0 (zero) -part 2-
Finally I was driving into through the entrance to the Verificentro. I was waved on in, and into the second line of vehicles waiting to be verified.
(By the way, if you missed part 1 of this story, read this first.)
It was a fairly large place – maybe 5 bays for vehicles – surrounded by a wall, but all outdoors. The joker from outside asked to see my papers again (actually, he was a nice guy. Just trying to differentiate him since I didn’t find out his name).
Now, I’m forgetting the details here, but somewhere along the line they were telling me again that I couldn’t get a "0" sticker. It was probably because I didn’t have the magical … what’s it called? Some card that all drivers in Mexico have for their vehicle. I told them that we didn’t have those in Canada, but that I did have a copy of my vehicle registration.
"So," he asked me, "is there work in Canada?"
"Oh yes," I answered, and we chatted about Canada and the cost of rent and this and that. Then he told me I’d have to take my papers and get copies.
"Oh, these are copies," I said.
"All right then, just go and pay at the cashier’s over there, and give her your papers."
I went to a window in a wall. I couldn’t see through it, but eventually I heard a voice asking me for that card that all-Mexicans-have-but-I-don’t. When she found out I didn’t have one, she sounded bewildered. But the joker – I mean, nice guy came to my rescue.
He apparently explained the situation to her, and then she asked for my license plate number. I never remember it, so I started over to the van to check it. His voice shouted through the window – "In English!"
That threw me off – I’m not good at switching back and forth, but I managed to give them my plate number in the requested idioma. She handed back my papers. Apparently she had made copies anyway. Did I pay for that?
I came back to the van and someone had appeared in the driver’s seat. He took my papers (two copies now) and said he’s take it from here – I had to go and wait near the entrance for the verdict.
The van was pulled up into one of the bays, and someone was crouched over a computer pumping in numbers. He looked confused. A woman joined him. She looked baffled. Soon there were four or five workers crowded around the computer beside my van. No one else had four or five workers around their computers. Finally, someone motioned to me and I went back over.
"Sorry, we can’t give you a zero," said the computer guy.
"Why not?"
"It’s just the type of vehicle. I punch everything in, and the computer shows that it doesn’t qualify for a 0."
"Well, I had a friend come in just a few days ago with the exact same kind of van," (I didn’t mention that mine is a slightly nicer colour) "and he got a zero."
"Really?" (more people began to crowd around the computer) "Same year?"
"Yes, same year, same model."
"Hmmmmmmm…"
Now it was just me and the computer guy. And it was the computer that stood in the way of me and using my van every morning of the week.
Some little part of a computer program, put together by someone somewhere in a little office in downtown Mexico City. Or maybe they hired someone in India. Could I talk to that person?
For the next ten minutes, I was going through the data entry with the computer guy, making suggestions. Are you sure that number is right? Oh, here’s my address. What if we used this number here?
Every once in a while someone would come over and explain to me that I couldn’t get a zero. And I would explain to them that I had a friend with the same kind of van who had just gotten one.
Amazingly he patiently listened to my suggestions, and we tried this and that. Then we came to the screen where he was going to show me that it said I couldn’t get a "0".
But look! This time it did have a zero!
The computer guy looked confused. It might have been a good time to talk about the power of prayer, but the look on his face made me hesitate.
So… there’s a zero now – there’s hope! Right?
But the computer guy didn’t sound too hopeful.
I didn’t quite catch what he was saying. But I know he was confused about why the computer was saying what it was saying. And he was telling me that I still might not get the zero. Then he told me to go wait again by the entrance.
How many times now had people told me I couldn’t get a 0?
The van was tested, and pulled ahead. No one came to tell me what was going on. No zero stickers were produced. It just sat there.
Finally someone came out and called me over.
"Where do you want it?" he asked.
He held in his hand a beautiful, shiny, new "0". I didn’t cry. I told him to put it on the back window.
I was allowed to leave. The bearded guy moved the chain and let me out.
Unfortunately, I forgot to check how long this is valid for. The maximum is 6 months. But it might only be one month.
I need to check that out.
