This little piggy went to market...

Well, there may not be many market visits for a while with the Swine Flu in full swing.

Michael headed back to Mexico this morning and I am supposed to fly back next Tuesday. With the swine flu outbreak making the front page on every newspaper and highlighted on television channels literally around the world, I have to admit that I'm a bit uneasy about the whole thing. I hate being sick! And the media is making this sound like a horrific epidemic - mainly because they do not know much about this type of flu and how it will develop when it spreads.

Depending on the situation in Saltillo, there is a possibility that I would stay in Michigan longer than we planned. For now however, I am still planning to return next Tuesday. We'll see how things look in our area in a week. I am most worried about catching something during the flight on Mexican airlines - sitting closely to other people traveling back and forth to Mexico.

I'm a little frustrated with this latest development. We are planning to do some traveling during these last couple months and I've really been looking forward to that. It seems like the moment we made the decision to move to Mexico, the drug activity escalated. Safety has been a rising concern - and now we add earthquakes and a swine flu outbreak to the mix. I am thankful for our safety so far - and trust that God will continue to protect us. That is the most important thing - but I selfishly want to enjoy our time in Mexico and experience more of that country. There are places we want to go, things we want to see... It seems like things keep getting in the way. Perhaps there is a reason for this that I do not understand - and we've had some great experiences already. But there are a few places we have been talking about before we even arrived in Mexico - hopefully we'll be able to get to some before we move back home.

With that to say, I ask you to pray mainly for safety - for us and for others living in Mexico. Safety from natural disasters, from drug cartels, from illnesses, and from accidents. Not as important, but still a request, is prayers for opportunities to explore more of this country that will create lasting memories.

In Mich-again

Michael and I are back in Michigan for a visit. It's so good to be home. We left Mexico on Thursday - Michael will be in town for about two weeks and I will stay an extra week.

After waking up at 5 am and spending 1.5 hours on a bus, we arrived at Monterrey airport on Thursday morning. I hoisted my bag onto a table to be inspected and told them I was heading to Chicago. The woman looked at me with a smile and said (in an overly happy voice), "Oh! Chicago? Your flight has been canceled!"

I wondered why she couldn't have at least acted sad about it. Anyway, our choice was to fly out the next day (umm...no) or fly through Dallas and arrive in Chicago 3 hours later than originally scheduled. So it wasn't so bad.

We had a huge international airplane on our flight from Dallas to Chicago - which was nice because we each had our own television with a selection of TV programs and movies. I mistakenly picked the movie "Marley and Me." I had read the book and cried, but figured I'd be able to handle myself on the flight since I knew what was coming. I was wrong. My poor cocktail napkin never stood a chance. Michael - who was laughing out loud in the seat next to me as he watched "The Office" - finally looked at me in confusion and his expression asked, "What on earth is wrong with you?!" Here's how our conversation went:

HIM: "Are you crying about that movie?"

ME: "It's sad!" (sniff, sniff, wipe)

HIM: "Oh my goodness - that is ridiculous!"

ME: "Shut up!" (pause...he's still staring at me in wonder) "Shut UP! Stop looking at me!" (voice breaking... shoving his face toward the window)

HIM: "I can't believe this." (shaking his head)

ME: (wiping my eyes with what's left of my napkin)

HIM: (still staring at me) "Well, what's the movie about?"

ME: "Nothing - I can't talk about it right now. But you would probably cry, too. You would think about Belle dying."

HIM: "Oh my goodness." (still shaking his head and rolling his eyes)

Anyway, the movie continued and I tried even harder to hold it together. I'm sure people around me who were not watching the movie also thought I was going nuts. But oh well. If you've seen it - and if you've ever loved an animal - you understand. And so did the woman sitting across the aisle in the next row up. She was also watching the movie - but she was about 30 minutes behind me. I watched her itch her eye-then do a discreet wipe. Then I heard a sniff. Then I saw her quietly slide the cocktail napkin out from underneath her Diet Coke and slowly blot each eye. Then she blew her noise.

ME: "See!" (nudging him) "She's watching it, too!" (trying to prove I had every right to shed a couple tears)

HIM: "Oh my! What is that movie ABOUT?"

ME: "Nevermind."

Coming home

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad - 54 years! This is my parents driving our get-away car on our wedding day.

This is a short post because Michael and I are coming home tomorrow for a visit. It's past 9 pm and I still have to pick Michael up from Arteaga, run to a couple stores, and pack. But we are very excited to be in Michigan for a while. Hope to see you around!

Safety First

People sometimes ask me about safety in Mexico. There has been a lot of media coverage about the increasing violence relating to drug-trafficking.

Safety is something we think about every day. Although we do not feel like we are in direct danger, we do take extra precautions. I always carry my phone, we do not travel at night, and if we were to travel in the mountains in a secluded area, we would have another car come along.

