Frequently Asked Questions about the practical side of serving in Chiapas:
Sorry, you can't click on these to go to the answer, but at least you can see the list of questions. Answers are matched up below.Q: What was your biggest adjustment to moving to Ocosingo?
Q: As far as housing....would your replacements be moving into the same quarters you are in?
Q: Is it necessary to furnish the house?
Q: So what would you recommend we buy for the house?
Q: Tell me about the weather.
Q: Does the house come with the dog?
Q: How did you manage medical issues? Did you make use of a doctor, chiropractor or any other health care provider while in MX?
Q: When you were in need of meds, did you bring them from the states or make use of the pharmacy in MX?
Q: Have taken chloraquin for malaria prevention the whole 2 yrs you've been in MX?
Q: Have you gotten any water or food illnesses?
Q: How do you prevent water or food-borne illnesses?
Q: Do you do your food shopping at the Occosingo market or in Tuxtla?
Q: What about laundry?
Q: I do not speak Spanish & will have to learn. This is my biggest concern.
Q: Does John transport Pablo around in his own vehicle or in Pablo's?
Q: Since they may be away for a couple of days or more at a time, does not having a vehicle seem to matter to you?
Q: How long are John and Pablo's travels and where do they go?
Q: The job responsibilities are pretty clear for a man working closely with Pablo, but what about a woman?
Q: On your "Cultural Musts" you've painted a picture that seems kind of negative. Why do that?
Q: So with those negatives, why would we want to come?
Q: What advice do you have for anyone moving from the states to MX for ministry?
Q: What was your biggest adjustment to moving to Ocosingo?
A: From Ginny, "Overall, the adjustment has been easier than I was afraid it might be. Nevertheless, there's no question that there are differences and thus adjustments to be made. So, for me...
- Practically speaking, I'd say that it was a major adjustment to have to plan so far ahead and think so much about how to feed our family. It's NOT that it's hard, really! It's just that it was so different from what we'd been used to. I never grocery shopped before 5PM and often after 9PM. We enjoyed going out and occasionally getting take-out Chinese or pizza. But here, shopping needs to be done in the morning, requires visiting several places (if shopping locally) or making a visit to San Cristobal or Tuxtla.
- Culturally speaking, I have struggled with this being a culture that gossips yet almost never confronts issues head on. Frequently they do not plan far enough in advance to suit me. These are issues that are bugging me a lot right now, but it isn't a constant thing.
A: That would be our expectation, yes. The sooner our replacements follow us, the greater the likelihood of getting both levels. I'm not sure that you'd need or want both levels, but we have been grateful to have them both.
Q: Is it necessary to furnish the house?
A: There was some furniture here when we came, and we will be leaving everything we've purchased. That includes appliances (apartment-sized gas range, sm-mid-sized frig, microwave, toaster oven, instant-on gas water heater), TV, 2 bean bag chairs, soft rocker with ottoman, queen sized bed frame that we had made, mattress, twin-bed and mattress, large armoire with 4 large drawers and room to hang clothes, and multiple wooden tables and chairs of all sizes.
Q: So what would you recommend we buy for the house?
A: Soft furniture is very expensive here, so we didn't buy much. I'd recommend the purchase of a small chest freezer and very large cooler to be able to buy, transport and store frozen food from Sam's. Our freezer is tiny, and we're always having to borrow Pablo's giant cooler if we are buying very much at all.
Q: Tell me about the weather. We were told by our hosts in San Cristobal that the housing generally doesn't have heat. Is that so of this housing? If it, doesn't have heat, how do you stay warm? How cold does it get in the winter? (I froze a couple of nights when it was in the mid 30's). How hot does it get in the summer?
A: Ocosingo is considerably warmer than is San Cristobal or any of the highland villages like Tenango or Tsajala. I don't think the temp here ever gets below 50 but when we have a norte (a series of days with cold rain and clouds), the cement house gets cold and stays cold. We close the windows, wear sweatshirts & socks, and add extra blankets on the beds. It's really not bad at all. April & May are the hottest months, and in the 2-4PM hour, it can be brutal then. The downstairs part of our house is cooler than the upstairs because it gets less natural light, but that also makes it somewhat less desirable other times. We really get along pretty well with having a fan upstairs and down.
