Belinda Speaks

Hello to all of you out there in blog land. Today is the day that I have been moved to speak about a few things that have been matriculating in my heart and head. As most of you know and for those of you who do not, Billy is a recovering alcoholic and addict. He will soon have been home for two months, and the 6th of December he will have been clean and sober for six months. He attends AA meetings five nights a week. We live one day at a time. I am an active member of Al-Anon and thank God that He has created a place for hurt and sick people to find help. I am grateful for God, his mercy, and his grace.


We are losing more support starting in January 2008 and have lost our previous sponsor and countless other things as direct consequences of Billy's disease. These losses are not why I have decided to speak about me. Since this journey began, I have had to closely analyze my life and own illness as a co-dependent person. I was born into a very disfunctional family, and that carries its own set of problems. I married a man that had his DNA marked at birth. I have chosen not to live my life as a victim or blame anyone for what is happening to us now. It is just the way it is.



I do, however, have a few things to say about judgements that have been passed onto us. It seems some feel that we are now not apt for work in the kingdom. Who in this world is not plagued by some form of their own disfunction? Who in this world does not struggle with their own perception of who they are or hide behind a mask and pretend to be something they are not? Who in this world has got it all right? Who in this world has the right to make judgement calls on other people they do not even know or have a relationship with? What has happened to autonomy? Who in this world deserve complete forgiveness without any strings attached? I think it is called unconditional love. Who in this world has not sinned? How many have sinned and hide their iniquities in the closet? How many have set themselves up as judge and jury when they themselves should be sitting in the chair facing their own weakness and sin?


I am so glad that I know Jesus and the story of the woman confronted by a group of good citizens with stones in their hands ready to deal out judgement. Jesus said to them, "If any of you is without sin let him cast the first stone." Billy is the prodigal son with the robe and ring on his finger. He is a man that has been to hell and back again, and he knows what it is to be forgiven. God is already using him mightily in the lives of others. When you get to heaven, ask Brandon, Billy's young friend who died two weeks ago, who showed him about Jesus. I am a woman who still loves and forgives and lives one day at a time thanking God that I have been given insight into the lives of hurting, damaged people.


And there are those who think that we are not apt for work in the kingdom. I will be so bold as to put our mental health, spiritual walk, marriage, and family relationships up for display against any of yours and see who is healthier. Recovery is a daily job ... turning it all over and having complete dependency in God is true freedom. Knowing who I am, my sin, my weakness and knowing that God sees it all and stands next to me is liberating.


Tell me who does not have a favorite shirt that is torn and tacky but still uses it. Which of you does not have a favorite cup that is cracked, and yet you still drink from it? How many of you have a favorite ornament for your tree at Christmas that is old and ragged and still hang it because your child or grandchild made it ... is it still useful? Does it not still give you joy? That is who we are ... Billy and myself. People who are cracked, torn and beat up but still useful for God.


One more question. What about me, Belinda Moore? Am I not still worthy after 20 years on the mission field? After the sacrifices, the damage done to my own children, am I not still worthy of hire? Am I not a missionary?

Blessings Belinda "la pistolera"

People and Things Born of The Water

People Born of the Water
Georgina and Salvador were born of the water on this great day, and it also was the day that Billy arrived home. It was a very special day! I praise God for miracles,his great love, his mercy, and his patience. I have been so blessed by the friendship of these two people; and now that they are our brother and sister, it is so beautiful. Our relationship began years ago because of Pedro Marin who has been a part of the church in Mexico City for a very long time. Pedro and Gina are brother and sister. When the Pointons first arrived here in Lazaro Cardenas it was Gina and Salvador who helped them find their house and get settled in. I think they could probably write a very humorous book about all of the silly things we gringos do while learning to live in this place, especially me. God has used many people to bring them into his kingdom, and we are all so very blessed to be a part of the process.



Creatures Born of the Water and Sand

Last month Playa Azul celebrated the turtle. They have a festival every year to raise public awareness of the plight of the turtle. There are three classes of the seven types of sea turtles in Mexico that make their nesting at the beaches of Michoacán: the Golfina, the Black and the Laúd. These turtles return to these same beaches every year to deposit their eggs where they were born. This miracalous event occurs annually between the months of October and March. Now if that isn't a God thing then what is?




Annual Mexico Missionary Retreat

This year we met in Zihuatanejo, Guererro. It was a time of renewing friendships, renewing the heart and soul and lots of play for the kids. Parents were worn out afterwards but it is always worth it. The most amazing things occured this time that I had not seen in other retreats...the kids... they are getting older now and making friends with the other kids from other mission points. The bonding was wonderful and if their parents stay here a few more years they will all probably be life long friends.

Ready Or Not Here I Come... Tagged by Marci.

I have been tagged by Marci Cheesbrough. Thank you Marci.

