A small taste of what it has meant to be in Mexico City

Thank you for your continued prayers and support of our team here in Mexico City. I wish all of you could have been here this past week to see these young men and women work side by side to be the hands and feet of Jesus. These young men and women have represented their love of God in amazing ways and have been great ambassadors of God, Canada and McKernan. I hope you enjoy the following (you might need a tissue) and know that this is barely scratching the surface of what this trip means to these young people. (I will add the others later) – Pastor Terry Okken


This trip has been a very special experience for me coming as a leader. To see how the students in our (my & Jesse’s) small group have stepped so far out of their comfort zone and from what I can see, become more of themselves has been such a privilege. I have found so much joy in watching the students step out and lead.

Another special thing has been the “off-ministry” times where we get to build our relationships within the team. It is so exciting to see the students let go of things in their past and use this trip as a turning point, having set up an alter before God saying “I am no longer bound by these things that distract me and hold me back.”

This trip has also provided me an opportunity to set aside my own distractions and enjoy just being in community with God’s people. I have loved building friendships with the other leaders, and students, and forming new ones with my new family her in Mexico City. God has continued to teach me to rely on him constantly and to surrender my plans and agenda to His will. I feel as though he is teaching me what life is about and what my purpose for being on earth is – to glorify God through the love I show for others. I often come to the end of my own love, but then God allows me to see people through a fresh set of eyes – His eyes – and in grace, grants me the extra love I need.

I am blessed by this culture and the love that flows so freely. I pray that this experience will allow me to take more love home. I am so thankful that I am here and am excited to see where God is going to mold and shape me and the rest of the team during the next days and in re-entry. -- Sheleena Boulianne


I have been asked what this trip has meant to me. I ponder in my head and in my heart, “What does this trip mean to me?” Well here it is, unexplainable, but it doesn’t end there. That, that I cannot explain is so much in my heart and changed me as a person. I have had so much fun doing the Lords work which means so much to me and I can’t imagine how happy the Lord is with the work we have done here in Santa Ursula at Monte Sion and in Huixquilucan. I can see him smiling his big grin and it makes me smile and cry. Why? Because we have pleased him and this world is so full of darkness. You can now find light in these two places we have worked in. “The Lord is a light unto my path…”

We have connected so well with the people here, I can’t imagine leaving and never coming back. So many connections with the children here, a girl named Estaphania from the church in Huixquilucn who was always willing to talk no matter how difficult it was for us and for her tounderstand. Xochitl a girl from Monte Sion who clung and cuddled with us all and captured our hearts, as well we will never forget the little cutie Jonathan from Monte Sion. So cute I wanted to take him home with me. I am amazed by God’s amazing way of showing himself to me through my own mind. There were times on this trip where it felt as we both shared a mind and he shared his thoughts with me, with my daily devotions. PRAISE THE LORD! for all he has done! I am looking forward to home but don’t want to leave at the same time. I guess I miss home! It seems that is where my heart lies at the moment but for a piece it is here for we have seen a taste of heaven. No doubt about that. -- Karisa Seim


This has been an amazing short-term mission trip and especially because it was my first experience. It has amazed me that God can do so much in such a short time and all of the miracles he has created in these children’s lives. The amount of kids that came and the great amount of attention they paid really stood out to me, and I praise God for that. In my own heart, I have been shaped greatly by my ability to leave my comfort zone and to worship God with service. Personally, my act of being a servant is to use my hands to further our world and building new area’s. Lastly, I was astonished by the wonderful hospitality of all the people we’ve been around including food and accommodations. Now, I hope to finish off this trip with continued love for Christ and carry that on back to Edmonton. – Matthew Faulkner


Mexico City is an amazing place! I’ve really enjoyed learning and soaking everything I can in since arriving here last Saturday. I’ve really enjoyed learning Spanish with the help of the family we are staying with. I’m actually getting to be functional in it now, and being able to have short conversations in “Spanglish” is a lot of fun! I’ve felt really comfortable all week doing the VBS and playing with the children. This is a major praise item for me since working with young children has never been an area of great strength for me.

Another highlight of this trip for me was playing some genuine Mexican street soccer with some guys my age. I felt like I was in the video game FIFA street! It is great to see God at work here in Mexico, and playing a small part in his plan here has been a great pleasure and privilege. Thank you for your prayers, I’m sure that they have had a positive impact in my trip here in my attitude and enabled me to function beyond my “normal” settings. God Bless -- Jesse Boulianne


Wow doesn’t even begin to describe Mexico City and this missions trip. It has been an amazing experience and one I will never forget. The first full day in Santa Ursula was spent at Monte Sion. The worship caught me off guard at first but was beyond beautiful with the two languages being sung side by side (it brought me to tears). The VBS with the kids was miraculous! How they embraced us as older brothers and sisters and also our lack of well spoken Spanish was well appreciated and so special. Of course you create some bonds with the kids you are working with but for me, I connected with 5 girls in more depth. Estephania, Xochilt, Katherine, Sarai & Nataly Pamela always gave me a huge bear hug & made me feel like I belonged. One of the most rewarding experiences on this trip was to see many more than half of the total amount of the kids draping their black ribbons over the cross and bowing their heads in prayer. It touched my heart in a way I have not felt before.

I love the culture here in Mexico, how they are so accepting, loving and provide hospitality to complete strangers. I only hope that I can learn some of their culture and bring it back to share with my family & friends. The most important things I’ve learned this trip is that everything is possible as long as you give it to God and even though you came to serve, you might be blessed and served by others unexpectedly along the way. -- Christie Roethlingshoefer


It has been such a huge blessing to be back with my brothers and sisters here in Mexico City. I wasn’t sure I’d be back but I’m so glad that I am. God has really reminded and retaught me a lot of the things I learned two years ago. Everytime I am here I am amazed at the power of unspoken love. It blows my mind how easy it is to express love to someone without being able to tell them. One person who really impacted me again this trip was Obed. I was kind of surprised that he still remembered me. Near the beginning of the trip, I showed him the bracelet he gave me last time and he remembered giving it to me. A few days later he actually brought out the letter that I wrote for him two years ago. That blew my min that he still had it. One moment that I will never forget from this trip is when it was after me and Obed had been hanging out with each other for a while that day, and it was time for me to leave, and he came over to me, gave me a big hug, and said in English, “My big brother forever”.
God is continuing to bless me and teach me sooo much about relationships while I’m here. Hopefully I can take this with me forever. – David Schneider