Several years ago, I was a missionary in Tecate, Mexico and volunteered at a school for children with disabilities. In the morning a yellow school bus would wobble down the rocky dirt road of my humble neighborhood to pick me up. Inside the bus I could hear my name being called by the children who were verbal. As I climbed onto the bus I could see the seats were filled by the smiling faces of children who were eager to learn and to see me. What joy this brought to my heart! Some sat in wheelchairs that were strapped to the ground while others just sat next to their buddies. Everyone seemed to love the bus ride and going to school.

I never intended to work at this school. When I first arrived to Tecate I was serving in the children’s ministry and leading worship during in-home bible studies. This opportunity arose when my visa expired. Back then it, was necessary for missionaries to renew their visas every three months so we paid a visit to Dr. Limon, a high ranking government official who was also a Christian. We went to him for advice and direction on the renewal of our visas. He was an easy-going man with a love for Coke and potato chips and believed in the work we were doing in Tecate. He gave us various ideas on how to keep our visas and encouraged me to volunteer at a public special needs school. I was thrilled at the thought of doing this but had no idea how to make this happen. After making some phone calls, Dr. Limon opened the door for me at the school and provided the transportation I needed to get there. The teachers were kind and gentle to the children and seemed to really love their jobs. They worked with limited resources, but this didn’t affect their effectiveness. The teachers were patient with me and helped me learn ways to contribute to the class during teaching activities, crafts and even some basic physical therapy techniques such as their daily range of motion time. I saw firsthand how smart the children were and so capable of learning. Their disability only meant that they would need to learn differently and not less.

As I look back, I’m amazed on how beautifully God orchestrates everything in our lives. Volunteering at this school was so much more than a means to renew my visa, it was preparation for the daughter I would have in the future with special needs. I feel so blessed to have walked down that Tecate road.