Is it Safe?

It has been a couple years now and the violence in Tijuana is not letting up and at times it seems to only get worse. There have been many questions to us in the regards of it being safe for groups to come down, or how it has affected the groups that come down and even us missionaries compare notes as to what we have heard. We hear of meetings that go on and decisions made and how some groups and individuals have stopped coming due to the violence in TJ. What I want to share with you is a letter that I receive from one of our dear Interns, and mind you now, she was not planing a trip or bringing a group, and this is the first letter of this kind that we have received —-EVER!

Sarah writes–”Hey, so I was reading the paper this morning and I read this really disturbing article about drug related violence and killings going on in Tijuana, and about how people have been targeted who aren’t even part of the drug trade. I just wanted to make sure that you guys are doing ok! I know that when I was an intern there was an RLM couple who worked out of Tijuana, and that you and Debbie go through there a lot. Anyways, I just wanted to check in and let you guys know that I’m praying for your safety!!

Love,
Sarah, tu hija de Mexico”

Most of us live here in Mexico knowing of what is going on, but we conduct our lives and live day to day as Christ would have us live. Debbie takes her walks every morning with the Dogs, I drive all over town, and we even BBQ out on our patio. I guess it just puzzles me why it is too dangerous for some to come down, but there is never the though that we live here 24/7, and no one really ever calls or writes to just see—-If we are OK.

This is not to say that we ignore what is going on, it’s just to say that we listen enough to know where most of the problems seem to be. One can not take the problems in TJ light heatedly or think that we a metal barrier around us, well, spiritually we do, and we have the best protection there is, the blood of Christ. But, this does not mean that a stray bullet will never find it’s way to us, or we become victims of a kid napping. I think we at times need to make a decision, do we want to stay in the boat, or get out and walkon the water—”You mean we should take a RISK when we come to Mexico?”. Anytime to you leave your comfort zone you take some kind of risk! And, you should always look at Missions and Short term missions as a serious thing and know that yea, there is a risk. I think too many times people can load up the Vans, SUV’s and Suberban’s and zoom accross the boarder without really thinking of what it means to “Cross an International Boarder”. All countries do not play by the same rules—-how many of you know that in Mexico you are “Quilty until Proven Innocent”? Risk, yes, Peter took his risk when he got out of the boat, so we all need to ask the question–”Is it worth the RisK?” I guess it depends on what you think the risk is.

So yea, we are fine, working hard, taking walks, sometimes going to the movies, and we drive back and forth to San Diego,,,,we just pay attention, drive careful, and travel to and from San Diego during the day. Thanks to all of you that pray for us, and Sarah,,,,,,thanks, we’re doing fine.