.:. The Harer's live journal

Expanding Your Worship Boundaries

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:28:00 +0000

Last evening the group was over to our place for the umpteenth time for worship. It was really pretty predictable – singing, accompaniment, prayer and Scripture reading. Not to suggest that predictable is bad or even boring. “Boring worship” is really an oxymoron if it comes from the heart. No gimmicks are necessary. But might there be some ways of expanding our worship boundaries?

Where I grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains we had a neighbor who cultivated her passion – flowers. Driving by her yard was like walking into a giant florist shop with all manner of colors, sizes and varieties. Every Sunday morning Revel brought to the church a beautiful bouquet of flowers she had cut and arranged. They adorned the sanctuary. As a boy I didn’t think much of it, as a young man I appreciated the atmosphere they provided, but looking back I now realize it was worship. Whether or not she thought about it, Revel was honoring the Lord by giving back from the talents and passions He entrusted to her. She was reflecting His beauty, creativity and eternity.

Before we came here we collected smooth stones from the streams of southern West Virginia. Then we painted on them words like, “adore”, “magnify”, “kneel” and “treasure” before we placed them on the banister of our back deck. There they gave up a steady continuous stream of praise.

Of course that’s not the end of it: make a banner with a name of God, write a poem, play skillfully an instrument, use calligraphy with a Scripture verse, light a candle to the Light of the World, write an exaltation to go along with your offering, paint a picture, bake homemade bread to remind us of the Bread of Life, give the first fruits of your garden to a spiritual mentor, tell a “God story” from your life, put together a flower arrangement, produce a DVD, bring a photo that declares “God is awesome”, read a Psalm you have written, display nature arrangements (fall leaves, pine cones, drift wood), sculpt something, bring pictures of the universe or some other fascinating aspect of the Creator, write a song, paint rocks with worship words, introduce a new instrument like a dulcimer, display craftsmanship in honor of His workmanship…

Just don’t get caught in a rut, expand your boundaries! Ideas anyone?

Well Deserved Bravos

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 01:26:00 +0000

Can you believe we are in Mexico and the girls are ice-skating? I mean Russia, Holland, Switzerland, Norway, yes…but Mexico. We’re pretty proud of the girls and their performances. Skating around doing those butterflies, spins, jumps all in the spotlight of center ice. We are equally as proud of the poise and grace they showed. Top that off with a good portion of hard work and commitment, and we’ve got ourselves a recipe for some pretty valuable lessons. Bravo, girls, Bravo!

These skating lessons are just one of the many little bonuses God has brought into our lives since coming here. Others include: ping pong table; puppy; trampoline; Veracruz vacation; guitar lessons; horse riding lessons; art & craft lessons; soccer club; Super Bowl each year; library stocked with Christian fiction and the Monarch butterflies. Bravo, Lord, Bravo!

We had our first taste of elotes and esquites on Thursday. Elote is a corn on the cob and esquite is a bowl of corn soup. Both are of the field corn variety and use mayonnaise, a special type of grated cheese, squeeze of lemon and chili powder for flavoring. A must try the next time you put on a Mexican party at home.

Traveling with the Elliott and Chappel families to Michoacán was pretty fun. They are veteran missionaries in both Ecuador and Mexico. We did things with them that we wouldn’t necessarily try on our own. Like the other night when we were looking for a room late at night in Zitacuaro. They went through town stopping at every worn out hotel on Main Street. One of them had prices listed as $140 pesos ($10.50 US) and $160 pesos with bathroom. The one we finally settled on was a bit better and proudly advertised itself as a one star hotel. It was clean, and we were thrilled – that rates as a one star in my book. Bravo to veteran missionary friends taking us on wild adventures.

And a big bravo to you for caring for us, taking time to read about the goings on of our family over the last four years.

Our One Star Hotel

The Coin of Hope

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:47:00 +0000

The night was growing late as yet another vehicle passed through the toll booth. Her job was at the midpoint of a long and steep ten mile hill on the road from Toluca. At the window an American family handed her an unusual coin, a coin of hope they said. She smiled, expressed warm appreciation and watched as they drove off. Looking down at the coin she saw the words, “For God so loved the world... Then turning it over in her hand she read, “Where will you spend eternity?

Keith and I stood in the rest area in casual conversation as we waited for the others. We were only twenty minutes from Zitacuaro where we would finally be able to call it a day. Our families planned to find rooms there and get an early start the next morning. We were on the way to see the Monarch butterflies that congregate in Michoacán before they make their long flight to Canada later in the spring. The air was cool in the late evening. The night was still.

She recognized the unmistakable roar of a runaway truck even before looking up. Now its headlights bore down on her as the driver steered desperately to maneuver through the narrow toll booth. There was no time to flee harm’s way. The crack of the barrier sounded like a gun shot as the truck barreled through. She jerked around to follow its path as it sped on toward the rest area.

