Earth Day in Mexico? Nada.

I think Earth Day happened last week. I'm not really sure. In the states, there was always enough publicity that I knew when Earth Day would be and was challenged to make changes in my life to be kinder to the Earth. Here, I never heard a word.

I've never traveled to Africa or Haiti, but my guess is that people living in these areas, like those living in Mexico, place very little importance on matters of pollution. The exceptions are tourist areas like Cancun and even neighboring San Cristobal. In the US, there are smog reports, fines for littering, and even pooper-scooper requirements when you walk your dog! In the US there are also readily available trash cans, garbage collection, recycling efforts, and street sweepers that come along during the night --- all of which cost municipalities money. There are also consumer activists groups, neighborhood beautification projects, and Earth Day PSAs.

At this moment, I cannot look across the horizon and see beautiful mountains that I know lie all around me. It is not because of low-lying clouds, nightfall or even fog. It's smoke. Smoke from burning grass, garbage, corn fields and who knows what else....as far as you can see in every direction. As the wind blows, it blows smoke and ash into our home. I don't like it. Now granted, this is one of two times of year during which subsistence farmers are clearing their land in preparation for a new corn crop. Burning is worse during these two times of year. But beyond that, the visible garbage that is strewn here and there is unavoidable. I read somewhere that there are 6 types of pollution: air, water, land, noise, radioactive and thermal pollution. Now I sincerely doubt that there's radioactive pollution, and I don't even know what thermal pollution is (but it probably has something to do with global warming). But here in Ocosingo, there's enough air, water, land and noise pollution to last me a lifetime. It's one of the things that's been hard to adjust to since living here.

So why is there pollution? Some might say it's a lack of education. Partly true. Some might say it's that they just don't care. Probably also partly true. Some might also say that it's because "it's what they're used to." Probably also partly true. In fact, all those things probably do contribute, but I think it's more than that.

I believe that people here, just most people in the US, prefer things to be clean. Here's the irony. About 1/3 of the available shelf space in the "grocery stores" here is dedicated to household and personal cleaning products. People's homes and shops are clean. People wash clothes by hand and mop their homes every day. So the difference is just like so many other things here.....the definition of responsibility. "Where does mine stop and yours begin? Who is responsible for the "environment" that I do not own? I don't know, but it's not me! If I'm a farmer, I prioritize my farming over the air because I need to burn in order to plant, in order to harvest, in order to live. "

Churches here do a beautiful job of ministering within their own congregations. People keep their homes clean but never think twice about the air, water, land or noise pollution that they create unless if affects those in their own homes. The Spanish here would argue that the indigenous do not have the same standards of cleanliness but I think the indigenous too take pride in their homes (noting that they probably have more dirt and smoke to fight). We strive to honor the culture and to not get preachy. If I had heard even one word about Earth Day activities, I would have been the first to volunteer. But there wasn't a word. My friend, Julie Alexander, is a missionary living in Brazil. Promoting environmentalism and organic farming is a big part of their ministry. I am ashamed that I didn't start something to recognize Earth Day here in Ocosingo.

Please join with us in prayer for the people of this and other developing countries. Pray for their part of the Earth. Pray for those of us trying to honor the culture without being holier-than-thou about how we all need to do a better job taking care of the Earth and the community around us. Pray that we and they avoid the trap of saying, "that's not my responsibility, so it's not my problem." Taking care of God's creation is a responsibility that we all share, one day at a time.

Babies & Birthdays

The baby to the left is Pablo & Jan's granddaughter, Sofi, who just celebrated her first birthday. But on Sunday, I met another baby at church who doesn't yet have a name. The baby is probably at least 4 months old. People here often do not name their babies until they are at least 6 months old. The government doesn't even issue birth certificates until babies are 6 months old! The reason is simple and sad --- the high rate of infant mortality. Parents are afraid to name their babies because names define an identity and a place in the family - as if losing them to death without a name lessens the perceived sense of loss is less. I find this so sad. And yet, it's the reason why celebrating the first birthday is such a big deal!

With each birthday, the celebration is really quite different from our birthdays in the US. Each completed year of life is cause for grand celebration -- full of songs, prayers of gratitude to God for giving that person another completed year of life. For those of you who know a little Spanish, think about it ----- cumpleaño ---- a completed year. You may have read other blog posts about the Mexican tradition of singing the "mañanitas" at midnight on someone's birthday. We arrive silently to someone's bedroom window just after midnight and begin the songs of celebration. When they come out to receive the gift of song, we join hands in prayer to thank God for the person and for the gift of another completed year of life. This recognition of the gift of life is lost in American birthday celebrations, but not here in Mexico. I have driven way too many teenagers all over town way too many times in the past 2 years (the curse of being one of the few with a car), but in truth, I think it's a wonderful tradition.

