“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2

No need for a Farmer’s Almanac here. It is common “knowledge” in our city that the triple digit heat will not continue past August 19th. Locals repeat this information in an “of course” manner as they look ahead for relief from the heat of summer. We were thankful that this year cooler weather came like clockwork.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” While we haven’t heard an equivalent version in our new language, we’ve observed that one way to a local’s heart in GM is to appreciate their cuisine. While some of the dishes are very difficult to pronounce, after just one bite, their unique flavors will win you over!

Our region is known for its beautiful hand-woven carpets.

“Soda here, ice cold soda!”  People pushing carts like this sell soda, water, and often ice cream.  I can’t wait until they offer hot pretzels and New York City hot dogs, but for now a cold drink on a hot day will have to do.

A door in our neighborhood is heavily decorated with signs. You don’t need to know the local language in order to understand the messages being communicated.

As we continue to learn about our new culture and language, please pray that our eyes and our ears will be open to the messages being communicated to us in subtle and not-so subtle ways.

Our city seems to be endlessly under construction. Just when you think a project is finished, a new one begins. Reminds me of the ongoing process of God’s beautiful work of sanctification in our lives–we are all works in progress!

Can you guess what this is?

We must feed it every time we take a trip to or from our 6th floor apartment. Yes, there is a pay elevator in our building. Each ride is equivalent to $0.02. However, the stairs are always free!!

Trash dumpsters in our city are plentiful, and after months of exposure to them, they blend into the scenery. We make daily stops as we grab our garbage on the way out of our building. After months of completing the daily mission, I began to notice items being placed around the dumpster in intentional ways. Bags of bread on the side, empty water bottles on the ground, and other containers out in the open. After more observation and witnessing neighbors collecting these items, the cultural system of “helping your neighbor” became more clear. My daily mission to the dumpster is more of a mission than I realized.

As we transferred trains, fast walking down the stairs, we heard the signal. The doors were about to close–we wouldn’t make it. But, something surprising happened. Two soldiers saw us, reached out, and stopped the doors from closing. Not only that, they held them for several seconds as we dashed the last few steps and entered.

How many people do you know who are asking questions, seeking–running towards the train? God is holding the door open, desiring that all will join Him, and He has invited us to be a part of His plan and their journey. Thank you, Lord! Let’s go!