Run for the border...

Just arrived back in from Mexico this morning, 12:30 AM, after three wonderful days. No we weren't there to party, bring in the New Year, whatever, we were there as part of a REALLY short term mission trip for our church. Let me say one thing first above all else ... the people of Mexico, at least those we met, are warm and generous people. But they fight difficult societal and cultural issues that make life, at least on the bottom rung of society, difficult in ways we cannot imagine.

Poverty is a catch-all word that means little. However, when lined with corruption, lack of education, and poor, or no infrastructure, poverty has causes, reasons. The roads, especially in the mountain areas were abyssmal, making travel to some of the outlying areas, well, interesting. Yet, thousands were on the road, making do as best they could. Which sums up what they do there. Make the best of difficult circumstances. We ate the most incredible food there, not at Applebee's, although there was one in Ensenada, but at these little taco stands out in the middle of nowhere. And no, we did not get sick, but we did come away with a little shock and awe.

I said it aloud in a car load of Americans, entrepreneurship is alive and well with our neighbors to the south. We think of Mexico, if we think of it at all, as a place of crime and destitution, with teeming hordes wanting to come to our country, which, no doubt can be true some of the time. But once again, I came away with very different thoughts. Namely, most people there are NOT criminals, nor do they want to come here and take over our country, as some would have us believe. (Many want to come here no doubt, but most, I think, just want a fair chance right where they live). No, like you and me they simply want to make a living, support their families (they are much more family oriented as a society than we!) and to make a better life for their children. Sounds familiar?

But what to do? Not sure. But I had a dream last night ...

Ooops, gotta go, I'll tell you more tomorrow, it's time for tamales.

Prospero Año!