Yesterday we went back to Ixtapaluca.  We thought we might have made enough progress to sign a contract on one house (the four bedroom with no yard that I mentioned before), but there were some problems with the contract.  It sounds like the owner may be willing to make the needed changes on the contract, but we’re planning to meet with him again this week.  This house is still a strong possibility, though we are concerned about the time and expense of installing the kitchen (and a few other needed things).

Afterwards, we went back to the odd house (that I also mentioned before).  We had pretty much written it off, figuring it would take too much work to make it usable for us.  But looking at it again and talking to the realtor and with Samuel (a man from the church who came along), we thought that the work to be done may still be in the realm of possibility.

Later, Samuel and his wife took us to look at some houses closer to where they live.  Up until now we had been looking in the housing developments in Ixtapaluca, but some of the houses he showed us were outside of these, and so there was more . . . variety.

We only saw in one house, and that was the first one.  On the outside, it’s a plain cement blocky yellow thing.  The house is on a dead-end street, with quite a few other houses in a quiet area, but this house has no neighbours.  Not in back, or on either side!  Houses are being built here, so I’m sure that’s only temporary, but still.

Inside, the house was beautiful.  Spacious, well designed, well lighted.  No kitchen yet, though (and I don’t remember a laundry area . . . do people in this area send their laundry out?).  With the large yard in back, it would be a dream for entertaining.  Hospitality would be natural here.

The next two houses were side by side in a wealthier area.  One looked like a rectangular wood cabin, with lots of yard on all sides.  Not sure what it would be like on the inside - the house itself looked a little unimaginative, other than the cabin look - a big one-level square with windows all around.

To the left was a beautiful rustic stone house, with a fireplace (well, a chimney; we didn’t see inside these, remember).  Lots of yard on three sides, beautiful flowering trees, great view.  If I were going by outward appearance and didn’t care about anything but looks and my own wants, I’d take it!

Across the street from these was a massive building.  I asked Samuel what it was - apartments?  A large business?  No, apparently it all belonged to one family.  Ok, this is where the other half lives.

To be honest with you, readers, I can’t see us at this point having an effective ministry here (even if by some miracle these houses were in our price range).  We have little experience ministering to the upper class, even if our budget could handle it.  Maybe down the road?

You see, Samuel has a real vision to reach these neighbourhoods.  He felt we could be effective there, and even gave us some strategies of how we could have an impact.  I could be convinced, but so far I’m not.

That being said, the upper class may very well be the least reached stratum of Mexican society.  Maybe someone reading this shares Samuel’s vision, and is looking for a house to rent…

Ok, the last house was not in such a wealthy area, but in another housing development.  In this area, a lot of the houses had many . . . modifications.  We shall call this next house the "chalet".

Also going for the rustic look (though not as successfully as my favourite above), this was a modified town house in a crowded neighbourhood.  Each floor had a little veranda running the length of the floor with lamps hanging down for light.  It was covered in woodwork, and towered an inexplicable 4 floors.  Talking to a lady in the area, we discovered it had 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, not nearly enough to explain its size.  What’s on the top floor?  She couldn’t remember.  A discotheque perhaps?

The advantage of this area is close contact with neighbours and presumably lots of room to entertain.  Also, Samuel and his wife know a lot of people in the area, so there are possibilities for work there.  And as Samuel pointed out - it’s not whether the house is beautiful or ugly, it’s how the Lord is leading and how He wants to use it.

So, as we head into this week, we continue to ask - Lord, what is your plan?  And where do you want us?  Meanwhile, we pack, wait for some questions to be answered, and get ready for our next trip (likely in the next day or two).

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