I've told people that it's a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Which is true everywhere - whether you are in Mexico or in Zeeland, Mich. However, this has been an eye-opening experience. It is not uncommon to see truckloads of federal soldiers carrying machine guns. There are military check points throughout the country. It does tend to make you feel a bit on edge at times, but I have never felt like my life was in danger.

There have been a few incidents close to home. Saltillo - where we live - has seen increased cartel activity. In February, a narcotics cemetery was found in the mountains near Arteaga - where Innotec is located. One of our friends used to run in the mountains and was stopped and questioned by a federal officer. We later heard about the discovery of 20 bodies - all related to drug activity. While my family was here in March, more than $3 million worth of drugs were discovered in a vacant parking lot near Innotec. The drugs were hidden in the panels of high-end vehicles. For several days, federales with machine guns and masks guarded the area. A couple weeks ago, a major drug lord was captured in Saltillo.

I did not take these pictures - but they were taken in Saltillo and near Monterrey.

We are not targets - but some of our Mexican friends have experienced some scary moments. Some guys working at Innotec have had family members kidnapped and held for ransom. The same has happened to a few members of our church. One of Michael's friends - whose family has quite a lot of money - is being extra cautious by driving an older vehicle.

Like I said before, I do not feel like we are in danger. I wouldn't have brought my parents and sister here if I was worried about their safety. But we do have to be smart. My church was planning to bring our youth group here for a service project, but we decided to cancel the trip. It is very unlikely something would happen, but the worry and anxiety was not worth it. Although the cartel activity is not the main reason we made the decision to return home - it was a key factor. It's not as comfortable here as it once was. And the current circumstances greatly reduces the amount of activities we are able to do - travel around the country, hike in the mountains...

It's my understanding that one of the reasons things are getting worse is due to the Mexican government's decision to crack down on drug-trafficking. In the past, the government has been corrupt and the cartels simply offered bribes. Now the government is trying to become moral - and it is causing the cartels to retaliate with violence.

Like Michael said, it's interesting how drug use in the states impacts lives here in Mexico - and in South America where most of the drugs are coming from. Thousands of people are losing their lives because people in the US are using drugs. Drugs are directly and indirectly taking lives and ripping families apart.

Please continue to pray for safety.

Unexpected

It feels strange to be so far away from friends and family during a holiday. This is the first time I can remember not being home - or at least with my family - to celebrate Easter. Some friends here talked about getting together for dinner on Sunday night. We might even get a ham - I just can't imagine having tacos for Easter!

Last night we grilled out at Steve and Rebecca's house. We heard a slow monotonous beat of a drum getting louder and louder. There was a solemn parade slowly making its way down the streets of Arteaga. Six men carried a statue/representation of the broken body of Jesus high above their heads. Like a funeral procession, people silently watched. Hundreds of people followed behind carrying torches, lanterns and candles reflecting on what happened more than 2,000 years ago. We stood watching too - two cultures celebrating the same God. It was a neat experience.

This is an editorial I wrote one year that was published in The Sentinel on Easter Sunday. Thought I'd share. Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter. Keep thanking God for doing the unexpected.


It wasn't what they were expecting.

The women who went to the tomb that morning 2,000 years ago were expecting to find the bloody, broken body of a crucified man - not an empty tomb.

The stone was rolled away. The body was gone.

An angel appeared to the women and said: "Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? He isn't here! He has risen from the dead! Don't you remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again the third day?" (Luke 24, New Living Translation)

It was a moment that changed the world. Jesus had conquered death and claimed victory over sin. He was who he said he was. He did what he said he would do.

Today, Christians around the world are gathering to celebrate Easter, the day Jesus rose from the dead. The day that brings hope and a promise of eternal life for all who believe. Christians are celebrating a victory today - but it's not the type of victory Jesus' followers were expecting thousands of years ago.

Then again, Jesus was not the type of Messiah the world was expecting.

The Jewish people were waiting for a powerful political figure who would overthrow the Roman government, which had gained control of their land. The people were overtaxed. They were abused. They were treated unfairly. They were waiting for a savior who would rescue them through military force. They were expecting a warrior.

But Jesus didn't come to fight.

He came to die.

He came to offer himself as a sacrifice to pay for the sins of the world. He came to bridge the gap between his people and God's love. Jesus was not the type of Messiah they were expecting and they did not recognize him as their savior. They thought he was a fraud so they nailed him to a cross.

Instead of saving a generation from political tension - like they were expecting - Jesus saved humanity from eternal condemnation. It wasn't what they were expecting - it was so much more.

Life doesn't always make sense. Things don't always go the way we expect. But today, as Christians celebrate Easter, they can have peace knowing that God is in control, even when the world is out of control. His plan is always perfect.

