Mexico

30 June 2018

Prayer Requests for Sunday – Caronport & Mexico

Jim Mexico, Prayer and Praise, ST Highlight 0

Hi everyone!

We’re currently in Caronport, Saskatchewan! I’m taking the Sunday school class tomorrow at Caronport Community Church to teach the 2000 Years of Missions seminar (Modern Era). I would appreciate your prayers, as it’s not an easy seminar to teach. But I pray that God will use the material for His glory.

But I also wanted to remind you all to pray for Mexico tomorrow. The 1st of July is the national election. We know that God puts rulers in place, and removes them. But it is still appropriate to pray that His will would be done, and that there would be peaceful voting, and that Mexico would remain a country in which the truth can be shared freely.

Thanks for your prayers!

3 June 2018

Retro: From the Roof in Cuernavaca

Jim Just for fun, Mexico, Retro 0

Just before we moved out of our house in Cuernavaca, I took a panoramic shot of from the roof. The service I used is no longer available, so I found a new one so you can see it. It’s probably best if you go “full screen” on this one. You can also “hide controls” so you don’t have all the tech-clutter in your way.

From the Roof, Cuernavaca, Mexico

2 April 2018

Water: Too Little? or Too Much?

Jim Mexico, Practical matters, Prayer and Praise 1

There are a lot of people in Mexico who have worse water problems than we do. In Mexico City, an aging system of pipes and water storage is constantly in need of repair. Neighbourhoods often go without water, and people have to line up to get a little for their home.

Usually, though not always, we have a little water on the outside tap. But there’s usually not water for laundry during the day, and often not enough water for a proper shower, and sometimes not enough water to do the dishes. It’s been a pretty steady problem since the earthquakes this past September.

Since the washing machine in the community centre (well, the building we’ve rented to house interns and have Bible studies, etc, in Las Palmas) isn’t being used right now, we decided to borrow it and put it on the lower level, where there is … more often … some water pressure.

Water from the drain The lovely sound of running water filled the house, and the laundry got scrubbed. Then the machine started to empty…

… backing up the drain, and pushing sewage water up onto the floor of our back “servicio” (a little covered semi-outdoor area where our water tank is) and threatening to flood our dining room.

So – next step? Find a plumber, and hope that there’s something that can be done, at least with that drain.

Since many of you ask, there’s a quick water update for you!

16 March 2018

A Quick Glimpse of Short Term Ministry (video)

Jim Mexico, Ministry glimpses, Missions 0

Rod Fry recently posted a video at Mexico Matters I thought you would enjoy. As you know, we had a visit this month from the Journey team from Camp Bighorn. This is a recent video but it features pictures from last year’s team.

So now that you’ve got all that straight, here it is!

31 January 2018

Dress for the Cold (in Mexico City)

Jim Mexico 1

Our friends from the north may be interested in a recent warning from Mexico City’s Civil Protection about cold temperatures in the area. The warning, sent out yesterday, gave instructions for what to wear if temperatures dropped between 0Â°C and 3Â°C (yellow alert), and what to wear if temperatures dropped to between -4Â°C and -1Â°C (red alert).

It should be fairly obvious even to a non-Spanish speaker, but for yellow alert it’s 1-2 layers on your legs, and 2-3 on top, a warm tuque/hat, gloves, boots, and a coat that keeps the wind out.

For red alerts, one more layer, and all the same things with a special emphasis on a warmer jacket and a scarf or ski mask.

Canadians will no doubt chuckle. Some of them are breaking out the shorts when the temperatures get above freezing, after a long bout of depressingly cold weather.

But in actual fact, Civil Protection is right.

Imagine this. It’s a chilly summer day, but you still go swimming. What happens? You get out into the wind, and you start to shiver. You get a towel, and you keep shivering. Finally you get into your warm car, or get into your house, get dressed, and you’re fine.

But – what if you couldn’t warm up?

Yesterday was chilly, and cloudy. Many people have no car, and no one we know has central heating. A space heater? Maybe, but the cost of electricity is astronomical.

In other words, a Canadian who leaves a warm house and wander about in -10C is not a danger because their “core” is warm and will be for some time. But if you get cold here, it’s cold everywhere you go. You just won’t warm up.

You’re not generally in danger of frostbite here, but people do struggle to stay healthy. In fact, in many areas, school was cancelled today!

On Monday I had to go to a meeting, and I wore several layers, a fall/winter jacket, and scarf, indoors, all day. And that was good.

So it’s a different world. Canadians wonder what Mexicans are complaining about, and Mexicans wonder how Canadians survive. But this morning, I’m wearing my coat indoors, and I think I’ll go make some tea …

11 December 2017

Sunday in Pachuca

Jim Mexico, Ministry glimpses, ST Highlight 0

Yesterday we went to the city of Pachuca, north of Mexico City in the state of Hidalgo. Pachuca is a city of over a quarter million people. And the temperatures are a little cooler than here!

Anyway, we went to La Iglesia BÃblica El Buen Pastor (Good Shepherd Bible Church). We enjoyed worshipping with our old and new friends there (with lots of Christmas songs – even one or two that were new to me!), and I preached.

Preaching was a little bit interesting this time. I was quite sick yesterday – I don’t think I realized how sick I was until today (now that I’m feeling better). So I was in a lot of pain and – better admit it – I was cold! And I didn’t realize how cold I was until I was done preaching. Added to that, we had some technical difficulties – probably all my fault (they were actually really organized and helpful).

So, let’s say with the pain and cold I was a little tense up in the pulpit. But hopefully it was still understandable! As I have been reminded again and again – and as I actually mentioned in my sermon – it is because we’re weak that God’s power is visible in us.

After the service we split up into groups to hand out tracts and talk to people. Mostly short conversations, because people were generally in a rush. Actually, it was funny. I was trying to talk to an older woman who was selling poinsettias. But she was kind of ignoring me and giving short answers. Because – she was busy trying to read the tract that someone else in the church gave her! 🙂

For some people in the church, it was the first time they had done anything like this. So it was fun to be a part of it.

After than, a couple in the church took us out for some very yummy Mexican food, that made me feel a little better (in case you’re interested, I had enchiladas con cecina, in this case tortillas with cheese and green sauce with thinly sliced and salted beef. Anyway, we very much enjoyed our time with them.

And Shari was kind enough to drive us home!

Pilgrims on the highway near Pachuca On the way there, and on the way home, we saw a lot of pilgrims, on foot, bicycle, or in vehicles. It’s getting close to Guadalupe Day (the 12th) when people honour what they believe is a manifestation of the Virgin Mary. ‘Tis the season to not get a lot of sleep, as the “bombas” explode at all hours (as I write, another bomba just set off a car alarm a few metres away).

This is why now, more than ever, people need to hear the message of Christmas. It’s not a message that we can now do more things to find favour with God – or Mary – or a saint. It’s a message that God has sent His Salvation, a gracious gift.

Thanks for your prayers for days yesterday – and today!

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