tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45000368660848477102024-02-18T22:09:31.575-06:00Musings from MexicoMissionary to Mexico, my thoughts, my ideas, my experiences as an American living outside my homeland.Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.comBlogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-35187581308270442582009-08-18T08:33:00.002-05:002009-08-18T08:43:55.012-05:00Naked PlantsI have several plants on my front porch that I have tenderly cared for all year. Since we haven't had rain, we have watered them every day and tried to keep them healthy. Imagine my surprise one day to arrive home from the grocery store and see them all stripped of their leaves! A line of leaf cutter ants from my plants to the hole in the ground showed me the culprits.<br /><br />I was reminded of the promise of God for me this year, that I would see fruit in my ministry... I have seen lots of results this year of prayers, time investments, etc. The thing is, I have also seen people stripped away of everything they had believed. They are still alive spiritually, but barely. Like my plants, they now need extra care as they try to rebuild their lives.<br /><br />I can't say that leaf cutter ants are from the devil, God made them. So are the trials in our lives that strip us naked of our leaves. We will recover, it will be difficult, but it's God's pruning to allow us to grow even more.Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-40546344618417632562009-08-15T09:33:00.004-05:002009-08-15T09:43:33.359-05:00Sharing our Faith<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XVbCdGYlA04/SobIwsCDwLI/AAAAAAAAA68/2vLoKwqreW4/s1600-h/chooselife.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XVbCdGYlA04/SobIwsCDwLI/AAAAAAAAA68/2vLoKwqreW4/s320/chooselife.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370200344464965810" border="0" /></a><br />We have been asked to help our church develop a missions program here in Mexico, helping them get out of the four walls of the church and be missional in all aspects. This week we met with over 20 youth to plan an outreach in a few weeks. We talked with them about how to share a brief testimony. Even if people don't believe the Bible, they cannot deny what God has done in our lives personally. The crux is that you must think of a moment that marked your life, maybe when you gave your life to Christ. Think of the before and the after, and share it in under two minutes. Several of the young people cannot really share their testimony, which is baffling to me and something we need to help them get down so they can share from personal experience what Christ has done for them.Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-56397158013852973332009-08-10T07:45:00.001-05:002009-08-10T07:50:25.447-05:00Living by the watchMost people who know anything about Latin American culture know that being on time is not a really important thing here. In the US, we would be about five - ten minutes early for church so we could get our kids checked in to kid's church and get ourselves all settled in for the 11:00 beginning of church. We moved to Nicaragua and would get there a few minutes early and be the only people there. The pastor himself wouldn't show up for at least thirty minutes (usually about an hour late).<br /><br />Imagine how difficult it is for students at our Bible school, who have to be on time for everything or they face "consequence time". They receive one hour of work detail for every minute of tardiness. Last year we had a guy who had about a month of work details, he could just never get it right. It's counter-cultural, but it's a good thing! (The important thing to note is that this school is MEXICAN, not a bunch of Americans trying to impose this on them.)<br /><br />We're starting a new week at the Bible School, with 35 new students. Time and the watch are usually their biggest struggle in the new year, so pray for them!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-19419610984825827312009-07-30T10:18:00.003-05:002009-07-30T10:23:53.928-05:00Sneaky!Last April, when Mexico was in the midst of it's Swine Flu epidemic and all shut up in their houses, the Mexican Senate decided to pass a bill legalizing drugs. People can now have a certain amount of marijuana, cocaine, and heroine in their possession and they will not be prosecuted. Many people were upset that the Senate used the Swine Flu distraction to pass something so controversial.<br /><br />We are beginning to see people smoke marijuana freely on the streets. I have read that the President is considering striking down the bill before it becomes law, which will happen in September if he doesn't do anything. To me it seems illogical that the government has cracked down so hard on the drug cartels, yet they are allowing the citizens to have their own personal stashes.Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-80345381932630635792009-07-29T15:30:00.002-05:002009-07-29T15:34:17.758-05:00Heat!You can be praying for Northern Mexico, as we have not had any rain this year. Usually by March or April we need to cut our small patch of grass, but it hasn't rained and our grass is brown, dry, and definitely not growing. We haven't had to cut it all year. The heat has been tremendous, more than 40C or 104F.