Why am I going?

Well I leave in about 6 days, and as my first real blog post, I think I should just share why I am going to Mexico to serve God and people this summer.
In John 10:10, Christ says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full". I have accepted Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for my sins. Jesus is my Savior, and I have a personal relationship with him. He gives me joy, peace and purpose. I truly believe that there is life after death, life in heaven with Christ. I know that I cannot keep this salvation to myself, I want to share it with others.
In one of our SOS meetings, Tommy Moon stated that missions can be summed up in Christ's words in Luke 7:37-38, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." It begins with me and Jesus, spending time with Him, getting to know Him and just resting in His love. When we are filled with Christ's love, it will naturally flow out into other areas of life and affect other people.
I know that I could spend my whole life sharing Christ with people right here in Iowa, but God has also given me a passion for the Spanish language and Latin American culture. I love the passion of the culture, the relaxed lifestyle, and the value of family. For me, it only makes sense that I combine my love for Christ and and my love for hispanic language and culture!
I think many times, we Christians here in the US forget that we really arent the only Christians in the world. We forget that God is moving outside of our neat little model of what a good church and good Christians look like. Plain and simple, I want to see what God is doing in other parts of the world! I want to learn more about Him and the way He works! I'm not expecting to go down to Mexico and change a bunch of stuff and show everyone how they can make their lives better by being more like me. No, I'm just excited to get involved in what God is already doing in Queretaro and Horizonte church!
Lastly, one of the main reasons I chose to go to Mexico this summer, rather than some other part of the world, is because there are so many Mexicans in NW Iowa and I want to become equipped to serve them better. There are so many disparities between the American culture and the Mexican-American culture, and I think a little understanding could go a long way in reaching out to each other, and drawing people to the love of Christ. I want to learn about Mexico, the way people think and the way they live. I want to learn about people's views on faith, missions, and immigration to the US. I want to use this understanding when I return in August to build relationships with Mexicans in the US. What I truly desire to see here in Sioux City, in Orange City and in all of the US is described by Paul in Ephesians 2:19-20, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone."