Missions Report - Puerto Escondido
Written: Monday, 11 June 2001
A factual account of each situation indicating the type of experience involved.
Over the past four months I was living in Puerto Escondido in Mexico and working with a Christian surfing ministry. I lived for that whole time at the house/small campsite named El Refugio. There were two other workers living on the premises also: Andy, a short term volunteer and Mia, a full time staff worker who was in charge of Aroma Divino.
The ministry runs a cafe at the main surfing beach. This facility is staffed by Christians and I worked there at times, but my main involvement was with doing the office/finance work, which was done in the office of Ronne Jones. He is the leader of the ministry and oversees all of what happens.
El Refugio is a facility to house short term teams and workers. Two such teams visited while I was there. One was from California and they came for the one week after Easter. The other team, made up of Mexicans came for 14 days towards the end of May. I hung out with both of these teams and helped them coordinate their travels and increase the effectiveness of their stay.
Using my computer skills, I was able to create two documents for an older man named Alejo. He had an idea of publishing a tourist brochure but need someone like me to get it into a publishable format. The documents came out 2 months apart and were distributed into the tourist community.
Also with computers, Ronne had me make a few web sites to publicise the different arms of the ministry. Some other time was spent with Ronne and following him around in his daily activities. Much was learned about ministering to the Mexican people just by being with him.
Much time was spent learning the Spanish language. I meet some great and welcoming Christians when I attended the Baptist church and they at their shop, talked with me and taught me much of the Spanish I now have. I also went with these friends on many fun activities. eg. baptisms in mountain churches, youth group gatherings, weddings and family occasions.
Since Puerto Escondido is a famous surfing community I did find some time to go surfing and get to know the many local of tourist surfers. Some would sometimes come to the weekly Tuesday night Bible study, at which I had a few opportunities to preach (in English that was translated).
What goals were set for your experience and to what extent were these achieved?
Prior to going I set out some goals that I wanted to achieve. I am pleased to say that from my perspective all of my goals were achieved beyond my expectations.
1. Fall in love with Jesus and use the free time schedule to read the Bible and get to know it.
This was amazingly what happened. God, using various means, showed me of my need to know Him more and that I didn't have any excuses not to do it. I saw His heart for the lost and the way they I could be a blessing to them. I was able to wake up many days and not want to do anything else except get to know him more. I was able to read many books of the Bible and understand what was being said. I have since returned and this desire has stayed. I can't see me ever turning back and going cold after all that he taught me during my 4 months in Mexico.
2. Learn the Spanish language so that my future ministry can be more effective sooner.
From going with less than the basics, to by the time I returned being able to go days only speaking Spanish, I would say that this goal was also achieved. God provided me with the method that suited me, the people who would teach me and the humility and perseverance to keep having a go; despite making many mistakes. For the amount of time, many said they were surprised at the amount of Spanish that I had. I can and therefore do thank God for making this possible.
3. Help in whatever could be done around the area. Be a servant to those needing assistance.
I believe that I assisted the ministry in more ways than one. God had me there at just the right time (it sure is exciting how He works!) and with enthusiasm and ideas I was able to work in the many parts of the ministry. Even when I may not have wanted to do something, God gave me whatever was needed to do the job. I can see how I was effectively used by God and participated in helping the ministry move forward.
State how your understanding and practice of cross-cultural ministry has developed as a result of this experience.
Without having the language it seems nearly impossible to be effective as a missionary. I may have already had this idea prior but during and after the time, this sense of the importance of knowing the local language was increased. The language is very much the people. Reject it and you are seemingly rejecting the people; those who you are trying to work with or reach.
It is also easy to have a great witness and by not knowing the culture you are in, have that positive witness taken away or destroyed. At various times, I did things that later I realised or was told were not appropriate to that culture. I had originally acted with my western worldview and responded accordingly. Doing things the right way (their way) is very important.
I noted too that cross-cultural missionaries are needed to reach some parts of the society. Not all of the people will be evangelised unless other workers from other places come and assist. This assistance can be in training locals and also in encouraging them to reach the unreached around. Some things can/need to be done by us and some things can/need to be done by the nationals. Finding the appropriate rolls is the key.
How have your previous studies helped or not helped in this experience?
During this time overseas I found that God is faithful. He has been preparing me all of my life and especially in the things that I have learned here at college. In short there is nothing that I have learned here at Worldview that didn't come in handy at some point. Others in the class didn't find the this to be true for them, but this was the case for me.
If I was preaching on the Tuesday evenings, I would recall back to the classes on preaching the previous year and do the method of preparation or delivery that worked the best for me. God would brings things back to me when I was talking or working or debriefing the day in my head. I realised at these times how much knowledge I had gained at Worldview College about issues that related to working overseas.
At times I did find that I was lacking. I couldn't recall the things that had been taught me. I therefore wished that I had been able to study more in the second part of last year much more than I actually did (due to the difficult circumstances). There were things that I knew that I had been taught but due to not listening in class, I didn't know them when it counted.
The studies showed me what to look for when settling in and living in another society. I was able to know that they would communicate and relate to each other in different ways to that which I was used to in the West. Without the training, I would have had a much more difficult time; much like some of the other westerners I meet in my travels.
What future studies do you need to pursue as a result of this experience?
I want to keep up with and increase my Spanish language learning. I also have a desire and see the need to read and know more of the scriptures prior to returning. I would like to study the culture a bit more so that I can be better equipped to work more effectively. Things were different but learning each difference only inspired me to look for and learn more.
What insights have you gained as a person as a result of this experience?
God has a heart for people all over the world and that I can be suitably used by him even in a surfing ministry in Mexico for as long or short as He wants. I learned to that when we humble ourselves and put God in His rightful place then he will and does hear our cries and reveal more of Him to us. He is the God of the impossible and loves me as much as the lowest of the low.
Any other comments you would like to make.
I am very thankful for the opportunity to go back to Mexico and trust that I won't be the last. God used this time to also adjust my theology in the way of how He works. I saw and participated in physical healings. I knew before that Jesus did and God can heal, but had seemingly no need in the west to ask or trust God to work in this way. Thanks to Ronne listening to God and having an open mind to these things, he was able to instruct me as to how to pray, and believe in faith that God still wants to work through miracles in the lives of those who have faith. I will always remember the people and have the stories to remind me of an awesome God whom we serve.