Through Deep Waters

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:..” Isaiah 43:2

If you have been keeping up the latest news in Mexico, you have heard of all the flooding caused by the heavy rains. The day following Edgar and Diana’s wedding in Tortuguero (Sunday morning), we woke up to a sight not seen there since 1982: The whole valley below us was completely flooded. The river had overflowed and the waters had extended farther than a kilometer. It was certainly an impressive sight; we were thankful that we were up high on the mountain top!

Andrew had planned to leave that morning, but there was no way we could get out. Trees were completely covered; cattle had been washed away; corn crops had been destroyed. I watched as Andrew’s sisters and brothers-in-law stared in disbelief at the valley below us.

A 57-year-old man from Tortuguero had been designated to watch over and guard the machinery down near the river, being used to build the new bridge. During the night, the sudden flooding took him by surprise. He climbed a palm tree nearby, but when he felt the tree swaying like it would break, he dove into the deep, rushing waters and swam and swam for hours. I got up around 4:00 a.m. and went to the bathroom, and I heard a yell from down in the valley, and then someone from up the mountain responded. (I didn’t think anything about it then.) But Andrew told me it was the guard yelling for help. At 6:00, as soon as it began to get daylight, the men in Tortuguero organized a rescue team, and went down and rescued the man. (His body was freezing, having lost his clothing in the water. Thank the Lord he was alive!)
The new bridge being built was nearly covered

The swinging bridge

Andrew told me, “It could be a week before we are able to get out, if it doesn’t continue to rain.” But on Monday morning, Magdalena came in and told Andrew that men were getting people across the waters in a canoe. She said that her daughter and son-in-law, and another niece were going to try to get out. When Andrew asked if I would like to try and get out, I told him I was afraid to cross the deep waters. He said, “If we wait until the water goes down, the mud could be up to our chests, and who knows how long it would take to get out?!” We had been told that the waters were at least 15 meters deep; and we would be crossing in a canoe being paddled by two men, with no life jackets available.

Last year, Andrew had bought a two-way radio set for his older brother, Jacobo; he lives about 20 miles down the highway toward Palenque, and the two-way radio reaches the village of Tortuguero. On Sunday, we were able to communicate with him. There had been severe floodings in other nearby villages, including where he lives. But Andrew asked him if he could call Mom and let her know what had happened, because she had been expecting us on Sunday. (Mom later told me that it was such a blessing that Jacobo had called her, because she had become worried when we didn’t come in on Sunday, and when she couldn’t get in touch with us on our cell phones.)

At about 11:00 on Monday morning, it was decided that we were going to try to get out. I packed our things, we had a meal with Elena and her family, and at 1:00 p.m., we headed out. Elena and her family and Magdalena and her family walked with us, helping to carry our things, but also to get a close look at how much of the valley had been flooded. From the time I knew we were going to leave, I began to pray, “Lord, please put Your angels around us.”

Ready for our trip Andrew and Deborah, prepared for the trip down the mountain

We walked down the mountain (the children once again riding the horse…and very thrilled!). The mud made the trail down the mountain incredibly slippery. We met two men who were coming up the mountain: “Señora, please be careful,” they said to me. “The mud makes the trail very dangerous!” We finally made it to level ground (I was so thankful that the horse had made it down the mountain safely with our children!). The mud was very deep. Andrew walked in front of me, leading the way, and helping me where it was extremely deep.

Starting down the mountain

We finally reached the point where the flooding began. Everyone stared in disbelief at only being able to see the tree tops. I have never seen anything quite like it. We waited for about 30 minutes, then we finally saw the canoe approaching.

