In my everyday life, I too often amble along without an adequate perspective of my relationship with Jesus Christ. That Christ dwells within me, will never forsake me, has given me resplendent promises, and pursues a intimate relationship with me is unfortunately not a front-of-mind thought or consideration for many of my waking moments on many days. This is something I am working on.
Being intentional about the time our Lord has given us on this earth is important. Of course, living in the conscious presence of the Lord is not to say that we get a free pass from every legitimate thing we need to do. We have to learn how it is all integrated. Our Sovereign Lord is over all and there is therefore nothing we do apart from Him. Accordingly, being a father (or even a parent, to be more general) is a profound
responsibility, designated by God and directed by His Word and the
Spirit, and woven into this integrated fabric we call life on earth. I try to take this role very seriously, but fail frequently. I recently listened to four sermons from John Piper that were a huge encouragement for me in this area. I thought that rather than blog about Mexico this month, I would just link to these sermons and suggest that each parent who reads this listen to them in the coming month. You can listen on-line or download the MP3's to your personal device. If you want you can burn a CD if that is more convenient. Here's the link to these 4 sermons:
http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/series-index/raising-children-who-hope-in-the-triumph-of-god
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Friday, December 10, 2010
The "Spiritual" Season
Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion , herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem , herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah
Isaiah’s prophecy of Christ’s coming to earth is often quoted this time of year as it reminds us that 700 years before Christ came, God’s was revealing His plan for salvation through Christ. God’s plan was no “made-up-on-the-fly” type thing – prophecies of the Messiah go back to the book of Genesis. We know the story…how the leading Jews of the day were anticipating a political savior – one who would restore the physical kingdom of Israel, and how this lead them to miss and mistake Christ and His coming. We all learned in Sunday school how His reign was spiritual rather than physical. But look at this text in Isaiah: “he will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” Tend … gather…carry…lead. Sounds pretty much like physical action to me. And then there are Christ’s words in Mark 12:30 ESV: “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Heart and soul and mind bring to mind the spiritual, but “all your strength” is physical. We know that Jesus and the Apostles had a huge physical ministry through healing, raising the dead, feeding the hungry, and even washing feet.
Here’s my point: We must be cautious by even thinking in separate terms of “spiritual” and “physical” because Jesus is Lord over all. This type of thinking is a throwback to the Gnosticism that Paul argues against in Colossians and 1st Timothy and it leads us to create separations that lead us astray. If we focus on the spiritual, then so-called “non-spiritual” things are less important. The reverse is also true if we ignore the spiritual. God’s Kingdom covers all, and so we are always a part of it in all that we do and think. Tending, gathering, carrying, and leading hold the same priority as preaching and teaching. They are all integral parts to our Christian lives and to fulfilling our call. Valuing one over the other is condemned by James (among others) for its lack of works, or empty rituals and a social gospel that is not really the Gospel.
We enter our place of work on Monday and sub-consciously check-out of our holy God-given ministry. A proper understanding is placing God in the center of all we do. Brushing our teeth is a holy work done unto God with our hearts indwelt by His Spirit and our body engaged in necessary work for establishing even this small part of His Kingdom. There is no separation – it is all holy work, important to God and valuable in His sight.
A troubling problem in the church today is clearer to me now than before I was a missionary in
So this Christmas, don’t stop celebrating His arrival to earth as a babe nor His sovereign presence in your heart and in this physical world in which we live.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
2010: The Year of Nationalism
This fall has been an interesting one for Mexicans who on September 16th celebrated the 200th anniversary of their independence from Spain, and on November 20th celebrated the 100th anniversary of their revolution. The surge of patriotic nationalism is apparent by the number of flags and décor seen all around. The government has been celebrating and promoting the independence bicentennial since the beginning of 2010. Casual observers will see billboards, radio, and TV announcements, special commemorative coinage, state-sponsored celebrations, and a host of other celebratory activities.
For Americans, it is initially difficult to grasp the idea of an independence apart from a revolution, since our Revolutionary War was for independence from England. America’s ideals of liberty and freedom sustained its war for independence, and were in a way, further refined by its own Civil War over states’ rights and slavery. Mexico’s independence from Spain did not have a similar uniting or resolving result. The Mexican War of Independence had more social and political objectives than it did surviving heroes. While independence from Spain was a uniting call among the independence fighters, the economic and social unrest between the wealthy, European-descended class, and the largely indigenous poor class broiled. Unfortunately, the war for independence left this social strife largely unresolved.
100 years later, the Mexican Revolutionary War was really a 10 year series of civil wars and insurgencies between competing factions each representing particular needs and issues important to their particular leader or their originating region. This terribly bloody and tumultuous time in Mexican history had more reversals, power grabs, intrigue, and betrayals than the best Hollywood script could include and still remain credible. There were no less than 11 official heads of state during this 10 year period – many of them assassinated. Indeed the general loss of life was horrific – 10% of the population had died in the 10 years of war and the census of 1920 counted one million less than it did a decade before.
