First Mission Trip from Memorial Lutheran Church
By John Hatteberg

If you like traveling, hard work, camaraderie and have love for your fellow Christians, then you need to join Memorial Lutheran Church’s mission trips.

One such trip was to Mexico City D.F. in the spring of 2000. We were asked to help the congregation of San Pedro. San Pedro’s building had suffered through a severe earthquake that demolished their church. They had the exterior of a new church almost completed, however, the interior still had rubble concrete and collapsed interior walls standing. Our job was to level the walls and rubble for the pouring of a floor for the chancel area and nave. We divided into work groups and some moved rubble, collected trash into piles, worked on window openings and rewired electrical service. When that was all in order we painted various portions of the exterior walls and some rooms. This work took approximately four or five days, but so you don’t think it was all work, you need to know our hosts, the congregation, took us to a Mozart concert, shopping in the market, to the pyramids, and a day trip to Taxco. Their generosity and warmth was overwhelming. We went to Mexico City to help and came away with the love and affection of the people of San Pedro. It was a life-changing event for us and for all the reasons one can think of as reasons, the one that counts is that Christ died on the cross and was raised from the dead for us and because of that we are all bound together.

This letter was sent from the congregation of San Pedro in Mexico.  Many of the church members signed the letter in appreciation of the help from Memorial Lutheran Church and in concern for members of their Christian church family.  

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

As members of San Pedro’s congregation, we would like to express our deepest gratitude for the monetary gift sent to us.  That covered our need and allowed us to purchase an electrical sound system.  This sound system allow us to listen clearly to the sermons and praises.  May the Lord bless all of you and your families and give to you for all your needs