What's Happening to Tijuana?

 When I was in my YWAM secondary school of ministry development I was in agony about where to go on my outreach. I knew in my heart the minute I left all on my own in the big world that would be it, I would be a missionary. I remember praying and praying in the small little prayer room in YWAM Minneapolis, I remember the words God gave me and the encouragement from the Holy Spirit. It was a precious and stretching time. 

My intense passion for inner city work could not be put out, I loved working with indigenous people, their rich cultures and languages and food and bright colors. I loved working with children, in the church, in school, in orphanages. I loved community development and supporting the local the church. I loved every aspect of ministry but my thirst for seeing the lost people of the big dirty stinky beautiful underbelly of big cities could not be quenched. 
During that time of crying out, God gave me a picture of a gang of youth doing graffiti on a big red brick wall. They painted the word help on the wall and I knew what I had to do.

The boarder towns and southern California always sparked my interest, I believe it was all part of God's plan for my life, I had no reason to be drawn here. 
When I arrived in Tijuana the rest is history. This city continues to amaze me! The boarder area has such a unique culture not found anywhere else. No where else can you find such a mix of people from all over. Rarely are people born and raised in Tijuana, most are from southern Mexico or other countries. I love it, I love the intermingling of Mexican American culture only Tijuana can provide. 

a day in the life of a commuter...San Ysidro boarder crossing between San Diego and TJ is the busiest boarder crossing in the entire world, around 70.000 people crossing back and forth
each day. 

Our city now has a new dynamic, over 7,000 guests have arrived from all over Africa and Haiti. I looked up the definitions of REFUGEE and MIGRANT because I couldn't decide what to call these people? In a way they are both. Migrants are people that move from one place to another, refugees flee from something or someone. These people left their countries in search of a better life, fleeing from famine or poverty and they are on the move. They have been headed for the United States, Tijuana is nothing more than a pit stop, for most of them. The minute they are handed their visa they are gone, if they don't receive their visa, well, that's another story I don't know the end to yet.

I have in mind to begin asking the deep questions. Every Wednesday we have been going to visit some of them who are staying in churches and homeless shelters. Their stories are captivating, like something out of a movie. Taking a boat from Colombia to Panama, trekking through the jungles of Central America, hiding from the police, having everything stolen from you, one woman even gave birth and the next day was on a bus headed northwards. 

What are these people after? What makes that land on the other side of the boarder? I guess we will find out, stay tuned. 

What makes these migrant/refugees believe a life in the United States is worth it? Leaving your family and country behind and travelling across the world to find a new life...what do they hope for?
(Picture credit: Tiffany Lambert)   

5 MORE Things You Didn't Know About Mexico

Here are five more of my observations of Mexican culture. Enjoy! 

No forks needed.

1. Everyone sticks together. The other day Kara and I were at the U.S Consulate in Tijuana. Most of the people there were applying for their visas for the States, we were commenting on how even if only one person in the group was applying or interviewing for their visa, everyone came along, the husband, wife, the kids, maybe a sister, and definitely the grandma. Mexico is extremely matriarchal, the mothers and grandmas and mothers in law are the key person of respect in any household and they are always present at any appointment no matter how small or big. Whether it be a hair cut or a visa appointment abuela is there. We have noticed the "family theme" on Homes of Hope builds too, the neighbors are usually always present for the house build as well as any family member that can make it. The more the merrier! 

2. Meal Times. On our YWAM base we stick to the American way and eat at 7:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 5:30 pm. But throughout the rest of Mexico it is a different story. Breakfast is a very large meal eaten between 9:00-11:00 am. Typically with sweet bread and a coffee to follow as dessert. Lunch is eaten between 2:00-4:00 pm. Lunch tends to be more of a sandwich or tacos, a little on the lighter side. And dinner is eaten late, very late. Here in Mexico most of the schools run on block schedule so half of the children will attend school in the morning while the other half go in the afternoon/evening. Some middle schools and high schools don't even get out of class until 8:00 pm so dinner can be around 9:00 or 10:00 pm or later. Going out to eat tacos at 6:00 pm is more like snack time and you will definitely find a table to sit at, if you go at 10:00 pm, it's a different story, good luck finding a table. 


