The trip to Juarez Mexico for me was a first in a couple of different ways. This was my first missions’ trip and also my first time to go out of the United States. After reading and researching the city, and knowing its notorious reputation as the most dangerous city in the world I wasn’t sure what I would find. News reports, at times, tend to over dramatize situations and what is reported is not always accurate.
Cuidad Juarez Mexico is a very intense dangerous city, but then again what big city isn’t? In what city is there not a drug and alcohol abuse problem? Murder and kidnapping are everyday events all over the world. Although Juarez seems to have more than the average violence it should be noted that in last the three months there has been a considerable decrease in the murder rate. Also, most of the killings are between the two rival drug cartels.
I didn’t see any bad things in Juarez. Upon entering the city I felt absolutely safe and peaceful. Crossing the border was a little stressful until I got use to the routine. I found out that you don’t get in a hurry, one night we were there waiting for a tour bus ahead of us to clear the border for four hours. As long as the laws are obeyed and protocol observed there is nothing to be concerned about.
Juarez is a beautiful place, and the reason is because of the Mexican people. Rich in family tradition and culture they are happy and loving. I felt very welcome and glad to be in Juarez I was accepted with open arms.
Each day of the outreach we loaded up in vans and went to different parts of the city where we passed out Scripture portions and Gospel tracts. Well over 300,000 booklets were distributed. Our group learned much from the street vendors on how to safely venture out into the traffic and approach the people. I learned also that if the traffic light turns green and you’re out in traffic you might be there until the light turns red again. The traffic is heavy and like everywhere else the people are in a hurry.
I found three different groups of people; the angry, the hopeless, and the happy. The happy group outnumbered the other two groups by far. Almost every car I approached was friendly and eager to receive the booklet that contained a copy of John and Romans, a Gospel tract, and an invitation to the evening service. In a conversation with a man in traffic, when he found out I was from America he got tears in his eyes because he was touched that our group would take the time to come to Juarez to pass out Gospel material and pray for his city. When I told him I had been praying for three months before I came he almost cried. Another man thanked me by giving me a cold bottle of water, which was good because I had run out and the temperature about 100 degrees. Every day we all came in contact with many who told us they had been praying that someone would come to do exactly what we were doing. We got to be the answer to someone’s prayer.
The general population was very excited to see us passing out our information. The Federal Troops were somewhat perceptive but most of the local police were not interested. Some in the Mexican Military received the booklets and tracts. Isaiah 55:11 tells us the God’s Word will not return unto Him void. Every person who reads the material will be touched in some way. We were told that for every copy we passed out that it would be read by at least ten different people before being discarded. We passed out bunches at a time to people on public busses. Many in cars asked for multiple copies. I have every reason to believe that if we had had more time and material to give out there would have been willing and receptive hearts to receive what we were doing.
Our day started with breakfast at 8:00 a.m. and then a good devotion, and then we boarded the bus for the trip over the border. We passed out booklets and tracts until about 2:00 p.m. then we enjoyed a nice lunch served at one of the Juarez Independent Baptist Churches. After lunch we passed out more material until about 6:00 p.m., then on to the evening service. The meetings were held in parks or department store parking lots except the last night we were given the use of a very nice auditorium. There was a nice puppet show for the kids, and special music was provide by two different groups who all played guitars and sang. There was preaching in Spanish which I loved although I couldn’t understand it, I knew that God was being glorified and hearts were hearing the message. After the messages an invitation was given; over one hundred people came to personally accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. One entire family who came together to the meeting all accepted the Lord. Many children and young people also opened their hearts to receive the Lord as well.
While in Juarez I was able to meet and fellowship with many new friends on both sides of the border. One thing that really made an impression on my heart was that even though the people of Juarez know hardship, extreme poverty and violence because of the drug war their resolve is strong. They know how to be joyful and content and they never give up. They are not bitter and indifferent to those around them. I was a stranger in Juarez but I was welcomed and made to feel like I belonged. The only barrier was my lack of knowledge of the language; however even in this, every person was patient with me and kind. Some of the men in our group remarked how the Mexican people won their hearts. I have only been there once for just a few short days and I confess that I too left part of my heart with the people of Juarez. I have a desire one day to return and deepen my new association in this old world that is so different than the one I have always known here in America.
I am so thankful for the pastors and their families in Juarez and El Paso, and Bearing Precious Seed for making this event possible through much fasting, prayer, and sacrificial giving. I won’t soon forget the preaching on the bus each morning, the stress of going through the border, the great food, the sights and sounds of Cuidad Juarez. I will remember always Jesse and Roberto, the street vendors who spoke kindly to me as I tried to speak to them. I cherish the new friendship I found with Lorenzo who is a native of Juarez; we vowed to lift each other up in prayer each day. There was a young man whom I met, his name is Daniel, and he is 21 years old, works hard and is studying English. He asked me to pray each day for him and his family and their city. On our last night there I was particularly touched when a lady whose name is Mary told me she would pray that Christ would go with me everywhere I go. Mary and I worked together one day passing out tracts. She told me that she left Juarez when her family was touched with tragedy by the drug violence. Mary had made a special trip to come and help us in the outreach. I met a young man whose name is Alex, he is a great soul winner, and hopes one day to serve in the full time ministry. I met another pastor who serves in Juarez; he was saved from a life of alcoholism several years ago. I only had one disappointment and that was that time did not allow me to visit Los Ojos de Dios, the orphanage for disabled children. I will make that a priority on my next trip. I have added many names to my prayer list and I will continue to pray that the work that was started with the Juarez Outreach will continue to reach many souls and influence the conditions to improve the way of life of the dear people in Juarez Mexico.
Philippians’ 1:6 says, Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. I believe a good work was started with the Juarez Outreach that has the potential to touch every home in the city given enough time and prayer. May the Lord be honored and praised in this effort.
Juarez Outreach
