Dear friends,
It's almost December and already Spanish Christmas music is playing in the local supermarket. It's strange to hear Jingle Bells and other similar tunes blaring out in a different language although it has to be said that the translation doesn't improve them one bit.
The obligatory weather report: it's warmer than when I left 3 weeks ago and wandering to lunch at Santa Cruz is considerably more comfortable than a long winter walk in the Cambridge fens (brrrrr). Still dry here and it's getting a bit dusty. However, as I write, ominous storm clouds are gathering which is a sure sign that I'll get wet on the way home. Of course I didn't bring a coat; I'm British, male and I don't rust.
Anyway... the last 2 weeks feel like they have been spent mainly in transit from somewhere to somewhere else whilst clearing my US visa situation (all good now). As annoying as it was to be forced to make this extra trip in addition to an already-booked trip in January, I feel like God made it a very useful time for Armonía and me. I was able to courier packages to and from Mexico. I took part in a whole load of meetings with the Armonía UK people, looking at what they're trying to do in our green and pleasant land. I was given time to promote what Armonía's doing around Mexico City and in Tabasco, and am returning with almost enough money to buy 4 new water purifiers and a whole stack of medicines for that same flooded region. I spent some great times catching up with friends (mostly in warm coffee shops) and hanging out at church in Norwich and Cambridge. I think the measure of my busyness was driving just under 800 miles in 9 days (much of it up and down my favourite A11)!
And so Tuesday I returned to Mexico pretty tired (which seems to have contributed to being taken down by some annoyingly potent foreign bug until friday). I have now decided that flying West is tedious (going east is just tiring) - 12 hours in a plane is enough to drive anyone mad, especially when you're sitting next to an over-enthusiastic person who wants to talk Spanish the whole way and beat you at Mexican card games you don't understand. On any other day, I would have appreciated the company but surely you've got to get to the point where you realise when to stay quiet. Unfortunately, Iberia aren't exactly world-renowned for their entertainment systems so I undertook to read a John Grisham novel and a series of Martin Lloyd Jones lectures entitled 'What is an evangelical' in a desperate effort to stay sane. No wonder I was ready to return my room in Alheli to subzero temperatures and go to sleep when I landed. Alas, we had to get through the Mexico rush hour traffic and being hit hard by the car behind certainly wasn't conducive to good sleep (we're all fine, don't worry Mum)!
Not much else has changed whilst I've been away. Pilar is getting better so she and Saul went to Oaxaca to have a recuperation holiday. Todd has spent the week getting ready to go home. Liz has spent the time bantering with the guys at Alheli, redoing her list of medicines and being stalked on numerous occasions. It's good to be back to my old habits of winding her up with my excellent sense of humour (so I like to think). The list of things we have to do has changed subtly and next week I'm going to become some sort of dental expert as I sort through the equipment in the Armonía dentistry at Santa Cruz. The thought of handling dental drill bits - argh! Around this, I'm doing things for Armonía UK, starting to plan the UK celebration with Saul (for the second time), preparing for the Christmas period here, trying to get the Cruzes into New Word Alive 2008 and looking at the prospects and initial details of a student visit out to Mexico (more on that another time). I can't wait to get started again, particularly now that I'm feeling better.
I was going to try to keep this short but I've failed again. Not to worry; I'm off for lunch and to give some good ole Colman's English mustard to the ladies at the centre. Maybe they'll understand the agony I suffer every time I eat their salsa; it has the potential to be amusing (and, of course, culturally informing).
Thank you so much for all your interest in what I've been up to, your support for me and the work of Armonía, and your prayers. I had a lovely time back in the UK and am looking forward to more Mexican madness. :)
Chris / Güero
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