The result of the revolution was a single-party political rule that continued until 2000, when President Fox was elected. While social reforms have made some impact, corruption, currency devaluations, and failed public policies have thwarted best intentions for the social goals of the revolution. The revolution resulted in 50% of Mexico’s land to be re-distributed from the wealthy to its poorer citizens, yet today 60% of Mexicans are poor. Mexico today is still unable to adequately feed, educate, and protect its citizens. These are tomorrow’s problems, but for today, Mexicans celebrate the Revolution and hope for the future.
For Americans, it is initially difficult to grasp the idea of an independence apart from a revolution, since our Revolutionary War was for independence from England. America’s ideals of liberty and freedom sustained its war for independence, and were in a way, further refined by its own Civil War over states’ rights and slavery. Mexico’s independence from Spain did not have a similar uniting or resolving result. The Mexican War of Independence had more social and political objectives than it did surviving heroes. While independence from Spain was a uniting call among the independence fighters, the economic and social unrest between the wealthy, European-descended class, and the largely indigenous poor class broiled. Unfortunately, the war for independence left this social strife largely unresolved.
100 years later, the Mexican Revolutionary War was really a 10 year series of civil wars and insurgencies between competing factions each representing particular needs and issues important to their particular leader or their originating region. This terribly bloody and tumultuous time in Mexican history had more reversals, power grabs, intrigue, and betrayals than the best Hollywood script could include and still remain credible. There were no less than 11 official heads of state during this 10 year period – many of them assassinated. Indeed the general loss of life was horrific – 10% of the population had died in the 10 years of war and the census of 1920 counted one million less than it did a decade before.
The result of the revolution was a single-party political rule that continued until 2000, when President Fox was elected. While social reforms have made some impact, corruption, currency devaluations, and failed public policies have thwarted best intentions for the social goals of the revolution. The revolution resulted in 50% of Mexico’s land to be re-distributed from the wealthy to its poorer citizens, yet today 60% of Mexicans are poor. Mexico today is still unable to adequately feed, educate, and protect its citizens. These are tomorrow’s problems, but for today, Mexicans celebrate the Revolution and hope for the future.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Hector and Juanys Garcia
Hector Garcia (shown below with their daughter Dayhra) and his wife, Juanys, accepted Christ in 2008. Hector is a strong leadership candidate at Monte Horeb mission and is a bright student who learns quickly and tries to apply what he learns to his life. He is contemplating how God may use him in ministry. Hector and Juanys have been evangelizing friends and family, realizing that the One who redeemed them and transformed their lives from utter hopelessness to eternal hopefulness is the only true Hope for those they love. Satan is clearly not happy with this as their extended family has suffered greatly from attacks. Since their conversion, there have been extended family members intentionally run-over by car, involved in adultery and child-abuse, and incarcerated for murder with a firearm. In each case, Hector and Juanys are the ones their friends and family turn to for assistance and for answers to the spiritual questions prompted by these life-changing events. Their testimony remains true and God has used their faith to turn these tragedies to His glory by bringing new believers into His Kingdom. For the Garcia family, these events punctuate the results of sin and rejection of God. They are, of course, thankful that God has redeemed them from the life of sin that some extended family members still embrace. Please pray for them. Pray for their endurance, for their own protection, and for God’s mercy on their extended family. These are difficult situations – and all on top of the “normal” problems of raising six children, running a household, and making an income during a bad economy.
PC Study Bible Data
Hector Garcia (shown below with their daughter Dayhra) and his wife, Juanys, accepted Christ in 2008. Hector is a strong leadership candidate at Monte Horeb mission and is a bright student who learns quickly and tries to apply what he learns to his life. He is contemplating how God may use him in ministry. Hector and Juanys have been evangelizing friends and family, realizing that the One who redeemed them and transformed their lives from utter hopelessness to eternal hopefulness is the only true Hope for those they love. Satan is clearly not happy with this as their extended family has suffered greatly from attacks. Since their conversion, there have been extended family members intentionally run-over by car, involved in adultery and child-abuse, and incarcerated for murder with a firearm. In each case, Hector and Juanys are the ones their friends and family turn to for assistance and for answers to the spiritual questions prompted by these life-changing events. Their testimony remains true and God has used their faith to turn these tragedies to His glory by bringing new believers into His Kingdom. For the Garcia family, these events punctuate the results of sin and rejection of God. They are, of course, thankful that God has redeemed them from the life of sin that some extended family members still embrace. Please pray for them. Pray for their endurance, for their own protection, and for God’s mercy on their extended family. These are difficult situations – and all on top of the “normal” problems of raising six children, running a household, and making an income during a bad economy.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Casa Hogar Para Ancianos “El Refugio”
Pastor Jesús (left) and his right-hand man, Frank
Over two years ago, I was introduced to a ministry on the east side of Tijuana called Casa Hogar Para Ancianos “El Refugio”. It is a group home for indigent elderly and infirm. It is run by Pastor Jesús Mondragón who has given his life 24/7 to serve the most dejected members of Tijuana. This July, I led a short term team from my home church in Winter Haven, FL to serve this ministry for a week alongside members of our local congregation (Misión Presbiteriana Monte Horeb) in Tijuana who also volunteer regularly at El Refugio.
