Thursday, November 6, 2014

Oh yeah… I’m going to Chiapas Mexico today for a mission trip


Yeah you read it right. Today November 6, 2014 I’m will be heading to Mexico on a mission trip. The organization I am traveling with is the Frontera de Cristo mission organization located in Douglas, Arizona. The Southern Kansas Presbytery is sponsoring the trip and I think it’s safe to assume that I will need to create a presentation with photos and notes about my experience in Mexico. The Mexican citizens in the area surrounding and of Chiapas have developed a source of economic stability through coffee harvest. A partnership has been established between the local farmers who deliver their coffee beans to the processing plant and the plant workers that ensure that the coffee beans are cleaned, dried, and packaged up to sent to the United States where they have partnerships with Church organization like the Presbytery I am currently working under.

I am sure I will have a great time meeting everyone and learning the difficulties facing the Mexican people. Nevertheless, to be honest, I am very indifferent about the trip. For one I found out about the trip about a month and a half before today.  Secondly, I believe concerning this trip the term “Mission” should be used loosely as it appears the more suitable name for the trip should be observational trip. That is to say, it appears we (I and the other member who are from all over the U.S.) will be observing the things that are going on in this region of Mexico and relaying that information back to our Churches so we can continue to support their business. Perhaps, it’s safe to say it is a mission trip, but just one where we help the citizens continue to gain the support they need to support their economy. Third there seems to be no inclination that we will either join in fellowship with the Mexican citizens for worship or get to preach the gospel. Romans 1:16-17 (I must say getting to preach through a translator in Vietnam to a good number of Vietnamese college students was one of the greatest things I have done to date.)


I’m excited because I am well aware that whether we are worshiping or not God will always reveal His presence in mighty ways. I cannot wait to see the geography of the region. I have been told we will hike in the mountains and visit a big waterfall and of course I’m going swimming no matter how cold the water is. I want to give a special thanks to my Church family, Trinity PresbyterianChurch for their strong support and prayers on this journey. Also I would like to thank my wife for letting me travel the southern region of Mexico, especially since we just moved in to a new place less than a week ago. There are many other things in which I am concerned and many other things that I am excited about.  The most important thing now is that you (the reader) know that I will be gone from November the 6th – 15th. Most importantly I ask for your prayers as I depart on this new adventure!

Damian Berry


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