Different

Things have been extreemly different for Christmas, just as it was for Thanksgiving.  It really doesn't feel like it has actually happened.  Even though I finally found some Christmas lights for the tree after searching who knows how many stores(Also on December 28th).  They were made in such a way that you can't really hook them together and you have to plug them in seperately, but we now have lights for our tree.  Now that Christmas is "over". 

It's hard to imagine it's Christmas here.  There's no snow on the ground.  Very few Christmas lights up except at the Catholic Church.  A few decorations here and there.  Even some really big nativity scenes, but it's missing something big, family!  It's ironic a few years ago the holidays made me so stressed out.  It was so crazy packing up the kids and we always seemed to have a baby that always got off his/her sleeping schedual.  It wasn't easy driving several hours with the little guys.  They didn't last very long in the car.  There was one Christmas when I had a baby, 2 year old and 3 year old, I didn't want to go anywhere I wanted to stay home and have Christmas with only my immediate family. 

How different it is this year.  I want so desperately to be home with all my extended family.  It's not like all of it has been bad, just really hard to change and get use too the differences.  We even skyped my family to open up a few presents on Christmas Eve.  We managed to keep busy.  Went to a couple friends houses and had people over.  We've had fun.  We've enjoyed the break from school, but it's not the same. 

There is some excitement brewing today though.  The calvary is coming tomorrow!  We really are looking forward to an exciting week with Brian's parents and sister.  Then maybe it will feel a little more like Christmas.

Posada and Piñatas

One of the Mexican traditions Edan, Joelle and I (Joy) recently got to observe is Posada.  (David and Brian were sick)  One of the things I love about Mexico is their holidays like Easter and Christmas are still strongly rooted in the traditional Bible story.  Posada is where a neighborhood will act out Mary and Joseph needing room in the inn before Jesus is born.  You are suppose to knock at different neighbors houses that are participating and they tell you there is no room.  Then the final house that hosts the party lets you come in, but you sing a little song first about it.  Some get even more catholic and say prayers to Mary, but our coto did not.  It was a great way to start thinking about the Christmas holiday.  There was only one thing I would change, I would tweek the song, but it would definately be something that would be fun to do if we ever go back to the USA.  Afterwards you have tamales and of course you have to have a piñata. 

Our coto has parties at what they call a "terraza" our equivalent word is terrace.  It's a large outdoor covered patio, usually has a sink area and a bathroom.  It is very common here, especially since the weather is great year round.  Since we had it at the terraza two groups split one inside the terraza and one outside and they only did the asking once. 

Also I was taught the original story of the piñata coming to Mexico.  When the Catholic Priests came over from Spain they wanted to bring with them a way to convert the Native Americans here in Mexico.  I was told Saint Francis was given the credit for this.  (I tried to look it up, but couldn't find anything to back up which Saint Francis it was.)  The priests used the piñata as an illustration.  The circle part of the piñata was to represent heaven.  Then there were 7 cones sticking out of heaven representing the seven deadly sins (lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, pride, and anger).  A person in his life is to take the stick and through his life try to beat off the deadliest sins.  If he is successful enough the rewards of heaven will break open and be his.  This obviously has been very successful in Mexico seeing the majority of Mexicans are Catholic and have a very similar theology.  

 

I would like to make a note: On my own there is no way I would ever be able to get the rewards of heaven. I could fight all I want, but all I really would be is what is left of the piñata.  You know, the ugly beaten up, falling apart pieces.  Romans 3:20 "No one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin."  James 2:10 says I'm guilty of breaking the law.  Not only did I break God's law, but I was enslaved by sin according to Titus 3:3-8 and Ephesians 2:1-10.  But that's when God's mercy reached down to me.  I didn't have to fight off my sins to reach God because I couldn't. I would never had been good enough.  It's not through me it's through Jesus.  In John 14:6 Jesus says he is the only way.  The only way the pinata illustration would work for me is if the stick were a cross and the idea is that it pierced heaven open bringing gifts to men.  The fight was the perfect sacrifice, the laying down of a life to bring me to God.  He was born to die and I need to step out of the way and just trust in Jesus to save me because I sure can't do it on my own. 

Eyes watching.

Today for the first time I felt the very negative feeling of being a minority.  I had a security officer follow me back and forth, back and forth in the store.  I had ran in to get some more medicine for Edan.  This is the first time this has ever happened to me.  I know that this happens to many people all the time because the way they look or the color of their skin.  While I have felt watched many times before because we are the foreigners it has never really been in a negative way.  I thought, wow, so this is what it feels like.  I can't imagine having this happen ALL the time.  I would get pretty sick of it.

Another Ratoncito Sighting!

Last night David lost another tooth.  This time it was a result of growing older and not it cracking.  Late last night David saw "El Ratoncito".  He said he was guessing it was brown and it was a large mouse.  It had wings because he heard him fly away.  He said he might of scared him when he woke up and turned over.  That might be why he got fewer pesos (money) this time.

