Cop-out

Ever wondered why you should learn Spanish in Mexico when the majority of the upper class speaks English? I’ll tell you why! – So you can get out of the cop stops that you get into!

With the new laws that they’re implementing it’s making it incredibly hard for foreign vehicles (including from other states in Mexico) to travel in Mexico City or the state of Mexico, and the track record I had of barely being stopped by cops is getting way out of hand. My first 3 years in Mexico I was stopped 4 times, and of those 4 times, twice there was a valid reason. (Yes, like circulating on the wrong day – ahem, or carrying cargo on the Periferico) But in just the last 8 months I’ve been stopped double that, it’s not funny! – Yesterday alone I was stopped twice! – TWICE!!!!

The first time was on the way to the bus station (dropping off Linda and the kids) and of course I’m driving a US license placed vehicle so I’m claiming protection from cops who just seem to see $$$$ signs on our license plates, but alas, they stop me, and I was actually irritated. – I was not doing anything wrong, I was trying to get somewhere in a limited amount of time with the usual Friday traffic, and I really didn’t feel I had the time (and definitely not the money) to try to convince a cop out of a bribe. The cop apparently sensed it and seemed just as annoyed as I was. Ha!

He tells me I’m not allowed to circulate, I tell him I am! :D

I think he was surprised that I was so straightforward and sure. Heh! He goes on to point out that with the new laws no foreign vehicles were permitted to drive Friday, so I tell him that I know about the new law coming in effect the 1^st of July where we can’t circulate from 5am to 11am, I also know about the new law that as of the 5^th of July on Saturdays you can’t circulate with certain plates, but that my vehicle doesn’t circulate Monday, not Friday and today is really Friday not Monday. He insists that “no, you need a permit to circulate today – do you have a permit?” and at that point I realize that he hasn’t once actually made mention of what the repercussion is (which is usually what they do when they’re trying to get a bribe), so I point out that no, I didn’t, I didn’t know I needed one, but that I’m in route to the bus station, I’m trying to get a family on the bus, I don’t have time for this, I’m a missionary and I don’t have money for mistakes like this which is why I try to make sure I know the laws, and I’m just plainly pointing out how frustrated I am with how I can’t seem to get their laws right. Heh! (I was honestly frustrated!)

I think that helped him realize that I was truly innocent in my ignorance. So he gave me the papers back and told me to just be careful because he’s sure I’ll be stopped again! – That was a miracle, but it isn’t over!

We made it to the bus station, dropped off the team, and we’re heading back when sure enough; we get pulled over again! Sniff…

This time I’m not in a rush (though it is about 9:00 at night and I’m not that keen on being out that late – just two girls) and the cops were actually pretty good looking :P so the cop comes up, and points out that today is a day I can’t circulate. I nod my head and tell him the story of the first cop who stopped me and how I had no idea, I was in route to the bus station, etc. etc. etc. and that I’m a good girl, I am, and I try, but I have to get home now and I really don’t usually disobey the laws like this. The guy looks at me and asks me if I have a license! – I guess that’s all he could think of after I gave him my whole tale! :D

So yes, I basically get into asking him to please clarify all these laws for me, and the poor guy even finds himself lost amidst them all, to where he has to go and get his colleague to help answer my questions. – Ha-ha! Thankfully with this cop too I was able to explain my plight, and mistake, and he returned the papers and license, which was another miracle, and his cop colleague even wanted to escort us Home so as to not get stopped again – how sweet, right? ;) Except they didn’t as the cop that was originally talking to me said that “no, we can’t, we have other cars to stop”. (In a casual joking manner) Ha! Oh well…

All is well that ends well and again, LEARN SPANISH – it helps! ;)

I’ll leave you with some pics we took at the Zocalo the other day when I went in for some biz – it was Sharon’s first time so of course we had to see some of the sites and document it.

Sharon was fascinated and grossed out all at once with this frog-like statue - and had to take a pic with it.

I finally got a pic with the flag unfurled on this one!

If I look like I have this huge grin on it’s because I was trying to not laugh. A midget (well-dressed and obviously well-educated) offered to take a pic of the two of us together, so here you have a picture taken from a midget’s perspective. – I guess now I know how tall I look to kids. – Wow!

Such a cutey!

I stole this pic of Ethan and myself off John and Mya's blog - isn't he adorable?! He actually puts on this whole offended weep if I pass by and don't at least tune into him or take him for a bit. - It's adorable! Mya's theory is that perhaps his guardian angel has hair like mine as there have been times he didn't even see my face, just my hair, and he'll start weeping - poor baby!

Such a cutey-pie! :)

Never say "Never".

And that's all I have to say!

Mexico - lindo y querido!

The longer I live here the more that sentence comes to life! There's probably not a day that passes where I don't think that thought - it puts a smirk on my face. (Well, half a smirk at least!)

