concentrated on strengtheni
ng myself
spiritually. I know God is the reason I am alive and that the only way I'll make it through any of life's trials is if I am on the right track with Him. I was grateful to The Life Center (my church) for sending me to Kansas City for the One Thing Conference the last week of December. A group of 5 people from the church drove 16 hours out, attended the conference put on by IHOP (International House of Prayer) and worshipped God with 20,000 other spirit-filled Christians. I also got the unexpected opportunity to visit with 5 cousins that live in various locations over the U.S. that came together in Kansas City for Christmas. One of those cousins is fighting a brain tumor but currently seems to be doing well.
This time was a beautiful way to build up my faith
and re-connect with family before my send off.
After I returned from the conference I had a week to spend with my family before heading off for Guadalajara. My home in Greencastle, PA looked like a winter wonderland. I enjoyed the snow more than normal, knowing that I wouldn't be seeing it again for possibly 8 years. Friday, January 8th 2010 my family and I ordered out Indian food (my favorite) ate together at home, and played a board game. It was a great family night with lots of laughter and as the evening came to a close I tried to ignore the fact that this would be the last time I saw them until who knows when. While I tried hard to ignore the facts, my family gathered around and we prayed
for safe travels and the life I would begin in
Mexico. The tears of course couldn't be repressed
any longer as I s
aid my goodbyes to each
individual family member. I was pleased to see my cat Kiko and my dog Luneta had adjusted well to their new home at my parents house. My other cat Chinche was adopted by my brother and also seems to be thriving. I've included pictures of my animals (except Chinche:( ) since I did not include them the last time. During my last stay in Mexico I cried anytime Fabian mentioned my pet's names whereas this time my pet transition has been much smoother because I had sufficient time to say goodbye to them and to see they had adjusted well to their new homes.
Francisco, a friend from the C
hambersburg
Church of the Nazarene, where I interpreted for the past year, agreed to escort me over the border through Monterrey and down into San Luis Potosi where he grew up. I enjoyed the trip down because we were able to visit Francisco's family in Texas, Monterrey and San Luis Potosi, turning our trip into an adventure. Francisco's family entertained me with stories of hidden gold and talk of treasure hunts while I surprised them by my ability to cook, crochet and love my husband.
The entire trip I tried not to think about Fabian or our reunion. I knew that would make time crawl by. Francisco and I picked up his elderly parents and his nieces's husband in M
onterrey and
drove them down to his home town of Moctezuma, San Luis Potosi. We stayed in town in a new home they had built that was spacious but barren. It was unbelievably cold. I wore a sweater, a jacket and a long down coat with a fur trimmed esquimo hood tied tightly around my face. Despite my many layers I continued to shiver. No, it was not snowy like in PA but we also didn't have any heat. The house's concrete walls seemed to gather in the moisture from outside and make the cold go deep into our bones. At night I wore the same clothes to bed (including my winter esquimo coat) and piled on the 2 or 3 thick blankets they had given me but continued to shiver. I couldn't believe I was about 8-10 hours over the border of Mexico and still having to suffer the cold.
The next day Francisco and I filled up some tin buckets with water from the spigot outside and put them on the stove to prepare bath water. I dreaded the idea of bathing in such cold but faced it by volunteering to go first. Oh thank God I don't have to do that every day! They had a shower in the bathroom
but since Francisco's parent's had gone to Monterrey to be with
family for Christmas, the house was left empty and the hot water
heater was stolen. The culprits would have had to scale a 10-12 foot
wall in order to steal it but I guess it was worth it to them. Not only
was the hot water heater stolen but the water in the house had been
connected wrong and came out as a trickle, thus we had to go outside
and bring water in when we needed it. After we were all clean
and colder
than ever, we piled into Francisco's SUV to head out to his parent's ranch. We hadn't even gone 30 seconds down the road when I received a call from Fabian saying he was about 10 minutes away by his calculations. My heart beat hard and my stomach knotted up as I suddenly realized I was about to see my husband for the first time in 8 months. The patience that I had held onto for a year and a
half suddenly found it's end and I commanded time to move faster. Of course time doesn't take commands from me and I had to deal with the sluggish ticking of my watch. I described to Fabian the car we were driving and the intersection he would find us parked at. I watched intently as cars rolled through the stop sign at the intersection, anxiously awaiting a car that met the descriptions of the one he was in. Finally I saw it! I jumped out of the car, waved my arms in the air to get his attention and screamed into the cell phone, "I think I see you!!! Is that you!!?? I think I see you!!" He parked haphazardly, we embraced and the rest is the beginning of our second life together. :)
As Fabian and I drove 6 hours back to Guadalajara, I couldn't stop staring at him. I would run my hands over his face trying to remember every detail that I had just about forgotten in the time we'd been apart. It wasn't an awkward moment, rather a very giddy one. We had both spent so much time dreaming about this day that our nerves were affecting our stomachs. Our grins couldn't be contained as we realized this was happening in real life and no longer just in our dreams.
