Serving Together - SELAH Mexico 2023
Our first SELAH International trip to Mexico was nothing short of unforgettable. 27 people met at 3am on Friday January 29th and prayed for safety and that God would use us for His glory. When SELAH Outreach was established, it was our prayer that families and friends would serve together. On this trip we had father and sons, mothers and daughter, parents and children, teachers and students. Of the 27, 9 were returning students from the 2023 Senior Class at DMCHS who had visited Mount of Olives in the spring of 2023 during Service Week.
Travel went smoothly in the air and on the ground. We successfully checked in 52 pieces of luggage (I think we filled up the plane). Each person was allowed one personal checked item as well as being responsible for getting one donated checked luggage to Mexico. We did have to unload all our suitcases at the border to get an additional check, but that was not a big deal in the grand scheme.
We arrived in Uruapan on Friday afternoon, excited for the week that lay ahead. We began our week by visiting the migrant camps on Saturday and distributing many of the donations we had brought with in the form of clothes, shoes, and some basic essentials. We filled the rest of our week by having a Christmas/New Years party with the staff and children on Sunday, building a house, hanging drywall in another house, playing glow soccer, bingo and movie night with the kids, weeding and planting, installing HVAC, painting the school and the list goes on.
We began and ended each day with devotions. We woke up early to watch God’s amazing artistry with the sunrise, and we were able to worship on Sunday in the community. We were tired physically at the end of each day; however, when the work was done and there was downtime, we were able to play games and mingle as a group. The laughter on these evenings will never be forgotten. Growing together not only as individual families but as the family of Christ is a true blessing.
The memories and mishaps are also ingrained in our minds. A game of soccer turning into broken ribs, playing with the kids and falling into a fence, or a lapse of judgement while visiting Henry the donkey IN his pen ending in several donkey bites will lead to years of laughter and crying 😊
In the year 2023 SELAH outreach has focuses on the first letter of its acronym, SERVING TOGETHER. As we head into 2024 we introduce ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER. We are excited for what is to come! Join us this year as we continue to grow together while serving.