3. Making Fun. When I first arrived in Mexico I thought Mexicans were bullies. Always making fun of you, poking fun, never serious. If you are fat they call you gordito (fatty), if you are skinny, flaquito, if you are Asain or have almond shaped eyes they call you chino. In America we are ultra-sensitive with how people look, and never speak of race or weight or anything of that matter but in Mexico its a different story. I learned over time, if they made fun of me, it meant they liked me. If they poke fun at you, or joke with you, they are paying attention to you and enjoy your company. Mexicans are so relational, relationship is EVERYTHING, and making someone laugh, joking around, and nicknames are just a way to bond and be close.

Mexican Pickup Line of the Day: "You are like my mom's flipflop, when I see you come close my heart rate accelerates."
*Cultural Note: Many good Mexican mamas make use of their flipflop to swat their hijos when they are naughty.* 

4. The Yes Finger. When I first saw it I was confused and didn't think of asking what it meant until it became all too common. The yes finger. Mexicans do it when they are saying yes, as opposed to shaking their head yes. You take you pointer finger and wag it up and down, not side to side like you are saying no but up and down bending it at the knuckles. You often wag your finger to say yes if you are on the phone and therefore cannot speak or are drinking something and cannot give an immediate yes. I have found I have begun to give my yes finger when agreeing with people a lot...even to people who are not Mexican and I have begun to realize I may look silly if one is not accustomed to the yes finger. 

5. Sharing. Mexicans love to share. If you have a bag of chips, keep in mind if your Mexican friends are around, they won't be just yours for very long. Sharing is caring, sharing means you love relationship. When you go out, its family style even if you each have your own plate and individual order. Walking down the street? Make a friend and offer a piece of gum. Some Americans wouldn't except that but a Mexican? Ya why not?! Gum is the best and now I have a new friend. I learned quick if I don't want to share, don't open a new jar of Nutella or ice cream in front of a big group, or you will Nutella-less. 

Sharing is caring!

Why Abortion is Okay for America

The United States was founded on Christian principles, I believe that is why our country was once considered one of the greatest countries in the world. That is why we were once so successful, so helpful, so great. We still are, I am proud to be American, I will never deny who I am or my country. But we have strayed from our foundational beliefs. 
In 2015 the United States supreme court ruled gay marriage to be legal stating that banning same sex marriage was unconstitutional because it was a denial of rights. 
America has begun to slide down the slippery slope of self indulgence, proclaiming that everyone is right if it right for them. (Unless of course you are against gay marriage for example, then everyone tells you that you are intolerant or homophobic.)
 America is not the America it was, and we cannot hold expectations over our non-Christian politicians and leaders that they simply cannot fulfill. I will never expect Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump to suddenly agree with me and my Christian beliefs, so I am not going to get mad at them when they say or do something I don't agree with. Even the American population, I am disappointed that our country has come to the point of having these two presidential nominees but I suppose I never expected my country to elect a pastor as president, let alone a Christian.  

This is why abortion is okay for America. I cannot force a non Christian girl of 17 to not kill her baby, I cannot expect my government to protect life. I wish I could but I cannot. I can vote for those who stand for what is right, I can voice the truth, that all life is sacred but my power is limited, only with God's mighty power can we truly change our laws and culture.  
I have always had the idea of starting from the bottom, starting with the demand instead of the supply. For example instead of picketing Planned Parenthood or taking hidden cameras into board meetings of those on top why not stand outside the building and talk to the girls going in? Why not go to the ghettos and high schools and proclaim God's love and goodness? (You don't need to proclaim abstinence, that will come as the fruit of discipleship). Start with lessening the demand and the supply will indeed go down. And from that, the need for abortion will become obsolete.   

These are my thoughts. If I were to be president I think I would start with a lot of praying. DISCIPLESHIP is so needed in our country right now, friendship, relationship. 

