Time To Connect

We have been talking about the “Trip to Chihuahua” for months & while the numbers had dwindled & the initial plan of going by train had been nixed, the time was now upon us & we were excited about the week ahead. The PLAN – meet with Emanuel church at 4 AM, pack up the vans & leave, drive 12 hrs to Chihuahua City, arrive early, stay overnight & the kids are on their way the 3 hrs to camp early Tues. REALITY – no brakes in our van, will travel together in their “new” van, left late, no AC, van troubles, overnight in Hermosillo, still van troubles, rent a van, left late, arrived in Chihuahua late & at camp ½ way through the week. Often we don’t really know why God changes our plans, but how comforting to know that He’s in control. As we trusted God, we were able to enjoy our little adventure together & come home encouraged. Here’s the story. It all started with discovering the brakes in the SC van needed fixing & a “new” van purchase by Emanuel church.

Visible military & police presence, especially armed with rifles is unusual in Canada, so initially the prevalence of rifles & uniforms was a bit disarming. But even in the most tranquil parts of Mexico, it’s part of life. Here are a few examples: Most of the police vehicles here are trucks & it’s not uncommon to see someone with their rifle standing in the box of the truck facing backwards. I keep my distance – what happens if they hit a bump or have to slam on the breaks? Most banks & a few other institutions have rifle-carrying security guards. Guess that{s why the thieves rob the small businesses & richer-looking homes. Military checkpoints are common on the highways. The smaller ones usually detour you off the paved road – those rough paths can at least slow down the bad guys! The big one between Hermosillo & the border is very official with pull-over spots, x-ray stations, waiting areas. They always ask where you came from & where you are going