{mexico part two}

An average day doing mission work in Mexico:
5:15 AM -- The alarm goes off on Olivia's phone. "California Dreamer" by the Mamas and the Papas.
5:45 AM -- Actually roll out of bed and get dressed.
6:00 AM -- Eat breakfast which usually consists of strong coffee and refried beans. The dining area is always crammed full with people, but the fellowship is irreplaceable.
6:30 AM -- Load up the vans and head out to the work site. The 20 minute commute is one of my favorite parts of the day; the sky is glowing pink from the sunrise, the city lights are still winking brightly, and mountains are towering on all sides of the sprawling city. On our ride we have entertaining discussions, sing hymns, and look out for landmarks such as Wal-Mart, the farmacia, and the Kim Kardashian sign.
7:00 - 8:30 AM -- The men and women separate into groups for morning devotions. There are more men than women, so they occupy the sanctuary and we take the chapel. While we pray and preach and listen, we can hear the men singing and praying aloud all at once; it is a powerful experience. Afterwards we frantically set up for another long day.
10:00 AM -- The labor begins. Carolyn and Olivia run the medical clinic with the help of Ilia. Sharon and I sit at the eyeglass table and manage with no interpreter. Our communication is limited to:
"Bien?"
"No, no bien."
"Mas?
"Mas!"
"Bien?
"Si! muy bien!"
"Buenas Dias!"
"Gracias!"
Needless to say, my ability to make up sign language improved rapidly. Thresia and some other women prepare food for the day and Michelle and Jeanine work fervently setting up the Children's Crusade program. Nick turns on the generator in the work trailer and immediately the welding, sawing, hammering, and drilling commences. One gets used to the humming and banging pretty quickly. In four days, electricity, 40 pews, and a flight of stairs are installed by the hard working crew of God-fearing men. I have been inspired by their perseverance and spirit.
12:00 PM -- Lunch begins. For a short while the construction stops and we enjoy the peaceful quiet while gathered under the tents. Everyone jokes around, Joe tells fishing stories, and someone always shares their testimony. Christian fellowship is rejuvenation for the soul.
1:00 PM -- The generator starts up again. The children begin collecting together begging for candy and presents, or just generally looking adorably. Is it just me or are Mexican children the absolute cutest? Some of the girls are especially sweet and help out as much as they can with huge smiles.
5:00 PM -- Dinner. Everyone is glad when dinner comes because it means that the day's work is done. Some of the Mexican church members join us.
7:00 PM -- The townspeople pull up in their dusty old trucks for evening worship; some of them bring instruments and some of them bring Bibles and all of them bring children. Hoards of children. So many children. They all lay out blankets and put the babies to sleep on the floor. One of our pastors preaches with the assistance of an interpreter. There are a few inside jokes our team has from interpreters making mistakes (Jalapeñosos!) resulting in the mission team crying with laughter. After the sermon, those who want to be saved or need prayer are invited to the alter and their Christian family comes forward to pray for them. It is a time of powerful prayer. Bold prayer. And the Spirit of God moving among the people.
11:00 PM -- The days are long: full of every emotion, hours of labor and determination, moments of peace. By the hand of God, they are brought to completion, and an exhausted mission team stumbles into the hotel welcoming sleep with open arms. Tomorrow is bright new day, full of opportunities to serve the Lord and spread His love!

schoolhouse

 

      An October morning is the best time to walk down the country road to the old schoolhouse and take pictures. I haven't had much practice doing photo shoots of people, so I bribed Clara with 20 dollars to pose in the chilly air as my model.

Mainly we spent a lot of time goofing off:

"Clara! it looks like you have a cough drop in your mouth!" "No it doesn't!" "Pretend you're a Victoria's Secret model." "How do I do that?"

*bursts of laughter and several blurry pictures later*

"Are we done yet?"

"One more picture and then we're done... Never mind.... one.... just one more..."

It was a blast and also my sister is pretty photogenic; I think it was a successful shoot. Plus we got this photo:

 

 

As an amateur photographer I have much to learn. My style is undefined, my strategies are untried, and my knowledge is limited. But I am slowly learning! With a little bit more practice and studying I shall soon be a world traveling photo journalist!

golden richness

 

          Fall is my favorite time of year. (I say that for every season, but it is especially true for fall.) ---I guess that is why I have already written so many posts on the splendor of autumn. 