<br /><br />How do we deal with the heat? We don't usually go out after one in the afternoon until around 7 or 8. If we do go anywhere, it's to swim! At night, we take cool showers before bed to cool our bodies down. We drink lots and lots of water. I cook in the morning or early part of the day and we eat cold food, salads, or something for dinner.<br /><br />Last weekend we were in Piedras Negras, on the border, where it gets even hotter than here. All the houses and churches had a/c though. Our schools and churches do not have that luxury here. We depend on fans to move the air about. When it's this hot the air actually burns you, and hurts!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-8888803006843599842009-07-28T10:31:00.002-05:002009-07-28T10:40:11.546-05:00Mexican HospitalityTwo posts in one day, can you handle it?<br /><br />I wanted to talk about hospitality in Mexico... one common phrase here is "Mi casa es su casa" which means "My house is your house". When we Americans say that we mean you can help yourselves to whatever is in our kitchen and feel at home. Mexicans would be horrified at that, though, because they want to serve you the whole time you are at their home. It's a relaxed type of serving you, but it's attending to you nonetheless.<br /><br />Recently we stayed in different homes around the Republic. The shocker was when we stayed in an American home and realized how different we really are! I didn't mind settling in and serving myself or hubby food from the fridge, but it made me realize how different that phrase "Mi Casa es su Casa" applies in the different cultures.Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-44275703335711180232009-07-28T10:23:00.002-05:002009-07-28T10:30:17.285-05:00Coffee Talk<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicNgAja99T6-p1lUv8eIQl0t-yXhkVDyN5zBlNV3SQqZY9_qqhtSGo0BmYXSMG1Vaug_AOpeyyhnONHJy8FyvO6e6sfyPF2x2xKBQXy5kL4EOZDF2AwdgKVp4G6gY7d6tm9FaXK34_-rd/s1600-h/coffee.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicNgAja99T6-p1lUv8eIQl0t-yXhkVDyN5zBlNV3SQqZY9_qqhtSGo0BmYXSMG1Vaug_AOpeyyhnONHJy8FyvO6e6sfyPF2x2xKBQXy5kL4EOZDF2AwdgKVp4G6gY7d6tm9FaXK34_-rd/s320/coffee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363532206980341746" border="0" /></a>My kids were invited Stateside to visit their grandparents for a month, so my husband and I took advantage of the time to do some traveling around Mexico and visit friends. It's so hot up in the north where we are, it was great to escape to cooler weather.<br /><br />We went to Guanajuato (posted below), and it did NOT disappoint. Cool weather, beautiful architecture, and great history. Afterwards we went to the Centros de Fe national convention in Oaxtepec. That was a nice place, but not really touristy. I did try rose petal ice cream, though. Delicious!<br /><br />From Oaxtepec we went to Taxco, the silver capital of Mexico. Beautiful town and wonderful people! We stayed with a guy we had connected with over the internet. I was a little nervous about that, but it turned out to be a wonderful experience. Efrain and his family and friends gave us the royal treatment. I have not enjoyed times like that in a really long time.<br /><br />From Taxco we went and visited one of our former students who is now a pastor in Queretaro. We arrived about 9:30 in the evening and the town plaza was full of people ballroom dancing! Apparently, that's a Sunday night tradition. It was beautiful!<br /><br />From Queretaro we went to San Luis Potosi on our way home. It was also a nice city with colonial buildings, but didn't quite stand up to the beauty of the other places. I think we were ready to get home as well!<br /><br />It was fun exploring these places with my husband and discovering new things about this country in which we live. I was burdened by the needs here, but fell even more in love with Mexico.Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-33055477488629693992009-07-11T09:41:00.002-05:002009-07-11T09:53:03.493-05:00Escape the Heat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSGLsc6nHudLKlr8wPvTeeTEgnw7hbGioGcCRaU8AwU3-HreBsNUtQqj80vrBXMh0TLdrAK0xG_TiMT8pJ47pGZ2LwPCkcDyhuKpaa11c4JwVEKUzTyUsLeAM_gc3zeLZ6Jqnjw1bGPBb/s1600-h/rainy_centro.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSGLsc6nHudLKlr8wPvTeeTEgnw7hbGioGcCRaU8AwU3-HreBsNUtQqj80vrBXMh0TLdrAK0xG_TiMT8pJ47pGZ2LwPCkcDyhuKpaa11c4JwVEKUzTyUsLeAM_gc3zeLZ6Jqnjw1bGPBb/s320/rainy_centro.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357215626398685202" /></a><br />Our kids are Stateside visiting the grandparents until August 4th. We are missing them desperately! Tomorrow we begin our journey to our organization's national convention in the south/center of Mexico. We are first going to visit Guanajuato, a picturesque colonial town with cobblestone streets. Greg went there years ago and has always wanted to take me there. We will be driving through it, stay a couple of days, and then go on to Oaxtepec. I'm looking forward to much cooler temperatures and enjoying time exploring with my husband. We've never been alone together for this long, and it's really weird, but I'm enjoying it and adjusting to not having to be aware of where my three sons are at every moment.Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-77553949069242535502009-07-05T09:09:00.002-05:002009-07-05T09:15:55.680-05:00Absence & BusynessSorry for my month-long absence! I've been traveling and busy ending up the school year. Friday was FINALLY our last day of school. The swine flu made us miss two weeks, and the Mexican government made us add some days. It's tough being in school until July 3rd!<br /><br />I went to Nicaragua, where I once lived for three years, to a Pastor's Wives retreat. I brought my Mexican pastor's wife and we ministered, spoke, and got to know a group of wonderful ladies. One neat thing was that the team was KEY to doing several of these events in Mexico. Pastor's Wives are so in need of a place to socialize, receive, and take off their masks. They can just be themselves and enjoy friendship and trust. <br /><br />In coming home, I have a women's event this next weekend, based on the retreat we did in Nicaragua. Now at the end of August I have been invited to be the worship leader at a Pastor's Wives event in Matamoros and another one in March in Guanajuato.<br /><br />The Lord told me that this year I will seeing fruit and branching out in my ministry. I'm thrilled and nervous with anticipation!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-2692298666967329102009-06-02T17:10:00.001-05:002009-06-02T17:13:05.739-05:00Homemade GuacamoleDuring the influenza outbreak we were stuck around home for about two weeks. I asked our neighbors to teach me some traditional Mexican cooking. This is a nice easy way to make guacamole for your family. You can use it with chips and salsa, slathered on grilled beef with tortillas and onions, or however else you would like.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1tIO7k8ZcUU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1tIO7k8ZcUU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-57664124895980036352009-05-14T08:46:00.003-05:002009-05-14T08:52:13.912-05:00Quince - 15!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XloeKWx0unzu1IEGGx8URpaOo_68d5Mc7cTAS17Zi7SsCYUrfKoUmGPOayPXVJvJ65LZY1lpySMaHXKSoLtcci2N2ZvpO9aE8y4bmhuItggBjmjWKMRddiFomQeaf3yWlT_ETF29uSfu/s1600-h/Maxsara.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XloeKWx0unzu1IEGGx8URpaOo_68d5Mc7cTAS17Zi7SsCYUrfKoUmGPOayPXVJvJ65LZY1lpySMaHXKSoLtcci2N2ZvpO9aE8y4bmhuItggBjmjWKMRddiFomQeaf3yWlT_ETF29uSfu/s320/Maxsara.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335675772416826434" border="0" /></a>This grinning little boy is my middle son, who today turns 15 years old. I can't believe how quickly time passes. It seems like just yesterday I was holding this newborn and marveling at God's handiwork.<br />The 15th birthday is a huge deal in Mexico for girls. They throw a party that is as big as a wedding, complete with "damas" and "chambelanes", or a court of girls and guys dressed in tuxedos and fancy dresses. It's a sort of "coming of age" party where the parents often present the girl with a doll as her very last toy she will ever receive, then they present with her jewelry or something more grown up. In Christian families, the pastor will come and preach a little sermon and pray a blessing over the girl. It's really sweet. Usually the worship band will play some music and there will be a time of worship.<br />For the boys, the 15th birthday is no big deal. Everyone jokes about buying him a pink dress and being in his court, though. He has asked for a trip to Starbucks for coffee and cake, and that's about it. I'm asking God for creativity today in celebrating him, so he can feel loved and appreciated like he is!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-89024887977224789082009-05-05T10:34:00.004-05:002009-05-05T10:40:10.847-05:00Discernment, Critical Thinking, SuspicionsIn the past few days I have heard so many different things about this flu in Mexico. Here are some samplings from my friends and neighbors:<br /><br />*The virus coincided with President Obama's visit to Mexico. Some think he actually brought it here with his contingency as part of the plan to take over the world or at least affect Mexico.<br />* The virus is a complete farce, there is no epidemic in Mexico. It was all a lie by the President because the Senate legalized drugs during this scare, but no one paid any attention because they were so scared. It's true they legalized cocaine, heroine, and marijuana!!! I'm not sure if they just took advantage of the diverted attention or what.<br />* The illuminati have created this virus to kill off 4/5 of the world's population.<br />* The university students are planning an uprising in order to oust Pres. Calderon from his seat because he made this whole thing up.<br /><br />So, I'm sitting with my mouth closed, observing many cultural differences at this time. I just pray for wisdom and discernment, something we all need in these last days.Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-50871427945480800542009-05-03T07:58:00.002-05:002009-05-03T08:05:30.284-05:00Flexibility is Rule #1They always tell people on short-term missions trips that the golden rule of missions if "flexibility, flexibility, flexibility". Nothing has been more true for us this past week. Our plans have all been changed and changed again due to the national quarantine...