The approaching canoe

We said our goodbyes and climbed into the canoe (6 adults and 4 children, plus the 2 row men). We had to kneel in the muddy canoe (there was a seat at the back of the canoe, where Andrew’s niece sat with our children and her little girl). I knelt right behind Andrew and held onto his belt. Fear gripped my heart as the canoe took off over the deep waters; but I began reciting in my mind, “What time I am afaid, I will trust in thee,” and “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them” over and over. I knew that the Lord was with us. A quiet calm came over me. I kept looking back at our children, excitedly exclaiming over getting to ride in a canoe, but completely unaware of the danger. The expert row men very confidently rowed and rowed and rowed. We finally reached the river (the water was all at the same level on the surface, but where the river started, the current was obviously stronger). The men began rowing upriver, while the current took us downriver. It seemed like forever, but I finally saw the front row man stick his oar down and it touched ground (his oar was nearly covered, but at least I knew we were nearly to shore!). Everyone was very quiet the whole ride (except when I’d yell back at the children to please be still so the canoe would not tip over!); but when we got to shore, we all exclaimed, “Thank the Lord!” We very gladly got out onto the shore; tears of relief and joy came to my eyes and I thanked the Lord over and over for keeping us safe.

We were all filthy and covered in mud. But no one cared what they looked like; we were just SO THANKFUL to be on dry land, and past the danger. We walked the short distance to María’s house (who didn’t have any running water, because the flooding had broken the main water pipe that takes water to the village) and bathed with water she had stored into big buckets. Andrew’s brother, Jacobo, and his wife, Alicia, came from their home 20 miles away to see if we had made it safely. I hugged Alicia and said, “We are so thankful to be here!” Jacobo was very relived that we had made it safely.
Thankful to be on dry ground! (Notice how muddy the bottom of my skirt is!)

An hour later we were on the road, headed back to San Cristóbal. We all sang hymns of praise most of the way home. “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” “Do You Know My Jesus?” “There Is Power in the Blood,” among others. What a great and powerful God we serve! He created the mountains and the rivers. He controls the rain; he causes the sun to shine; and He sent his angels to protect our family last Monday.

Mountain Wedding

On Friday, September 24, we traveled to Tortuguero ("place of turtles", translated) to attend the wedding of Edgar, one of Andrew’s nephews. We traveled for 5 hours on the main highway (toward Palenque) and then 25 minutes down a gravel road until we reached the home of Andrew’s oldest sister, María. We parked the car there and after a short visit with María and her daughter-in-law, Teresa, we began our walk that would take us up to Tortuguero. Our children with María, Andrew's oldest sister

Starting out on the trail

As soon as we began our walk, it began to rain. After waiting out the rain under a porch roof, we once again began our walk. I had been told that it had been raining, so we had brought rain boots for all of us to wear.

Waiting out the rain

We had to cross a swinging bridge (about 20 meters high) that takes you across a river that is over 100 meters wide and very deep. As soon as we crossed the swinging bridge, one of the men from Tortuguero met us with a horse to carry our children so they wouldn’t have to walk through the deep mud. Andrew and I walked behind the horse, eventually falling behind because of the deep mud caused by the rains. I was so thankful I had brought boots. At one point, the mud was nearly up to my knees! Two of Andrew’s nieces, Mirna and Inez, came down the mountain to help carry some of our things.

Descending the swinging bridge!

New bridge being built

Horse Ride!

This was the day after Deborah's 5th birthday. As Andrew picked her up and put her onto the horse, she said, "Daddy, this is my birthday present!"

After slipping and sliding through muddy trails for about 40 minutes, we arrived at the bottom of the mountain that we would climb. The trail that leads up the mountain is very rocky; it was so slippery that at times I had to pull myself up with the big rocks above me. It was beginning to get dark as we reached the top of the mountain. I was so thankful to have finally arrived.

Muddy trails!

The trail on to Madgalena’s house (Andrew’s second-oldest sister) was just as muddy. Soon we heard the excited shouts of our children, “Mommy! Daddy! You’re here!” After we were greeted by sisters, brothers-in-law, and many nieces and nephews, we were able to get out of our muddy clothes and take a bath. After having bathed the children and had a bath myself, I felt so much better. I was so tired! We were served delicious chicken soup and home-made tortillas.

