TRAINING, TRANSLATING AND TRIUMPHING!
Throughout the month of March, February and even parts of January, much of my time and effort was invested in planning, promoting, making contacts, and translating material from English to Spanish for a specialized training we were to host on response to and in natural disasters. This was a big deal for us as YWAM Pachuca, it being the first “big” event we hosted; for me, it stretched me, as I was the main coordinator – supported by Ricardo and Corina, and the rest of the YWAM Pachuca crew.
As I am way too limited in space to be able to share the results of the training, let me just say: it went so very well! We had about 25 in attendance - from all over Mexico and here locally. The speakers who gave the training were a huge blessing. We had four folks from Hope Force International, two other wonderful men from separate ministries in the States, and two Captains from the Salvation Army here in Mexico. Much of the training dealt with spiritual and emotional care, and identity in Christ… as us, the crisis responders. We really dug into the issue of us as individuals needing to be healthy and spiritually founded in order to effectively minister to someone passing through a crisis. We really had a great four days of sessions, and look forward to continued partnership with Hope Force and the Salvation Army in the future. While we don’t look forward to the natural disasters, we know that they are inevitable, and it was encouraging to see each one who attended th e training become more prepared, aware, and leave the training motivated to make a difference. God continues giving me opportunities to improve my language and communication skills in Spanish by translating. I translated many of the Hope Force sessions – which were 8-hour days! (I definitely have a new respect for my mom and all the teachers out there who do this day in and day out). While it was tiring, it was very worth it – I think I am able to remember more from the sessions due to translating alone. However, the opportunities weren’t limited to just this training; during the same weekend it was the celebration of the anniversary of the church I attend here, and a pastor from the States was the guest speaker. The pastor of the church here asked me to help translate the guest preacher her as she gave the message. I did this on three occasions throughout the week, and overall really did count it a blessing to do so. Often times I was tired, they called at the last min ute, and as I was catching a cold, I just really didn’t feel like going… but I must say that once I was there, as I was up in front of the congregation, I just had to thank God. He gave me the energy, he’s the one who has opened so many doors for me to be able to learn the language well, and honestly, I am very thankful to have been given the chance to serve in the church I call “mine.” It took a lot of looking to find this church, and once I decided it would be where I would attend, I told God I didn’t just want to attend, rather I wanted to be able to serve as well as I am able to. So, God has held me to my word! I look forward to further opportunities, and know there are many just around the corner. Would you join us in prayer for these next couple of months when we’ll have a team of 28 from Ensenada, and a group of 13 from Denver here with us in Pachuca doing ministry? We will have in-town events, run programs in the villages, do ministry in Mexico City, etc. We also continue t o hold in prayer the DTS students, the building, and all that is to come.
God cover you under his wings of protection,
Meghan