Three Michaels and a Pig

Friday, March 1, 2013

Michael Buckles at Tonina

Al Bowie Climbs Down the Face of Tonina

School Field Trip

Today, we went to Tonina. Tonina is the site of an incredible Mayan temple. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonina

Unlike archeological sites in the USA, at Tonina, visitors are able to get up close to the site. You actually climb the face of the temple, approximately 230 feet (think of a 23 story building).

The views are staggering.

On the way back, we stopped in Ocosingo, Chiapas, MX to pick up the next set of animals for Chacacal. We rode for two hours from Ocosingo to San Cris with a car sick pig and two turkey chicks in the van with us.

For those of you who have ever had trouble hailing a cab, imagine Eleazar with a pig in a bag (a pig in a poke?) and two turkeys in a box. He was trying to get from the farm to the restaurant where we met him for the ride back. He finally got a ride, not in a taxi, but the guys car broke down on the way back into Ocosingo. 

The first piglet for Chacacal

View from the top of Tonina

Remarkably, the smell was tolerable. We all got out in San Cris and bid the pig farewell.

We were supposed to get two pigs, however the male was castrated and they are looking for an "Abraham" hog who can father many generation. So they just got the gilt. If she survives the ride in the van to Chacacal, she will become the mother of many generations.

Tomorrow, we have a slow day in San Cris.

What is a missionary?

I think we all have an image of what a missionary is or should be.

Chuck Shawver with Piglet after 2 hrs in van

Chuck Shawver is one of American Baptist's hidden gems. Last week, he took a group of supporters of a new mission couple around for a week showing them the area in which Keith and Debbie Meyers will be working. He drove all day from Puebla to Tuxtla-Gutierrez to pick us up at the airport. The next day he drove us three plus hours to Chacacal. Then he preached a service and drove two electricians to Maravillas, another village about 30 minutes from Chacacal. He spent the week as gofer, translator, and driving back and forth between the villages. He made numerous trips into Simojovel and Tuxtla to pick up supplies.

Today, he took us to Tonina to visit the Mayan temple ruins and acted as photographer, driver, and tour guide. On the way back, he stopped at Ocosingo to pick up a pig and two turkeys that he will be taking to Chacacal tomorrow. Ocosingo is only two hours from San Cristobal de las Casas, so the pig road with us all the way back. (Some pigs, including Victoria, get car sick and throw up even when riding in a van.)

We had to rush into town because Chuck had to make sure he was able to get to the supply store to pick up electrical supplies to take to Maravillas after dropping off the pig and the turkeys.

His day tomorrow will be to get up early so that he can drive to Chacacal, about 3 1/2 hours, then on to Maravillas, then back to San Cristobal de las Casas so that he can take us to the airport early Sunday morning. From the airport, he will head back to Mexico City (12 hrs). He will drop of the two electricians on the way. Monday morning he has staff meeting at the seminary in Mexico City. Then the following week, he has another group coming in to work in Oaxaca.

Along the way, he is mentoring Eleazar, encouraging pastors, providing pastoral care to the family of a 20 something year old son who is dying. He is also looking for the missionaries who will come to Chiapas to continue the work when he and Ramona retire (3 years).

He is smiling, laughing, teasing, encouraging, listening. He is 1 Corinthians 13 in action.

I count myself blessed that he calls me his friend.