Updates from Language School

First of all, thank you for all your concerns and prayers for the people of Mexico during last week’s earthquake.   We are safe and did not feel the tremor at all while at language school in Guadalajara (about 300 miles from Mexico City).   Our hearts and prayers continue to go out to the people and the country that are so generously hosting us.

Language school is going great.   Maria and I both get two hours of class time each morning with no more than two other students.   We take turns getting an hour of private tutoring in the afternoon.   The boys are in a class with just themselves for two hours a day.   MJ and Naomi go to a Montessori school from 8:30 to 1:00.   We have been learning a lot and enjoyed exploring the area and culture.

Studying with Dad.

Washing the dishes.

 

Street performers based of off indigenous traditions.

View from the hike into a canyon near Guadalajara.

Reason for the hike... volcanic hot springs!

We also got to reunite with a little of Buffalo when we went to visit Chris and Ann Marie Duquin and their children in Ajijic over the weekend!   The town, and mountains, and lake felt like the Adirondacks with the occasional palm tree.  We eventually did figure out the timer on the camera. With the local dogs trying to sniff the shutter, this was the best we got!

The Duquin and Gehl Families

Exploring the Streets of Ajijic.

Colors of the market

More colors

Speaking of markets... Jesus is a horrible economist!  In this past weekend's gospel (Matthew 20:1-16) Jesus shares a parable about a boss who goes to the main square and hires workers in the morning, some more at noon, again some more in the afternoon, and finally another group an hour before the end of the workday.   He then pays them in the opposite order that he employed them, but paying them all the same amount, a full day’s wage.   The workers that worked the whole day, and therefore were paid last, were upset feeling that it was unjust that they were paid the same as those that worked only an hour.   

A critic of more progressive economic structures, perhaps like socialism, might suggest that the next day, people would show up later in the square, hoping to work only a half day or less and hoping to get the full day’s wage.   Eventually all potential workers would show up only at the last hour, hoping to get employed and get paid for a full day of work.   Of course then business would slow down and most likely reach a point where it was no longer sustainable to hire people only for an hour and pay them for a full day.

Having lived in Mexico for the past several months and after exploring various plazas and markets, my imagination creates new images of what this scene and what the people must have looked like.  The question comes to my mind, who were the people that did not get hired till the last hour?   When the boss asked them, “Why do you stand here idle all?” They simply responded, “Because no one has hired us.”   Why did they not get hired earlier in the day?   Maybe they had some kind of handicap that made them undesirable for hire.   Perhaps they were bound to a wheelchair or some other physical calamity, had an addiction, or struggled with a mental illness. Their usefulness was in question to the point where they were perceived as more of a hindrance to most potential employers.

Señor Juan

As we encounter these individuals, as we learn their names, their stories, and come to know them, and even consider them friends, I am forced to have a new perspective.   The morning we were leaving General Cepeda for Guadalajara, I was taking garbage to the corner when I heard Señor Juan call to me asking for help.   Of course Señor Juan, didn't know who I was.   Seriously, he didn't know I was a missionary.   He didn't know I was white or an American.  He didn't know if I was a man or a woman, if I was an adult or a child.   He couldn't...  Señor Juan is blind.   He needed to get to the Presidencia, the local town hall or municipal building, about 100 yards from the corner he was standing at.  I figured out that either a family member or friend had dropped him off and for some reason did not take him the rest of the way.   He was standing at the corner waiting for anyone to pass him so he could ask for help.  

It took me a while to figure out what exactly he wanted, but eventually I figured it out, I took him by the hand and walked him the rest of the way.   Of course this was September 16, the Mexican Independence Day, so everything was closed.   After another fifteen minutes of communicating, I figured out that he didn't need a ride back to his house.   Which is good, because I have no idea how a blind man would give me directions.   "Turn here" and "Go past the next green house" don't really work.  Fortunately he only needed a help to the Comedor.  (A "restaurant" that provides free meals for the sick and elderly.)   As we walked this time, I noticed his slow gate was partially due to his blindness, but also due to the poor condition of his shoes.   I asked him how were his feet, he said good, but that his shoes were a little old.  That was an understatement.   I judged the rough size of his feet and told him that I may have a pair that would fit him.  I was able to direct him to the short concrete wall to sit (see the above picture) while I went and grabbed the shoes.   Images of feet washing flashed through my mind I unlaced his old shoes and revealed his dry and cracked sockless feet.  Praise the Lord the shoes were a perfect fit.   Señor Juan was so excited and proud to feel his new shoes and try them out as we walked to the Comedor.