Edgar is Elena’s son, Andrew’s 3rd sister. I remember Andrew telling me right after we got married that Elena was almost like a second mother to him. He said that when he was a small boy, every night, she would put him to bed and read the Bible to him by the light of the lantern. All of Andrew’s sisters (all 6 of them!) are just precious; but there is something special about Elena. She is quiet; and she radiates such a peaceful, sweet spirit. It is hard to describe. Even without being able to communicate well with her (she only speaks Ch’ol), I can tell she is a godly lady. And Edgar is a very sweet young man, as well. He is the oldest of three (Deonicio and Mirna are his siblings); and he is very responsible. He works with cattle and is a very hard worker. Last year, when Andrew had nose surgery in Villahermosa, Edgar rode a bus and stayed at the hospital and helped me with Andrew through the night after we got him home. (Because of his operation, Andrew was not able to get up by himself; he had to be lifted from his bed.) Edgar was a very big blessing to us during those days.
Edgar, the handsome groom

His bride, Diana, turned 16 in April. (Edgar is 22.) I saw her for the first time at the wedding. She has a beautiful smile and seems just as sweet as Edgar is. (When I found out he was getting married, I prayed, “Lord, help her to be a sweet and submissive helpmeet to him!” I feel like he deserves a good wife.) I was only with her for a very short time, but I know that she is a good girl and that she loves him.

I was told that Diana’s parents are Zapatista Rebels who live in Palenque, and when she was only 6 years old, they sent her to live with her sister in Tortuguero. So she sees her sister and her brother-in-law as her parents. Her sister and brother-in-law gave her away at the wedding. (The custom here is that both parents walk the bride down the aisle.)

Diana, the young bride

The wedding was to be at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. By the time I was up and dressed on Saturday morning, there were guests already at the groom’s house, having breakfast. The men had already been up for hours. They killed a cow and a pig and many chickens. There must have been over 200 people at Elena’s house (actually in her yard) eating from tables that had been brought from the church. The men always eat first, and then the women. At about 11:30, Edgar came over to Magdalena’s house (where we were staying) and asked Andrew if he could help him with his tie. I snapped some pictures of the handsome groom; then Andrew went to the bride’s house to take pictures of her.
The children and I walked down to the church. The walk to the church was very, very muddy…Deborah was carried and Little Andrew managed by himself. (I wore my rain boots and carried my shoes; once I was at the church, I changed in to my regular shoes.)
The custom in the Indian villages here is that the groom and his parents go to the bride’s house and accompany the bride and her parents (walking) to the church. All the church people go to the bride’s house and walk behind the bride and groom and their families, accompanied by a singing group who play their instruments and sing all the way from the bride’s house to the church.

The congregation following the bride and groom to the church

(Edgar and his mom and dad in the front)

The ceremony was beautiful. Although I did not understand, it was sweet to watch the pastor conduct the ceremony. Two decorated chairs had been placed below the platform for the couple, directly in front of and facing the pulpit, where they sat throughout the whole ceremony. After the sermon, the pastor called them to the platform where they knelt and the pastor prayed for them. He then told the groom he could remove the veil from the bride’s face, which he did; but there was no kiss. Afterwards, the pastor had the couple stand at the front of the church and one of the men held an offering basket; then the whole congregation walked past the couple, where they left money in the basket and hugged the bride and groom. (Some of the people had a gift that they left at the altar for the couple.)

The congregation then followed the couple to the groom’s house where we were served yet another meal. The last person finally left around 6:00 p.m.

It rained throughout the entire ceremony, and let up only when the couple walked to the house. It rained from then on, all afternoon long and throughout the night.
At about 9:00 p.m., the electricity went out. We had to light candles and use flashlights. Elena invited us down to her house for supper. I was eager to see the couple together after everyone had left. Edgar built a small room in his parents’ house, and that is where they will live. When we sat down to eat, Diana sweetly helped her mother-in-law serve everyone. She seemed very comfortable and she acted like she had been a part of the family for years. I caught Edgar looking at her several times, but never saw any show of affection between them. I asked Diana the next morning, “How does it feel to be married?” She responded with a beautiful, shy smile,

“Good. I am so happy!”

