me as I thought about the upcoming trip to Reynosa, Mexico with Strategic Alliance.

  1. We see a problem: People living and scavenging in the dump to survive.
  2. Jesus asks us to do something: Roland and Carolyn Ashby who felt God was telling them to respond.
  3. We realize the problem is bigger than what we can solve on our own: So many needy. So many needs.
  4. Jesus is okay with us being in this uncomfortable space: What should be done? Where do we start? How do we pay for supplies? Who will do the work?
  5. We include Jesus, we bring the problem to him: Roland and Carolyn prayed and asked God what he would have them do.

We often find ourselves in a place where we want Jesus to do something but it seems too miraculous. But not when we stop and see what God has given us.

Ashley walked us through a Stewardship Assessment – to look at what’s already in our hands, to use well that God has already provided. Take out a sheet of paper, label three columns at the top with Needs, Resources, Passions. Pray. Ask God what needs people have that he wants you to see right where you’re at. Then ask him to show you the resources he’s already given you. Finally, make a list of the things that inspire you, excite you, that you’re passionate about.

There you go. Now you know what’s in your basket. Based on your passions, ask God what needs he’d have you tend to? What resources has he given you that makes you uniquely qualified to address those needs?

NeedsResourcesPassions
Physical needsPhysical resources (personal)Things you enjoy and desire
Mental needsAccess (relationally and physically)Things you want to see God do
Spiritual needsCapacity (energy, time, space, etc)Inspiration from observation or experience
Emotional needsSkills, knowledge, abilities
Communal needsDesires and interests
Stewardship Assessment, shared by Ashley Rogers

Remember, we’re not meant to do this alone. I definitely saw that in Reynosa, Mexico. There is no way that Roland and Carolyn can build and furnish thirteen homes in five days by themselves. But together, 213 of us can. And we did.

Consider who God has placed in your life. We are not meant to do this alone. You are part of a Collective We. Do the assessment again, this time asking, what do we have together?

Think about what kinds of needs did Roland and Carlyon saw when they first visited Reynosa, Mexico in 1988.

  • Families living under plastic bags/card board boxes in/around garbage dump
  • People struggling with alcohol and drug addictions, prostitution, illnesses and health challenges
  • Lack of schools, education, skills
  • Environmental challenges
  • Lack of home repair knowledge

What do you think they needed in order to help? How could they meet the needs of all the people?

What was in Roland and Carolyn Ashby’s basket?

  • They were learning Spanish
  • Roland had experience in the insurance industry
  • Roland was a very energetic and persuasive person
  • Carolyn was a nurse
  • They had several years of experience in mobilizing short term missions, recruiting bible teachers, evangelists, doctors, and dentists
  • They founded an orphanage
  • They had connections to pastors and congregations

God had given them the skills, knowledge, and abilities they could use to assist the people living in a dump in Reynosa, Mexico. And now, over 30 years later, there’s an entire town filled with families living in homes built by Strategic Alliance, there’s a sponsorship program so children can attend the local elementary school, and there’s a middle school being built in their town so that the children can continue their education.

What’s in your basket?

“There’s never a lack in the Kingdom of God.
But there’s sometimes a lack in the Body of Christ because we forget to share.”

Ashley Rogers

grace and peace

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Reynosa, Mexico – Our Stories

Posted on April 2, 2024 by Jill English Johnston

After returning from our trip to Reynosa, our team had a chance to talk about our experiences at our church, Journey Fellowship, both at the Women’s Monthly Gathering on a Tuesday night and during both of our services on Sunday morning.

For the first blog in this series, visit Reynosa, Mexico: An Introduction.