El Refugio provides a home to over 100 persons and is staffed by a handful of volunteers, some of whom live on site and receive free room and board but no (or very little) cash remuneration. In the context of Tijuana, this ministry provides a home for those who would otherwise be in the street or worse. Nevertheless, living there is simple, sparse and by American standards, not clean. Most of the residents cannot clean up after or fully care for themselves, so basic cleanliness is a full time job for several people. Over the many dozens of visits I’ve made there, I had never seen the dining hall clean when I arrived. After working there for a week and personally being part of the sweeping and mopping crew, I discovered how quickly a clean room becomes dirty at El Refugio. The needs are virtually endless and it doesn’t stop with cleaning. There are medical and personal care needs, cooking, laundry, bathing, maintenance, and on and on.
There is another within this story, however. This was brought to light in a closing time of prayer with Pastor Jesús as he asked us to pray for the staff. “Everyone asks what the residents need and how they can be prayed for or served, but it is rare that someone asks how the staff can be prayed or cared for.” As we were preparing to depart and return to lives of relative ease, comfort, and cleanliness, it was then that we really considered the lives of Pastor Jesús Mondragón and the other staff. Recalling their joyful service during the week and the joy and exaltation with which they greeted us each day was nothing less than remarkable, especially realizing that by the time we arrived each morning the nastiest chores of cleaning up from the nightly production of dirty diapers, soiled beds, and dirtied bathrooms was already completed. Each of them has decisively made a choice to use their time and lives to serve others who are in desperate need. These capable and talented souls, who could be doing a variety of different things with their lives, have chosen to serve and live by faith depending upon the Lord’s provision for themselves and El Refugio. Their lives’ self-sacrificing devotion truly reflects what Jesus Christ teaches us in Matt 6:31-32.
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. (ESV)
I like John Piper’s paraphrase of this passage: “…if we look like our lives are devoted to getting and maintaining things, we will look like the world, and that will not make Christ look great.” If we are to be about bringing God glory with our lives, and if He truly is better to us than life itself (Psalms 63:3), then we will follow the command that Jesus gives us immediately after in verse 33.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matt 6:33 (ESV)
As we reflected on the godly service of living and volunteering full time in this difficult location, we saw the treasure of Jesus Christ written all over the lives of those who serve at El Refugio. He is magnified through their service in ways that most people cannot possibly imagine. I’m not saying that all Christians have to serve in this way, but rather that we should examine how we are investing our lives and ask ourselves before the Lord if is it consistent with where we say our treasure truly is. If we genuinely lived our lives this way – decisively and consistently making choices that demonstrate Christ’s preeminence and glory, the world would notice and desire to better understand this Jesus who is glorified through our joyful service while they serve their own comfort and glory in ultimate misery.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Epilogue: Pedro's Cafe
For those of you following Pedro and his Cafe Celeste (post from 12/23/09), here's an update.
Pedro is still stable health-wise and that is a huge blessing to him and his family. Unfortunately, he had to close his cafe due to declining sales. He did not want to go into debt and the sales had gradually declined as the sour economy continued to tighten household budgets. I had worked with him to implement some strategies that might help the business, but it was too little too late.
Pedro's focus never was making money - it was a ministry endeavor. He now spends more of his time visiting and evangelizing. He has contemplated selling burritos from the roadside, which would be far less time consuming than the cafe, but he has not yet decided if he will do this. Nevertheless, he faithfully rises every morning to pray in the church at 6:00am and continues to host a small cell group in his home.
Continue to pray for Pedro and his health needs and his financial needs. His twice weekly dialysis treatments are very costly and they constantly are in financial need. He does receive support through the local church, but it only covers part of his medical costs. Pray also for his wife, Judith, who carries the burden of her "three" children (her blind and disabled husband and two school-aged children). She quietly serves her family without complaint and spiritually under-girds her husband and children with encouragement from God's Word.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Timothy Leadership Training
May 14-15, 2010
On Friday and Saturday, we had a well attended training seminar for pastors and church leaders. It was conducted through Timothy Leadership Institute (http://www.timothyleadershiptraining.org/) and I was a liaison to promote and recruit this event within the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (NPCM). Overall, there were about 30 in attendance with about half from NPCM churches.
