I had a hot shower today. Thank you Jesus!!!
(I almost feel like speaking in tongues... although it wouldn't be a big change...)
A hot shower may not be a big deal, but I haven't had one since Monday morning. Tuesday I was running late bc our alarms didn't go off. Wednesday I stepped into the shower half asleep and - AAAHHHHHEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! Like ice cubes from the sky.
We were out of propane gas. Completely empty. No hot water, no cooking. (We don't have central heat, like in the states.) Curses! Hot showers was reason #1 why I chose never to be a missionary. I decided that if God made me such a pansy, He must not be calling me to the mission field. So, on my third day of long meetings with missionaries in a foreign countries, I was seriously wondering why God had called me here. *sigh*
Very happy ending, though. Our good friend Gilberto (who needs some sort of "most helpful to crazy Americans award") pulled some strings and got us a gas appointment this morning at 9am. Ahhh. Just in time. No meetings today, so Dave & I slept in, took a hot shower, and started out day a little late.
Now if that pesky washing machine could just get fixed...
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Poverty = Laziness???!!!
Today, on the third looong day of meetings, we were asked to reflect on the following bible verses and determine what they were telling us about 'results'.
Prov. 6:9-11:
"How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man."
I was completely shocked!!
This is a totally american verse, and I said so. In the most prosperous country in the world, it's easy to think that poverty comes from laziness and blame people for their own problems. But we're foreigners in a strange land. And here, 60% of mexicans live in poverty - deep, crushing poverty. As in, they're living on less than $10/day. The avg. American annual family income is $37,000 - 3x the US poverty level. The avg. Mexican annual family income is $3700 - and that is earned through physical labor. It just seemed incredibly rude to imply that 'well, be sure to work hard so you don't get poor' when Mexicans are working much harder than North Americans and getting so much less for it. (and, they're telling this to church workers who are making ridiculously little for all the hard work we're expected to do)
Thankfully, the Lord held my tongue, and I tactfully stated my opposition to this verse and asked others to help open my eyes. (Baptists love that!) Here's the conclusion "we" eventually came to, and I'm asking for others' opinions on it:
'poverty' in this verse is not referring to money. it's more of a metaphor describing our entire lives. So, it's more like the verse Galatians 6:7 "A man reaps what he sows" or John 4:37 'One sows and another reaps' The idea being that we get out of life what we put into it. When we are merely trying to survive the day, at the end of the day, we don't feel richly blessed, we merely feel satisfied that we survived. Also, that it has to do with our spiritual life. If I'm going to church (or praying, studying the bible, etc.) just bc I feel I have to, I will not feel spiritually rich. Instead, if I'm going to church (etc.) as a small deposit in my spiritual health bank, then I can earn spiritual "interest" through the power of the Holy Spirit, and I will have more in that account than I put into it. Over time, I become rich only partly because of what I have done, but also because of the "interest" I've received from the Holy Spirit. But if I put nothing into it, then it can't grow. And that my "seed money" was a gift from the Holy Spirit. Like in the parable of the talents in Matt. 25:14-30: God gives us gifts, but we're expected to use them.
So, what do you think? Is the proverb showing a causation or a correlation? Is it about actual money or success or spiritual growth or what?
Prov. 6:9-11:
"How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man."
I was completely shocked!!
