How do you picture Mexico?

A generalized American view of Mexico: immigrants, drug trafficking, swine flu, dirty water, lots of poverty (and, if you're in college, Spring Break Cancun trips).

I remember how several people asked me before coming here, "Why Mexico? They also speak Spanish in Spain." Yes. I really don't know exactly why Mexico appealed to me so much, but I am so glad that I am here as opposed to anywhere else in the world right now.

The other day I read something a friend had written about how the US view toward Mexico tended to focus on the negative. It was then followed by something along the lines of, "and many of my friends who come to Mexico on mission trips only have these stereotypes reinforced."

This idea has stuck with me since I read it because it's so true. I had been to Mexico a couple times on mission trips before, and you are exposed to things that maintain these stereotypes such as the extreme poverty, the lack of work, places with no electricity or clean drinking water.

But, Mexico is so much different and bigger than just that tiny little view. There are places with theater, commercial grocery stores, commercial movie theaters complete with popcorn and all, parking decks, museums, upscale bars and restaurants and clubs, etc. These aspects are just as valid and important as the others previously mentioned.

At the end of it all, Mexico is structured like any other country. Yes, there is poverty (like in the US if we look around), but there is also a rich culture (in many ways that I like more than that of the US) where family is extremely important, where people take walks around the plazas and stop to really chat with their neighbors and their friends, where people really take time to dress up to go to parties, weddings, etc.

So, all this to say, that maybe we as a Church are just contributing to the idea of "Since I'm more privileged and have more material resources, I feel obligated to help you." While I'm certainly not bashing helping your neighbor and being generous with what you have, we need to keep in mind that this could (and should) be applied equally to Africa, South America, Europe, and your neighbor across the street in the suburb where you live. It is NOT exclusive to "third-world countries."

My idea is that the next mission trip you take to Mexico should be to a middle-class community, instead of the rural desert or the urban slums. I think you would be surprised at how different Mexico can be from what you actually think it is...and maybe you'll be given more than what you yourself can give them.