Further Mexican Swine Flu Updates

Since none of you complained about me spamming your inboxes, should you be interested, you will find attached the most recent updates from Armonia Mexico.

:)

C

Mexico: Swine Flu and Armonia

Dear friends,

I thought I would cheekily resurrect this email list and write to you because quite a number of people have asked me about the current situation in Mexico and specifically about how Armonia has been affected.  Thusfar, I have received 3 emails.  

One came from Betsi, one of the ladies who used to work at the Santa Cruz community centre, who tells me that things are pretty bad.  She is currently involved volunteering for the Mexican Red Cross and it's possible that she will come into contact with some of those who have contracted the virus.  She asks those of you who are Christians to pray for the crisis to pass swiftly.

The second came from the current volunteers, Wes and Stephanie Vanderlugt (they are doing my old job).  The news reports I'm reading from both inside and outside the country are conflicting and vague, but it from what I can cobble together from their emails and internal/external news reporting, the Mexican government has shut down all schools until the 6th May, all restaurants (apart from take-aways!!) have been closed in the Federal District and travel is being restricted in some areas.  Similarly, Armonia has shut its Community Centres and everyone is staying inside unless necessary.  Wes and Steph and everyone else directly involved with Armonia remain healthy at this time but they are all taking certain precautions: washing hands, keeping their distance from others (the US consulate is recommending personal 6-foot exclusion zones!), taking vitamins and drinking lots of fluids.  Everyone going out in public wears a blue surgical mask, as is the Mexican standard response to any sort of respiratory or contagious illness.  Hopefully the members of Armonia will remain healthy and I'm hoping that the break in activities may give everyone a well-earned rest before the summer madness begins.

By far the most informative source of information was the last email (below) that came from Sr. Saul and Sra. Pilar.  To summarise, Sr. Saul is away in the States visiting supporters whilst Sra. Pilar is supporting members of the communities in which Armonia operates.  She has already taken one kid from Jalalpa to the hospital with potential symptoms.  Do have a read to find out more - the recent security concerns (from drug wars 600miles north of Mexico City in Cuidad Juarez) and this now mean that quite a few groups have cancelled, putting much of the summer work dependent on this source of income at threat.  It seems like the programme of events may have to be adjusted and some of the building work postponed, but we wait to see God's leading on this.

Thanks for reading.  I hope you're all well. :)

Love Chris

<<<Original email>>

As you all for sure know Mexico is facing a new strand of influenza, swine flu, which has really hit the news today. The government has declared it an epidemic under control. In order to do that, they have closed schools, museums, and all types of enclosed public building where people will be in close contact. Of course, we have responded by closing the community centers and quarantining all our students in view of the risk of people catching this flu which nobody knows how it is spreading yet. 

We originally thought that the main problem right now was that Mexico didn't not have enough flu vaccinations and only 8 million were distributed last December. Pilar and I received our shots, as well as the kids in Oaxaca, we know better now that that flu shot is not effective against swine flu.

Considering this emergency, Pilar decided to stay in Mexico to support the people in the community centers and anyone who might be getting infected. We have a network of telephone numbers, gloves and face masks and prayers. I am the only one who is traveling to Baltimore to speak at the missions conference at Chapelgate Presbyterian Church and a visit to Rivers Edge. Please pray for us on several different levels. We have already dealt with the concern regarding safety in Mexico, which has caused several groups to cancel, and now this concern is added to it. As a result of these things, we do not have the resources to meet some our most pressing needs, which right now include building the student residence in Oaxaca without groups and buying medicine for people who need them. 

Financially, donations would be very helpful. When we discussed this in our last board meeting, we spoke of $5000 for an emergency situation, but whatever money we could use to help Armonía provide money for people to visit the doctors and medicines would be very reassuring! Government is discouraging people to go the hospitals as they are considered the main focus of infection.

In addition, please pray for Pilar as she has  faces the first case of a kid who we they thought was affected in Jalalpa, and who was immediately taken to the doctor. It seems tonight that he is improving. Pray for all those who are well, so that they will remain healthy and wise, and also for my trip so that I can have the peace of mind that I need in order to preach and deliver God's message at Chapelgate and when I meet with Rivers Edge Church, knowing that I'm needed back in Mexico. 

Thank you for all of your concern and prayers!

Blessings- Saul and Pilar Cruz

Newsletter 14: Signing off

Dear friends,

 

Well my year is over!  I am back in the grey, wet and windy country I love to call home and have already started a new job.  The last two weeks have been a little hectic so I hope you forgive me not writing to you before.  Part of the problem has been a lack of net access but I seem to have survived that trial relatively unscathed.

