Usually when Christians return from the foreign mission field, they say it's great to be back. I agree with this - and I love being able to catch up with so many of you beautiful people (particularly you Fergusson) - but to be perfectly honest I'd prefer to still be Mexico. It's annoying to have this extra trip back to the UK just because of my US visa situation; i was getting really excited about the work assisting Christians in Tabasco after the floods and to top it off, it's cold and rainy. Brrrr.
But I'm not letting it worry me because God has a plan. Perhaps I'm here to aid the work out in Mexico, at a time when Saul and Pilar can't travel. I have been given many opportunities to speak to people about the situation in Tabasco and many have responded generously in prayer and money. I'm also making new contacts for Armonia and spreading the word about the radical approach of Integral Mission which permeates all that they do. And it looks like I might have some job interviews scheduled in the middle of all this so it's exciting to see whether God would have me come back to the UK next academic year to start work in London.
So it's not all bad. In fact, i'm alive, healthy, saved and have much to thank God for. Not least all of you supporting me. :)
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Saturday, 10 November 2007
Newsletter 5: Coming home, flooding and Mexican songs!
Dear friends,
It's been a little while since I wrote to you so I thought it would be good to provide you with an update of what's going on here in the United States of Everywhere/Mexico.
The first thing to write is the weather report. The climate has now settled for cold and dry - it hasn't rained for a while and I'm now waking up with a cold nose. Reminds me of England in many ways. We had frost this morning and Todd's starting to dislike my preference of windows open. I remember my friends in 24 Oak Tree Avenue (Cambridge) refusing to enter my room (aka 'The Fridge') in the winter; I guess when you sleep in the same room as someone else one its a bit cruel to force them to live in sub-zero temperatures. But when he returns to the States in December I'll have my wicked way...
Ahem.
The other major news (apart from the weather) is that I'm coming back to the UK this coming Thursday. As much as I would like to come home to catch up with some of you, it's a little annoying that I have had to invest in extra transatlantic travel; however, there's not much I can do about it because my hand has been forced by my American visa situation. God willing when I arrive back in the UK the whole fiasco will be behind me. I had hoped to tie it in with Saul and Pilar's trip to the UK to make it a bit more than just returning to get through immigration but since Pilar is still not better, they're not coming (more on that below). I will have a bit of Armonía business to do but hope to spend some time in both Cambridge and Norwich before returning home on the 27th. I look forward to seeing some of you within the next fortnight. :)
Things have started to become a bit busier since my last newsletter. Pilar came out of hospital and is now recovering at home. Saul wisely decided to cancel all his engagements in the UK, to stay and look after her. Although this is frustrating from the point of view of my forthcoming trip, it has meant he's been at home to give us work to do and it's taken the pressure off those who were about to become subject to a series of major last minute changes to the UK Armonia 20th anniversary celebrations. Unfortunately the Cruzes discovered on wednesday that the salmonella (or whatever caused the serious problems) has not been eradicated and she's had to be put on antibiotics and antimichotics. I have no idea what the latter are (neither has google helped much) but Saul keeps mentioning them in the emails I write for him so they must be important. We're all praying that Pilar will be better for the Christmas period (14th to 23rd in the Armonía calendar) because this is usually a bit of a manic time. In fact, whilst i've been writing this, Pilar has just appeared having walked unaided across from her house. It's great to see her again!
Josias is better and we have rejoined him at Alheli. I think he prefers having people around. In many ways this is better because there's no internet so we all sit and talk. For me, it's not too much of a problem because you guys are all asleep when i finish work so there's no one to chat to but it means I see a bit more of my American friends! We've been trying to teach the Mexicans how to play the board game 'Settlers' - resulting in the formation of many new Esp-Ingles words. Maybe the phrase: 'Quiero un Sheep-cito' (I would like one little sheep) will be heard around Mexico for many years to come. I feel like they're getting the hang of losing to me but we're going to need more expansion packs because: three new students have arrived to study on the Armonía scholarship. Lupe, Eric and Renaldo are all from Oaxaca, they're all a little bit overwhelmed by the mix of English, Spanish, Mihe, Chino and Zapotec spoken at Alheli but they seem like cool guys. I've been helping them study algebra for their upcoming exams - something which is surprisingly (and thankfully) translingual. Liz is now living with 7 guys which has made her room something of a double x chromosome safehaven, i think.
