Since we returned from Guanajuato and our Mexico Mission, I have been reflecting on all of the beautiful relationships we formed and experiences we had. We continue to bask in the goodness of God and the way He intricately places our feet where they need to go — if we just listen to Him!

If you’d like to know the story that led to our mission, read my post teaching across the border as well as the UPDATE: teaching across the border. This will get you all caught up! Our flight to Mexico was relatively uneventful and we safely arrived in Leon.

One of the teachers picked us up at the airport and offered to show us the capitol city on Sunday! This was an amazing trip full of amazing food, fantastic culture — and a fabulous introduction to Lion’s Heart Academy! Cristina was an informative and interesting hostess and guide!

We laughed, talked about Jesus, tried new foods, explored a castle, learned the history of Mexico’s independence, laughed more, enjoyed street vendors and performers! We were happy and exhausted when we laid our heads down to sleep that night!

The next day was our first day at the school – a great day to begin meeting teachers and students and observing life at Lion’s Heart Academy.

Over the course of the next few days, we would meet individually with each teacher, sharing tips specific to their classrooms and leading them through ways to disciple their students.

The students loved speaking with us and interacting with us – playing games and introducing us to new snacks and food! The teachers, staff, and students were extremely hospitable, sharing testimonies of God’s goodness that brought them to Lion’s Heart Academy and Old Mexico Manufacturing.

The days continued to get better. The meetings with teachers were phenomenal. Brady led one day with an opening devotional and Kayden played guitar. We fell in love with the people and their beautiful hearts.

Friday was our time of professional development together. During the week, I gathered all of my observations and discussions with the teachers to create a day of learning that would benefit the teachers and allow them to grow and learn as educators.

The teacher training centered around learning styles, brain breaks, and strategies to help the teachers deliver their lessons while still helping students learn independently in step with the curriculum they use. At the end of the training, we ate amazing homemade enchiladas and shared our hearts together.

These precious people quickly became our friends – and we look forward to continuing the partnership in the future.

It was breathtaking watching our daughter Kayden fall in love with the people and culture of Mexico. There aren’t enough words to describe how much we all learned from one another – and this is not the end. The learning will continue.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who donated to our Mexico Mission. Your prayers and dollars helped us tremendously! We pray that the teachers, staff, and students learned as much from us as we did from them — and we can’t wait to go back again!