Laredo 2013

Laredo 2013

My family has been going to Laredo to serve at Iglesia La Vid for 7 years now. In the first years, we went as members of short-term mission teams from our church. Now we help to lead teams from other churches. I wouldn't miss it.

No where else I know is like Laredo. When you are in Laredo, have no doubt- you are definitely in Texas, though you can stand on the edge of the Rio Grande river and wave at the Mexicans fishing on the other side. But just as in other places in the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo is distinctly different from San Antonio and other towns north. You hear Spanish everywhere, and most likely, it will be spoken to you. The HEB grocery store sells aquas frescas and elote and has a carniceria and tortilleria. It is not hard to find a good plate of enchiladas or a fresh raspa, but there are a couple of Starbucks, too. You absolutely cannot drive through Laredo without encountering semi-trucks, everywhere. Laredo is the largest land port in the United States. Every day more than 5000 trucks and "a billion dollars worth of goods move across the border between Mexico and the United States."

The summer sun is HOT in Laredo. It radiates off the pavement and soaks right through the soles of your shoes. But the air conditioning in local stores sometimes makes the tip of my finger numb. Clouds hang in the skies over Laredo like something you would see in the movies, like the advertisements for the movie Up. Bright green low hanging sagebrush and mesquite trees dot the otherwise brown landscape. Evidences of religion are everywhere in Laredo, both the traditional icons of Catholicism and the crazy inexplicable evidences of syncretism, such as when we saw decals for both the Christian Ichthys fish and Santa Muerta holding the Mexican flag on the back of a pick-up truck. Laredo can seem to be a place of contradictions.

Our primary role while in Laredo is to help out at Iglesia La Vid. In the beginning, we helped to construct their sanctuary. Now we worship in that place. In the last few years, we have come aside the congregation to serve in their annual Vacation Bible School activities. Campo Verano at La Vid is in Spanish; the majority of the kids come from families who speak Spanish in the home. But truly, most of the kids, especially once they are school-aged, speak English as well. This year the theme was Puro Corazon and centered around the life of Old Testament shepherd and king, David. That also gave all the teachers tremendous opportunity to talk about our Good Shepherd and King, Jesus. I took a BUNCH of photos of the kids at VBS, but I've decided not to post them publicly this year. You'll have to imagine the cuteness!

After mornings spent in VBS, our team divided up each afternoon. We helped to assist in a project to renovate bathrooms at the church and do some unfinished painting. And we went out into the community. For the third year we spent a couple of evenings feeding the homeless and impoverished on the streets of Laredo. We spent a couple of afternoons at Bethany House, preparing meals for the "the homeless, indigent, elderly, veterans, disabled, and residents of the emergency shelter complex" in  downtown Laredo. We sorted and folded and hung and organized clothes at the Bethany House Vintage Clothing Store. 

As is always true, I am certain that we received more blessing than any one we served. Being in Laredo is familiar, and yet, forces me to look at the world around me with fresh eyes- more pointedly, with our Savior's eyes. I'm thankful for the church, for Kingdom work, for the fellowship of believers, and for the Gospel of grace. I'm thankful for Pastor Carlos and his wife Andrea and our brothers and sisters at Iglesia La Vid and to the great team from Christ Church Katy and for our teammates, Dan and Becky Young. It was a really good week.

The album includes scenes from in and around Laredo. It's just a glimpse. Even better, come experience Laredo, or the other places where we have opportunity to serve and work and share the Good News of Christ, with us!