Here is a picture drawn by the artist Edan Young.  He says that the Ratoncito has white wings.  He may be brown or gray, but was only seen at night time and in the shadows.

Prayer Health Request

We just ask for prayer for Edan. He has some swollen glands in his stomach so he is now on some medication. With the medication he is feeling better, but he is not eating much.

Running for the Border!

There are some days I just want to run for the border and this is one of them.  It's hard teaching Bible to a bunch of kids who have no desire to learn the Bible or care anything about what God cares about.  I try to push and challenge them and I end up at the end of the day exhausted and worn out.  (It doesn't help that Edan is sick again.) 

It's so hard to keep your focus and not flip when you have students that feel like they can come to class and spend it as a time to catch up on all the latest gosip or when you have a student that stands up and shouts, "I love sex!", after you are trying to stress how God wants us to be set apart and pure.  At times I feel like I am beating my head into a concrete wall!  I am reminded so often that I can't do anything to help these kids.  I have nothing personally to give!  I feel at times so in adaquate.  It is only by the grace of God that they will change.  I have these little conversations with God, "Okay, Lord you say in our weaknesses you are strong, I'm feeling really weak right now!" or I quote, "we wrestle not agianst flesh and blood, but against the powers and the rulers of this dark world".  Even as I say it I struggle with smart mouthed children that think they can say, "No offense teacher..." and then say whatever they want and it's hard to realize that they really are not my struggle.  I pray for them that God will pierce many of their harden hearts.

On a lighter note.  Today when Joelle and I went on a short erand in the car she sings to me, "I know more than you, ha ha ha ha!" (referring to how much Spanish she knows).  Then when I asked her to get her seat belt on she said, "Mom, we are in Mexico they don't use seat belts!"  I kept telling her to get her seat belt on she was a US citizen.  She says, "No you really don't, I've seen them in the back of the trucks." 

Video Blogs and Hot Peppers

For those that are intersted, the kids have decided to start doing video blogs on their own blog.  Edan, with his assistant Joelle, started Spanish Lessons on speaking Spanish and the body language of Mexico and David has one on his "equipo de basket" (basketball team).  You can get to them by clicking on the link at the top of our blog. 

We also learned to day how NOT to cook hot peppers.  Brian cooked up some peppers with zuchini today with a little salt and pepper.  It was delicious!  The only problem was we didn't put the fan on over the stove.  We were all coughing for an hour or so with basically pepper "spray" in the air.  We will make sure we pay attention to that important detail next time!

The NOT so Itsy Bitsy Spider

Today I was in the library grading papers.  I had been grading for awhile so I decided to pack up my things and take a short break.  As I went to put my stuff in my bag their was a huge hairy spider right on top. The spider was around the size of one of those large garden spiders in the Midwest. 

I obviously didn't want it in my bag, but I didn't want it to kill me either.  Not knowing how poisnous this spiders venom was I wanted to be careful.  I had watched a show right before we came here and heard about this deadly Argentinian spider that is moving north in Bananas.  I managed to slide it out of my bag after a few tries with a folder.  Then quickly stepped on him. 

I got a klenex to pick him up, but one of the librarians took the spider from me to someone in the school that knows spiders and collects them.  At least that's what I think she said.  A little later I bumped into her and she said that she was told it was actually a young trantula! 

I had this little thought that maybe I shouldn't of squashed this spider if it were a trantula.  They are pretty amazing little creatures, but at the time I was in extreme defense mode and wanted whatever it was dead.  Now the NOT so itsy bitsy spider is no more. 

You can see the attack here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_5rAuG46ss

Rubbing it in Just a Little Bit!

Although we struggle being foreigners in a new land, learning language and customs, and the many adjustments, there is one thing that we absolutely enjoy...the WEATHER!  It is so beautiful.  While many of your are suffering through the snow we still have flowers blooming.  I took this picture Sunday.  

I thought I would take the time and show you around our little coto.  This is Joelle with "her dog".  She loves Camilo and looks to see if he is outside everyday.  She has really gotten to know the neighbors.  She went over to their house Sunday going in and out.  After around two hours playing play doh, helping them put up their tree and eating snacks I asked Joelle are you ever going to come back home?  She told me she was moving in with them.  I told her she couldn't or I wouldn't have a little girl.  She said I would still be her little girl and that she would come and visit.  If your thinking they must have a little girl she enjoys playing with.  Well, sort of, there are two girls 16 and 20 years old!  But she loves it and it is so good for her Spanish  I hear them constantly talking to her in Spanish.  She is going to be better at Spanish than all of us!

Here is a veiw looking towards the street of our coto.  Their are six houses all conected to each other on each side.  You drive in from the street and then everyone parks in front of their house.  No one has their own yard. 

