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October 26, 2005
Learning to Count My Blessings
posted by Mackenzi
When we first moved to Mexico I was determined not to make any really good friends because I did not want to “get stuck” here or to get hurt when I moved back to Texas when I finished high school. I tried to be friendly, but to hold people at arm’s length, which was not very hard since I hardly spoke or understood any Spanish.
Occasionally it was hard to not have any close friends, especially after Heather Daniels (a summer intern who shared a house with me) went back to the States to continue college. While Heather was here, she introduced me to our church youth group and we hung out with them more than I had previously. It was around that time that I decided that I could not stand not having better friends any more. I had been studying Spanish for high school during that year and listening when I was around the Mexicans so I could now understand a lot of what was being said even though I still could hardly speak it at all. I began spending more and more time with the Mexicans that I knew and listening to them talk amongst themselves, began understanding more of the sermons at church and actually wanting to go to church and listen and try to understand.
It is truly touching to see how much many of the Mexicans care about the other Americans and I. The way that they reached out to me, even when I was holding back, showed such unconditional love. Sometimes it even gets annoying how much they try to include us; they often say “talk about anything…. in Spanish!” or “sing something for us! We promise we won’t laugh and you can do it in English!” I do not like to sing for other people alone and I can still hardly speak in Spanish so I refuse but they are usually very persistent. Though my understanding of Spanish is very limited, we work with it, their broken English and my very little Spanish and can usually communicate what we want to. Their patience with our Spanish is amazing and they are very careful to not laugh at us, no matter how bad our Spanish is. Spending time with them is very refreshing and enjoyable. In a small town, they have to create their own fun and more often than not it is more entertaining than anything you could do in a bigger town. It ranges from renting a movie and talking to each other through the whole thing to cramming ten people into a 7 passenger mini-van to drive across town and during that time learning that one of the 18-year old guys can scream like a girl if he wants to. There are things that are not enjoyable about the Mexican youth as there is anywhere but overall the Christian youth here are a great blessing to me.
October 04, 2005
Siberia
posted by Margie
Siberia (pronounced See-veh'-dee-ah) is a small ejido south of Jaumave. It was to say the least, off the beaten path. It was five hours of winding, bumpy, one lane mountain roads before we actually arrived in Siberia. The drive was beautiful but it is easy to see why they don't receive a lot of visitors. It was five hours from a gas station, auto mechanic, hospital, or any other type of civilized establishment.
On the drive, you begin to ask yourself, "why people would live this remote from the rest of the world?" Upon arrival, as the beautiful mountains speckled with small farm shacks greet you, you begin to relax unknowingly as you are swept away by the simplicity and beauty of this existence. There are crops growing, flocks and herds being tended, children running down the path to see what visitors have come. As you step out of the vehicle, you are met with the cool, fragrant air. All the stress of the long, treacherous journey is suddenly snuffed out as every sense is suddenly caught up in delight. It is impossible to be annoyed any longer.
The only common building is the tiny church. It was very sad to see a lock on the door because it is currently not in use. Even with all its beauty, the people of Siberia are unable to keep a pastor or a school teacher.
A meal was prepared for us in the kitchen of a local woman. The men were served first. They would not let me help and wanted me to sit and eat with the men. Sharon and I found something else to do to look busy and waited to eat with the women. It is probably good that I did not help because the meal was prepared on an open fire fueled with small sticks of wood. I might have burned down the kitchen.
After the meal, we had a wonderful service. The little church was bursting. There were 39 children in the service, not including the babies. They were taken outside and taught a scripture and a song that they later presented with great enthusiasm to the rest of us.
The families that work with Joshua Projects (Americans and Mexicans) donated clothes and money for beans and rice. We were able to bless every family in the church with food and clothes. The clothes and shoes were laid out and the women came through very orderly choosing things for her own family as well as offering up items for others when they thought they applied.
The people of Siberia seemed to really love their home. I was asked more than once if I thought it was beautiful there. As we were leaving, a young girl came running after the van with a sack full of fresh-picked apples. We stopped to receive this precious gift from a child. The apples still had their leaves on them. Sharon had never seen a "real" apple before. She was thrilled. I have never seen such a remote place with such a "real" need for ministers. The people of Siberia made this need known to us and our hearts remain heavy with the burden.
October 01, 2005
Hi, my name is Grant Price.
posted by Grant M. Price
This school year is my first time ever to go to public school. I go to a Mexican school for one class a day learning Spanish.
The first day when I walked into my classroom I heard my name echoed from about 15 girls and 8 boys-at least, what they thought my name was. They pronounced it vrānt. The next day was the same and the third day on my way to school I asked God not to let them say it again but that I was totally willing for them to. When I got to the classroom I braced myself and then... silence in fact so quiet I laughed and thanked God.
Three weeks later about 5 boys tried to STEAL my bike! (Luckily I had it chained to a post.) They yanked on the chain but fortunately my sister (Anne Marie) saw them, stopped them and stayed by my bike until I got out of school. (Pretty loyal, huh?) I have had many adventures in my school. I have enjoyed my first few months of public school.