On visas, pyramids, and martians

A newsletter is on its way! I am actually surprised by how little I am able to fit into a newsletter, so, for those who want to hear a little more, I will expound on a few things.

Visa: My FM3 visa (permission to do missionary work) is being processed, so I currently have some papers that say that it is in transit and those serve in place of a visa for now. For visa photos, you cannot have hair in your face, you cannot smile, and you are in lights as bright as car headlights. So it often does not make for the greatest picture. But, I was actually able to do a bit of a smile without actually smiling and I usually have my hair back, so I am fairly pleased with my picture - if I do say so myself ;-).

Oaxaca apt: For now, I am still renting my apartment. I called my landlords and asked them to take out the trash I had to leave in my kitchen (at the time I left, the trash truck had not passed by for at least a week - probably because, due to blockades, they didn't have any means of leaving the city to dump it). If we cannot return too soon after January, someone will probably go to my apartment and pack up the rest of my things (although I really hope that doesn't have to happen).

Food allergy update: Well, I have had to pass up many delicious looking foods, but thankfully I have had only one minor reaction when I was unaware there was chili in a sandwich. People are very understanding of food allergies around here and can usually accommodate me.

Location, location, location: For the past month, I have been in Mexico City in the homes of the Petersons and the Kellys. I will soon be heading to Monterrey for a meeting there with Jo Ellen and Cindy. Then I will come back here to hopefully take care of the final formalities of getting my visa.

And now... (drum roll please)... some pictures!

Pyramid at Cuicuilco (qwee-qweel-co) - my own pronunciation key, if you couldn't tell. Did you know that there are round pyramids? This is one of them (I really have no idea if there are more and where they might be, Egypt I expect). It is interesting that in Mexico pyramids are often discovered because people are trying to build something and stumble upon them.

BEFORE this picture, the Peterson family and I went to their church. I really enjoyed the people there and was able to take some video of the worship service.

AFTER this picture, we stopped at McDonald's on the way home (my first McD's since coming here to Mexico) and watched a Sunday evening movie (SpyKids 2 - which I actually found quite entertaining :-)

Descending an escalator at the local mall. Does it look like they're ready for Christmas yet? I went along with the Petersons to help take their annual Christmas picture.

BEFORE this photo we had picked the boys up from their school and had them don their Christmas photo attire.

AFTER this photo, just about everyone was staring at us as we tried to get a good picture (as I experienced as a camp photographer, most little boys have not mastered difficult skill of sitting still for a picture). ;-)

OANSA! (translation: AWANAS!) These are some of the kids who were at the Saturday morning OANSA club (on the right is one of the Peterson boys).

BEFORE this picture, the kids had played a few rounds of the ever fun Sardines (Hide-and-Seek where one hides and all seek, and if you find the hider, you hide with them)

AFTER this, I sat in on the Junior high movie afternoon. They made hamburgers and watched Chariots of Fire. Then, Dave and Wendy Mark drove me to the home of Tom and Janice Kelly.

Thanksgiving! Singing from the Covenant Red Hymnals are Tom Kelly, Jerry Love, and Karl Peterson

Before this photo, we had all just eaten a hearty Thanksgiving meal.

After this photo, my parents called and I got to talk to them. It was very nice to hear from them. And then, we ate pie :-)

Community day at the boys' school. Can you tell that we were all a little chilly? I helped in the story telling room. The woman you see sitting on the red mat is a writer and a grandmother of a few of the students. We read the book she wrote for children on how to put on a play.

BEFORE this picture, I really had no idea how I was supposed to help out with this activity.

AFTER this picture, I ended up in a skit with a couple of the kids, in which I was a mermaid and a martian stole my baby, but a monkey helped me get her back. It was all very thrilling. ;-)

Abrahams: If I can't win, I won't run!
Gordon: If you don't run, you can't win.