 

My last weeks at Armonia were, in many ways, strange.  I spent a few days away with my parents catching up on sleep and enjoying the Chihuahua countryside.  The Copper Canyons were spectacular and I was reminded of how small we all are in comparison to the great God who rules over all.  They are amazing if you ever get the chance to visit.  I did a little driving, including a stretch through the most intense thunderstorm ever (it felt like Storm Chasing in the US) - it was hard not to think of Revelation and be awed a lot.

 

Back in Armonia, the last days were about winding down and handing over my responsibilities as a volunteer.  I went to Oaxaca to help with a group where, upon arrival, everyone asked me if I was going out to do something with Sr. Saul.  Apparently they didn't want me in the house, which was explained by a surprise party they threw later that evening.  Smoked meats, spring onions, massive tortillas and mountains of salad provided plenty to chew over physically while they asked me to talk to the students of the residence about my experiences (hopefully giving them something to chew over metaphorically).  It was a great chance to talk honestly about being a volunteer and to hear their thoughts.  It was moving - one of the new students, Moises, stood to ask if I would stay an extra year so the new ones could get to know me.  They had clubbed together and bought me a big wood-carved jaguar head (it's quite sizeable) to remind me of my time there.  (The jaguar is linked with much of Oaxaca's history, not only living up in the mountains where the students come from but considered in the ancient religions one of the gods).  With some tears and many hugs, I returned to Mexico, leaving my younger brothers and sisters in Oaxaca to start school and (hopefully) study hard.

 

Staying back in Alheli was a bit strange.  I hadn't been there most of the summer, nor had I spent much time at the Santa Cruz Community Centre.  In many ways, I think I had already left them emotionally, even if the Armonia staff hadn't gone through that process.  I worked three long hard days in the office having convinced Saul to work following a list (like a westerner?) and we were quite productive.  In many ways, the change from just 6 months previously was astounding.  Then I had been wondering whether to continue (after Liz, the other volunteer left) and had to fight to prove my reputation, integrity and worth.  This time, it could not have been different.  I was invited to meetings that I don't even think I should have been in, being party to senstive ministry information and even being asked my opinion of how they should move forwards.  I know many of you have prayed for improvements in my working relationship with the Cruzes and this really is proof that those petitions have been answered.

 

And so more farewells came.  First at the office, then the community centre (that was pretty emotional) and lastly to the guys at the residence (they tried hard to behave like 'real men' but still didn't manage to keep the tears back!).  I had the chance to use my last £20 to take the Cruzes, Dani and the students out to dinner (by the way, notice £20 to feed 9!) and we swapped stories and remembered good times.  I will miss all those friends I made out there.

 

Many of you and many of them have asked me if I'm going back.  I will.  But I don't know when.  I don't think I can promise things when I don't know how the next chapter of my life will unfold.  But of some things I am sure, having either learnt them or had them reinforced this year.  And this is how I want to fill my 14th and last newsletter.

 

~God is faithful.  The number of prayers both general and specific that have been answered demonstrates that again and again.  Pat (who organised my Eden prayer group for the year) chuckled that it was good to see items on the petition list one month and then the praise list the next because they had been answered.  Just consider my big worries for the year: safety, health and language.  I was only properly ill once and that was something I caught in the UK (or ate on the plane).

~Christ is sufficient.  I would not have made it through this year on my own.  I know I would have given up.  I now know my limits but they are not based in me alone.  He is sufficient to give all perseverance to persevere, all strength to be strong, all forgiveness to be forgiven and all love to keep loving.

~Armonia is onto something.  20+ years of walking alongside the poor, self-sacrificially serving all their needs with God's love again and again has not been for nothing.  This changes lives.  This transforms poverty into full life.  And this has radically altered the way I think about my engagement with the poor.  Secular aid organisations CANNOT make poverty history without the gospel because it will always come back to a financial cost-benefit balance sheet, not a sacrificial outpouring of energy, health, time and ultimately lives to serve others.  That's what Jesus did.  That's what we should do.  I want to stay involved in this, but what does it all mean in the UK?  I guess this year I will start exploring that in my mind.

~Service means no expectations.  After years of 'serving' in various things (usually those that would gain more glory) I realise I have often done it for the attention and positive comments afterwards.  True servants think only of the treasures in heaven and serve in all ways, even when they know they will never ever be recognised.