Christians have hope today because God did the unexpected.

So the challenge for all believers is to follow Jesus' lead and do the unexpected. We live in a "me, me" society. What will you do to put others first? Be different. Show kindness to everyone. Offer love to the unlovable.

It's not what the world expects - but that's what makes all the difference.

Friend or foe?

New look

I finally decided to give my blog a little make-over. Not sure how attached I am to this layout, but it's not as boring as the previous design. Enjoy.

Tour of Homes: Casa Verde

Since most of you will not get a chance to see the Casa Verde in person, I thought I'd give you all a little virtual tour of our home in Mexico.

Here is the front of our house - quite green. You will see through-out our little tour how fond Mexicans are of bright colors.

This is the fire pit we made out of broken Innotec blocks.

This is the grill Michael made out of scrap metal from the plant.

Here is a look at our backyard. It gets very windy!

We have a nice large entryway - the first thing you see when you come into our house is the kitchen table. The table, chairs, and cabinet came with the house. I looooooove the cabinet, which is where we keep all our dishes and glasses. One of the great features of this house is the beautiful marble floor found in almost every room. Can you imagine how much that would cost in Michigan?

This is a view of our kitchen from the room where the kitchen table is.

And this is the view from our living room. The kitchen has three doors - one goes into the living room, one into the entryway, and the door you see in this picture leads to the laundry room.

This is our laundry room where we also keep our cleaning supplies and food for all the animals.

This is a view of the living room from the entryway.

This view is from the kitchen.

And this view is from the far side of the room - you can see the kitchen through one door and our entryway through the other. The water cooler is in the corner.

This is a view of our table from the kitchen - and our long hallway where the bedrooms are located. You can see one of Michael's purchases leaning against the wall - another duckie for whitewater adventures in the future.

This bedroom is being used for storage.

One of our spare rooms where guests sleep. My sister slept here when she came for a visit with my parents.

And another spare room - my parents' room.

Both these bedrooms have built-in storage space. Michael and I use one of the rooms for some of our clothing.

This is our bedroom - a king-size bed! I think we're getting spoiled.

This bathroom is located right off our bedroom. We also have a nice walk-in closet.

This bathroom - affectionately called the blue room - is located right off the entryway near the living room. I wasn't kidding about the bright colors. Blue floor, blue walls, blue ceiling, blue sink, blue toilet, even a blue toilet seat.

And now... the green room. Yup. Green floor, green ceiling, green walls, green sink, green shower... Notice how they topped everything off with a green toilet seat. Not exactly the right shade - but hey, it's green. Good enough.

For some reason, all our light fixtures look like this. This is not only the case in our house, but in most houses we have been in. Not sure why they decided to leave the wires and bulb dangling out of the fixture, but whatever. Another charming feature of a Mexican casa.

I hope you enjoyed your tour. And you didn't even have to pay admission or wear those nasty little booties over your shoes!

South Padre Island

This weekend we went to South Padre Island in Texas. We had so much fun that we decided to stay another night. Instead of leaving Sunday at noon, we left Monday at 5:30 am. It was nice to have the extra day on the island. Michael and I drove with Mark and Robin - two Innotec employees who are down in Mexico for a couple weeks. We followed Paul and Tamera with their four children, Steve and Rebecca and their four children, and Joel and Kari Smith with their three children. Joel and Kari spent the weekend with us on the island, then headed back to Michigan after spending a year in Mexico. We'll miss them!

We had a nice condo on the beach with a great view. We spent a lot of time on the balcony. We also spent time grilling out, laying on the beach, looking for seashells, shopping, climbing dunes, soaking in the hot tub, boogie boarding, feeding sea turtles, and watching people kite board - it's a popular sport on the island because it's usually windy. Paul, Steve, and Mark all have kite boards and we watched them - along with many other people - participate in the sport.

View of our hotel, Aquarius, from the beach. Our room was on the 9th floor - way at the top!

Beautiful view of the ocean from our balcony. One morning we saw dolphins jumping in the waves.

Still on our balcony - looking toward the bay.

Setting up the kites for a cruise down the calm waters in the bay.

You are allowed to drive your vehicles right up to the water.

We visited a sea turtle rescue center on Sunday. A lot of turtles are rehabilitated then released back into the ocean.

This turtle is missing one of its front fins.

This turtle was missing three of its appendages. The rescue center developed a prosthetic so the turtle could swim on its own.

We got to feed a large sea turtle lettuce. He thought he could get it through the glass!

Our caravan of vehicles drives on several miles of beach until we find a secluded area to grill out and have a bonfire.

View from the top of the dunes. We could see the bay on one side and the ocean on the other - along with miles and miles of undeveloped beach.

The kids do a little dune jumping.

Warming up around the bonfire.

Beautiful South Padre Island sunset.