Tonight, Travis and I just got back from a long long day trip to meet with a pastor at his church whom we will be working with in the future. Currently, I am checking out Christmas music on I-tunes and gearing up for the season, listening to Tony Bennett " I'll be home for Christmas" and having a pity party because I will NOT be home for Christmas neither will I be heading out for some Black Friday shopping deals the day after tomorrow. Blessings abundant - both our parents, my brothers, and one dear friend will make it down to visit and we will be having Thanksgiving dinner here with all the other missionaries tomorrow but it just isn't the same. Then, I started having pity parties about all sorts of other things. It was then that I decided, in honor of the season, to make a list of all the things I was thankful for specifically here in Mexico and share them with you.
So, here it goes.
We regularly experience a language barrier - This may seem to be a discouragement instead of a blessing. At times it is. However, I am looking to the positive side of things today and opening myself to a new realm of possible "joys." We do speak Spanish. It is not perfect Spanish with a beautiful accent but it is Spanish. However, some days I feel like all I want to do is SCREAM because I can't communicate as fast or as much as I want to - this is the tough part - However, this is probably a good thing. I have to really think about each word I am saying which makes it a lot easier for me to catch myself before saying unkind words or making derrogatory statements - blessing and a curse - what can I say? I am thankful.
We get to eat authentic Mexican food - Many of you may think you have had the real deal. You may suppose that Amigo's restaurant counts as authentic Mexican cuisine because it is run by hispanics or some of you may even consider Taco Bell on your list of international cuisines. However, until you have tried Irma's Chiles Enogadas, Lolita's Enchilada's Suizas, Hilda's rice and beans, or fresh tortillas straight off the griddle with lime, salt, and a dab of salsa - You have no idea what the real deal is - and I feel sorry for you. In Mexico City, we get to eats lots of yummy ( and fattening) Mexican food and boy do Mexicans know how to cook it up right!
We live in a city filled with beautiful history and culture - Just tonight as we were driving out to the church we were visiting, we passed the ruins of two huge Mayan pyramids, a couple of several century old churches, and a sign pointing us to where some ancient aquaducts reside. We are priviledged to live in such a city where every day is a learning experience as we get to see many parts of history and participate in learning a new culture.
We get to recognize daily how blessed we are - It is so easy being from such a great and wonderful country filled with all kinds of wealth to never realize the true meaning of "having little" or "roughing it." It is so easy for me to think that I am doing without when my hot water doesn't work or when they don't have canned biscuits at the grocery store. And then God directs us to a home that has no running water at all or where the people are struggling on a daily basis just to have food on the table. Some of the people here in Mexico are among some of the poorest I have ever seen. We have been in multiple homes that have no water, no real floor, no real . . . ANYTHING! Many many many times, I have felt compeled to complain about our situation to my husband and he ( and God) gently remind me of how much we have and how blessed we really and truly are.
The blessings just keep going on and on but this is all I have for now. Please pray for us this week as we are away from our families during the holidays.
1 comment:
It is great to hear and see you count your blessings... it encourages me to do the same. Thanks for sharing!
Post a Comment