For Sofi, in particular, we thank God for her life and joy she brings to ours. And for all babies here in Mexico, please join us in prayer for them to live long enough to get a name and to enjoy year after year of mañanitas and celebrations of the gift of another year of life.

More MX healthcare shocks

Every few weeks we hear another horror story. Last month it was the story of Pablo´s sister-in-law who had to have a 2nd surgery due to complications from the 1st. The first surgery had been in response to an ectopic pregnancy - fairly common. But the 2nd surgery was to remove a large ball of gauze that had been left in her abdomen. Inexcusable.

Last week we learned of a former Tzeltal missionary to the Lacandon Ladies´Society who had experienced hemorraging after giving birth. Since she gave birth at home, there was no real medical care at the time of the delivery, but when she was continuing to hemorrage 7-10 days later, she was taken to the hospital. At the hospital Lucy was given blood transfusion with a non-matching blood type. At last report they feared that she would die.

This week the subject was closer to Ginny´s area of expertise. A church member requested a counseling consultation after having disclosed to Holly that doctors believe her symptoms are mental not physical. Since she had a doctor's appointment the next day, Ginny encouraged her to keep the doctor's appointment to get a professional opinion to rule out cardiac problems. When she returned, we visited with her and learned more of her story. A likely sufferer of panic attacks and depression, this woman had been seen by a doctor and given 4 prescriptions. The target symptoms for these meds included anxiety, depression, seizures and schizophrenia. This was not a doctor who knew her, and he was prescribing meds outside of his area of expertise without referring her to a psychiatrist. The best case scenario would be that the woman gets some relief and spends hundreds of pesos for medicine (even if some of it she doesn't need). The worst case scenario is that she overdoses. In all likelihood, she would simply be overly medicated (and thus heavily sedated) and unable to make her way back to the doctor --- perhaps suffering, perhaps oblivious.

We remain overwhelmed by the continuing lack of professionalism in the healthcare system here. We love it here and love the people we have come to know, and so we are more and more personally invested in making sure that people here have a choice for better healthcare. Typically we have taken the position of trusting the local culture and avoiding the paternalistic model of missions (you know, the one that says "you know nothing, we know everything, let us show you the right way"). But when it comes to healthcare, a different approach seems necessary. Las Manos de Cristo staff will have many challenges ahead, including knowing how to challenge poor healthcare decisions for the sake of their patients and introduce better methods for the sake of saving lives.

April Update

Since our last update, there's been so much going on that this is really the first time we've had to share an update. Between the high activity levels and the need to help with virtually foreign challenges like helping Holly with Algebra II, life has been full. God continues to sustain us, inspire us and challenge us here, but we are constantly reminded of the opportunities to serve and to share the Good News.

General Mission Activities:

• Holly & Maggie had their first opportunity to volunteer independently from us. They provided translation services for American doctors and students working at a Tsotsil Eye Clinic in San Cristobal for a week. With the gift of vision, those served in this ministry will be able to read their bibles, complete their handwork and experience life more fully.
  
• Holly & Maggie helped train volunteers in Matzam in VBS-like activities to do with children participating in a Christian education program there.
  
• We've hosted groups from Illinois (2nd Presbyterian in Bloomington for clinic construction) and Arkansas (Arkansas Presbytery for village construction in Santo Domingo).
• We participated in the Concentración de Jóvenes (youth conference) along with 700+ other folks all here at the school for bible memory contests, soccer & volleyball tournaments, dramatic and choral performances...all very competitive but with the joy and power of God's love oozing into every nook and cranny on the campus. Our tiny mission's youth participated for the first time and secured 1st place in Girls Volleyball, 1st place in the Dramatic Performances, and 2nd place Overall! Hurray!
  
• Speaking of our tiny mission church, we're growing and not so tiny anymore! Be sure to read the stories on the blog (re: Christian Radio in Mexico and Bursting at the Seams) and see how God is bringing more people into the life of our church, Nuevo Vida.
  
• John continues to travel with Pastor Pablo to work with churches across the synod territory in between everything else, and Ginny continues with drivers' ed training for bible school students.
  
• Ginny is building a series of orientation videos for mission groups to view in anticipation of traveling to Chiapas. When completed, the videos will be available online at YouTube and by electronic files that can be shared with group leaders and members. She also created a video thank you to be sent by Hebron USA to those donors whose contributions support the ministry of Pablo & Jan Feliciano here in Chiapas.
  

