San Cristobal

After nearly 14 years, we're back in Chiapas! Brian has been here several times working with different translation teams. But this is the first time I've been back since we lived here from 1991-1995. And of course it's the first time for Rachel's since she wasn't born when we lived here.
It was with great excitement and anticipation that we flew from Mexico City to Tuxtla this past Sunday. After landing, we took a taxi to San Cristobal de Las Casas. When we lived here, it took at least 1 1/2 hours to get here from the airport. But because they built a new airport and a new road, the time has been cut dramatically to a little less than an hour. The route isn't nearly as "thrilling" either as the new road doesn't contain all of the hair pin curves that the old one did.
Once in San Cristobal, we made our way to what will be our home for the next 2 1/2 months. When we lived in Mexico nearly 20 years ago, the RCA owned a large home called the mission house. RCA missionaries that lived in remote areas stayed at the mission house periodically whenever they needed to do banking, shopping, laundry, attend meetings, etc. We stayed here many times during those years, and actually lived here our last few months in Chiapas in 1995. The RCA has since sold the house to a couple who used to manage the house, Jeff and Deb Feenstra. The Feenstra's were gracious enough to allow us to live here during our stay in Chiapas.
Even though it has been 14 years since we lived here, it immediately felt like we were back home. We're staying in the same bedrooms that we stayed in several times before. We love having a full kitchen and being able to cook meals again! Thank goodness there's also a washing machine and clothes lines. Not being able to do laundry consistently the past 2 1/2 months was a challenge.
As we continue to get settled in, we'll write more about the city of San Cristobal and the work that Brian will be involved in here in Chiapas. As always, thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers this year. Donna