Where does the time go?

Life in Southern Mexico has been full lately—equal parts holy adventure, hard work, laughter, and the occasional moment of asking God, “Really?”

As Global Missionaries, we received our annual visit from our area supervisor this month, and lucky me—it also happened to coincide with the exact moment my knee decided to protest life, and the same day our car’s water pump gave up entirely. “¿En serio, God?”  God sometimes writes the best lessons through unexpected obstacles like pushing our car the highway and literally pushing it to 4 different mechanics!

The past few weeks have included doctor visits, an X-ray, MRI, and an orthopedic consultation. The diagnosis: arthritis plus a lifelong kneecap issue that has decided to make itself known in dramatic fashion. Surgery (knee replacement) may eventually be part of the story, but for now, we are trying medications, physical therapy, patience, and prayer. We would appreciate prayers for less swelling and more mobility—especially since we are planning on a volcano climb in late summer.

Something I am very excited about:  We are preparing to launch some farm products, including goat soap, goat cheese, herbal teas, and more—as an effort to  create an alternative revenue source for GYTTE and local women.  Working on these projects have been super-fun!  Our coworkers have been perfecting the soap and cheese-making process, and soon we hope to host workshops for local village women and Community Health Promoters. The goal is simple: create new skills, new opportunities, and sustainable ways for families to support themselves.

With several mama goats recently weaned from their babies, milk is abundant. Sala taught me how to milk a goat, and let’s just say it is far harder than it looks!  I had no idea the workout your hands get.  Nor did I have any idea how squirely the goats are.  Especially their pen mates…   Everyone is curious and wants the special treats, but no one holds still for milking, lol!

We are also preparing a second edition of the GYTTE cookbook. Of course, we had to include Vero’s famous guava and mango cheesecake recipes.  They are fan favorites of our visiting mission teams. Testing recipes has become serious ministry work around here!  It’s probably one of my favorite “other duties as assigned!” Translating measurements and adjusting ingredients from Spanish to English is no easy task—but someone had to sacrifice and eat multiple versions of mango cheesecake.  I answered the call and also got to learn more words relating to cooking and the kitchen—a win-win!

Meanwhile, Pat and Joel have been clearing bamboo near the house with machetes, looking like they stepped out of an action movie—or perhaps an unusually agricultural version of survival television.

Mission life has stayed beautifully busy—so much so, I haven’t had time to write a blog post! We welcomed medical and dental teams from KS, AZ, and TN, and hosted an AWARE team from Houston, traveled to different parts of our state: Tochimizolco and Iztepec.

We enjoyed a meaningful visit from Terry Henderson, founder of GYTTE. His visit reminded us how lives can be shaped over decades of faithful service.  We shared some laughs, and also were able to dedicate our new Hope on Wheels Trailer in his late wife/GYTTE’s co-founder’s memory.  And we worshipped with him during a memorial service and ash burying for Muriel.

And then there’s Sam the Snake.  Despite our best efforts to seal every crack, screen and patch every entryway, Sam has appeared in the rafters as if he pays rent here. I’m not sure what kind of snake he is, nor do I really care, but he also poops and pees on our floor And doesn't clean up after himself.  Nobody likes a messy roommate, LOL!  My anxiety is super-high when it comes time to stepping into our house, as I’m never sure what surprise Sam might leave us.  My screams tend to scare him away, so we cannot figure out where he retreats too.  My friend Diana suggested carrying an open umbrella to the bathroom at night for my psychological protection and to not wake Pat, when I fear he might fall onto my shoulders. I’m not sure whether it would help—but emotionally, it feels supportive—so my sister’s London Fog umbrella now sits on my nightstand!

One of the greatest joys was completing and dedicating Federico’s home. (You might remember that his home literally fell off a mountain during the 2017 earthquake who’s epicenter was in Tlancualpican—the village where our ranch is.  Frederico and his family have been living in 200 sq ft of space that remained, using tarps for shelter.  We completed a 2-story home with a second floor for his 3 boys was such a wonderful project to work on with our mission teams.  Spending time with his family reminded us that ministry is not just about projects—it is about people, relationships, and dignity.  And it was fun to watch Pat in action during the house dedication.  So much joy!

For a little fun, we attended Puebla GLOW, a spectacular event where buildings came alive with lights, stories, and music. We only got to experience 6 of the 23 exhibits because my knee was giving me troubles, but it was awesome nonetheless.  I continue to be impressed at the variety of super-cool cultural events the city of Puebla offers—for free.  It is an awesome way to meet people and build community.

I was also thoroughly spoiled on my birthday—with dinner, pajamas, a lucha libre mask, and a surprise fiesta at the office. I am surrounded by people who genuinely care for one another, and that is a gift beyond words. 

We toured Atlixco with our new friend Gina, whom we met during the dental mission. She has volunteered for four decades, following a family legacy that helped establish one of the first clinics in the area. As she guided us through her town, we enjoyed amazing churches with cool architecture and admired vibrant murals and even met the artist painting freehand in the government building.

Now with a lull in between visiting mission teams, our Spanish lessons have resumed. They are challenging, humbling, and occasionally hilarious—but we are improving little by little.

And somehow, we have already reached ten months in Mexico.

Time is moving quickly, but our hearts feel deeply rooted here. Through goats, cheesecake, mission teams, broken water pumps, and all the unexpected moments in between, we continue to see God faithfully present in the ordinary and extraordinary alike.

We truly cannot imagine being anywhere else.