Q: Does it come with the dog?
A: We're sad to say that both Ray-Ray and Oreo are no longer with us. Not sure if they were stolen, killed or simply ran off. However, the house does come with about 20 other dogs! None of whom will require feeding, watering, walking -- nor will they poop in your house, try to come in your house, or tear up your belongings. BUT, for the most part they won't let you get near them either and sometimes they are so mangy you wouldn't want to. As much as I am a dog lover, I would not recommend bringing your own pet from home. We had planned to, changed our minds, and have been grateful every day. It was definitely the right decision.
Q: How did you manage medical issues? Did you make use of a doctor, chiropractor or any other health care provider while in MX?
A: We did check out to confirm the availability of medical clinics here if we needed one, but frankly, we've been very lucky. Between having easy access to online consultation with Bill Herring, making 2x/yr visits to the US, and the ease of getting meds here, we've had no need to go to any clinic. We get check-ups and see our dentist when we're on home visits. Jan has a short list of medical providers that she uses and we could access that list if needed. BTW, as much as we love Mexico, if we had anything at all that resembled a medical emergency, we would do everything possible to get stateside before seeking care unless it was absolutely unavoidable. That's simply because of having heard and seen too many horror stories.
Q: When you were in need of meds, did you bring them from the states or make use of the pharmacy in MX?
A: Both. There are a few things that we can't get here so we bring those from home (Lamisil, Benadryl capsules, that urinary tract anesthetic that turns your urine orange, and a few other things). We also buy our ibuprofen in the states, not because it's not available, but because you can only buy 25 or so at a time. Just a hassle. You only need a prescription here for amphetamines, sedatives and narcotic pain meds. Getting those is very, very challenging but not impossible. So on the rare occasion when we needed meds, we've been able to buy them at local pharmacies.
Q: Have taken chloraquin for malaria prevention the whole 2 yrs you've been in MX?
A: Funny you should ask. At first, John didn't want to take it, but he agreed that we'd follow Bill Herring's advice (btw, everyone here says there is no malaria in Mexico). Bill said we should take it, so we got a 1 yr. supply for everyone. We took it for a few months before becoming too slack. Our insurance wouldn't pay for that large a supply, so it was ridiculously expensive. If I had it to do over again, I'd probably not have bothered.
Q: Have you gotten any water or food illnesses?
A: Not really. We've all been very fortunate. Because John travels with Pablo, he gets more exposure to village cooking, and he frequently has diarrhea after such visits. It's always without pain, cramping or vomiting -- mostly just inconvenient. Holly is clearly the one most susceptible. She's had 3 bouts in the time we've been here but since we're together all the time and usually eating the same food, I think it's hard to know exactly what the culprit has been.
Q: How do you prevent water or food-borne illnesses?
A: We follow the same rules Jan uses in prepping food for groups and it appears that most of our church friends and others here do the same. That just means using purified water for everything, disinfecting produce in the iodine solution, cooking meat well, and using bleach in our rinse water for dishes.
Q: Do you do your food shopping at the Occosingo market or in Tuxtla?
A: Both. I buy almost all of my fresh produce in Ocosingo. I swore when we first came that I wouldn't buy meat here because it's not refrigerated or packaged. Almost immediately I had to do it though, and I have done so regularly without problems. It's mostly in our heads, and once we get over worrying about it, it's fine. Also, no one refrigerates their eggs here either. I buy meat early in the day, refrigerate immediately, use promptly and cook well. There's a supermarket (Chedraui) in San Cristobal that is the closest true grocery store, and it's pretty good. But if given the choice between shopping locally and driving far occasionally, I'd definitely go to Tuxtla 1x/month for several reasons....prices are better, meat is packaged and refrigerated, the selection is better, I can find more of the things I typically cook with, and I can pick up household, office supply and hardware kinds of things when we're there too. The Wal-Mart in Tuxtla is really very good, and the Sam's is pretty good but not as good as the ones in the States. The only things that I absolutely MUST go to Tuxtla to buy are cheeses (cheddar, monterrey jack, mozz, parmesan & cottage), frozen pizzas, frozen chicken breasts, good paper towels, large quantity products, and any other products fruits or veggies that I can't find locally (berries, romaine lettuce, kiwis, fresh mushrooms, sprouts, etc.) Having a small chest freezer would increase options tremendously. On the other hand, I've been spoiled by excellent produce and the leanest meat I've ever bought in my life.
