2025 Mexico Trip Recap
TAYLOR S.
“This summer I had the opportunity to travel to Puebla, Mexico to serve at an orphanage called Esperanza Viva (or Living Hope) with a group of students, parents, and leaders associated with Summit’s high school youth. We scrubbed floors, planted trees, and pulled weeds at both the orphanage and the church they partner with. We played an assortment of games from uno to basketball to nine-square and we sang songs in Spanish that went a long with dance moves that we taught to the kids. They were really sweet and receptive attempted to have conversations, and while the language barrier seemed insurmountable, friendships were still made and lives were still touched. It didn’t seem likely that we could make a difference in just a week or that our presence mattered, but it was evident that even a smile was impossibly important. The broken syllables of two individuals trying to piece together a conversation using the whatever number of words we had available. The entire experience was so beautiful and moving, I know that God used these eight days to shape my heart, it beats differently than it used to.
One verse that we spoke about during our debrief was Zephaniah 3:17, which says, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you with his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” When we first discussed this excerpt, we talked about how God’s love is quieting. And that was a concept that I was unused to, I knew that God was peaceful and comforting but I associated His presence with explosive emotion and overwhelming experiences. I didn’t fully understand that He can be present and also be quiet. That His love could be like a lullaby. After this night I felt my spirit soften and quiet.
But God also spoke in ways that were loud, on the night of our trip we held worship in a small upstairs room above the teenagers’ dorms. Between a few songs and a prayer or two it became evident that the Holy Spirit was moving in our hearts. Out of almost 30 of us there was barely anyone who wasn’t in tears by the end of the night. We didn’t understand the words but we understood the meaning and the intent behind the lyrics even if it wasn’t in our own language. In those hours, it was like you could feel the Lord singing over us, His presence was so tangible and real. When we finished talking over the verse from Zephaniah, we wondered over a God who is both quieting and the singer of loud songs over his sons and daughters. It was beautiful to see these character traits of such a kind and loving father revealed in such a short time period.
I’ve heard a lot about how Jesus will be worshiped by “every tribe, nation, and tongue” but it isn’t often that we get see this reality with our own eyes. During that week I really got to experience the meaning behind this mantra and watch this verse unfold around me like flower petals as God both quieted me with his love and exulted over me with loud singing. I learned so much about God’s heart and experienced as He is continuing to shape mine after His own. Those eight days were so beautiful and I can’t wait to go back and show and experience God’s wonderful heart for every child.”
ZACH S.
“While SSM was on a Mission Trip to Living Hope we spent a majority of our time with the children. Each day we played games and hung out with them. This time allowed us to form bonds with each child getting to know them better. This was special as by the end of the week our group had grown incredibly close to them. Our Team was also able to have nights with the teens at Living Hope similar to our SSM nights, playing games and having fun, but also praying over them and their future.
Our Team left the Living Hope’s campus multiple times to either work at other church campuses or for outreach opportunities. This let us get a glimpse into the lives being impacted by Living Hope and the tremendous needs of the surrounding area.
Personally, as we traveled and served in these areas, I was surprised by several different things. The poverty that I saw softened my heart, but also made me realize how blessed myself and many others are. Later, seeing how far Living Hopes campus and reach has grown, showed Gods providence. He rescued these young children from terrible situations giving them a place where they can be safe and grow spiritually. Also, the joy that each child had, even though they came from hard backgrounds, demonstrated God’s love through them to us.
Coming into this trip I felt somewhat nervous, but learned so much. Prior to the trip I wondered how well I would connect with these kids, how would the language barrier affect us, and how much would I really be able to contribute. These nerves were quieted almost immediately as connecting with the kids was very easy and we were able to accomplish a lot during our work projects.
One main take-away that stuck with me came from the founder’s son. He talked with us about how the Lord makes the under qualified, qualified. That he makes the unprepared, prepared. That the Lord has a plan for all of us, a better one than we can imagine, and that he will provide for us during each trial and season.”
