When we first visited Mexico City many years ago, one of the first things that struck me was – the flowers. Flowers everywhere. The city couldn’t keep them out. Flowers of every type, of every colour, around every corner.
And they’re different depending on the time of year. In March, the blues are spectacular. December? Reds. This time of year – a lot of yellows.
So – here are a few quick pictures of the beauty of Mexico in September and October.
I’m not sure if I’ve showed this video before or not. It’s a tourism video that gives you a little glimpse of just how COOL Mexico City is! 😉
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Over the last few months, many of the churches in the area have had special evangelism days. People from other churches join them so that they can do a special outreach. You may remember the day of evangelism that we had here in Santa Barbara in March.
Today the outreach was in Iztapalapa, a part of Mexico City about 25 minutes from us. The host church was Iglesia BÃblica Peña de Horeb (Rock of Horeb Bible Church).
I have to say, Iztapalapa is a happening place – and the church made it even more happening! There were activities for the kids, music, crafts – lots going on.
I enjoyed talking to a few people, kids, youth and adults, including two people named Carlos. I seem to talk to a lot of people named Carlos.
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I would appreciate it if you pray especially for one Carlos that I met. We had a good talk about the Gospel. It seems that the Lord has really been working in his heart, shaking him up through some time he spent in jail.
Please pray that he will continue to think about and read God’s Word, and that God will clear things up in his mind. He has a wife and three children.
Someone had carved this elaborate image of “Saint Death” into a living tree in the park. It looks like someone left an apple as an offering. If we “appease” the spirit of death, can we escape the power of death? Of course not.
So please pray for the ministry of the believers in Iztapalapa. Thanks to their efforts, there are many people who now know the One who really conquered death – completely.
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
(Hebrews 2:14-15)
Today, after working at it for 676 days, we have visas!
Now is not the time to talk about all of our adventures over that 1 year, 10 months, and 6 days. If you want to hear some of the gory details, you can always check out some of these gems:
Ah, the memories.
 This sign is in the immigration office – ‘To give a “thank you” is enough.’ In other words, don’t try to bribe anyone. I’m not sure I was in a gift-giving mood after 676 days! 🙂 |
Today, things went a lot better than I expected (thanks for your prayers!). In spite of the traffic, we made it (barely!) in time to get the pictures taken (although the picture-taking-place was closed, but we went to another place (the more expensive one!)), pay the fees, and get to our appointment in time. We did have a lot of help from our lawyer.
Of course the printer wasn’t working at the immigration office. So the repair crew worked on it while we waited.
And can you believe it? They fixed it and managed to get our cards to us after only about a couple of hours (we were expecting a few more). (Thanks for your prayers!)
We still have one issue that we’re trying to get resolved (we wouldn’t want life to be dull), but our visas at least are in our hands.
The next step? We had hoped to get them for four years, but were only able to get one. So the next step will be to start getting things renewed, starting early next year. But thankfully, due to the dates we got on these visas, that will be somewhat less complicated than I thought it would be. (Or will it?)
This adventure has, unfortunately, cost us thousands of dollars – literally (ouch). But hopefully it taught us a little patience – a little trust – maybe – … (the kids were asking today – “What are we doing now?” The answer was always the same – “Waiting, of course!” 😉 )
We’re thankful that God has allowed us to be here in Mexico. We’re thankful for the person that Shari was able to share the Gospel with this week at her baking class. We’re thankful for the laughs I could have with a family that just came to a service for the first time. We’re thankful for the chance I’ll have to preach the Gospel this Sunday. And sometimes God reminds us that all these things are really in His hands. Always.
It’s not all bad news. But it’s not all good news either.
Two more robberies. Over the past week, the property was robbed – again. And the community centre was robbed. It’s quite likely that much if not all of this is not “random” – but that we’re targets because the the Gospel we share.
But the work goes on, as we do what we can at the property. If you missed the previous post about the property, don’t miss When The Church Is Being Built…
In the bigger picture of Mexico, you may have heard of the two storms that hit Mexico from opposite directions around the same time – tropical storm Manuel and Hurricane Ingrid. We’re generally too far inland to get actual hurricanes, though we do get rain rain rain and cold cold cold.
But closer to the coasts, at least 42 people have died in flash floods and mud slides, and there are thousands of people still in shelters. More here: Mexico storms Ingrid and Manuel leave trail of destruction
The first half of the hurricane season was quiet – the second half hasn’t started so well.
So that’s a little about the robberies and hurricanes. The “fresh start” has to do with the community centre. Today was the first day of the new semester. Tomorrow the coffee shop will open after a long hiatus. At 6pm, there will be the first of a workshop for kids. I talked to Tiffany (the teacher) tonight, so I know it will be a craft – a very cool craft – so I look forward to seeing what Hannah and Nathanael will have at the end!
At the same time I’ll have my first drama class. Actually, I’m calling it drama, theatre and cinema to cover all my bases. It could be blast – or, maybe no one will come. But we’re not afraid to try new things here. 😉
Tomorrow I’ll be starting with some of the basics of acting – basically the “house rules” for the class – and then we’ll see if we can have some fun.
So that’s the news from here! And hey, if some of you from Canada want to send down some of those warm temperatures, feel free. Meanwhile I’m going to make some hot tea.
Happy Independence Day!
Early in the morning of the 16th of September, 1810, the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla gave his Grito de Dolores – Cry of Dolores, from the town of Dolores, Mexico. It was a speech that really did change the course of history, being a part of the string of events that led to Mexico’s independence from Spain.
As is the case with any country, the history of Mexico is complex and simply must be oversimplified in popular culture. For example, you might not realize that Hidalgo actually called for loyalty to – Ferdinand VII, King of Spain. Well, former King of Spain – at the time he was under guard, having abdicated in favour of Napolean. But that’s another story.
Suffice to say Hidalgo was not entirely calling for a new nation, but for the old one renewed. Loyalty to the real Spain, and to the people of Mexico – especially those actually born in Mexico.
 Photo courtesy of Alex Covarrubias |
He also picked up a banner that was to greatly influence the history of the country. The Standard of the Virgin of Guadalupe became a symbol of Mexico, and Guadalupe was often credited with the victory of the winning side. Mexico’s first president changed his name to Guadalupe Victoria accordingly.
Guadalupe is believed to be a manifestation of Mary the Mother of Jesus. But to assume that Guadalupe is simply Mary would be a mistake.
The Virgin of Guadalupe has become such a part of Mexico, that many would say you simply cannot be Mexican without loyalty to Guadalupe. She’s a particular apparition, dark-skinned, with a special love for Mexico. She’s not the same as the other Marian apparitions – she is the mother of Mexico.
How many images of her can you find in Ixtapaluca? Dozens? No – hundreds – thousands – even more. Overshadowing various images of saints and Jesus, she rules without equal, by all appearances.
For more, click the link above and also this article.