“Who’s slamming the door so hard?” I thought and then a second later was startled by the roar of an out-of-control truck. It slammed into the metal light pole beside of us sending up electrical sparks as the lights crashed to the ground. Debris pelted our faces. The driver tried desperately to avoid another truck parked at the end of the lot but couldn’t manage it, instead searing off the back tire and careening into the night.

The truck now spun completely out of control; the blocks were slung off the bed littering the highway. Inside the charms hanging from the window swung about wildly. Unable to resist the brute force of the spin the two men were thrown from to the truck as it continued to spin until slamming into the guardrail and coming to a stop.

A surreal moment settled in for us as the ambulance arrived. Huddling close we prayed…and waited. When a pathway was made through the strewn blocks, we loaded up our vehicles and picked our way through the debris and around the accident. A few minutes later we arrived at our hotel emotionally spent.

I laid awake that night long after everyone else was asleep. Thinking about the thin thread between life and death and its delicate balance.

She returned home that night shaken, her mind still preoccupied by all that had elapsed in those few moments. Sitting down in the mostly dark room she stared out into emptiness, wondering. In her hand she turned a coin over and over.

Monarch Butterflies In Michoacan – A Photo Journal

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:13:00 +0000

Maria and the Monarch

Ready For the Hike

Metamorphosis Happens (John 3:3)

Ready For Take Off

Coming In For a Landing

The Trees Are Alive With Mariposas

Living in Community

Butterfly Kisses

"Praise the Lord from the earth…snow and clouds
…small creatures and flying birds…" (Psalm 146:7-12)

Provecho: Enjoy Your Meal!

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 02:17:00 +0000

When they arrived at the scene of the Super Bowl party last week we had no idea what a treat lay ahead. Out of the taxi came the propane tank, grill, dough, press and all the food stuff. The tortillas were patted out, and half a dozen options were added to the cheese to make mouth-watering quesadillas. My personal favorite was the cheese, fried pork skins, and pumpkin flowers with red salsa. Those quesadillas were the highlight of the day (it certainly wasn’t the game for this Colts fan).

We’ve actually experienced a number of food items that are a lot different than your normal US cuisine. Some we’ve really enjoyed, some were okay, and then there was the occasional one that we didn’t return to for seconds. Here’s a sampling; you’ll have to guess which category they fit into for us:
• Refried bean pizza
• Potato chips made in the market (with salt, squeeze of lime and salsa)
• Chicken with chocolate sauce (mole)
• Horchata (rice drink with cinnamon)
• Three milk cake
• Suckers with chili powder
• Chiles en Nogada (green pepper stuffed with pork, raisins, walnuts, chopped apples and covered with a white sauce and red pomegranates)
• Homemade popsicles dipped in chili sauce
• Chocolate chip tamales
• Apple soda
• Slab of pork skin

Then of course there have been those few delicatessens that have gone way over the top for most American taste buds. The first we enjoyed when we were at an Independence Day celebration with Pastor Servin and his family. Pozole is a national dish for the day, but they were careful not to dip the chicken feet into our bowl from the pot of soup. Then you will recall the birthday party I was invited to and served tacos. Well into eating the first one, I was told they were made with pig brains. Of course we often buy grasshoppers when we visit the pyramids in Cholula. They come in different sizes and tastes. My favorites are the big ones with chili flavor.

One last food related item. We had a great time celebrating everyone’s birthday this Thursday evening after worship together. Hey, we are always looking for an opportunity to celebrate. It was kind of like an unbirthday party. We served ice cream, nuts, whipped topping and chocolate syrup. Then we sang Happy Birthday - to us. What I didn’t expect was to pay $13 dollars for a one and half gallon tub of vanilla ice cream. Ouch!

Provecho!

A "Make Do" World

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:47:00 +0000

One of the things I am going to miss most about Mexico is their mindset and ability to “make do.” Most have little and some have even less than that, but they still manage. You see it in a variety of ways. Follow me to the street and watch as people bicycle, walk and catch public transportation to work. See it in the tools of their trade strapped to the bicycle or the tattered tarp hanging over a huge pot of tamales. Let’s go back inside and discover that five, six or seven people are living in a small two bedroom house. Clothes hang from every conceivable angle as they dry in the afternoon sun.

Don’t have orange cones for construction workers? No problem, use some big rocks. No job prospects? Then hit the traffic light industry and juggle, wash windows or sell flowers. Can’t afford electric for heat in the winter? Just add on a few more layers of clothes. Need a big bag for market shopping? Use a sown up feed sack.

We see it too in the lives of Christians, and it boosts our faith. A young man recently shared with us how he asked God for a simple thing – a pair of jeans to replace the tattered ones he wore to his Bible training classes. A few days later on a trip to visit relatives in another state, an uncle asked about his pant size. He discovered that indeed the offering was a fit and he was given…………………………… SEVEN pair. I’ll tell you that those seven pair of jeans in this “make do” society was met with as much rejoicing as the gift we received a few years ago from the sale of a house in Alaska.

