Rob & Alex Depart

Hello, Everyone:

I wanted to let you all know first off that Alex is doing very well, wanted to clarify why we left and add some commentary of our abbreviated experience.

We left Monterrey for Laredo yesterday morning after Alex awoke with his airways very constricted. He has a history of allergen-triggered asthma, but had not had symptons for well over a year. Consequently, I failed to take precautions or bring meds. Those of you who have experience with it know how scary it can be and how quickly it can escalate. I chose to take no risks and asked Andrea to drive us to Laredo for treatment at urgent care. He received shots of steroids, epenephrin and anti-biotic, along with several albuterol nebulizer treatments to get his oxygen levels back up. I didn't want to expose Alex further in his condition, so we rented a car and drove to my sister's home in Dallas (she has children with asthma and all the necessary tools). Alex continues to take treatments, is improving and doing fine.

I can't ever properly express my gratitude. Andrea drove us two hours to Laredo (with Mason volunteering to accompany us as translator} crossed border customs, took us to the airport, then back to do the whole thing over again. We left at about 10:30 and I know they didn't get back to Monterrey until after 6:00.
I was such an emotional mess, the haste of our departure compounded the pain of knowing that we weren't coming back. I can't talk when I cry, my voice rises to this squeaky, grinding little peep and it was all I could do to blurt these pathetic little squawks. I wanted to say goodbye, good luck, God bless, thank you, I'm so sorry...anything!! All I could do was cry and hug. Zac Johnson jumped in the van to take us over to Pastor Juan's. I remember Daniel Burgess helping me find our passports and tourist passes. I recall Collin Strehlow telling me take his Spanish dictionary, several other young people touching my shoulder to comfort me, someone else found our bags. I could tell how concerned all those kids were for us, but I was unable to say a thing. I wanted to grab them all and hold them, were my arms big enough. I could see and feel their love.
Hugs from Gene Anderson, Kyle & Jennifer Gylland, Kathie Strehlow, Pastor Juan. Probably others, I don't know. I was a mess. After so much preparation, the long trip down, two nights and a full day at the church working and playing with the children, I'm leaving. I felt like we gave up and let everyone down; the people of Monterrey, the kids, the chaperones. Tears still roll as I write this, my heart is so heavy. I didn't get to properly say goodbye to any of the Mission kids, Pastor Enrique, Cathy, Derek. No goodbye to my new little friend Hector, who tried to sell me and everyone else his hat (I think one of the kids finally broke down). Poor Alex didn't realize we weren't going back until we were nearly to Laredo, another victim of my cry-induced inability to speak as I sat in the van and stared out the window. He apologized to me for getting sick, like he was somehow at fault. I know he's deeply disappointed. I'm so sorry to you all.

But what I really want members of Atonement to know is this:
Our young people shatter the myth of the self-involved, brooding teen so many see.
Atonement youth are the shining example of hope, life, caring and love in Jesus Christ. They took all that to the impoverished people of Monterrey and just poured it out on them freely. I know this to be true. I saw it firsthand. Our first full day at Pastor Juan's church found most of the chaperones shopping for supplies for the needed work and it took all day. Consequently, there was no agenda or plan for our day. The kids were basically on their own to rest and visit with each other...but they didn't. Every one of them was out on the street with the children of Monterrey all day in the hot sun. With no instruction or direction, they organized crafts, implemented activities, held hands, taught games, played with the kids. They fulfilled Jesus' great commission, went out and loved those children. They were spreading the love of Jesus Christ by their acts. I wish you each could have seen it in person, it would've brought tears to your eyes. Jen's pictures--as wonderful as they are- don't do justice to what you would've felt by seeing those smiles, hearing that laughter and watching our young people work. 'Amazing' is a woefully inadequate description.

To organize, fundraise and implement a mission trip of any sort is daunting. To another country with teenagers? Unbelievable. Andrea is wonderful. Derek is incredible. Josh is fantastic. Gene, Cathy, Kathie, Jennifer and Kyle are terrific. And they LOVE our young people. We are so very blessed to have them all, including the kids themselves. I was apprehensive to go and didn't know what I'd find. What I found was a people who have little and are happy to ask you for nothing, are joyful and content. What I found was a group of young people who rise beyond anyone's expectations. What I found was that the teacher was the one being taught. I'm so proud of them all, they are truly amazing.

Please continue your prayers for their good work and safe return.
Our kids are a shining example of His great commission and there's no way to predict what fruits their labor may bring. Thank you, people of Atonement, for giving me this opportunity.

Rob Johnson