Las Manos de Cristo (Medical Clinic):

• A matching gift opportunity has been offered up by a member at First Presbyterian in Boone, NC. This gift will match $1 for $1 up to $25000. These funds are desperately needed to keep construction moving so that the clinic can be opened later this year.
  
• 90% of the windows have been installed and prep work to install the remaining section of the roof is nearly complete.
• A 20' container filled with donated medical equipment shipped by Samaritan's Purse has been held up by customs at the border for the past few weeks. This also means that we are being charged daily for storage until it's released. Pablo is in Mexico City now trying to work with government officials to orchestrate its release and delivery to Ocosingo. Please pray that his efforts are successful.
  
• Hebron USA is in the midst of launching a major fund-raising effort to secure the necessary funds to complete the clinic. Watch your US mail or email for more information, or just proceed with sending your contribution to Hebron USA, 6080 Old Brickstore Rd., Greensboro, NC 27455. If you prefer to give by credit card, check out our site online at Hebron USA's site on Change.Org. You have to set up your own profile to be able to give online but it is quick and easy. There's even a link here on the left.
  
• Representatives of the synod and the Council for the Holistic Development of Our Communities were filmed expressing their thanks to those who have made donations towards Las Manos de Cristo. From this, Ginny built a video thank you that can be sent to donors. The video is also available on our Change.Org site and on YouTube.

Personal

• Our biggest prayer for months now has been related to the future of the ministry here as our family transitions back to NC in August of this year. We continue to pray for another couple/family/individual to answer God's call to serve here in Chiapas. To help those discerning if they are called, we have added new information to our website. See the new link "Next to Serve" and the related FAQs and "Cultural Musts." We have some definite prospects and one firm commitment for service next year (more on this later). Please continue to pray for new missionaries to serve here in Ocosingo. Soon the position will be listed on the One Door network of the Presbyterian Church USA as well with the listing as "Tzeltal Synod Partnership Facilitator."
  
• As we nearing the end of our 2 1/2 year commitment, our financial support has been strong but is beginning to wane. We really need an infusion of donations towards our personal missionary support here in the final months. If you can help out, please follow directions on our website (www.millsfamilymission.org/5.html). Any contributions remaining after expenses will be used to help fund Las Manos de Cristo.
  
• We were able to secure new visas and a new car permit on a recent trip to Belize last month. Enjoyed a brief stay at (and I'm not kidding) The Copa Banana guest house just across the border in Belize.
  
• We celebrated Holly's Sweet 16 with lots of fanfare. Special thanks to Maggie who put it all together and to so many wonderful Mexican friends in attendance.
  
• As fate would have it, our house is up for rent again. Hope to get it rented this weekend.
  

Prayers

• Oh my...this could be an incredibly long list, but we know that God is with us and attentive to all things, so...
• Pray that God works in the hearts and minds of those considering missionary service here in Chiapas so that the work here can continue and grow.
  
• Pray for the new families in our mission and that we are able to find new space for worship and youth activities.
• For those who have lost loved ones, including the family of Vivian Early, Tenney Dean, Louise Turner and Craven Carlisle. Vivian was the mother of our dear friend, Cecelia Belk. Tenney was both a long-time friend of Ginny's political family AND a former Mexico mission traveler from his years at White Memorial. Ginny's dad's cousin, Louise Turner, and her daughter, Cam, have been faithful supporters of our ministry here from the start. Craven was a 9 year old who died unexpectly this week. She was a close friend of Teri & Keith Clark and their daughter, Katherine.
  
• For those who are struggling with illness or distress including Karen Plonk, Billie Bradley, Tom Simms, Edna Faye Cobb, Frank Splawn, Donna Painter, Mary Wynne Perryman, Carol McClancy, Nancy Lingenfelser, Bonnie Bode, Ben Jones, Katie Yarbrough, Laura Mast, Marshall Hollingsworth, and Louise Holshouser. Also, please pray for Ginny's longtime friend, Angela Smith, who has been on life support in ICU for the past 3 weeks. May God bring them all comfort, peace and assurance.
  
• Of support and encouragement for other missionaries, including Pablo & Jan Feliciano, Jim & Sharon Heneveld, all the Dye Family missionaries, John & Sandra Wimbish and Julie Alexander and her family in Brazil.

Opportunities

• For financial support for our family for the remaining months of our ministry this year (Through 1^st Presbyterian Church, PO Box 1286, Mt. Airy, NC 27030 or Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church, 2614 Oak Ridge Rd., Oak Ridge, NC 27310). Be sure to list "Mills Family Mission" on the memo line.
  

