January 14, 2007

¿Tayatixíhua? What are you doing? This is a standard greeting here in Frijolillo when we want to catch someone’s attention. Little by little, I am learning, but daily I am reminded of how far I have to go. Though I understand some words and phrases, my salvation is the fact that they speak some “Espan-huatl.” And I wonder, “how in the world did I ever learn Spanish?” But I survive by the grace of God—and in that grace I rest as well. Keep praying for me!

It has been two weeks since I last wrote a newsletter. Forgive me. Despite the fact that I “do” so very little, for some reason the days go quickly—chats with church members, youth, and children, meals here and there, and even a little bit of “work” preparing for sermons, writing out Bible trivia questions for youth meetings, etc. The dominos continue to be a hit with the kids, but I ask God if He wants me to do something more formal with the kids. We shall see. I think my focus is supposed to be the women and youth.

This week’s highlights

Monday I went to San Martin Chalchicuautla, the municipality to which El Frijolillo belongs, to meet the mayor (on his first day of work!) in case he wondered who this North American was wandering the hills of his community. He gave me the “bienvenida” but didn’t seem too concerned about me. He just asked that I respect other religions and not disturb people “after hours.” I’ll try not to!

Tuesday I went to the coffee field to help the ladies pick the coffee “cherries.” They worked eight hours. I went with Sister Martha to take them lunch, and we worked for just three hours. I felt like a slacker. But only by the grace of God did I even get out there. They were concerned I would fall, get eaten by bugs, hurt my hands—a whole list of possible casualties. But I convinced them I really wanted to go, saying that if I didn’t I’d feel like I was here “de yokis” (doing nothing) and I did not want to be known as the missionary who sat in her house all day! Especially when there was work to do!

Wednesday I went to Chapulhuacanito to meet with presbytery leadership to discuss the ins and outs of my life and ministry among them. I am basically going to be a “guest speaker” at special events during the year—at the invitation of the churches, for Christian Home Week, Youth Week, Holy Week, etc. as well as at presbytery youth and women’s events. I look forward to sharing the Word with them and having the opportunity to walk with them, learn from them, and share my life in Christ with them.

The youth are a focus for me. There is no work here, and the youth tend to move to the cities when they’re as young as 14 and have finished junior high. They face many issues as they stand in the gap between “two worlds.” I pray that as I move between those two worlds myself, I might be an encouragement and support to them.

During the rest of the week I tried several times to get back into the coffee field, but it appeared no one wanted to take me: It was either all day or “no way,” and I could not go all day due to other commitments. Oh well. If it doesn’t rain, I’ll get to go again next Tuesday.

Oh, and I also did my laundry again this week (my friend Amaliahas been helping me with laundry). All by myself! And it felt natural! I even found myself concerned about having gotten my feet wet without wetting my head when I was done. I must be acculturating!

I got to attend a “talk” for the women who receive government financial support (through the program called “Oportunidades”). They receive up to $200 a month from the federal government but must attend regular talks. This one was “organizational” for the new year, but most of them are on health and hygiene issues. I enjoy following the women around wherever they go—it’s how I learn about the community. They thought it was funny that I went, but I’m getting used to doing “funny” things.

Tomorrow, Monday, I’ll be in Tamazunchale with women from several churches in our presbytery. We are going to go visit a retired pastor, the Rev. Gaudencio Morales, in celebration of his birthday. Of course we’ll also take advantage of being in the city to do other business. I’ll be able to send this newsletter from an Internet café.

Health and food

I have been very well. Thank you for your prayers. Sister Martha and I have come to an understanding of my needs and the changes do not appear to be burdensome. I am so very grateful for their willingness to feed me in their home. It saves me so much time, a lot of money (I don’t have to buy a refrigerator, stove, etc.), and this way I get to eat their delicious food, not the “rabbit food” (as my friend Eugenia called it) I know how to prepare. Martha has declared that fattening me up is her goal. I agreed that would be fine, but that I will only fatten up enough to fill out my clothes! I don’t have the money for a new wardrobe! I have gained a few pounds already! It doesn’t take much!

On the home front

I now have a table and two chairs as well as a burlap cot to replace the all too “springy” mattress that was here when I arrived. Just as I was getting used to the springs jabbing into my ribs in the night! Brother Moises was kind enough to build the cot for me. Now I sleep like a queen!

Presbytery meeting

This week we have a presbytery meeting in Tampico, Tamaulipas, on the Gulf Coast. We will travel to Ciudad Valles for the fiftieth wedding anniversary celebration for our brother, the Rev. Gaudencio Morales. Pray for our safety in travel as well as for the Lord’s direction in all the “business.”

Visit north

On January 31, I will travel northward. I will have company as far as Monterrey, since so many folks here have family there and someone is always looking for a ride. I will be in Nuevo Laredo on the January 31 to February 1, and then in Austin on February 1 and 2, San Antonio on February 2 and 3, and back to Nuevo Laredo on the February 4 so I can be ready to head back to Monterrey early on the fifth for the week-long Presbyterian Border Ministry Council and mission workers meeting. I’ll come home to SLP on the February 10. I am looking forward to meeting up with mission colleagues as well as having the opportunity to see friends in Texas and pick up a few gluten-free food essentials (like travel food, chocolate, and Coca-Cola!). I ask for your prayers during my travels. It is a long haul, and friends here are always concerned about my safety, but God has always been my guide and my protector and I expect to ride in the wings of his care.

Reflection on the month

A month has passed since I left Piedras for the Huastecas. And what a month it has been! I could not have asked for a better time to become oriented to the presbytery, life in the Huastecas, and the Christian walk of Presbyterians in this area. In the coming months I will share more about what I “see” and “hear” and “sense.” I am doing much of those things, but for some reason I always get tied up in the “events” of life and end up sharing little about my reflections.

I see how your brothers and sisters here live with very little. Though they feel the pain of that poverty, they know what God’s provision really is. They struggle to live from the work of their hands in the fields or in small community businesses.

I see a community almost without people between the ages 18 and 40. They come home once or twice a year at Christmas and for graduations and the like, bearing gifts and small amounts of money to give to family members. They come from Monterrey, Guadalajara, Mexico City, and just a few from the United States. One family lives in Piedras Negras, of all places!

I also see the curiosity on the faces of the youth. Where do I go? What do I do? Few families have the money for high school, much less university studies. The pain of family separations is real as well. Yesterday I took a couple to a nearby town so they could catch a bus to Monterrey. They leave their 6- and 15-year-olds at home with grandma for six months at a time.

I also see the challenges of Christian faith in a community with a deep Protestant history: a church (indeed entire community) of relatives, a church where generations have worshiped, a church where tradition endangers the very fire of faith.

These are the challenges. But of course I also see joy: in relationships among family and friends. I see children who wander in and out of homes across the neighborhood, playing marbles, tag, and the like. They are “at home” everywhere. And I also see men and women helping one another in the fields at harvest and in planting season as well (we do both simultaneously here), a community that works together and supports one another, a community that has opened its arms and its hearts to a 35-year-old North American missionary. What a gift!

Pray I might be a faithful witness and an encouragement to the believers here, but also a faithful servant of God, speaking what the Church needs to hear. Over time we shall see what the Lord has prepared for us. Thank you for your support, your love, and your prayers to that end! I hope each of you will come visit us one day very soon.

Susie

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 66