Hello All. This blog may be a little lopsided with the added pictures. But I thought it would be a nice next step in my blogging journey. Today was my first day of SKYPE, which I am sensing will revolutionize my life forever… and yours, if you will let it. International phone calls can be made for approximately 2 cents per minute. So today, our first day back in the city after another very rural week in Arroyo Palinque, I called home! It doesnt matter how “adult” you think you are, it still is like a tall drink of water to call home sweet home. (PS. This pic shown above is my friend Josh and I walking back from a remote village up in the hills where our team prayed for the most precious Abuelita, Guanna. I was listening to a tribal remix of Depeche Mode here, feeling very intentional about Im not really sure what. )
Have I mentioned that I ADORE Mexico!!? I by nature am partial to the big city (lots of texture to daily life, good coffee, more Spanish speakers, internet) — however, the funky little vilages have their charm as well. For instance, river baths!! Freezing cold, but I love them!! This morning, I was rinsing off in the river, I turned around and saw a huge black swine ten feet upstream from me.
The spiritual world seems to me to be much more evident in the villages; people have fewer masks. We have encountered some crazy stuff here, but I say BRING IT ON!! I am grateful for a renewed zeal that God has endowed me with… Im not gonna lie, I was feeling very blah-zay (dont know how to spell that word : ) and distant from the things close to Gods heart. But God has been humbling me severely, and with it comes the blessing of an increased sensitivity to His Spirit.
This picture is from a few weeks ago. Me and my team at Misol Ha, cave exploring with our marvellous head lamps! Not very good resolution, but thats me in the middle with my very versatile Mexican scarf by land/ sarong by sea… or whatever.
Another pic of our team, sans Jen, at the caves. Me on the left… I dont think thats vain of me to point out where I am… I mean, if you are reading MY blog Im assuming you care!! Winks. Smiles.
OK. Im running shy in time here in Palinque. But this is yesterday, Sunday. I am preaching at our ministry church in Arroyo!! I was very hesitant to share my testimony, but I woke up that morning with a tremendous amount of peace about it. For those of you who know the story of my family, you may understand that I didnt want to wallup all the church members with sad stories. But it turned out pretty great. I cried, laughed, and gave God glory for His genius way of pulling together the brokenness of my familys past.
This is where we eat our meals. The slaughter house is that wooden edifice directly behind us. Thats where the chickens go before they are served to us with corn tortillas the next day. Ive already mind-over-mattered that concept, now I can talk about it freely with all of you.
Girls night with some of my favorite little ladies. We ll had “pello loco” (crazy hair), and then the Racer girls gave the little señoritas manicures and pedicures to the tune of Super Chick, and over mexican cookies and some seriously buggin popped corn (bugs were in the kernels)… I ate it, and then I pseudo-gagged and had to stop. Too much info… im sorry.
This is the street we walk daily in our mission to be Jesus to these amazing people of Arroyo Palinque. God has been ith us. We are all growing in love for each other, warts and all; and we are falling in love with the people of this village, despite some really obnoxious obstacles. For instance, one of the teenage boys took a pee on my reef flip flops while I was devoting myself up on top of the village water tower. Yes, peed. That stuff is nastay…. I put my feet in my shoes. Wet. Sick. Also, the townspeople were at one point spreading rumors that the American missionaries were “gettin jiggy” atop their tower and swimming in their water supply. Not true. You heard it right here. Winks.
Well thats all folks… for now. I love you all amen. Smiles with joy.
