Matamoros, Mexico - First Year Missionaries
Radical discipleship for college students wanting to follow Jesus' model

Serve others in Mexico!
There are tremendous and varied ministry opportunities for First Year Missionaries in Matamoros, Mexico, a city of over one million people. It has all the needs of any big city in America: poverty, drug addiction, homelessness, family violence, and prostitution. The "least of these" are everywhere.

Trip Details:

Start Dates: Fall 2008
Length: 9-months
Cost: $6,000 + airfare
Language: Helpful to have a conversational level of Spanish.
Team Size: 10-15 participants aged 18-22

New... FYM Mexico Video

Our Mexico FYM Team Vision:
Our mission is threefold: increased depth of personal walk with GOD, working and living as a part of the body of CHRIST, and impacting the COMMUNITY around you as you discover and utilize your gifts.

• GOD: personal and group studies, challenge of self-abandoned living, walkin’ it out with the team and on the streets in ministry, practical application of the truths that HE is speaking to you
• Body of CHRIST: family atmosphere, team ministry, accountability, ministering to one another, breaking of bread together
• COMMUNITY: Adopt a Neighborhood, internships, weekend ministry, cooperative outreaches with Mexican nationals, serving in expanding ministries of the local church

One of the most unique things you’ll experience during your time as an FYM is working alongside Mexican nationals to impact the community. AIM’s Missions Training Institute (MTI) trains student leaders from all over the country. We collaborate with their training to form intercultural ministry teams that hit the streets in church planting efforts. Of course, we’re huge on team unity, so you will have lots of time to build friendships and really get to know the Mexican students.
 

“A sweet opportunity to know the LORD more
through discipleship, real life experience, and a chance
to spend a period of your life to learn
the LORD’s voice and how to walk in HIS will.”
–David Rogers, FYM Mexico

Team Discipleship: 
Discipleship has several angles. One angle involves the whole team as we grow together and learn from one another’s lives. Second, you get hooked up with a one-on-one mentor who will pour into your life and walk with you as CHRIST conforms you into HIS image. This incorporates a life-on-life approach to fan into flame the work the LORD is doing in you. It’s a rocking deal that faces the deep issues and bears fruit toward walking in the abundant life the SAVIOUR died to give each of us.

Team discipleship hits major topics such as communion with GOD, spiritual gifts, evangelism, disciple making, leadership, church planting, missions, the body of CHRIST, and worship. Daily teaching and team discussion are geared to build into each individual the core foundations of being a disciple of CHRIST. Our goal is to proclaim HIS glory, by following the often narrow but always true path, starting in your own heart, and moving to the nations.

“My relationship with GOD has become so personal on this trip.”
-Andrew Nimon, FYM Mexico

Life Details:
We get around through public transportation, which is a sweet way to involve you in the Mexican culture. Our meal time revolves around a family atmosphere. We eat mostly Mexican food, which means lots of tortillas, beans, and plenty of good veggies. Our community-living environment includes group housing (guys and girls in separate quarters). The leaders are in close proximity as they share housing with you.

Ministry Opportunities:
Ministry possibilities include hospital patient visitation, street evangelism, women’s shelter, children’s home, after school programs, meeting the physical needs of partner ministries, involvement in local church planting efforts, youth group support, discipleship of locals, and being teachers’ aides in local schools.

Location Description:
Matamoros lies just across the border from Brownsville, Texas, and has an estimated population of one million. Because of its proximity to the U.S. border, this crowded and dusty city attracts people from all over Mexico who are in search of work. Intense poverty, broken families, and hurting hearts are reality to many of the people here. We pour our time and efforts into the ghettos and slums torn by drug addiction, and darkened without the light of JESUS.

Religious Beliefs:
The majority of Matamoros residents could be considered non-practicing Catholics. A considerable number of people practice some type of idol worship, whether for protection or out of fear. Superstitions have a grip on a lot of folks, while others consider the spiritual realm a hoax and focus their life on material gain.

The ground is ripe for sowing into these hearts a touch of CHRIST’s love. It’s an awesome opportunity to reach out to a world where HIS saving grace is hardly known.

“Who knew God spoke Spanish!”
-Katie Rolph; FYM Mexico

Leader Biographies:

• Bob and Marissa Waag (Team Leaders)
• Crystal Reitsma (Mexico FYM Resident Advisor & Spanish Teacher)

Click on a date for more information: Fall 2008

Read trip reports & see pictures from current and previous FYM trips to Matamoros, Mexico

If you have any questions contact us by email or phone: 1-800-881-2461.

Take Action!

Apply online for a First Year Missionary trip.  Ask a question about the FYM program.  Call Us at 1-800-881-2461.  Take a closer look at the FYM program objectives.