“Lord, please bless Edgar and Diana’s marriage. Please pour out your blessings on this special couple. May Your name be honored and glorified through their lives.”

As I think about the way this wedding was conducted, and the customs of the Indians in the village, I couldn’t help but think of us, the church, as the bride of Christ. I thought of the following Scripture verses:

Revelation 19:7,8: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

Revelation 21:2: “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared a bride adorned for her husband.”

Isaiah 61:10: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

I couldn’t help thinking of the parallel between the groom and his father going to get the bride, and of God the Father sending His Son to get His bride, the church… As Diana was preparing herself for her groom to come get her, so should we be ever ready, for we know not when our Lord will come. When Diana walked down the aisle, I could smell her perfume as she walked past our seats. She had a sweet smell about her; it makes me consider myself…is my spirit a sweet aroma before my Lord? Have I adorned myself with the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of my God of great price?

Are you ready? Are you watching and waiting? Do you anticipate the day when the Lord comes for His bride? “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Is that your earnest prayer?

May it be so in the heart of every Christian today.

Running Water, Bucket Baths, and Kettles

When we moved to San Antonio, we lived in a small room in the clinic which had served as an examining room (where Andrew had lived since he had begun working there). The room was only big enough for a twin bed and a small table.

Andrew's office

Our room

Before we got married, Andrew had told the villagers, “Now I can live anywhere, but after we get married, I will have to move to Chilón where we can rent a house.” (Chilón is a small town about 15 miles from San Antonio.) But the villagers wanted us to live in their village, so they all donated money to buy building material and began building our house. It took longer than we had anticipated to get the house built and ready, so we lived in that small room inside the clinic for about one year.

Pancake breakfast...made on our bed!!!

The room we lived in had no bathroom and no running water. Andrew had bought a little electric burner where I was able to cook our food; and we had to walk to the school (about 160 yards from our room…I counted once!) to shower and use the bathroom. I cannot complain; I look back on that first year of married life with very sweet and happy, happy memories!

We had a 5-gallon Igloo jug where we stored our water. I purified it with drops of Clorox (I had seen my mother do that all my life, until we were able to buy purified water in San Cristóbal). Those 5 gallons of water were used for washing hands, brushing teeth, and washing dishes. I’d fill a kettle of water and take our dishes outside and wash our dishes with the kettle. How did I do it? I just did! I had my little system, and it worked!

Don Manuel and Doña Anita were a couple who became very dear to us during the time we lived in San Antonio. Doña Anita was Andrew’s official helper (called his “Auxiliar” among the villagers). When Andrew was gone, she was in charge of giving out medications to the sick and she even learned to give shots. But she and Don Manuel were a very giving couple. Before we got married, Andrew took his meals at Doña Anita’s house; after we got married, she told me, “Anytime you need tortillas, come to my house and I will give them to you.” She made hand-made tortillas on a fire…yum, yum, delicious! We always had fresh, hot, hand-made tortillas to go with our meals. They were so good to us during the time we lived there.

She told us, “Any time you want to take your showers at my house, you are welcome to.” And occasionally, we did. Sometimes when the school teachers weren’t there, they locked the school up and we were not able to get into the school bathroom; or sometimes there was no running water at the school, and we’d shower at Doña Anita’s house. Their shower room was separate from the bathroom, and had no door…only a shower curtain. So Andrew would stand guard outside the shower while I showered.

Now, when I talk about showers, I mean there was no hot water! We’d shower with cold water! We’d just grit our teeth and shower as quickly as possible! On really cold days, we had an electric wire that we’d stick into a bucket of water and heat our water that way.

