¡Pura Vida!

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Due to some unlovely comments, some kind of spamming involving p*orn, we have had to monitor all comments. I didn't know that we had so many comments pending! Sorry, guys! I will try not to let it happen again.

Universal Forum of Cultures 2007

For the next 80 days, Monterrey is hosting the 2007 Universal Forum of Cultures, a huge event that has brought hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world to our city.  On Sunday I (Greg) took our First Year students to the Forum and we sat in on a talk by Dr. Akbar Ahmed, whom the BBC considers to be "probably the world's best-known scholar on contemporary Islam."   
Dr. Ahmed spoke about how globalization has presented new challenges for the world's religions - and Islam, in particular.  Much of what he said is covered in his most recent book:  Journey Into Islam:  The Crisis of Globalization.  Unfortunately we weren't able to participate in the dialogue as it would've been interesting to talk with him.   The Forum has many themes and will continue until the end of November.  We hope to be able to get the students to more events - understanding and appreciating other cultures will make them better ministers and, more importantly, missionaries!

Death of the Master Mime

Some may think it strange that today we're remembering the French mime performer Marcel Marceau who passed away today in Paris.   Actually I (Greg) have long been an admirer of Marceau - for various reasons  - one being that, while I really don't like mimes (see one of my favorite websites: www.ihatemimes.com), I truly admire Marceau's originality and dedication to his often misunderstood and difficult art.  Another reason is that he's a World War II hero who fought with DeGaulle's Free French forces and worked closely as a translator with General Patton (imagine that - Marcel Marceau hanging with ol' Blood & Guts!).  So, in my book, Marceau ain't no sissy!

  I have a drama sketch group here at the Bible School and we call ourselves the "Anti-Mimes" (Los Anti-Mimos in Spanish).  While we may at times mock sissy French mimes (and about everything else), we would never disrespect the master mime himself!  So today we salute the master.  May God receive your soul!   

Story-Telling

We had an interesting seminar at the Bible School on Tuesday. A guy from Mexico City came and taught the students about the technique of telling stories to preach the gospel. He learned from a ministry called Simply the Story. Last night at chapel we had students get up and tell different stories from the Bible. It was so hard for them! They wanted to preach, tell their opinions, and use other scriptures. The basis of this is to tell the story in a simple way and then ask questions to pull out the observations and lessons from the listeners. It was developed because so many missionaries complained that the Bible is being translated into different dialects and brought to the nations, but then the people are illiterate and can't read what has been given to them. I thought it was an interesting point and an interesting way of presenting the gospel; Jesus-like, using parables.

Wearing many hats (or sombreros)

Last year when we came to Mexico, my job was simply the Dean of Women at the Bible school, and Greg's was Assistant Academic Dean and teacher. Then, Becky Cagle, our friend and fellow missionary who was in charge of the short-term missions groups that come from the States, had to return home to Texas to care for her aging mother.  So we took up that role of short-term missions coordinator.  It's not too hard, planning the occasional group, their schedule, their budget, etc...

Then, last Thursday, we were surprised to learn that the man who was in charge of the Language School didn't want it. The three Americans who were coming to language school had already arrived for their year of Spanish classes, and all of a sudden we learn that we have to be in charge of a language school, find teachers (who should have already been hired), and make the schedule.  The Americans have no idea how unstable the thing really has been in the past week as they are so overwhelmed with the cultural changes.  And we hope they haven't discovered this blog yet! :-D

On top of that, I also started wearing the homeschooling mom hat yesterday as I started high school with my older two boys. How many more hats do you think I can fit on my head? I know it's big, but I think I have reached my limit! :)

Independence Day Presentation at México Nuevo

Today Jackson's school, el Instituto México Nuevo, celebrated the Mexican Independence Day (officially on September 16) with a presentation of all students dressed in period costumes.

This morning there was a wave of guerrilla attacks on natural gas pipelines in the state of Veracruz, Mexico.  A leftist group known as the Ejército Popular Revolucionario (or People's Revolutionary Army) claimed responsibility.

According to a story on the AP:  It was the second time in three months that the so-called People's Revolutionary Army claimed responsibility for a pipeline attack as part of what it has labeled its "prolonged people's war" against "the anti-people government."

The group, known as the EPR, is a secretive, tiny rebel group that staged several armed attacks on government and police installations in southern Mexico in the 1990s. It was later weakened by internal divisions, leaving it unclear which splinter group may have carried out Monday's attacks.

The EPR claimed responsibility for a July attack on a major gas pipeline from Mexico City to Guadalajara in western Mexico that forced at least a dozen major companies, including Honda Motor Co., Kellogg Co. and The Hershey Co., to suspend or scale back operations.

That attack sent the Mexican government scrambling to increase security at "strategic installations" across Mexico. It was not clear what security measures were in place at the pipelines that exploded Monday.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Greg! You've come a long way, baby... I can't believe you are 40!

Go Apps Go!

Just so you know...

We are cheering all the way down here in Mexico!

Rattlesnake: It's What's For Dinner!

So we're out walking in the desert and come upon a hole making a distinctive rattling noise.  Hmmmm...what could be in the hole making that racket??

Yes indeed!  It's a rattlesnake! 

Here I am with 2 intrepid rattlesnake killers who skinned that thing in 10 seconds flat!

                  And we certainly didn't waste any time getting that bad boy into the oven - basted with various spices by Carlos, our master chef.

  And here's the happy rattlesnake eater.  ¡Buen provecho!