Eric Liddel: I believe God made me for a purpose - for China, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.
~ Chariots of Fire ~

Postcards from Laura - UNAM

Hello from Mexico City! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 15, 2006

Last week I got to visit the National Autonomous University of Mexico, also known as UNAM (pronounced "oo-nahm"). This is one of the largest universities in the world, with nearly 300,000 students! The campus is beautiful - built on an ancient solidified lava bed, making the drive through seem almost like a national park. -Well, apart from the 40 artistically designed faculty buildings, Olympic soccer stadium, and thousands of cars lining the streets. :)

The students come from many different backgrounds because there is no cost - you just have to be smart enough to get in. One thing that was pointed out to me is that there is very little Christian ministry on this campus - it is especially hard to do because there is no on campus housing. Walking through the campus, seeing the students in groups on the lawn, reading advertisements for upcoming events - all of it actually made me want to be back in college. Ah, the good old days ;-).

With love in Christ,
Laura :-)

UNAM - Encyclopedia
UNAM - Website (English version)

I'm still here!

Hello! Sorry it has been a bit since my last post. I am doing well, as I hope you are too :-). Since I arrived here in Mexico City, I have been staying with the Peterson family here in the southern part of the city. It has been fun to get to know them, as well as meet other missionaries in the area. I have had the opportunity to see new parts of Mexico - well, new to me anyhow. ;-) I have also been able to serve here through visiting different churches and meeting local leaders, babysitting, and taking some video that I will hopefully use for future videos for the Covenant.

Oaxaca is still having many problems. It is almost easier to get news about what is going on now that I am outside Oaxaca, but it is harder to know how reliable/subjective that news is. Every time I hear about Oaxaca, which is quite often, I am reminded to pray for the city. Today I got some news from a friend in Oaxaca and she was excited to start dancing lessons today - so life still does go on for Oaxacans.

Please pray for Oaxaca. Also, please pray for Cindy, Jo Ellen and myself as we go through this time of uncertainty of the future. Thank you!

Mark in Mexico

I wanted to share this link to another blog of a guy who has been living in Oaxaca. He gives a conservative report of the current events in Oaxaca, if you'd like to take a look http://markinmexico.blogspot.com/.

Update: Mark in Mexico can use some pretty colorful language at times, just wanted to give you a heads up on that.

Safely Evacuated

I've just sent out an e-mail to those who receive my newsletters to let you know that I am safe. I was evacuated today, and I writing from a missionary family's home in Mexico City.

I had no idea at the time, but as I flying away, things in my neighborhood were turning dangerous. This link is to an article in the San Jose Mercury News that describes the scene that took place near the neighborhood where we live: Mexico police surround Oaxaca University. I would like to point out that when they say that nine people have died in this conflict, they mean the total deaths in the last five months that this whole thing has been going on.

Something burning in the distance: I took this picture from my window seat as our plane got ready to take off.

I may not be heading back to Oaxaca for about a month, depending on the events of the next few weeks. During my time away, I will be getting oriented to other parts of the Covenant Church in Mexico and helping other missionaries. I will probably be here in Mexico City for at least a week. I very much appreciate your continued prayers, both for me and for the city and state of Oaxaca - the innocent citizens, the federal police, and the protestors.

Postcards from Laura - El Dia de Los Muertos

Hello! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 1, 2006
Today, my language school celebrated the first day of the Days of the Dead. November 1st is a day to remember children that have passed away, and November 2nd is for the adults. The holiday is definitely a mixture of Catholicism and ancient beliefs. People build colorful altars in their homes in memory of the people in their family who have passed away. The language school is an old estate where the family of the director lived. In this picture, you can see the photos of her family surrounded by flowers, candles, incense, and a band that was hired for the day. To continue this celebration, we followed the band through the local streets. Some of the teachers were in costume and many of the students had made masks for the day. We were kind of a parade of gringos :-).
Even with all the festivities and laughter, it was hard to forget that Oaxaca is still working towards peace. Hopefully the calm that is coming on the city is here to stay, and not just a calm before a storm. "Wait for the Lord; be strong, take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14
With love in Christ,
Laura