I have no shame.

I have been told this on several occasions, typically when I have done something shameful and someone feels the needs to say, "You have no shame." Well, I share this now because I have been thinking about it in a different context.

While I was home for Christmas, I was listening to a John Piper sermon on Romans 1. He focused on verse 16, where Paul says "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." Why did Paul feel the need to say he wasn't ashamed? Did he expect us to feel ashamed about it?

I hate to admit that there have been several times in my life where I have behaved like someone who was ashamed of the Gospel. I rejoice to say that God has given me victory over that shame. As I walked across the Tec campus today with my computer bag slung over my shoulder, my Bible in one hand, and a big bottle of water in the other, I realized that I am no longer ashamed. Matter of fact, I take pleasure in being identified as someone who wants to talk about the gospel of Jesus Christ. I want to be that "crazy Christian" that makes you think and forces you to make a decision. As Jim Elliot said, "Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me."

I realize that people are not always going to respond well to me, or to the gospel. I already had one international student get a little queasy when I told her I was a missionary. I expect to have some people not want to hang around me, but I pray that the Holy Spirit would draw those who are open to hear. Piper had a great quote when he said, "You will be shamed for the Gospel, but you do not have to be ashamed." That is how I feel now. I am prepared to be shamed, but I refused to be ashamed. I can understand now why Paul said what he did. I have seen the power of a life changed by Jesus Christ, and that is nothing to be ashamed about.

Accept and Adjust

So I am sitting on campus today, courtesy of my new friend Noe', and I am hanging out with a Mexican and a guy from Japan. By the way, if you have never spoken Spanish with a Japanese person, it is an experience I highly recommend. Well, Noe' is taking a class on cross-cultural communications, and was explaining to me the different steps a person takes when they are confronted with a different culture. After he went through the six stages, I decided I am somewhere between acceptance and adjustment.

I wrote the other day about some of the many differences between living in Mexico and living in the U.S. The first couple days, it isn't too big of a deal because you kind of feel like you are on vacation. After a while, however, reality sets in, and you realize this in the environment you will be living in for the next several years, if not longer. Now don't get me wrong, I love living here so far, but some things are just not what I am used to, like not having a toilet seat. My boss and fellow observer of cultural differences told me the proper attitude to take is summed up by the quote, "It's not wrong, it's just different." Well, I say I am in between the acceptance stage and the adjustment stage because I have accepted most of these differences, but sometimes I am just longing for that toilet seat. Not that my legs aren't getting a great workout, but once I get in my apartment, I know what my first purchase will be. I already checked at the grocery store, and I can get a good one for about $25. Aside from the seat, some things have been easy to accept, and really haven't required much adjustment, like no ice. I was never that big on ice anyway. Another thing that is not a big deal is drinking bottled water, and since it is so cheap down here, I can justify it a lot more than in the U.S.

One thing that I have adapted to very well is not having a car. Really the only times I have ever been without personal transportation were my freshman year of college and the two months I spent in Europe before my 3rd senior year. ;-) Although I have gotten rides from people a few times, for the most part it has been buses, walking, and the occassional taxi. I have always liked to walk, and I already blogged about the great experience I had on the bus this weekend. Seriously though, I don't even know that I would want to drive in this city, especially if I had a car that I didn't want to get scratched up.

Basically the whole point of this rambling post is to say that moving to another country is a big learning experience, and I think I am adapting pretty well so far. When we were out in the street on Saturday, one of my friends even told me if I would just keep my mouth shut I could pass for a Mexican. I will try to take that advice. Anway, thanks for your continued prayers and support. I love getting your emails and comments. Dios les bendiga!

Pawn Shop Perceptions

So they tell me living in another country will change the way you look at the world. They, whoever they are, are right. I have now been living in Mexico for almost three weeks (I can now eat street tacos without fear) and my eyes have been opened to many things. I will share just a few.

Many people in the U.S. think that living in Mexico is dirt cheap. This couldn't be farther from the truth, especially in big cities. Monterrey is more expensive in many respects than Kentucky. This has been painfully obvious to me as I try to furnish my unfurnished apartment. I have finally realized that saying "I could buy this for such-and-such amount in the U.S." is not going to do me any good. Electronics and technology is where it really hits you. I have been looking for a TV so I can host a Super Bowl party next Sunday, and it has not been easy. I have been everywhere from the high end FAMSA to the government-run pawn shop to the "get 'em while their hot" street vendors to the Wal-Mart. I think I am going to end up purchasing one at Sam's Club, which is going to be about one and a half times as expensive as at home.

