I can’t believe I get to live in Mexico! As I write this (11:00 PM), I can hear mariachis in the distance. Not too distant. I wonder how Terri can sleep through it. We had tacos tonight at one of those little stands the mission trip coordinators warn you to avoid. It’s operated by our friends Jose Luis Ortega and his wife Socorro. They are Roman Catholic. They do not know the Lord. A couple of months ago, they invited us to their son’s wedding at their church and to the reception (fiesta) following. It is a big deal for a gringo to be invited to such an occasion.
Last night a friend took us down to the plaza where there was a big festival celebrating Revolution Day. We were eating pozole and tamales at an open air place when a lady and her little boy sat down at the community style table next to us. I asked her permission and gave her son a tract and then gave her a real nice copy of the Gospel of John. These are provided by my good buddy, Mike Due, Coordinator for Operation Go Mexico for Southern Baptists of Texas. You would have thought I had just bought their supper, they were so appreciative. After awhile, we noticed people gathering around waiting for a place to sit, so we finished up and gave them our seats. I gave the first man a copy of the Gospel as I was getting up. I looked backed and the entire table, which had filled up now, was looking at the booklet and oohing and aahing over it like it was a newborn baby. So I walked backed over to the table and handed everyone there the most precious gift they had ever received; at least that’s the way they treated it. One man looked up at me and through a toothy grin said, “Que bonita mensaje!”
Translated, that would be, “What a pretty message!” Never thought about it quite like that before. The Story of Jesus. A beautiful message. Si, Senor, it certainly is.
People may wonder why I would want to be an evangelist in Mexico. Genuinely concerned friends have asked, “How’s your schedule looking?” I guess meaning do you have any “revival” meetings booked? After all, that’s what evangelists do. And that’s how evangelists make a living. And you can’t schedule many meetings in the states while living in Mexico. I truly do appreciate their concern. I love to preach. I’m called to preach. I can’t preach yet in Spanish. But if you understand what it means to have the heart of an evangelist and if you could see the gratitude in the eyes of folks when they are handed a simple gift, you would understand why I thank God every day that I get to live in Mexico. And why I thank God for folks like you who help me do what I’ve been called to do.
In the love of Christ,
Dan and Terri Grindstaff