Monica is one of the leaders of seventy girls in the American Heritage Girls Troop that meets at Journey Fellowship. Their twenty middle school girls were working on a badge that required sewing so they sewed fourteen dresses for little girls. Monica packed the dresses and took them down to Reynosa. On the second day of our trip, some of the women walked from our team around the community, met the neighbors, and asked if they wanted a dress for their daughters. The girls were shown the dresses in the their size and allowed to choose a one. We had five dresses left at the end of our walk and Monica didn’t want to take any home—she really wanted to bless more girls. We came upon a house and a beautiful little girl came out and we gave her a dress. The mother asked Sarah about a specific size and we handed her a dress. Then another little girl came out of the house and the mother asked if we had her size. We did, and we gave the little girl a dress. And another little girl—they just kept pouring out of the house—and we gave her dress. We had just one dress left, so we took it back to the build site. Sarah and Rolando went down to the little shop in the Colonia and met a man and his daughter and brought them back. She was was the perfect size for the very last dress.

Throughout our remaining days, we saw so many smiling little girls running around the community in their bright, colorful, new dresses.

Joe and Denis Harding come to New Braunfels from Minnesota every winter to get away from the cold. Last year they found out about Strategic Alliance and wanted to go, but then some things happened that caused concerns about safety and their daughter encouraged them not to. The following year they tried again and joined up with our team from Journey Fellowship. As a retired man, many might think that Joe is just going to take it easy. But as he read the Bible and he noticed Caleb who didn’t take it easy—he kept going. Caleb was eighty, working hard, and serving the Lord. Joe, at seventy-one, decided was not too old and that God still wanted to use him. But he wondered how God would use him because he didn’t have any construction skills. But that didn’t matter to God. Joe grew up in a shoe repair shop and at eleven years old started shining shoes. In Reynosa, God connected him with forty-year-old Jorge who lived in the dump and shined shoes in the city plaza. During their conversation, Joe prayed with Jorge. The next day Jorge came back wanting some more of that prayer and Joe prayed with him again. Joe realized that God is as concerned about each one of us as much as he is about others. When God calls us, when we hear his voice, we need to listen.

Joe spent a lot of time across the street at the Colonia church because he likes to clean windows . There were a large number of small windows in that little church and he cleaned every one of them inside and out. Even when little faces and fingers scrunched up against the glass to peek inside, Joe cleaned the windows. As the different teams built houses, Joe made sure that that the church was taken care of. When you listen, and when you decide to serve, God will use what you have. It’s beautiful to watch God use all the different abilities that we all bring.

Todd Clayton recounted the story of when we we thought we were running out of paint. We only had so much and went through five gallons of yellow. We were getting low and Todd was quite worried. He informed Cristiana from Strategic Alliance, wanting to know how we get more paint. “You don’t, she said. Todd was ready to go to Home Depot (there is one in Reynosa). Christiana said we should have been diluting the paint with water from the start, to stretch it. She instructed us to start diluting it. We did, but there wasn’t much paint left to stretch. Todd decided that there was something magic (or maybe miraculous) in that bucket because just about the time we poured what we thought was the very last of it out, we’d come back to the bucket and—you guessed it—there was just enough to pour some more. That probably happened three or four times. We thought we were dead out of paint, but God gave us just enough. It was was like watching the multiplication of loaves and the fishes in real time. God does that. When we have a fear, he will often answer with peace and provision, giving exactly what we need in the circumstances we’re in. What a faith builder to be able to watch that happen in real time.

Elizabeth, the comic relief of our group, added to the paint story. We put a paintbrush in her hand on the first day and she painted, painted, and painted some more. She said, “they kept bringing us more paint, more paint and we’re like, ‘oh we’re not done yet.’ I kept hearing people say, ‘we’re almost out of paint, we’re almost out of paint’ and I was like,’ oh good, I’ll stop’ and and all of a sudden they had more paint and I was like, ‘oh man.’ So we kept painting and painting and and it was amazing.

