A Weekend in Mexico

Concrete everywhere, no open space, backyards are unheard of, people sell whatever they can to make a buck, Megaphones project the salesman’s voice, Mariachis, food stands on street corners, graffiti, Jesus on the cross, early morning bells, crazy driving, car horns honking, love birds enjoying, ice cream, speaking Spanish, jewelry making, entrepreneurs, pesos, Quinsienetta dress, Spanish subtitles for American movies, high heals, no flushing toilet paper, and bright colored paint on walls and houses.

Although, I have not spent a lot of time in Mexico, the culture is still very familiar to me , partly because I am Hispanic, but also because there were many Mexicans from Mexico that grew up around me. This trip was a great cross-cultural experience for me as I prepare for India. There are so many needs around the world, and I see how missionaries get overwhelmed by wanting to do it all!

Just south of the border there are so many needs, I cannot imagine how many needs I will be exposed to on the other side of the world in India. The smells will be more intense, the language even less familiar, there will not be crosses with Jesus on it, instead there will be temples with idol worship. There will be bright colors. However, those bright colors will be found in the textiles and fabric of women’s clothing, versus walls, and the exterior of house.

Although the cultures are very different, I think there is one thing that can be said to be the same despite the culture; every woman wants to be perceived as being beautiful. Beauty is made most beautiful when it is that adorning beauty from the inside that radiates to the outside when she has a love and compassion for others, not because of anything inside of her, but because of that love that first loved her. That is what I want to do with my life, help women adorn that inner beauty that God created. Adorning that beauty starts with planting the tree by the streams of running water, so that that its roots become pure, well nourished, and able to bear fruit. Without the streams of running water, the roots dry and shrivel up, with no opportunity for fruit to be bared. One who is not planted by the streams of running water is like a bush in the desert, “who will not see when prosperity comes, but will live in the stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant.” Not very beautiful is it?

One of my favorite parts of the trip to Mexico was sitting down with two young girls. It was inspiring, because as they practiced their english, I got to practice my spanish. They knew just as much english as I knew spanish. I have always been intimidated by learning another language, but that intimidation became much less as I saw that I learned a lot by spending this lunch hour with these girls. Language is so key, while in Mexico there were so many people that I wanted to talk to and build a relationship with, but couldn't because I am not fluent in the language. Seeing that I want to spend my life investing in women, sharing hope with them, and helping them adorn that inner beauty, and the fact that I would love to do that cross-culturally, I will need to learn a new language. Becuase, I want to invest in people of another culture, whom speak a different language, it is not going to be easy, but all to say the least, this experience with these young girls was inspiring. I know that with the Lord's strength and if that would glorify Him most, I can learn a new language. It is amazing that letters grouped together have meaning and with that meaning relationships can be built! Lets make Christ known!