<br /><br />This weekend was supposed to be a four day weekend due to Labor Day and Cinco de Mayo. We were supposed to go camping on the beach with people from our church and have baptisms on Friday. Then we were supposed to host my in-laws from Monday until next Saturday. They are flying into Texas later today, but we don't feel comfortable taking them across the border into a place where we all have to stay at home as much as possible.<br /><br />School is supposed to start again on Wednesday, though I have heard and read rumors they may extend that until the 11th of May. The cases of the flu have dropped somewhat, so maybe the no school thing has helped.<br /><br />A bummer for me is that the govt. also canceled all religious gatherings. They don't want gatherings of more than 20 people. I'm sad because I want to worship with my church family today! I think how difficult it is for these churches, some not having two services in a row. That means no offerings, and their bills still exist. Pray for miraculous provision for all the Mexican churches. They barely make it by to begin with, & they are struggling!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-13384553110363827812009-04-27T09:18:00.002-05:002009-04-27T09:22:34.846-05:00Swine FluUntil last night I was basically unaffected by this whole Swine Flu thing. Last night, though, they canceled classes in our state until May 6th, and announced that a lady from a nearby town died yesterday. Ten people are confirmed with it in our state, seven hospitalized. So now, we are affected. We aren't going out to public gatherings, the kids are scared, and people are panicked.<br /><br />As a result, the peso is falling like crazy and the economy continues in a major downturn for Mexico.<br /><br />Please pray for this nation that I love so much. It's difficult to be in the middle of it all, but I know that God is allowing it for revival purposes. The people are all thinking about mortality, and they are turning to the Lord in droves. This weekend we saw almost 100 people give their lives to Christ at our church!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-48523089183166196362009-04-22T07:41:00.002-05:002009-04-22T07:50:45.884-05:00BurdenedRemember <a href="http://mexicomusings.blogspot.com/2009/03/ignorance-is-bliss.html">this story </a>about the young girl and her dying mother?<br /><br />I haven't updated you in a while. The mother got out of the hospital and after searching for a shelter for them we were connected with a shelter in Mexico City that would accept them. We put the mom, the daughter, her baby, & her 13 year old brother on a bus for the 10 hour ride to their new home.<br /><br />Two days ago we received a call that the mother has pancreatic cancer and is back in the hospital, with only days to live. They were upset with us for not telling them she had cancer, but we didn't know. We were told it was pancreatitis.<br /><br />Yesterday we received another call that the young girl is pregnant. This is very discouraging and troubling to me because I know that she doesn't have a boyfriend and even though I asked her if her uncle abused her, and she denied it, I believe her pregnancy is most likely the result of some type of abuse or "trade-off" for the food and shelter he was providing her, the baby, & her brother. Her baby is only 7 months old and she is at least three months pregnant.<br /><br />In addition, her youngest brother has been caught fondling three little girls in the shelter. The girl also claims that he was fondling her baby. He's only 13!<br /><br />So, they want to kick them out. They have no where to go. The mom is dying. There aren't shelters for 15 year old pregnant girls with babies. Please pray for us to find a solution. It's tough and we are burdened for her.Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-33252930720176571472009-04-20T11:04:00.000-05:002009-04-20T11:05:28.231-05:00New Mexico Video!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZzGVr44wZgI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZzGVr44wZgI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-91241235989634164952009-04-15T00:12:00.001-05:002009-04-15T00:18:21.914-05:00Mustard Seed GodFrom one of my<a href="http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/2009/04/517-forgetting-how-exponential-god-is.html"> favorite blogs:<br /></a><br />We serve a mustard seed God.<br /><br />We serve a God that whispered to Elijah.<br /><br />We serve a God that changed humanity with a baby.<br /><br />We serve a big God that delights in doing small things we don’t understand.<br /><br />We serve an exponential God.<br /><br />I love this! Sometimes we get caught up in wanting to do "big things" for God and we must remember that our God delights in the small things, the still, small voice... I need to remember this because sometimes as a missionary I expect big things from myself, winning the multitudes for Christ, etc. Being a missionary, though, is like watching grass grow sometimes. It takes forever to see the fruit! So, if you are struggling with patience or feeling insignificant today, I pray you can take this to heart as well.Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-70808246785225041262009-04-06T09:05:00.002-05:002009-04-06T09:09:34.398-05:00Spring BreakWe're out of school for two weeks and two of my family members are on missions trips. Our oldest is off with YWAM in the mountains of our state, and my husband is off in another state with a group of our Bible School students.<br />That leaves me here with my middle and youngest sons and no one around! Our neighbors have all vacated town to go and visit families (I mean, two weeks off, how can you resist?), and I'm feeling so lonesome already! When my neighbors/pastors/friends pulled out of the house yesterday I got a little misty-eyed!<br />So now it's up to me to have some adventures this week. I really don't want to do the boring go to the movies and pizza thing more than once. We'll see what ideas I can come up with!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-27870947374676437152009-03-30T12:17:00.002-05:002009-03-30T12:21:44.094-05:00My God is so BIG, so strong, and so MIGHTYRemember a couple of weeks ago when I told about the Santa Muerte, showing a video of some roadside chapels and the offerings left to the Death Saint? Well, last week we had a team from NC here (that's why I haven't been blogging), and we took them by those chapels to show them the extent of the idolatry here. The team prayed that God would destroy the chapels and their false gods.<br />Five days later, we got news that the Mexican army went in with a bulldozer and completely destroyed the chapels! We passed them this weekend when taking the group back to the US, and we were all so happy and amazed at the answered prayers. Not even one brick was left standing, it's all dust.<br />The army's reasoning was two-fold. First, the chapels were built on public property, so they had the right to tear them down. Secondly, they wanted to send a message to the drug traffickers that even their gods are in danger. A type of psychological warfare, if you may.Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-26436924103649624652009-03-21T00:35:00.002-05:002009-03-21T00:41:50.236-05:00I was disappointed...Last month, I auditioned for a part in a Passion Play in the city. My friend and I heard this church needed soloists, and since we love to sing we went and auditioned. They accepted us right away and told us we were an answer to their prayers. I got really excited and practiced quite a bit for the song we were going to be performing.<br />As so often happens in Mexico, though, the communication has been less than ideal with the people running the show. We missed one rehearsal because of prior commitments, and another one because we weren't told until the last minute, and the place is over an hour away.<br />Tonight I received an email from her saying, "Thanks, but no thanks" There are still three weeks until the performance, and we were all set to make rehearsals without missing at all, but they don't want us. I feel really bummed, and frustrated with the culture that would send me an email like that instead of calling me and telling me her needs and finding out where I stand.<br />So, pray for me. I want/need to have a good attitude and not let this discourage me from trying again in the future. It's difficult when you have talents and you want to use them for the Lord and then humans mess it all up (including our own stinky attitudes at times!)Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-90522969964665012562009-03-19T09:30:00.003-05:002009-03-19T09:34:15.138-05:00Clowning Around<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XVbCdGYlA04/ScJXLd3HOKI/AAAAAAAAAzI/qL-z7zIg_qU/s1600-h/clown.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XVbCdGYlA04/ScJXLd3HOKI/AAAAAAAAAzI/qL-z7zIg_qU/s320/clown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314906364756572322" border="0" /></a>Mexicans, for the most part, LOVE clowns! You can find clowns wherever you go. Birthday parties, grocery store promotions, street corners, anywhere! I think my favorite ones are some on a television program that take popular American 80's songs and rewrite the lyrics in Spanish, making them silly. They are dressed as a rock band with crazy colored hair and silly clothing. I also like the guys who juggle in traffic at the stoplights for money. Sometimes they do gymnastics and juggle firesticks. I don't mind giving them a peso or two for their efforts. At least you aren't bored while you wait for the light to change.Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-80986995968621129952009-03-14T11:48:00.002-05:002009-03-14T11:55:42.378-05:00Evangelicalism & Social WorkThe typical evangelical church in Mexico is not involved in social work, they have been too poor and needy themselves to do much for the community. When we took Mexican pastors to India, however, their eyes were opened to the many things they CAN do with limited resources. The Indian church inspired my pastor, at least, to make a difference in our little community. We are about to open a middle school this August, and a day care is in the works.