May Update
One Last Project
(Top) Jon, Juvencio, (Bottom) Jose, Efrain
During the past two weeks I’ve been traveling back and forth between Juvencio’s home and Cristo Victorioso, trying to finish the staircase from their first floor to the roof. I had a strange design in my head for months and the more I tried to explain it, the more I saw foreheads scrunch and one eye partially squint as the other widened. So it was something I wanted to finish before leaving Mexico. From the funds raised to build the house, there was just enough left for the stair project, and it was a nice way to finish up and literally “close up,” (being that there was a big hole in the roof where the stairs are), the house project that has been a blessing to their family and me.
The Faithful Hermanos
As I traveled back and forth to Cristo Victorioso, cutting wood and steel and buying hardware for the stair project, the guys have been plugging away at the massive rebar beam structures that soon will be entombed in concrete. Efrian, Juvencio and Jose have been working on the project since day one, and will continue to work even while the Elverson group is here.
The team from CEFC, which arrives on the 17th of June, will have their work cut out for them. Apart from finishing the roof structure, and pouring the concrete at the church, we have four other small projects at the homes of women from Cristo Victorioso who do not have husbands to help with maintenance needs. A cinder block wall, a water cistern, a painting project, and another masonry project are on the schedule for the groups of 4-5 who will be sent to these homes.
2 years to the Day
Exactly two years ago, on May 25, 2005 I was in Laredo, Texas, three days into my journey to Mexico, ready to cross the border into that "strange land" of desert, donkeys and sombreros. I was so clueless I couldn't even tell the border guard how old I was in Spanish! Much has changed. I could practically write a book now (that would never sell 2 copies) on Mexican culture, language learning and so forth. Those things that seemed so foreign and impossible to adjust to two years ago are now second nature: Hearing my neighbor's car horn blaring 10 to 20 times just means "(Everyone else ignore me...) Honey, I'm ready whenever you are :)" Driving to three different banks to pay rent, electric bill and phone is no longer an inconvenience... it's just life. Seeing a horse running full gallop down a 6 lane highway with a BMW on one side and a police motorcycle on the other trying to catch it is no suprise... (but nonetheless funny). Arriving late, only to find out the everyone else is going to be "later."... and so forth. Mexico is home now. And that will change soon.
Little by little I have been organizing the things in my apartment, taking down pictures and posters, and getting to the point where I can turn the house over to the owner on June 7th. What a slow process! It’s amazing how long it takes to pack, organize, sell and move. But I am thankful for the past few days being less busy, and having time to chip away at it. This week and the next I will pay a visit to each neighbor I know well to say goodbye and give them a small gift. English dictionaries, pictures, and Christian and Children’s books will make their way into their hands.
The college age bible study, the Wednesday men’s group and the youth group meetings at Cristo Victorioso are still a part of my weekly routine. Speaking of the youth group, Cristo Victorioso recently had an outdoor baptism in which six new believers were baptized, two who are in the youth group. The men’s group has remained the same for months now, but the college age group has been slowly growing, with the newest additions of Tatiana and Cesar.
Willy, one of the youth at C.V., being baptized
Prayer:
- That God would provide a teacher for the college age Bible study after I leave.
- Continued perseverance through the hectic days and the slow ones.
- The Lord’s direction regarding what’s next, especially regarding work.
- For the CEFC Mexico team… that God would prepare their hearts to serve, and that they would be a shining testimony for Christ while here in Mexico.
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they? -Matthew 6:26
Blessings in Christ,
Jon