Tijuana, My Narnia

It's been almost a week since I've come back from a short term missions trip to City of Angels orphanage in Tijuana, Baja California. I can't really put into words how blessed and blissful it was to be there, so I'm not going to try. But I will share one of the most important things that God taught me through this trip.
I think I've gone over enough times how stiff-necked and hard-hearted I can be. Well, during the few weeks before leaving for Mexico, a couple sentences from Paul in 2 Corinthians kept running through my mind:
"We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also." (6:11-13)
In the past, I probably would have dismissed this as a side note to his particular audience, but now I know that God meant these verses for me. Without any strenuous effort of my own, I poured myself out for the children and staff at City of Angels. It's the first time since I was a child, that I so freely opened myself up to people. I am not naturally so selfless or giving. If I am, it is only temporary, and I usually end up bitter or annoyed at their lack of reciprocation. But as I did whatever I was asked to do, bitterness toward these people never entered my heart. Not once did I put my walls up between me and them. In just 10 days, I grew to love them, and I've never had such a hard time separating from anyone who wasn't related to me.
Before the trip, I had been questioning just how I would follow the directions in the verses God put on my mind. In Tijuana, He showed me how. God was over, through, and inside all of us and in everything during those 10 days. Tijuana I now consider my Narnia: we were out of our comfort zone, yet felt like we belonged; we had purpose, a common goal; served those who were different from us, yet built strong bonds with; and He was always there, in everything.
The first couple of days, I really didn't want to be back home. But I knew that God didn't send me there to just be angry and spiteful when I came back, so I've been doing my best to keep up my relationship with Him here, and to continue to keep my walls down. Because I know that our God is the same, whether in Mexico or America. The strength and calm of His presence that was with me there, He can provide here also. I hunger for it so much, as well as to see Him wield His power in the lives of the people around me. The amazing people I met during this trip reminded me that God is alive and His body is present everywhere: whether in Nebraska, Myrtle Creek, or Tijuana. What a blessing to be His agents and build each other up in the unity of His Spirit! I really hope that He can somehow communicate to you the abundance of love and joy that I've experienced in the past 2 weeks.