Dear Friends:
Thanks for your interest in our ministry.
We live in El Centro, Ca about 14 miles north of the Mexican border. We do not have a house in Mexico. We work in Mexicali a city of over a million people.
The people in Mexico dress the same as we do. Those who have more money dress well and those who do not have more shabby clothes but over all its western style. I have not seen many sombreros. Most people do wear some sort of protection from the sun but its usually a baseball cap or some sort of wide brim straw hat but not really a sombrero as I understand it. Some women wear scarves and some carry umbrellas.
One of the unique things is our frequent border crossings. We usually have no problems or delays to get into Mexico but coming back to the United States is always an adventure. We wait in line for an average of thirty minutes but we have been known to be there over an hour. There are many vendors in this line selling gum, souvenirs, people who want to wash your windows, beggars without limbs. There is a young woman that I have seen a few times carrying a young baby and an empty Coca-cola cup asking for money. This always reminds me how different life can be for people over there.
It gets very hot in the summer. And summer last a long time here. From about May until November we have warm days, our average during the summer months is a high of 110 to 115. It is very dusty in Mexicali as many roads are not paved and it is a desert climate. The night sky is beautiful and always gives me hope and helps me see past the dust.
Usually we try to get most of our hard work done early in the morning, we drink plenty of water, we wear light clothes and a hat and when we remember we wear sun screen. I (Mercy) try to stay inside during the warmest part of the day which is from about noon till 6PM. It usually gets cooler in the evening but it is not unusual to still have a temperature in the 90's or over 100 degrees a midnight. Most people come out after 6PM and do shopping or just hang out. We are like the desert animals everyone comes out after dark. It's cool in more than the usual meaning of the word.
Mexicans like to eat tacos, burritos, rice and tortillas as well as many American foods. Mexicali is famous for having more Chinese restaurants per square mile than anything else. It's pretty good. When you ask for water (agua) you must specify whether you want "agua natural" which is fresh water or just agua, which is a sort of Kool-aid. The people there are very welcoming and loving and the students we have met have a real desire to serve the Lord. They have a lot less resources than many of us have. We don't realize how privileged we are.
We have three kids. Aida and Richie both study in El Centro. Aida speaks some Spanish and Richie does too. They are still getting adjusted to living in between two worlds. Even though there are many similarities, there are also many differences. The kids are trying to figure out their roles as kid missionaries as they like to call themselves. Right now they are just trying to make friends in school and going through the same stuff that your kids go through.
Joshua our youngest is in pre-school twice a week and goes with us into Mexico to hang out. As long as mom and dad are around, he's happy.
We really appreciate your prayers.Rick has worked with a lot of work-groups this past summer. They've gotten our new seminary building ready for use. It has a pretty neat computer lab and they've also painted the student housing and other buildings. Please pray for the students who are training to be pastors and leaders in the Mexican churches. Please pray for both of us, (Rick and Mercy) as we continue to give classes at the seminary and try to learn about the culture and learn with the people about the best way to serve our Lord together.
Take care and know that you too can be missionaries right there in Santa Cruz or wherever you live as you witness to others with your lives what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
Blessings to all!
Mercy Gonzalez-Barnes and Rick Barnes
Aida, Richie and Joshua