<br />The situation I mentioned below, about the sick woman with the children and grandchildren is another case that is showing us the need here and opening our eyes to many more opportunities for the Gospel to make a difference. We know it is time to act, not just pray and send them on their way. Pray for us as we strategize about what to do and how to do it!<br />Update on the lady, Blanca. We went to see her yesterday in the hospital and she was coherent and smiling. She is glad to be out of pain and happy to be in a clean bed. We still don't know the prognosis of her pancreatitis, but that is what she has, we believe from the little information we got. The daughter stayed in a safe place last night with running water and power, and took a hot bath for the first time in weeks. She also bathed the baby, and we dressed them in clean clothes - they looked like new girls!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-58420065700797971852009-03-12T12:55:00.001-05:002009-03-12T13:03:03.777-05:00Ignorance is BlissThe other day we went with some friends to the neighborhood where they are starting a church. They wanted us and our pastors to go over and see the conditions of the people and to help them think of creative ways to reach out to the community. The neighborhood was started by squatters, and eventually the government ended up granting the land to the squatters, so now it is an official part of the town.<br /><br />The house we went to is about 3m x 3m, made of cinder block, no door, no windows, no power, no water. I wasn't shocked by the poverty, but I was surprised to find the lady of the house lying on the floor on a blanket, weighing no more than 29 kilos, moaning and begging to die. Our friends didn't realize that she was so sick, they knew she was weak, but not dying. The daughter told us that the hospital sent her home and told her never to return, there was nothing they could do.<br /><br />The home belongs to the woman's brother, and he is not a Christian. The only believer in the house is the 15-year-old girl (mother of a five month old already). On every wall is a poster of the Santa Muerte. There is an altar with candles set up in the corner and three statues of the Santa Muerte. I literally felt the Grim Reaper mocking this woman as she cried out in pain. We prayed, we comforted, we sang, we prayed with her to receive Christ as her Saviour.<br /><br />The thing is, we felt so impotent. If God doesn't do a miracle, I believe she will be dead by next week. The daughter has such a heavy load at such a young age. The uncle is an abusive alcoholic and the teenager needs to get out of that house, so does the mother.<br /><br />Please pray for us as we seek God for strategies to help this family and the many others like it in the "Mission" neighborhood. We know the Lord brought us there at that time to see such a thing. We are thinking of starting a micro-loan foundation and teaching the women how to have little businesses. That's a long-term strategy. We need an emergency strategy as well. He is able!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-8375322055903655342009-03-09T09:52:00.003-05:002009-03-09T09:55:29.578-05:00Weather Girls<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XVbCdGYlA04/SbUtNOoqOpI/AAAAAAAAAy4/dfz5KHcA5G4/s1600-h/weather.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 129px; height: 98px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XVbCdGYlA04/SbUtNOoqOpI/AAAAAAAAAy4/dfz5KHcA5G4/s320/weather.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311201040843553426" border="0" /></a>The morning weather shot shows the way this society thinks about women. The weather girl wears revealing outfits, the camera angles are wide enough to show her full body, and she doesn't know much about the weather. Compare the shots and you can definitely see the difference!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XVbCdGYlA04/SbUtojDuHzI/AAAAAAAAAzA/Wwfa3v_R2Gw/s1600-h/weather2.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 107px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XVbCdGYlA04/SbUtojDuHzI/AAAAAAAAAzA/Wwfa3v_R2Gw/s320/weather2.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311201510182231858" border="0" /></a>Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4500036866084847710.post-32805024685423984772009-03-09T09:43:00.003-05:002009-03-09T09:46:31.616-05:00A Clarification...Last night I got a comment on my youtube channel about my videos. The person is a young Mexican who was offended, saying I'm negative and critical of Mexico. I just want to clarify to you who have seen my videos that my intent is never to criticize Mexico, just to show the cultural difference. Perhaps his English isn't good enough to understand everything I say, but I just thought I would state here that I love Mexico, and if I didn't I would not be here. The point of this blog is to show what it is to live in another culture and to point out the good, the bad, the struggles, etc.<br /><br />That said, please keep praying for this wonderful country. I feel like we are on the edge of chaos AND revival!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10949202624699655465noreply@blogger.com1