Relations with my friends from across the pond have improved since my email a while back. Both Liz and I really feel like we can banter or insult each other without lasting damage and so it's nice to know we've reached the stage in our friendship where we don't have to tiptoe around each other for fear of what might happen. That's a real answer to prayer. However, i still feel a bit distant from Todd. This is unlikely to change much because I'm here for 3 days before being in the UK and then he's only here for another 4. It's a bit of a shame that we've not connected - the negative relational problems of early on have gone but it hasn't switched to being particularly positive. I think part of it is that he's been frustrated by the way his time here has gone and it's sad for me not to feel able to talk to him about it. Yet i feel really positive about Liz and my ability to work together for Armonía once i am back from the UK.
Many other things have happened but the most significant development has been in the state of Tabasco. Thank you to those of you who have sent messages concerned for my safety. Mexico City has not suffered any rainfall and thanks to God we remain safe here. However, the south of the country has been battered, leaving all the capital city of Tabasco, Villahermosa, underwater. I've attached the letter Armonía is sending out to its supporters regarding the situation in the south for those of you who are interested. Without wanting to replicate what is said there, we're sending a team consisting of a doctor, a pastor and some helpers to try to assist with the emergency relief and recovery. I've spent much of this week constructing and demonstrating a water purifier which can bring water to a whole community. If this trial goes well, we intend to purchase and send many more - both to alleviate the immediate suffering and to improve their future prospects. If you have a moment, please pray for the people who are suffering in Tabasco and for our response to it. This is a real chance for Armonía to play a very strategic role in these communities.
That's enough for now, i've got to start an slideshow to update UK supporters so i'd better stop writing and start working.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
God bless
Chris
It's been a little while since I wrote to you so I thought it would be good to provide you with an update of what's going on here in the United States of Everywhere/Mexico.
The first thing to write is the weather report. The climate has now settled for cold and dry - it hasn't rained for a while and I'm now waking up with a cold nose. Reminds me of England in many ways. We had frost this morning and Todd's starting to dislike my preference of windows open. I remember my friends in 24 Oak Tree Avenue (Cambridge) refusing to enter my room (aka 'The Fridge') in the winter; I guess when you sleep in the same room as someone else one its a bit cruel to force them to live in sub-zero temperatures. But when he returns to the States in December I'll have my wicked way...
Ahem.
The other major news (apart from the weather) is that I'm coming back to the UK this coming Thursday. As much as I would like to come home to catch up with some of you, it's a little annoying that I have had to invest in extra transatlantic travel; however, there's not much I can do about it because my hand has been forced by my American visa situation. God willing when I arrive back in the UK the whole fiasco will be behind me. I had hoped to tie it in with Saul and Pilar's trip to the UK to make it a bit more than just returning to get through immigration but since Pilar is still not better, they're not coming (more on that below). I will have a bit of Armonía business to do but hope to spend some time in both Cambridge and Norwich before returning home on the 27th. I look forward to seeing some of you within the next fortnight. :)
Things have started to become a bit busier since my last newsletter. Pilar came out of hospital and is now recovering at home. Saul wisely decided to cancel all his engagements in the UK, to stay and look after her. Although this is frustrating from the point of view of my forthcoming trip, it has meant he's been at home to give us work to do and it's taken the pressure off those who were about to become subject to a series of major last minute changes to the UK Armonia 20th anniversary celebrations. Unfortunately the Cruzes discovered on wednesday that the salmonella (or whatever caused the serious problems) has not been eradicated and she's had to be put on antibiotics and antimichotics. I have no idea what the latter are (neither has google helped much) but Saul keeps mentioning them in the emails I write for him so they must be important. We're all praying that Pilar will be better for the Christmas period (14th to 23rd in the Armonía calendar) because this is usually a bit of a manic time. In fact, whilst i've been writing this, Pilar has just appeared having walked unaided across from her house. It's great to see her again!