Here are the rules. 1)Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves. (2) People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. (3) At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. (4) Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

1. I love wild flowers.

2. I was bitten by a monkey when I was 8 years old.

3. I played the trombone...many, many, many years ago.

4. I marched in the inauguration of President Nixon... many many many years ago playing my trombone.

5. I have fired a machine gun...many, many, many years ago.

6. I feel in love with Zorro...many, many, many years ago....that is why I really live in Mexico...looking for him.

7. I remember seeing Elvis Presley on the Ed Sullivan show...many, many, many years ago.

8. I like to buy things in pairs so I am never without something...unless someone else does the shopping.

I tag Amanda Henderson... Toni Burns... Amanday Gray...

Rain Rain and More Rain

God's Gifts That Came With The Rain


It rained here for two weeks without stopping. I have always loved the rain, but I must say that I became sick and tired of it. I moved my bed three times, and finally I got smart and left it where it was. Trips to the bathroom at night were tricky. Have you ever tried to maneuver around four very large plastic dishpans in the middle of the floor that are catching the water dripping off the light bulb, and you can't turn the light on because the thing is shorted out due to the rain? And Billy's shoes have all changed colors...green!

Henriette did a lot of damage to the roads. I went to Caleta de Campos to make reservations for some friends at some bungalows. One place in the highway was completely gone, and a gas truck that had tried to cross the muddy hole was completely sunk up to the axle. It was as if the bottom of the road had disappeared.

On Sunday there were helicopters all around Playa Azul, and later that day I found out they were there to airlift some folks out of their village. The river was out of its banks, and they had no way to escape the rising water.

Today the ocean was two distinct colors, brown and blue. The rivers empty into the sea, and the currents carry the mud to some invisible wall, and there it seems to rest until it settles.

Just a side note about coastal living... I went into the pantry/storage room to get the flour for something, and I noticed that there was mold on the top of the storage canaster. I opened it up, and it was full of black mold. I began to check other things, and the whole wheat flour was full of tiny, tiny ants; and the powder sugar was as hard as a rock. I was talking to a friend about this, and she told me, "well, you only buy what you need for the day." Most people here live from day to day and just buy what they will use that day. I either have a lot of changes to make, or I need to get a really big freezer.

My Old Dog Isaac Died September 12, 2007

Most of you who read this blog have meet Isaac at one time or another. He departed from this place a few weeks ago, and Zeke and I are really sad. He was a good dog, and he loved to bite. He was like me, finding it a bit difficult to adjust to the change in our world.

I decided to get out for a while and take Zeke with me on a little outing. Zeke has not been a traveler or alone much until recently. He doesn't know how to jump into the back of the Nissan. So this morning I decided it was time to change this little detail, not being able to jump into the vehicle. My first tactic was to talk sweet to him. This did not accomplish the task. Ok. So then I put his collar and leash on and ran him towards the open door. He only got his front two paws in. Ok a little faster this time, and yank up on the choker collar.... no go. Still only his front two paws landed inside. The third time has to be the charm. I don't know what happened exactly, but when we made the run again he turned to the left just before we got to the Nissan and he knocked me down. As I was falling in slow motion to keep from killing my back side, Zeke realized I was going down and proceeded to help me by getting on top of me. I was tangled in the leash with a hundred pound dog on top of me, my feet in the air and my tail bone hollering, "you probably broke me you old woman." And then I got mad. As best I could, and still maintain what little dignity remained, I scraped myself off the pavement, found a stick and told that dog to get in or else. Only two paws landed inside, and I had to pick up his backside and push him in. Thank goodness that later on that day I finally got him to jump in of his own accord, however I do have a very sore left hip and tailbone. Do any of you remember Wheezer and her dog in the movie Steel Magnolias? I reminded myself of Wheezer.

Geckos

My problem with the nasty little pest has been resolved, but it has been a battle. The first thing I decided to do was close all of my windows and just use the fans. I spent one day with the windows closed and decided I could not take the stale air nor the sweat pouring off of my body by the buckets, even if it did keep the geckos out. My next tact was to fill a spray bottle with vinegar and wait for the noise. I became a very good shot with a spray bottle, but the problem after I knocked them off the wall or ceiling was catching them and throwing them outside. They could still run even though they were drugged with vinegar. Then a friend told me she uses those sticky, gooey mouse traps to catch them. Ahh, the perfect thing. So I made a trip to town, purchased several boxes and strategically placed them in the window sills. Then I closed the windows partially and waited. You have to do this at night. The next 3 nights I caught 10 geckos. (No, I did not kill them before I threw them into the trash. ) Roxana (my friend here in Playa Azul) told me they are like the bothersome neighbor, they always come back. I have to keep the sticky traps out at all times. At least for now, until someone invents a gecko trap, the problem is under control.

Church

God is blessing us with visitors to our group and on Sunday morning. Gina and Salvador are planning to be baptised next month. I am meeting a lot of people in Playa Azul. Many of them are active in their religious traditions. Today I was asked when I was going to start a group in our home. There is interest, and I am sure that God will lead us to those hearts that are searching for Jesus and something more than just religious tradition.

News From Mexico City and Our Personal Lives.

