AMBER WOLF | staff writer
Instead of spending their break at the beach, at home or at Disneyland, Mexico Outreach team Rescue in the Streets joined other APU teams in Mexicali, Mexico spending their week with underprivileged children. The team ministered at a site in Mexicali where they hung out, played and taught children ages 1 to 15.
“We got to know some pretty amazing kids. They were always full of energy, love and spirit! The kids pointed out a different perspective of life,” freshman communication studies major Lauren Lee said.During their ministry, the team worked with the Mexicali government and a program called DIF which provides children with a safe environment to spend their time after school. This program is year-round and its mission is to keep kids off the streets and out of trouble. This was also spring break for some of the schools in Mexicali, so APU teamed up with the program in order for both APU students and Mexicali kids to have an immersion type of experience with different cultures.
“It was an amazing experience going to Mexico for spring break. I got out of my comfort zone by going to a different country with a different language and a group of kids I’ve never worked with before. It puts everything into perspective to realize how blessed we are,” freshman political science major Kathleen Berger said. Each day the kids followed a plan of activities leading them through lessons about life. Through activities including arts and crafts, the kids made different projects each day pertaining to lessons on topics such as respect, opportunity and integrity. During the outdoor portion of the day the kids play sports games, soccer or futbol, as they call it, for the older kids and relay games and parachute games for the younger ones.
“It was an incredibly unique experience in comparison to the previous mission trips I’ve been on. It was thoroughly exhausting, but completely and totally rewarding,” freshman athletic training major Colton Simmons said. Even though this was a mission trip opportunity, this particular mission team could not speak of
religious beliefs. Although this posed a challenge for some, others learned to overcome it.
“Working with the kids without being able to openly discuss Godand Jesus was a great challenge, but I felt our overall purpose was still conveyed to all who saw or heard about our actions,” Simmons said. If they couldn’t speak of their Christian beliefs the team made it a point to converse after their time with the kids at either a local taco stand or at night after chapel. “Hot, tacos, smiling kids, good conversation, relying on God for strength to wake up and play with crazy kids gave me a chance to get a new perspective on life,” senior global studies major Kyle “Shaka” Dunning said.