Although no one has their own yard their is a pool and a yard to share.  This would have probably taken us more getting use to, but since our first house here had absolutely no yard or place for the kids to play we were so excited we didn't care if it was everyones.  Although we have had a couple of problems with a few yappy dogs, it has gotten much better.  Most of the people don't use the yard and we live in the back right by the yard.   This has made it very nice.  We are getting more accustomed to this sharing mentality. 

Here is our house. It's a two story, two bedroom house. What is so nice is the trees keep the house shaded.  I really noticed the difference when we were moving out of the little house.  This new house was several degrees cooler.  This will really come in handy during the hot months with no air conditioning. 

Here again you will see how lovely the climate is right now.  We still have butterflies fluttering around.  It is chilly in the morning and you need to wear layers.  There are no heaters or air conditioning so you just adjust with how many pieces of clothing you have on. 



Progress

On Thursday, I had some really good Bible classes. In all of my classes the kids were really thinking through things. In sixth grade we were talking about the Ten Commandments and how all of us are guilty of breaking at least one of the Ten Commandments. God sees us as guilty for breaking his law and we need to be separated from Him. There is no way to get to God by what we do because we all have fallen short of God’s standard.


After we were done there was a girl in my class that came up and said, “Mrs. Young, I have a question.” She drew on the board as she asked me. “If God is here and we are way over here and considered guilty before him because we broke His law, what can we do? How do we possibly get to God?” She is one of my students that has been listening intently and asking questions. I was able to share with her that was God’s point. We can’t get to Him by obeying his commands because we don’t keep our end of the bargain. That’s why Jesus had to come and become the perfect sacrifice. The payment of breaking God’s law is death and Jesus took that payment. When we repent of the wrong things we do and trying to think we could please God on own and we believe Jesus is the only way then we can be saved and God will see us like we are not guilty. I then saw this light bulb go off in her head as she started to understand.

In my eighth grade class, I am having them make their own doctrine of baptism and salvation. I have kids all over the place on these two topics. I told them I wanted to know what they believed and they had to back it up with verses. They needed to focus on what the Bible said and I didn’t want to know their parents doctrine or their church, but what they believed and why. I have really seen them thinking despite how much they resist, even if I have to bribe them with going outside the next class. (Yes it’s still nice enough to go outside. Mid 70’s every day) My goal especially for the eighth grade is to get them to think and use the Bible as their source for their answers.

I find it also interesting how during these times of great classes Brian and I can feel such huge amounts of discouragement.

Wash Your Vegis!

Today I got a chance to see exactly why we need to make sure we wash all the fruits and vegetables with special Microdyn that kills bacteria.  I was at a Carniceria (butcher/ meat store) and they had a few vegetables I couldn't find at another store.  I grabbed the vegetables along with some chorizo only to watch in utter horror as the lady weighs my vegitables on the exact scale she weighed the raw meat.  No wonder so many people get sick.  I guarantee you I made sure to wash those vegetables an extra long time!

Corruption 101

Now that we have been living here for a while, things here have started to become very "normal". You get used to way things look and operate and they start to feel normal and make sense to you. We were commenting today how blessed we are to live in the neighborhood we live in as it is full of trees and beautiful. Funny enough, the first time I drove into the neighborhood I was not fully impressed, but now that I have been here it is beautiful by my new set of standards.

Every once in a while still something new happens that reminds you that things work differently here. Last week, someone came to our house from the electric company about our meter. We got our next door neighbor who is bilingual to help us with the conversation. Apparently, the meter on our house has a wire on it that slows the meter down. This of course makes it so you pay less every month. Since we didn't own the house, it did not effect us, but definitely the owner.

After the conversation, our next door neighbor explained the situation. He says this happens every once in a while to people in the area and it happened to his sister not to long ago. Workers from the electrical company will come out and put on a new meter and a cable that slows down the meter. They will then return a couple of days later to tell the owner about the problem. The fine from the electric company for this tampering is 50,000 pesos (about 4,500USD). These workers don't want to collect this money. The electric workers want a kickback. They were dissapointed we were not the owners. They told our neighbor to call the owner (which we did) and tell him they would be in the neighborhood for the next couple of hours. They wanted to talk to him and get a small little payoff to fix the meter.

Our neighbor afterwards also showed us some of the signs of corruption. The meter for our house was brand new when all of the other meters were very old. There was no reason for us to have a brand new meter on our house. While I thought the neighbor would express frustration. He really did not. This happens in Mexico and they learn to deal with it.

Things like this make you thankful for the rule of the law in the states as you realize that it is missing in many places here in Mexico. You also frequently here of cops asking for payoffs at traffic signals or trying to buy vehicles from people for 50USD when they stop them. We have yet to experience this, but we got our first lesson this week.