Being in Mexico

🌅 From Mole to Ministry...

By Pat Lewis

This morning, I’m sitting in the kitchen of the non-profit where we’re working, and all around me is a kind of chaotic symphony...

  • A voice from a nearby office on a phone call

  • The washing machine rumbling through our laundry

  • My CPAP stuff soaking in the sink—drip… drip…

  • And outside, the ambulance garage tests its sirens just as the tamale guy rolls by on his bike, shouting through his ancient PA:

“TAMALEEEEEEESSSSS!”

And just to top it off, the shower this morning? Ice cold.
Several cloudy days in a row left our solar water heater without hot water.

So there I stood—shivering, a little overwhelmed—and honestly wondering:

❝ What have I gotten myself into? ❞

And Yet… Peace Amid the Chaos

Despite the discomfort, something unexpected has found me here: peace.

My wife’s laughter? It’s never sounded so full of joy.
And after several restless nights, I finally slept—thanks to a kind local doctor who patiently listened to my broken Spanish and treated my back pain.

Life here is raw.
It’s stripped of convenience.
But it’s also more real. More human.

When we first arrived, ordering a meal felt like climbing a mountain.
Now, months later, our Spanish is still clunky, but we’re learning—not just a language, but a way of life.

A Lesson in Language (and Life)

The other day, I stumbled across a Facebook post that gave me a whole new lens for this journey.
I’m not sure who originally wrote it, but the insight stuck with me.

In Spanish, the verb “to be” is split into two forms:

  • Ser

  • Estar

They both mean to be, but they carry two very different kinds of truth.

Ser – The Essence of Being

“Dios es amor.” – God is love
“Soy hijo de Dios.” – I am a child of God

Ser points to our unchanging identity—who we are at the deepest level.
This truth doesn’t shift with moods, struggles, or where we live.

It is our eternal essence.

Estar – The Experience of Being

“Estoy cansado.” – I’m tired
“Estoy feliz.” – I’m happy
“Estoy en el camino.” – I’m on the journey

Estar captures our present condition.
Where we are. How we feel. What we’re walking through in this moment.

These things are real—but they’re also temporary.
And that’s okay.

Living in the Tension

I find myself walking a line every day between ser and estar.

❝ We feel distant from God (estar), and wrongly assume we’re no longer worthy (ser).
We feel lost—and believe we are lost. ❞

But here’s the truth:
Feelings aren’t facts.

Just because I’m walking through a valley doesn’t mean I’m alone or that God isn't with me.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” – Psalm 23

That’s estar—walking through the valley—held side by side with ser—the unchanging presence of God.

Living Fully in Both Truths

Here’s what I’m learning to embrace:

  • We are (ser) created in the image of God.

  • We are (estar) growing, stumbling, learning, and finding our way.

God doesn’t ask us to live only in the eternal, or only in the temporary.

We’re invited to live in the fullness of both.

So, This Morning...

With cold showers and noisy streets, imperfect Spanish and unexpected peace—

I’m learning to live in that beautiful tension.

  • I am tired.

  • I am learning.

  • I am here.

And I am—always—a child of God.

Gracias por leer.

May we all continue learning to:

  • Stay grounded in who we are

  • Be honest about where we are

  • Walk faithfully into the journey ahead


"Heavenly Creator of all, we lift this day to you and ask that you open our hearts to be present with the world around us, noting what is for the moment and what is eternal in you. May we be bless today and every day with this gift. Amen"

💡 Reflective Questions

  1. What is a truth about me that doesn’t ever change (ser)?

  2. What am I experiencing right now (estar)—and where is God in the midst of it?



My wife found the original reflections on ser and estar on Facebook and shared them with me. I do not know who the original writer was, but in no way wish to use their words as my own. If you are the author, would you please let me know who you are so that I might credit you with your works. Thank you.

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