Well, if this was a movie that's where the story
would end, but since this is reality the story goes
on and begins a new chapter. In this chapter we
begin the transition of being back together again,
starting new routines and of me accepting my
new home and learnin
g new survival skills. It's
like starting kindergarten. I have to make new friends, learn how to do basic things and become familiar with the norms of a new community. I'm doing well this time. I am not afraid. The last time fear plagued me but this time I have a confidence that I am here for a reason and nothing can harm me unless it's part of a bigger plan.
I've been here almost 4 weeks now. Luckily the weather in this area is perfect! If I'm in the shade it's cool like Springtime and if I'm in the sun it's nice and toasty. Fabian works as a police officer/body guard for the sub director of Tonala three days a week. Those three days I enjoy researching topics of interest online, crocheting blankets, teaching myself guitar and studying French. I had an interview Saturday for a job teaching English but will probably turn it down and look around at some other opportunities first. There seem to be lots of bilingual jobs available and even more teaching English. We invested in a second car for me to use and I have driven in the streets by myself a few times. I feel fairly comfortable driving, although I have to keep an eye out for swerving cars, pot holes, speed bumps, people and an assortment of animals. Every Sunday afternoon Fabian and I go to the market and buy our food for the week. His father has a stand at the market selling random electronic items such as T.V. remotes, and watch batteries. I love the market because of it's bright colors and lively atmosphere. The only thing I find discusting are the heaping piles of pig skin slathered in salsa ready for passersby to enjoy it's fatty flavors. Uggh...that makes me renew my vows to eat healthy every week. Well, I thank you for your prayers as I get adjusted to my new life and I pray that you are all doing well! Until next time here is a verse to think on:
"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
-James 4:13-15
Reflections: My point with this verse is that we can plan our lives as much as we want but our lives can change or be taken away from us in a second. I hope each one of you live your daily lives conscious of our fragility. Remember what your priorities are. Live your life enjoying every moment, taking in stride any obstacles that present themselves, but seek out truth and prepare yourself for the day that your life will end. It's not meant to be depressing, it's just reality. Are you ready for whatever the reality of your future may be? Would you be comfortable with the way you've lived life if your end comes sooner than expected? The past several years have forced me to keep this in the forefront of my mind and I pray you too would consider these questions often.
Love and blessings,
Alicia
Photos from top to bottom: Photo #1) A winter wonderland and my former home.
Photo #2) Creek view at home.
Photo #3) Kiko, my cat sleeping on top of my Bible in a very uncomfortable looking superman pose.
Photo #4) Luneta, my dog with her typical sad eyes...she gets those from Fabian...but beware it's all a front...neither of them are as pathetic as they appear and both are simply tricking you into giving them attention. It works every time! :)
Photo #5) Francisco, my dear friend who did me the huge favor of driving me and all my things to Mexico. I enjoyed our conversations and the spiritual encouragement that you gave me! Thank you so much!
Photo #6) Fabian Escobar Cholico, my hubby in his police uniform. He was born to protect; I feel very safe walking around with him by my side. Lucky for me he is not in policeman mode all the time and also knows how to be a gentle, affectionate husband...and when he's not I remind him I'm his wife and not a criminal. :) Photo #7) Me at the "tianguis" or market buying our food for the week.
