Back from the mountains….

We were in the mountains this past week in Oaxaca, Mexico. We went to three different villages. Not the villages we had planned to go into. All three villages we planned on doing medical outreaches did not allow us to enter in because of the political turmoil there and because we were protestant Christians. The Catholicism here in Oaxaco is mixed with a lot of witchcraft and superstition. There is a lot of fear of Americans and Christians in general. It is a very dark place and the people are fearful and violent. The place that we stayed at is in a village called El Mosco.
So, in El Mosco there are various animals; dogs, wild donkey, cows, mosquitoes, crazy dogs, and ravenous rats. Let me tell you about the crazy dogs. I counted eight dogs begging for food at one time. They all stare you down and act like they are going to bite you if you don’t share your food with them. The donkey made this hideous noise that startled me every time. The cows would run in front of the cars. The mosquitoes would attack you day and night. The building we stayed in is somewhat invested with rats. The rats got into the medications by eating through the plastic box. They also ate the cap of a water bottle that belonged to one of the doctors. I heard that on the last trip one of the cooks got bitten and another lady had a rat crawl over her face in the middle of the night. Therefore, I was afraid of sleeping on the cement floor where rats rule. The first 2 nights I slept in the back of a truck with a spare tire and piles of dust. I had a sore throat after that and decided to sleep in the cab the next night. That night my back and neck hurt so badly and my legs were cramped up all night. Finally I decided to live by faith and stay in the room with all the other girls. And I survived the rats.
Let me tell you about the bathrooms. So this year there were less peep wholes for the kids to peak in on you while you were taking a shower or going to the restroom. You can practically take a shower and go to the restroom at the same time. But this out house is awesome compared to cement hole in the ground at the other houses covered with maggots and flies.
The kids have become more loving and less violent over the years. It was so much fun playing with them and seeing them begin to be more open to us. The Mixteco culture is very harsh and violent. You can tell the kids are starving for love. As playing with the children, I was thinking …this is the next generation of Mixteco people and if we continue to come to these mountains and share the love of Christ, change has to take place because Gods word does not return to Him void.

Here is a little girl peeking in the buliding watching clinic with curosity!

This little boy is named Martine....He is a wild little boy that roams around looking for what kind of trouble he can get into. He has a big smile. He will sweetly hug you and then the next moment punch you and kick you! The sweet moments with him touched my heart.

I have been on several of these trips in the past but this one was different for me.
The trip felt like I was truely suffering and I had not felt this way on any prior trips. It was hard work and extreme living conditions. I had no energy and felt exhausted. I learned what the word persevere means. I was learning to be in charge of the pharmacy and what all that entails. Pharmacy includes tedious, repetitive, and non-relational work. I was also frustrated because I did not know the language and I did not have an extreme compassion in my heart to serve or joy in doing it. The work felt like work. But, I know the work I was doing made it able for the natives to minister more effectively in that region. They are the ones to continue the work and disciple the people. So it brings me much joy to know my bagging, labeling, and organizing medicine made an open door for Pastor Florentino, Maricella, and Carmella (native mixteco missionaries) to share the gospel. The door in these regions are either closed or cracked open. Bringing medical care to the Mixtecos has paved the way for the native evangelist to build relationships.
The plowing is a difficult task. I realized I want quick and easy results and I want to be part in the relationship building. The labor on the field is not always just seeing the ripe fruits and picking them but it is also sweating while you till the ground and continue to plow on through and hope for fruit to come.

Here is LeAnn and I working in the mobile pharmacy. She is teaching me how to take over when she leaves in April. What a job! She impresses me with her detailed and caring medication administration.

In El Mosco one person gave their life to Christ. In Chinniuba, 10 people made a decision for Christ and 7 in Ixtayutla. Thank you Jesus!!!
~So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only Godwho gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:7-9

I had so much the last night playing with the little girls who used to be so shy but are now willing to come up to us and play until we have to send them home. (they still don't sill in pictures :) )