Josias is better and we have rejoined him at Alheli. I think he prefers having people around. In many ways this is better because there's no internet so we all sit and talk. For me, it's not too much of a problem because you guys are all asleep when i finish work so there's no one to chat to but it means I see a bit more of my American friends! We've been trying to teach the Mexicans how to play the board game 'Settlers' - resulting in the formation of many new Esp-Ingles words. Maybe the phrase: 'Quiero un Sheep-cito' (I would like one little sheep) will be heard around Mexico for many years to come. I feel like they're getting the hang of losing to me but we're going to need more expansion packs because: three new students have arrived to study on the Armonía scholarship. Lupe, Eric and Renaldo are all from Oaxaca, they're all a little bit overwhelmed by the mix of English, Spanish, Mihe, Chino and Zapotec spoken at Alheli but they seem like cool guys. I've been helping them study algebra for their upcoming exams - something which is surprisingly (and thankfully) translingual. Liz is now living with 7 guys which has made her room something of a double x chromosome safehaven, i think.
Relations with my friends from across the pond have improved since my email a while back. Both Liz and I really feel like we can banter or insult each other without lasting damage and so it's nice to know we've reached the stage in our friendship where we don't have to tiptoe around each other for fear of what might happen. That's a real answer to prayer. However, i still feel a bit distant from Todd. This is unlikely to change much because I'm here for 3 days before being in the UK and then he's only here for another 4. It's a bit of a shame that we've not connected - the negative relational problems of early on have gone but it hasn't switched to being particularly positive. I think part of it is that he's been frustrated by the way his time here has gone and it's sad for me not to feel able to talk to him about it. Yet i feel really positive about Liz and my ability to work together for Armonía once i am back from the UK.
Many other things have happened but the most significant development has been in the state of Tabasco. Thank you to those of you who have sent messages concerned for my safety. Mexico City has not suffered any rainfall and thanks to God we remain safe here. However, the south of the country has been battered, leaving all the capital city of Tabasco, Villahermosa, underwater. I've attached the letter Armonía is sending out to its supporters regarding the situation in the south for those of you who are interested. Without wanting to replicate what is said there, we're sending a team consisting of a doctor, a pastor and some helpers to try to assist with the emergency relief and recovery. I've spent much of this week constructing and demonstrating a water purifier which can bring water to a whole community. If this trial goes well, we intend to purchase and send many more - both to alleviate the immediate suffering and to improve their future prospects. If you have a moment, please pray for the people who are suffering in Tabasco and for our response to it. This is a real chance for Armonía to play a very strategic role in these communities.
That's enough for now, i've got to start an slideshow to update UK supporters so i'd better stop writing and start working.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
God bless
Chris
Mexican Composition
Yesterday, I was approached by one of the teachers at Santa Cruz who was doing some singing lessons with her preschool class. She wanted to know if I knew any short songs which were easy to learn. The catch was they had to be in Spanish. I immediately thought of 'three blind mice'. Unfortunately, the third line is brutal to sing and I seem to remember that it involved being chased by a farmer's wife with a knife (I think?). Additionally, I don't know the word for 'blind'. So, in the interests of 4 years old and political correctness, this was dumbed down in translation to: There are three blind mice, see how they run, they run there and over here, there are three mice. Sorry, couldn't be bothered to type all the repetitions out.
However, it struck me that twinkle twinkle little star / baa baa black sheep / the alphabet song (all basically variants of the same tune) would be appropriate. So we stuck our heads together and came up with:
Armonia es un lugar (armonia is a place)
Donde vamos a jugar (where we go to play)
Hay maestros y gueros (there are teachers and 'pale people')
Aprendemos de Dios (we learn about God)
Nos gustan estar aqui, (we like being here)
En communidad asi. (in this community)
Now my Britishness tells me not to say anything but i'm quite pleased with it so i thought you might enjoy singing it. Altogether now: Armonia es un lugar ....