Prayer is so powerful. I could stand at a pulpit right in Washington D.C and preach about the destruction our country is headed for but it boils down to hearts being changed not laws. (Of course there are laws I would change If I had the power, such as abortion for example because it is murder and unconstitutional if I say so.)  But our jobs as Christians is to pray for Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton, that somehow, someway they will suddenly have an unrelenting discomfort and need to seek their Creator who is relentlessly pursuing them in love and affection. God bless America! 

5 Things You Don't Know About Mexico

Here is a list of 5 very special things about Mexico. 
1. Chile. Mexicans love spicy. Everything has chile, and I mean everything. From meat, to beans, to vegetables, fruit, chips, candy, everything has chile. There are a lot of types of chile. There is chile powder, or Tajin, which you normally eat with popcorn, fruit or vegetables. Cucumbers, mango, and pineapple with Tajin and a squeezed lime is delectable. There are also salsas or chile in bottle. There are ton of kinds. There are chiles for seafood, meat, and salty things. Here is a picture of Act II popcorn being sold with a bottle of Valentina. Valentina is the most popular chile for salty snacks like chips and popcorn so they are basically saving you a trip to the chile aisle in Wal-Mart. 

2. Chanclas. My sweet husband loves his flipflops for a very special reason. In Mexcio we call them chanclas. In the states we wear flipflops for everything, the beach, pool, going shopping, even church, we wear them with jeans, or a dress or shorts or whatever it may be. In Mexico chanclas serve a different purpose. They protect your precious warm feet from touching the cold floor. Most homes in Mexico are cement or tile, carpet doesn't really exist (they don't need it since it doesn't get too cold here). So you take your outside shoes off at the door and slide your feet into your flipflops (or slippers if you want something cozy). Bare feet are a big no-no. Sometimes if Gallo cannot find his flipflops, mine suffice at protecting him from the chilly floor. 
3. Hot and cold. This has to do with the flipflop thing. If you're feet are warm and they touch the cold floor, many Mexicans believe this will cause you to catch a cold. If your body gets too warm, it must be protected. If you are wet, you will also catch a cold. If your throat hurts, only drink warm things because cold water will hurt your throat more. If you are playing soccer, you must wait for your body to cool off before you take your shoes off. Don't eat or drink anything cold while doing exercise or playing. All these things will cause a cold or worse. 
4. No plans. Not having a plan is usually the plan. Winging it, going with the flow, you name it. Going on vacation? Great. When? Maybe tomorrow or the next day. A great example of this is, the city of Tijuana and the surrounding area were announcing that they were going to shut the city's water off for a number of days. The people readied themselves, the Oxxos where filled with jugs of water for people to buy and everyone was ready. The date passed that they said they would turn the water off, and everyone continued on with their daily lives of showers and dish washing. They did eventually announce a new date for the water turn off a few weeks later but it was a learning curve for us non-Mexicans. You just have to be flexible and enjoy those extra showers a little longer, if the plan is flexible, the people should be too. 
5. Botana. Mexico is known for its street food. I have never known a country to have more street food than Mexico (except maybe Thailand, they love their chicken on a stick!) Ten 'o' clock at night is prime taco eating time, the streets are filled with pungent smoke of the grill cooking that yummy beef. Another aspect of Mexico's love for food is botanas or snacks. I like Mexican snack time, the food tends to be more on the fresh side. Like pineapple, cucumber, mango and jicama (a starchy potato like veggie). A typcial botana would be all the fruits and veggies mixed with "japonese" style peanuts, Tajin and of course chile. In this case the typical choice of chile would be, Chamoy. A very liquidy salsa used for botanas and even popsicles and ice cream. 

Yummy snacks any Mexican teenager would enjoy. Veggies,chips, fruit, ice cream, all topped with Chamoy, chile powder, squeezed lime and peanuts. 

