A Mountain Top Experience

Literally. This past Saturday, I (Ed) had the opportunity to climb Mt. Ajusco. This mountain (said to be a long extinct volcano) is the highest peak surrounding Mexico City.

A few times a month our university offers Saturday excursions for its students. One friend from Japan recommended that Amy and I come along on this one. After inquiring with one of the trip leaders it was suggested that Caleb NOT attend because the walk may prove a bit too strenuous for him. So, I was on going on this one solo.

I thought that since this was a trip open to anyone on campus it would be a simple walk in the woods… I was about to learn otherwise.

When the day was done our group had ascended approximately 2,500 feet over a distance of three to five kilometers. (Those numbers didn’t impress me at first either, so to add a little perspective, think of climbing stairs, sometimes on all fours for over three hours.) Additionally, we survived an electrical ice storm at the summit (although more than a little daunting, it did provide us with an extra level of motivation that led to a quick descent)!

I hope that you guys enjoy the pictures below. These are rare and beautiful sites from this corner of the globe. It’s hard to believe that the booming metropolis of Mexico City is just 45 minutes downhill.

Here we are at the bottom of the hill with our fearless guide Jorge leading the way. Notice that everything is DRY in these early shots.

This unnamed peak on the top, right is one that we would actually surpass shortly before reaching our own summit.

Here’s a shot of the steepest portion of the climb. I found out quickly that it’s good to be at the rear of the pack in these situations. There are a few advantages to this position. Primarily you have a head’s up in seeing and hearing the rocks that are knocked down the hill from above. (If one of the other bodies doesn’t stop the stones’ progression, you’ll have more time than anyone else to dodge them.)

Additionally, if you’ve nearly drained your own water bottle, a large percentage of hikers will drop theirs on this part of the hill. All you have to do is scoop them up and drink before you start gain ground on your buddies.

We’re finally out of the woods and above the tree-line. This is really some of the most beautiful scenery that I have been around in a long time. I think that this grand landscape would give pause to even the most ardent skeptic of an intelligent designer.

After we had completed roughly 80% of the climb we crested a small rise and came face-to-face with our next obstacle. These malevolent beasts roamed freely on the mountainside and threatened to turn back even the heartiest of souls. The few hikers that we had passed making their descent we heard wailing sorrowfully at the misfortune of losing a member of their party to these behemoths. After a moment of uncertainty, we girded our collective loins and somehow found the strength to persevere.

The summit! One member of our crew had an altimeter which reported our elevation to be 12,795 feet. A great climb, a great day and a great chance to experience clean air, tranquil surroundings and good friends in a very different setting than I’m used to. This was one of those days that ended up being better than what was anticipated.

Spiritual Searching

Over the last six weeks Amy and I have had the opportunity to host/lead a Bible study. What’s made this experience fairly unique is that the discussion has been in English with a group of native born Mexicans. This opportunity came about through our involvement with the English-speaking church that we have been attending.

Pictured above is the book that served as our subject matter. The God Questions by Hal Seed and Dan Grider is a great read. Shakespeare who coined the phrase “brevity is the sole of wit” could have easily been describing this work. The book is divided into 40, short, daily readings that address the six most common spiritual questions that nearly all people wrestle with at one time or another. Topics such as “How do I know God is real?”, “Is the Bible really the word of God, or just an ancient book?” and “Is there really only one way to heaven?” are covered thoroughly but succinctly. Since this is an English book by American authors I’d wager that this book would be easily accessible to those in the US that are curious about its contents. I highly recommend a perusal.

Furthermore, through our time studying Spanish at the university, we have become friends with another missionary family serving in Mexico City with Latin American Missions. Carl, (the husband) has been attending classes with Amy and I since May of this year. A few weeks ago Amy and I met with Carl to discuss the possibility of starting a “God Questions” group on campus prior to our morning classes. Please pray for this venture as we use this week to gauge interest from other students and with God’s leading, initiate such a discussion in the coming weeks.

Mexico: Various Sights

Hi Folks, I know that it’s been a little while since I’ve posted. Things have been a bit busy here with Amy and I just finishing our second round of exams this week. Additionally, we’ve been a little pre-occupied with planning our first return to the states.

Tomorrow morning we’re flying to Miami for a quick trip to renew our Mexican visas. Over a long weekend we will have the opportunity to visit the PI office, rest on American soil and EAT. Additionally, we’ll be able to visit with some of our family who have been gracious enough to host our threesome for a few nights. Before we leave, I wanted to put up a few more pictures of some of the local sights.

Above is our local mascot that greets Amy and I on the way to the bus every morning. Since he’s always hanging out at the door of one of the local butchers we’ve dubbed him “Butch”. He may look rather worse-for-wear but he still has enough spunk to bare his teeth if you get too close.

Green and white taxis like this VW bug were a common site in Mexico City for decades. However, over recent years these independently owned vehicles have gotten a rather undesirable reputation. At the request of the mayor all of these taxis are in the process of getting a new gold and red paint scheme, (in hopes that the city’s visitors will be none the wiser). I should mention that this news is a bit unsettling to Caleb. These taxis and the corresponding green and white, public buses are his favorite mode of transportation.

Here is an example of one of the taco stands that exist every hundred meters or so on Mexico City’s streets. The meat on the spit is marinated pork which is usually topped with onion, cilantro and pineapple. Them’s good eatin’.

And finally, here is what’s become a favorite pastime in the apartment. The relative ease of making fresh salsa is one of the benefits of living here. While Caleb hasn’t learned to fully enjoy the flavor as much as his parents, Dad’s already begun his culinary training.