Monday, May 31

Today was another interesting day spent partly in Cuernavaca (where we will be staying for language school) and then Chilpancingo - which was the stop-off point on the way to Huitzapula (a rural location in the mountains of Guerrero). After breakfast, the District Superintendent of the Methodist Church in Mexico came by to speak to us about the church and the work of the people in her congregations. Despite the extreme poverty in some locations, there seemed to be no extremely significant differences between that and what our UMC congregations experience in the U.S.

On our way to Chilpancingo, we stopped in La Joya (which means the jewel) and visited the health clinic run by the church there. One man gave us a tour of the facility which seemed to be pretty nice place considering that it was in a very rural mountainous region outside of Cuernavaca. We learned about the congregation in that community and their desire to help the people physically. There was a known need for medical assistance and the people decided to move forward with building a health clinic instead of a space for worship, knowing that in time that sanctuary would come. Considering this community was the poorest we've seen yet, it was quite impressive to hear their story. Their faith was tremendous; they sacrificed spiritually to provide for the physical needs of the people. After hearing this story about the people of La Joya, it certainly made me question what I would have done in that situation. What needs do you address first with members of your community?