• For financial support for Las Manos de Cristo clinic construction (through Hebron USA, 6080 Old Brickstore Rd., Greensboro, NC 27455). Be sure to check out the new website at www.hebronusa.org.
• As your church prepares for VBS, consider collecting vitamins (adult, pre-natal, children and infant) to send down for distribution by Las Manos de Cristo. Nutritional health problems are significant here, and the medical caravans distribute thousands each week. When Las Manos de Cristo is open and serving patients, we will need a large supply of vitamins for regular distribution. Please contact us by email to arrange for delivery with one of the mission trips coming down this summer.
  

As we go forth in missions, we are reminded of the ways in which Jesus revealed the heart of God -- through compassion, love, and touch and how he embraced all who would receive him. We are called to walk that same walk, to live with that same gentle spirit, and to reach out in love to all God's children. The indigenous people of Chiapas rebelled more than a decade ago because they felt abandoned and forgotten by their own government. Let us, the "hands of Christ" reach out in Christian love so that they are reminded of what we already know...God has not forgotten or abandoned them, just as God has not forgotten any of God's children (Luke 15: 1-7).

We remain grateful to you, our partners in missions, for your love, support, prayers and encouragement. Drop us an email with your own updates and know that you are in our prayers.

Junto contigo en Cristo (Together with you in Christ),
Ginny, John, Holly & Maggie Mills

www.millsfamilymission.org

Bursting at the Seams

It's a good problem to have, really! Our tiny mission, which began in a small garage and then moved to a slightly larger storefront, has continued to grow and grow. With the addition of our new family of Christians who were transformed by Christian radio, we are now officially too large a congregation for the space we have available. Group season will be upon us soon, and then we'll REALLY be in trouble since most groups visit the mission for Sunday worship and would add another 20-30 to the number we're trying to squeeze in. This past Sunday we received the new "Christian radio" family, a recently release prisoner who has worked closely with the prison ministry for years, and another new family. Yesterday we had drop-ins for our Wednesday afternoon prayer service too. What a wonderful problem to have!

Please join with us in praying for an affordable, larger facility or plot of land to be available to us so that we can continue to grow and receive into the body of Christ all who want to hear!

Not feeling hospitable

April is hot here....the hottest time of year. By May, the cycle of afternoon storms to cool things off is established and there's some relief. But in April, it's brutal...especially if you're to do school work or inspire others to do school work. There are few "April showers" in Mexico. And so it is on this brutally hot Thursday afternoon that I write. No one wants to work. Everyone wants to sleep, and everyone's terribly grumpy.

But apparently not everyone sees it that way! A couple of hours ago, about 50 people showed up at the school to play or watch soccer. Some are playing, some are watching and others are huddled around the edges of our house in the shade. Every 15 minutes or so, the soccer ball slams into our house, window bars or screen door (which has now been reconstructed to withstand this frequent assault), and from time to time, someone is screaming, crying or otherwise causing a ruckus just outside.

Last night, about 11:30 PM, our neighbor decided it was a good time to crank up the speakers and play mariachi music until about 2AM. Even though I KNOW that "noise pollution" is not considered rude here, I really didn't feel like they were being very good neighbors. I had fantasies of continuously blasting one of those air horns until they turned off their music. It's why I don't think it's good to have guns in your house...you never know when you'll lose your mind and use it! Glad I didn't have an air horn. I wouldn't have seemed very "missionary-like" or like a very good neighbor.

Part of our ministry here is one of hospitality. When people come to the school, we try to greet folks who arrive early for meetings or events, offer coffee, sell bibles and generally act as the welcoming committee for the school. Today, I'm not feeling very hospitable, Maggie's feeling downright antisocial, and my head hurts. I should mix up several pitchers of Kool-Aid and go out to offer refreshments to all, but I just want them all to go away. It's probably because of all that mariachi music or maybe I dreamed of air horns. Who knows? Pray it rains and that God showers me with patience and the desire to welcome all who come.

Is that thunder I hear?

Time Confusion Begins

Daylight Savings Time is, by definition, a man-made creation and thus optional to observe. Not only do some places not observe DST, when they do, they may not change their clocks on the same day as other places. And then there are those communities who elect to not change their clocks at all even though others in their country choose to do so. Before you slam the Tzeltal villages for being backward and unwilling to follow the rest of Mexico, remember that Arizona and Hawaii don't observe DST either.

So we have the dilemma of "does this community change or not change?" AND on this day, the day that is SUPPOSEDLY the day Mexico begins observing DST, "does everyone know that today is the day to change?" Even our technology is inconsistent. Our computer clocks changed automatically, but our cell phone clocks did not! In this present-oriented culture, no one thought far enough ahead last week to think about it and mention it at worship, and there are no bold headlines or flashes across the bottom of television screens reminding us. So on this the first Sunday morning of DST in Mexico, we have no idea what time to show up for church!

