The following excerpt was posted on our blog by members of the 46-member team to Mexico. Read more at http://cumcmemphisteamupdates.blogspot.com.
…I find myself reflecting on life and community. We have been living with people in close community sharing meals, worship time and reflecting on the moments we’ve all seen God throughout each day. The normal everyday things that usually take my attention are gone… replaced by thoughts of Mexico and how I can serve this beautiful country and its loving people. It’s easy to sometimes focus on our differences such as language, skin color, economic background, etc… but I find myself now focusing on what we have in common such as love for God, love of life and living each day in the present focusing on the wonder of life… My time in Mexico has been a new beginning for me in many ways. I have witnessed firsthand unfathomable poverty for the first time in life. In these conditions I would expect the people to live a life full of only despair and suffering. Instead, I have seen smiling children who laugh and play together and display a love for life that doesn’t seem possible in the midst of all this poverty. I will leave Mexico in a few days, but a piece of my heart will remain here with these beautiful people who have taught me how to truly live life in ways previously unknown to myself. -- Rob Rachiele