I’m sure my ideas along these lines can be overly romanticized. While it can come across as contentedness and simple living, in truth it’s probably more often stark reality and limited options. None-the-less I’m going to miss this “make do” attitude.

Aluminum Art Work by Maria

Tulips and More

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:28:00 +0000

We recently began a men’s Bible study. First night up was a serving of the beatitudes and fresh homemade tamales. We’ve been going now for about a month. Answer well or you may be cut out of the picture…sorry about that Dan.

Thursday worship turned into a birthday party for Brenda, a friend of Christina. We had a typical birthday party meal of cake and jello. Then we sat around the table for a few laughs.

Tis the season for tulips. Vendors set up shop beside traffic lights with promising sales. As you can see one such person came by and indulged in one of those beautiful potted plants. Are any of you green thumbs out there enjoying spring flowers yet?

Looking down into our community of Momoxpan. You can see a number of important landmarks like the church tower and the entrance to the cemetery on the left. We have witnessed many funeral processions on this road complete with playing band, flower petals being dropped and people carrying the casket.

After a long layoff Diana and I have started walking for exercise once again. This is the majestic view that awaits us early in the morning. I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

Beginning to think in terms of a few Mexican backgrounds for powerpoint.

Thursday Night Goings On

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 04:02:00 +0000

We’ve been meeting on Thursday evenings since June and find it one of our best ways to connect. It’s a worship and prayer time that has a koinonia (community, fellowship) feel. Here’s what a “typical” evening is like:

5:35 – I’m “late” and waiting in the papelaria for copies of some new songs we are singing tonight…was suppose to be at the Oxxo five minutes ago for some of the folk.

5:58 – I’ve been at the Oxxo for 15 minutes and no one has shown up yet ………oh here comes three of them now. “We’ve got to wait; two more coming on the bus in 10 minutes.”

6:26 – Finally arrive back home...five more already here. There are kisses all the way around from everyone. Christina and some of the younger ones are outside jumping on the trampoline.

6:34 – Stephen is tuning his guitar….tuning………tuning…. He introduces us to Sam and Kifi who are new to the group. We’ve been meeting for three months now and the feeling of friendship and community is growing. Everyone from El Puente is invited, but it mostly tends toward young adults.

6:40 – Arianna grabs the djembe; Isaias an egg shaker; Esteban a tambourine as we hand out the song books.

6:43 – Finally under way with a Scripture reading. Our first song tonight is Mighty to Save and then we sing Todopoderoso. Worshiping through song, prayer, Scripture reading fill the evening.

7:30 – Diana heads to the kitchen to begin preparing for the meal. She turns on the coffee pot on the way by.

7:36 – Stephano arrives after finishing football practice.

7:44 – I peal off as the group begins to wind down so I can go up the street for roasted chicken, tortillas and soft drinks.

8:10 – The meal is ready for the fourteen of us who came tonight. The roasted chicken with the adobado seasoning is extra tasty. Someone has brought cookies for dessert.

8:20 – Most of us are crowded around the table eating, while a few continue to play guitars. It’s a fun time……..lots of joking and laughing. Arianna connects on the internet with some friends in South Carolina, and we talk. Danielle tells us stories from Maine.

8:48 – We begin to think about going………..Isaias and Nancy stop by for their kids. We stand and talk for a few more minutes. Kisses all the way around for everyone as we say our goodbye.

9:12 – We pile the nine people in the van who need a ride home. Maria goes along. “Could you take Leslie home, too, so she won’t have to ride the bus so late in the night?”

9:25 – With everyone safely home we head across town to drop Leslie off.

10:22 – Maria and I arrive back home. Christina and Diana have done all the clean up and putting things away. It’s been another good evening.

What Has Been On Your Mind Lately?

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 02:30:00 +0000

Well, on a trivial note one thing that is on my mind lately is the weather. I’m not sure if my body has acclimated to Mexican weather, or if I’ve turned into a wimp, but it’s cold down here. I know, I know “cold” is relative. Here we are living with sunny skies with lows in the 30’s at night and some of you are standing in two feet of snow in sub-zero temperatures. But in my defense let me say that there is no heat in this house. Oh how nice it would be to roll out of the bed in the morning and turn up the thermostat. Instead the “thermostat” is a pair of warm-ups over the pajamas, an extra sweater, hooded jacket, and sitting on the couch for quiet time with an extra blanket and cup of coffee while holding the dog.

Much more seriously, Haiti is on my mind. The images of devastation along with the mounting problems of hunger, thirst, disease and looting reflect the pain of the Haitian people. This is not the first time of trouble in this country as an employee of our company wrote a few months ago, “The really poor have taken to eating dirt cookies to fill their stomachs. These cookies are made of dirt, salt and vegetable shortening and then dried in the sun. I have tried them. They do not taste good. But for the poorest of the poor, dirt cookies are eaten when they cannot afford to purchase food.” Their problems have not all been physical either. Another employee described a conversation with a local mayor who said, "As the mayor, I use the services of the witchdoctor. But, so do all the pastors." That comment led him to this insight, “The area is so steeped in Voodooism… that even the pastors are blinded to the truth they presumably teach.” Haiti needs our prayers on many fronts.

