Nico in Mexico

Dear Cornerstone Brentwood H.S. blog readers,

This would be the first mission trip i've ever been involved in. Through it I have experienced everything I hope it would not be, and funny enough I am so thankful for that. I came into this hoping to simply serve God by serving the families we build houses for, to get closer to God, and meet new people (I'm the new kid in town, fyi) but God has made this experience uncomfortable and intrusive. The moment I crossed the border for the first time my defenses went up and the awesome car ride wasn't so awesome anymore. The houses i saw were like shacks yet the residences who lived in them seemed to be content. The children I had the chance to play catch with had nothing but dirt, rocks, and trash to play with but yet they had just as much fun (or maybe more) fun then most Americans have playing video-games or watching movies. The thing that really broke me was when a guest speaker came with a table of World Vision pamphlet containing pictures of children who need help. I have seen these pamphlet a hundred times but being able to actually spend time with kids like the ones in the pamphlets showed me the need that these kids have. It hit me harder when I looked at the expensive clothing I bought for this trip and realized i could of sponsored a kid with the money. It brought me to tears because I felt helpless because of my selfish desires. This is what I am experiencing in Mexico and I really pray I can take the disgust for my love of materialism and of myself home with me. Praise God He is doing something for me on this trip.

Under His Mercy,

Nico Johnson 

p.s. I hope that the reader would consider my words in this blog and hope that God would use this for His glory.