I haven’t written about migraine here for a while, but watching a video yesterday prompted me to post.
Excedrin recently started a campaign known as “The Migraine Experience”. They found four migraine sufferers, and got them together with virtual reality (VR) experts to actually recreate their migraine attacks in VR.
Of course there’s only so much that you can reproduce (legally) with this kind of technology, so the focus was on visual aura (the visual hallucinations such as flashing lights and zig zags that some migraine patients see), and sensitivity to light (which is much more common in migraine) (and yes, I’ve experienced both of these). The result was quite remarkable.
Take a look at this video, a summary of the results. For videos focusing on each of the four stories, check out the Migraine Experience.
So what’s been going on over the last two and a half weeks?
We enjoyed having David Radlowsky here. He was around for a couple of weeks, learning about the ministry in the area. We went to Puebla, toured a Christian publishing house, and spent time with fellow missionaries Chalo and Beth (including some time downtown with Chalo’s Model T Ford). We also enjoyed visiting some people around Ixtapaluca, and then in Ixtapalapa as well. (Say that five times fast – Ixtapaluca, Ixtapalapa…)
Chalo chats with people in downtown Puebla.We also finished up our community centre classes for the semester, and had our closing program.
There was a soccer tournament in Las Palmas on the 21st, and then we welcomed our friends Shelene and Alyson here for about a week and a half. We showed them around Ixtapaluca and Mexico City, enjoyed Resurrection Sunday here with our church family, and then headed to Taxco for a few days off with them, where we road cable cars and camels and had various other adventures.
Hannah and Nathanael are continuing with school. We’re struggling to keep up this year, with so many other activities going on. But so far so good.
I’ve been working hard to prepare orientation materials for new missionaries coming to the field. We’re creating packets with resources and requirements for missionaries at various stages, particularly at the beginning of their journey to serve here.
We’ve got some big things coming up this month. A retreat for our Camino missionary team in a little over a week. A visit from Shari’s parents. And – why are they coming again? Oh yes, for Hannah’s 15th birthday party! That will be a big deal. And the weekend after that, a big outreach event – actually four outreach events, over the course of four days!
As usual, we have emerged from cold season and have entered directly into hot season. So within the space of a month we’ve exchanged scarves and gloves for fans and sunscreen.
The practical parts of life are complicated as usual. Lately our water pressure has been turned way down during the day (and other random times), which means either you do laundry when people are trying to sleep, or you don’t do it. And showers are touch and go.
Driving Restrictions April – June 2016But the big topic of conversation is pollution and new vehicle restrictions. Pollution in Mexico City has improved a lot in 25 years, but it took a down-turn recently. So the government has decided to restrict all vehicles during April, May and June. That means that we can’t drive our van one day a week, and an additional one Saturday a month (that’s 16 days over 3 months).
During that time, they’ll be thinking up new restrictions for the future.
So juggling transportation, and trying to be home when there’s water pressure, does make life interesting.
But right now I need to prepare for next week, get some things ready for the kids’ school, and deal with some practical matters. Talk to you later!
Ten years ago today, I made empanadas from scratch for the regular customers and also a special guest – Shari’s sister Amy (visit Amy and her husband Nate here)! So here they are enjoying (I hope!) the empanadas in our apartment in Calgary.
And please notice the Herdez brand salsa, a Mexican brand we still have on hand here.
Well, this clumsy. If you have a Twitter account, why not just join me there? 🙂
Black water is coming out of the taps in the house. Could it be coffee? (12 March 2016)
As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master … so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he has mercy upon us! (Psalm 123:3) (13 March 2016)
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. ~Proverbs 15:8~ (14 March 2016)
Tip: Thinking about the cross and resurrection? Get this book to guide your meditation this year: amzn.to/1P8Dg6T (14 March 2016)
☘ Patrick’s Story: British, enslaved in Ireland, found salvation, escaped, returned to Ireland as missionary, spent life sharing the Gospel. (17 March 2016)
Kaylyn and Matt sharing at the closing program at the community centre. 😊 (17 March 2016)
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. ~Proverbs 15:17~ (21 March 2016)
Soccer/Fútbol Tournament in Las Palmas âš½ (the martial arts group in the background isn’t with us… this time…) [image] (21 March 2016)
Yay! Our friends from Canada have arrived safely in Ixtapaluca. 🙂 (22 March 2016)
Anyone tried this cookbook? It’s supposed to be a good intro for beginners: Rick Bayless Mexico One Plate At A Time amzn.to/1L1xWXK (23 March 2016)
I actually haven’t posted any substantial news since last month! So let me give you a quick update on what’s been going on.