Another place that really surprised me was the video store. You can buy Napoleon Dynamite for 398 pesos (almost $40) or get some old movie like Rocky III for a little less than $20 (not that I don't think it's worth it). On the street, however, I today saw a Narnia DVD (legal copies are not out yet) for less than $4. I am wondering how they got the official DVD cover and everything. Anyway, you can eat street tacos for $2 and get a big 5-gallon jug of water for $1.70, but my contact solution cost almost $12 at the pharmacy. Some things are just really expensive. Now, this is not the case in rural areas and small towns, but the big cities can be every bit as expensive as the U.S., if not more so. I would hate to need to buy a laptop down here. The price of things could be a big reason why the government charges such high fees to bring items into the country. Many Mexicans have told me they will go to the border to buy used cars from Texas because it is just too expensive down here.

A Mexican friend asked me last night what I thought about the border issue between the U.S. and Mexico. While I am here to tell people about Jesus, and try to stay as far away from politics as possible, I felt safe enough with him to answer this question. I believe that every country on earth needs to control it's borders, especially a country like the U.S. However, I don't blame the millions of Mexican people who desire to get to American (legally or illegally) to try to make a better life for themselves and their families. America truly is a land of opportunity, and I think it takes getting away from that to realize that we often take it for granted.

Anyway, I have always respected Mexican people, and that respect has only grown as I have begun to meet more people here and see how they live. Life here is not easy or "simple," as some people might like to call it. The people here who have prospered have typically worked very hard to do so, and those who haven't typically work very hard just to provide. Mexican people seem to have a good grasp on the phrase "one day at a time" and many even seem to be taking things one minute at a time. I think the longer I am here, the more I will begin to adopt this wise philosophy.

I hope that Americans reading this would take the time to think about all they have to be thankful for, like hot showers. I hope Mexicans reading this would see that I have nothing but love for you and your country, but sometimes need to write about the differences so I can understand them a little better. Well, now that I have found the TV, it's time for a microwave. Dios les bendiga!

The Fast and the Furious

Okay, this afternoon I had one of my most enjoyable experiences since arriving in Mexico, and it was in the most unexpected of places. I was downtown with my friends Carlos and Gerardo (who are brothers) and we hopped on the R-55 express bus to the mall. The fare is 6 pesos (about 60 cents) and all I had was a 20, so I paid the driver, and sat down in the seat behind him to wait for my change, which he did not have at the moment. There are many different types of buses in Monterrey, and this one happened to be of the WWII variety. Seriously, it was like a big old tank, and made just about as much noise. The bus drivers (and cabbies) here decorate their rides with all types of crucifixes, prayer beads, images of Mary, and logos of their favorite soccer teams. This guy was no different, with a sticker of his mascot (Los Tigres) peeing on the logo of the cross-town rival (Los Reyados) right next to a sticker of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Anyway, this guy took of in that bus like it was the beginning of the Indy 500. We were weaving in and out of traffic like the bus was a motorcycle, and there were several occasions where I was sure we were going to hit something. The guy seemed to enjoy getting as close as he possibly could to the car in front of him before slamming on the brakes, or more frequently, accelerating into another lane while cutting off a taxi or two. At first I thought we were in a little danger, but then I started to get the feeling I was dealing with a real pro. This guy was a mix between a NYC cabbie and Jeff Gordon. The more he cut people off and slammed on the brakes, the more I began to enjoy myself. At one point, I began to realize that this bus driver seemed to know a lot of the other bus drivers on the road, and even some of the cabbies. The whole time I was riding, he never used his horn. Instead, his arm was constantly out the window, giving signals, waving, and saying thank you. (The Mexican signal for "Thank You" is the arm swung forward in an upward motion with the hand lifted up. If you did this in the states, people would think you were seriously insulting them.) I was thinking this guy was a master of communication and using his mirrors, and then I realized that one of his mirrors was cracked. Anyway, during the course of our trip, many people who were waiting at various bus stops tried to flag us down for a ride. If the light was red, the driver would stop, but if not, he just flew right by. He went completely balls to the wall for about the first 10 minutes, and you would have thought we were in the movie "Speed." One poor guy was standing out in the middle of the street at one bus stop trying to flag us down, and he about got run over. The one exception to the rule was when he came to a screeching halt at one bus stop, and tried to coax an attractive Mexican woman onto the bus. It was hilarious. This guy doesn't stop for a guy standing in the middle of the road, but he cuts across three lanes of traffic to offer a ride to a good-looking lady. Towards the end of our ride came the highlight for me. We came upon a bunch of traffic stopped ahead of us, and a motorcyle in the next lane started to come over in front of us. We, of course, were flying, and I thought we were going to pancake the guy, until at the last second when our driver slammed on the brakes and motioned the motorcycle over. There was a man driving the bike, with a kid on the back. As the bike merged, the kid turned around and waved at the driver. The driver started waving wildly and I thought he was just having fun with the kid until the motorcycle and the bus pulled over to the side of the road. The drivers chatted for a while, and then the guy on the bike tossed a pack of cigarettes and a lighter up to the bus driver. The driver took out a cigarette, lighted it, and then tossed the package back. After they said goodbye, the bus driver cut off three lanes of traffic to clear the way for his friend on the motorcycle to get over. I still don't know if it was a random run-in or if the bus driver had been driving so crazy because he was supposed to meet up with his buddy on the bike. One way or the other, after he got his smoke he was right back at it again. We continued to fly through traffic, and as we neared our stop I thought about not even asking the guy for my change, he had provided me with so much entertainment. I couldn't believe half the bus had been sleeping through all of this (it was siesta time). Well, I did get my change. Then I told the driver that he was the best (in Spanish, of course) and then I jumped off as quick as I could so I didn't get run over. I doubt I will ever see this guy again, but I know that the next time I need to take the R-55 express, I will definitely be looking for him.

