Fam!
I’ve made it to Mexico City I’ve been here for 10 days!
People here keep asking me 'how do I like Mexico City?' and thankfully it is all very underwhelming. I guess these are just some of the perks of being a street-smart-city-person and a go-with-the-flow person. It is obviously a different city than any of the cities I’ve visited or lived in but at the end of the day. It is still very much a city.
Now, if God called me to go to the country side of Chile. Well then, I’d panic a little.
My very first week here (so last week) my organization had me take several surveys, that fall into the category of “self-awareness assessment”. We took a Myer-Briggs test, Spiritual Pathways test, Enneagram test, and a Love Language test, there might have been a few others that are not coming to mind.
They were all fantastic tools to learn how we groove, especially in a new environment, however, one that we took I already knew the answers, but I took the test anyway. I was Mr. Chapman’s 5 Love Languages test.
There’re several different combinations, one language may stick out more than others to you, or there may be a “equal tie” between other languages, and after taking the test, you may disagree with the answers.
I already knew before my pen hit the paper that my love languages were physical touch and quality time. It was affirmed when I went to college, a new environment, when I had made a close friend, their personal bubble instantly became mine, after I asked if they had personal space. I always try my best to respect other’s personal space, but when I make a friend who has the same love language, I’m often getting piggyback rides, falling asleep on their shoulders, dancing in circles around them — really finding any excuse I can to be in their personal bubble.
Equally to physical touch is quality time with me. I can hang out with a group of people for twelve hours, then somehow end up in a video game tournament with them or late-night cooking session, not wanting the time to stop. I remember my first time at a Christian retreat, I was with the same group of 30 people for 2 1/2 days. Time felt it had slowed down because I did not know the schedule for that weekend, and I was focused on being present (the time before smartphones) I didn’t have a watch so I never knew the hour, and I wasn’t focused on documenting everything, I wasn’t focused on creating a memory or inside joke, I wasn’t trying to be remembered or known, I was content with the people I was with, and I was content not knowing what would happen next.
I think that weekend experience encapsulated what it is like for someone who enjoys quality time as their love language. I only remember how deep the friendships went and how I was personable with all these people.
Upon my arrival. I’ve been told to acknowledge and respond accordingly to the Mexican culture of confianza.
Confianza literally translates as “trust”.
However, there is more to confianza than simply “trust” confianza is something that can be built, broken and tried. There is deep belief in this confianza, faith is tied in as well, credit where due, and loyalties. Assurance, dependability, familiarity, hope, dependence and reliance are all incorporated to this one word. When you type confianza into Google Translate 12 different words translate this one word. When we get our hands on a Spanish-English dictionary the words and relations that are connected to this word are incredible.
So, let’s not open a thesaurus.
Confianza can be built very easily, it is time-consuming, energy-eating, but worth these deep bonds. Jesus heavily, heavily encouraged confianza. It is something that can be easily overlooked in the U.S. especially those that live in cities. Where we have this don’t-talk-to-me-or-smile-at-me-you-weird-stranger face. We keep our headphones deep in our ears, or noses buried in our phones, and skin tough enough to shove through any crowd.
I built confianza my first weekend here in Mexico City, by sitting in on bible studies, playing basketball, laughing at the silliness of others, sharing a bowl of ramen with four other people, adding more salsa to my tacos than others, sharing pastries, listening to music with others, assembling a sanctuary on a Sunday morning, praying in broken Spanish, hugging and locking arms with others, playing with others hair, and letting them be amazed by my little afro, listening to others, singing Bohemian Rhapsody (off-key of course) with others, smiling with others, taking naps on shoulders, drooling over tacos with others, going to the doctor with others, making tea with others, taking bad selfies with others, cleaning with others, walking two miles in the city with others, not getting lost with others, worshiping with others, and really at the end of the day just being.
I am so very content and pleased in their culture and feel so honored to be accepted, welcomed and I am loving the confianza we get to build together.
Prayer Requests:
Ms. Silvia Peralta: She is my pastor's wife, she has not lived in comfortably in Mexico City for almost 3 years, due to asthma and pollution. She is preparing to the leave the country the first week of Feburary to receive treatment, her family lives in the Chicagoland area. Pray that her treatment goes well and that the Lord is with my pastor and his wife in this time of difficulty.
Youth Group: The youth group is saving money/raising money to go on a mission trip to the Little Village in Chicago. They are organzing projects to help out the neighborhood and are spreading the gospel to the Mexican-Americans in Chicago. Pray that they are able to raise funds to go on this trip, Mexico is technically a third world country and this trip is extraordinarily expensive. Pray that the Lord continues to set their hearts on fire for him.
I'm Moving! Next week I'll be moving to a new host family, due to the health complications at my current host home. I know the family as they go to my church and the wife as already taken me in as her little sister! Pray that my transition is safe, pray that I'll have boundless energy (I'll be moving after a work day and after bible study - so let's say 11pm... I might be sleepy)
Thank you fam!