Today was a classic though! We were on rest day so thought to hop over to the Walmart area to catch a flick! - That would be Mig, Esther, and their adorable princess baby, Charlie. - And of course Joy and I! Jamie lends us her car seeing as today is a day that 2 of the vehicles in our Home don't circulate. (I point this out as its been a faithful car, but its small...which does NOT suit Mexico or our tope - a.k.a. speed bump - land.)

All seems to be going well - we watched The Zohan...such a dumb movie, but oh my god, Adam Sandler has an awesome body in it! (Body, I said body - not package.) though the electricity does go off half-way into the movie. It comes on as does the movie, so that ends, and we're heading out and figure to grab some stuff in Walmart, when Miguel suggests he goes to get the car to drive us over - only to get back shortly after saying "I think we'd better get what we want from Walmart first, the car is in a flood of water." - And he wasn't exaggerating. Thankfully the car wasn't submerged or anything, but there was literally a good foot and a half of lake around the car!! - There was even a nearby pothole gushing water out so strong it moved the lid clear out of its path by the sheer force of the water.

We managed to get through some puddles on our way to Walmart, not too bad, just wet feet (ewww) only to find ourselves chuckling at the leaking roofs - they had buckets catching leaks, can you imagine it? Walmart in Mexico - complete with leaks. Ha! Mig waded through the lake to get to the car, but seriously, there was NO getting out of that parking lot - the roads were flooded and the cars backed up to where they weren't moving - at all!

So guess what we did? We went back into the cinema and watched another movie. Ha! I mean, seriously, why sit in traffic for hours when you could just let it pass and do something more comfortable/enjoyable in the meanwhile? So that's what we did! We got back to the movie theater just a few minutes before the next showing of Hulk, so watched that - and boy are we glad we did as when we got out of the cinema, the roads were still backed up with traffic and flooded. The parking lot wasn't as flooded but the roads still were and the Periferico was a nightmare. I felt so bad for those poor people sitting in that traffic. - It was crazy!

We managed to get Home in an hour and a half (what is usually a half hour drive at the worst), at one point we weren't moving for a bit to where I jumped out and got some Tamales (first meal a couple of us had eaten all day - ahem), and by a miracle we followed a check to not take a back road (which we were heading for at first hoping to avoid traffic) to where we made it home fast the last stretch, but seriously, the city planning is just NOT conducive for flash floods. - And those happen a lot here. Rainy season has begun, at least our grass will be green, but its just pitiful to think that next time it rains like that, it's going to be the same story.

At least we had an adventure to tell! - I think it's time to pull these out again.

Update and Prayer Request

Life is good - busy, but good! It's hard to believe we're already half way through the year!

I'm off to Italy on the 27th of July for a 6 week followup-fundraising-business-legal-visa trip with Jamie! - It's going to be fun!!! The home voted to allow someone from the home to accompany me rather than my having to find a partner in Europe which, though it could work, would mean a less concerted effort on the fundraising part. - So we're stepping out by faith and our tickets are booked!

I'm excited because I know the Lord can do awesome miracles! I'm eager to see the miracles He's going to do, but I'm already dreading so many things about it...you'd think I'd worry less and trust Him more - especially after never failing me. Right? Oh dear!

Could you all please keep the preparations in your prayers? Mainly, the miracle we need, is a good place to stay - a nice apartment, spacious and in a good location for our fundraising. The time frame we need it for is from the middle of July (so my dad can go there earlier to get adjusted/settled in) till the middle of September!

There's only so much you can do when you're trying to attain somewhat of the impossible (it's the season when everyone rents their houses out for exorbitant prices) - and it's also a mental strain on me having to juggle all these details and my dad (long story), so if you could please pray that I don't stress, but that we can get a place secured as soon as possible (within the next week or two - but definitely by the end of this month), that would be a big blessing.

We need HUGE miracles!!!

I guess that's the fun part of it all - knowing that the Lord's going to do some out of this world miracles for us! Thanks for your prayers, and I'll keep you posted on the Lord's answers as they come. :)

All in the genes :P

I was with the kids for PE this morning, which is always a fun event when they're in a good mood. - Especially the little guys as they're so adorable and lovable! (e.g. giving you flowers to put in your hair and then telling you you're beautiful) This morning was one of those "good mood" mornings and following is a conversation I had with Ryan (Mig & Esther's 3 1/2 year old) as I was leading him to the playground:

Ryan: Are you with us? (As he grabs my hand)
Me: Yes, I'm with you
Ryan: Oh good - because I love you! (As he rubs his cheek against my hand)
Me: Oh, so sweet Ryan - I love you too!
Ryan: You know my name?! (Looking at me with this shocked look)
Me: Yes, your name is Ryan!
Ryan: Yes, my name is Ryan! (In an almost worried tone)
Me: Do you know my name?
Ryan: Ummm....ummm....well, I still love you!

What to say? Does it matter if men remember your name or not? They still love you! :D

(Thankfully Collin, 3, of Justin and Linda, saved his friend in distress by reminding him of my name, so I know labeling men isn't right, but still...I had a good laugh at the basic instincts. Ha!)