You mean – in a month I might have to go through this again??
I’m not asking for much. Just another zero.
Invisible Illness Week – starts today!
That’s right, today is the first day of Invisible Illness Week, uniting people all over the world who deal with chronic illness, like MS, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, migraine (hey! that’s me!), heart disease, fibromyalgia, etc etc. Let me post this press release so you can find out more about it and be involved…
Invisible Illness Week Offers Free Online Seminars Regarding College and Career
CONTACT: Lisa Copen, 858-486-4685 (voice mail)
SAN DIEGO — SEPT 2008 — When you are diagnosed with a chronic illness it can be easy to assume that your education or career will soon take a nose dive. With the increasing technology, however, and options outside of traditional employment or education, your dreams don’t have to be put aside. With nearly one in two people living with chronic illness in the USA, millions are learning how to find a professional path, despite their diagnosis.
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is September 8-14, and Monday through Friday is a live virtual conference, featuring twenty seminars via Blog Talk Radio at www.invisibleillness.com. Special guests will give a 30-minute presentation and then take questions from callers. Leading professionals in the field will speak on the following topics:
- "College with Chronic Illness: How to Get Help and Respect from Administrators and Faculty" will be presented by Dr. Lynn Royster, the Director of the Chronic Illness Initiative at DePaul University’s School for New Learning, a unique program designed to help chronically ill students obtain a college education. Regardless of your age you will want to attend this to also hear about DePaul University’s program that allows you to attend college from the comfort of your home computer, and earn a real degree.
- "Assess Yourself: Find the Job You Desire and Can Do Despite Illness Limitations" will be the topic by Rosalind Joffe, author of the new book, Women Work and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend! Rosalind, who has lived over thirty years with various illnesses, including multiple sclerosis, found her career as a coach for people who live with chronic illness. Her business, cicoach.com, can do the same for others who want to thrive in their work, despite their illness.
- "How to Get Paid to Blog" will be presented by Connie Roberts. Connie writes three blogs, co-authors two blogs, and works for various companies as a sub-contractor doing paid reviews. One of her blogs is called "My Chronic Life." She will teach people with chronic illness how they can earn an income by working from home as a blogger.
See dates and times at www.invisibleillness.com for all seminars, which will be recorded and archived. Many guests have donated free items or services, which will be given away in prize drawings. Bloggers are invited to participate by blogging on invisible illness topics September 8, 2008 to kick off the week and to download the "I’m blogging for Invisible Illness Awareness" badge from www.invisbleillnessblog.com.
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week was launched in 2002 by Lisa Copen, author of "Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend." It is held annually in September and is sponsored by Rest Ministries, Inc. This year’s co-sponsor for the event is Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness.
A bonus note: Many missionaries deal with invisible illness. Check out these posts from around the world.
0 (zero)
The 31st of August. That was the deadline. On the 1st of September, the new laws would be in full swing in Mexico City.
What would that mean for us? Well, we would not be able to drive our van on Thursdays (it’s actually always been that way), or the 4th Saturday of every month (that actually started on the 1st of July), or on any weekday morning from 5:30am to 11am.
That’s right, we were going to be pretty limited! Unless…
Unless we got a "0" sticker.
Supposedly in an effort to cut down on pollution, the powers-that-be were further limiting how often a vehicle could be on the road. However, some newer vehicles (like ours – it’s a 2003) might be able to get around the restrictions by going through a verification process, which (I believe) involved some kind of emmissions test.
I arrived at the Verificentro to get the van verified late in the month (I hadn’t gone earlier because we had trouble getting our van started. Remember that whole story?). I couldn’t get in because of the chain across the entrance. But there was someone there to ask for my papers. He looked puzzled when he discovered the van was from Canada.
"We’re pretty busy here – you know it’s close to the end of the month," he said (all this conversation is in Spanish, of course. Excuse my very loose translation). "Why don’t you try the other Verificentro downtown?"
I got directions and headed down the road. Eventually I found the other place – which looked far busier than the first place. I parked on the street and walked up to find someone to talk to. My first guess was wrong – he was just another poor guy waiting for his vehicle. My second try was right – a bearded man who was letting the vehicles in and out.