This is a totally american verse, and I said so. In the most prosperous country in the world, it's easy to think that poverty comes from laziness and blame people for their own problems. But we're foreigners in a strange land. And here, 60% of mexicans live in poverty - deep, crushing poverty. As in, they're living on less than $10/day. The avg. American annual family income is $37,000 - 3x the US poverty level. The avg. Mexican annual family income is $3700 - and that is earned through physical labor. It just seemed incredibly rude to imply that 'well, be sure to work hard so you don't get poor' when Mexicans are working much harder than North Americans and getting so much less for it. (and, they're telling this to church workers who are making ridiculously little for all the hard work we're expected to do)
Thankfully, the Lord held my tongue, and I tactfully stated my opposition to this verse and asked others to help open my eyes. (Baptists love that!) Here's the conclusion "we" eventually came to, and I'm asking for others' opinions on it:
'poverty' in this verse is not referring to money. it's more of a metaphor describing our entire lives. So, it's more like the verse Galatians 6:7 "A man reaps what he sows" or John 4:37 'One sows and another reaps' The idea being that we get out of life what we put into it. When we are merely trying to survive the day, at the end of the day, we don't feel richly blessed, we merely feel satisfied that we survived. Also, that it has to do with our spiritual life. If I'm going to church (or praying, studying the bible, etc.) just bc I feel I have to, I will not feel spiritually rich. Instead, if I'm going to church (etc.) as a small deposit in my spiritual health bank, then I can earn spiritual "interest" through the power of the Holy Spirit, and I will have more in that account than I put into it. Over time, I become rich only partly because of what I have done, but also because of the "interest" I've received from the Holy Spirit. But if I put nothing into it, then it can't grow. And that my "seed money" was a gift from the Holy Spirit. Like in the parable of the talents in Matt. 25:14-30: God gives us gifts, but we're expected to use them.
So, what do you think? Is the proverb showing a causation or a correlation? Is it about actual money or success or spiritual growth or what?
Friday, August 15, 2008
Someday my truck will come...
3 weeks of shopping
5 hours of packing
12 weeks on the truck
45 minutes to unload & unpack
2 hours to settle in
having all of our stuff with us in our house ... priceless
5 hours of packing
12 weeks on the truck
45 minutes to unload & unpack
2 hours to settle in
having all of our stuff with us in our house ... priceless
Books!
Stumbling through the airport, my vision clouded by tears, I have no where to go and nothing to do for at least an hour, which is not helping me to calm down. Then, I find my salvation - I'm standing in front of a wall of English books. Not sure how I got here or if this is even real, I'm practically drooling over the books, newspapers, and magazines full of English words. Pouring over the words is like a balm to my soul.
In the end, I buy 2 newspapers, 4 magazines, and 1 book: $40 worth of English language information bound to carry me through the news few days.
In the end, I buy 2 newspapers, 4 magazines, and 1 book: $40 worth of English language information bound to carry me through the news few days.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Lessons Learned
Our first guests have been here for about 10 days. What we've learned:
10. not everyone who likes Mexican food actually likes Mexican food
9. keep a virtual pharmacy in the guest bathroom
8. altitude sickness is real. asprin should help (see #9)
7. be prepared to translate EVERY single sign, pamphlet, commercial, newspaper headline, news broadcast, overheard conversation, store annoucement, etc.
6. be prepared to make up the translation for anything heard or seen in Spanish, just in case the real translation is akward or I don't actually know what's going on
5. it is impossible to consistently provide American food, TV stations, or temperature controls
4. bring comfortable shoes. we walk A LOT.
3. the maps are always wrong. The roads are always crazy. Backseat drivers don't help.
2. Tequila is a local food. So is Sangria. Our drinking should not be intended as a reflection of our guests. we're just trying to blend in. Really. In fact, you should drink, too :)
1. Expect the unexpected.
10. not everyone who likes Mexican food actually likes Mexican food
9. keep a virtual pharmacy in the guest bathroom
8. altitude sickness is real. asprin should help (see #9)
7. be prepared to translate EVERY single sign, pamphlet, commercial, newspaper headline, news broadcast, overheard conversation, store annoucement, etc.
6. be prepared to make up the translation for anything heard or seen in Spanish, just in case the real translation is akward or I don't actually know what's going on
5. it is impossible to consistently provide American food, TV stations, or temperature controls
4. bring comfortable shoes. we walk A LOT.
3. the maps are always wrong. The roads are always crazy. Backseat drivers don't help.
2. Tequila is a local food. So is Sangria. Our drinking should not be intended as a reflection of our guests. we're just trying to blend in. Really. In fact, you should drink, too :)
1. Expect the unexpected.
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