 

There are many more but they are the highlights that come to mind.  It has been a tremendous year, in the experiences I have had, the things I have been through and the things I have learnt.  And so to round off, having started newsletter 1 with a request that you stay in touch and pray for me, I end with some thank yous. 

 

To God for His power, strength, grace and salvation.

To Saul and Pilar for their vision, patience with me, trust in me and love of me

To Zoe for consistently ringing, emailing, praying and supporting so generously

To Mum and Dad for the little text messages and phone calls and the willingness to let me go to a foreign and dangerous place!

To Pat and Steve for organising my Eden prayer group and all those who went along - I love you guys :)

To Jean Newstead, Karuna and other for representing me at Surrey Chapel

To Julian, Marvin and Tom C for preparing me well beforehand and wise guidance during tough times earlier this year

And to all of you who thought of me occasionally and sent quick little messages across from time to time.

 

So who knows what you have taken out of this string of newsletters.  Hopefully you understand a little more of what I did out in Mexico.  Hopefully also a little more of what Armonia does.  Perhaps it has even challenged you in the way you live too.  I am back now and although I don't doubt that God has more interesting and challenging things in store for me, I think now is the time to wrap this line of communication up.  I will stay involved in Armonia UK so expect me to keep talking about them.  www.armonia-uk.org.uk is the place to go for more information.

 

So thank to you all.

 

May God have all the Glory for whatever He has shown you this year.

 

Consider this from 1 John 3 (NIV):

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us."

 

Chris

:)

 

No work and lots of goodbyes

Well, the year was almost always going to end. And here I am inside the last 100 hours I have in Armonía and it all seems a bit weird. After weaning them off Chris by a lovely holiday with my parents, I'm back again to arrange a few things, help a group and hand over to next year's lot! So, despite there being so many projects on the go, they're not giving them to me. This is 1) entirely sensible and 2) just a bit strange after spending a year being the recipient of such projects.
And then there's the matter of goodbyes. I left the Oaxaca residence yesterday (Saturday) after a long set of goodbye-saying which started with a leaving party on Friday night. Strangely, the party felt more weird than the actual act of leaving, perhaps as the many weird, wonderful, funny, bad and good things that have happened over the year were recounted. But in leaving I felt tired but content. I feel that by God's grace I have been allowed to succeed in my work in Oaxaca, I have won many new friends and I know I want to return soon. Perhaps some of the things I said to the students will stick with them and encourage them but I'll leave that to God.
And then today the ladies at the centre threw another leaving party. I walk away with more encouragement and little gifts from all sorts of people. It was emotional but the real goodbyes start on Tuesday and Wednesday. And then the flying home on Thursday. And that'll be it! Wow.

Peda-words by kerosene lamp

Having worked pretty much non-stop since the beginning of June, it has been amazing to come away with my parents to the Copper Canyon (near Chihuahua) for a week’s holiday. Being out of Armonía has afforded me plenty of time to think, reflect and let my mind wander. And during one of these moments as we drove up here we passed the ‘Universidad Pedagogica Nacional’. And this prompted me to wonder what the translation of pedagogica in English was. Without a dictionary we quickly realised that there were a mountain of peda words in English.
So over dinner by the light of kerosene lamps (the place we’re staying at has the ‘rustic’ feel of no electricity) we got thinking.
Pedogy = the study of soils. Adj: pedogical
Podiatry = the study of feet. Adj: podiatrical
Paediatrics = the study of children. Adj: paediatrical
Pedagogy = the study of teaching, instructing and training. Adj: pedagogical (try saying that after some drinks)
Pedantic = what I’m being.

Newsletters 13: One year of AIMS - filling foundations and constructing columns.

Hello.

Well good afternoon from the road between Oaxaca and Puebla.  It seems that with all the groups coming and going, my only free time to catch up on sleep and correspondence is when I'm in transit!  And so, having written to you from a bus last time about preparing the houses, thinking about expanding the Oaxaca students', hard working groups and forming international friendships, I am sitting on exactly the same bus with the same driver doing the same route, and find myself with time to write a little missive.

It's hot and very sunny at the moment which, combined with eating salsa and tortillas, is turning my skin and eyes browner.  (Apparently this is improving my Spanish).  But Lynn will be happy to hear that it's raining every afternoon.  Hard oreographically-driven convectional thunderstorms that roll down the hills surrounding the site bring a fresh katabatic wind.  Mmmm; geography.  Some days, it seems that no sooner have we done the pipe-sucking-gravity-drain trick (I'm losing my English I think - why didn't I just use the word 'siphon'?) to empty the unplanned swimming pools than nature starts to fill them up.  But I don't mind because it's nice to cool off in the afternoon and, after all, who needs to shower in the evening if you've worked out in a downpour?