In a word - Daniel. His return to West Virginia for work has preoccupied our thoughts, too.

Out there on the horizon is that word………………..re-entry. Re-entry is a time when you come back to your home country and try your hardest not to go through the same “shock” as you did when you left in the first place. I’m sure we will be posting thoughts about it in the future, but for now it’s on our mind a lot. We are giving thought and conversation to what we have learned, who we are now, how all that translates into the future, and we are reaching out to people who can provide insight. That’s what has been on our mind a lot lately.

Charter Member of Our Wisdom Team

Used Prayers

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 21:31:00 +0000

How do you feel about using someone else’s prayers? Not for me I hear you say, they’re stale. Maybe it’s time to recognize that while we can fall into heartless ritual, we can also benefit from the thoughtfully crafted prayers of others. We do well to learn the language of heaven from godly men and women through the ages and today. It’s good for our imaginations to be stirred to new heights and find ourselves joining in and adding on. You’ll find them used but not used up. Here’s a start:

“O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory; I pray Thee, so that I may know thee indeed.” - A.W. Tozer

“Loving Lord and Heavenly Father I offer up today all that I am, all that I have, all that I do, and all that I suffer, to be Yours today and Yours forever. Give me grace, Lord, to do all that I know of Your holy will. Purify my heart, sanctify my thinking, correct my desires. Teach me, in all of today’s work and trouble and joy, to respond with honest praise, simple trust, and instant obedience, that my life may be in truth a living sacrifice, by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, my Master and my all Amen.” - Elizabeth Elliot Gren

“O Lord, we pray for our country that God would bless it; and O that we might have a season of revival of pure and undefiled religion in the land. We perceive that Thou canst turn the hearts of the people, as the trees of the wood are moved by the wind. O that there might come a deep searching of the heart, great thoughtfulness of the Scriptures, reverence of God and the principles of justice and peace; and may this land make another stride in onward progress, and out of it may there be gathered a people whom Thou hast chosen, who may show forth Thy praise.” - Charles H. Spurgeon

Pondering A Decade

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 05:17:00 +0000

We are now entering new territory- pondering a decade. I’m not sure, how meaningful it is to anyone else but after listening to the Truth Project this week I know it’s important for me to look back…and learn. I was reminded, “Where we have come from, the past history is the key to who we are and where we are…and those who don’t know history have no sense of identity and no sense of wisdom as they explore where they are going to go. Without history we are lost both in terms of identity and in terms of wisdom of the way we go forward.”

So here I am a few days later in the Mexico City airport jotting down notes of where we have been in the last ten years. Our life begins to take shape on a brown paper bag from Starbucks. I really want to know who we have become in the decade. I want really want to see how we have been shaped so as to go forward in wisdom. Things that are going on the list are: big events, major books, circumstances that have shaped us, personal growth…

2000 started for us living in a single wide 500 sq. ft. trailer with three small children and a 50 gallon barrel of water in the bathroom waiting Y2K. It ended in Mexico with an 18 year old graduate and the other two close on his heels. The in-between seems like worlds apart.

Charting the big events is the easy part. We moved into a double wide, concluded twelve years of youth ministry to work in administration and resigned three years later, started home-schooling three, moved to Mexico for a four-year stint in missions.

Recognizing some key processes and circumstances isn’t so hard either. Beginning to pray like we had never prayed before, recognizing some certain shallowness and immaturity in our lives in ministry, experiencing life though another culture, thinking through an international third world grid, failing on different fronts…and growing through it, meeting friends from Colombia who introduced us afresh to the gospel.

The hard part is seeing clearly who we have become over the last decade. Harder still is to determine what it means for our future. We rest assured that God will weave it all together for good because we love Him and have been called according to His purpose.

What about you? What has shaped you over the last decade? Who have you become? How has your historical biography of the last ten years given you wisdom to move into the future?

Week's Worth of Highlights

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Monday 21st
Highlight of the Day – Going to the airport to meet Diana’s parents in the middle of the night. Also in the airport we were given a new Dell laptop computer compliments of very special friends from the US.

Runner Up – The bottle that was thrown at and broke the windshield of the bus as we rolled in to Puebla at 2:30a.m.

Tuesday 22nd
Highlight of the Day – Taking the grandparents to the skating rink to enjoy watching the girls on the ice.

Wednesday 23rd
Highlight of the Day – Celebrating Daniel’s 18th birthday which included a lot of fancy eating – biscuits and gravy, kebabs and ribs. We made time to reminisce and give him some special words of appreciation. There was also that high school diploma presentation.

Thursday 24th
Highlight of the Day – Enjoying all that wonderful food during our Christmas Eve dinner. Especially savory was our first Stove Top Stuffing in four years

Runner Up – Playing wiffle ball together in the afternoon in our “domed stadium.”