There's inspiration to be drawn from the palette of browns and greys, and my heart soars when the north winds come sweeping through.

SEPTEMBER: The persimmons are ripening and if I'm lucky I'm able to harvest a decent amount to make cookies or bread. Otherwise they make an excellent meal for some woodland creature. The dogs eat them off the ground like candy and I have to shoo them away. Then, the acorns start to fall; smooth brown ones that scatter the ground. All through my childhood I would help Dad pick them up out of the driveway and throw them into the woods, giving them a better chance of growing into a fine strong tree. I still throw acorns out of the road -- it's a habit I'll never want to break.

OCTOBER: If October were a color I would say that it is either marsala or gold. Or both. The leaves have finally reached their peak of vibrancy and the temperatures have dropped low enough to wear sweaters and jackets. In the downtown you'll see women wearing fancy leather boots with plaid skirts and scarves. Autumn is the best time for fashion -- it's all an attractive blend of subdued tones and textures. If I'm not careful, I will start to drool with greed at the wonderful clothes a person can buy; someday when I am rich and famous I shall have as many wonderful trench coats and golden tassels I desire.

NOVEMBER: The month of birthdays --- (in our family anyways.) Large family get togethers, birthday dinners and Thanksgiving feasts are abundant in number. The brightness and cheer of our celebrations contrasts with the bleakness and grey of November: my favorite combination. It is the month of transition between Autumn gold into Winter silver. It is reminiscent of late nights sprawled out on the white leather couch -- of steaming apple cider -- of scratchy woolen scarves -- and the poem by Alice Cary. "The leaves are fading and falling; The winds are rough and wild...."

Autumn is wonderful...

"I like spring, but it is too young. I like summer, but it is too proud. So I like best of all autumn, because its tone is mellower, its colours are richer, and it is tinged with a little sorrow. Its golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring, nor the power of summer, but of the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age. It knows the limitations of life and its content." -- Lin Yutang

Chihuahua, Mexico

Guess what my dears?! I am going to Mexico!
Recently my good friend texted me something like this:
"So, just out of curiosity... On a scale of 1 to 10, how interested would you be in a week-long trip to Mexico?"
I promptly responded with "12!!!!". And that was that. Plans were made, paperwork was filled out, and there was lots of texting back and forth in caps lock letters. The two of us will be joining a group of volunteers in October to go on a mission trip in Chihuahua City.

Don't you wish that there was some sort of magical mindset we could put on when getting ready to do mission work? I do too. It would be sumpin' else  if we could go into servants-heart-mode automatically and anticipate everything that might happen. But that's not how mission trips work.
In volunteering to do mission work, you are sacrificing your personal life to serve the needs of others.
You are striving to reach the unlovable and the suffering.
You are taking off your cultural blinders and stepping outside of that safe little world you live in.
You have no idea what will happen because it's all in God's hands, but you pray and you pray mightily that His will be done.

"And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."
[Mark 16:15]
 

"For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”"
[Acts 13:47]

 

"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!"
[Psalm 96:3]

Of course I will write a few follow up posts after the trip! I know that I will be a changed person and there will be stories to tell and new ideas to share. Until then -- Adios!

rodeo

     Hooves churning up the dirt. Panting horses and creaking leather. Country music blaring on the speakers. Little boys running around in cowboy duds. Breathless anticipation, spirited determination. The 8 second buzzer.... 91 points! A collective cheer from the crowd -- whooping, hollering, whistling... The victor throws his hat in the air. Another championship won!

Why are rodeos so appealing? What is so intoxicating about the atmosphere of horses, dirt and cowboys? I think it is the honest competition, the grit and hard work thrown into good riding.
It's the old fashioned romance of courage and integrity.
It's the fellowship of horse-loving, God-fearing, salt-of-the-earth people.
It's the comfortable familiarity of dusty boots, worn jeans, and a good saddle.
Rodeos epitomize the culture of country life -- a lifestyle admired and envied for the charm and legend built up around it. As Zane Grey put it: "It's my ideal of livin'!"