What a week! I guess the events of the week were a long time coming! I've always been drawn to missionaries, and wanted to be one - even when I didn't believe in God, or understand what they were! This particular chapter however, started about a year ago when we met a family who are serving in Mexico.
They were in Marfa visiting some friends who are missionaries in Morocco (home on leave). After church that Sunday, as is our usual practice, we all went to DQ for fellowship. That particular day, after lunch,Teryn and I were scheduled to go to the house of some other friends who were missionaries in Africa. We invited the Morocco and Mexico missionaries to join us, and they did. Teryn and I had the immense privilege of being in the midst of 3 different families of missionaries at once. It was wonderful and amazing to hear their stories of sacrifice, hardship, and Godliness.
As they all talked, I felt that familiar stir in my heart - I wanted to experience the mission field too! Since Mexico is so close, taking trips there seemed pretty 'do-able', so I contacted Mark and Roxanne, the Mexico missionaries. After several emails back and forth, they agreed to let me come and stay with them in San Juanito, a small town of about 8000 located about 30 miles from Creel MX.
Initially it was going to be just me, for an extended stay. Part of the plan was Spanish immersion to increase fluency. But, as things progressed, we found that there hadn't been any Americans there in about 3 years because of turf wars between drug cartels. We all felt that going would be safe enough because I would meet Mark and Roxanne in El Paso and go in with them in their van.
Getting home would be tougher. I would be riding a bus out. Roxanne felt that it was safe, but it seemed risky to us, so we decided that it would be best for Teryn to come along on this first trip so we could both get a feel for the 'climate' of Mexico.
So plans were set, and we met the Davis family on April 30th in El Paso. When we arrived, Mark and Roxanne were busy running errands and getting supplies. So we visited with their daughters, Crystal (16) and Cassandra (15). The girls were absolutely enchanting! I was teasing them about the scary stories I'd heard about Mexico, and practically the first words out of their mouths were, “There's nothing to be afraid of, God is in control!” I knew then that I would be learning a lot from this family!
We visited a while, had a quick supper with the whole family, then went to their El Paso church with them. We were very impressed with the church and their obvious deep love of God, as well as their openness to change to accommodate their members, and their unity. One of the things the preacher said that I wanted to 'hang onto,' was that we are not ________ (fill in the blank with job ... teachers, counselors, ranchers, etc.) who are Christians, but Christians who are ____. Meaning that we are Christians first and foremost! So true, and so important to remember. This life is temporary, it's the next life that is eternal. We need to keep that in perspective so that we can live this life with the right priorities!
The next morning we got up bright and early so we could clean the house we stayed at, and load the van. We crossed into Mexico at Santa Teresa, N.M., because it is a safer crossing than El Paso. We had no trouble there or any other place during the entire trip. Roxanne explained that leaving was pretty much the same as going in. We needed to stop on the MX side to get our passports stamped before crossing the bridge back into the U.S.
When we finished there, we traveled for an hour or so to Dia Alameda, where we got breakfast. This village is known for Ascedero Cheese, for good reason! Our breakfast burritos were fantastic! We ate on the road and traveled on until we got to Cuataumoc where we got more burritos to eat on the road. We also stopped there to drop off a part to one of the Davis' 'boys.' After a short visit there we were back on the road.
Drive time from Santa Teresa to San Juanito is about 8 hours. Mark got sleepy after leaving Cuataumoc, so Crystal, who is learning to drive, took the wheel for awhile. When she finished driving, Teryn took over.
While Teryn was driving, a few miles before Cebolla, the radiator hose sprung a leak, and the engine started smoking. So we stopped. Initially Mark thought we would have to pour the bottled water we were carrying to cool it down and to replenish the lost water. But after some discussion we decided to walk around, and cross a fence because we thought there might be a stream about a ¼ mile from the road. Sure enough there was! While we were hauling water, Mark found an old inner tube that he wrapped around the radiator hole. I took off one of my socks to sift the water back into the radiator, and we were back on the road in no time! We traveled the rest of the way to San Juanito without incident, ate a bite, got situated and went to bed.