However, it struck me that twinkle twinkle little star / baa baa black sheep / the alphabet song (all basically variants of the same tune) would be appropriate. So we stuck our heads together and came up with:
Armonia es un lugar (armonia is a place)
Donde vamos a jugar (where we go to play)
Hay maestros y gueros (there are teachers and 'pale people')
Aprendemos de Dios (we learn about God)
Nos gustan estar aqui, (we like being here)
En communidad asi. (in this community)
Now my Britishness tells me not to say anything but i'm quite pleased with it so i thought you might enjoy singing it. Altogether now: Armonia es un lugar ....
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
Culinary/culinery Adventures
So, it's taken me about 5 minutes to decide on how i should spell the first word in the title. Honestly I haven't got a clue. So I've given up and decided instead to start writing in the more important larger box...
I've been here almost 60 days and in that time, I've had a few alimentary adventures. Here's four to start:
Observation 1: Tortillas, beans, rice and salsa. That’s the basis of every meal here. It's so predictable that it's worth saying again. Tortillas, beans, rice and salsa. Funnily enough, I'm not getting bored of it. I wonder what would happen if that was all they served at the Quinta (CICCU houseparty) or at Sizewell (SChapel houseparty)? That would make an interesting experiment. Whenever one of these ingredients is not included, I somehow feel like the food is less Mexican. How will I cope when I return to the salsa-less plains of Norfolk/Cambridgeshire? I guess i'll find out soon.
Observation 2: Salsa. It comes in three flavours. Hot, extra hot and explosive. Rumour has it that the latter type is being used by the Mexican army against the clandestine armies in the south of the country. Every mealtime the community centre staff delight to see our watering eyes and slightly pained expressions. Saul tells me that Mexicans can't cope with English mustard so this will be my counter-attack once i've returned home for supplies. We'll see if they can cope with 'hot' then.
Observation 3: Eating foreign food sometimes results in a gastro-intestinal phenomenon best described as 'Occasionally Inconsistent'. Todd coined that one. Say no more.
Observation 4: I don't like 'chicharon'. Vegetarians look away now. The particular case i'm referring to was pig's skin, all goose-pimply and dead, marinaded in something which is best described as vomit. No need for exagerration here - imagine drinking a litre of water, throwing it up and then using it to marinade pig's skin. Et voila: chicharon. The moment I smelt it I felt ill and Liz had to do all in her power not to chunder there and then. I managed about half of it by dousing it with copious amounts of salsa. The pain of the hot salsa removed any sense of taste from my mouth for the whole afternoon, leaving me queasy and with a runny nose. Lovely. Never again.
I've been here almost 60 days and in that time, I've had a few alimentary adventures. Here's four to start:
Observation 1: Tortillas, beans, rice and salsa. That’s the basis of every meal here. It's so predictable that it's worth saying again. Tortillas, beans, rice and salsa. Funnily enough, I'm not getting bored of it. I wonder what would happen if that was all they served at the Quinta (CICCU houseparty) or at Sizewell (SChapel houseparty)? That would make an interesting experiment. Whenever one of these ingredients is not included, I somehow feel like the food is less Mexican. How will I cope when I return to the salsa-less plains of Norfolk/Cambridgeshire? I guess i'll find out soon.
Observation 2: Salsa. It comes in three flavours. Hot, extra hot and explosive. Rumour has it that the latter type is being used by the Mexican army against the clandestine armies in the south of the country. Every mealtime the community centre staff delight to see our watering eyes and slightly pained expressions. Saul tells me that Mexicans can't cope with English mustard so this will be my counter-attack once i've returned home for supplies. We'll see if they can cope with 'hot' then.
Observation 3: Eating foreign food sometimes results in a gastro-intestinal phenomenon best described as 'Occasionally Inconsistent'. Todd coined that one. Say no more.
Observation 4: I don't like 'chicharon'. Vegetarians look away now. The particular case i'm referring to was pig's skin, all goose-pimply and dead, marinaded in something which is best described as vomit. No need for exagerration here - imagine drinking a litre of water, throwing it up and then using it to marinade pig's skin. Et voila: chicharon. The moment I smelt it I felt ill and Liz had to do all in her power not to chunder there and then. I managed about half of it by dousing it with copious amounts of salsa. The pain of the hot salsa removed any sense of taste from my mouth for the whole afternoon, leaving me queasy and with a runny nose. Lovely. Never again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)