I recently had the privilege of leading a small team on a Discovery Trip to Central Southern Mexico. We did not have a specific task to complete during this Discovery Trip such as a construction project, Vacation Bible School, or task-based initiatives—this journey was intentionally different. Our mission was not to complete a project, but to be present, to listen, and to learn.

We traveled through four different communities—each with its own culture, people, foods, and expressions of faith. In each place, we were welcomed with warmth and hospitality. Our main task? Sitting at tables, sharing meals, hearing stories. It was through those moments—unhurried, sacred, and real—that we began to understand the heart of these communities.

So often, we become consumed with doing—checking off tasks, completing goals, moving from one thing to the next. But what if God is inviting us to stop and simply be present?

When was the last time you shared a meal with someone without feeling distracted by your to-do list? Or took a slow walk with a friend, just to hear their heart? That’s what this trip reminded me to value again. Not productivity. Not outcomes. Just presence.

For me, this journey was also deeply personal. As a missionary kid who grew up in Mexico, returning felt like coming home. It was a joy to introduce our team to the beauty, warmth, and strength of a place and a people who have shaped so much of who I am. The individuals we met were not strangers—they are part of my extended family.

As I reflect on this Discovery Trip, I continue to dive deeper into the life of Jesus. I’m struck by how often He stopped. He made space for the stories of others—the beggar (Mark 10:46-52), the tax collector (Luke 19:1-10), and the children (Mark 10:13-16). He saw them. He heard them. And they were changed, not because He fixed their problems immediately, but because He was fully present.

This trip challenged me to do the same. To listen more. To notice more. To slow down.

So I’ll leave you with this question—the same one I’m asking myself:

Are you taking time to hear your neighbor’s story?

The Invitation 

I share my story in hopes to convey that God is at work everywhere and the invitation is open for us to respond to. Is God calling you? Do you feel a stirring in your heart for cross-cultural mission? Are you sensing a nudge to step out in faith, but unsure where to begin?

Whether your answer is a confident yes or a hesitant maybe, we invite you to reach out. My team and I would be honored to walk alongside you as you discern God’s calling in your life.