The next morning we woke up way later than expected (wanted to check-out by 630am and that's when we woke up) and with Grandma and Grandpa saying their goodbyes while we were still having to gas up and find breakfast, we finally made it to the border by 8am. Not a very good start especially since I had messaged our mission partners, Sidney and Luis, to tell them that we were hoping to make the 5hr drive and arrive around 1pm. We still had to change our dollars to pesos, apply for our visas, and register the van to be able to drive inside Mexico...oh and then there was this other minor thingy-- I had only driven the way as the last in a long caravan in which I was only following and not really noticing exits or highway numbers. The good thing is that we have the gift of prayer. Even before we left, Joseph and Brooke and the rest of the community prayed over us to have a safe trip with no problems. One concern I had was with all the donations that we were taking and not wanting to be pulled over for inspection and risk losing the gifts for the poor. We also prayed in our hotel room that morning as a family that our guardian angels would go before us preparing the way. When we finally got to the international bridge, we felt really confident that everything was going to be OK.
The first thing that happens when you cross is that you pass through these blocker-arm gates. If it rises, you go through and continue on to the Immigration Office for your visas. If an alarm that sounds like an angry cat with sharp claws pawing at an old rusty bell so that your blood pressure shoots up and you think you're about to be arrested goes off, then you fake like you're calm and drive forward to talk to the kind gentleman who does not want to arrest you but only look inside your vehicle for 2 seconds. Then you continue to get your visas. Obviously, the latter happened to us.
I am not a patient man and knowing that the last time I had talked to the mission base that I had probably giving them an early estimated time of arrival instead of a later one was working on my nerves. And I also probably shouldn't wear a watch. We actually got there at a very good time as we were the only ones in line for the visas. The problem was that we have to fill out the paperwork for 8 of us and there was only 1 pen!!! I had left my pen in the van and just as I was thinking of running out to get it a lady shows up next to us, offers us an extra pen, and offers to help us fill out our info. She filled out 3 forms to my one and we were quickly off to finish the process. Guardian angel? Yes, I like to think so.
Finally, the last station is for the van. This is where the crowd was. Pretty long line with only 3 tellers."Lord, it would be great to shave off some more minutes here."
"Okay, my son, how about you stay patient and wait for these 3 other tellers to clock in to help?"
"Praise, You, Lord!"
And that's how it went. We got through all the legal stuff and hit the highway in no time. The next thing was to go through one more checkpoint. This one was more intimidating as we were waved to the side where two soldiers were standing. I would've opted for the cat and the bell but when a guy with a machine gun slung over his shoulder flags you over the best thing to do is comply. It wasn't all that bad really. In my rush to meet our departure time from Louisiana at midnight, I packed very sloppily. It wasn't my best, orderly, or neatest packing job and it showed! The soldier opened the back door and shut it quickly. He was about to be buried in all kinds of stuff. Just a few quick questions and we were off. The rest of the way was toll roads and only a few easy exits. We made it at 315pm which was way better than the 5 o'clock ETA that I was thinking after we left the Immigration Office.
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| Team Meeting in Gen. Cepeda |
Sid and Luis greeted us at the door and helped us unload the van. We made it safe and sound. So far everything feels great and the way it should be when we are in mission. We arrived during Holy Week and attended the Via Cruz-- Way of the Cross-- through the whole town (pics and next blog coming soon). We got to meet the Mexican FMC missionaries the next day and had a team meeting. It feels so good to be out again in the field and ready to serve the Lord as He did for us with His angels along the way here.
******Praise Report******
Once we arrived in General Cepeda and rested for a bit, I checked my email and found one from our realtor that said we got an offer for our house back in Kansas! We signed and sent the forms and we hope to close VERY soon! Praise the Lord for this confirmation of our new mission post!
Psalm 91:11 "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."
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| A restaurant with my mom's name...on the turn-off from the highway to Gen. Cepeda |
