“Duceti-va in toata lumea, si propovaduiti Evanghelia la orice faptura.” Marcu 16:15


Romanian Youth Mission Trip to Mexico

Aproximativ 70 de tineri au trecut prin acele porti cu citeva saptamini in urma. Nimeni nu a stiut exact ce se va intimpla, dar Domnul a deschis portile, si noi am intrat inauntru. Ma refer la portile orfelinatului din orasul La Mision, din Mexic. A fost o experienta in care Biserica lui Hristos, din diferite parti a fost unita, si Trupul lui Hristos a mers in Mexic ca sa slujeasca. Slujirea de fapt a inceput cu citeva saptamini inainte de a merge la acest orfelinat. Opt biserici s-au angajat sa doneze alimente pentru misiunea din Mexic. Alimentele acestea au fost puse in pachete, si duse in cea mai saraca parte a localitatii La Mision. Tinerii au luat pachetele din masina si au mers in grupuri sa le daruiasca oamenilor care locuiau in conditii de saracie lucie. A fost o experienta puternica sa te uiti in jur si sa vezi grupuri de tineri cu pachete, slujind, asa cum ne cheama Domnul Isus sa facem.

In acelasi timp, Domnul Isus ne cheama sa devenim ca niste copii. Si aceasta porunca a fost pusa in practica, pentru ca la orfelinatul numit “Portile Credintei” am slujit copiii care locuiesc acolo. Noi ca grup de tineri am pus deoparte citeva ore in care am slujit acestor copii. Ne-am jucat basket, volei si fotbal cu cei mai mari, iar cu cei mici am colorat si am facut “crafts”. Pe cei mai mititei i-am tinut in brate. A fost ciudat contactul cu acei mititei, chiar daca tot ce am facut a fost sa-i tinem in brate, aveau un mod aparte de a ni se lega de inima… Era un copil de vreo 1 sau 2 ani, cu “muci” uscati la nas, si unul dintre tinerii nostri se juca cu el. Acest copil modela un fel de “aluat colorat”, si bucuria-i stralucea pe fata in timp ce, cu mare rivna , framinta acea plamadeala multicolora, un mare artist in lumea lui.

Un alt artist in lumea Lui, Dumnezeu, este la rindul Lui precupat cu “aluat colorat”. Noi sintem aluatul Lui, unii mai colorati sau deformati decit altii, si El ne framinta pina ce ia in noi Chipul Lui. El doreste ca sa crestem in Deplina Statura a Dragostei Lui Hristos. Cred ca Fata Lui a stralucit de bucurie cind a vazut Biserica Lui la “Portile Credintei”.
Aceasta “framintare a aluatului” inimii a avut loc practic prin cuvintul lui Dumnezeu propovadiut de fratele George Puraci pe tema a “Creste in Hristos”. Au fost patru mesaje practice, avind telul de a ne arata paractic cum sa crestem in maturitate. Si mai practice au fost intilnirile pe grupe, baieti si fete separati. In aceste grupe de cite 7-8 persoane ne-am intilnit pentru “devotions” in fiecare dimineata. In acest timp persoanele din grupa au citit din Biblie, si-au spus unul altuia famintarile, si s-au rugat impreuna. In afara de “devotions” de dimineata, grupurile s-au intilnit pentru a discuta unde sint ei in umblarea cu Domnul, si cum putem creste in mod practic.

Unul din scopurile acestei misiuni a fost sa vedem cum lucreaza Dumnezeu prin aceasta partasie in grupuri mici. Si intr-adevar intilnirile in grupuri au fost experiente binecuvintate. Domnul Isus ne-a lasat exemplu prin faptul ca modalitatea de a raspindi Evanghelia Lui a fost prin a se investi pentru 3 ani in 12 oameni, care la rindul lor s-au investit in altii si Biserica a avut un impact puternic in lume. Multi din tinerii care au experimentat partasia in grupuri mici, continua sa se intilneasca mai departe la bisericile lor. Acolo se creeaza oportunitatea pentru cresterea adevarata, unde putem veni cu probemle noastre, cu defectele noastre, sa invatam din Cuvint si din Dragostea practica a Lui Isus Hristos. In aceste grupe putem fi involvati unii in vietile altora si contribui la formarea caracterului Domnului Isus in noi. Este o partasie puternica si practica in Trupul Lui Hristos. Si intr-adevar am simtit unitatea partasiei in Domnul.

