By Mark & Isabel Siverling
Mark
On June 1st, a team of 22 individuals, including fifteen Summit high school students began their summer break by traveling to Puebla, Mexico. We headed to Living Hope (or Esperanza Viva), an orphanage just outside this city of over three million people. Living Hope, a long-time mission partner of Summit, was founded thirty years ago to provide a home for children who have exhausted other options. Foster care and adoption aren’t possible for many children in Mexico, so this orphanage has become a family for hundreds of children over the last three decades (there are currently 111 children there).
The incredible thing we discovered about these 111 kids is that they are intensely joyful. They love God, they love one another, and they are thankful for all that God has done for them, even though they live in what Americans would consider poverty.
Our team spent lots of time with the kids, building relationships and having fun. We were also able to serve in practical ways, painting the interiors of some buildings at the site. We also traveled into Puebla and cleared rubble from a lot so that a church could use it for parking.
Additionally, our group participated in three different worship services during the week, and they were all powerful. In Spanish, they sang many songs we know and some we didn’t, which we got to learn together. Even though most of us didn’t know the words, we could sense a family kinship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We also experienced some of Mexican culture, enjoying tacos and other cuisine (including Little Caesar’s) and visiting markets and historic sites. A highlight for me was seeing the craftsmanship of the Cathedral of Puebla, an enormous church finished almost 400 years ago.
Perhaps the most emotional day of our trip was a drive into the mountains (you’d be amazed at where a fifteen-passenger van is able to drive). We went to the impoverished town of San Martin. We spent some time digging mud out of their reservoir, then we set up a play time for the kids of the village. It was heartbreaking to see their physical circumstances, but our youth was glad to minister to them and show the love of Jesus.
These high schoolers were fully engaged in the mission of God and worked hard to serve the kids, the church, and the people of Puebla and San Martin. And God showed me through these joyful orphans that He is the great healer.
Isabel
My trip to Esperanza Viva was eye-opening and convicting. In the eight days that I was there, I had life-changing moments and learned invaluable lessons. It is safe to say that the twenty-two people who went were expecting to share the gospel and show them what God's love looks like. Instead, it was the complete opposite. While there, we got to experience the depth of God’s love for us and the hope and peace that he offers in the little things.
These kids, some who have just escaped their trauma, showed me what it looks like to glorify God for the story they have been given, even if it hurt them. They showed me that it’s okay to experience hurt, but ultimately, I need to give it to God. These kids didn’t let their circumstances dictate the amount of praise they gave to God or the amount of joy they had. They took what little they had and lifted it up to God because they were truly grateful to be able to glorify a God who loves them unconditionally. It showed me that I could have everything, but at the end of the day, if I don’t put God first, I could never experience true joy and healthy shame. It planted a desire in my heart to lay down my life to the Lord.
During our day trip to San Martin, what we saw was truly heartbreaking. At first glance, you’d see kids caked with dirt, wearing torn, ragged clothing. But when you look deeper, you see kids rallying together to take care of the younger ones. You see them running up giant mounds of dirt and then jumping off just for the fun of it. What you’d see would be kids loving each other with no strings attached. Nobody could give each other anything other than love. They painted a true picture of how God loves us. Experiencing this helped me realize how many strings I attach to every relationship in my life. I was constantly asking myself the question: “What would it look like if I loved somebody for their soul and who they were instead of what they could give me?”
I am so thankful to be a part of a church that truly exemplifies God’s heart. Because of so many people’s support, I was able to take part in this incredible mission. This trip has changed who I am and has helped me grow in my intimacy with God.