This particular training focused on congregational care and visitation; however it is part of a series of very practical training that is progressive. We have strategically planned to do the next seminar in February 2011. There are two things that excite me about the potential of this training. First, it is very practical and hands-on. During the intervening 8 months before the next training, each participant will conduct their own series of projects utilizing what was learned from the conference. Secondly, the training is leveraged by engaging others in the church to be similarly equipped. The conference is kind of a “training the trainer” event and the ensuing months are when the participants practice what they learned while they teach it to others in their congregations. As each key theme is taught, the church continues to grow and congregants are trained and future leaders are equipped. As we cover subsequent training topics such as stewardship, preaching, and teaching the Christian faith, the church grows in faith and the membership is trained and prepared for more effective ministry.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Photos - Earthquake in Valle de Mexicali - April 2010
Mud deposits from earthquake induced groundwater flows
Mud boiled up from 10Km deep in the earth - warm, salty and smelling of sulfur
Mud deposits from the groundwater boils like this were up to 3 feet thick in some area
Irrigation canals all over the area were badly cracked and ruined like this one. There are major infrastructure needs to repair the damage before agriculture, the areas main industry, can be restored.
We were surprised to see, 12 days after the quake, that spontaneous groundwater boils pop up in new places like this one in the middle of the road. We heard that this was a common post-quake occurrence.
Damaged building similar to many that we saw.
Displaced persons living in tent camps because their homes have collapsed or are unstable.
Tent camps form where there is open space and maybe some cover, or close to roads on higher ground to avoid flooding risk from groundwater flows and where aid and help can be more easily received.
Note the lack of steel structural reinforcement in the construction of this building damaged by the quake. Many of the damaged homes we saw were of similar construction.
Mud deposits from earthquake induced groundwater flows
Mud boiled up from 10Km deep in the earth - warm, salty and smelling of sulfur
Mud deposits from the groundwater boils like this were up to 3 feet thick in some area
Irrigation canals all over the area were badly cracked and ruined like this one. There are major infrastructure needs to repair the damage before agriculture, the areas main industry, can be restored.
We were surprised to see, 12 days after the quake, that spontaneous groundwater boils pop up in new places like this one in the middle of the road. We heard that this was a common post-quake occurrence.
Damaged building similar to many that we saw.
Displaced persons living in tent camps because their homes have collapsed or are unstable.
Tent camps form where there is open space and maybe some cover, or close to roads on higher ground to avoid flooding risk from groundwater flows and where aid and help can be more easily received.
Note the lack of steel structural reinforcement in the construction of this building damaged by the quake. Many of the damaged homes we saw were of similar construction.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Report on earthquake relief efforts to Valle de Mexicali
Report on relief efforts to Valle de Mexicali
Overview
On Friday, April 16, 2010 a team of 12 persons distributed about $800 in emergency supplies, shelf-stable foods, water, and other necessities to earthquake victims in the Valle de Mexicali area of Mexico, about 30 miles south-southeast of Mexicali in Baja California. The purpose of this report is to recount what we did, what we saw, and try to relate other needs that may be met by future endeavors.
The team consisted of seven Mexican nationals, three lay members from Mision Presbiteriana Monte Horeb in Tijuana, three seminary students from Presbyterian Theological Seminary of Baja California located in Mexicali, and one other Mexicali resident who has family that live and farm in one of the worst affected areas and who acted as our guide. The other team members were myself and my two teen-aged sons, Stephen and John Morgan, all from Tijuana, plus fellow MTW missionary, Ray Calll and his son, Jeremiah. We did distribute about $800 in emergency supplies and were able to see firsthand some of the additional longer-term needs. We shared the Gospel with about 25 families and left food and the Word and Hope. This was a good effort for a first foray.
The Valle de Mexicali is a very rural and rugged area. Temperatures will hit triple digits in May or June and last until late September or October. Most of the area is agricultural (mostly hay and cover crops) surrounding a handful of very small communities. These small communities make up the bulk of the population that was affected worst by the 7.2 Easter earthquake on April 4, 2010. The Mexican government reports over 50,000 homes damaged or destroyed and 250,000 people displaced.
Damage surveyed
Our limited review of the damage seemed to confirm this data as the majority of the simple homes we saw were severely damaged. Most families had vacated their homes and were living in camping tents in small communities wherever there was safe open space to make a temporary home. Every park or public open space we saw was filled with these tent cities. Most of them were grouped by extended family groups of 3 to 25 family units. We stopped at 5 of these groupings and gave basic supplies and foodstuffs to family leaders and also spent time in conversation, prayer and sharing.
Fortunately, we saw lots of evidence of relief efforts, both public and private, meeting many needs. Most of these tent groupings had stores of donated food, water, and clothing that had been provided. Since we were there 12 days post-quake, we perhaps saw the relief effort at or near its peak. I expect that the need for basic items and food will continue for many months and the supply will deplete as the event drifts into history and into the backs of everyone’s minds. We should be prepared to help fill in this gap as it develops in the future. While we saw no evidence of anyone suffering from a lack of food or water, this is a very real possibility as relief aid wanes and as lip-cracking heat bears down starting in late May. The lack of adequate shelter is also a grave concern. Most of the homes in the area have some sort of ventilation and cooling system (swamp coolers). Surviving in a camping tent in 120 degree temperatures will become a challenge for many and even doubtful for some of the displaced persons we saw.