First of all, the weather has been a topic of conversation this month. Before the end of February, the weather changed – it wasn’t getting so cool at night, and felt warmer. This brief reprieve was replaced by rain, and howling winds, and snow at higher elevations. One day the entire state closed the schools because of the cold.
I’ve concluded it’s virtually impossible to explain the impact of this kind of cold to a Canadian, who has survived -20C but can always go inside to warm up. No sun, and no heat in the cement block houses simply means some very miserable days. And whatever explanation you care to give (I have a few), it’s very hard to stay healthy in that kind of weather.
Since the season had already changed, when the cold front disappeared it was instantly replaced by summer. Our thermometer was up to 30C yesterday, and the memories of wearing four layers, and gloves, in the house, are quickly replaced by concerns about drinking enough water and using sunscreen. At the same time, pollution levels rose to their highest in 11 years, which means unusual restrictions on vehicle circulation this week.
My bones haven’t quite thawed out from last week. Once they do, maybe I’ll start to complain about the heat. Maybe. Until then, I’m thankful!
Between the weather and the school cycle here and other factors, attendance at the community centre has been down, but not quite non-existent. Shari is looking forward to her last baking class of the semester on Thursday – fruit pizza – who would want to miss that?! Plus, the closing program is on Thursday – fun times! Oh – AND we have a soccer tournament coming up on Monday. 🙂
On the 5th we connected with David Radlowsky, who is here from Canada for a couple of weeks. We went site seeing at the beginning of last week, doing some orientation along the way. And eating, of course. (By the way, I have a good restaurant in Mexico City to recommend when you come visit…)
Laying sod at the church’s propertyDavid has been joining all of us at various times, visiting – what has he visited? A nearby rehab centre – I think an orphanage and senior’s shelter. He helped put clean the church property and put sod down. Yesterday we visited some friends in various parts of Ixtapaluca. Last night he was a guest teacher at my English class. Today we’re heading to Puebla to join our friends Chalo and Beth in their ministry there.
On Sunday we had our 6th anniversary service at the Path of Life Bible Church of Jesús MarÃa (Iglesia BÃblica Sendero de Vida Jesús MarÃa), which was a real blessing. Lots of people were involved in the service, the temporary sanctuary was full with lots of poor people stuck outside, but we enjoyed good times of fellowship afterwards. Nathanael and Shari were both in two different choirs.
Our family has been struggling with some health issues – all four of us – which has made things a little interesting. As always we appreciate your prayers in that department.
In other news, I’ve been working with our Coordinating Team to update and clarify some of our orientation requirements and tips for new missionaries. How in the world do you introduce new missionaries to Mexico and ministry here? Big topic! But I think we’re making progress.
The kids are busy with projects and things as they finish up another section of school. And we’re getting ready for their big birthday parties coming up in April and May. I’m organizing some of the delegation of funds to the ongoing construction on the church property (almost done that project – help us finish!).
Well, I could go on and on. Busy days!
But if you want to pray over the next few days, we would appreciate your prayer for health issues, for wisdom as we share with many people in various ways, and strength as we try to get so many very different things accomplished.
Some of you have also been praying for Alan, a fellow Camino Global missionary (working north of Mexico City) who had a heart attack. God graciously spared him, and he is home. However, his recovery is being hampered by a lack of sleep right now – I know he would appreciate your prayers. He has a long road to travel still.
You made it to the end of this post! 10 points for you! Have a great day. I’m off to Puebla…