Friday 25th
Highlight of the Day – Christmas Day activities included Christina reading the story of Jesus’ birth, gift giving (MP3 player, jewelry, CD’s, webkins, clothes, and journals) and a delightful tea served with croissants.

Runner Up – The FIFA and Madden games Daniel and I played in the afternoon.

Honorable Mention – Getting the water going again to fill up our cistern. We had been working with the water company for three days and was about to the end of our water supply.

Saturday 26th
Highlight of the Day – Using a new ESV Bible for the first time that came from a friend in the US.

Sunday 27th
Highlight of the Day - Nice sunny, warm day as we sat in an outdoor shelter and enjoyed the morning service .

Wishing you all a wonderful New Year!

Around the House and Around the Neighborhood

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:41:00 +0000

I was sitting in the van when I heard the familiar whistle. The knife sharpener was coming down the street on his bicycle. Thankfully we needed some knives sharpened, but even if we didn’t I wanted the experience of seeing this guy do his craft. So out of the van I came to strike the bargain and go inside for the knives. Three knives - $5 – and sharp too – not a bad deal.

After two policemen were shot and killed last week on a major street near our home, we were a bit leery when the riot police showed up on our street corner five days later. “What’s up?” we wondered then settled in to watch. They remained though the night and into the next day armed with their riot gear. Finally, things began to take shape as a chain link fence went up on a vacant lot near the cemetery. We learned that there’s a little………..mmmmmm…………disagreement. New housing is being built, but the community wants the cemetery expanded instead. Now that was a new Christmas adventure for us.

Last night we kept a Mexico Christmas tradition alive. First we went to the Christmas program at Puebla Christian School and then on to Costco for big berry sundaes. We sat in the outdoor food court, enjoyed our ice cream, shivered, then went back to the van and turned on the heat. That’s as close to winter as it gets. Can’t wait to try the same thing next year at the Dairy Queen in the driving snow.

Today is an end of an era – Daniel’s last day of school. What started out as A,B,C….1,2,3 ended in logic and worldview. I’m sure he is thrilled to have completed this leg of his education…I’m not so sure about mom. None-the-less we celebrated with a round of pizza and frappuccinos (or in my case a toffee nut latte) to commemorate the rite-of-passage.

Check out the girls in the video below:

"The Offering"

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:35:00 +0000

The fireworks began exploding around us at 12:00 midnight and continued off and on throughout the night. It’s a celebration of Day of Guadalupe. On Tuesday evening a group of about 30 backpackers were walking by our home. I asked if they were on a pilgrimage, and they said yes, they were on a three day walk to Mexico City. What resolve. What dedication. What merit.

It all started in 1531 when the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared here in Mexico in the form of a young native girl bearing the name Guadalupe. Today millions of pilgrims will converge on the exact spot where the visitation happened.

Once there the pilgrims will enter a huge court area with both the old and new basilicas, the chapel built on the hill to honor her and a path that winds its way along the “sacred” grounds to “The Offering” of Mexico to the Virgin. This arrangement aptly depicts the spiritual climate almost 500 years later.

“The land upon which you walk is sacred…”

“Continue walking with attention and a joyful heart…”

“ ‘The Offering’ of Mexico to her virgin…”

“two perpetual waterfalls sprout, symbols of the valiant roots of the Aztecs…”

“…and of the missionary Spain…”

“…that join at the feet of Mary”

“…mother and forger of the fatherland of Mexico.”

A Lot Like Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:56:00 +0000

It is feeling a lot like Christmas, but I have to tell you that palm trees and flowers in bloom against blue skies with fluffy white clouds always manage to foul me up. Somehow those things just aren't associated in my mind with Christmas. However, we are still managing to follow many of the traditions we established over the years.

It all began with the day after Thanksgiving decoration bonanza. Diana and I decided in our first year of marriage that we would always decorate on the Friday after. Our reasoning was that when children came along, went off to college and returned home for Thanksgiving they could join in on the festivities. Now that that time is just around the corner you’ve got to wonder if they’ll really find their way home or instead end up on a beach in California or a ski resort in Utah. So much for long range planning.

We actually started out our traditional day of decoration in a very non-traditional way. We drove over to Home Depot and purchased a real tree. Our first one since the winter of ‘88. Gracing it is a beautiful new talavera ornament. Of course the stockings were hung by the entertainment center with care, and afterwards we took the girls out for ice-skating. (How’s that for a white Christmas celebration?)

Having people in our home is part of the Holidays too. We’ll have a Christmas party on the 17th for our small group and then entertain family from the US. We have a huge pile of “gozo” rocks to give to those who come though the doors. And what’s having guests without a bit of Christmas music playing which is more often than not supplied by Mannheim Steamroller.