One night, we showered at Doña Anita’s house. Someone was talking to Andrew, so he wasn’t really watching the curtain! Suddenly, he said, “Watch it for the little lady,” (in English). I said, “What?!” He repeated, “Watch it for the little lady!” I looked and saw two little sandaled feet standing at the curtain; and when I looked up, I saw Doña Anita’s little 4-year-old niece, Deisy, peeking in at me!!! I shooed her away!
From that time on, Andrew more carefully guarded the curtain!!!

Doña Anita is the lady on the far left. Deisy is the little girl on the left. I climbed these steps that go to the roof to hang out our clothes.

I also washed our clothes, by hand, at Doña Anita’s. She had a big tank and a wash area and she graciously allowed me to wash our clothes there. I’d hang them up on a clothes line strung on top of her roof. There were times a sudden rain storm would come and I’d run over to Doña Anita’s, quickly climb on top of her roof and bring my clothes in!

After Little Andrew was born, we’d always take our showers at Doña Anita’s. That way, I could heat Little Andrew’s water on her stove.
The house the villagers built for us

It was July, 2003, when we finally moved into the house that the villagers had built for us. It was a rectangle building, made of boards, with a division in the middle. The right area was our livingroom-kitchen area; and the left area was our bedroom. They didn’t add a bathroom on until right before Deborah was born, in 2005; so for another 2 years, we lived in that house, but still had no running water. But I was so happy to have a larger living area, and thankful to actually be able to have a real stove and even have enough space for a refrigerator! We really enjoyed our home!

My kitchen area. Modern for the villagers. The Indian women were always so curious, and loved to stand at my window (behind me in the picture) and watch me cook.

So I continued to carry our clothes and eventually our dirty dishes over to Doña Anita’s to wash them. A few months later, the village men put a faucet right behind our house, so I was able to carry a little bench out back and wash my dishes out there. Little by little, our home became more comfortable for us.

Our livingroom area. Through the door was our bedroom

(See part of the hammock? That was Little Andrew's bed!)

In September, 2004, my dad said, “Anna, I want to buy you a washing machine.” I said, “Dad that is really sweet and generous of you, but I don’t have a place to put it!” He said, “Some day you will. And when you do, I want you to have one.” So he bought me a very nice washing machine, which we kept in San Cristóbal, and I used when we’d come on the weekends. A few months later, the village men said, “Dr. Andrew, I think we should add a bathroom on to your house.” They did, and my life was revolutionized. We could now use the bathroom there, I could bathe my babies without having to go to someone else’s house; and there was even enough space for my washing machine inside that bathroom; so I could now even wash our clothes AND our dishes in that bathroom! I felt like I was on top of the world!!!

The west side of our house where I hung our clothes out to dry. The little room off the back is the bathroom.

Now, under normal circumstances, one wouldn’t think I had “come up in this world.” To be put into that house from the beginning would have seemed like less than comfortable. But because of the circumstances in which we had lived before, we were so, so grateful and happy to be able to live in that house! And we DID live comfortably in that house until my husband was moved.

I remember one day, I was making our bed in our first little love nest, and I thought, “How nice it would be to have a bigger place to live!” Immediately, it was as if the Holy Spirit spoke to me, “Don’t become discontent. I am preparing you for your next step in life.” Looking back, I realized the Lord was teaching me a very valuable lesson. Be content with SUCH THINGS as ye have; if not, you won’t be content with the next thing that God will give you. Had I not been content in that small room where we started, I would not have been content in the board house the villagers sacrificed to provide for us. You’d think we had moved into a mansion when we were able to move into the house with a rough concrete floor, made of boards that had spaces between them (and where mice, snakes, and other animals were able to come in and make themselves at home!). And that’s another thing…Andrew became quite the expert mice killer! Beware, mice! What fun we had hunting and killing mice (well, I’d watch the hilarious spectacle from on top of the table, usually!!!) That’s a totally different good story for a different time… On three different occasions we found snakes in our house. One morning, I was brushing my hair at our dresser mirror, and I looked down and saw that a snake had shed its skin onto the leg of my dresser table!! (Oh, Yeah!) Before I’d lay Deborah in her baby bed, I had to take out each blanket and shake it, and then I’d take out the bottom to check for snakes. One morning I was reading my Bible at our dining table, and a baby opossum came running through our house…through one side, and quickly out the other! I don’t know who was more surprised and scared: me or the baby opossum!

