Trip

Sorry that the pics are in reverse order. That's the way it happened. So, just scroll down, then scroll back up for chronological order!
Anyway, last week I had the opportunity to fly out to a place in the mountains where some coworkers are working with an indigenous group. As it turned out b/c of the weather, we did not leave the airstrip, but rather turned right around & flew back to the city. It was good to be able to get an idea what "the mountains" look like. I think most or all of the people we work with live in an environment like these people do.

This work has been going on for some time. There are 4 families living in the area. One couple is working on translation. Another couple is full time discipleship and evangelism. Another couple works with them in evangelism & discipleship and also teaches the believers carpentry. And the other couple lives in town and works with mestizos & indigenous people in the town.

This is not a place one of the places where I might go - but it was an opportunity to see a mountain work in Mexico & get more acquainted with Mexico & the other coworkers.

Final approach back into the city. Um, this fields in the airport area are abnormally green. This area is well fertilized & well watered. This is not what the rest of the area looks like.

A little rain! 

Stormy & clear. We flew through the storms to get to the clear. 

The base of the mountain where my coworkers live. The town is right under the plane.

Storms moving in. Notice there are vehicles. This place is accessible by road - a 9 hour drive minimum - when the conditions are perfect, but it can be up to a 12-15 hour drive if road conditions are bad. Flying saves a lot of time & is a lot less stressful!!

Our destination - this is mostly a mestizo town but there are some indigenous people who live here also. Some coworkers live at the extreme left edge of the picture right in the middle - about 10 minute drive outside of town - at the base of the mountains. They're ministry is with the indigenous people who live scattered in the mountains.

the canyon

Storm on the Canyon Ridge. Because of this, we were only able to be on the ground for 30 minutes - enough time to unload, take off fuel, and load up again for the return flight.

the canyon

the canyon

the canyon

This is a large canyon located close by.

The agricultural plains turn into mountains - and there begins to be a lot more trees. They're mostly pine. 

The trip takes approximately 1.5 hours. These agriculture fields are just outside the city where I live. However, this whole region has been in a period of drought for the last 12 years, if I remember right, and so these areas are not doing so well economically right now.

The big city

Taking off from the city

The Airport - this is the plane that flies out to the mountains were we work.

Panorama of the City & Mountains

This is a very small portion of the northern part (looking east) of the city where I live. I live just off the picture on the left side & the place where I study Spanish in the morning is just off the picture on the right side and a few streets farther into the city. It's a nice walk - only about 10 minutes. Many of my coworkers live in the neighborhood (the brightly colored buildings) on the far right of the picture.

Youth Conference at El Cordero

Last week the church that I've started going to (Iglesia Evangelica Libre El Cordero - The Lamb Evangelical Free Church) had a Youth Conference. People from all over the state came - many youth from the city here and others from cities west & south of here. There were about 200-250 youth both Friday night & Saturday night.
The Lord worked mightily those two days. There were quite a few youth who committed their lives to serve Christ! It was so exciting! There were three different speakers & various bands that led us in worship. The Lord cordinated all the speakers & the bands so that each built on the previous one! The theme was from Romans 12:2 "Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him."

These are the youth from El Cordero who heard God's call to host & run the conference. The group includes jr. high, high school, college, & out of college ages.
The conference was a great opportunity to get to know the youth group as I was able to work with them both Friday & Saturday. They are a great group of people who love the Lord.

A New Schedule

The Mexican culture tends to be a very late culture & I am trying to get used to it. Although I am a night person, I don't think I've stayed up so late so consistently since I was in Bible College when I was 18 & 19!!
Most events & visiting are at night & they usually last until very late. For example, when I have gone out to coffee with people, it's about 9pm when everyone gets to the cafe. And, we usually don't leave until 11:30. By the time I get home & in bed, it's already the next day!
I have readily embraced the Mexican siesta!! When I get home from Spanish class in the morning, I have a little nap (fried brain from thinking so hard in Spanish & tired from the night before!)
Mexicans have a different meal schedule from us Americans, also. They have breakfast in the morning, then a light snack around 11am. Then, they eat their main, heavy meal in the afternoon, between 2-3 and supper is a light snack anywhere from 8pm-11pm. People in the workforce get a two hour lunch break from 1-3 or 2-4 so they can go home, eat & take a little siesta! What do you think about that! But, they also get off work later than we do in the US!

Spanish

This is my Spanish class! Sandy Mack (on the left) and I are in the intermediate-advanced class. Paty, in the middle is one of our teachers. Alonso Cano is the other teacher. We do two lessons a week & the teachers alternate teaching the lessons.
In the morning at 8am, my Spanish schedule starts with Grammar class which I attend with the intermediate class; then, from 9-11am, Sandy & I have our class. In the afternoon I review the lesson we are currently studying, listen to Spanish texts, review vocabulary, & I am also working through all the lessons from the beginning of the program to where we are in class (that's taking a while!) And, I am with people a lot in the evenings, practicing Spanish & developing relationships with the people here.