Wind Report – Brownsville

My name is Rachel Robertson. I had been to Brownsville, TX just last summer, but this time around had something rather special about it. Isn’t it funny how you can go to the same place, and yet have experiences that are worlds apart? This particular mission trip was my first without the loudness, rowdiness and musicality of the youth group. I feel like God used this opportunity and this trip to acclimate me as I move into adulthood with those who have experienced much of life and have gained wisdom through more joys and heartaches than my eighteen years have conjured up. Simply being able to work side by side with prominent figures of First Baptist Arlington who truly valued the volunteering of us “less seasoned” folk showed me a different side and a new bond to our church. I guess if we did not bless the people of Brownsville in any way, Brownsville at least blessed our group and me. God is good.

We arrived at The University of Texas at Brownsville/ Texas South most College in the early evening on Saturday after an infinity hour van ride (I’d tell about the “youngin’s” van experiences if they had been more interesting than sleeping). One of the qualities of Brownsville that I absolutely love is that it goes to show how you do not even need to leave the state of Texas to encounter a culture that differs so much from that of Arlington, and to realize that those years of high school French help diddly squat (maybe that’s just me). Throughout the week, our group split off into our two teams and went to work with two separate churches to help in their ongoing ministries.  This week was filled with wonderful experiences working with children and youth that taught our teams so much.  But perhaps the best summary of the overall lesson from this week could come from that first Sunday morning when we joined these churches for a day of worship.  Team Peggy, on which I had the honor of serving, attended San Benito church in which Pastor Blanco and the congregation greeted so warmly and heartily. With the church being so small, there was a time where members of the congregation were invited to just stand and express all that God has been doing in their lives and to give thanks for all He has done. The beautiful part about it was that, even though these people giving testimonies were speaking Spanish and I could not understand what they were saying, I would catch the frequent “Gracias, Senor,” and an overwhelming sense of unity came over me as I was reminded that we serve a God that reigns above all language barriers.  And that’s a lesson that I hope to keep with me for the rest of my life, and I’m thankful for the great reminder while serving in Brownsville.