I’d like you to meet Michelle of Between Diapers and Dishes. She is a missionary to the deaf in Mexico…along with her husband and three children.
Recently, I interviewed Michelle:
1. Describe your typical day, breakfast to bedtime.
This has been my stumper, since we don’t have a typical day -or so it seems- from day to day. And most of my day is filled with your typical mother things. I wake to a baby that needs to be nursed. It’s my quiet time. Then I go about getting breakfast and the other two up and ready. My daughter goes to preschool so either I drive her or walk her to school that is up the hill.
On Tuesdays I have bible study with the deaf women in my home, on Fridays I meet with the other interpreter and the Deaf Pastor and practice the worship songs to be signed on Sunday. Otherwise I plan to do a load of laundry, hang it up, put it away, do dishes, start dinner, nurse, change diapers, respond to correspondence . . . you know, that kind of stuff.
Here’s the kicker, on a daily basis I can count on getting texted on my cell or having some deaf couple or woman come over for something. That’s where I say that no one day is like another. That’s our ministry-being available for the pastor and his family and the other deaf here in Ensenada.
Today is Friday. I took my daughter to school and came home to do sign practice. When that was done I picked up my daughter, and started lunch. Then deaf lady with her two small children showed up while I was nursing. She needed something. Later Pastor Carlos asked me if I could make a call about his computer that is at the shop. And then I received a call about a house for rent that another deaf family is looking at. Cool thing the lady I talked to was a christian as well. Still the price is probably too high for that family. Anyway, now we are at the 3-4pm hour of the day which is my notoriously difficult part of the day ’cause I am exhausted. It’s my “must have more coffee or I’m gonna pass out” time.
We pick up a little, we work on dinner and then it’s the bedtime routine - jamies, hugs, kisses and bed. It’s now 8pm and I can sit down and respond to e-mails. Maybe blog. Next month I’ll be working on our newsletter sometime in the day.
2. Is American Sign Language used in Mexico?
The school for the deaf children where I volunteered for 8 years and met my husband, Rancho Sordo Mudo, is mostly teaching American Sign Language (ASL) because the founders and most of the staff is from the USA. But that is changing, slowly. Back when the school was started Mexican Sign Language (LSM) was almost non-existent. But that is not the case now, so many of our deaf went to this school and know ASL but communicate and are learning LSM (Lenguaje de Senas Mexicana). The deaf from further south sign LSM.
3. Did you have to learn Spanish and a new sign language?
Yes
4. What was/has been your biggest culture shock?
Sign language is like learning a dance. Your body becomes used to moving a certain way. LSM moves different and I didn’t like it at all. There are so many things that are different, but I’m a sociologist at heart and have been pretty good at just absorbing it all. Still, to kiss your greeting took some getting used to and the way a grown woman - if considered your friend-will link arms with you and snuggle up.
5. How will you be celebrating Easter this year? Is Easter celebrated differently in Mexico? Any different traditions than American?
Well, this is where my husband and I, along with a few of our extended family are different then almost everyone I know. We don’t celebrate Easter. We generally don’t tell people that we don’t since often, if and when we do, people feel judged or criticized, and that is not our intention at all. It’s the whole fertility goddess holiday made “christian” thing and I’ve never been a morning person, plus not needing a particular day to celebrate and remember what Jesus did for us and that HE LIVES (hallelujah!) we abstain. Beth Moore once said that you can have an egg hunt and still love Jesus. Likewise you can abstain from Easter and still love Jesus too. Still it is typically when we and others get days free from stuff so we usually end up gathering as a family anyway . . . we have a family day. SO, is it different in Mexico? - well, I didn’t see as much of Easter egg hunts happening. But honestly, since we don’t get caught up in it - shamefully - I can’t say!
6. What is your favorite Mexican meal? Will you share a Mexican recipe with us? I am just learning to cook myself. The quesadilla is pretty simple and what we have for lunch almost every day tortilla, cheese and heat . . yum! But my favorite meal is juicy Machaca - almost any way you could dish it up! In a burrito, in eggs, all by itself with tortillas to sop the juices up . . . YUM YUM!
Beef Machaca
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2 tsp. Olive oil
- 3/4 lb. Beef, cooked and shredded (see Chef Larry’s Notes)
- 1/2 cup White onion, finely diced
- 1/2 tsp Garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup Green bell peppers, diced
- 1/2 tsp. Jalapeno pepper, seeded, finely diced
- 1/3 tsp. Ground Cumin
- 1/4 cup Tomato, diced
- 1/4 cup Tomato juice
- 1 tbsp. Cilantro, minced
- Salt to season
- Fresh ground pepper to season
Method
Beef Machaca can be made with boiled beef bottom or inside round or leftover roasted or grilled beef. Simply boil chunks of beef round in water for 1 1/2 - 2 hours, cool and shred the cooked beef for use in this recipe. The remaining beef stock can be utilized for soups and sauces and maybe frozen for future use.
Beef Machaca can also be used as a filling for tacos and burritos. Beef Machaca should juicy but not wet. The juice is usually cooked during the simmering process.
Prepare Beef Machaca by heating olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Add onions and peppers, cook until tender. Add shredded beef, cumin, cilantro, tomato and tomato juice. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat. Simmer for 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper
7. Name three specific needs for your family and three for your ministry. Any classroom materials needed?
For my family:
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a new computer or laptop (it’s shameful how old the one I’m using is)
- a family van
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a lot or a house that we could purchase to call our own (we’re renting right now)
For ministry:
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volunteers!
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El Bien y el Mal Bible stories in chronological order in comic book style for our deaf congregation. Put out by No Greater Joy ministries. An easy way to access the Bible for the deaf.
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a portable projector
8. Please share one specific prayer request.
My husband and I are supportive in our ministry. We support the Deaf pastor Carlos, and his family to minister to the deaf. His wife, and my very good friend, died suddenly, at 34 years old, in February leaving a 6 year old daughter and a 3 year old son. Everyone is all still adjusting to this shocking loss because she was very loved and a spiritual mentor to many deaf ladies.
9. When is the next time you will be on furlough? Do you speak at churches when on furlough? How can readers contact you if they are interested in having you at their church? Ah, furlough . . . we go and visit the churches that support us, and friends and family along the way every two years. This July we will be heading out to do such a trip. We will be driving to Northern California then to Minnesota, Missouri and back. We do a little presentation of our ministries, since it is a humble ministry, and would be very willing to share what we are doing at other churches. Just e-mail me at jesusknowssign at hotmail
10. What keeps you going on the hard days? Ah, the hard days. I’ve got your typical “hard days” with three small kids, diapers, dishes, potty training and ministry - but what makes a day particularity hard is the days we let doubt into our mists. Doubt deflates us. We think what we are doing isn’t “enough”, or it isn’t all that important, or we’re doing a poor job of it . . . suddenly we can’t move at all!
What gets us through is pushing all that aside and approaching God with a listening heart and ask the bottom line - “Are we where You want us?” “Are we obeying You?” “Are we doing what we understand You to be asking us to do?”
Again and again our spirit within us answers “yes, yes, yes” . . . OK, then, be it ever so humble, we will stand where God has placed us. If it is not enough by some one’s standards, it is still obedience, and if it is not an important job we are doing, it is still obedience - and that is what matters.
Really, that is all that matters and the world can fall away, abandon us, but we will go where God leads. We will do what God has placed before us. Period.
1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
