5 May 2009

Dear All,

Happy “Cinco de Mayo!” No, it’s not Mexican Independence Day—which is September 16. Today we celebrate the victory of the Battle of Puebla, the rag-tag Mexican military’s victory over world power France (if but for one battle). We lost the war and were subject to French rule for two years afterward, but life is like that sometimes and we are urged to simply take each day as it comes to us and celebrate each victory (Matthew 6:34). In that, we have much to learn from Mexico and its Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Scenery in Barco.

It was just two weeks ago when the anxiety of occupation overtook me as I awoke. Too many commitments built into a limited time. I was running from one good thing to the next. As they say, even too much of a good thing has its downside. The Lord brought me softly out of my panic with the song, “One day at a time, Sweet Jesus.” It became my mantra and taking one day at a time made my time in Barco so very sweet. Little did I know that a week later, I would be basking in—and bemoaning at the same time—a government- and church-imposed “house arrest” due to the swine flu epidemic.

Last Monday, after a day’s rest in Frijolillo, I was packed and ready to go for a week of workshops and other commitments at the Gethsemane Presbyterian Church in Huitzitzililingo. But, during a leadership meeting of the presbytery that morning in Huitzitzililingo, it was determined that I would return to Frijolillo and that the presbytery would recommend that churches cease their normal activities based on President Calderon’s call for people to stay at home and refrain from attending large gatherings. We later received a letter from the General Assembly of the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico that called for the churches of the areas affected (at the time San Luis Potosi, the State of Mexico, and Mexico City) to refrain from gathering. We did well to submit to the authorities God has place above us. I was utterly amazed at the obedience given to the President. But, you could tell by week’s end folks had had enough of the God-granted sabbath. The news media interviewed moms who were running out of ideas on how to keep their young entertained at home, children who were miraculously bored to death of television, movies, and home video games and desperate to hang out at the park, and thousands of people who had somehow managed to “stay at home” in Acapulco, and other beach communities.

The week and a half of “house arrest” has come and gone. Last night, President Calderon called for the nation to return to normal activity on Wednesday, May 6. Elementary and junior high students will not return to classes until the 11th, but in all states except the two I live and work in (San Luis and Hidalgo), high schools and universities will return to normal activities tomorrow. San Luis and Hidalgo have been hit particularly hard during the epidemic, though the cases near us (within an hour or two) have been few. Tomorrow, churches in our area will return to normal activities as well, most getting a late start on the “Week of the Christian Home.”

Small chili peppers in a bowl made from a hollow gourd.

It has been an interesting week. I deeply appreciated the rest and the opportunity to spend more time in Scripture with the Lord, time that was desperately needed and well spent. I read two books (one novel with deep spiritual significance and one book for a class at Fuller), wrote letters and documents requested of me by the PC(USA), climbed orange trees in the groves in order to cut that vitamin-C-rich fruit, got stung by a bee, and had a swollen arm for three days, did laundry, cleaned my “upper room,” and did just a lot of “hanging out.” One day I unintentionally broke my “house arrest” by walking to Potejamel (a village about 30 minutes from Frijolillo) with Amalia and her kids to buy xicali (pronounced “she-cah-lee), which are bowls made of hollowed gourds.

On Saturday, the pastor and several brothers and sisters from the Chancuetlan church came by to visit. What joy their presence brought to my heart, someone from the “outside!” By Sunday, however, desperation began to settle in. After a family worship time with the family of Manuel Hernandez (Pastor Abel), the overwhelming heat (over 100 and something like 90 percent humidity) as well as the boredom began to do something funny to our brains—something only a cold shower down by the creek could cure, and boy is that well water cold! Praise God for it!

But, here we are: alive, well, and ready to keep moving. It’s even cool enough today that I am able to sit in my upper room and type on the computer without the sweat threatening to rust the inner parts of the keys. Tomorrow I will head to Tamazunchale to try to find an open Internet cafe and have my truck worked on (I am told it has a worn differencial). I tell you, I will feel like a caged bird being freed for the first time! But the birdy will wear a face mask and carry her instant hand wash. In addition to AH1N1, there is also a strong flu virus passing through some of our communities (part of the reason for the panic in Mexico—everyone was falling ill, same symptoms, but different viruses). Piggy flu or not, I don’t want whatever they’ve got!

I will be in Frijolillo through Saturday, preaching here on Friday, and in Octlamecayo on Saturday during the Week of the Christian home. I will be in Chancuetlan and La Laguna next week, teaching literacy, helping Presbyterian Women’s groups put together an annual report and write a six-month work plan, and teaching a “how to lead worship” workshop.

The week of the 17th a team from Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church of Austin, Texas, will be with us there in Chancuetlan to help pour the roof on the restructured sanctuary on the 19th. I will then spend the week of the 24th in Huitzitzilingo, doing what I had planned to do last week. On the 31st I will be in Tezapotla at a youth rally, giving a special message for youth entitled, “Running to Win.” Yes, after what will have been two weeks of sabbath, the speed will pick up soon. But, I think God and I are ready for it.

Thank you all ever so much for your prayers for us during this critical time. And thank you for the many encouraging emails I expect to see in my inbox tomorrow. Forgive me for not returning your mail personally. Time is of the essence. But know how much your fellowship with us in the Spirit means. May the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord makes his face shine upon you and give you peace this day and every day.

In His grace,

The 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 275