Q: What about laundry?
A: We take ours to a local laundromat. Appliances are very expensive here, and we would have had to do major work on the house to handle the plumbing and electrical needs for a W&D. On the other hand, I'm just not Mexican enough to wash everything by hand and hang it on the line like everyone else here. At the laundromat, they wash, dry and fold and use their products for 12 pesos per kilo. If I want to use their machines and my products, it's 10 pesos per kilo. For me, that was no contest! We've shopped around and have found our favorite. They're clean, reliable, fast and convenient. It's an adjustment, but not a huge one. Definitely better than washing everything by hand to me.
Q: I do not speak Spanish & will have to learn. This is my biggest concern. You each had some Spanish language background. How is it for each of you to get around with the Spanish you know (shopping, interactions in church & ministries, etc)?
A: Your impression that we "each had some Spanish language background" does not apply to John or to me. Our daughters had some and have become pretty fluent. We, on the other hand, just tried another week at language school in February and have accepted that we'll never be fluent. So, we share your frustration about not picking up languages easily. That said, we're getting by okay. Certainly it's possible to fulfill many aspects of the ministry without Spanish because of working so closely with Pablo and Jan. More than 1/2 the year's activities involve receiving and hosting American groups, so it's no problem there. As for getting along with shopping, etc., we definitely have learned enough NOW to handle those things pretty well. Everyone at church knows that we don't speak Spanish well, and often when I am called upon to pray, I just pray in English. All those years of listening to Pablo explain why the Tzeltal bible translation was needed ("because worshiping in a foreign language feels like worshiping a foreign God") I know that God understands my English prayer! I ask for help when I need it, frequent the same produce & meat stands regularly, so they are patient, friendly and eager to help. I would also advise anyone coming to plan for the first 2-3 months (if at all possible) to be dedicated to language school --- even if you've been before. We liked Jovel much better than El Puente, btw. Not doing this really hurt us, and I've said that I would encourage anyone who follows us to GO THERE FIRST! Once you get here, there are frequently obstacles to going back. Go to San Cristobal, use the homestay program, and then practice, practice, practice once you get to Ocosingo. I'm sure if we had done that I would STILL have struggled though but I think it would have been easier. Pablo continues to feel strongly that Spanish fluency should not be considered a requirement to serve here, and we agree.
Q: Does John transport Pablo around in his own vehicle or in Pablo's?
A: We specifically bought an older, kinda beat up Toyota SUV for coming down here. John transports Pablo in our vehicle almost exclusively. There are others who transport him in the Durango, but when John drives him, they take our vehicle. Transporting Pablo to remote villages will remain an important component of this position.
Q: Since they may be away for a couple of days or more at a time, does not having a vehicle seem to matter to you?
A: It's hilarious that you mention this! Long story, but the short answer to your question about whether it matters to me to be without a car is ABSOLUTELY, but not as much as it did at first! There are many, many taxis here, and we have always felt safe using them. There are also times when they are more convenient because there are not enough parking places in Ocosingo. On the other hand, I feel like I've lost my freedom to "just get in the car and GO" when I don't have a car. I can handle it when they're gone for up to a week, but longer than that and I want a car!!!! The first time they were gone for several weeks in a row, they left me without a car. It was a disaster, and I'll never let it happen again! This is well-known now, and often when they leave, I have access to the Durango if I need it, thanks to Pablo! It's important to note that Jan does not share this need to have a car at all. She's just as happy walking to do her shopping in town and takes taxis for longer trips.
Q: How long are John and Pablo's travels and where do they go?
A: John frequently accompanies Pablo to remote villages for meetings, trainings and special events. These outings typically last from a few hours to a few days. When they take groups to villages during they school year, we don't go. Those trips last one week. Additionally, they have been making fund-raising and promotional tours in the states in the fall. Pablo has confirmed that he plans to continue making those multi-state, multi-week tours in the US in the future.
Q: The job responsibilities are pretty clear for a man working closely with Pablo, but what about a woman?