For Elizabeth, the trip was such a blessing because she had gone on a mission trip when she was in her young teens and now in her fifties, she thought she was too old to go (really? Fifties? I’m thinking that’s NOT old at all). She was willing and God used her. She’s thankful for those who gave so she could go and be able to make a difference in people’s lives. She’s hooked and plans to go again, God willing. She had a bad knee and worried that she might fall—the rough roads in the Colonia are no joke—but everybody watched over her. She painted, she walked about Colonia talking to the neighbors, she learned how to use power tools, and she filled hundreds of bags with food at fiesta. And she counts it all joy.

Sara and Rolando met a local storeowner when they walked down the rocky road to purchase drinks and chips at the “tiendita”—a very Mexican cultural thing to do, a way to connect with the community. Angel Miguel’s store was about eight houses down from the house we were building. Angel told of his gratitude that Strategic Allegiance had built him a house many years prior. His store, a large cinder block building—bigger than the house that had been built for him—serves as the local store for the community, as well as his family’s current home. The store stood in sharp contrast to another neighbor’s home. Sara and Rolando met Manuel while he kept warm beside a fire on the side of the road on a chilly morning. He was also grateful for the house Strategic Alliance had built for him years ago. He, like many of the locals, works at the nearby garbage dump, salvaging what he can salvage, in order to sell or use for his family. His house was now in disrepair and he respectfully welcomed any further help that he could receive.

During one of their daily trips to the store, Rolando mentioned his observation to Angel, that he and many others in the community received a gift, a house. But unlike some in the village, Angel used his as a springboard to grow a business and provide for his family. Other recipients seem to struggle in the same way they did when they first received the gift. Rolando boldly asked the storeowner an important question. “What is the difference?” Angel asked Rolando a question. “Have you read the Bible story of the talents?” Rolando knew the story of Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25:14-29 “It’s the same way here,” Angel told him. “Some receive a gift and it completely changes their life. Others receive a gift and it does not change them as much.” He said that when the house was built for him he knew it was a blessing from God and it gave him a way to make his and his family’s life better. He embraced business opportunities and he valued work. He believed when others doubted. His faith in the Lord brought him to where he is today. As our team drove back home, Sara marveled at how a makeshift group of twelve Christians could do so much for a few people in such little time. She left feeling blessed, knowing that the house we built and future homes that we hope to build will help some people get by for a time and give them a fighting chance in life. And it could also completely transform their lives!

Many of us on the team lacked construction skills, and Joe jokingly commented that he can measure forty times, cut, and still mess up. We wondered how we were going to be able to do what we’ve never done this before. God blessed us with with many skills. We had those, like Jeff—who raised his family coming to Reynosa— and those from Journey Fellowship like Jeff, Ian, and Cara who brought the knowledge we needed to build the house. When we entered into the job site not knowing what we were getting into, God started something beautiful, almost like a symphony orchestra, each one excitedly did our part, found somewhere to serve, tackled a task needing done. We built the house, and we made some friends along the way.

To see the full discussion of our stories at Journey Fellowship on February 4th, 2024, visit: Sending of Jesus.

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Reynosa, Mexico – And Beyond

Posted on March 26, 2024 by Jill English Johnston

Day Seven, and every day beyond

Despite coming home with congestion and a runny nose, I have an amazing amount of spiritual and physical energy. I don’t want to get sick so I force myself to rest and recover. One thing that stands out (among many) one thing the Lord has done, where I had been spiritually depleted and exhausted, I now look forward with eagerness and anticipation to the many things the Lord has on my heart and calendar. Had you told me a month ago that I’d come back refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready, I don’t know that I would have believed you. I fully expected to collapse, to be exhausted, to be done, and to need a long, long rest. Somehow out of the giving of the little that I had, I am now overflowing with abundance.

How has this come about? 

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. 
Luke 6:38

I gave. And the Holy Spirit gave bountifully in return.

