Several students had an opportunity to travel to Mexico City this year for J Term. We asked each of them to highlight their trip from their perspective and share some things that the Lord allowed them to learn and experience. Elly Hume is a sophomore at FCS. Please read Elly’s blog and continue to pray for her and other team members throughout the year.
I had an amazing experience this year on the Mexico City trip. The most impactful part of the trip for me through all the sports clinics, youth groups, and other serving opportunities was the chance to stretch myself. Before the trip, I was really nervous about having to use so much Spanish when I only knew so little. 
However, God used the situations that I was uncomfortable in to break down my walls and make me more open with the people we were ministering to and with. Sharing my testimony at the churches and devotionals at the sports clinics challenged me to look past barriers and reach out to the people that were around me, no matter the limitations that seemed to be there. I learned that I can’t be focused on my fear and self-consciousness or else I would miss the opportunities that God had placed right in front of me. The trip to Mexico was also important to me because I was able to refocus for the year ahead. Mr. Grass encouraged each of us to pick a verse and word or phrase to characterize our goals for the year. My word is faithfulness, and I’m using Proverbs 3:3 to encourage me in that area, as it is not always easy to choose time with God over the busyness of life. Overall, I’m very thankful that I had the opportunity to go on the trip to Mexico City. I had a great time meeting the people there, teaching kids about volleyball, and getting to spend time with the church. I’m also very excited to apply what I learned and experienced in Mexico back home in Lafayette.
