La Boda de Joanna y Jorge

Saturday May 30, Chad and I attended Joanna and Jorge's wedding. Both the bride and groom were 18 years old. Joanna had just given birth to a baby girl in early April. Joanna grew up in Door of Faith Orphanage but decided to move out once she was old enough so she could date (as there is a no dating rule at the orphanage). I can’t begin to imagine the emotions she was feeling walking down the aisle. But nonetheless, the couple while appearing nervous seemed to enjoy the ceremony and we in the audience even laughed and applauded when they kissed, because they were so shy. Pictured, walking her down the aisle is DJ, an administrator of the orphanage.

A tradition that I discovered is unique to Latin American weddings, is the lasso. The bride and groom kneel down and a special couple presents the Lasso to them, draping it over their heads, binding them together. I think this is a unique symbol to demonstrate that they are united as one. Other things that are given are pillows by other special members of the community, so they can kneel to say their vows under the matrimonial arch.

After the wedding all the guests went up to DJ and Lynette's house to celebrate and have a traditional Mexican dish of Birria which was made of beef (originally is it goat I think) served with beans, corn tortillas, cilantro, chopped onion, and key limes.

The best thing about attending this wedding, like other special events in the community, is that Chad and I are invited because we are a part of the community, not because we knew the bride and groom especially well. I am thankful I was able to celebrate with Jorge and Joanna, and I pray God will continue to walk in their lives.

A funny thing happened...

Erin and I went for a week to Seattle and it was a very good trip. We were able to meet with a mission committee of a church, have a board meeting with our awesome team, and see lots of people. It was very encouraging.
When the trip ended, we realized that we missed being in Mexico. So we hurried back and it was fun to see people again. Laura ran and jumped up on the "stage" at church to say hello to me. Sometimes you need to go away to realize what you have.
It was more evident last night.
Erin and I made dinner for Becky and her boyfriend Mike. We had a great time. After, we went downstairs to have some s'mores and hang out. We were at the kitchen table enjoying the tasty treat (Becky, Mike, Sofy, Erin, and me), while Elizabeth, Enrique, Junior, and Edgar were watching a Telenovela....which is a Mexican Soap Opera.
During the show, Elizabeth would glare at us and tell us to be quiet. We weren't being loud, but we would laugh and tell a story and that would interfere with the drama.
After the fourth shush, I said that we should throw marshmallows at them. So we all loaded up with ammo and waited for the next shush, chuckling.
When it came, we threw a barrage at them and hit them and the TV room. They all (as if they had planned their retalliation) in unison grabbed pillows and counterattacked us. We kept throwing marshmallows and Elizabeth (the pastora and mother) grabbed fruit and threw them at her daughter, connecting with an orange to her daughter's shoulder.
We laughed and threw "s'more" marshmallows. And that's when it got quiet. We were given the serious shush.
A man and woman on the TV finally gave into their longings...
The moral of this story is....don't get so into TV shows that you miss out on the joys of having your family around to throw fruit at, otherwise the marshmallow with ruin your fantasy...

Football

I think one of my favorite days as a kid was getting my football equipment. The summer was starting to cool down. We would drive to the registration. I would walk into a room filled with pads and helmets. Lots of parents were around trying to find pads small enough for me. I remember getting those pads and then going home and wearing them around the house. My friend Mark Fisher and I would kick the ball and then go tackle each other to get used to it.
Here in Mexico, was a different story. But still exciting. Last night, the Cuervos (Ravens) got their pads. We had been getting about 20 kids regularly for practice but since pads were getting issued, we got 30. The problem was, we only have 24 helmets (cascos) and shoulder pads. So we lined them up and they went into a classroom where the 24 sets were set out and they came in one by one and grabbed any set they could get. Then we let the players decide who was coming to practice and who wasn't, to determine who should wait for their pads and helmets.
The principal was there, Hector, and he was saying that he was going to get jerseys for the players. We will see if that happens. I got pretty excited about it.
At the end of practice, as I stood in the middle of the circle, my heart was filled with a new emotion. Usually, I am trying to be tough and trying to convince these dudes how cool I am and how smart I am at football. But at that moment, I looked around the circle and saw a tough group of little kids, excited that they get pads, ready to play a new game.
But last night, I realized that I was there for a reason. God has got me in the middle of the lives of these 30 kids.
On my way home, I was thinking about how I have taken the first step. Just showing up to practice makes a difference. Now, I have to put these guys to prayer and let God use me. Sometimes I think by showing up, I am so cool that I can change them. Then, I realize how small I am, and how much I need to be in the middle of this, and constantly be praying to God to do what He does.

To Market, To Market, To Buy a Fat Pig!

Just to clarify since Chad had never heard this nursery rhyme it is real… and here is how it goes…
To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,
Home again, home again, dancing a jig;
To market, to market, to buy a fat hog;
Home again, home again, jiggety-jog;
To market, to market, to buy a plum bun,
Home again, home again, market is done.
By Mother Goose

We didn’t actually go to market to buy a pig… but this picture is one of the stands where we buy from. Market is only on Mondays and it is on the road in front of the church. Some things you may find on a typical market day: a hair cut ($2), Chihuahua puppies, house wares, clothing, meat, fish, shaved ice with numerous flavors, freshly baked pizza (Large for $7), furniture, a television, fruit (we usually get oranges to make fresh squeezed orange juice on Mondays), and vegetables (Chad likes to get a couple serano chilies to eat as a side dish with pretty much anything). Chad and I usually buy our produce at the market and like to feel we are helping the economy of the town with our meager purchases of bananas and onions.


Other updates: My good friend Megan visited April 28-May 2 and then the following week Nancy and Vance Ekrem visited us May 4th to the 7th. We felt truly blessed by these visitors and loved sharing good food and laughter together. Megan gave me some wonderful friend time. It was fun to run to the beach together, talk about where we are in life, and just hang out. She was here for the Children’s Festival the church held on April 30th. We painted faces and helped pass out 250 free meals of hotdogs…which was a frenzy of ketchup, handing, putting, and pivoting, as the church only expected to provide 80 meals. But everyone was fed and went home contented with their bag of candy or a vanilla pudding snack pack.







The Ekrems brought us a few much needed items. We are very blessed by them and their generosity. We really enjoyed just getting to spend time with them and walking to the beach. Soon (May 20-27th) we will be headed up to Seattle to have a board meeting, visit with the missions committee of Bethany Community Church, and spend time with friends and family.

Dinner at Elvira's

In this picture is Elvira. She is holding her grandchild and her daughter Angelica is in blue. Erin and I were invited to dinner last Wednesday while Erin's friend Megan visited. There house in located in the middle of town, just up the hill from us. Elvira sings in the church and is very active in church leadership. We found out that she moved to La Mision twenty years ago and said that when she moved here, there was nothing. No electricity, no water. Since then, the town has developed into more of a community for her.

The town is truly developing right before our eyes. The houses just to the east of us are just getting water. Of course, the water won't be dependable, much like how we lost ours last night again until this morning.

We continue to see people move into this community to find a life. They get a spot of land and set up camp and try to make any progress they can, whenever they can. Sometimes I find it very humbling to realize what that would be like. My grandfather came from Sweden to do the very same thing in Minnesota. But my life was very removed from that as I grew up. All of my opporunities were just given to me and that was my world. Now, as I live in a country that is still developing, I get a view of a bigger picture of the world.