Would I be willing to sacrifice and work a whole day, just to do enough work so that both Señor Juan and I could get a full day's wage?   How could I say no?   From an economic perspective, is it fair or just... no.  Jesus' teachings on divine economics doesn't make sense from any business or economic stand point.   Their utility is questionable for both capitalism and socialism.   But for the Kingdom of God, for sake of the virtues of generosity, love of neighbor, and mercy, they are beyond reproach.  Governments, social structures, economic systems perhaps can lead to a just and fair society, but they cannot, in themselves, change the heart, nor make a person generous or virtuous.   This is the realm of conversion and morals.   When I encounter another person, am I open to hearing their story?  Am I willing to let the reality of that person change who I am, my outlook on life and the world, the decisions that I make, and increase my capacity to love?  

The Kingdom of God is neither fair nor just.   I don't deserve it.   I can't earn it.   In fact in my brokenness and weaknesses, I fall drastically short of God's love.   But that is exactly the point... the love of God is a gift.  His mercy... a gift.   I just have to acknowledge how much I need it and accept it.   And His love and mercy invites me to change my life so I can increase my capacity to receive more.   The wages given to the workers that only labored for one hour received a gift that they didn't earn either.   They only needed to accept it.

As Christians, we are called to be like Christ, we must then also ask the question, how can I be more generous and merciful?   How can I be more like Christ?   Who are the undesirables, the useless ones.  They are the ones that no one sought to hire, the unseen and forgotten.   Spiritually speaking, who are the ones bound to a wheelchair with some calamity... maybe an addiction, or a mental illness.  Maybe a former convict that has served his time and despite his desire and ability to now be a meaningful member of society, is scarred by an unjust reputation and stigma.  Maybe a person that was a religious, racial, or social outcast.   But I know this, Jesus would seek them out and hire them even for just the last hour of the day.   What if Jesus desires to seek them out and hire them through me?  Through you?

 

Facing Challenges... Languages, Ropes, and the Future

(See below to see how Aron did!)

Language barriers.  They are a real thing.  But how badly do we need language school really?  It has been decades since my first epic language mistake on that mission trip in college.  After mixing up a couple of similar sounding words and topping it off with a false cognate for the win it can’t get much worse, right?  (If you haven’t heard that story yet ask my father-in-law, he loves telling it.)  We have been calling General Cepeda home now for a while, and due to a couple of new babies born in to team General Cepeda we are finally getting to spend a couple of weeks in language school.  Most new missionaries hit language school right out of the gate before arriving at their post, but that wasn’t the plan the Lord had for us.   We spent three weeks here in November, one month in February, and have logged another 3 and an half months here since Rebekah was born.  After a grand total of easily 5 months immersed in the land of sombreros and fiestas, how badly do we really need language school?

When we first got here, I remember feeling completely lost.  Without realizing it I developed a habit of using the two phrases that came the most easily, “Si” and “Muy Bien.”   Too often I would use those phrases to express that I understood, not that I agreed.  I have seen it in the states in the past, picture a sweet oriental man clearly not understanding a word you say but smiling and nodding as you speak, “Yes, Yes, very good”.  That. Is.  Me.  I say it because I agree, or because I understand and I am excited about it, or because I have no idea what is being said and I just want to keep the “conversation” moving along.

There have been more than a few linguistic train wrecks here.  I will just share a few of them.   In February when I went to the bakery to get bread for a dinner we were having with two other missionary families.  The bread wasn’t ready when I got there, and Elijah, Naomi and I hung out at the bakery for over 45 minutes waiting with another woman and her little boy.  The whole time I wasn’t sure if the bread was actually still baking, or if we were just being exceptionally social and would leave without bread.  The baker, Sarita, explained what was happening but I just had no idea what she said.  Amazingly, we did eventually get bread.   It took so long that as I left the bakery I met up with Josh along with the husbands from the other two families.  The three of them were walking like they were on a serious mission.  Ends up the got worried and had come to save us.

There was another time I went to the market, and while I was there I was supposed to buy new garrafones of water.  I rehearsed in my head while I waited in line “Seis garrafones de agua, por favor,” and “los retornables est en el trucko”.   So when I got to the register I was able to communicate I wanted 6 garrafones.  But she asked a question, it could have been as simple as “do you need help carrying them to the car?” but I couldn’t understand.  And she tried a few times but couldn’t communicate the question.  We were both laughing, both confused, and I left the store without buying water.