The highlight of the last month has been a celebration of the first anniversary of the Armonía Indigenous Mexican Scholar's (AIMS) Program site in Oaxaca City.  Although AIMS has been running a lot longer, principally in a site called Yalalag in the mountains above the main city, they were violently expelled early last year.  Although this was disappointing and depressing for the Armonía directors they had been generously given a significant sum of money to buy a new house.  A confusing set of events pushed them towards the city – an apparently trustworthy woman sold the house they had settled on in the single day between them agreeing a price and coming back with the money.  Perplexed and ready to send the money back the donors told them they should find somewhere else and then provided extra money to allow a bigger house to be bought.  However, just before paying for the house, Sr. Saul was called over by the official who asked him if he had given any money to the owner.  He replied that he hadn't and was surprised to hear that the papers were forged.  Without knowing this they would have lost a 6-figure dollar sum!  The donors once again refused to be re-paid and the current worksite was bought and some rented accommodation found.  On the 3rd and 4th July, a total of 14 malnourished, mistreated yet happy students left Yalalag and were reunited with Snr. Saul, Sra. Pilar and Dani in an emotional meeting.  And AIMS Oaxaca City was born, coaxed into rebirth by God's grace.  Talk about being refined by fire.

A few weeks ago, we held a large celebration in the residence, broadcast over the net to Santa Cruz, Presidentes, Jalalpa, the US, Germany and the UK.  If you didn't get to see it live there is still a recording on our webcast site: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/556239 Sr. Saul recounted these events, Sergio played the clarinet beautifully, some students told their stories, people wrote in over the net and the team of Fran, Craig, Stuart (my bro), Heather, Sarah, Rosemary and Anna helped in many ways with the technology, by singing In Christ Alone and translating.  It was a beautiful moment and if you have a moment you should look it up.

Talking of the Eden group and my brother, I should inform you that they have been working very hard, achieving the milestone of moving, filling and compacting 14 tonnes of dirt in 2 days to help the construction.  They've moved briefly in most parts of Armonía; helping Sr. Saul in the office, doing inventories, working on Summer Course preparation and giving classes, construction in Oaxaca, interacting with the AIMS students and, this week, running a special week of activities for the kids of the ladies at Santa Cruz.  They have been an excellent group and have worked humbly and steadily despite some illnesses or the dreaded 'Armonía-fatigue'.  The latter has been mainly seen as I watch them slowly dropping off in one of the famous 4 hour (or longer) meetings that are sometimes held here.  There have been plenty of comical moments when we've been together – Rosemary trying hard not to tell everyone that she has many men when she's actually hungry, Heather having to change her name to Miriam for ease of pronunciation and the ladies' impressions of Fran's charismatic Argentinean accent.  Banter.  But their experience has clearly had an impact (hopefully positive) and they were able to leave on Sunday proud of what they have achieved.

Whilst they have been here, the groups have continued to come and I have been mainly based in Oaxaca.  This has had the disadvantage that I'm not able to hold my usual English classes in Santa Cruz, or help out with the kids that I love so much there, but I have been able to take on new roles in the South of the country.  It is nice to 'make up' for spending so much time up in Mexico City in the winter and spring, although it is much hotter here and I do have to live out of a bag all the time.  Not literally of course.  The construction has been moved forwards incredibly by two groups from Willow Creek PCA Florida and a recent visit by Twin Oaks PCA St. Louis led by Wes and Stephanie Vanderlugt, who are to be my successors.  This last week we have not been directly supervised by the directors – Joaquín and I have been running everything, more or less successfully.  We have completed a week without anyone going hungry or anyone getting ill and we only lost one visitor so we're confident we've done OK.

Twin Oaks has finished off filling the foundations and set a record of setting and concreting 4 columns for the second floor in just one afternoon.  Which is impressive.  But better has been the way in which they have interacted with the AIMS older brothers and sisters.  These guys are mostly new to Armonía and form the hosting team; the new university entrants have gone to Mexico City and A-level students haven't returned yet from holidays back to their villages.  All the new students had two weeks in a camp out at the worksite to see whether they fitted what Armonía is looking for (and whether they want to be with us) and now have a slightly better idea of what is required of them.  The most obvious thing is their energy and enthusiasm.  They are truly taking this opportunity with both hands and seeing that Armonía can help them in so many ways.  In a recent teaching session, when asked whether they would be able to go to university without Armonía none of them put their hands up.  Such is the chance they are being given, but it's so much more as they learn to live in community and to serve others in mutual love. 

