Mexico
July 1~6, 2005
When you go out to change the world, you usually end up changing yourself. I`m sure you`ve heard that before. It is a wel-worn cliche. But rejoice in the fact that it is true. Gods` blessings are two-fold, and the smiles of the children in Mexico are imprinted on my heart forever, and I am a different person because of it.
As I write, I am still wearing my hemp choker that I kept on the entire Mexico trip, my Amor Ministries t-shirt (stained with coffee) and Michael Buble is blaring from the stereo. I`m trying to hold on to Mexico as long as I can. The first night driving to Escondido we all listened to Michael Buble and told each other what we "saw" in our heads as each song came on. The way back we listened to his song "Home" about a million times and I watched tears stream down Davias` and Courtneys` faces.
There were many obstacles getting to Mexico. I will always remember seeing Mrs. Haak by the side of the freeway, trying to pick up pieces of a broken table that had flown off the back of the Lopezes truck into the path of traffic. We drove by her with mouths agape, till we saw the Lopezes truck pulled over about a mile past her. That was just the obstacle that I witnessed. Traffic accidents, trailers breaking, Josh dropping a knife on his toe. God was with us all. No one ever lost their sense of humor.
Us girls drove with Mr. Sherritt and Steve Gaarza. They started out so shy around the six of us that I think I heard them speak once. Mr. Sherritt asked Steve if he wanted some gum. By the end of the trip, we were yelling and they were making fun of us, and we`d all be like, "Oh, Mr. Sherrits` head is jerking again, he must be annoyed!" Even being 8 hous late to Mexico, he didn`t lose his cool. I`ll always remember Mr. Sherritt crying as he prayed, a big, stoic man bowing before his God.
Mr. Lopez is another big, strong, hulky guy who I could listen to pray forever. His voice is quiet and awe-filled and you`d never know there used to be a completely different Mr. Lopez.
On the work-site, these two guys were in charge. But everyone worked their butts off. Yes, even me. I did a little bit of everything, even up to hammering a hole in the wall. That was unintentional. The husband and wife we were building the house for had both their hands in it too. The husband, Luis, would come home from work as a taxi-driver and roll up his sleeves and do whatever needed to be done. The wife said she had lost faith that people could be so kind, that they wouldn`t turn their backs away.
The neighborhood wasn`t as bad as we all thought it would be, but thats not to take away from how horrible it was. The family we were working for lived in a trailer the size of our bathroom, but a lot of their neighbors were trying to put on an air of wealth as seen by the iron gates surrounding their houses. Even the most sizeable, dignified houses were fallen in disrepair. But the saddest, most striking sign of poverty was the sewer running down the dirt road. The kids would chase the soccar ball we gave them in and out of it, excited by the game. We, on the other hand, concentrated on not getting near it. As if we were above getting dirty in the water they have to live with everyday.
One of the days that we did VBS, we took the kids` pictures with a polaroid camera. That was the time I came close to crying. Tosee the childrens` attempts at dressing up and their excited smiles was the greatest sign of bravery to me. They were content. One boy had donned his best white polo shirt and tried to slick back his hair. His picture has him looking straight at the camera with a million dollar smile on his face. He is muy gaupo. The mothers` eyes filled with tears as the held their childrens pictures close to them. Most of them had probably never had a photograph of their loved ones.
One of the best things about Mexico was getting close to all the people and experiencing it all with them. Matt and Seth will forever be my favorite comedy team. Niko is my little brother Paco`s arabian voice. Racing with Christa to see who could saw a 2 x 4 faster (definitely not me). Squished every night in the corner of the tent with Kimmy, whispering secrets late into the night. Being scared by Esteban in random moments. Paco`s angels =). Saying good night to everyone, creeping from tent to tent.
Pastor Doug said we were the best team he`s ever headed up out of 11 years. He doesn`t give out compliments undeserved. He said when we taught the children to sing "Jesus Loves Me" in Spanish, that the workers just paused and listened. They said it sounded like angels` voices raised in song. Of course it would. In that dirty little Mexican street, we were very close to heaven.
Si, Christo te Amo!