The Coin of Hope

The night was growing late as yet another vehicle passed through the toll booth. Her job was at the midpoint of a long and steep ten mile hill on the road from Toluca. At the window an American family handed her an unusual coin, a coin of hope they said. She smiled, expressed warm appreciation and watched as they drove off. Looking down at the coin she saw the words, “For God so loved the world... Then turning it over in her hand she read, “Where will you spend eternity?

Keith and I stood in the rest area in casual conversation as we waited for the others. We were only twenty minutes from Zitacuaro where we would finally be able to call it a day. Our families planned to find rooms there and get an early start the next morning. We were on the way to see the Monarch butterflies that congregate in Michoacán before they make their long flight to Canada later in the spring. The air was cool in the late evening. The night was still.

She recognized the unmistakable roar of a runaway truck even before looking up. Now its headlights bore down on her as the driver steered desperately to maneuver through the narrow toll booth. There was no time to flee harm’s way. The crack of the barrier sounded like a gun shot as the truck barreled through. She jerked around to follow its path as it sped on toward the rest area.

“Who’s slamming the door so hard?” I thought and then a second later was startled by the roar of an out-of-control truck. It slammed into the metal light pole beside of us sending up electrical sparks as the lights crashed to the ground. Debris pelted our faces. The driver tried desperately to avoid another truck parked at the end of the lot but couldn’t manage it, instead searing off the back tire and careening into the night.

The truck now spun completely out of control; the blocks were slung off the bed littering the highway. Inside the charms hanging from the window swung about wildly. Unable to resist the brute force of the spin the two men were thrown from to the truck as it continued to spin until slamming into the guardrail and coming to a stop.

A surreal moment settled in for us as the ambulance arrived. Huddling close we prayed…and waited. When a pathway was made through the strewn blocks, we loaded up our vehicles and picked our way through the debris and around the accident. A few minutes later we arrived at our hotel emotionally spent.

I laid awake that night long after everyone else was asleep. Thinking about the thin thread between life and death and its delicate balance.

She returned home that night shaken, her mind still preoccupied by all that had elapsed in those few moments. Sitting down in the mostly dark room she stared out into emptiness, wondering. In her hand she turned a coin over and over.

Monarch Butterflies In Michoacan – A Photo Journal

Maria and the Monarch

Ready For the Hike

Metamorphosis Happens (John 3:3)

Ready For Take Off

Coming In For a Landing

The Trees Are Alive With Mariposas

Living in Community

Butterfly Kisses

"Praise the Lord from the earth…snow and clouds
…small creatures and flying birds…" (Psalm 146:7-12)

Provecho: Enjoy Your Meal!

When they arrived at the scene of the Super Bowl party last week we had no idea what a treat lay ahead. Out of the taxi came the propane tank, grill, dough, press and all the food stuff. The tortillas were patted out, and half a dozen options were added to the cheese to make mouth-watering quesadillas. My personal favorite was the cheese, fried pork skins, and pumpkin flowers with red salsa. Those quesadillas were the highlight of the day (it certainly wasn’t the game for this Colts fan).

We’ve actually experienced a number of food items that are a lot different than your normal US cuisine. Some we’ve really enjoyed, some were okay, and then there was the occasional one that we didn’t return to for seconds. Here’s a sampling; you’ll have to guess which category they fit into for us:
• Refried bean pizza
• Potato chips made in the market (with salt, squeeze of lime and salsa)
• Chicken with chocolate sauce (mole)
• Horchata (rice drink with cinnamon)
• Three milk cake
• Suckers with chili powder
• Chiles en Nogada (green pepper stuffed with pork, raisins, walnuts, chopped apples and covered with a white sauce and red pomegranates)
• Homemade popsicles dipped in chili sauce
• Chocolate chip tamales
• Apple soda
• Slab of pork skin

Then of course there have been those few delicatessens that have gone way over the top for most American taste buds. The first we enjoyed when we were at an Independence Day celebration with Pastor Servin and his family. Pozole is a national dish for the day, but they were careful not to dip the chicken feet into our bowl from the pot of soup. Then you will recall the birthday party I was invited to and served tacos. Well into eating the first one, I was told they were made with pig brains. Of course we often buy grasshoppers when we visit the pyramids in Cholula. They come in different sizes and tastes. My favorites are the big ones with chili flavor.

One last food related item. We had a great time celebrating everyone’s birthday this Thursday evening after worship together. Hey, we are always looking for an opportunity to celebrate. It was kind of like an unbirthday party. We served ice cream, nuts, whipped topping and chocolate syrup. Then we sang Happy Birthday - to us. What I didn’t expect was to pay $13 dollars for a one and half gallon tub of vanilla ice cream. Ouch!

Provecho!

A "Make Do" World

One of the things I am going to miss most about Mexico is their mindset and ability to “make do.” Most have little and some have even less than that, but they still manage. You see it in a variety of ways. Follow me to the street and watch as people bicycle, walk and catch public transportation to work. See it in the tools of their trade strapped to the bicycle or the tattered tarp hanging over a huge pot of tamales. Let’s go back inside and discover that five, six or seven people are living in a small two bedroom house. Clothes hang from every conceivable angle as they dry in the afternoon sun.

Don’t have orange cones for construction workers? No problem, use some big rocks. No job prospects? Then hit the traffic light industry and juggle, wash windows or sell flowers. Can’t afford electric for heat in the winter? Just add on a few more layers of clothes. Need a big bag for market shopping? Use a sown up feed sack.

We see it too in the lives of Christians, and it boosts our faith. A young man recently shared with us how he asked God for a simple thing – a pair of jeans to replace the tattered ones he wore to his Bible training classes. A few days later on a trip to visit relatives in another state, an uncle asked about his pant size. He discovered that indeed the offering was a fit and he was given…………………………… SEVEN pair. I’ll tell you that those seven pair of jeans in this “make do” society was met with as much rejoicing as the gift we received a few years ago from the sale of a house in Alaska.

I’m sure my ideas along these lines can be overly romanticized. While it can come across as contentedness and simple living, in truth it’s probably more often stark reality and limited options. None-the-less I’m going to miss this “make do” attitude.

Aluminum Art Work by Maria