Both those things happened early in our adventures here.  I had someone recently say to me “You have been there a few months, you are pretty much fluent by now…right?”  Mmmmhmmm….

Just a couple of weeks ago I needed to buy some screws and nails from the hardware store for a toddler sized bed I was making.  I want to Javier’s on the corner and with the help of Google translate I was going to get what I needed. (Any vocabulary outside of normal ministry stuff is completely lost on me)  How hard could it be…right?  Here is a loose translation of our conversation….

Me:  Hello Javier, how are you?

Javier: Very good, thanks be to God.  [He had an amused smile on his face, he must have been remembering the time I went in trying to ask for sand bags…]

Me:  Do you have some screws?

Javier: Yes, [and a question with a bunch of words I didn’t understand]

Me:  I need screws, for wood.

Javier:  Yes [more questions I still don’t understand, slightly louder]

Me:  I have wood, I need some screws.  For wood.  [Also unintentionally louder, because that helps.]

Javier:  Yes [insert more words, and some had motions that show he is wondering how what size]

Me:  Oh, yes!  This.  [Motioning to the length]

Javier:  Good.  One moment.  [he goes and gets one]  This?  How many?

Me:  [Thrilled I understand, I throw out a number.  Not really a thought out number.  I didn’t actually count how many I needed ahead of time, I assumed I would just buy a package.  And I am horrible at numbers in Spanish when I am on the spot.  So I threw out a number.  He came back with what looked like enough for the job, so feeling foolishly victorious I moved on to my next request.  I consult Google translate]  Can I have some nails too please?

Javier: [Repeats the word I used, looks at me confused]

Me:  [Reconsult Google translate, realize I used the word for fingernail, not construction nails.  I correct myself.] Nails.  For hammers.  For wood.

Javier:  [Laughing at this point, grabs a handful of nails, throws them in the bag]

In retrospect, that conversation could have gone so much worse.  So maybe language school is still a good idea, right? 

Those humbling experiences aside, there have been many other times when (by the grace of God) I have actually been able to communicate.  One time in particular that stands out to me was when a woman named Laticia came to the house to join us for prayer and adoration.  When she was finished with her personal prayer and was getting ready to leave I stopped her to talk with her a bit and pray with her.  Somehow, we were able to have a 20-minute conversation.  I was able to understand her prayer intentions, and I was able to minister to her in Spanish as easily as I would have in English.  I can only chalk those experiences up to the Holy Spirit.  

I know that as long as we are doing our best the Lord will fill in what we are lacking in language where He needs.  But outside of those instances He keeps me humble.  So yes, we need language school now more than ever.  I am ready to not sound like a two year old when I speak.  (But I imagine the rest of General Cepeda will still get plenty of comic relief at my expense.)

On a side note, we had our family retreat over the weekend.  It was such a blessed weekend.  At the last minute the Lord gave us a house in San Antonio to spend the weekend in through a friend’s friend’s mom’s friend’s mother-in-law.  (I am not exaggerating, that was the connection.)  It was more beautiful and perfect than we could have even imagined.  I had to laugh, due to well water and a septic system we still couldn’t drink the water or flush the toilet paper even though we were in the States.  We felt perfectly at home!  Seriously, the fact that a family that had never met us was willing to allow us to use their family’s getaway house for the weekend was such an immense blessing!  The house had enough beds for all of us, and it back up to the Guadeloupe River.  It was absolutely incredible.  The kids loved swimming in the river and they spent hours in the kayaks.  We were able to really enjoy each other as a family, and the Lord was able to speak loudly and clearly on the next steps He has planned.  We will share more details on the retreat later.  There is still more for us to pray through.   Please continue to pray for us.   Thank you all so much for your prayers!!!  

Rebekah chillin' in a hammock

Elijah's first day of his online class!

What a year can do

This week has me feeling extremely nostalgic.  It was one year ago when we packed up the red suburban and left Buffalo, NY on our journey south.  It is crazy how one year can feel like just yesterday and at the same time a lifetime ago.  I want to just share with you what I see when I look at the past year.

Sending off party with family and friends in WNY.

The first thing that comes to mind is it was one year ago that my mom, Darlene, was diagnosed with breast cancer, and this week she finished her final chemo treatment!!!  Thank you so so much for all of your prayers for her!!

