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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Reynosa, Mexico – Day Five Reveal and Fiesta

Posted on March 12, 2024 by Jill English Johnston

Day Five, December 30, Saturday

Yesterday unfolded with my personal frustration over limited tasks while the team worked on installing the roof. However, productivity did not stop. Others shopped for food, installed windows, learned about power tools, did touch-up painting, and crafted shelves from leftover materials. The propane camping stove arrived and to our delight, Raquel brought more tamales.

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

Today brings a flurry of activity. Having felt under-utilized the day before, it’s now hit the ground running, don’t stop, we only have until noon to finish EVERYTHING.

Todd takes Elizabeth and Sara to Soriana to finish shopping for some last minute home supplies. Most of the house items (bedding, cookware, baby items, etc had been purchased and brought with us). The rest of us finish the final construction, install remaining shelves and paint, paint, paint everything inside.

As soon as the paint is dry enough, we descend on the inside with the bed, bedding, the table and chairs, cooking supplies, food, storage items, towels, and baby items. We find some rebar to construct a rod for the privacy curtain (shower curtains) for the bedroom and a clothing rod for their clothes. This brings me much delight because the plan was to use rope which would have sagged, and since I knew that would drive me crazy, I wanted something better for Pilar. The final touch: curtains on the windows.

We finish just in time for the family to arrive. We greet, pray, then have the big inside reveal. Todd anoints the family and presents them with a family bible and a children’s bible. Monica gives them a painting with a verse that her daughter made for them. I brought a wooden train alphabet that had been made for my youngest as a baby and also praying hands that my dad had made. The train adorns the edge of the loft and the praying hands sit on a shelf by the door.

Then we head down the street to Fiesta in a large open field at the edge of town. Food distribution draws the neighbors and the line winds along the fence around the field. Some of us hand out plastic bags to those waiting while others serve up (with huge smiles as warm as the December sun) the beans and rice, masa, oil, milk, and other food items.

In the center, families congregate under canopies and children fill the jump houses. Characters from Toy Story (Woody and Jessie) and Paw Patrol make an appearance to entertain, then the baseball player Jaimie Garcia gives a message. In another area, a team hands out hundreds of pork tacos, made from pork roasted in the smoker they had towed behind their truck to Reynosa .

At the end of the long, busy day, we leave. Tired. Filled. Grateful. We make another run to Soriana for those who want to purchase souvenirs (and I totally forget to get a magnet, which means I definitely have to come back) and any other items wanted. Sara loads up on a Mexican laundry detergent she absolutely loves. I grab a light breakfast for the next day and some coffee since we won’t have time to get any at the 7-11 like we had been doing.

The evening worship and sharing don’t last as long, because it will be an early morning. We are told to meet in the walled parking area at 3 am to load and be ready to leave by 330 am. It’s New Years Eve and we want to get across the border before the rest of the world wakes up for 2024.

Grace and Peace

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Reynosa, Mexico – Day Four Almost Done

Posted on March 5, 2024 by Jill English Johnston

Day Four, December 29, Friday

The day prior, I found unexpected joy in connecting with the Colonia community. Walking along the rough road, we encountered both locals and migrants, shared coffee and stories, and distributed dresses to neighbor girls while the rest of the team continued building the house.

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

But this day is a different day. A very frustrating day for me, personally. I miss the opportunity to visit the dump with Sara and Rolando. I don’t have much work while the team installs the roof. They have enough hands to do what needs to be done. I keep busy with picking up wood and debris around the homesite and sweeping out the loft.

But, in the end, a very productive day overall because other good things happen as well.

  • Sara and Monica leave with Christiana and other team members from Strategic Alliance to shop for food for the family.
  • Final windows are installed.
  • Cara shows the other women how to use the power tools.
  • Denise does touch up painting on the outside.
  • We start installing shelves inside using leftover lumber. The home has no insulation or inside drywall. Studs are exposed and we use them to craft additional shelves.
  • Raquel stops by again, this time with Zacahuil (zaca-wheel)—Veracruz style tamales—wrapped in banana leaves. Instead of a firm masa, it has more of a polenta filling. Again work stops while everyone feasts.
  • Camping-style stove and a large bottle of propane arrive. This will be for cooking.

During the evening worship, we meet Edrai who originally came as a translator for a Colorado group where he taught as a youth leader. While he ministered to those in the dump, God showed him an alter there. He followed the Spirit’s prompting and started the ministry Mercy Without Borders with Strategic Alliance.

We’re introduced to another example of using what we have. A table in the back of the worship room has beautiful potholders for sale. Someone who came to Reynosa saw the need for those most affected by poverty: women and young mothers with children. The desire to “do something” led to women looming potholders at home while also being able to care for their families. The potholders are sold online (and at during the mission trips): the Potholder Ministry began, and the workers earn money to purchase much needed food and supplies for their families.