Needs
The biggest long-term physical need is helping them to get life back to normal and helping them figure out what to do as most seem despondent and unable to pick up and move forward. 12 days post-quake, almost everyone (able-bodied men included) is sitting around surrounded by lots of clean-up and rebuilding needs, but unwilling to engage and get to work rebuilding their lives.
Why? The answer to this is complicated and probably impossible to fully understand. I offer these insights based on conversations we had with the victims and discussions among ourselves as team members and insights I’ve had from other Mexicans in the last few days. I have tried to categorize the issues for ease of understanding even though they overlap in many areas.
Uniqueness of the damage:
One surprising but very damaging result of the earthquake was the release of groundwater and mud from depths of up to 10 km. We saw evidence of widespread flooding from enormous quantities of water that were released. Roads, houses, and farmlands were flooded with this water that was salt and sulfur-tainted. We were told by a public official that the groundwater had 15,000 parts per million (ppm) of salt, or about half the salinity of sea water. As a point of reference, irrigation water is no longer considered “permissible” when it exceeds 1,400 ppm and “unsuitable” if it exceeds 2,100 ppm, so the salt water contamination was 7 to 10 times more salty than minimally acceptable irrigation water. As a result, many crops and farms lands have been spoiled. We observed salt crystals covering many areas like a light frost where flooded areas had been dried by the sun. The ground movements also brought forth mud. In some areas there was 1 – 2 feet of fresh mud that bubbled up from the ground. We were told that it bubbled up warm and smelling strongly of sulfur. Some families recounted that the mud and water came up through the floors of their homes and flooded the home with muddy water. We saw plenty of traditional earthquake damage as well. We observed many structures built with poor design to withstand earthquakes. Foundations for bearing walls were often very shallow and many masonry homes seemed to contain no metal re-bars.
Continuing trauma:
Thousands of aftershocks have followed the quake. The day we were there we felt several strong tremors in the mid 4’s and everyone seemed to be anticipating the next ‘big’ one and what more damage it may do. Perhaps the most curious and unsettling was the continuation of ground water releases. We passed a crowd of people in the street gathered around a fresh new artesian flow of ground-water in the middle of the street. It was boiling up with muddy water that was puddling and then running down the street. We were told by others that this was a common occurrence all across this area.
False hope for government help:
Perhaps one of the most common sentiments we heard (and one of the most disappointing) was the anticipation of significant and solvent aid from the government. I was told by one man that there was no need to rebuild his home because the government was going to provide a portable home for his family. It is true that there is Mexican government aid in the form of FEMA house trailers purchased from the US (leftover from the Katrina disaster) that will be provided to the earthquake victims, however, it would be completely unrealistic to expect this level of aid to reach more than just a few victims. Other Mexicans I have spoken with agree with this assessment. One told me that he has family in Mexico City who still talk about the home that “the government is going to give us to replace the one destroyed by the 1985 Mexico City earthquake”. This is what happens to people who have been indoctrinated for generations that their government is the solution to all of life's problems, which is very much what Mexico has done for most of the last century. It is also a lesson for us as aid providers to not ‘harm’ those we wish to help by offering disabling assistance without requiring significant contribution and sacrifice from those who will benefit from our assistance.
Superstitions and ignorance:
In this largely rural area, most of the people are poorly educated. While most Americans may look at such an event and conclude that its effects will pass with time and probably will not be repeated for another 70-80 years, many of the people we talked to seemed to have an attitude that the land was cursed and would never be usable like it had previously been for generations. This lead to hopelessness and a many were contemplating moving away permanently. It was difficult for many to put this event into a reasonable perspective and then make reasonable plans to rebuild their lives for the future. In addition, there was a great deal of uncertainty on what to do about the damaged structures. For some it is obvious that they need to be torn down while for others it is much more difficult to discern what to do. This lack of engineering information causes paralysis.
Widespread economic and social disruption:
Most everyone was unemployed. The entire economic cycle is disrupted starting from a lack of productive work that could produce income to no disposable income for commerce which in turn prevents local employment for stores and shops and services. Everyone is subsisting on donated goods and there are no apparent funds with which to begin construction. Many of the agricultural crops have been spoiled by the salty water and the area is entering its normal hot/dry season where normal agricultural activities subside seasonally. There did not seem to be any hope or near-term prospect for getting regular routines back in place. The entire social and economic fabric of these communities seems to be at a dead stop.
Profound lack of resources:
After such an event in the developed world, there are personal reserves that families can fall back on for survival and immediate repairs and rebuilding. For most Americans, we could probably live for weeks on just what is in our pantry. On average, we also enjoy some degree of financial cushion in the case of a disaster. Not to say that there are not those who struggle financially, but most people have some resources to fall back on. In this area of Mexico, things are just the opposite. Most people have no resources and it is the exceptional citizen who has some savings and reserves to fall back on. This leads to a very real feeling of hopelessness.