Mum commented when she was here how much she would like to have these guys as her students for their willingness.  To hear Job (pronounced "hob") learning English phrases from the visitors – yesterday he was mixing cement, paused for a moment, pointed to a girl and announced to the whole team; "This is my wife.  She is very beautiful."  If only I could convey his accent – we laughed so much.  Another (girl) visitor joined in; "But I thought I was your wife?".  He paused for a moment and then pronounced: "I choose later.  Please wait."  Priceless.  He has started copying me when I give instructions, his current favourite phrase being "OK guys; let's go" as he tries to move the group from one place to the other.

Mum and Dad have had a good two weeks in Armonía and I think it has helped them to understand some of the events of this year.  It's been fun working with them – I haven't had to keep Dad in check too much (phew)!  Actually he's been very useful in a plumbing capacity – tracking down leaks in Alheli – and sorting out a mess the work site plumber made of the black and grey water drainage.  To have him come to me and say he'd sorted his tubes out was perhaps something I could have done without though.  Mum has become something of a column preparation expert.  The program didn't allow her time enough to teach sewing but she has faithfully prepared the bases, levelling them out ready to put the tubing over which forms the concrete.  She did have a moment on the tamping machine, bringing the normally wild bouncing thing under strict control.  It didn't dare mis-behave…

I would love to talk a little more about the Santa Cruz summer course but I really haven't been there at all.  I've heard very little (except that it's going well) so I am unable to relay much.  Nor will I be able to say much because I have a chance for a week's holiday/rest with Mum and Dad starting on Wednesday and then I have just a week left which will be spent into Oaxaca.  My time is almost done and I'm increasingly looking ahead to the future, trying to deconstruct what I've learnt, attempting to understand what God wants for me in the years to come and planning for the many things coming up in the next few weeks.  But that's for another newsletter.

I've put a whole load more photos up from the groups which have visited us here in Oaxaca so have a look at how things are progressing at: http://picasaweb.google.com/chrisprimmer

Thank you again for your summer news and birthday notes.  I felt very blessed to have so many people remember me even when I've been away for so long.

So until 3 weeks' time,
God bless,
Chris

http://mexicanchris.blogspot.com/

Celebrate One Year of the Oaxaca City Armonía Students Residence

Something that may interest you...
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Dear friends,

It is with great joy that we announce to you that this Sunday (July 13) Armonía will be celebrating the one year anniversary of the students' residence in Oaxaca City, Mexico. 

The Armonía Indigenous Mexican Scholar's (AIMS) Program seeks to give an opportunity to excellent students from indigenous backgrounds.  They are given the possibility of winning scholarships to finish their senior high schooling and then, after a year of preparation for university and service of their younger brothers and sisters in the Armonía family, they have the possibility to gain entry into some of the top universities in the country.  It is one of the most exciting projects in Armonía at the moment and we recently received 24 new students who are currently in a camp to help them understand the program.  The camp is at the land we bought last year where we are building our first residence and where so many of our visitors will visit this summer to participate in constructing a residence and relationships with the community.

As our friends around the world, we invite you to join us via the web and participate in giving thanks to God for the achievements, challenges, difficulties and growth of the residence over the last year.  Many of you have been involved in the gradual evolution of this program; praying for us; donating money, time and gifts; coming in person to help us construct; building relationships with the wonderful young people who are our students; and in many many more ways.  You are a part of this program as well and for this reason it is very important to us that you are included in this moment of reflection.

At 2pm in Mexico on the 13th July (7pm GMT, 8pm London, 3pm Orlando, 2pm Chicago, 1pm Los Angeles), we will start the service and broadcast it live via the internet.  Please log onto our very own webcast site: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/aims-armonia-mexico to see us -  although the audio-visual feed is one-way, there is the option to send instant messages to Oaxaca.  Do send us your thoughts and messages!  We would love for you to be a part of this moment when we publicly thank God for His faithfulness and petition Him for the coming year.

With many blessings from everyone in Armonía,
Saul and Pilar Cruz

P.S: If the link doesn't work, please go to www.ustream.tv and search for 'AIMS Armonia'.  We are the first hit on the search results.