If We Were A Movie

I should have known. I should have known life isn't like the movies. Everything can look like a movie, the perfect wedding, the perfect dress, the perfect groom but its never like the movies. It hit me on our honeymoon. My imagination told me walking off into the sunset was going to be the best moment in my whole life. But you realize, life keeps going. The sun still shines, people still grocery shop, everyone goes to work the next day. Life doesn't stop just because you suddenly become a Mrs. You still have to go to the bathroom, eat food, wash your clothes. Although your living situation changes, the world around you doesn't change, there is no cosmic shift. 

On our honeymoon I got a little depressed. Why wasn't everything rainbows and unicorns? I was beyond happy to finally be with Gallo, to be his wife but there was no dancing in the streets or romantic music playing in the background. I didn't go with my girlfriends to some chic cafe to talk about my new love life, nothing happened, life went on. 

I have a new fascination with Mexican movies. Mexico can produce some pretty good movies! I feel like it helps me learn more about the culture (granted its secular culture but I want to relate with people.) Part of the Mexican culture as you can tell by their very popular soap operas is quite *ahem....dramatic in comparison with the at times stoic Americans. And its funny because in their movies whether it be a chick flick or a drama, still have that hint of soap opera. The girl is always in distress and panicky with a squeaky voice and the guy is always either a grungy bad boy or the best friend who is friend zoned until the last 10 minutes of the movie. Anyways, in my head marriage was like that. There would be the times I was in distress on the side of the road in my stilettos and perfect hair and Gallo would come running with this shirt slightly unbuttoned and unshaven. But reality is, me sitting in the car un-showered and grumpy and Gallo coming to save me and then we go for tacos and then to sleep. Even if we add in the passionate making out it still doesn't satisfy that unrealistic image I have in my head.

You could say movies ruined me, that I am forever ruined, my idea of true love is skewed. But I don't think I am ruined, I think I am human. I was expecting that my husband, sex, passion, love, fun, romance, and even life in general would satisfy that desire for contentment. One day I woke up next to my husband and realized I was seeking a lie. It was so simple, something I have been taught and have taught all my life. Nothing satisfies except Jesus. When I began to seek after my Savior, my heart was filled in a way that nothing else can. I am blessed beyond reason, I am undeserving of anything I have. But God in his infinite wisdom gave me his precious Son and eternal life. He also gave me at the perfect time, a man after His own heart. A husband who loves me, cares for me, and cherishes me. With a thankful heart I gladly accept the blessings that come with marriage, and when I seek my Savior and His righteousness, the blessing it is to be a wife becomes so grand. 

So the next time I am stuck in the middle of the Mexican jungle and Gallo comes to save me and we walk into the sunset together, I am just going to praise God for the amazing life we have together. 

Finally married! 

My beautiful bridesmaids. 

Gallo's guapo groomsmen. 

The first send off! Complete with shades. 

Add caption

Fireworks to end the perfect wedding. 

In Heaven there will be Tortillas...

  I remember my first real Mexican taco. It was in 2013 and I was in Guadalajara. It was un taco de asada (beef). I remember thinking, I will never be able to eat a taco in the States again. When I finally moved to Mexico in 2014 I realized these tortillas filled with meat and salsa went way deeper than I thought.

Tortillas are the lifeblood of Mexican food and culture. Every Mexican table has a basket of tortillas on it, no matter what the meal is. There are perhaps hundreds of different variants of tortilla. Let me break it down.

There are the flour and corn tortillas. Flour tortillas tend to be a lot bigger and are typically used for quesadillas, a meat and cheese filled creation, there are burritos, when meat, cheese, salsa, beans, and anything else you can think of are stuffed and rolled into a yummy concoction. There are the classic enchiladas, meat and cheeses wrapped in tortillas with a yummy special salsa over the top. And finally the multia. This can be eaten with flour or corn tortillas. Its basically a tortilla hamburger, two toasty tortillas with meats and cheeses inside.These are only a few examples of the many different dishes made with the ever versatile flour tortilla.