If we assume everyone changed and they didn't, we'll be late for church (because it will have started the hour before). Last fall, when we assumed that everyone changed (and they didn't) we got to church an hour early. Today we'll err on the side of caution and assume that the worst that can happen is that we'll be there in time for Sunday School if they did change, but if not, at least we'll make it for worship.

Unfortunately, the dilemma will continue all summer long. With each visit to a new community for an activity at a stated time, we run the risk -- over and over -- of arriving an hour early or an hour late for any activity. The only saving grace is that, in this present-oriented culture, everyone in the community will respond and adjust accordingly.

So it is, today, April 6th, in southern Mexico and if truth be known, I feel like I have no idea at all what time it is!

Paradox of Christian Radio in Mexico

Last month: Young bible school grad, Geyner, laments because he has been told by Pastor Pablo that he is not allowed to preach on the radio. He loves to preach, loves to share the Good News, and loves to find creative ways to share his faith with others, so this news breaks his heart. Geyner serves as a "missionary" to our tiny mission church -- preaching, visiting, supervising youth activities --- while finishing high school in hopes of going to seminary. He's one of the exceptions to the rule (read previous blog entry "Profiles in Growing Up Fast") and one of the folks here we have come to admire greatly. So....it begs the question....why can't he preach on the radio? Well, the answer is simple....it's illegal. Christian radio operators here do so without a license to broadcast, and the synod has taken the position against preaching on the radio for that reason. They see the value in radio preaching and in Christian radio in general but have advised pastors and lay preachers not to go on Christian radio.

This week: A local woman who has been listening to Christian radio for weeks has been calling the radio station asking for someone from the church to visit her. Finally, in her frustration, she calls again --- this time refusing to hang up until they tell her that they've made arrangements for someone to visit her to tell her personally about Jesus. The person at the radio station makes a phone call but it turns out that they have a wrong number. But whose number do they get? By sheer accident the radio station calls Hermana Rosita, an older but very active member of our tiny mission. Was it sheer accident or God's will? She, in turn, calls Pablo's wife, Jan, and Geyner. Together they go to visit the woman to tell her about Jesus. They are received by a family of 20 people, ALL of whom professed that day that Jesus is their Lord and Savior. Wow! They are reportedly all coming to church tomorrow, which will definitely stretch the capacity of our tiny mission to its fullest ever. I will gladly stand.

The paradox: It's always hard to know what to do when doing the right thing means doing the wrong thing. In Mexico we do not face as many obstacles like this as they face in countries where professing Christians are, by definition, considered to be criminals in the eyes of the law. But even here there are obstacles. For Geyner who loves to preach, these obstacles frustrate him. For the lady on the phone to the radio station, she's grateful that someone was willing to do the wrong thing for the right reasons.

And yet....
Never, and I mean never, underestimate the power of God to get around obstacles!!! I truly believe that we often lose sight of God's capacity to find a way to ensure that God's will will be done despite obstacles imposed by governments, people, nature and geography. God will and does find a way.

Thanks be to God!

Realities of a Broken System

From time to time we hear about someone paying a "mordida" or bribe to "make a problem go away." It's easy to judge that decision harshly because we don't believe that a government that claims that it wants to end corruption should continue to allow the mordida to solve problems. On the other hand....

From yesterday's news:
More Than 100 Prisoners Freed in Mexico
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Mar 31, 11:59 PM (ET)

TUXTLA GUTIERREZ, Mexico (AP) - Mexican officials are releasing more than 100 prisoners in southern Mexico after determining there is little or no evidence against them.

Chiapas state Justice Minister Amador Rodriguez says the state government reviewed 360 files forwarded by farming and religious groups and determined there was little or no evidence in 133 cases.

About 50 of those released Monday hadn't consumed anything but water with honey for 38 days to protest what they call their political imprisonment.

Local bishops and human rights activists had organized demonstrations calling for their release.

We just can't imagine that people could be held literally for years in prison without any evidence against them, but it does happen. From fender benders to serious legal offenses, it's not uncommon for a cash payment to eliminate the possibility of more serioius problems, including going to jail. For the impoverished though, if there's no money, there's no way to pay to make it go away. They can be imprisoned pending trial and never really have a chance to clear their name. On Monday I learned from my friend, Sharon Heneveld, that over a dozen of the prisoners she's been ministering to for years had been released. The governmental systems here in Mexico have a long way to go, and yet we find hope and encouragement in the fact that there are some who are trying to "do the right thing."

Thanks be to God.