by Adrienne Salyards
I had the opportunity to spend the majority of my summer in Aguascalientes, Mexico with my two young children, serving as a SAMS Bridger alongside two seasoned missionaries. I had 3 goals for my time there: evangelism, encouraging the missionaries, and increasing our cultural fluency. God answered all three in beautiful ways. I was amazed at how quickly I was able to meet other moms in my neighborhood (maybe it’s a universal pattern that moms tend to seek each other out). One mom, whose 5-year-son loved playing with my 5-year-old son, took us to get haircuts for our boys at her favorite local barber (I never learned his name, because everyone only called him “flaco” aka “skinny guy”).
Another mom discovered that our toddlers shared a July birthday, and neither of us had planned anything. Together, we threw a thoroughly Mexican birthday party, with street corn, tacos, giant piñatas and a bounce house. The whole neighborhood came out and partied well past bedtime. As I got to know both women, I was able to share my testimony of God’s incredible goodness in my life and found that both of them had recently begun exploring Christianity.
On my very last day in Mexico, one of them reached out and wanted to do a Bible study with me. Not only was I able to read the Word with her, I was able to connect her with the local missionaries and a church with a strong Sunday School program. As we said goodbye that day, she told me, “God puts the right people in our lives.” We’ve stayed in contact via WhatsApp. As I reflect on my summer in Mexico, I’m grateful to have been able to glimpse, even if briefly, the work of the Missionary. I look forward to continuing to invite neighbors to know Christ, no matter where I live.
Adrienne Salyards lives in the Washington D.C. Metro area with her two children and attends Falls Church Anglican. God led her to explore being a Missionary intern this summer while being placed with SAMS Missionaries, Roger and Joanne Griffin in central Mexico.