December held such an fascinating contrast. My husband and I took two trips. The first, before Christmas, with our son, his girlfriend and her family on a cruise to the western Caribbean. We had a delightful time together onboard and ashore. And while I’m not a huge fan of cruises, I do enjoy being at sea and love spending the time with family and friends, experiencing new places and adventures. Cruises, however, can be over-indulgent, extraordinarily extravagant, and self-seeking.

The second, after Christmas, with our church to Reynosa to build a small house for a family in need. We had an amazing time together. I’ve been wanting to do something like this for so long. I love how God can use us in the smallest of ways to make the biggest difference. Reynosa was about giving, necessity, and serving. Reflecting back, the month brought both leisurely pleasures and profound fulfillment, underscoring the deep dimensions of joy and purpose in our lives. As we enjoy the blessings God gives us, we need also to remember to generously share with others.

For the first blog in this series, visit Reynosa, Mexico: An Introduction.

Something I saw, that I noticed, that I discovered in Colonia—and it doesn’t fit in the narrative often promoted in our media—is that not all people on the border are trying to get across. Not everyone wants to come to the US. I’d say most people really want to live in their own land, with their own family and friends, where they have been born and raised. I met people, living, working, taking care of each other every day, enjoying the everyday blessings of their lives, and sometimes just needing a little help, a little sharing of the kingdom of God.

It causes me to pause, reflect, and wonder. Consider the question. What would compel us to either sell or leave behind everything we own, pack up a few meager belongings, take our children, maybe pay everything we have, leave our home, our family, our friends, our culture, our life, and go, making an arduous and possibly dangerous trip to somewhere else. How bad would our lives have to be, how threatened would we have to feel for ourselves or our children, to flee everything we know? What would make us leave? Why would we go? Where would we go? Who would we trust? How would we get there? And when would we know we’re in a place we can stay?

This question comes to my mind as I consider—not the issue of immigration—but the faces, the names, the stories of each person. Each one, created in the image of our God. Deserving of dignity. Longing for love. Craving compassion. Hoping for hospitality. How now have we forgotten?

cries she. With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Emma Lazarus
November 2, 1883
Statue of Liberty 
This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. 
Jeremiah 22:3

Father, forgive us. We don’t know what we’ve done. We don’t know what we do. Compel us now to return to you and what you’ve called us to. Dignity. Love. Compassion. Hospitality.

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Matthew 25:40&45

Grace & Peace

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Reynosa, Mexico – Day Six Return

Posted on March 19, 2024 by Jill English Johnston

Day Six, December 31, Sunday, New Year’s Eve

In a whirlwind of activity, we finished the final touches on the house before our noon deadline. When Oscar, Pilar, and Christian arrived, we prayed for them then had a a heartfelt reveal. The afternoon Fiesta brought food distribution and entertainment for the surrounding community. Back at the hotel, everyone packs and prepares for an early departure the next day..

For the first blog in this series, visit Reynosa, Mexico: An Introduction.

Amazingly everyone wakes, packs, and meets at 3 am in the parking area. We load the trailer with our suitcases and the 12 of us pile into the van for the ride home, all sitting where we sat on the way down. 13 teams in their vans, loaded trailers, and one smoker actually leave by 330 am. We reach the border by 4 am and are through by 430 am. We stop at a Loves in McAllen to use the restroom and grab some breakfast and more coffee. I notice a sign in the bathroom encouraging toilet paper to be disposed of in the toilet rather than the trash. Just when I had finally remembered.

As we head north toward San Antonio, the sun lights up the early morning sky. During the drive, we recall favorite instances and share memories. We mention poignant moments and powerful stories. We talk about next year. What we want to bring, what we’ll do different and what we’ll do the same. We hope that others want to come and think about those we want to invite.

We arrive back to Journey Fellowship around 9 am and we’re unloaded in time for the 10 am service (only one service since it’s New Year’s Eve). We gather and pray then say our goodbyes. Some of us head into the service and some head home.

It’s been an amazing trip. I’m so thankful that I’ve been able to go. And look forward to going again.

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