Road Trip to Mexico

Wisconsin to Mexico, one week, one bus, 21 people, seven states, one break down, and we finally made it.

We spent most of our trip in Oklahoma doing local outreaches, swimming, trying to rest, and doing final prep for Mexico. We were supposed to spend four nights there, but due to some bus trouble we had to spend our first night in Kansas. Thankfully one of our leaders knew a pastor of a church in Kansas City so we spent the night there and drove the rest of the way to Lawton, Oklahoma the next day.

Driving we saw lots of corn fields the first few states, then it steadily got dryer and flatter as we went from Iowa to Missouri to Kansas to Oklahoma. The high 90’s we met in Oklahoma was quite hot compared to the summer we had in Wisconsin. Thankfully one of the host homes we were staying at had a pool, so swimming in our free time made it much more bearable, even though it wasn’t even that hot for Oklahoma.

Then outreach really began, with ministry opportunities each day while there. We were able to serve at a boarding home for boys in Anadarko, Thursday evening. Friday evening we shared at a church worship service, and I actually was the main speaker presenting some of the things we learned in lecture phase as we move on to outreach. Saturday we served at a homeless/low income ministry that meets each Saturday at a park, we did a worship service, message, and helped serve lunch, and spent time talking with everyone there. Then Sunday morning we helped with a Sunday school service at a church back in Anadarko before getting back on the bus to drive to Texas.

What a miserable drive. It was so hot and humid with nothing to see out the windows. But we made it and were treated to some wonderful Western Texas hospitality for one more night before the final stretch to Mexico.

On that last drive we stopped at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico and spent a few hours walking around the caves. It reminded me of family vacations when I was little. Then a few more hours of driving through the Guadeloupe Mountains to El Paso.

Crossing the border was incredibly easy. Our van crammed full of people and stuff barely had to stop as we drove past the border control with their guns sitting talking watching the cars pass by. Then we were in Mexico! The YWAM base was only another fifteen minute drive after the border. We got settled in, ate some dinner, and went to bed early. Now, morning on the second day, getting ready for orientation. Here is where the fun really begins…