Written by: Liza Corso
It is so challenging to put into words just how excited I am to serve again this year in Baja, Mexico! I had the privilege of serving in Baja last January and I will be returning again this year. Going to Baja last year was my first international mission trip, and it was truly life changing. In my busy life, I have never experienced a week that was truly dedicated to serving others and praising God with very few distractions. I think we often forget just how busy we are until we are able to slow down and devote a whole week to being the hands and feet of Jesus. I have never felt the presence of God so strongly and a sense of pure joy like I did in Baja. One of my favorite moments from the trip last year was praising Jesus with the people of Baja. We had the opportunity to do this at their weekly church service, on top of a volcano, and at the beach. Klotzy likes to call these short term missions trips global church visits, and I wasn't expecting just how powerful it would be to see the churches that we visited praise Jesus so passionately. It was a great reminder that these people serve the same God we do even though we live thousands of miles apart. We sang songs half in English and half in Spanish, and even though we couldn't necessarily understand everything we were singing, the presence of God was so great.
This year our trip has grown and I am so excited for so many more people to be able to experience God in Baja. It is so powerful watching my teammates and other athletes serve and love others so well. We will be returning to the same churches that we visited last year and this is really special because we will be able to reunite with the friends we made last year. I am looking forward to introducing our new members to the people at these churches. In the short time we were there last year, we were able to build strong bonds with the kids and teenagers at the local churches. From playing hours of soccer with little Israel, to riding bikes with Doris, to having conversations in half English and half Spanish with Kenya about her job at the clinic and our similar interests in nutrition, these people have made a place in my heart and it is a huge blessing to be able to visit them again. I can't wait to hear all that the Lord has done in their lives this past year.
Last year we had the privilege of helping paint at Camp Baja, a retreat center for all the local churches to praise and learn more about Jesus. This will be a really special place for the community and I can't wait to see all the progress they have made since we were there last. It is an honor to be able to help be a part of this special place and see how it is going to impact so many peoples' lives.
It is a huge blessing to have the opportunity to serve in Baja, and I am beyond excited to see how God will work in our hearts and in the lives of the people in Baja. As we prepare to go serve in Baja, we would all greatly appreciate your prayers for our team and for the community in Baja!
Please follow along, as the team will post daily updates at www.lipscombsports.com.
For more information about Lipscomb Athletics Spiritual Formation, Athletic Missions, or ways to get involved, please reach out to Chris Klotz at Cpklotz@lipscomb.edu.