Now the corn tortilla is a lot smaller than the flour tortilla and is ALWAYS used for a taco. Asada (beef), pastor (pork), tripa (intestine), cabeza (head), suadero (mixed meats), pescado (fish), camarron (shrimp) ...again you put whatever meat you desire in a taco, your imagination is the only thing limiting you. I ate a cow tongue taco in Mexico City, so like I said, your imagination is the only thing keeping you.

If you want to spice up your taco, there is the quesotaco, easy, taco with cheese (my favorite).

You can also fry your corn tortilla, making a tostada, a crispy corn tortilla typically used for ceviche. If you take two tostadas and add cheese you get a vampiro, a tostada hamburger of sorts. You can roll your corn tortilla, fill it with meat or cheese and fry them into another one of my favorite dishes, flautas.

Now, to go even farther when you make your tortilla masa (dough) you don't necessarily have to make tortillas. You can make gorditas, a thicker tortilla topped with refried beans and meat. Or you can make empenadas and fill them with anything of your choice, sweet or savory.

The classic dish of chilaquiles take old fried tortillas and mix them with a special salsa until they are soft.

Last but not least there is the ultimate party food. You make this amazingly Mexican food when you have any type of celebration, birthdays, funerals, Christmas, Easter, baptism, you name it. They are called tamales. Now, the dough used for tamales is much more wet than the dough for a tortilla, but corn is always the main ingredient. After filling your tamal with meat, cheee, or even fruit or nuts you wrap them in corn husks. Then you steam the tamales for about 4-6 hours until they are soft. Unwrapping your tamal is like unwrapping a present for your stomach.

This was the most basic information you can read about tortillas. I am still in the learning process but I hope your mouth is watering and that each and every one of you can experience a real Mexican taco at least once in your life. If not don't worry, in heaven there will be tortillas. 

Asada (beef) blue corn quesadillas

Egg burrito

Shrimp ceviche 

Chicken flautas 

Beef gordita 

My first time cooking in Mexico in Michoacan in 2014. 

Asada (beef) mulitas 

Birria (shredded beef) tacos. 

Pork tamales 

Asada (beef) tosada 

OXXO

There is a joke here in Mexico.
What color does the moon reflect in the USA?
Green, because there are so many Starbucks.

Translation: "Make all your stops at just one place and enjoy your day!"
This is an ad with all of Oxxo's services. 

What color does the moon reflect in Mexico?
Red, because there are so many Oxxos.

I remember the first time I saw Oxxo. I was on my outreach in Guadalajara. I called it O-X-X-O, spelling each letter. (It is pronounced oh-x-oh) To me it was just like any other convenience store, a Mexican 7/11 of sorts. But little did I know the true importance of those little red and yellow signs dotting the dusty Mexican hills.

According to Wikipedia, there are over 13,000 Oxxo stores in Mexico. (Just if you are curious there are over 11,000 Starbucks all over the U.S.) There are literally hundreds of Oxxos all over this area and every area I have been to in Mexico. Here in Mexico the gasoline is privatized by the government so pretty much the only gas stations you see are called Pemex. I thought the convenience stores might have been privatized too, given there so many Oxxos.
Now, walking into Oxxo you notice it is just like any other convenience store, of course there are big ones and small ones, there even Super Oxxos that sell more grocery type items (they are rare). They have the hot dogs rotating on a spit, dripping in grease. A whole wall of refrigeration for beverages. Cookies, chips, toilet paper, dish soap, cheese, milk, eggs, a small area with tomatoes, avocados, onions, chilis....remember we are in Mexico, the produce differs a bit in comparison to the U.S.
However, here in Mexico Oxxo serves you in a different way than any other convenience store. I didn't realize this till I signed rental papers with my roommates and began having water, electricity, and gas bills. We learned you can take your water and electricity bill to Oxxo! How helpful is that? We love it. I also refill my phone with minutes at Oxxo whenever I run out.
It gets better! At Oxxo you can buy bus tickets, send money to a far away relative in Mexico City, you can even get a Oxxo debit card! Around here, Oxxo has pretty much all you need. Most are open 24 hours 7 days a week too.
In the future, Oxxo wants to begin to offer even more services. We aren't sure if it will happen but they want to begin to provide marriage certification, divorce papers, funeral services, etc. Around here it is a bit of a joke because we already know how many services our Oxxos provide and providing government issued paperwork seems extreme. But hey if you want to get married, pay your electricity and eat a roll of yummy Emperador lime cookies, go ahead be my guest.