Of course there is the meaningful side of the Christmas holidays for us as well which includes the daily advent reading and filling up our Jessie Tree with reminders. Then there are gift boxes for orphans and Saturday evening carols. It all adds up to feeling a lot like Christmas despite the palm trees and sunny skies.

[Editors Note: With the World Cup draw today placing the US in a group with England, Algeria and Slovenia, a first round win over England would be a very nice belated Christmas present!]

Skies Of Mexico: 2010 Calendar – A Photo Journal

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:52:00 +0000

January – New Beginnings

February – Magnificent Sunset Over Cuernavaca

March – Winds of Spring

April – Celebrating Resurrection Day

May – Blue Ridge Mountains

June – There’s a Volcano Hiding Behind These Clouds

July – “Signs Of The Times”

August – Good-bye Summer

September – Mountaineers Always Free

October – Big Orange Country

November – Thankful For His Beauty

December – Glory To God In The Highest

Reconciled Children

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:17:00 +0000

Last weekend we packed up and headed out to Atlixco for a “Reconciled Children Retreat.” It was situated in a villa area and led by Phil, Deene, Diego and Claudia from Medellín, Colombia. Here are a few bullet points and photos of what turned out to be a very beneficial weekend for us.

* “When you think, ‘I can do it on my own; I can be independent from God’, you believe the greatest lie of your life.”

* “Accepting the truth about my real state is the beginning of my freedom.”

* The cross not only frees us from the penalty of our sins and the power of sin in us, but also from the past sins against us that have mis-shaped our lives.

* “As long as we fail to leave something at the cross, we won’t have embraced the cross.”

* “Healing takes place when we meet with Jesus at the cross and exchange our sorrow and sin for his forgiveness, mercy and truth.” J. Williams

Our House

Deene - Phil

A great place for small group discussion

Last Evening Together

The Cross was central to the teaching

The table was set for a feast

Lies That Mis-Shape Us

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:10:00 +0000

Over the last few months I have been thinking about how lies mis-shape us.

“I am worthless and unwanted.” “God does not care.” “Life is of no value.” “I have to give sex to get love.” “I am to blame; life is hopeless.”

Lies like these put us at a real disadvantage by creating a life of bondage and pain. When embraced as true they create in our mind a distortion about ourselves, others or even God. Often they are formed as a result of a painful circumstance that creates deep wounds and strongholds. It’s possible that we have lived with them for a long, long time, and we don’t even recall exactly when they started.

“I deserve this small indulgence.” “It’s wrong but it’s worth it.” “God understands I’m only human.” “No harm done and besides no one will know.” “There won’t be a cost.”

Lies like these give us a perceived advantage, but the outcome is living in sin. The temptation is strong, our thinking is clouded, and we rationalize the truth, deciding for one reason or another to go for it. And there at the bottom of every sin is that little lie that stokes it all. It starts out as a perceived advantage. It ends up in a distant relationship with God.

Whether we are talking about lies that create a painful disadvantage or lies that create a perceived advantage we have to ask ourselves, “Where are these coming from?” We don’t have to look far for the answer to that one. Jesus said, “When [the devil] lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” He, in fact, is such a masterful liar that he can have us lying to ourselves in a jiffy – for a lifetime.

So what do we do about it? Well, you can be sure of one thing. There are not pat answers for years of piled up lies. On the other hand, you can be sure the answers are directly linked to God. And that it has a lot to do with Psalm 51:6 “Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.”

Your Family Was Attacked! - IDOP

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:20:00 +0000

(I’m going to let The Voice of the Martyrs do the talking for me today but please be mindful that they are describing what happened to your family, not strangers in a distant land.)

“On Oct. 18, a radical Hindu group, Rashtriya Swayam Sevaks (RSS), viciously attached three pastors, one women and one child while they were having a prayer service in Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh state. About 40 believers were gathered in Siluvai Kumar’s house for the prayer service, according to Voice of the Martyrs’ contacts. At 9 p.m. RSS radicals barged into the house and began beating people. Pastors Phillip, Timothy and Siluvai Kumar were badly injured. The radicals also beat Pastor Phillip’s pregnant wife, Kezia, and their 18-month-old daughter. Bibles were destroyed; musical instruments, and metal doors and windows in the house were damaged.

“Pastor Timothy was dragged to the police station where the radicals lodged a false complaint against him alleging he urinated on idols in a nearby temple. The police detained the pastor, but he was later released.

“RSS activists had warned the pastors against having prayer meetings in the area.

“Please pray for a rapid recovery for those who were injured in this attack: not only the injuries they sustained physically, but also psychologically and emotionally. Pray that the testimony of the believers will lead RSS members into fellowship with Christ.

“Churches across the United States and around the world are preparing to “remember those in bonds” (Hebrews 13:3) on Nov. 8, the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP).”

