Well hello there lovely blog followers, friends, family & random strangers! It has been a busy and exciting (as always) time for us Nexus serving in Mexico. We, as a group, have been prone to reflecting on our weeks to one another as they come, and we decided as a group that we would like to make this blog entry just that – a thought or two from each of the Nexus participants – a quick opportunity to share with you some of our favorite moments of the summer so that you might be able to see Mexico and Amor Ministries through our eyes.  I don’t believe there is any one moment that far exceeds any other. Serving in Mexico has just been a stream of moments and events that has created this special, unique and fantastic place in each of our hearts. So, I introduce you to some of the inner workings of our hearts and minds as we share with you:

Mark  - A favorite moment of mine for this summer was at a dedication of  a house in Lomas del Pedregal when the father/grandfather of the household was unable to express words of gratitude because he was so choked up.  This was really emotional and showed the impact of Amor is more than building a house. It changes lives as people step out and put their faith into action. 

Rachel – The best moment of my summer was not one big event or particular day or hour. My best moment was a combination of all the little things. Being on a worksite and seeing someone use a hammer and pound in a nail or a saw to cut a board for the first time, and seeing them succeed. Watching the faces of a group that has never built anything before when they stand up the walls for their house. Seeing the local kids, who are always on the worksites make friends with the trip participants even when they don’t understand each other. These are the moments that make up my summer.

Jessica - One of my favourite moments was our third week down in Mexico, our first week with a group. We were working with a group from Florida. The father of our house was handicapped so he couldn’t help with most of the house building. One day, the group went to lunch, but Mark and I stayed back and tried to finish the chicken wire on one corner. The father came down and saw what we were doing and started to help. It was like he saw a window of opportunity to put his touch and be a part of building his family’s house. He didn’t let his disability hold him back from helping any way he could.

Jon - One of my favourite moments of this summer was working with a group called ‘The Peterson cousins.’ They were all family and they really seemed to just “get it”. I was truly blessed to work with them and I definitely took a lot from that week.

Kate – One of the most fun things that happened this summer was all because of four 9-11 year olds who weren’t afraid to put themselves out there. Back at camp there were three Mexican girls about the same age who were timidly hanging out at the Camping-Pros tent waiting for their relatives to be done working. I am still astonished by the way the four American girls who know no Spanish and the three Mexican girls who know zero English were able to form a bond that led to games, smiles, hugs and finally tears when they had to leave. I will never forget sitting around a table eating hamburgers eagerly trying to get to know each other through motions, smiles and laughter. I wish everyone would be able to experience this trip through the trusting, excited and loving eyes of a child.

Linz -  I could speak for hours if you gave me the opportunity, but I will limit myself to an experience I had in a circus tent while serving alongside the incredible people of Family Camp. They have been coming for anywhere in between 1-15 years, from all over the United States, and every evening they had a beautiful time of worship music led by John Thomas Oaks. As I sat in my far back, far right seat and observed the families in worship each evening, I was so incredibly moved, and even brought to tears as I watched the parents lovingly embrace and worship together with their children and spouses. Whether it was an arm around a shoulder with the older “cooler” kids or actually picking up their little one and swaying with them, every family was together and sharing the Lord together. It was highly impactful, and I realized what a truly beautiful gift these parents were giving to their children. They were instilling the highly important values and amazing gifts of family, servanthood, loving our neighbours and most importantly loving God in a highly apparent and direct way. Their entire week went this way, and I was so blessed to have served and shared with them and its directed values within me in how I would like to share God with my own family one day.

With hundreds upon thousands of memories and moments that we have each experienced this summer, I am so glad and blessed to know we could have the opportunity to share at least 6 of them with you in this week’s post. Hope you all have a blessed week and get the opportunity to reflect on some of your own special Amor moments!

- Linz and the Nexus team

To read more from the Summer Nexus team, click here