The next morning we went to visit people in the Hospital. I was surprised at the number of Tarahumara Indians there. I was also surprised at the number of Mestizo (Tarahumara / Mexican mix). When I first started learning about the Tarahumara, the research said the they were one of the purest races alive. That was about 20 years ago. I guess things have changed!
One thing that hasn't changed though, is the problem with alcoholism and all that goes with it. The work the Davis' are doing is changing lives. When the borrachos meet Christ, they want to give up alcohol, they have hope and purpose. They begin to live for bigger and better things!
One of the people we met that exemplifies the above, was a young man who was drunk and had a devastating accident that left him a paraplegic. The Davis' helped him open a Cybernet business, where people come to surf the web. This young man could have been bitter about his paralysis, but instead he turned his life around and now he lives for the Lord. What a way to turn his pain into God's gain!
When we finished with our visits, we went home, got a bite to eat, and then had music practice, and got ready for Youth Group. I was so impressed with this family. Last July, a missionary from several hours further south, came and stayed, and taught them how to play guitar, bass, drums, and keyboard. The following week he had them playing for the congregation. They took what they learned from him and flew! Praise music is now a big part of their ministry, and they sound great! When someone from their congregation wants to play with them, they require that they go through a Discipleship Class, so they they can learn more about God, and be a good witness for Him.
The Youth Group was really fun. We started with Praise music, then played games, and ate. I also gave my testimony (Roxanne translated). I told the kids in part that my biggest regret was that I didn't find God sooner, and I couldn't give what I didn't have, so I was not able to lead my children to Christ. I encouraged them to find out for themselves now if God is real or not, the evidence is there, and it is clear for anyone who is willing to take the time to investigate. Hopefully they can prove to themselves that He is real, so that they might be able to do what I couldn't.
I was also very impressed with Mark and Roxanne, in the way that they disciple their 'flock.' They weren't afraid to explain about modest dress, and behavior so that the members of their congregation can be good witnesses for Christ. Additionally, there are lots of kids who just kind of 'stay' with them, and Mark and Roxanne include them as family. But hold high expectations for the kids, and require that they follow the same rules that they have for their own children. They said that sometimes people get mad and stay away for awhile, but most come back eventually, and Mark and Roxanne always welcome them warmly.
The next day, we went to Yeposo and Tallyotes. These are tiny villages nearby where Mark and Roxanne started their ministry about 20 years ago. They built churches in each community, and the churches are now led by people who followed them to Christ. We met a couple who are pastoring one of the churches. They were living for alcohol, but because Christ intervened, they are living a good life and leading others to Christ.
On one of our first stops, we went into a little log cabin and I saw a little hammock hanging above the bed. I asked about it, and was told it was for a baby. When the baby cries at night they can gently rock the hammock, or sit up in bed to get the baby. I loved how most women exclusively nursed their babies, and how babies seemed to be born naturally and at term...a far cry from what's happening here in the states!
Another picture below is of a boulder balanced on a rock. I teased the owner of the property and asked him how he put that rock up there. (Actually I mistakenly asked him how he put his leg up there ... I got pierna mixed up with piedra - one means leg and one means rock. Thankfully Roxanne was quick to correct me) He told me that God did it. He believed that it is evidence of the Great Flood. As the water receded, the rock was left in that position. What a great answer... from someone who had no way of knowing God just 20 years earlier.
Many of the homes in this area are made from logs. You can see a picture below of a typical log home. In this picture, the child was shy and hiding from us, but she was playing with the other kids (I think there were about 8 kids that came with us in the van) by the end of the day.
The homes in these villages are just beginning to have electricity, and families still haul water, and cook on wood stoves inside the homes. Some families have the old wringer washers, but many still wash clothes in the river. I was lucky enough to see some women washing clothes, and get pictures. Also I saw a couple of horse drawn buggies, but wasn't fast enough to get them. Again, I just loved the old world feel of it all!