(Learn more about the persecuted church at Open Doors or The Voice of the Martyrs)

Compelling Facts
* Over 200 million Christians around the world suffer persecution.
* The world’s worst persecutor of Christians in the world is North Korea.
* In Saudi Arabia, practicing Christianity can result in death by beheading or stoning.
* Over 90% of China’s Christians worship in hidden, underground house churches to avoid government regulations and restrictions.
* Open preaching in Sudan is punishable by beatings or imprisonment.
* Christians make up less than 1.7% of the population in Pakistan, and over 70% of them are the poorest of the poor.

Grappling With the Darkness

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:51:00 +0000

I have long been a non-fan of dark supernatural intrigue. I don’t find role-playing games or video games with dark themes intriguing. Horror movies and horoscopes are abhorrent. I have no interest in dark music, psychics or the vampire culture. As a matter of fact I don’t even particularly care for Christian literature and media when evil is overly portrayed.

Diana and I have always tried to steer our family toward living an evil free life even though we sometimes feel “old fashioned” because of it. Here are some thoughts that have led to this approach in our lives: 1) Partly it’s a reaction to some brushes with darkness in my childhood 2) Our own parents put their foot down when it came to “innocent”,”funny”,“dark” sitcoms 3) It’s rooted in Scripture – “I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.” 4) We don’t want our family to be unnecessarily susceptible to its influence.

Living above the fray is easier said then done. When we lived in the States, life was more predictable or at least more controllable. Here we find ourselves having to grapple with the darkness. At the moment the country is beginning preparations for Day of the Dead which means it is impossible to escape the “dead” theme. We watch people stream by our house on the way to the cemetery carrying gardening tools and flowers, we see skeletons sold at traffic lights and watch venders come out of the woodwork to sell paraphernalia for building altars.

If only it ended there. It doesn’t. When we go in a bookstore it’s there (exhibit A), walk down the street shopping on our anniversary and we are confronted by the gods (exhibit B), we go on a church retreat to plan for the coming year and we are being watched (exhibit C), or to visit Cortez’s palace with friends (exhibit D) and of course it’s the center piece at the pyramid of the sun in Teotihuacan (exhibit E).

The girls have been attending craft class for over a year now, but only recently have they had to call us to come for them because horror stories are playing on the TV. And…think about this, we do have to spend money right? So here in my pocket I’m usually carrying an Aztec calendar stone imprinted with the gods. This is not exactly what I was envisioning for my family.

While we don’t look for demon gods under every rock, there’s no denying their presence. So where does that leave this family who has tried so hard to provide a shade of protection? Well, it doesn’t leave us untainted or unscathed. We’ve learned we are not as strong as we think we are. There are no easy winners. It does leave us humbled in our desperate need for Christ. Thankful that the cross trumps it all. And we are left grappling with this present darkness.

Exhibt A

Exhibt B

Exhibt C

Exhibt D

Exhibt E

If You Don’t Mind Hodge Podge

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:12:00 +0000

When’s The Last Time…?

Q. When’s the last time someone came to your door selling rabies vaccinations for your dog? (A. Today)
Q. When’s the last time you stepped in a cow pile just outside your garage door? (A. A few months ago)
Q. When’s the last time you squeezed 14 people into your van? (A. Last summer)
Q. When’s the last time you saw someone going car to car to sell bubble making toys at a traffic light? (A. Today)
Q. When’s the last time you crossed 18 speed bumps to get to your local Wal-mart? (A. Today)

Better Than A Theme Park Ride

I have been a little cheated when it comes to taxi rides. I always seem to get a reasonable, thoughtful, considerate driver. No longer. This week I got the real deal. We snuck under red-lights, jumped in front of the line, beeped at slow drivers, and raced down straight-aways. Now I can say I’ve experienced real Puebla traffic.

Three Gems

We have a friend back home who accuses Diana and me of having conversations in the deep end. She says that even when passing us on the road she can tell we are having a serious conversation. Guess what? Things haven’t changed. Today we were talking about how correct a person has to be in their overall theological understanding before we could learn a valuable truth from them. Here are three gems from my wife:
* “The key is holding a healthy skepticism without becoming cynical.”
* “Today it’s called being real; twenty-five years ago it was called ugly and mean spirited.”
* “We have become more sure of foundational absolutes and more tolerant of preferences.”

One More Thing

What does it mean when the police come up behind you flashing their lights? Absolutely nothing. They’ll pull up beside you and wave you over if they want you to stop.

Bathroom $700

Used Coffee Grounds or Pizza Supreme

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:49:00 +0000

I met with Pastor Steve this week. Actually we meet together most every week. We laugh, talk about what God is up to at El Puente, and share our joys and frustrations. This week he told me this story. “A king wanted to be more closely associated with his subjects, so he set a weekly time when they could make their requests. During one of those times, a long line of people came. Person after person approached the king asking for one small favor after another. Each one was refused.

“Finally an old farmer came, ‘Your sovereign,’ he said. ‘I am a farmer. I have been a farmer all of my life. I have a small parcel of land on which I have planted and harvested just enough to make ends meet. This is my life; it will always be my life, and I am satisfied with it. But I also have a son, and my request is not for myself but for him. My son has the soul of a farmer. He loves the land and has a special way with it. He has a far greater capacity than to just eek out a living. My request is that you give him land in keeping with his giftedness.’

