Hotter Than the Inside of a Wolf Mouth

We got off to a little bit of a late start, not because we slept too long, but because we spent too long just dilly-dallying. We thought for sure everyone would be waiting for us once we got to the church. As we came to the main road (off the dirt road the house is on), a bus drove by. Zach waved and whistled, and yet true to physics the mass in motion remained in motion. Zach looked at me and we took off running after it. I with my back pack flopping around. We chased that bus, and it didn't stop. Not even at the bus stop. We decided to try and run a straight route through town and beat it to the other side (it has to go around) But to no avail. We perched ourselves on some steps right on the road and waited. And waited. Finally a bus came. I was sure we were later than even Mexicanly acceptable. As we got of a few blocks from the church we could tell there was no one waiting for us. This made for a little bit of a predicament. I really needed to go to the bathroom (note for traveling on a bus. The stop and go and bumping and jarring really shakes up a full bladder). We had not brought the keys to the church and the shops on the street either don't have bathrooms or don't let you use them. The bus station is not far from the church, and Zach knew there would be a restroom there. We hightailed it up the road, up the stairs and to...the meter. Yes. It costs 3 pesos to use the restroom at the bus station. 3 pesos is very little in terms of money, but seems a big obstacle when the bladder is full, the eyes are floating, and the fingers are fumbling round the bottom of the back pack for some money. Entrance was successful. Another important note for travelers. If there is a thing on the wall by the sinks that looks like a toilet paper dispenser...it is. And you should get some, because that probably means there isn't any in the stalls. Before too long we were back on our way up the street to the church. At this point it was about 45 minutes after we were supposed to have congregated (ha) at the church. We returned and sat on the wall to wait. 10 minutes later Jose's uncle and his nephew walked up - they were coming with us, and said Jose was on his way. Then Miguel walked up. We all piled into the car and started to drive off to meet Jose at the courts right as Jose walked up. We piled Jose in on top of everyone else, and drove the few blocks to the courts. When we arrived both of the courts were occupied. But that gave a little bit of time for the rules to be explained and for some practice swings to be taken - with a tennis ball against a concrete wall. The game is a lot like racquet ball. Except it is outdoors (thus no ceiling) and one of the side walls is missing. The three walls that are present are probably 40 or 50 feet tall. There is a red line at the bottom and the top of the front wall that is considered a sort of foul line. Shots that hit below or above those lines respectively will not be counted and instead will turn the ball over to the other team. You can play singles or doubles. I sat with nephew Jose while Miguel, Zach and took some practice shots. Here are a few of my own practice shots (with the camera of course)


It really wasn't long until the playing began. The four men took to the courts and began getting a feel for an actual fronton ball and wall. The ball is very similar to a racquetball in its bouncing capabilities. There were a few shots that believe it or not sailed clear over the wall, but Nephew Jose was quick to retrieve them. We watched and laughed as racquets were swung, not connecting with anything, and the resulting momentum sending the swinger spinning. Once Jose tried to take Zach's head off. He ducked just in time as a ball went sailing right over his head - nearly giving a buzz cut in the process. The guys had what looked like a blast. 3 hours spent playing with hardly a water break says something for their enjoyment. While Nephew Jose and I were watching we chatted - in quite an interesting way. He understands a little bit of english, I understand a little bit of spanish, but neither of us speaks the others language very well. It was during these little conversations that I realized once again how universal the language of music is. (in this case not only because it is music, but because much of the music people listen to hear is whatever is popular in the States - Coldplay, Lady Gaga, Hannah Montana, U2, Black Eyed Peas, and Katy Perry are a few of his favorites.) We took turns naming songs and he even played a few on his phone for me. At one point he asked me if I like Shakira - I couldn't tell at first what he had said, and so he repeated it and then immediately burst into "Hips don't lie" complete with a 13 year old boy hip gyration. It was quite funny. I knew exactly what he was talking about after the demo. I went to get Zach some water but was half a peso short. He loaned me a half peso and I gave him the lone dime that seems to have made the trip with us. Not really a fair trade considering a dime can't be used here, but he was happy nonetheless.