All of these factors lead to the paralysis that we saw and this is why these people need our prayers and help. While it is easy to critique an apparent able-bodied people doing very little, it is also very difficult to understand and relate to all of the factors that impact these people. There is a lack of vision and encouragement. If someone could educate them that there is a better construction method that would make a home less likely to collapse in a quake, could advise them if the homes still standing are safe or tell them how to secure and repair it, and if there were a source of funds or assistance for them so see their way clear to do the work, it would make a big difference. This is where I think I would like to see us focus our efforts. I don't pretend to understand all of the dynamics that lead to what I saw. I also don't underestimate the trauma they have experienced and neither do I judge them for what seems to be a lack of purpose or vision, however, I do see this as their most profound need after Christ.
Next Steps
The key to truly good assistance for an organization like ours is to start small and focus efforts in a small community, or perhaps even one small city block with a dozen homes. Our effort should be grounded with sound assistance principles and not further aggravate the dependency trap that currently exists.
My prayer would be for us to recruit a team of resources to assist in the following areas, all targeted at a particular small geographic area. Ideally this would be an area that is in proximity to a local evangelical church who can partner with us in serving their own members as well as others in the immediate area. If we were able to successfully impact even a small area, this may give encouragement to other communities who may self-initiate similar efforts.
Engineering assistance: A simple review of the homes and structures and determining which ones can be rebuilt and which ones should be torn down.
Economic development: A holistic approach to the economic pressures of each family group. What was the source of income and what is its current status. When will it recover and how can that be accelerated. In the long or short term, what other opportunities are there for income producing work.
Rebuilding encouragement and assistance: There should be some limited financial assistance for rebuilding or reconstructing homes and essential structures. This effort must be connected to active participation in the reconstruction effort. Perhaps it could be structured like a community wide effort similar to a series of “barn-raising” events where everyone comes together to rebuild every structure in need in a given area. This kind of effort could also utilize short term teams, but they must not take over or even dwarf the efforts of the community to rebuild itself.
Disaster relief: If a situation develops in the future where there are obvious lacks of basic food, water, or necessities, we can respond to meet those needs. However, we must do those with caution and only for a short time period, otherwise we will extend and exacerbate the very situation we seek to remedy.
Call to Action
I propose that we, as the leadership of BEAMM-West, set out to recruit local and nation-wide support for this affected area. We should meet with key members of the presbytery and with Dios Soberano and invite their input and request their participation. However, I think we probably should plan on providing most of the initial leadership. We should identify specific means for our supporting churches to participate in this effort with categories for financial help and for specific disciplines as outlined above. We can research other ministries who may already be able to provide some of the services mentioned above or others with whom we can coordinate with and form a coordinated network to impact a specific area through a local evangelical church. I see this as being a very long term effort that could last for several years before impacted areas are again stabilized. Our goal should be to minister to these needs in the name of Christ and connect ourselves to and work through the local church as we minister.
Morgan Roe
April 29, 2010
Overview
On Friday, April 16, 2010 a team of 12 persons distributed about $800 in emergency supplies, shelf-stable foods, water, and other necessities to earthquake victims in the Valle de Mexicali area of Mexico, about 30 miles south-southeast of Mexicali in Baja California. The purpose of this report is to recount what we did, what we saw, and try to relate other needs that may be met by future endeavors.
The team consisted of seven Mexican nationals, three lay members from Mision Presbiteriana Monte Horeb in Tijuana, three seminary students from Presbyterian Theological Seminary of Baja California located in Mexicali, and one other Mexicali resident who has family that live and farm in one of the worst affected areas and who acted as our guide. The other team members were myself and my two teen-aged sons, Stephen and John Morgan, all from Tijuana, plus fellow MTW missionary, Ray Calll and his son, Jeremiah. We did distribute about $800 in emergency supplies and were able to see firsthand some of the additional longer-term needs. We shared the Gospel with about 25 families and left food and the Word and Hope. This was a good effort for a first foray.
The Valle de Mexicali is a very rural and rugged area. Temperatures will hit triple digits in May or June and last until late September or October. Most of the area is agricultural (mostly hay and cover crops) surrounding a handful of very small communities. These small communities make up the bulk of the population that was affected worst by the 7.2 Easter earthquake on April 4, 2010. The Mexican government reports over 50,000 homes damaged or destroyed and 250,000 people displaced.
Damage surveyed
Our limited review of the damage seemed to confirm this data as the majority of the simple homes we saw were severely damaged. Most families had vacated their homes and were living in camping tents in small communities wherever there was safe open space to make a temporary home. Every park or public open space we saw was filled with these tent cities. Most of them were grouped by extended family groups of 3 to 25 family units. We stopped at 5 of these groupings and gave basic supplies and foodstuffs to family leaders and also spent time in conversation, prayer and sharing.