“‘Done,’ replied the king. ‘It is yours.’ The king’s advisors were amazed, and when the old farmer left they approached king and asked, ‘Why did you turn all these other people away but gave this man what he asked?’ ‘Because,’ replied the king, ‘he was the only one who made a request fit for a king.’”

It makes me wonder if I’ve settled into asking for piddly things unfit for the King of the universe. Maybe instead of used coffee grounds, I should be requesting pizza supreme. If I have the confidence to ask, that is.

Ken’s On First

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:20:00 +0000

Something you should know is that if you ever intend for your child to live in a Spanish speaking country do not name them Ken. In Spanish the word quien (which means “who”) is pronounced pretty much like Ken. You can imagine the possibilities. It’s the Mexican equivalent to “Who’s on first?”

I had one of those conversations just the other evening when someone called the wrong number and reached our home. The conversation went and usually goes something like this…

“Good evening”
“Who am I talking to?”
“Who” (Ken)
Who am I talking to?”
“Who”
“Who am I talking to?”
“Who”
“You”
“Who”
“You, who are you?”
“Who”
“You, what is your name?”
“Who, who is my name”
“You, what is your name?”
“Who, who, who is my name.”
“Who?”
“Who.”
“You.”

A couple of years ago when we went out to Houston it seemed to be a big deal to a lot of you when Maria got her ears pierced. Well since that day Christina has been dreaming of her chance. Problem is that girls get their ears pierced in hospitals at birth. So that leaves only tattoo and piercing parlors as an option for her. I’m glad to announce that some friends recently sent us a piercing gun and that Christina after 11 long unbearable years has pierced ears.

I saw another first the other day. I was painting at our new meeting location and saw the gardener’s wife scrubbing clothes. It’s common to see women scrubbing their family’s clothes. As a matter of fact many sinks have an old time washboard built in. But this lady had her clothes soaking in three large water buckets and was scrubbing them in a wheel barrow. I admire the ingenuity. Our lives are forever change by this experience.

This is what we have to work with

Daneil's early morning photo after a 5:00am airport run

It All Happened In A Day

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:18:00 +0000

A lot of big events converged on September 27th for us; the most important being Diana’s birthday. After meeting with the church, we headed out with a few friends to celebrate at a rib place we have recently discovered. Frijoles, rice, tortillas, ribs and pollo, a meal fit for a king……………………..uh, QUEEN.

Later at our place while we were all eating our second piece of blackberry cake, the phone rang. It was Kate’s mom calling from Texas. “We are hanging out with the Harers” I heard her say – not “we are visiting the Harers” or “we are spending some time over at the Harers” but “we are hanging out with the Harer’s.” Now that made us feel good.

Let me say for the umpteenth time that I have a special wife. It didn’t take the compliments around the table or the notes or the phone calls to know it, but they were all good reminders. I am blessed to have a companion with whom to hold hands and walk through life. Someone special with whom to sip afternoon tea and gain perspective. The wife of my youth, my helper and keeper of our home. "She is worth far more than rubies."

Between ribs and cake we made a run to the bus station. After living with our family for two months, Sarah from Chicago started her journey home. We will miss her cheerfulness and insight. We met Sarah three years ago in Cuernavaca, and she has remained in our life as a friend and a source of encouragement. Thanks for coming and being a part of our family, Sarah. Check out her blog for more: Sarita In Mexico 2009.

Sandwiched in there as well was a move to a new location for El Puente. We have moved to a festival garden. These gardens are plentiful in Mexico as a place to rent for wedding receptions, quincenaras (a girl’s 15th birthday party), first communions, confirmations and the like. The location is within a two minute walk of our home, but as is always the case the first meeting required a ton of extra work.

And it all happened on a special day of the year. It was a little crazy, a little squished together but definitely a lot of fun.

Don't pave it and they will come - the sheep and cows that is.

What ministry tool is a necessity even in a shelter with big yellow tarps?

PowerPoint

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Friendly greeters are a must

Murals Of Mexico - A Photo Journal

noreply@blogger.com (the Harers) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:47:00 +0000

Recently one of our guests said that the thing that stood out to her was all the graffiti. It’s true we do have plenty of graffiti, but Mexico is filled with murals as well. Historically they have been painted as political and revolutionary statements by famous artists and muralists such as Diego Rivera. (see his work) Today the concrete of the city has become a canvas for budding artists to display their work, brighten up a myriad of structures and for some to make a statement.

Breaking Free From...

Christina's Favorite

Ancient Aztec Warrior

Contemporary Psychedlic Urbanite

Maria's Favorite

You'll Find Them At The Metro Mexico City

On Walls In Veracruz

Under Bridges In Puebla

And At Mercado Zapata

You Tell Me

The Mask of La Lucha (Professional Wrestler)