Finally here.

Well, I have finally made it to Monterrey. It seemed like it would take forever, but I am definitely here, and currently watching the NFL playoffs in Spanish. It would take days to write all of the fun and crazy things that have happened since I arrived in Mexico, and most of you wouldn't read it all anyway, so I will hit the highlights.

On Monday, January 9th, I flew into Mexico City with my teammate Nolan. It was unbelievable. I don't really know what I expected from the largest city in the world, but it just kept going for what seemed like days. As if the plane trip over the city didn't get the point across, driving around definitely did. The place is madness. 28 million people will do that to a city. We only stayed there for a little over a day, and then headed north to Querétaro, where Nolan is going to be living. We met our supervisor Steve and his family, and they showed us around the city and introduced us to many new friends. We spent about a week in Querétaro, and then Nolan, Steve, and I came up to Monterrey last Wednesday.

When we got to Monterrey, our first order of business was to find a place for me to live. God really provided a great place in a very strategic location - right across from the main entrance to the campus. I am going to include some pictures that you can check out. I will hopefully be moving in Monday or Tuesday. The apartment is unfurnished, so the next thing we had to do was find some things to put in it. Steve drove us to an area outside of town where both sides of the street are lined with furniture warehouses. The style is called "rustico" down here, because it is made of wood and looks a little rustic. I bartered with the owner, and ended up getting a pretty good deal on a living room set, kitchen table with six chairs, a bed, and a counter for my kitchen. It is all being delivered next week.

I have made several good contacts since getting here on Wednesday. I have met many Mexican believers who have welcomed me and offered to help me get settled. I went to an event yesterday at Calvary Baptist Church here in Monterrey, and also went to the service there this morning. They were very kind, and are encouraging me to get involved there. Tomorrow I am meeting with one of the guys there who attends Monterrey Tech, and we are going to have a Bible study with some other students. I am looking forward to that.

I am going to post some pictures I have taken of Monterrey. It is completely surrounded by mountains and is really a nice city. Sometimes the views are just breathtaking. Yesterday I went with some Christian youths from Monterrey and Reynosa to a high hilltop where they have the biggest Mexican flag you have ever seen. You could see the whole city from there, and it was great to be able to look out over Monterrey and pray for the people. I know that God is at work here, and I long to see Him move in a powerful way in the next few years. Please join me in praying that the eyes and hearts of these people would be opened and they would respond as they are presented with the gospel and drawn by the Holy Spirit. Dios les bendiga!

Josh