Homeless work on the streets of DF
[Note: Mexico City is often referred to as DF (federal district) much in the same way Washington DC is referred to as DC]
Through the seminary we were staying at in Mexico City, we met the director of Lutheran Social Services for the city. He invited us to join him Saturday morning, as he and a few volunteers were going to do some street work. The group gathered in the same square every week, at about the same time. They would sing a few songs, do a little preaching, and then serve some food.
I have done more than my fair share of homeless ministry, so the experience, unfortunately was too familiar. The volunteers that we went with had been to this spot many times before, and knew many of the guys by name. There were two things that struck me as different for the work I had done in DC. First, was the amount of open drug use. Many of the guys had something in their hands, that they were constantly sniffing, probably glue, but who knows. The fact that they were doing drugs was not unique, I am sure a number of the guy I use work with in DC would partake from time to time. What was amazing was the fact that they were so willing to use right out in the open. Not sure what it meant, (if it meant anything at all), but it was something that struck me.
The other thing that I found interesting was the willingness of those we served to sing. Now, they didn’t sing along with us when we sang songs in English or the songs that were poorly translated into Spanish. But, when it came time to sing the songs they knew in Spanish, they just let it all go.
After singing a few songs, a young woman by the name of Evelyn did an activity and some preaching. First, she handed out a piece of paper to everyone, and slowly led us through making origami boats out of the paper. A few of the folks knew how to make the boats and hurriedly made theirs as fast as they could. They would then interrupt Evelyn, to show their masterpiece. Evelyn would ask for applause from the group and then move on. The number of people finishing early (and receiving applause) grew to the point that Evelyn did not finish the explanation, which left us foreigners lost, with half finished boats. This created a neat moment in which one of the ladies from the street came over to us to help us finish our boats.
Evelyn was/is an amazing woman. She walked in to the middle of these men and women in a situation that was more than a little intimidating. Not only did she show a lot of strength, but also a lot of love. She was firm, but present with every person we encountered.
After the boats where build, Evelyn started talking about how these boats were like our lives. Sometimes the sea is calm, but many times it is rough. (At least this is what I think she was saying. She was obviously speaking in Spanish.) So she could just as easily been explaining the migration patters of penguins (pengüino, a word she did use) as the explanation I am giving. No matter what happens we need to make sure that Jesus is our captain.
To be honest, I don’t know what they are suppose to do with a statement like. Really I didn’t even think I know what it means. It sounds nice, “Jesus is my captain,” but how does that impact my life. I am not saying this to be judgmental. I am sure, in my own work, I have made such ridiculous statement. I know it is hard to explain our experience with God. It just makes me wonder, when we go to others, what should we bring (e.g. what do we do with them?) The time we spent with the kids at the orphanage later in our trip was nothing more than presence. Often times Jesus would love the poor, then go off with his disciples teach them.
I don’t know what to do with any of that, it is just a thought.
How much water does it take to brush my teeth?
The water was not potable (meaning it wasn’t drinkable) at our housing in Mexico City. I travel more internationally than the average person. I am still shocked at myself with the things I take for granted, such as easily available drinkable (seemingly unlimited) water.
So we were required to use bottled water for just about everything, including brushing our teeth. So every time I would brush my teeth I would half fill a small Styrofoam cup with bottled water and head to the bathroom. One small pour to wet the toothpaste. One small pour to rinse my brush. One drink to slosh around my mouth. This would leave me enough left over to take a drink. Brush my teeth with 4 oz. of water.
After doing this three or four times, it struck me how much water I wasted when I brushed my teeth at home. Each time I need more water I just let the water run. Now I don’t let the faucet run the whole time. I am turning it on and off for each step, but still so much is going by unused.
So right then and there I decided to turn over a new leaf. From that moment on I was no longer going to waste water when I brushed my teeth. One small step to help the environment. I am such a good person. And then…it happened. Two days later we found ourselves in housing that had purified water, and just like that I had forgotten my commitment. I was right back to my old ways. Old habit. Making action, without thinking of the out come. I stopped, and thought “how easy I forget.” So I re committed to the cause. For the rest of my time in Mexico I was faithful to my pledge.
And then…I came home. It was only as I was writing this that I realized that once again I had forgotten my pledge. Once again I had reverted to my old was of waste. Once again, re-reminded of who I want to be, I commit again to not waste.

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