"Hi – I need to get a verification done."
"Where’s the vehicle?"
"Over there."
"Do you have your paperwork?"
"Yes, here it is" (handing him a folder).
He wandered off somewhere with my paperwork, while I waited outside the chain. Inside there was a washroom. I was wishing I was inside.
Eventually, the man with the beard wandered back. "Sorry, you can’t get a 0. This paperwork is expired."
"Ah, yes – I know it’s confusing, but actually it isn’t expired…" I explained the paperwork I had given him.
"Ah, ok…" and he wandered off again.
This happened once more – I forget what the issue was, but I think he came up with another reason why I couldn’t get a "0". But after checking one more time, he said,"All right – come on in. The entrance is on the side road over there."
I got my paperwork back and headed across the street to the van. I found the side street without a problem – it was a narrow pot-holed mud road, and the van lurched up to the entrance. Another chain across the entrance. The man who looked like he was in charge glared at me.
Apparently, I wasn’t supposed to go in, I was supposed to get in line to go in. A bunch of other cars lined the road in a disorderly fashion, waiting their turn. Oops. I got in line.
At last, the line dwindled, and I was getting close. A couple other men came up to the van and asked for my papers.
"Where is the vehicle from?"
"Canada."
"Oh, Canada." One of them winked and said to me "You can speak English, you know. He speaks English!"
Of course, he didn’t. Anyway, after a few questions about my paperwork (and a few attempts at English words from the joker), they finally deemed me worthy — the chain was moved aside, and I entered the great courtyard where my van would be tested.
Or would it?
You’ll find out in Part 2….
Positions open: IT Admin and Facility Technician
There are a couple of positions open at the CAM International head office in Dallas, Texas. Just thought I’d throw this out in case there’s anyone who would like to serve in these ways:
- IT Administrator (FT): This position involves overseeing the support services at the office. For more information, here’s the full job posting in pdf format.
- Facility Technician (FT): This position involves taking care of the grounds at the CAM complex – a handyman would fit in great here. Here’s the job posting in pdf format.
More on the Reformation (or, Maybe I’m not Crazy)
I’ve been continuing my reading on some “Reformation issues”. You’ll remember my article back in July: Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Reformation. In the article I expressed some frustration over some of the joint statements that have come out between Roman Catholics and various groups, including Lutherans and evangelicals.
My concern was that, instead of clarifying the truth, we seem to be looking for ambiguous language that everyone can agree on.
I did some reading from people who would disagree with me, but recently I read someone else who I think hits the nail on the head (on that point anyway!). So either I’m not crazy, or at least I’m not uniquely crazy!
The book was R.C. Sproul’s Getting the Gospel Right. It’s actually not only a discussion of the Gospel, but also a discussion about some of these joint statements and particularly The Gift of Salvation, a document signed by many prominent Roman Catholics and Evangelicals.
Sproul spends a lot of time talking about words and language – what its good for, where it fails, and so on. Later in the book, he writes about the desire to unite Christians, and the importance of clarification in our discussions.
…any honest dialogue must begin with a clear and precise formulation of the issues or problems under discussion. Precise identification of a problem is crucial to solving it. The lack of understanding between opposing parties is not all that separates them, but it often is a major contributing factor.
The first step then is to gain a clear and precise understanding of the differences between opposing parties. Without that the parties will tend to speak past each other rather than to and with each other. They will also tend to minimize those differences and even succumb to relativism, which carries in its wake religious skepticism.
Wanting to clarify biblical truth in the wake of statements like the Gift of Salvation, many evangelicals signed on to The Gospel of Jesus Christ: An Evangelical Celebration. Though it doesn’t claim to be the perfect inspired word of God, the document is a great place to start if you’re ready to delve into the amazing Gospel that Jesus came to show us. The link below will take you to a free copy online. It contains a set of “affirmations and denials” in an attempt to be clear.
If you’re interested enough to have read this far, I think you’ll enjoy reading Getting the Gospel Right for yourself.