On Sunday we went to church. I loved how the first 30 minutes was on 'your knees' prayer time. That was followed by praise music. When it was time for preaching, the children went to Sunday School classes, so that parents could concentrate on the message. I again got up and gave my testimony. Pretty much the same as before, stressing to parents to train their children spiritually while they have the chance. When church ended, Roxanne had her discipleship class, and there were close to 20 people who attended. The thing that stood out to me was the fact that food would wait! These people were willing to stay until 2:00 and 3:00 because they were so hungry, only it wasn't food they wanted, it was the word of God they were hungering for.
After church was over we took a load of kids and went to a beautiful man- made lake close by and just enjoyed the scenery. A couple of the kids caught some fish, but mostly we just enjoyed each others company, and the beauty of the area. Mark and Roxanne said that the area had been off limits for quite a while because of the cartels, but much of the violence has stopped, so it was safe to go now.
That night we built a small fire and sat outside. Teryn made the observation that it was nice to be there with someone who knew the area so that we didn't accidentally go the the 'wrong side of town.' Mark corrected him and told him that we were right in the middle of the 'wrong side of town.' Mark went on to explain, that that was right where they needed to be so that they can minister to the ones who need Christ the most. Right on cue, a fight broke out across the street, and a woman got knocked unconscious. The police were called, and showed up with their semi automatics, and Mark took the woman to the hospital. The woman returned home a few hours later, but it emphasized what Mark said about bringing Christ to those who need it most!
Monday was a slower day. Teryn and I did some very minor odd jobs around the place. Roxanne had to catch up with the homeschooling, and Mark took us around town to get groceries and bus tickets for our trip home. That evening, Roxanne cooked a special Mexican supper of Mole for us. All I can say is YUMMY! If you haven't had it, come see me, I'll make it for you!
When the Davis' eat supper, they frequently ask whoever is there to participate in speaking English. We had a lot of laughs with that, and I added the rule that the Americans had to speak Spanish. I'm sure that the Davis family, the only ones that were truly bilingual, had the most fun of all! After supper, we got to sit and talk quietly for a short time because the kids were all outside. Eventually they all come in, probably about 10 total. They had made up a little dance that ended with them all saying “Come Back Soon!” It was so cute and sweet for them to do that!
The next morning it was time for Teryn and me to catch the bus home. It was a longer trip getting home because the bus stopped at various places to pick up and drop off people. We were on the bus from 7:30 until about 6:00. The bus trip couldn't have been more pleasant. It was clean, it was never too full of people, and there were movies to watch. The scenery though, was way superior to the movies, and that's what we opted to look at! I suspect that some of the prettiest country I've ever seen was between Cuatomoc and Chichuachua.
When we arrived at the bus station in Juarez, we got a cab to the bridge, got our passports stamped, and walked across to El Paso. Mark and Roxanne gave us the # of their American preacher, and told us to call him when we returned. We did as instructed, and he had arranged for someone from his congregation to pick us up and take us to our car. Turned out that the person who picked us up went to Sul Ross to get his certification as a counselor, so we had lots to talk about!
After we got the car, we got a bite to eat and headed home. We didn't get home until 12:00, and I had to be in Alpine by 9:00 for sessions. So after a very short nights sleep, we got busy making up for time away.
The trip couldn't have been better, and we really enjoyed getting know more about Mark and Roxanne and their family and ministry. I asked Roxanne what their greatest need was, and she said “hands!” Her kids help her a lot, and are in fact a vital part of their ministry, but when she does Bible School for the children, the mothers don't typically get involved. She told me that even with my limited Spanish, I could help her immensely. So there is a possibility that I will help her at times, going in through Ojinaga and riding the bus to San Juanito. Traveling this way will shave about 4 hours off the trip we made this time. We'll see how things pan out. Even if we don't go again, we learned a lot and can apply that learning to what we do here in this area.
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