We found the ends of the earth…

....and it is beautiful!!

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”  Mark 16:15

We made it back to Louisiana on Saturday night; our time in Mexico was wonderful and so blessed.  During our time in General Cepeda, the people and the places of General really started to take its place in my heart.   This was especially true especially after we heard that it would be where we would be long term starting in January.

I was constantly blown away by the beauty that surrounded us.  The scenery was absolutely gorgeous, I had no idea mountains in the desert could be so majestic.  Everywhere we traveled there were stunning mountains, and the valleys were wide and striking.  The sunsets were often golden, like nothing I have ever seen before.  The pictures we took really don’t do it justice. I don’t think I will ever get used to it!

Once a week we took a “desert day”, where we would go out in to the desert for a few hours with a lunch and our Bibles, to get away, spend time together, and to pray.  God was so good, He was constantly assuring me that He would be with us, guiding us, taking care of us, and using us to show His love to His people in here.

 

Most of all I was blown away by the beauty of the people we reached out to.  Their openness, honesty and love are so apparent.  So often I struggled to communicate to them using words, but they were always so incredibly patient with me, repeating themselves many times before I was able to understand call over someone who could interpret.  There was one woman we met while we were walking one of the ranchos, inviting people to come and pray with us.  Josh and I sat in her home for about 20 minutes trying to understand what she was telling us.  I did not catch much of what she said, but I did understand at the beginning when she said, “Sit down.”  I was able to pick out an occasional word so I could at least guess at the topic of what she was trying to say, and at the end when she laughed and kindly said, “Spanish school”.  She was right, Spanish school is definitely in our future!!  

Our Thanksgiving was unlike any Thanksgiving dinner we have ever had before.  The full time missionaries sent out a general invitation to the community of General Cepeda, inviting anyone who would like to come to the mission house for a turkey dinner.  We had a bigger turn out than in the past years, and over the course of a few hours we served well over 250 adult meals, along with at least as many children’s plates.  We started with 5 turkeys (about 18 lbs. each) and somehow with all those very full plates served we still had about a turkey and a half leftover by the end.  It was absolutely incredible.  At the end of the day we kept doing the math trying to figure out how that actually worked out.  The lesson I learned, not just on Thanksgiving but over and over again, is that if the Lord sends us to minister to someone, I can trust Him to provide whatever it is they need, whether it is food, the energy we need to fill their needs, or the words to share His Love.  It is humbling and wonderful to get a first row seat to the miracles He kept working among His people in Mexico.  

We have about a week and a half left in Louisiana before traveling north again to spend time with family and friends for the holidays.  We are really looking forward to seeing everyone, catching up, and sharing the stories of what we have seen and experienced!! 

On that note, I am going to close with a little riddle….what happens when Josh tries to change “Hasta luego” (see you later) to “Hasta Enero” (see you in January)….”Hasta huevos” (Later eggs)!!!  I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time, and I would suspect neither has our new friends and mission team members Raul, Marta, or their daughters.  

When we have nothing to give...

First of all we learned our first long term assignment!   We have been assigned to General Cepeda!!!   It is such a blessing to already be here and to begin to learn more about our post!  Here is video with the kids giving a tour of the mission house...

The chapel in Macayu.

Spending the past two weeks in General Cepeda, Mexico has been amazing!   We have been blessed to begin to meet some of the locals as well as a good number of people from the surrounding ranchos.   The rancho system really doesn’t have a parallel in the U.S.   General Cepeda is a regional town that has about 50 rural villages, which traditionally were agricultural communities, called “ranchos.”  Since arriving we have been to three different ranchos.  Oratorio Chico had a population of maybe 30 inhabitants.   Macayu had about 500 people.

Map of General Cepeda with the surrounding ranchos.

There are two priests currently assigned to General Cepeda who are also responsible for all the ranchos in the area.   On the weekend, one priest will celebrate all the masses at the church in town, while the other will visit some of the ranchos.   Typically a rancho will have a mass once month.   One of the major ministries of the missionaries is supporting the priests by assisting in the spiritual growth.   Our purpose has been to build relationships and hold prayer services in the chapel. Rancho visits have been for about two and half hours.  Our evening rancho visits consist of going door-to-door and personally inviting people to the chapel.   Sometimes we will even pray with people in their homes as we make our way through the rancho.  We will introduce ourselves by saying, “Somos misioneros Catolicos” and offer an invitation to the chapel.   After receiving some wide-eyed responses, one of our missionaries quickly learned the difference between “misionario” and “mercenario.”   Go ahead and look it up on Google Translate.  J

At the chapel we usually sing a couple songs in Spanish.   Followed by some sharings of how God has been working in our lives.   And then there is a teaching usually based on a scripture passage or some other religious theme.  We conclude with offering petitions and/or praying with people that may have various needs.   Sometimes we will visit the same rancho three days in a row and put an evening retreat with a potluck meal on the last night.

Here are some pictures from our three nights at Macayu…

Main road in Macayu.

MJ (Maria Juanetta) and her new friend Vanessa.

Josh and Julio (and MJ's hands)

Maria preaching with Natalia Schumann as a translator.

Before arriving in the field, I was aware of the fact I was going to be stripped of many abilities.   There are language barriers.   My Spanish is probably on a three year old’s level.  It takes a lot of trust and letting go when working through translators.  Even if I could speak Spanish, most people will not care about my degrees in theology and philosophy and be interested in discussing systemic theology and exegetical interpretations of scripture passages.   Finally, there aren’t a whole lot of pianos, limiting my opportunities for music ministry to vocals.   My singing further proves that God is a loving Father that delights in His children’s simple efforts.   God’s ways is not our ways, and so what God consider a joyful noise, may not be a joyful noise to man. 

When stripped, God has been teaching me that when I have nothing to give, then I give the best “nothing” I have.   When I don’t have any of my own love to offer, I offer Christ’s love.   “The Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness,” (Romans 8:26).   “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness,” (2 Corinthians 11:30).   I thought being stripped and having nothing would be for the people of Mexico, but Christ has been showing me otherwise.   He has been stripping me for my sake.   It doesn’t matter what I do or what abilities I have, He loves me for who I am.   He loves us…  period.   We cannot earn His love. When we fall or turn away from Him, God doesn’t love us any less even though His heart is broken.   As a missionary I need to focus first and foremost on His love for me.   The more I am able to experience the depth of God’s unconditional love, the more I can share it with others.