Fortunately, we saw lots of evidence of relief efforts, both public and private, meeting many needs. Most of these tent groupings had stores of donated food, water, and clothing that had been provided. Since we were there 12 days post-quake, we perhaps saw the relief effort at or near its peak. I expect that the need for basic items and food will continue for many months and the supply will deplete as the event drifts into history and into the backs of everyone’s minds. We should be prepared to help fill in this gap as it develops in the future. While we saw no evidence of anyone suffering from a lack of food or water, this is a very real possibility as relief aid wanes and as lip-cracking heat bears down starting in late May. The lack of adequate shelter is also a grave concern. Most of the homes in the area have some sort of ventilation and cooling system (swamp coolers). Surviving in a camping tent in 120 degree temperatures will become a challenge for many and even doubtful for some of the displaced persons we saw.
Needs
The biggest long-term physical need is helping them to get life back to normal and helping them figure out what to do as most seem despondent and unable to pick up and move forward. 12 days post-quake, almost everyone (able-bodied men included) is sitting around surrounded by lots of clean-up and rebuilding needs, but unwilling to engage and get to work rebuilding their lives.
Why? The answer to this is complicated and probably impossible to fully understand. I offer these insights based on conversations we had with the victims and discussions among ourselves as team members and insights I’ve had from other Mexicans in the last few days. I have tried to categorize the issues for ease of understanding even though they overlap in many areas.
Uniqueness of the damage:
One surprising but very damaging result of the earthquake was the release of groundwater and mud from depths of up to 10 km. We saw evidence of widespread flooding from enormous quantities of water that were released. Roads, houses, and farmlands were flooded with this water that was salt and sulfur-tainted. We were told by a public official that the groundwater had 15,000 parts per million (ppm) of salt, or about half the salinity of sea water. As a point of reference, irrigation water is no longer considered “permissible” when it exceeds 1,400 ppm and “unsuitable” if it exceeds 2,100 ppm, so the salt water contamination was 7 to 10 times more salty than minimally acceptable irrigation water. As a result, many crops and farms lands have been spoiled. We observed salt crystals covering many areas like a light frost where flooded areas had been dried by the sun. The ground movements also brought forth mud. In some areas there was 1 – 2 feet of fresh mud that bubbled up from the ground. We were told that it bubbled up warm and smelling strongly of sulfur. Some families recounted that the mud and water came up through the floors of their homes and flooded the home with muddy water. We saw plenty of traditional earthquake damage as well. We observed many structures built with poor design to withstand earthquakes. Foundations for bearing walls were often very shallow and many masonry homes seemed to contain no metal re-bars.
Continuing trauma:
Thousands of aftershocks have followed the quake. The day we were there we felt several strong tremors in the mid 4’s and everyone seemed to be anticipating the next ‘big’ one and what more damage it may do. Perhaps the most curious and unsettling was the continuation of ground water releases. We passed a crowd of people in the street gathered around a fresh new artesian flow of ground-water in the middle of the street. It was boiling up with muddy water that was puddling and then running down the street. We were told by others that this was a common occurrence all across this area.
False hope for government help:
Perhaps one of the most common sentiments we heard (and one of the most disappointing) was the anticipation of significant and solvent aid from the government. I was told by one man that there was no need to rebuild his home because the government was going to provide a portable home for his family. It is true that there is Mexican government aid in the form of FEMA house trailers purchased from the US (leftover from the Katrina disaster) that will be provided to the earthquake victims, however, it would be completely unrealistic to expect this level of aid to reach more than just a few victims. Other Mexicans I have spoken with agree with this assessment. One told me that he has family in Mexico City who still talk about the home that “the government is going to give us to replace the one destroyed by the 1985 Mexico City earthquake”. This is what happens to people who have been indoctrinated for generations that their government is the solution to all of life's problems, which is very much what Mexico has done for most of the last century. It is also a lesson for us as aid providers to not ‘harm’ those we wish to help by offering disabling assistance without requiring significant contribution and sacrifice from those who will benefit from our assistance.
Superstitions and ignorance:
In this largely rural area, most of the people are poorly educated. While most Americans may look at such an event and conclude that its effects will pass with time and probably will not be repeated for another 70-80 years, many of the people we talked to seemed to have an attitude that the land was cursed and would never be usable like it had previously been for generations. This lead to hopelessness and a many were contemplating moving away permanently. It was difficult for many to put this event into a reasonable perspective and then make reasonable plans to rebuild their lives for the future. In addition, there was a great deal of uncertainty on what to do about the damaged structures. For some it is obvious that they need to be torn down while for others it is much more difficult to discern what to do. This lack of engineering information causes paralysis.
Widespread economic and social disruption:
Most everyone was unemployed. The entire economic cycle is disrupted starting from a lack of productive work that could produce income to no disposable income for commerce which in turn prevents local employment for stores and shops and services. Everyone is subsisting on donated goods and there are no apparent funds with which to begin construction. Many of the agricultural crops have been spoiled by the salty water and the area is entering its normal hot/dry season where normal agricultural activities subside seasonally. There did not seem to be any hope or near-term prospect for getting regular routines back in place. The entire social and economic fabric of these communities seems to be at a dead stop.
