Some things you just can't get used to...

Well, it's been a little while since the last post and I apologize for that - it seems that life continues as "normal" out here and I haven't come across a lot that is truly post worthy. That's not to say that I'm bored out of my tree here - far from it; but it's all just a part of day to day life as we know it, here in Mexico. As I'm sitting here chewing on a mango (quite possibly one of the best mangoes that I've ever had...) I realize that though many things have become normal, there are still some things that I just can't get used to and here they are:

1) I can't get over how beautiful this place is. Often we grow accustomed to our surroundings and lose sight of the beauty around us but after 3 months, I still get taken in by it out here. I know you have seen some pictures but they tell only a part of the story...

2) I can't get used to how 32 degrees (celsius, of course) feels very comfortable and even refreshing! Yes, you may not be want to hear this as day that get up to 32 are quite possibly a thing of the past up north but it is true. There are many late afternoons (that saw a high of 40) where I bask in the coolness of 32...

3) I can't believe how much water I drink out here seemingly without effort. Indeed, the "required" 2 litres of water would leave you dehydrated out here. The other day, by the time I went to bed, I had downed more than 6 litres of water! Keep in mind that I did a fair bit of work outside during the day and played some soccer later on in the afternoon as well. Yikes!

4) I can't get over how much I sweat. There's been some times when I've wondered if I have a sweating condition or something because it seems to be out of hand. There have been a number of times when the sweat actually is running off my body. Literally, I would not have been any more wet if I had just come out of the shower before drying 1 minute before. I usually don't wear a shirt when I'm at home or else my laundry situation would be even more ridiculous than it already is.

God at work...

This has been a packed and amazing week, full of experiences of God at work here in Mexico! The week started with a lot of yard work that I've been falling behind in as I'm trying to reclaim my back yard from the lush garden of weeds. Wednesday evening, however, I had the opportunity to share my testimony with a bunch of men at the AA Rehabilitation Center in Guaymas that I've been helping at with some of the people from the Spanish Church. After my testimony the guy from the Mexican church who usually leads the Bible Study spoke out of Revelation and the New Jerusalem and laid out salvation for the guys. At the end hey gave an altar call and probably about a dozen of the guys came up and responded! I don't know what part my testimony played into the response but it was awesome to see God and work and be a part of the experience.

Later on this week, Friday morning, as I was battling a bad head cold, I hooked up with some of the people in the Spanish church again who headed out to a city call Caborca, about 5 hours northwest from San Carlos where they help to lead some youth evangelistic services hosted by a church out there. The services were help outside in a plaza in Caborca and the group I went with lead the worship and did the speaking as well. We left at about 7:00am on Friday with the first service in the evening. They did a hour long radio program on Saturday afternoon with some music and sharing followed by one more service in the evening. The numbers were pretty low on the first evening but by the second evening, there was a good-sized crowd and once again God was at work out there as a number of people responded, becoming Christians on the second night! Needing to be back for church on Sunday morning, we cleaned up, grapped some supper and hit the road around 12:30am, Sunday morning that is. I didn't get to bed till about 6:30 and was up by 7:30 so you could say that I've been a little tired today.

Regardless, though, it has been exciting to be a part of what God is doing out here! He has given me so many neat opportunities to meet new people and see Him at work here in Mexico. Though I often can't actually be a part of things and often don't know what's actually going on or being said, the Christian fellowship with the people here overcomes language barriers and I have been incredibly blessed to be a part of these people's lives!

Mexican Immersion

I just got back yesterday evening from a bit of a Mexican adventure. I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting myself into but I had been asked a week ago to drive a van for the Mexican Church as they were taking a trip to a town called Banamichi about 4 hours northeast in the mountains. As usual, I didn't get a lot of details but they needed me because one of the vehicles they were taking was Canadian and had Alberta plates, so they needed a Canadian to drive it. As it turns out, it was a group of ladies from the Mexican Church who were visiting some friends in Banamichi who used to live here in San Carlos. We took two vans and a car and left at 5:00am on Tuesday morning. Fortunately the husband of one of the woman was driving the other van and so I wan't alone.

We actually stayed in a house that the Cross Current group helped to dig the foundations for in January and the family that they were going out there to see was one that we had connected with and spent some time with back in January. I've concluded while being out here in Mexico that this truly is a small world...

The time out there was spent relaxing, taking in some of the sights of the area, eating some good Mexican cuisine and taking in a Church service of sorts Tuesday evening. I couldn't help but feel like the minority though, not speaking a whole lot of Spanish. There was one person (one of the people we were visiting) who spoke English very well and a number of them who had a very, very basic grasp of English. We're all familiar with minorities in Canada but it sure is weird being very much in the minority.

Well, we made it back safe and sound Wednesday evening, another adventure under the belt.

Home Alone...

Well, it's just me and the dog now...I got back yesterday evening from dropping Jody off at Phoenix from where she flew home. We drove up just across the US border on Monday, spent the day shopping and relaxing, and crashed for the night before I dropped her off at the airport Tuesday morning. Our trip wasn't without incident as we had some car trouble driving throug Tucson on the way up to Phoenix. It's the second time this happened but my exhaust system spontaneously came apart just behind the catalytic converter - another casualty of the Mexican speed bumps. Fortunately, we could still drive though with a loud car and by taking it easy over bumps so as not to bottom out. With a set of ear plugs, though, the drive home was as enjoyable as it could be!

Yes, it will be quieter around the house now and I will miss Jody's company. It's hard to believe, though, how time has really flown by. It's been two and a half months out here already. I still really appreciate all the prayers that you have been offering up. They are still needed! Adios for now!