Once everyone was too pooped to poop, (as Jose likes to now say) we headed to Gerardo's Caseta for some tortas. When we arrived, the whole family was there. Alma Rosa was working behind the counter, Gerardo was running tortas back and forth across the street to bus drivers, and Toti and his sister and her husband were hanging around watching and entertaining Ali (the baby grandson). He was still acting very shy, but we managed to snap a few pictures of him anyway.
Alma Rosa made us tortas with Milinesa, and we shared a Pepsi. It was a great lunch. We paid and were given bubble-gum as a treat. Mine was apple flavored, Zach's was banana. Miguel, Jose and Zach and I headed to the bus stop, chomping away on our gum. We caught a bus to Tule, they headed to their house. We took the afternoon to relax and read and watch a little bit of X-Men before getting ready for bible study.

Flor's husband Jose Luis and their son Pepe came to get us. We trudged a short ways through the mud to the car and began our ascent up the mud road. It wasn't very long before I cracked my window down and Zach did the same to his. Jose and Pepe seemed comfortable enough, but an exchanged glance between Zach and I confirmed our mutual thermometers agreed - it was unusually warm. A radiating heat - the kind you would expect from, well, a radiator, or perhaps the heater. We made it to the main road and turned left. Now this was also unusual. The only time we have turned left on this road was on our trip to Mitla and the ruins. A puzzled look from me spurred Zach into asking if we were picking up another brother for the bible study. Jose laughed and told us that no, we weren't, and he wasn't loosing his mind, but that if we went to the left we would encounter less topes. We trusted he probably knew best (having lived here for many years) and settled back into the sauna. I noticed a little bit of sweat running off of Zachs forehead, but it was still another 7 minutes before Jose asked Pepe (who was driving) if something was wrong because it was kind of warm. Something was indeed wrong...the heater was turned on. Jose laughed an commented that we must certainly think he was crazy. We were just glad for the heat wave to subside.
We made it to the study just fine and the delved into the excerpt from Ephesians. I was able to catch a bit of the conversation here and there, but spent the majority of the time reading through the book on my own and journaling. I was awakened to a fuller depth of a truth....

The study went well; it was a short discussion through Eph 5 and 6 about relationships and our need to submit. Their was good input from everyone and great pizza (homemade) to follow. Jose Luis asked me what the best way to understand the Old Testament was, and I sought to emphasize the importance of reading within the context, particularly in regard to the genre of the literature. I briefly talked about the different genres present in the OT and got to talking about Job. It seemed that none of them were familiar with the story; it was my great and lasting honor and privilege to introduce them to a book in the scripture. I talked about how important Job is as it seeks to explore the most common question known to mankind: why is there suffering. I read excerpts from the end when God responds in chapters 38 and following. They were very pleased to hear from a new text having been give some foundation and framework for studying it. Jose Luis looked me straight in the eye afterward and said he was going to read this book. There was an excitement there to hear God's Word; to participate in such an event is a crowning moment for me in my time here.
We did not stay as late as the first study and on the way home Jose Luis turned off the headlights for a brief second, bringing Flor to comment that the night was blacker than the inside of a wolf's mouth. She never did listen through my exhaustive explanation of black as pitch. We managed to make it to bed before midnight. Having awoken now on the other side it was my first night of undisturbed rest.

...a truth that God made evident to us in the creation of the world as a community and the church as the same. It is a neat thing to be able to communicate with the people around you. Something so natural when everyone speaks the same language, that we often find ourselves content in the silence of our own thoughts. It was here however, secluded in the silence of my own thoughts that I discovered my desire - or perhaps more correctly - need for feedback. Reading gives great stimulation to the mind, but through talking about what is being read is it possible that even greater understanding can be reached? Perhaps for this reason is why we are encouraged to meet together, worshiping, reading, and discussing with one another. I am more grateful that I have ever been able to be for the community of friends and family I have surrounding me.