It makes me wonder, what might we teach women in order to earn money for their families. What do they have in their basket? The last question comes from a Tuesday morning bible study which I’ll share that lesson in a future blog.

During the planning of the mission trip to Reynosa, some had expressed concern to our Pastor, Todd, about the safety of going on a trip to the border. Unease was expressed about children going. Todd stands up to speak during worship and brings to everyone’s attention that half of the two hundred people making up the thirteen groups on the trip are under the age of twenty. Families have been coming for years and bring their children. The younger ones spend the days playing American football and soccer (football to the rest of the world) with the community children. The older ones work, paint, build.

We bring the young people forward, circle them, pray over them. Seeing all the young people on the trip, all the families, makes me thankful that my husband has a heart to serve, and makes me want to share the same with my children and grandchildren.

I am struck how, if we look, we will find pockets of people, loving Jesus, loving others, serving others, all around the world. No fame. No glory. No headlines. Rarely viral. Just serving. Just loving. Because of Jesus.

My friends. Don’t stop loving God. And don’t stop doing what he’s called you to do. Quietly. Faithfully. To be Jesus to the least of these.

Grace & Peace

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Reynosa, Mexico – Day Three Connecting

Posted on February 27, 2024 by Jill English Johnston

Day Three, December 28, Thursday

We made much progress on day two. Four walls are standing and most of the wood has been painted. We’ve met the family and we’ve been encouraged to broaden our vision to not only build a home in the community, but to build relationships with the community.

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

I have an amazing time doing what I don’t want to do, or have the energy to do. I walk the roads of Colonia with Sara, Rolando, Elizabeth, and Denise as they—all knowing Spanish—talk to the neighbors. We see their faces, we learn their names, we hear their stories. Sara graciously translates for me. Every encounter slowly awakens my spirit. We pause at the entrance of a Baptist mission. A group of people sitting in the courtyard invite us in.

The mission houses fifteen migrants from different places, backgrounds, different histories. They generously offer us coffee and sweet cake, then show us around. They sleep on the pews of the church and each contribute to the day to day chores. Some are just passing through, some have been there a little longer. Each have plans, hopes, dreams.

We stand in a circle together holding hands in the courtyard, and as I listen to the prayers in Spanish, the peace of Jesus settles over me, a peace that has been eluding me throughout the holidays. Since September, truth be told. Somehow, in hands held with these strangers, God’s Spirit connects us and creates holy ground in that place.

I also walk around the community with Monica, Sara, and Denise as Monica hands out the dresses her sixth grade American Heritage Girls made for the little girls in the community. The dresses are bright and cute and the girls excitedly receive them.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team finish exterior walls, build the loft, install rafters, fabricate and install windows, and add trim. After the front door is installed a young artist from another group paints pink flowers on a blue background (as decided by Pilar who overrules the alien that Oscar wants).

Raquel, one of the neighbors we met on our walk, stops by with her tamales. Strategic Alliance built her home years ago and now she makes her living selling tamales and she always blesses the teams when they come. All work stops as we all feast.

By the end of the day, we have the makings of a house as well as new friends in the community. On the way back to the hotel, we stop for a quick trip into Soriana, the local superstore in Reynosa. We purchase all kinds of yummy goodies, including some candy for the neighborhood kids.

That evening—unlike last night when I didn’t want to hear the stories of those we’re with—the stories now bring me joy. We’re introduced to Jaimie Garcia, a major league baseball player from Reynosa. Every Christmas he comes back to his hometown and hosts a fiesta for the communities around the dump.

An answer to the question you might have. What makes a difference in coming to the border? To serve in a community like Colonia? From my experience today, and seeing families in the community excitedly finding those who have come again, those who may be sponsoring the children or built a house for them in previous trips, that’s what makes a difference. They’re greeted with squeals of delight, huge hugs, and joy. The difference is in the connections with people, seeing their faces, learning their names, making new friends, hearing their stories. Recognizing them as amazing image bearers of our God.

Do I hear the clicking of things moving into place, the shifting of understandings, paradigms, and convictions? Am I getting a glimpse of what Jesus expects of us? A peek into what it means to love like he loves? And a return to serving the least of these again.

Will you pray as I have been? “Open the eyes of your servant, Lord, that I might see. Speak, Lord for I am listening.” If you do, no telling where it might take you. But don’t worry. It will be sweeter, greater, and more full than you can even know. 

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Ephesians 3:18

Me? I want to learn Spanish. I want to talk to the women. To pray with them. To listen to them.To hear their stories first hand.

Grace & Peace

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