written by jimmy and genea horner
Safety Letter
Dear Partners and Friends,
Genea and I want to take a moment to address the current safety conditions in Mexico.
Over the last decade or so we have watched and listened to global and U.S. media, alongside opposing political campaigns, communicating conflicting stories about immigration, drug trafficking, and cartel violence in Mexico. While there can be some elements of truth in these types of articles and conversations, it is clear to us that the majority of them are being presented with an agenda. And with technology today, some depictions are fully AI-generated.
Unfortunately, these stories have led to a negative, distorted perception–one that paints Mexico as a country overrun by criminals and violence.
From our personal experience of living in Mexico for more than 30 years, we can tell you this is far from true. Mexico is a country of great beauty and rich culture; its people are loving and rooted in family. Mexico is a country with rising hope and a great future. Here is a perspective often not communicated through the media:
Nearly 40 million tourists enjoy Mexico yearly without incident.
In the past, the U.S. State Department has issued the same level of travel warning for the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Maldives, and France, as they do for Mexico. We don't think most of the world would hesitate to visit any of those countries.
Mexico's tourism has been experiencing a growth trend of over 6% annually for several years with no sign of slowing.
Over one million foreigners live in Mexico year-round. Most of that number is comprised of Americans, and applications to move to Mexico full-time are on the rise.
While we do not want to downplay or ignore the fact that Mexico does have real issues–like poverty, infrastructure problems, crime, and violence–we ourselves, and the thousands of people we are in relationship with in Mexico, have not experienced what the media is portraying.
We understand the challenges leaders face when planning a trip to Mexico–insurance companies, parents, opinions coming from many directions. What Genea and I can tell you is this: we have lived in Mexico for the majority of our lives, and we’ve raised our four daughters here. Our two oldest were married here, and our three grandkids make a yearly trek to Mexico to visit. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, we can say that it is safer here today than it was in 1987, when I moved here with my parents at the age of 10.
All of this being said, Mexico, like many other countries around the world, is a country in need. Our hope and prayer is that truth would cut through the rhetoric and you, your children, and your churches would come and serve alongside us.
Jimmy & Genea Horner
Senior Leaders of The Mission
