Norris Family News

Two incredibly packed weeks

A few posts ago, Erika talked about how I am the one who does most of the the going out while she holds down the home and churns out the French Toast. Thankfully, we do get to spend a lot of time as a family here, spending most mornings and evenings together. Occasionally we are able to go into Mexico or join an outreach team together, and we do get to do a lot of work around the campus together. But the first two weeks of June I was essentially gone; greeting Erika as my head hit the pillow. I had the privilege of co-leading, with Kathy Hart, an outreach team from south Denver and went to Colorado ahead of time so I could spend the getting-to-know-each-other time with the team on the bus ride to Texas. Then, following the outreach, I rode the bus back to Colorado to do the debriefing training. Kathy would normally have done that part of the trip since she lives in Colorado. But this time she needed to stay at the House of Cornelius, so I did both ends of the trip.

Many years ago we read a biographical, romanticized, children's book about the 18th century evangelist, Jonathan Edwards. He and his wife had about a dozen children and were both involved in public speaking. Jonathan did most of the traveling, but his wife traveled sometimes too. The thing that stuck in my mind about the biography is how both of them always took one or more children with them on their travels. They did not want to waste all that travel time that could be spent building relationships with their children. So in that spirit I was able to rent a car and take Rosemary and Heather with me to Colorado a few days ahead of the outreach. We had a delightful drive, visited grandparents, hiked, and Rosemary and I colluded on a surprise, mountain tea party for Heather. What a delight!

That Saturday the girls and I joined the Mission Hills Church outreach and rode the bus from Denver to the House of Cornelius. Although not "required" it is so great to be able to spend the time with the team on the bus for a day. We do some training, play a great name game, and generally get to know one another. By the end of the day I know everyone's name and a bit about their lives. Our family really hit it off with the members of this team. Every team is unique and there are deep bonds of friendship that result. But in so many ways this team was like-minded with us. I felt like I was on a bus full of old friends. Of course there is always the factor of common suffering. The bus was an old one with a tired AC unit that could not keep up with the 105 degree El Paso/Juarez heat!

The week of ministry was awesome, and the family was able to join the team twice; once at Agua Viva and once at the Vino, Trigo, y Aciete Hogar de Niños orphanage. Being the team co-leader is a big responsibility and a great honor. We went to a new (to IFM) colonia and had many, complex activities that went very well. The team set up a hair washing station in a courtyard which at first seems odd. But it is really a wonderful way for the team women to interact with the neighborhood women in a Christ-like-foot-washing way. The operation takes a few minutes and feels really good. Meanwhile they get to talk and then pray afterwards. Meanwhile the team men had a well-attended men's bible study in a nearby room. The next day we went to Agua Viva where we had a glorious day hanging out with the men, playing games, and talking about the Kingdom. That place is such a delight. Then followed two days at the orphanage which were, in retrospect, overstuffed with activities; but glorious none-the-less. The team brought "speed stacks" cups for the game of cup stacking. We had never heard of it before, but apparently it's quite wide-spread. I'm sure it's on the way to becoming an Olympic event. It's far less obscure than curling! What a hit that was. Especially the older kids at the orphange really got into it and were really fast.

After the outreach I had the blessing of riding back to Colorado with the team and Daniel and Jeremy! On the return trip I did the debriefing training which is an extremely important part of the outreach; giving perspective to and advice for dealing with the team's coming reverse culture shock. The IFM leadership has put together many wise things over the years. The boys and I then spent the following day hiking for six hours in the Indian Peaks wilderness with my parents. Praise God for His awesome creation! The next day we rented another car from the Denver International Airport and drove to El Paso. Again, it was a delight to spend a relaxing day driving with and relating to my boys. Praise God!

--Thaine

Borderland Communication

On the 4th of July, we had the opportunity to drive to Granjas del Desierto to deliver some practical items and money to the Agua Viva men’s rehab. The men there are always very thankful for such help, and receive such gifts with typical quiet, respectful graciousness and prayer. This time, one of the pastors was laid up on the couch in the office, his suspicious looking foot wrapped in antiquated gauze, with fluid seeping out. One of the resident translators explained he had been bitten 3 days previous by a scorpion, black widow, or something else. Somehow they didn’t know what it was. He had been taken to the doctor and treated with some anti-venom, and was supposed to return for daily follow up. However, they were out of fuel, and he hadn’t made it to any other visits. He was in some pain, but explained that the swelling that had been up to his knee had receded. He did say the foot was turning darker colors, and was a little worried. On inspection, he had a two centimeter ulceration on the back of his foot, with some red-purple discoloration, swelling and warmth involving the whole forefoot. I marked the edge of the discoloration with a pen, so at his next doctor visit they would know if the signs of possible infection were increasing or decreasing, we gave him some Advil (the nearest pharmacy had only 12 pills!), Thaine prayed with him and spread the word to some individuals who knew him so they could pray, too. We supplemented the financial part of the gift as best we could, and hoped it would facilitate his medical care. Although it was tempting to get more involved in his medical care, that is often unwise unless one is going to be around on an ongoing basis. It was better that he follow up with his Juarez doc than for me to “put my oar in” and not be available. What a strange feeling, however, to drive away and feel so concerned that if things did not go well, this man could lose his foot. In America, we just don’t very often have to grapple with such a possibility.

Back at home, I continued to be concerned, and our family and others were praying for this pastor. After 48 hours, I just had to know if he got to the doctor and was improving, or continuing to go without medication he might need. We have some donated antibiotics that would be ideal. The only phone number Thaine had was for the Agua Viva organization in general. He told me to call it and ask for the number of “el rancho.” Making long distance phone calls to strangers in a foreign language is not very fun. I offered the opportunity to Thaine, who declined and left me the honor. It actually went pretty well, but the number I received (all 13 digits) was for a cell phone. For some reason it is very difficult to call cell phones in Juarez from this side of the border. I tried everything I could think of, and called two long term residents of the area for tips with no success. One friend proposed a bilingual Mexican pastor as an intermediary, but of course he couldn’t be reached. Finally we called our friends in Colonia San Francisco. If we call them on our internet based phone (an accursedly difficult service to use but cheap) it doesn’t cost them, then they could call Agua Viva for us, and we could call them back later for the update. They, of course, cannot call us. It was an exercise in logic. Both phone calls to our friends left me sweating and grasping for chocolate when it was all over; even though they are the kindest people imaginable, they speak only Spanish. Eventually we did get word that the man was definitely improving! We were so thankful for this news.

--Erika