I have had some really wonderful news from Jacob and Amanda. The next church plant is about to take place in November. It has been a dream of ours for a very long time that the next congregation would be in Ecatepec. God has been leading us along that path for a very long time, and now it is about to become a reality. Billy and I have been so blessed in our lives to be used as church planters. We still pray, hope, and dream that this is still God's purpose for us. We are losing the majority of our support and sponsorship in October. We need your prayers, new supporters and a new sponsor. Please feel free to contact us with any questions and any help that you might be able to assist us with. God is good and has always provided for us.

We have been so blessed these last seven years with our present sponsor, but because of recent circumstances a new beginning is needed all around. We thank North Heights from the bottom of our hearts for their love, care, support, prayers and commitment to the Mexico City Mission Project. May God's richest blessings be on you as you continue to seek and save the lost in a new direction.

Prayer Requests:

• Our support and sponsorship
• New church plant In Ecatepec
• Billy's Continued Progress
• Families affected by addictions and alcohol that aren't getting any help
• New christians in Lazaro Cardenas and Mexico City
• New small group in our home in Playa Azul
• Our two new grandchildren /due in November 2007 and May 2008

Blessings to one and all,

Belinda and Billy Moore

Beach Living...It Ain't What You Think!

Welcome To My World

This is my first post for my new blog spot. As most of you know we now live on the Pacific coast in a little town called Playa Azul. It is located just north of Lázaro Cárdenas. We made the final move here in May. It has been a dream of Billy's for a long time to live on the coast. I must say at this point in the move that I am finding it a bit difficult to adjust to the changes. In Lubbock you have to learn to battle the dust...Mexico City the smog... and here it is the constant ocean breeze and bugs. The breeze is filled with salt; therefore, everything that is metal rusts and anything that is glass is constantly covered with the salt. The bugs, ants, and, mosquitoes are a world unto themselves. I left the windows down on the car to air it out and forgot to close them later. Hundreds of mosquitoes filled the floorboard. The companies that sell bug repellent are making a killing.... that must be an oxymoron. Oh, and the geckos or kissing lizards, as they are called because of the noise they make, are a real nuisance. Most folks count them as a blessing due to the fact that they eat insects. Not me... I hate them! They leave their poop everywhere. It reminds me of mice droppings, and I have not noticed that they make any difference in the amount of insects that are in the house.

Geckos are small to average sized lizards belonging to the family Gekkonidae which are found in warm climates throughout the world. Geckos are unique among lizards in their vocalizations, making chirping sounds in social interactions with other geckos. The name stems from the Malay word gekoq, imitiative of its cry. Geckos are unusual in other respects as well. Most geckos have no eyelids and instead have a transparent membrane which they lick to clean. (Yuck!) (Online Winnipeg Dictionary, geckos.)

Besides all of that it has been raining for days, and the house we have rented is like a sieve upstairs. I have buckets trying to catch all of the water. At least the tile and cement floors are not affected by the water, except they become very, very slick. Adah fell several times when she was here.

We have coconut trees in the yard. Did you know that more people are killed by falling coconuts than by shark attacks? It is true. So I had someone come to cut the ripe coconuts before Adah and Noah came to visit. This guy, no bigger than a gecko (hahaha), shimmied up the tree with only a rope and a machete. In no time at all he had eliminated the possibility of a sudden death from falling coconuts.

Culture Shock

If any of you are wondering why Belinda is so funny (hahaha) negative, it is because I am in the middle of full-blown culture shock. I came to realize this while writing this blog. So bear with me while I work my way through this not so new phenomena. This shouldn't be happening to me. I have lived in this country 20 years, but never before at the edge of the ocean.

There are great things about living here, the people for one. It reminds me a lot of where I grew up, a small community where everyone knows one another and people are eager to help you out in a tight spot, and I have had a few. There is no traffic, no smog, chickens cackling in the mornings, cows crossing the road; and small talk of the banana, coconut and mango orchards, what veterinarian to call, and just everyday life stuff. The best part will be when the time comes to share Jesus with these people. We are praying for the right opportunity to start a small group in our home in Playa Azul. Next Sunday we are planning a cookout to invite friends for fun and fish. What else do you cook when you live at the edge of the ocean?

Church Stuff

God has blessed the church in Lázaro Cárdenas with four new souls recently. Rigo and Jessica were the first ones. They are married with a little girl and are both architects who started their own firm several years ago. Recently an ex-business partner (a lawyer) stole all of their capital and made them out to be the hired help in the court of law, so to speak. They have suffered great financial duress, but God has used this to bring them into the kingdom. They are blessed and moving on. Today during worship they were asking for prayers to be a good influence on their construction workers. God is good.

Alejandra and Valeria were baptised two weeks ago. They are members of Pedro Marin's family. Valeria is his niece and the first one in her immediate family to give her life to Jesus. Alejandra is a part of the family but not blood related. She has two daughters of her own. Her life is hard as she is a single mom. She has been a great friend to me and an inspiration due to her strong faith.

Thanks you for your prayers and love. God is good and faithful to those who give their hearts completely to him. Blessings to all. Belinda