On being blessed

Yes, I am a missionary in Mexico who is allergic to chili. The irony is not lost on me :). I've been avoiding eating food with chili in it for so long that just looking at the above picture makes me a little uncomfortable. Although I've had to explain my allergies more times than I can count, I really don't mind it so much.

Most people at the children's home are aware of my food allergies. The cooks will apologize to me if there is chili in the meal. Sometimes they set aside some food for me before they add the spices - I am very thankful when they do that. But, more than once, I have only eaten rice and tortillas for a meal (no worries though - I am obviously not starving ;-).

However, on occasion they serve meals that I can eat. The cooks say, "Laura, you can eat today!" :) I laugh and do a little cheer. The other day was one such occasion, and my friend Letty smiled and said in her quiet way, "Laura! God has blessed you today." I thought for a moment, and replied, "Why, yes. He has." What a great reminder.

Just as you are...

"I like you very much. Just as you are."

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Some may recognize that as the very romantic quote of Mr. Darcy on Bridget Jones Diary. If you aren't familiar with that movie, I'd say that's ok, as most of the other lines are rather crude. But, that one quote actually brings to mind something I was reminded of a few weeks ago.

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"God wasn't surprised when you were born, you came out exactly as He intended."

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"God is a great designer, you are one of His originals."

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I heard myself translating the above message from Spanish to English for my visiting friend, as the Zaachila church reflected on Psalm 139. As I spoke those words, I was filled with a deep joy, because I felt like God was telling me, "I love you, just as you are". All too often I forget that - I dwell on the many things I should be doing better, thinking that if I change this or that, God will love me more. And when I buy into that lie, God's words of love get drowned out by worry and guilt.

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But when I stop to listen and believe (not always a simple thing to do - by the way), God always comes through with His comforting, refreshing, healing, mysterious, extravagant love. And I am once again amazed.

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To walk or not to walk...

This morning as I awoke to the ringing bell and honking of the trash truck, I rolled over and pulled my covers up a little more to keep out the chilly morning air. I had hoped to sleep in some on my day off, but began debating whether take out my trash from yesterday's baking endeavors. Knowing the banana peels and egg shells would not be doing so great by the time the trash truck came next week, I reluctantly slid out of bed, with an idea forming that maybe I could take a walk too...

As I went out to the street, I was rewarded with a brilliant sunrise lighting the clouds rolling over the dark mountains to the north. Not the array of colors some Colorado sunrises can produce, but my heart still lept in praise at the beautiful golds and silvers God had painted that morning. My landlady was out sweeping and I proudly told her of my idea to go walk at the university's sports complex and invited her along. She informed me that she'd already gone and come back. Oh, I see... :) Undeterred, I set out at what I hoped was a brisk pace, and soon was joining the ranks of other early morning walkers.

I walked along the outer fence, following others when I wasn't sure exactly which way to go - trying not to look like this was my first time out there. I made two laps, noticing that some joggers overtook me twice - I didn't mind though, after all, it was my first time out there! :) I pondered how Mexico was a land of contrasts as I passed pine trees followed by palms, a poor neighborhood followed by a pricey store. I smelled the fresh citrus in the air as a few enterprising gentlemen squeezed orange juice for early morning passersby. A man drew chalk lines on a dried soccer field and a few pick up games of basketball started on the center courts.

I headed home with the now risen sun warming my back and a determination to make such refreshing mornings a habit. We'll see how that resolution works out... :)

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Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Music in the air

Being on the famed Oaxacan zocalo (town square) usually provides some form of unique musical entertainment - often from competing artists. I apologize for the brevity of the videos, but I guess you'll just have to come visit if you want to be able to fully experience the music. :)
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An early morning serenade by the Oaxaca song man. He is a common fixture on the zocalo, and would love to sell you one of his CDs.
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Every Sunday afternoon the zocalo fills with the majestic music from an orchestra (most often the Oaxaca State Band).
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And of course in the evening out come the mariachis. :)

Photos from Cuilapam

Legend has it that the roof can never be finished because a Dominican friar angered the wrong spirits. History records that costs began to soar for the extravagant structure, and so plans to finish building the church came to a halt. Every Sunday my bus speeds past the church in Cuilapam (kwee-la-pah-m) as I peer out my window and wish I had the time to stop and explore.

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I finally got to visit this church with my college roommate yesterday. A warm, sunny day greeted us when we got off our bus in this small town. We wasted no time to walk right up to the church and begin exploring these stunning ruins of a church built more than 500 years ago.
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After admiring the impressive, albeit, half-finished front building, we kept on wandering through more doorways and halls, looking around at all the beautiful archways and columns.

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We found an opening between two scaffolds, and made our way through. Following an arrow, we kept turning left, and soon found ourselves at a decaying wooden door, which happened to be the entrance to the ex-convent behind the church. It was an added treat when the man sitting by the desk informed us that, on that day, it was free to explore.

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Each corner brought interesting new sights - some triggering the imagination, prompting us to envision what it was like for the residents of this convent so many years ago - other corners making us eager to move on, the unknown of a deep dark room or a plunging staircase to the basement making us a bit uncomfortable.

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As we made our way back out, we stopped for a quick picnic under the trees outside. It was a great way to spend our day. I'm not sure if I'll make it back there again, but now I can picture what is behind those big, stone walls when my bus rumbles by each Sunday.

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Black/white or sepia = easy ways to make sights look extra cool :)

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Cuilapan de Guerrero