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The Challenge of Mexico City
On Friday night I went to Texcoco (east of Mexico City, toward the north) to meet with some of the CAM International missionaries from the Mexico City area. We were there to see the mission director and his wife (Dan and Sue Wicher, who were served for years in Mexico City themselves), and two of the CAM board members; Jon Campbell (his wife is Wanda but she wasn’t there) and Walter and Dottie Baker.
One thing that was interesting was that everyone was sharing about the joys and challenges of working in Mexico City.
Many of the joys we talked about are what you might expect anywhere – watching Jesus "invade a family", for example (as Rod Fry said during his presentation). But I thought you might be interested to hear about some of the challenges we talked about.
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- Traffic. Just getting from one place to another. People may look at Mexico City and wonder why it’s so hard for us to get together with believers from other areas. But when people are an hour or two late for meetings like this one (even people with board members in their car), they are reminded. It’s not easy to get around in Mexico City. You plan for it, but it’s drastically unpredictable. When Mayra Fry came to pick me up Friday, she was stopped by the police. When Rod and I left from his house and headed to Texcoco, we were stopped by the police (not because any of us did anything wrong, by the way. No one got a ticket.). And we were among the first to arrive. There are accidents, construction, delays of all kinds.
- Fear. One missionary mentioned just the challenge of safety in the big city. Every missionary does need to take precautions and be aware.
- Discipleship. I was trying to carry on with my one-word summaries – maybe that’s not the best word. But one missionary shared what they’d heard from a Mexican believer. The Mexican pointed out that so many of the Mexican believers are first generation Christians. That means there is an incredible lack of role models. They’ve never seen a functioning Christian marriage, or how to parent as a believer, or what Christ-like leadership looks like. It’s exciting when your church is almost all new disciples – but it calls for a different kind of discipleship.
- Commitment. Someone else pointed out (and I’ve heard this a lot) the challenge of a lack of commitment. Now, a disclaimer here – there are many very committed people here – Mexican and non-Mexican. But when you’re on the front lines of disciple-making this is always a challenge, no matter where you are.
This reminds me of the great summary of challenges that Dennis Poulette shared in his post If you can minister in Mexico City… He listed space, transportation and time. That was in the context of youth ministry, but I think those three things fit everywhere.
If you work in Mexico City, I would love to hear what you would add to the list.
Last 90 Days Most Popular Posts (30 September 2008)
Here they are, with the most popular first. The first four (in bold) are winners two months in a row. For your interest, the most popular posts from the last month are the two posts about the 0 sticker – 0 (zero) and 0 (zero) -part 2-.
- Some of what’s on our minds (audio)
- The Prusias in Ixtapaluca (video)
- Kenya, English, Leaks and updates on everything
- Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Reformation
- First day of school in Mexico City (2008/2009)
- Jim on Canada
- View from our roof in Ixtapaluca
- Welcome home, Shari
- Yes, we have internet access!
- Interesting tidbits about Ixtapaluca
Happy 15th Anniversary, Peace
This past Sunday morning Shari and I sang a song that has almost become a theme song for us. I realized as I pulled it out to practise that it was almost exactly 15 years ago that I wrote it.
Though the storm clouds darken the sky
It was actually soon after I met Shari, when we were training for our year of ministry with our Friends and Followers team in 1993. I wrote it for a friend who was going through a hard time, putting it down on paper when I was supposed to be listening to one of our sessions (there’s still some critical bit of missionary training that I’m missing – that explains a lot!).
In Mexico, later that year, we worked with Becky Baron, a CAM missionary who was an accomplished musician and music translator. She translated Peace for me (Paz in Spanish), and our team used it as one of our songs through our tour.
After Shari and I were married, we started singing it as a duet, in both English and Spanish. And it still got a little extra polish earlier this year when we made some small additions in Spanish, while visiting Becky and her husband in Mexico City.
To celebrate its 15th anniversary, I thought I’d write this post and share a few of the verses that inspired the song. Singing Peace has always been a reminder to me that, even in the darkest times, Jesus is walking with us, leading us home.
Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going. (John 6:16-21)
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jer 29:13)
Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. (Isa 55:6)
But as it is written:
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Heb 13:5)
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Rom 8:28)
There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. (Heb 4:9)
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. (Heb 12:22-24)
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Eph 6:10-11)
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. (Mat 25:13)
He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people he will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. (Isa 25:8)
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (Joh 14:3)
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (Joh 14:27)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phi 4:6-7)
And walk me gently through the sand of time
Forevermore
I know Your peace is mine
Pay here
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This is a site that you may see in Mexico that you probably wouldn’t see in Canada. Well, of course, it’s just a coin slot – you see those all the time in Canada. But do you know what it’s for?
I’ll give you a clue. It was at a stop on the highway, and I put two pesos in the slot. Do you know what happened next?
*clink*
The bathroom door unlocked.
That’s right, this was by the door of the men’s room at a gas station. Two pesos and you were allowed in.
As I recall there were no paper towels or toilet paper in the bathroom – kinda makes you wonder what you were paying for!
Sometimes you have to pay the man or woman standing at the door. Sometimes you actually get a couple of squares of toilet paper for your one or two pesos.
I stopped at one bathroom where there was a box inside by the sinks asking for a tip. With no soap, toilet paper or towels I decided to hang on to my change.
Sometimes there are bathrooms at higher class places, like a Sanborns, where you’re asked to leave a tip. But there they have all the normal facilities, even toilet seats, plus fake flowers on the counter, and a well dressed gentleman who hands you a towel to dry your hands with. I’ll tip there.
Actually, the public washrooms seem to be a lot better than I remember from 15 years ago. It’s a little more unusual (though still pretty normal) to use one with no toilet seats. But still – if you’re coming from Canada, you may be in for a culture shock.
No, you don’t always have to pay. Sometimes you just need to ask for someone to unlock the bathroom for you. Sometimes you actually just walk right in, no loose change required.
Notice the nice self-serve honour-system option below. The box outside of the men’s and ladies’ asks that you deposit your two pesos, and then invites you to take some TP.
Canada’s second national anthem?
The Maple Leaf Forever has been called Canada’s other national anthem, but that’s not what I’m talking about. This song was written in 1968 by Dolores Claman, and it’s about to make a triumphant return in October.
In fact, a group of Canadians surveyed considered the song as much a national symbol as the Peace Tower!
Yep, it’s the Hockey Theme. Used by CBC for 40 years, it was "lost" earlier this year when an agreement couldn’t be reached for a renewal of the license.
But starting on the 10th of October, the theme will be on RDS, and then on TSN on the 14th for the Calgary Flames/Colorado Avalanche game. The Toronto Symphony Orchestra spent two days creating a new version of the song. According to TSN,
Led by award-winning conductor Darren Fung, 54 elite members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra participated in an exhaustive and emotional two-day recording session earlier this month. Using cutting-edge digital technology, the orchestra recorded for hours on end in an effort to lay down the perfect track.
Here’s a video with the full story, and a preview of the new sound:
By the way, the Canadians who put the Hockey Theme on par with the Peace Tower were NHL fans. What else were they supposed to say?
Also see The Hockey Theme returns to Canadians on RDS and TSN