Recently, I was able to be a part of a beautiful retreat for the Hope Education students in Monterrey, Mexico. 120+ teens who live in different children’s homes in Monterrey, Mexico. 40 staff and older teens who offered of themselves to serve. 9 cabins. 10 tents. 2 days. 1 message: My circumstances are temporary, but I am not.
“las circunstancias son temporales pero yo no”
I went expecting to serve, to give of myself in relationships and experience to these young teens. And I guess in some way, I did do that. But, more than me serving them, Jesus repeated to me the same lesson that I have learned again and again when I go to these type of events to “serve”. It’s not about me. It’s not about what I have to offer these kids. It’s so much bigger than that.
It’s about what He has to offer all of us—the teens as well as the staff. I just get the privilege to be there, to witness it all.
And once again, it was a beautiful thing to witness, from beginning to end.
Friday night began with a worship session—nothing but music, lyrics and voices. As I stood in the room full of so many orphaned and abandoned teens singing, shouting and dancing— “Our God is greater, I want to fall more in love with you, all of my life in every season you are still God and I have a reason to sing,” I just kept thinking, This is so close to the heart of Jesus. This right here is the kingdom of heaven.
At the end, after many talks about the reality of who we are in Christ and how that transcends all circumstances, the teens were given a chance to respond out loud. After the final talk, there were a few minutes of silence for the teens to stand up, individually to declare the words that had been spoken over them and into their lives all weekend. It began with one girl, who stood up from her seat and said it with confidence. Then, another popped to her feet. And another. And another. Then, they were popping up from their seats so fast that the whole room just broke into a chorus of many young people, saying the same words but each beginning in a different moment:
“las circunstancias son temporales pero yo no”
“las circunstancias son temporales pero yo no”
“las circunstancias son temporales pero yo no”
I just kept thinking, This is so close to the heart of Jesus. This right here is the kingdom of heaven. It’s so much bigger than me. I am so privileged to be a part.
– Jenn Holden, Back2Back Monterrey, Mexico Staff