Mom with my "twin sister" Vicki.

Of course it was just over a year ago that we realized we had sweet Rebekah on the way, what a beautiful gift from the Lord she is to us!  I am constantly grateful that the Lord knows exactly what will bless us the most, and he gave us this sweet sweet baby.  One year ago I had no idea just how much joy the Lord was preparing in this sweet little package.

A year ago we were excited about missions, knew the Lord was calling us to give of ourselves, we knew it would be difficult, but we knew it would be glorious.  I no longer plan my next step by what I can or cannot do, but I know look to see what the Lord is asking and just keep pushing forward.  I know that if I am exhausted the Lord will give me just enough energy to do his will, if I have to communicate He will give me just enough words, if I have too much on my plate He will give me just enough time (and often a companion to help!!).  A year has taught me a little more how to look at the Lord's strength, not mine.

A year in has shown me the blessing of all of you journeying with us.  I see even more now just how steadfast your friendships are, how you continue to walk with us, pray for us, love us, and support us.  I can't tell you how much my heart aches to spend time with everyone back home.  Your steady love and support despite the miles and with such little communication mans more to me (and the rest of the family) than you will ever know.

On the flip side, this year has shown me how good the Lord is on his promise when he said "everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother...or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much".  Over this past year we have been blessed to get to know so many more people that we will forever love as part of our FMC family.  (And we literally hosted 100+ people total in our home through June and July, He wasn't kidding when He listed the returns in the 100's).

A year has changed the way I pray.  I see my weaknesses and shortcomings more clearly.  I know I don't deserve His mercy, and I certainly am not equipped to be His missionary, but I have Jesus who walks by me step by step.  He could share His love with others in a way that is more efficient, through someone who knows the culture, the language, and the way of life here, but He chose me, he chose my family because that will show his Glory so much more clearly because we are such an unlikely choice for the job.  So when I pray I am clinging to the One who walks with me, who knows the plan and will share it with me one step at a time.  When I pray I am even more honest with the Lord than I was before.  I can share exactly what my struggles are, exactly what is on my heart without reservation.  I learned that with my completely honest prayers (and sometimes tears) He can do so much more work in me and through me than if I came to him with prayers that sound like I feel like they should sound.

A year has changed the way I see people and my surroundings.  I learned to listen closer to people.  Not speaking the language here has changed how I observe what is going on around me.  When I can't understand the words I find I look in to people's eyes more to try and understand them.  I observe more of what and who is nearby.  I pay more attention to the moods of individual people and of the crowds.  I am more aware of who is doing what nearby.  I don't do these things because I am nervous, I do them because I want to learn, to get to know the people here.  I observe because there is so much to understand, and we have only just begun.  I observe because when I am truly looking around the Lord can show me who he wants to reach out to through me, and He can only do that if I can see everyone around me as someone who may need to experience God's love through us.

A year has changed the way I write my to-do lists.  I always write my lists as options, knowing full well the Lord has been given permission to direct my days.  Some days those lists are checked off, but the best days are the ones when the Lord's list for the day looks way different than mine.  Those are the days I am so thankful for this life where the Spirit can blow where He wills and we get swept in to a little part of that plan.

This year has even changed me a little physically.  I have gotten accustomed to living at a high altitude, in the desert, in the heat, where the sun is stronger than I have ever experienced before.  (I am a little nervous for what Buffalo will feel like in December, we are praying that the heated blanket back there still works).  I have walked more miles with the stroller than ever before.  I laugh now whenever I read Romans 10:15 that says "how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news."  (Saint Paul certainly knew what wearing sandals in a desert climate would do to our feet.  It may have been a tongue-in-cheek kind of statement.)

With all of these experiences over the past year I overwhelmingly thankful.  Thankful for our family and friends.  Thankful for all the miracles we have see the Lord work.  Thankful the Lord is so patient with me as He tries to teach me.  Thankful that we have Heaven to look forward to where we will understand the answers to all the "Whys", where there are no more injustices, where there aren't miles separating us, and those we love are all sharing the same banquet with us.  I am thankful for today and this crazy and amazing journey the Lord has us on, and how much He shows His immense love to us.

Please pray for us this coming week, we will be taking a 3 day family retreat to pray for direction for where the Lord is directing our mission work for this upcoming year.  Know you all are in our prayers constantly!!  Thank you for sharing this journey with us!