But do you get what I’m saying? What is God preparing you for next? Don’t complain! Don’t become bitter at your circumstances. Because if you’re not happy now, you surely won’t be happy at the next place God takes you!

Lovely home in San Antonio

“…and be content with such things as ye have…”
Hebrews 13:5

While You Were Sleeping

It is my privilege as a mother to be able to pray for my children. Our Little Andrew Jonathan will be 7 in December, and Deborah Jolene will be 5 in September; it seems that time just flies by! I want to do all I can in my prayer life and in my personal life so God will put His hand of blessing on my little ones!

I wrote this poem last year. I hope it will encourage you to continue to pray faithfully for your children.

"Then were brought unto HIM little children, that HE should put HIS hands on them, and pray:

and the disciples rebuked them.

But JESUS said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto ME:

for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

And HE laid HIS hands on them, and departed thence."

Matthew 19:13-15

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

While you were still sleeping, my dear little one,
I got up out of bed, a little after dawn
So I could have time alone with my Lord
And search for wisdom found in His Word.

While you were still sleeping, of your surroundings unaware
Down on my knees I spent time in prayer
And I asked the Lord to keep you safe throughout the day
As you spent your day in fun and in play.
While you were still sleeping, smiling in your dreams
I prayed and asked God to use you as best to Him seems
And that at an early age He would call you to salvation
And that you’d keep yourself pure in time of temptation.

And while you were still sleeping, content in the warmth of your blanket
I smiled as I thought of you, with hands in your pockets
When you had come up to me, smiling so handsomely and said,
“Mommy, you’re the prettiest lady I’ve never seen,” and patted my head.
And I prayed for you, that God would give you a sweet, submissive wife,
And that she would love and obey you and be a blessing to your life.
I know you’re still small, and these things won’t be for a long time
But even now I pray that you would fulfill God’s sweet purpose divine.

And then you woke up, and we went throughout our day,
That included school, some chores, and, of course, lots of play
And I was reminded as I did my motherly duties in my daily routine
Of the things for which I’d prayed, even for things yet unseen.
And my Lord reminded me that if you come to fulfill the things for which I pray

I will have to be a godly example every moment, every day
Because your heart at this age is so very tender
And for you to see Jesus in me, my will I must surrender.

And so tonight, after you were tucked away in your cozy bed
I kissed you good night as I pushed the hair away from your forehead
And as I walked out of your bedroom I turned out the light
And I smiled as I thought about you, such a delight.
But then before I got into my own warm bed
In prayer I quietly bowed my head
And prayed for forgiveness for my sins of the day
For the things I had done, or for something I might have said.

“Dear Father in Heaven, please help me to remember
That if I’m not careful I might possibly hinder
The work that You want to do in the life of my child
Please never let me be used to plant seed of guile.

Please keep me from making a terrible mistake
Or from living a Christian life that is fake
So that my sweet little boy would want to imitate
Your Own Holy Son, and never forsake
The path that is godly and holy and right,
But would always walk in God’s wisdom and light.”
And again tomorrow, while you are still sleeping
I’ll wake up before you do, and continue speaking
To my Heavenly Father, and ask for His keeping
Over your life, and I’ll believe in the reaping
That will come from countless hours of asking and believing
That God’s promises one day I will be receiving.

.
And when you, my little one, are old enough to understand
Remember that God has something special for you planned
And you have a mother who has prayed for you so
And I’ll continue to pray as you continue to grow.


Written by
Mrs. Anna López
09/November/2009