On Culture in Mexico #2...los zapatos de ramon y el amigos--christian y oscar

Firstly, the idea of siestas is beautiful and i dont understand why more cultures/countries dont do it! we would be so much more productive. nothing like a two hour lunch break to rest, eat, relax, spend time with family and friends, and recharge so you can be more productive the rest of the day. i only had a 10 minute siesta yesterday and will probably have about half an hour today since i want to email people and post on this dang blog while i have free time. but, on a good note, i finally got a key to my house about an hour ago, so that i can actually come and go as i please and not beg keys off of my roommates or go without a new camera battery. my battery died right before we left for our hike up the mountain yesterday and so i got zero pictures and i also couldnt change my shoes, so i hiked in flip flops. that was fine until we finished praying at the top of the hike and turned to leave...it poured so hard that in less than a minute i was soaked and it was a 20 minute walk back down with slippery flip flops! but, it was a beautiful view and so good to pray for the church and people and mission. so, all that to say in relation to mexican culture, things dont always get done quickly and so i just now got a key, but at least i got a key!

we also went to a park to shine shoes and wash windshields so we could bless people, tell them about jesus and invite them to church. i was on the shoe shine crew. it was awesome and my fingernails are totally blackened. it's kinda a modern day version of jesus washing the disciples' feet. i shined about 15 pairs of shoes and pushed myself to struggle through spanish--asking people's names, telling them my name, asking how they were doing, had they heard of jesus, did they know jesus, did they go to church, did they read the bible, do they want to come to church at la fuente? interestingly, most had heard of jesus and quite a few said they knew him, but most had no bible and had not read it. apparently 99% of the people here are catholic and 1% christian, something like that. this would be fine, except that most that are catholic dont really know the lord personally at all and do not have a clue about jesus and the bible. so, therefore, it's not fine, but it was neat to invite people to church.

my favorite were three boys--ramon, 12; christian, 10; and oscar, 10. i shined ramon's shoes and we chatted. i love speaking to kids in spanish because as i stumble over my words and speak soooo slowly and think sooo much about what i will say, they do not judge. they just listen patiently and laugh happily. i joked a lot with these boys and tickled them and told them they were little roosters, little dogs, and little horses, but also that jesus loved them. they were sweet and said they will come to youth group on saturday, so we will see if they do.

but shining shoes was great because people were confused as to why we would do it. well, because we want to serve others, bless them, and show them that jesus loves them and that jesus showed his love this way as well. it's a way to practically and humbly put yourself before others.

i will explain something i found profound about the way that mexicans view americans in a later blog because i think that it is hugely worth mentioning and i know that it will help me in working with mexicanos now and in the future as a friend, christian, and counselor.