Experienta mea favorita a fost in clipele immediat urmatoare distribuirii pachetelor la saraci. Am mers pe o stinca mare, care se termina intr-o prapastie abrupta, in ocean. Soarele apunea intr-o tapestrie de culori peste valurile care se izbeau puternic in stinca pe care stateam. In aceasta capela a naturii, am cintat, un singur glas si o singura inima, imnuri de slava Domnului. Melodiile s-au impletit cu aerul proaspat de ocean, intr-o mireasma placuta Domnului. Am gustat un crimpei din raiul care ne asteapta. Dar pina sa ajungem acolo mai avem inca de slujit pe cei din jur. Avem inca de a creste si de a fi formati ca aluatul acela, in Plinatatea Dragostei lui Hristos. Ca imbold, sper la atingerea acestui tel, avem puterea partasiei in grupuri. Cum a zis Domnul Isus “Unde doi sau trei se intilnesc in Numele Meu …” ..Aceasta am invatat din experientele noastre.

Noi am intrat pe Portile Credintei si calea sta inaintea noastra, ca sa umblam in faptele pe care Domnul Isus le-a pregatit mai dinainte pentru noi.

Domnul Cu Noi,
Ciprian Boitor


Miriam
Ok, where to start....How about the beginning? Well, the mission trip to Mexico was the most awesome weekend of my life!! Our church and the church from La Habra and Fullerton and some from San Bernardino, and even form Arizona all got together to be able to worship God and help out some people who really needed it.
We stayed at an orphanage that welcomed us with open arms. There were sooo many children there that were so happy to have us play with them, talk to them and just love them. In the nursery, there were many little infants that just wanted to be held and caressed. They cried as soon as you put them down! It hurt so much to see them in tears, because they had no parents to run to when they were sad, or lonely. There was one little newborn that was only thirteen days old when we got there... it had been abandoned. It broke my heart to know that the mother had just left her own little child. We named the baby Alex, and we played with him all day. When we left, I was talked out of taking him in my backpack, but let me tell you... he was so small he would have fit!
On this trip, everybody was in fellowship and worshiping and the atmosphere was wonderful… I was sad when I left.
I can’t wait for the next mission trip!

Naomi Tarau
When I went to Mexico I didn’t really know how it would be. Let me tell you the fellowship was great and for once it did not matter if you were Pentecostal or Baptist. We all felt like one and we were like brothers and sisters. Every morning we would do our daily devotions and that would help us get through the day. When we went to feed the hungry, we distributed food to these people with barely even a home. There was a beautiful sunset and we stayed at the place worshiping for hours. There was a little boy there named Allen he was about one and a half years old, he was the cutest thing. I would take him from his nursery place and stay with him for an hour a day. He would lay on my chest and just look up at me never once falling asleep. He felt like he had something because he usually doesn't get that much attention. I came back so thankful that the Lord has blessed me with such a wonderful family who was there for me whenever I needed them. God was truly in Mexico that weekend.


Trina Fedur
“The Mexico trip was an eye-opening experience for me.
It helped me realize how much others are in need of God, and I pray that I can be able show them God's love.”

Felicia Nicorici

I am so happy to have experienced the 3 days of grace that the Lord poured over us in Mexico. I was honored that God picked me to be a part of his work in Mexico. It was beautiful to see the power of our Lord changing the girls’ life. This trip was a lifetime experience to each one of them. God has given us a glimpse of what ministry is.
We gave our all each day we were there because we knew that each day’s work is a measure of our love for Him.
Giving out bags of food, holding little babies, and share God’s endless love overflowed our hearts with joy and peace.
This trip encouraged all of us to grow spiritually and we know that the work we have done in Mexico is forever part of our reward when we get to heaven.
Thank you for your support and prayers.

Ancuta Pop
Mexico was a beautiful place. Amongst poverty and need I saw the youth handing out boxes of food, and expressing the only words they knew in Spanish- “Dios te bendiga (God bless you)”. To the lonely orphans they showed love and compassion; by the end of the day saying “ I want to do more”, and praying “God help me show your love”. I saw and experienced fellowship with no boundaries or expectations, true unity. We studied about Christian growth and then put into practice what we learned by sharing in fellowship, helping the needy, and showing God’s love to orphans. We received a small glimpse of ministry and missions and we want to do more. Mexico was a beautiful place because of God’s presence and work that he accomplished through his youth.
Parents and church, thank you for all your support, prayers, and donated food. We and those in Mexico were blessed.

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