A Journey of Faith, Fellowship, and Gratitude - with our PA and MD friends

 


As we enter this season of thanksgiving, our hearts at Give Ye Them To Eat (GYTTE) are overflowing with gratitude. This November, one of our greatest blessings was welcoming a seven-member mission team from Pennsylvania and Maryland who joined us for nine unforgettable days of service, learning, and spiritual growth through the AWARE Program.  Led by dedicated volunteer Marian Hartman, who has been participating in mission trips since the 1990s, this team brough a lot of heart and soul!

Here is a highlight video:  


Their journey began in Puebla, where they explored the beauty and culture of southern Mexico—two days of eco-tourism filled with new sights, sounds, and tastes. From discovering how many ways a humble corn tortilla can be transformed into a meal, to learning about Mexico’s five indigenous tribes, to enjoying traditional dancing and parades—each moment was a reminder of the richness of God’s creation and the beauty of diversity.

The remaining seven days were spent at the Tree of Life Training Center in Tlancualpican, where faith met action. Each morning began with an uplifting devotional tied to one of GYTTE’s programs—inviting reflection on how God continues to multiply loaves and fishes through the hands of those who serve. The team then put their faith into motion, helping with projects that strengthened both the land and the spirit of the community.

Together, they harvested jamaica (a beloved hibiscus fruit used to make tea), prepared pumpkin seeds for roasting, made their own tortillas, and built a pathway from the dormitories to the barn—decorating it with colorful rocks shaped into a cross, sun, and flowers, symbols of faith, hope, and renewal. Others painted dormitories, worked on the chapel walls (zacatlanilolli—a rammed earth model of building using local materials), weeded gardens, and sewed aprons with care. As 1 Corinthians 12:12 reminds us, “The body is one and has many members... and all the members of the body, though many, are one body.” Every person, every task, every prayer mattered!

Two special blessings were worshipping in Puebla at El Buen Pastor Iglesia and in Tlancualpican, where the team shared goodie bags with the children and lifted their voices together in praise. Later, in Lagunillas de Rayón, they attended a powerful presentation on nutrition led by Estela, a longtime GYTTE staff member (26+ years!).  Estela shared her inspiring testimony—how she began as a participant in the first Community Health Promoter class and grew into a respected community leader, teaching others about preventative health measures, recycled crafts, herbal plant medicines and teas, and God’s provisions through nature.

The team also discovered how to build a dry compost toilet—a humble but powerful example of “appropriate technology” that restores health and hope in communities without running water. It was a living lesson in stewardship, reminding us that caring for God’s people and the earth go hand in hand.

As the team departed, we were reminded once again that mission work is not just about what we build with our hands, but about what God builds within us—faith, friendship, compassion, and hope. We thank God for this team’s servant hearts, and for the many ways their presence has sown seeds of love that will continue to grow long after their journey home.

To enjoy photos of the mission team’s experience, visit:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11tF2jTC8jGfTa4ya6KxbRgcp065PKD-j?usp=sharing.

We simply couldn’t do the work we do on the ranch without the support, love and prayers from mission teams.  If you are interested in learning how to bring a mission team to Mexico, please contact me at klewis@umcmission.org.

 

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