Carolyn in Chiapas : YAXOQUINTELA’. Resting in The Lord

There is no way to capture the flavor or the deep ambiance of a village like this. I wish I could transport you here. Without the birds, the wind coming off the mountains, the sound of people laughing and chattering in their native language, roosters crowing, a horn blowing from a man with a cart selling some frozen things, there is no true way to do this. But maybe if you look at some photos, and close your eyes, you can imagine, and step back to a more tranquil time of life. There are thousands of these primitive villages around the world.

But i am here at this one, in the lowland jungle of Chiapas. Yaxoquintela’, or Yax for,short, means: “Green and blue water came.” it is comprised of less than 200people, many extended families, Tzeltal people. It is About 1 1/2 hours down from the clinic and Ocosingo.

There are no real roads here, just pathways thru the village and running from house to house. Yax sits snuggled in the arms of 2 huge mountain ranges. They are green and close. A beautiful river runs through. It is hot here, and humid, tho it is not yet hot season.

It is the village that Pablo grew up in, as this is where Wyckliffe Bible translators (some of Chiapas’ first missionaries) settled and ran their “jungle camp” to train missionaries to tell the good news of the Bible and to survive in the jungle while doing so! It was where Pastor Pablo learned English at an early age, and was inspired to go into the ministry. Many of Pablo’s family still live here, including his parents, brothers and sisters, nieces, nephews, etc. it is a hub for church activity. There is a large camp area that is used by the youth here and in town. Recently 400 young people and camped here for a week long conference.

Janet was born and raised in this village as a child of these first missionaries. She now lives in Holland and is re-connecting with her history and deciding how to incorporate this into the last third of her life. Hmmmm. Aren’t many of us trying to find peace and purpose during the last third of our lives?

She currently is teaching a Hebrew class to the pastors, while I work in the clinic in Ocosingo. She and I traveled here for 3 days to do some church business. Jan stayed behind to mind the store, feed Pablo and crew, and tend to the Feliciano clinic ...(more on that later...).

Janet and I just returned from an hours walk down a one lane dirt road , that runs through pastures and hills with cows, Brahma bulls, horses. We passed vaceros on horseback, a donkey carrying a heavy load, and campesinos taking a siesta in their wheelbarrows under a tree. We reached the river, and turned off into the jungle along a small path and down steeply over tree roots, that leads to an opening and a shallow, rocky part of the river. There are shallows, rocks, deep water, small rapids due to a moderate current. It is incredibly, and ruggedly beautiful. I imagine the Mayans here. Janet is familiar with the river from childhood, so she stumbled and dove in, enjoying the cool water and the challenge of the current and getting out. I have been in The river before but today I wimped out. Rough getting in and difficult to get out! Much as I love to swim, I don’t jump, hop, and scramble too well these days!

We are being hosted by Esther, daughter of Miguel and Julia, Pablos sister. Julia died a few years ago from an acute aneurysm that actually occurred down by the river. Miguel is a para medico and I have traveled and worked with him many times in the past, venturing to more remote villages to provide care. I am always humbled and grateful for the hospitality shown me. I could not survive in this environment without the love and care of so many friends.

Miguel built this towering Swiss Family Robinson structure. It is sorely out of place, but beautiful. There are 3 stories, each with a wonderful view. The rooms are meant only for sleeping, so that the extended family and visitors, like us, could sleep. The rooms contain only a hard slat bed with a thin mattress. Some rooms don't even have the bed. The stairs are steep, uneven, there is no water and no bathroom. The bano is across the yard. Esther Provides our food. Yesterday the electricity was out, so no lights. There is no WiFi in Yax. But it is lovely, comfortable, clean, and smells of new wood. Newly planted flowers are out front, as are wood chairs in the shade.

I am ever so grateful for all the lovely people who take us in, provide for us.

Church Sunday was sweet, also still a step back in time. Old hymns, quiet voices, a reverent atmosphere. Men on one side, women on the other. Though it is a Protestant church, the people get on their knees for confession. The service is in Tzeltal. Janet directed the children in a wonderful “Shalom” song. They were so excited and so cute to do this. Janet said her goodbyes as she will not pass this way for awhile. She spoke of being a stranger, several times in her life, and feeling the hands of Christ caring for her, as Jesus would have. The Sermon, unbeknownst to her ahead of time, was on the Good Samaritan...