The first morning we were there, JoEllen and Bruce and Katy took us to a local market to buy food for us to deliver to some needy families we would be meeting later that afternoon.

(Would you pay this much for a box of Special K? We had to remember that the prices were all in pesos!)

The challenge: the grocery lists were all in Spanish! We went in pairs, totally on our own, and had to do the best we could to purchase all of the items needed for the food boxes. It was hilarious! Shopping is so different there; vendors inside the market only sell certain items in their little shops, so we had to figure out where to go for the things on our list. You can imagine the crazy looks we got. It was total immersion into Oaxacan culture, right from the start.

Later, we visited the community center of Vincente Guerrero, a newer neighborhood built on what used to be the Oaxaca dump. A Covenant pastor gives organization and leadership to this center, which is a bright spot in the community.

Speaking of “bright spots:” they are also going to be getting electricity pretty soon! We went to visit several families with our food boxes, and had a wonderful time getting acquainted with these warm and friendly people. Carolyn and I went together, and were delighted to meet the matriarch of the family, Raquel, who is 103 years old! This to me is the most important, most meaningful, and most significant reason for going on a cross-cultural mission trip: connecting with people, regular everyday people, to build bridges of friendship, understanding, and for us who are Christians, deeper unity in and through our Savior, Jesus Christ.