The Last Few Days in the Sun

It's hard to believe that tomorrow is our last day! We are all really excited about heading to Chan Chen with Doug & Darla and the mission group that has come in from Alabama today. We have been staying at a hotel in downtown Playa del Carmen for the past 3 days, so we will only be with the Alabama group one day.

Staying with Doug & Darla was wondeful, but kinda out of my comfort zone. We have never stayed over at anyone's home - except for family and one time when we were stranded in a blizzard in Austin....nope, not Texas, but Manitoba. I always feel like I am imposing on others, and I've never had any travelers stay at my home. I guess the prairies just aren't a popular vacation destination! I hope that one day I will be able to extend the same gracious hospitality that Doug & Darla extended to us...hopefully to them as well as others.

Last week we spent two days cleaning up the church yard weeding the flower bed and varnishing the play structure at Paamul church. I'm not sure where most of the varnish ended up - on us or the play structure! In the end, paint splattered, hot and dusty, we were all happy with the results. I think the play structure stood just a little taller that day!

After we finished off at the church on Friday, we took in something we had never seen before - CRAB RACES! For any of you who know anything about hermit crabs, "race" would be the last word you would ever use! Never the less, crabs were tossed into a 5 gallon pail, put in the center of a ring. Then it was dumped out with a flourish and the announcer yelled, "and they're off!" Well, I wouldn't go right to "off!" They just kinda sat there till they got tired of the bright light shining overhead and scurried off to find a little darkness. Each crab was marked with a number, and who ever got over the rope first, won! Sounds exciting, don'cha think?

Moving to the hotel was a little sad. I missed Darla's company and I couldn't go to the lady's bible study on Tuesday. The nice part was experiencing Playa del Carmen. In the years we have been coming here, we have never stayed right in the city. God provided this beautiful hotel for us by way of the young Mexican preacher who has connections in the hotel industry. We were able to stay for half of the cost! I am so thankful for how the Lord provides!

By Sunday we were already at our hotel in Playa, so while we couldn't take in church at Paamul, we were able to walk over to the service in Playa. I got to meet the man who was the recipient of one of the Bibles we brought, and again, he expressed his thankfulness. He asked us if we would pray for him, so the three of us found a quiet corner and spent some time inviting the Lord to speak into his life. Not only was he encouraged, but so were Rick and I! I thakn the Lord for allowing me the privilege of meeting and praying with someone who was personally touched by our ministry at Canadian Lifelight.

Monday and today were spent in the sun! We took a ferry across to Cozumel and Rick and the girls went snorkeling! What a great time they had! So did I....ALL BY MYSELF!!!!!!! Browsing the market in peace was my idea of a good time!

This morning we spent most of the morning in search of a bakery! Have you ever tried Mexican baked goods? What a treat! I'm not a huge pastry fan, but you simply cannot leave Mexico without indulging! Finally, by mid-morning our noses found the right place! Hopefully we will be able to remember it for next year! The rest of the day was spent on the beach and then trying to rid ourselves of the sand that seems to find places on and in your body you never knew you had!

I was leafing through my bible today, looking for a passage in acts. As I did, my eyes fell on this:

"Then Peter began to speak:" I now realize how true it is that god does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right."
Acts 10: 34&35

We've spent over two weeks in an area of the world that is vastly different from where I live; save for one thing - the need for Jesus. God isn't any different here than He is at home. The people are, the culture is and so are some of the churches (can you imagine worshiping in an open air church at home at this time of year?!???!)

If there is one thing that I am thankful for, it's that no church, culture or person has the exclusive formula for christianity. Thank goodness! I know I'd be in trouble! Fearing Him and doing what is right is all that is required. This is sometimes really tough to remember when you have been in your own back yard all your life. Even there, we get caught up in it; very comfortable with whatever denomination of fellowship we attend, and how we do things. God's word is the same, says the same and holds the same power no matter what language it is written in.

We all sleep under the same stars at night...
and the same God too.

I feel so blessed to have gotten even a glimpse of those who "fear Him and do what's right" in another part of the world knowing that we will see the same Jesus face to face one day!