Andatti coffee is a well known coffee here in Mexico and can only be found in our beloved Oxxo.
Whether you want regular blend or a concoction of sugar, cream and flavor Andatti cafe has what you want!  

Translation: "You could lack love in your life but you will never lack an Oxxo on the corner."

Chambeando en Mexico:

I watched my mom for the past years try and attempt to make Ethiopian food for my brothers Sammy and Zem. She probably made injera (a sourdough type of flat bread that is floppy and a staple food for all Ethiopians) at least 20+ times since we adopted Zem in 2011. Needless to say, she did not master it. There is something about being an Ethiopian woman who was born and bred to make injera, it's in her blood.

I have learned, much to my dismay, that Mexican food is the same way. One does not learn to make tortillas in one try. Salsa making is more like chemistry than cooking. And I just happen to have a (future) mother in law who might be the best cook in all of Mexico.
So what is a guera (a nice name for white girl in Mexico) to do?
I keep moving forward. Practice makes perfect right? 

I have had a constant uphill battle with a popular breakfast dish called chilaquiles. In basic English, tortilla chips cooked in salsa till they are soft. You top the dish off with shredded chicken, a fried egg, avocado, lettuce, cilantro, queso fresco (a crumbly dried cheese) lime, and Mexican cream.
There are two kinds, chilaquiles verdes (green) or chilaquiles rojas (red). When making chilaquiles you must know your ratio of tomatoes, garlic, and peppers. There are also many different kinds of peppers one can use, depending on the flavor and spice you are looking for.
Most recipes I have seen and tried to duplicate use the common jalapeno, or chipotle chiles.
If one is making chilaquiles verdes, you use jalepenos obviously because they are green and tomatillos (a green tomato). The other day I was feeling so confident in my chilaquiles. The night before I had a long talk with a good friend who is Mexican and has "chilaquil" making in her blood. I told her my problems...it was pitiful. But she encouraged me. "Well, how many people are you making it for?" "Oh maybe 4 or 5." I say. "Do you want to make them green or red?" "Lets go with green." (There really isn't too big of a difference I have found, but my taste buds aren't Mexican.) "Okay green. You will need 8 tomatillos and 4 jalapeno chilies." I had it! It was easy, how could it not? She just said how many to get, tomorrow was going to be the long awaited day, the day I beat chilaquiles, the day I truly became Mexican! (Not really but it my head this was going to happen.)
I arrive at our local Oxxo to buy the necessary ingredients with all my friend's advice in mind. I walk up to the produce and see one small tomatillo all alone among the bright red tomatoes. My world was shattered. How was I to figure this out. Red tomatoes are a little bigger than tomatillos, the ratio would for sure be off. So I gulped and grabbed 5 red tomatoes and 3 jalepenos. I guessed. That's right I guessed. My white girl, American brain guessed at how many tomatoes to jalepenos just like I had been the countless times before.
The next morning I fried my tortillas in the pan, roasted the tomatoes, garlic, and jalepenos and then blended them. I shredded the chicken. Fried the egg, cut the lettuce and prayed. I really did pray, I prayed this meal would bless my fiance whether or not they were good. I pray a lot about that these days as I struggle towards my goal of expert cook.
Well, my chilaquiles got an 8 out of 10 that day. Not bad! Next time we will aim for a 10. Next time I will beat chilaquiles. And once I master these soggy tortilla chips I will move on to another dish, and then another and another until my finger tip nerves are burned off from flipping tortillas and I don't have to look at a recipe book.  

Chilaquiles Verdes 

Chilaquiles Rojos