December 2004 Archives
Santa Isabel, Christmas 2004
From the journal of Tre' Bion Williams, age 15:
Today was the team's first day in Mexico. After being held up at the border, just to make sure we weren't doing anything rotten, we were on our way through the bumpy roads and busy towns. Once we arrived at the church, and got our our welcome back hugs, the team set out on the streets to invite the people to our Christmas celebration. While my group was making its rounds, little Lisa wanted to pray for all the people in Mexico. It was a moment that almost brought a tear to my eye. Although I've been there before, it feels like this trip I really connected with the people.
Day 3: Dec 22
Today the team passed out the gifts we brought. First, there was a Christmas service, in Spanish of course. Although I had no clue as to what pastor was saying, I still kept my focus on the meaning of Christmas. After that, everyone went outside for dinner. The menu for the dinner was Menudo and Posole, what a feast! Surprisingly, everyone enjoyed the meal (maybe because that's all there was to eat)! Courtney stole some of my soup, not that I cared or anything; I like to share.
Finally it was time to pass out the gifts, all 300 of them! At first, everything was goin' great, but then came the big kids, dum, dum, dum! We didn't really have any gifts for teenage boys, but thanks to Jamie's quick thinking and acting, we managed to make enough gifts for everyone and with some to spare! I'm glad that everyone who went on this trip. It seems that now I've got an even bigger family than when I left.
I have also learned that giving brings greater rewards than receiving. You feel good when you give someone a gift just because you're nice, not because you were forced to. Also, Christmas isn't just a day when all your waiting for "what's inside that box?," it's about Jesus. On December 25, we shouldn't be wrapped up in what's inside a box wrapped in pretty paper, which sometimes is very shiny and nice, we should be wrapped in Jesus, for he is the reason.