Brendan Serez: January 2012

Hello everyone,

In my last update I mentioned something about "my next adventure". Well, said adventure has just been confirmed so I can now tell you about it!

On Monday I am flying to Switzerland to work for an NGO called Medair. I will be living there for 2 months and then I'm flying back to Canada for a week and then I'm off on my big trip for 18 months.

It's all starting to sink in. All of this was just confirmed about 10 days ago when I was still working on the video so, I didn't have time to think about it. But now, it's hitting me like a Mack truck. It's funny... I have lived in Hanover for about 6 years; the first four were spent hidden away everyone while I worked away at the Campground. It's only been in the last 2 years that I have ventured out into the community and started meeting people. It's caught me off guard because suddenly i'm realizing how much I care about the relationships I have here in Hanover. Without noticing it, it has become my home and my family. I know that I'm only leaving for 20 months, but.... still. I've always said: "it doesn't matter what I face in life as long as I have friends that are behind me". So friends, please know that I don't take you lightly or for granted. I am confident that this is the path God has me on, so you could say "suck it up buttercup and git er dun!" Still.. There it is.

I'm excited. I really am. God is doing some incredible things and I can't wait to see where he takes me.

This has been a quick update for you all. I will try and post something before I leave in 2 days! Wow..

Thanks,
Bren

Hello all,

I'm back from Mexico and still very much alive with the exception of a slight cold and bowel discomfort. Yes, I said that. I have been back for about a week and I'm still slightly sick, though, I am slowly getting better.

Mexico was AMAZING.

I think I may be having a hard time explaining just how amazing it was.

I have traveled a lot in my life and have experienced many different cultures but, this was my first time experiencing 'Latin' culture. I might just have to say it's my favourite. Although i'm not 100% sure about that just yet. I was amazed by the love, kindness and hospitality of everyone I met. Everyday felt like a great, big family reunion. Mexicans have a special way of making anyone feel welcome and accepted. I connected instantly with a few people in particular- so much in fact, that when it came time to say goodbye, I was almost in tears. I felt as though I had known these people for years and I didn't want to say bye. Their culture is rich with family and relational values. The way they do church is also notable. New comers are immediately noticed and welcomed-so much so, that, when it comes time for the service to start, the preacher has already met them all and can call them by name; and does! They start the service thanking God for the newcomers (by name) and for the way He is growing the church.

I was in Mexico to Photograph and make a Video of a missions team that has been doing work in Guadalajara. I was there for a week and I probably banked 145 hours. I was busy. Every morning I would wake up at 5 am, get my gear ready, charge batteries, eat, and head out the door. Each day was different as I was fallowing the different teams around. Some days we would be touring hospitals, ministering to the church, cultivating land for church expansion and anything else we could help the church out with. I love this team so much because they were in Mexico to 'partner' and 'help' the Mexican church. Not to 'run' or 'take over'. I think that has been one of the major screw ups in the past- Christians that go into a community and take over rather than partner. The Mexican church has so much to teach the world about 'church' and 'community'. Each night I would get home around 10 pm- eat dinner, talk till about midnight and then head off to bed. But, before bed... I had to organize my gear, charge more batteries and organize data. I usually went to bed at 2 am. Yes, I went to bed at 2 and woke up at 5. I was running on adrenaline.

I was staying with my uncles family at a host family that attended the church we were doing most of the ministry work with. Every morning they would have breakfast prepared for us before we left for the day, and dinner, when we returned. They were a huge blessing to us.

Right now, I'm recuperating and doing a massive amount of editing. Photos and Video. And... Preparing for my next adventure.. Hint Hint... More on that soon!

Here are a few photos.