Profound lack of resources:
After such an event in the developed world, there are personal reserves that families can fall back on for survival and immediate repairs and rebuilding. For most Americans, we could probably live for weeks on just what is in our pantry. On average, we also enjoy some degree of financial cushion in the case of a disaster. Not to say that there are not those who struggle financially, but most people have some resources to fall back on. In this area of Mexico, things are just the opposite. Most people have no resources and it is the exceptional citizen who has some savings and reserves to fall back on. This leads to a very real feeling of hopelessness.
All of these factors lead to the paralysis that we saw and this is why these people need our prayers and help. While it is easy to critique an apparent able-bodied people doing very little, it is also very difficult to understand and relate to all of the factors that impact these people. There is a lack of vision and encouragement. If someone could educate them that there is a better construction method that would make a home less likely to collapse in a quake, could advise them if the homes still standing are safe or tell them how to secure and repair it, and if there were a source of funds or assistance for them so see their way clear to do the work, it would make a big difference. This is where I think I would like to see us focus our efforts. I don't pretend to understand all of the dynamics that lead to what I saw. I also don't underestimate the trauma they have experienced and neither do I judge them for what seems to be a lack of purpose or vision, however, I do see this as their most profound need after Christ.
Next Steps
The key to truly good assistance for an organization like ours is to start small and focus efforts in a small community, or perhaps even one small city block with a dozen homes. Our effort should be grounded with sound assistance principles and not further aggravate the dependency trap that currently exists.
My prayer would be for us to recruit a team of resources to assist in the following areas, all targeted at a particular small geographic area. Ideally this would be an area that is in proximity to a local evangelical church who can partner with us in serving their own members as well as others in the immediate area. If we were able to successfully impact even a small area, this may give encouragement to other communities who may self-initiate similar efforts.
Engineering assistance: A simple review of the homes and structures and determining which ones can be rebuilt and which ones should be torn down.
Economic development: A holistic approach to the economic pressures of each family group. What was the source of income and what is its current status. When will it recover and how can that be accelerated. In the long or short term, what other opportunities are there for income producing work.
Rebuilding encouragement and assistance: There should be some limited financial assistance for rebuilding or reconstructing homes and essential structures. This effort must be connected to active participation in the reconstruction effort. Perhaps it could be structured like a community wide effort similar to a series of “barn-raising” events where everyone comes together to rebuild every structure in need in a given area. This kind of effort could also utilize short term teams, but they must not take over or even dwarf the efforts of the community to rebuild itself.
Disaster relief: If a situation develops in the future where there are obvious lacks of basic food, water, or necessities, we can respond to meet those needs. However, we must do those with caution and only for a short time period, otherwise we will extend and exacerbate the very situation we seek to remedy.
Call to Action
I propose that we, as the leadership of BEAMM-West, set out to recruit local and nation-wide support for this affected area. We should meet with key members of the presbytery and with Dios Soberano and invite their input and request their participation. However, I think we probably should plan on providing most of the initial leadership. We should identify specific means for our supporting churches to participate in this effort with categories for financial help and for specific disciplines as outlined above. We can research other ministries who may already be able to provide some of the services mentioned above or others with whom we can coordinate with and form a coordinated network to impact a specific area through a local evangelical church. I see this as being a very long term effort that could last for several years before impacted areas are again stabilized. Our goal should be to minister to these needs in the name of Christ and connect ourselves to and work through the local church as we minister.
Morgan Roe
April 29, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Stephen Roe
Each of our children are doing very well, but since Stephen is a senior this year and has accomplished some amazing things, I have to report it. Stephen has been involved in a competitive speech and debate league for the last two years and has progressed a great deal in his communication, analysis, and rhetoric skills. This year’s debate topic is on environmental policy and he is leading his club’s research effort. He has demonstrated some great leadership and originality in this effort producing great results in motivating his fellow teammates to achieve a great deal.
He is part of the winningest speech club in the nation last year (2009), so club standards are high. C.O.N.T.R.O.L. Speech and Debate Club is coached by two wonderful men who encourage the students and keep them clearly focused on glorifying God while developing their God-given abilities in a competitive league.
Stephen has had a remarkable speech season, competing in five different events in addition to his debate competitions. I don’t know if it has ever happened before, but from my history of watching tournaments over the last 3 years, usually those who do well in each tournament rotate during the season. With amazing consistency, Stephen has won overall tournament speech first place award at the last 4 of this year’s 5 major tournaments. Furthermore, he is currently ranked as the best overall speech and debate competitor in the nation, with 788 overall points (2nd place has 475). In the six events he competes in, he is nationally ranked as 1st in the nation in 2 of these events (Apologetics, Open Interp), 2nd in Duo Interp, 3nd in Humorous Interp, 4th in Impromptu, and 5th in the nation in Team Policy Debate. The national tournament will be held in San Diego this year in late May. Regardless of how he does, we’re extremely proud of him.
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