Liz Klar's reflections on the last leg of the trip and our first day in Merida

Buenos Dias mi Familia y Amigos!  

THE RIPPLING EFFECT OF A ROCK…MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

We are travelers on a journey…a journey that will have a lasting impact.  For many of us we have no idea how this journey will impact others, much less ourselves.  We are traveling in kairos time and know that it is God’s work to transform us and maybe, just maybe through us and our journey, others will be transformed to God’s purpose.  This reminds me of the times my brothers and sisters would throw rocks into the water tank on our farm just to see who could have the larger ripple effect.  I believe God started forming our rock the day we were born…all the experiences of our lives have transformed our rock in some way and we have been thrown into the water many times.  This journey is just a continuation of our rock being transformed and thrown into the water day in and day out.  Some days our rock is just being transformed and other days it is not only being transformed but it is also being thrown into the water.  Each of us on this journey will experience a unique transformation of our rock and when thrown into the water a unique ripple, not concerned about how big or small the rock or the ripple is.  From my perspective, I believe the seven of us are all trusting God to lead us according to His will and purpose and be open to whatever the rippling effects God has in store for each of us. 

So our journey continues.  Today, we are traveling from Tuxtla Gutierrez to Mexico City and then connecting a flight to Merida in Yucatan, Mexico.  This traveling day has been much easier than the day we were on the bus for almost 12 hours going from Guatemala to Tuxtla Gutierrez in Chiapas, Mexico.  Personally not handling tight spaces and not taking care of my physical needs, made it a very difficult day for me to travel.  Because of my own self-absorption that day, my rock was not being transformed to God’s purpose or will and I don’t believe that my presence had any rippling effect that day at all.  However, through Professor Cuellar’s witness to this young Jewish woman and through Mark Nygard’s witness with this young Danish gentleman, my rock was being transformed as I listened to God’s work being done.  I also believe my rock was being transformed as I looked out at the beauty of God’s creation and reflected on the first part of the journey in Guatemala.  I am thankful for this kairos time to learn, to engage, to listen and to reflect.  I know when I return home, I will be back to kronos time and it will be up to me to make room for kairos time and continue to ask God to reveal his purpose for my life and to see where God is leading me from the experiences I have had on this trip.   

Boarding our flight from Tuxtla to Mexico City, a lot nicer than the bus ride from Guatemala!

THE FIRST FULL DAY IN MERIDA…MONDAY EVE AND TUESDAY DAY,

JANUARY 16-17, 2012

After we settled in at this beautiful hotel, we went to eat dinner.  We continued our quest to see who has the best Mexican food.  We have tried many different kinds of food and the local flavor is really good…not the Tex-Mex we are used to eating in and around Austin.  After dinner we made our way to the plaza (I just love plazas…a place to socialize and be engulfed into the culture).  We experienced the local dancers who entertained us for an hour.  I have inserted a photo of the dancers…it is just one of many songs they entertained us with.

This morning, our hotel provided us with a wonderful breakfast and then we made our way to a walking tour of the churches and buildings around the plaza in Merida.  Our tour guide, Jerry, shared with us some history of the Mayan culture.  Today about 80% are mestizos and about 80% still speak the Mayan language.  A mestizo is the term for a Mayan-Mexican.  Many of the buildings around the plaza are made up of rock from the Mayan ruins.  The Mayan culture has a lot of Spanish and French Influence.  Merida has the oldest Catholic Church on the whole North American continent.  Our tour guide told us that the Mayan and Catholic religions are very different.  Their beliefs are different about life, fertility, Gods, customs and traditions.   However in Chiapas and Guatemala, many Catholics and Mayans celebrate a bi-lingual mass together.  When the Mayan Indians were first seen by a Friar, he thought they were savages and must be taught the European way.  Many years later, Pope John Paul II, considered the bravest pope for apologizing to the Mayan community for how they had been treated and for the spiritual conquest. 

I am sure this apology took place in one of these chairs that we see in the plaza. 

These chairs are used for one on one conversation. Many lovers can sit face to face and stare into each other’s eyes. Dr. Cuellar immediately recognized these chairs as a symbol of what we have been experiencing this entire time in our Latin America Missiology course. We had to come face to face with what is going on in the 3rd World Country like Guatemala and in the rural villages of Mexico. We have looked eye to eye with many of the indigenous, the poor, the sick and those suffering in some form or fashion. We have also worshipped with these folks and have seen their faith strong in spite of the conditions that each faces. After worship this past Sunday, we were invited into the home of two sisters who served us some hot chocolate and pastries. I am sure they gave much more than they had, but yet wanted to share a part of them with us. What a gift and an expression of love. It is hard not to be changed when one looks eye to eye with someone less fortunate they we are and continues to be faithful in the one that created each of us. May God go with them each and every day and sustain them in every way.

Buenas noches y Dios los bendiga! 

Liz Klar