A: If you are bringing children with you, especially if you're planning to homeschool, being mom and teacher will be your primary role.
For a woman who is not coming as part of a couple, there are some very clear challenges here. Unfortunate, but true. It would be culturally inappropriate for Pablo to be accompanied about with a single female missionary as his companion. There can be much gossip here, and there's no point given them reason to gossip --- and trust me, they would! Additionally, women are not ordained here --- as pastors, elders or even deacons. That does not mean that a female pastor would never be able to preach, etc., but the opportunities would be limited and the scrutiny high.
For any woman who does not have responsibilities for children, it will still be important for her to define a primary responsibility for the months during which you don't have American groups. When groups are here, men work on the worksite with the groups. Women work closely with Jan. But when groups aren't here, a woman would still want to have a primary responsibility to which she devotes most of her attention during the week. For those with medical background, it could be related to the clinic once it's operational. I suspect that there will always be some English speaking docs/dentists/nurses involved, and you could represent a constant and a liaison for those planning to come to volunteer. It could be teaching English locally. There's a huge need, huge demand, low pay but delightful folks to work with. It would offer a good way for you to get to know people in the community besides those associated with the church. Prison ministry is a cool opportunity here, but the absence of Spanish skills really hurt my ability to contribute. But I know that, had I not been dealing with school, I could have easily joined Jan, Toni and Luisa 2x/week for prison visits.
Even if you are not bringing minor children with you but are coming as part of a couple, Pablo will always see your primary responsibility as being to create a safe, comfortable and low-stress environment for Patrick. That's because that's what he needs from Jan, so homemaking is well-appreciated here.
Q: On your "Cultural Musts" you've painted a picture that seems kind of negative. Why do that?
A: It's not that we want you to focus too much on the negatives, but it's very important that you know the realities. Some of those realities are tough, but they're not going away anytime soon. We feel like we owe it to you to give you everything up front, both positives AND negatives. Your recognition of the cultural norms and expectations of those in the church here will help you have a more successful ministry and more fulfilling experience of working and serving in Mexico.
Q: So with those negatives, why would we want to come?
A: All the reasons that are listed on the "Why" page in this website are still true. The needs are so great, and anything we can do to make a difference is a good thing. But service is only part of it. Living here is the other part. Make no mistake. We love it here! We love the people, the view, the experience of being in community with strong brothers & sisters in Christ, and the experience of working hand in hand with them to grow the kingdom of God here in Chiapas. In the words of a career missionary friend who counseled us during our discernment process, "I'm SO glad we didn't miss it!"
Q: What advice do you have for anyone moving from the states to MX for ministry?
A: Several things:
- Pray, pray, pray, and ask others to do the same. Share your sense of being called with your pastor, your session, your spiritual mentors and your family. Get their feedback. Do they feel you are suited for this kind of service? Pray, listen, talk, pray, listen, talk and pray some more!
- Define a handful of specific goals and stick to those primary goals. It can be very easy to be drawn in different directions. For me, I had to be very firm in saying that Maggie and Holly's homeschooling was my primary responsibility M-F during the day. Pablo and others have honored this very well. Our ministry goals have been clear from the start, (get the clinic built, host groups, communicate w/ partners in missions/ministry in the states, have a ministry of hospitality at the school, and be servants in response to immediate needs). Anyone who follows us is going to bring different gifts but the same spirit. Don't feel like you have to do everything we did or the same way we did it (except for maybe helping with groups, going with Pablo to villages & the states, and keeping up with the communication with the folks in the US....I think those things are absolutely essential!).
- Develop a fund-raising strategy for raising your support and consider working with PCUSA's Open Door Network. We can help give you an idea about budgeting based on our expenses. Budget for a certain amount of your funds to go towards ministry/charity needs and try to stay within it. There are always so many needs, and you have to set your own limits.
- Get a new term life insurance policy that will last the whole time you're here BEFORE you become a missionary living in a developing country!
- Learn how to do online banking if you don't already.
- Study your Spanish and go to language school for several weeks before coming to Ocosingo. We'd recommend Jovel Institute in San Cristobal.
- And ask every single question that you can think of. Knowledge really can reduce fear, so please ask us anything!
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