When you cross the border, everything changes.
Once-paved roads are now paths of rocks and dirt. Signs once understood now become meaningless conglomerations of letters. Suburbs are soon replaced by “ejidos”, or loose collections of houses. Well-manicured lawns are now patchy grass-covered storage grounds for practical uses, though the occasional potted tropical plant is not uncommon.
I live at The Gateway, or “El Portal”, as the Mexicans call it. It is a missions facility just over the border into Mexico. I sleep in a non-air-conditioned room with about 20 other women. Its as hot as an oven and when the mosquitos get in at night, they are merciless. We spend our days in teams according to our final destinations – my team is called Uganda 2. It is comprised of myself, Jenessa, Kyle, John, Cherise and Tara. I am the oldest; we range in age from 18-24. We practice team-building exercises, study the theology of being a Christ-follower and commune together sharing daily responsibilities.
More recently we have gotten the chance to meet our “host family”, the Mexican family our team will be getting to know and helping out over the next 7 weeks. Their names are Irma and Mauricio. We’ve only met Irma so far, but she is kind and generous, offering what she has to make us all the more comfortable.
Yesterday we were able to visit a children’s home in the local area. We played with the kids for a few hours and just got to enjoy their smiles and laughter. It is a precious memory I will keep for a long time. We will be visiting the children again soon.
The people here are resourceful. When the power goes out (as it does regularly here), they praise God for the light of the sun and the coolness of the breeze. They tell stories about growing up with no electricity and how as children they used to dance in the light of the moon. Neighbors take ownership of neighbors to help when needed. There is a time-tested sense of community that is palpable here. They rely not on the government, or even on themselves, but on God and each other, and there is no weakness in that.
Here, a house is just a house. A car is just a car. Clothes are just clothes and food is just food.
Irma says, “We are simple people and we live simply.” Simple. Uncomplicated. Uncluttered. Beautifully, quintessentially simple.
I challenge you to live simply for a week, or even a day, in whatever capacity you can. Eat because you need nourishment and savor it. Prepare a meal by candlelight and share it with people you love. Wash clothes by hand in your bathtub. Wash dishes by hand in your sink.
If you do these things, you won’t save the world. But maybe, that’s not the point.
Love from Mexico,
Jess
