Family Memory For A Lifetime

I’m unsure who had the original inspiration to have a campfire on the beach, but it was ingenious and a family memory that will last a life time. Daniel and I arrived just as the sun was setting against a pink sky and began collecting from the abundance of driftwood that soon became a blazing fire.

Before long Diana and the girls had joined us, and we were sitting around the fire munching on sandwiches, grilled chicken and a super size bag of Doritos. What a mesmerizing, peaceful moment we enjoyed as we watched the flames leap high into the air. Above us the heavenly lights filled the sky, while the lights of Veracruz stretched out in the distance, and the lights of various ships filled the horizon.

The seclusion of the lonely beach gave way only to waves breaking, the fire crackling, and crickets chirping. Quietness. Family. Conversation. The conversation turned to everything and nothing in particular. We talked about some of the books we have been reading on this trip, the likes of Deadline by Randy Alcorn and Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. We talked about what we were going to do when we got home…and we talked some more. And then around the campfire we made some sand castles before packing it all up. Peace. Solitude. Contentment.

If that wasn’t enough, we put an exclamation point to things by going home and making homemade ice cream – vanilla with chocolate syrup. It all added up to a memory for a lifetime for this family.

Insider Information

I find it particularly intriguing when an insider speaks. The Monk Who Lived Again is the story of Walter Manuel Montaño, a Peruvian monk who fled the monastery and found new life in Christ. While his story took place in the 1930’s, the description he gives us of Latin American Catholicism remains uncannily accurate and insightful for those of you who keep up with us.

“Religion in Latin America, like ancient Gaul, may be divided into three parts. There is the Roman Catholic Church, with its endless hordes of nuncios, archbishops, bishops, parish priests, acolytes, sacristans, monks, nuns, pertaining to a bewildering array of separate orders such as the Jesuits, Franciscanos, Dominicanos, Mercedarios, Corazonistas, Carmelites, Pasionistas, forming ecclesiastical hierarchy, a religious ruling class, with an army of dependents whose living and continued influence depend upon the worship of the ‘God-of-things-as-they-are.’

“Then there is an ever-growing company of intellectuals recruited from the student classes whose revolt at what they have seen pass for Christianity has driven them not only into frank, and sometimes violent criticism of the church, but into atheism.

“And between these two extremes may be found the women and children who appreciate the beauty of the churches, the richness of the ceremonies, the dogmatic authority of the priests, and who fear their power. As for the men in this latter group, for the most part they find it more convenient to compromise conscience, mind and religion and so while giving nominal support can be depended upon to appear only four times at the church – to be christened, to be confirmed, to be married, and to be buried.

“And then on the periphery of South American life is the sea of Indians whose life is still largely guided by their ancient gods, though they may call them by Christian names.”

Insider information; what exactly does one do with such information? We use it to our advantage of course – to understand, to respond with compassion, to pray.

Holiday Wrappings

With Christmas, New Year’s and Three Kings’ Day over, it’s a good time to wrap up this holiday season with some news worthy reflections.

The candle light service during the holidays was memorable. It started out with cookie decorating for the children as well as an inflatable. Renting inflatables for children to jump on during a special event is the norm. A special highlight for me was Diana having the opportunity to use her musical gifts to play the piano as we all joined in singing Christmas carols. And then for people to express their appreciation afterwards was a special treat. The evening was complete as our van became a taxi stuffed with eleven people for the ride home.

Maria had the idea of putting together some of our traditional shoebox gifts. The difference being we didn’t need to ship them off to another country to make the day of some needy child. Instead Maria, Christina and I packed up the van and headed downtown. Our first encounter was the most difficult as the lady’s lifeless eyes looked back into ours revealing the pain of a hopeless life. But, all in all there was a sparkle in their eyes and appreciation on their lips as we handed them a shoebox filled with goodies and prayed with them.

For us the holiday season wouldn’t be complete without giving away cookies. Back in the day, dozens of them were made at home and given to neighbors, Sunday School teachers, family and friends. This year we made up plastic bags of store bought ones and tied them up with Christmas ribbon. Some went to neighbors, but most were given at the market and San Francisco, a local community where we have been reaching out over the last few months. It’s another way to “show the love of Jesus in a practical way” and a joy to see the quizzical looks turn into beaming faces.

2009 brings a shift in focus for us. While we continue many of the same ministries, we are shifting our focus to El Puente. El Puente (the Bridge) meets in a hotel across town from where we live. It is a forming church that is ministering to career bilingual Mexicans. It’s definitely a community marked by grace and led by Steve, a retired pastor from Canada. He and his wife Blanche came here a few years ago to be with family. We are looking forward to our continued ministry here in Puebla as well as to the new opportunities this change opens up to us.

Hotel El Molino where El Puente meets for Sunday services.

(Candle display above was made by Christina in her Friday craft class.)

What It Takes To Be A Missionary - A Photo Journal

Sometimes you have to walk on water

Sometimes you have to take the bull by the horns

Sometimes you have to think things through

Sometimes you have to learn to relax

Sometimes you have to be a little crazy

Sometimes you have to have the heart of a tiger

Sometimes you have to eat some unusual things

Sometimes you have to avoid being eaten

And you always love your wife & family

Notes From Our New Year’s Visit

~ Note to self - jot down thoughts during your visit to Cuernavaca this week

~ Our Canadian friends, Gary and Kim, have invited us to come over for a couple of days so we are taking the opportunity to refresh, reminisce and reconnect -They are the perfect host and hostess - The coffee is superb with the pecan pie

~ Can’t help but notice that Cuernavaca is greener, more tranquil, prettier and friendlier than its much bigger neighbor, Puebla

~ I can hardly get my breath on the way up to the pyramid in Tepoztlan, but it is definitely a highlight of the trip - Nothing like summiting after an almost two hour hike up the mountain

~ Dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Los Colorines – we are having tortilla soup, chicken tacos, enchiladas, chilies en nogada

~ Note to self, remember to take battery charger for the camera on all trips regardless of whether you think you’ll need it - and a dress shirt

~ Pastor Lorenzo and his family continue to bless and encourage us - It’s no different after a year and a half away - Fourteen of us enjoyed the corner hamburger stand and then came back to the house for more dessert and more friendship strengthening

~ We need “community” and are definitely feeling it here

~ Don’t forget to mention that we reconnected with Miguel our trusty cart guy and the first person we gave a Bible to, Lenora, Delia the flower lady, Jorge our music teacher, Gabi our neighbor, Isabela at Santa Clara Café where we had our Friday afternoon dates - All have Bibles we gave them – cool

~ Luis and Máru insisted we stay an extra day with their family and spend New Year’s Eve with them - So, it was off to a three hour church service and then back to their home for an elegantly prepared meal – it was SO GOOD - We rang in the New Year with a special orange and syrup drink then stayed up laughing and talking until 2:00. We miss this family so much

~ I think that we should use the picture Gary took when we visited at our old house for our Home Page - It was fun to walk around and enjoy the beauty of the place again. Our house hasn’t been rented since we moved out.

~ No time to write more - post on Friday - wish everyone a Happy New Year