Let Me Tell You About the Fair!

Before we begin the fair update, I’d like to share a video we put together that gives a snapshot of what it took to make the fair possible:

We’ve made it home from Mexico!

36 graduates and 36 adults returned safely on Tuesday evening from a seamless trip.
This past weekend, we hosted the fair in Bernal, a vibrant celebration marking the culmination of our efforts so far. The festival was held in a spacious auditorium just off the town square. A large, colorful banner reading “Festival De La Herencia” guided visitors from the street into the building.

Inside, bright, multi-colored streamers stretched up toward the center of the roof, forming a festive canopy over the entire room. Guests flowed in from the open-air plaza, pausing to grab a complimentary bag of kettle corn on their way inside.

Over a backdrop of Texas-flavored instrumental music, Brother Jacques Broquet kept up a lively stream of commentary, welcoming visitors with a joyful blend of multicultural greetings: “¡Hola! Shalom! Howdy!”

A wide array of delicious food options kept visitors well-fed and happy throughout the fair. Several of the guys from Texas ran a popular burger booth, while Brother Ephraim served up fresh, brick-oven pizza. He even brought special beef pepperoni from Dallas with him in his suitcase, determined to have the very best ingredients on hand.

Eric Gonzalez: “I was cashiering at the burger booth when Brother Sam came and asked us to make four burgers for the local police. I got them ready, and they really enjoyed them.

“‘What kind of beef did y’all use?’ one of them asked. ‘They were really good!’

“Abe and I ended up taking a picture with them. They enjoyed the burgers so much that they ordered a couple more!”

Meanwhile, Brother Oscar from the church in Mexico stood over a sizzling flattop for the entire event, cooking up authentic street tacos that drew a constant crowd. On the first day alone, he sold more than 700 tacos.

The longest wall of the auditorium was lined with craft booths. Most of the items had been created in the two weeks leading up to the fair, as Texas youth teamed up with artisans from the Mexican church to produce a beautiful variety of handmade goods.

Brother Paco showcased his high-quality leatherwork, while Brother Juan offered finely crafted metal pieces. One family ran a booth of original paintings, and family members each gave live painting demonstrations throughout the event. Other featured crafts included woodwork, fiber arts, and baskets etched with a wood-burned design.

During the fair, Isaac Posada, Brother Sam Cunningham, and others walked the streets of Bernal, connecting with strangers, handing out flyers, and inviting people to join the celebration. Speakers pointed out into the main plaza broadcasted the fair’s lively sounds and announcements, helping to draw in curious passersby.

But the best part of the fair was undoubtedly the music.

Each day at 2:30 P.M. and 7:30 P.M., the auditorium filled to capacity—with only standing room left. Each concert began with a few upbeat, crowd-pleasing instrumentals, followed by a mix of children’s songs and gospel music. Although many of the songs were sung in English, the music resonated deeply with the Spanish-speaking audience.

Dassi Hersh: “Wiping my sticky, Jamaica-stained hands, I rushed from the Bebidas booth and squeezed through the crowd to the circle of excited girls, all awaiting their turn to move onto the stage. Joining them, I listened to the final tunes of the Texas bluegrass.

“‘This is it—we better make it count!’I whispered to them.

“We squished onto our rows on the platform and belted out our anthem, ´You just call on me, brother, when you need a hand. We all need somebody to lean on!’”

Brother Éder opened each of the four concerts with a Spanish song titled “Vivir Mi Vida,” joined by a youth choir made up of the graduates from Texas.

An especially iconic figure in the town—a street performer—was one of the most notable visitors, not just because of her appearance, but by her obvious response to God’s presence in the music.

David Anzaldua: “I would have never believed—even if it were told to me—that one of the town performers would be standing in the crowd of visitors, her face painted in shades of black and green, listening to us worship. Meanwhile, Isaac Posada sang, ‘I praise ‘cause You’re faithful, I praise ‘cause You’re true, I praise ‘cause there’s nobody greater than You.’ Her eyes filled with tears as the presence of the Lord filled the room.

“Little did we know she would find a friend in Jesus through His people. By the end of the day, instead of scaring people in the town square for money, she was smiling from ear to ear with her newfound friends from Texas.”

Each concert built in momentum, feeling deeper and more participatory than the last one. By the final night, as Brother Éder led the choir in a reprise of “Vivir Mi Vida,” the room erupted in jubilation—people clapping, dancing, and celebrating all around.

Didi Jacobson: “As the music stopped, a loud chant of “¡Más, más, más!” arose from the crowd. It was as if the spirit of true joy had ignited and spread like wildfire throughout the room—we couldn’t help but be carried along with it. It had taken on a life of its own. We broke into what Stephen Wheeler later claimed was the fastest, most energetic version of ‘This Little Light of Mine’ that has been performed to date!

“People were jumping up and down, raising their hands in praise, dancing in the Spirit, and weeping.”

Kayla Sellers: “It took everything I had to stay in the choir and sing without jumping out to dance alongside them!”

Sophia Barbieri: “In that moment, there was no difference between Americans and Mexicans, no language barriers, and the warm, smoky building didn’t hold us back. We were all overcome by the same joy, and none of those things mattered.”

In fact, we were all changed. Here are several responses from the trip.

Will Fowler: “I had been living in our small community in Virginia for nearly a year when I heard that the friends I’d graduated with in Texas were going on a mission trip to Mexico.  But after so much time apart, I couldn’t help but wonder—would I still fit in? Would our friendships feel strained?

“Those questions lingered as we gathered in Waco and then traveled to Mexico. But as we served together, I realized God was doing more than just sending us on a mission trip. Not only did we reconnect, but we found a shared purpose in serving side by side. We encouraged one another, shared what God was doing in our lives, and saw Him at work through our efforts.”

Joseph Garrett: “On the last night of the fair, gates were opened and chains broken—something only God Himself could have accomplished. Barriers of language and preconceived notions about who we were and what we were doing didn’t matter anymore as the choir sang, ‘This Little Light of Mine, I’m Gonna Let It Shine!’”

Liz Adams: “The most memorable moment from the fair for me was seeing the joy and smiles on people’s faces—faces that had just encountered us for the first time. I remember visiting Bernal Square with my late father, and it holds many beautiful memories. Hearing the choir’s music ringing out in that same square brought tears to my eyes.”

Elizabeth Mast: “As young people, the devil tries to convince us that we’re on our own, fighting separate battles. But throughout this trip, there were multiple moments when I just had to look around—whether in the middle of singing with the youth group or praying in the mornings—and realize: I’m part of the next generation of an army, and we’re all in this together!”

I’ll close with that—may we all be part of this next generation army, spreading a message of hope, joy, and good news to the world. It didn’t begin with us, but we will carry it forward, ensuring that what we’ve received from this beautiful body of Christ continues until it reaches every corner of the earth.