I’m sitting on the rooftop of our host home in San Pablito watching the sun rising over the mountains while I reflect on the past few days. It would be quiet except for a cacophony of roosters crowing, dogs barking, a symphony of birds singing, and our neighbor’s pig grunting. Today, on our last day in San Pablito, I am overwhelmed and grateful for this trip. I have learned so much about this place, these people, and their stories. Yet, I’ve also learned so much about my own story.

The crafter in me was hoping so much before we left to be able to see the amate paper making process that I’ve read so much about. Not only did I see it and learn about it this week, but I got to experience it for myself. I see my own story mirrored in the process. Before the paper can become a canvas for art, it must be harvested as bark from a tree. It is soaked and boiled for many hours, then manipulated into skeins that can be pulled apart to create strands for the paper. Next, the strands are placed in a grid and the artist must repeatedly pound the fibres with a rectangular volcanic rock shaped for the process. More bits are added and pounded until the fibers blend together creating a canvas for the artist to create his or her masterpiece. So it is with my spiritual journey. I started out as simple bark on a tree, selected, moulded (sometimes pounded) into something that is beautiful, not because of who I am, but because God the artist has made me so. I can no more turn myself into a finished piece of art than the bark on the tree can turn itself into paper. It is a process, not something to be rushed, but something to be added to bit by bit – fibre by fibre – until I am prepared to grow. The beauty can be seen only after it has been prepared by the Creator. The result is a beautiful story – joy and pain woven together to bring glory to God, my Creator.

Philippians 1:6 – being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Breakfast was nice, its awesome to have Kellogg’s cereal and milk since milk is my favourite comfort food. Then we went to an artisan’s house and they served is a second breakfast of delicious bean “soup” and some lemon grass tea which tasted great, but since I’m already full, it was a bit of a problem. The family also offered us all giant cooked ants after I shared my testimony with them. I also told them I really liked the food here. The ants tasted like slightly burnt popcorn but the mental steps I had to take were big. This family made their own special amate paper lamps, a beautiful work of art that no one else makes. 

Next, our group went to make our own amate paper. It’s interesting seeing the process and seeing examples of the steps from turning tree bark into paper. After that, we headed back for lunch with a fruit/veggie salad, oil fried beef, and what some described as a combination of coleslaw and potato salad. After lunch we visited 2 more artisans. First was an amate paper artist who completely out classes us and then a bead artist. Both were amazing and I got some gifts for my family.

We headed back to our respective host houses for a guys/girls night. The guys invited over a few other guys from the community. A father and son from North Carolina came were in San Pablito, so it was nice to speak English to them. It should also be stated at this point the Mexican meal times, lunch is at 2pm and supper is between 8pm and 10pm, is its currently 8pm and we haven’t had supper yet but we were drinking cup after cup of a bunch of different coffees. Sadly I don’t like coffee and I feel its too late to be having caffeinated drinks. Turns out this is supper, coffee and sweat bread.

   

            We went to Rosa’s hogar house, and we got to hear her story and I got to pray for her son Manuel who is in a stroller and has some sort spinal condition and is not able to walk or fully control his body. She prays every day for Manuel and he’s actually getting better – Gloria Dios! Glory to God!

            Then we got to spend time learning from the artisans how they do their work. Our group went stayed at Guardancia’s house and I made a ring and Nic made his the fastest – well done!

            We went to Pastor Ciro’s house and got to hear his testimony. Ciro and his wife have had some incredible ups and downs, but through it all God has been faithful. It has been incredible to hear their heart for their community and call to ministry.

            Then we put on the service. We started with a new song, Dios Imparable God of the Impossible,led by Dan (the C3 Youth pastor) and I played electric guitar. Our team acted out the Good Samaritan.

• Jessi read the story (she’s the student from C3 that joined our team).
• Aaron was the man walking on the road who got beat up.
• Shawna and Jenica (Dan’s wife) were the robbers.
• David and Nic were the ones who passed them by.
• Janaya was the Good Samaritan.
• I (Pastor Tyler) was the inn keeper.

            Then I got to speak and challenge the students: God loves us – we can love others and honour our parents.

      

            The ride was relatively uneventful. The scenery on half of the drive was quite flat, and in the distance, you could see some Aztec pyramids and the mountains. One we reached the mountains the scenery was amazing, and the roads had many twists and turns. The roads were in better condition than I remember, but I did almost hit my head on the ceiling on a couple of their many speed bumps. Instead of having speed limits and police enforcing it, they just put up speed bumps. Maybe that’s why, in some cultures, they call them sleeping policemen.

            We stopped in Pauhautlan and received a tour of a small coffee plantation. He picks the beans in December at his property, brings them to his shop, dries them on the roof, separates the beans from the shell through a machine, then roasts them. One thing he does differently than anyone else, he adds sugar after the beans are roasted and then roasts the sugar and beans together for another 30 minutes.

            Unfortunately 40% of his coffee plants have been overtaken by a plague this year. The plague will kill the whole plant and it will take approx. 3 years before the plat produces a good amount of beans.

            Then we arrived in San Pablito. We got to hang out with a family and she shared the story of how her family came to faith and joined the local church. Aaron shared his story and we had a great day. They made fresh corn tortas into quesadillas for supper with Oaxaca cheese.

       

           As part of our ministry and experience, it is necessary for us to understand the culture. It can take years to get a good grasp on another culture, but there will always be some parts we don’t quite fully understand. We started our journey today with a trip on the Metro to the Basilica. It is the place of most significance for Mexicans in the catholic faith. It is the place where Diego received his vision of Guadalupe and that was the catalyst for many Mexicans to embrace Catholicism.

            As we walked around the many churches, we walked up the steps to the top of a hill where a church stands marking the spot Diego received the vision. As we walked up the last set of rocky stairs to that church, Ray invited us to pray a name of God at each step. This was a wonderful opportunity for us to focus on the Lord God.

            We then took the Metro back to our neighbourhood and walked to Heather Hahn de Cabesas’ house for lunch. We enjoyed her company and encouragement as Heather and Rebecca Ross guided us through some orientation for San Pablito.

    

Ray and Cindy are doing an amazing job guiding us through our days. They walked us through some team orientation and led us a team building activity called “floating sticks.” Then we went to Walmart looking for presents for our host families in San Pablito.

On our way to lunch, Shawna was able to encourage Jess in her English speaking, and her confidence was immediately noticeable. As we at lunch, Ray, Cindy and Jenica were amazed to see Jess speaking so fluently in English. Praise God for how he used Shawna’s influence as a teacher to speak truth and help her have confidence.

Once we arrived back at the Ministry Centre, we talked about what we would present and share during our workshop in San Pablito. We decided to teach a new song, act out the good Samaritan, sing the song again, and then share some truth from the scriptures: Since God loves us, we can love others, especially our parents.

In the evening, we were able to join an English conversation group here at the ministry center. As I looked around at the guests, I was amazed that I actually recognized one of the girls from 5 and a half years ago! At first, she didn’t understand what I was trying to say, but then I showed her a picture I had posted on Facebook and we’re part of a different group in Coyoacan having coffee. This was her first time to the group, and I pray that her time tonight will be a significant reconnection with people of faith so she will discover God’s love.