I honestly don't know where to start with this blog! Haha I've been back in the States for a few months now, and it still feels like I'm just here on vacation and will be heading back to Mexico at any moment. This has been the most amazing opportunity of my life, and I am so grateful for it. I honestly wish I could go back and do the whole thing over again. I'm a little bit jealous of anyone reading this who is considering becoming a Goer or who has already made the decision to be one and just wants more information. I wish I were you again. You are at such an amazing time in your life. If you decide to Go, God is going to do such amazing things throughout your two years. You're going to be challenged in ways you never expected. You're going to learn how to trust God more, and you're going to make amazing relationships with people from a different part of the world. Now that my time as a Goer is over, I want to share some of the main things I learned with you.
1. We don't always know the best way of doing things.
This is a big one. Different countries do things differently. I stress the word different here because that's all it is. Just because their way of washing clothes or traversing around the city or relating to each other is not what you're used to, that doesn't make it bad or wrong. It is not your job or my job to come in and tell people how to do it our way. I was blessed with the amazing opportunity to learn how many different familes handle things. All of them were different, and I learned how to fit in and follow the rules for each. It really broadens your worldview that way.
2. Sometimes God puts us somewhere we don't think we belong, but he knows what he's doing.
This was a big learning experience for me. I always thought I would end up teaching elementary at my school in Mexico. Teenagers kind of scared me. I didn't care much for teenagers when I was one and apparently never grew out of that. So when God provided the opportunity to teach middle and high school, I was really questioning it. But I knew that's where he wanted me, and it very quickly became one of my favorite things about being in Mexico. I ended up having great relationships with all of my students, but I loved the deep spiritual conversations that I was able to have with my high schoolers. They are some of my favorite people. Now that I'm back in the States, I'm tutoring a high schooler in Spanish and have subbed for the high school Sunday school class at my church. Both are things I have thoroughly enjoyed.
3. We grow the most when we're out of our comfort zone
I think my faith grew more in the two years I spent in Mexico than it did in my entire time in high school and college. I was stretched in ways I never would have been if I had stayed in the States. Being out of my comfort zone taught me what it really means to trust God with everything you have and everything you are.
I hope this last blog helps you make a decision or reaffirms the decision you have already made. I loved my time in GoCorps, and I believe you will too!