Mexico Can Change the World 'If...'

21 January 2012

MEXICO CITY — It was while sitting at the trendy Bertico Cafe in central Mexico City late last Tuesday night that I had a bit of a revelation; many of us in the United States have it all wrong when it comes to Mexico. And many Mexicans can't understand what some Americans think about Mexico, because from their perspective, Mexico is a potential answer to the world, not a potential disaster, teetering on the brink of anarchy.

After decades of adapting to the American western border states from the New York-area Atlantic coast where I was raised, my experience of Mexico has either been chaotic border towns, or the sleepy, sedate Yucatan peninsula while doing research on Mayan religious practices. The idea of “world changing” was not on my personal list of options for Mexico from my contact with them.

But it was now in Mexico City that I finally saw some light, the first-hand heart of Mexico. It was a surprisingly familiar matrix to what I'd grown up with in the United States and lived among in Europe. I became a believer, one might say, as I heard a young Mexican tell me his country could change the world – if given a chance.

This admittedly bizarre turnabout in conception of Mexico – bizarre for me near midnight in a Mexican coffee shop that Starbucks might want to emulate – came at the hand of a 21-year-old business student, Avraham, attending the University of Mexico. Avraham's father worked as a chemical engineer in New York State when Avraham was a toddler. Avraham's first language, then, was English before the family went on to live in other countries and finally returned to Mexico. It was here, ironically, the child then had to learn his “native” language, Spanish.

On top of this, Avraham holds a passport from Spain. His immersion in the Hispanic world in Europe along with his English speaking capabilities enables him to move about a huge cross-section of cultures on the planet. From his perspective, Mexico City was “addictive” in it's art, poetry, expression, compassion, commitment to the family and respect for the old.

“I have to get out of here because I'm “called” to the nations,” he said with a smile. “If I stay here too long, I won't want to leave. It's addictive. The sensitive art, the many museums, the great food, the creative music, the people. Everything. I love Mexico City.”

His statement seemed significant because, as an international traveller, Avraham is comfortable with different cultural mindsets and technology. As I looked around the up-to-date and comfy cafe, animated, and trendy-looking young people tapped out messages on iPads or laptops. Relaxed, smiling waitresses matched anyone I'd encountered in Seattle, Singapore, Los Angeles or London. The coffee was astonishingly good. The idea of a nation in crisis, on the verge of collapse seemed far, far, away.

“How is this happening?” I asked him, waving my hand towards the happy room. “Drug cartels are supposedly running your country. Kidnapping is common. Where is the sense of panic that should be here?”

“It's like everywhere else,” he said. “The newspapers and TV shout everyday how bad things are. At first you are shocked. Soon, people get used to it and they don't hear anymore.”

The “chance” Avraham was talking about was Christ. He was a translator for the international outreach “Mega-City” that came to Mexico City last year.

“In the past year, 10,000 people have come to Christ,” Avraham said, whose father finally became a pastor before he passed away a few years ago. “For a year, we have had outreach teams that went everywhere, even to the worst areas of the city. People were hungry to hear, hungry to change. They want to change. They want to know God. If people help them really know God, and teach them to live with the Holy Spirit in their hearts, Mexico will change the world. Mexicans will go to the nations with their art, their passion, their unique expression, their faith and commitment to the family and be a blessing to everyone they meet.”

Suddenly, it seemed clear. The culture of Mexico is covered, as is the best of any culture anywhere, by the spiritual darkness that seems to permeate, invade and disguise what God has made, twisting it beyond all recognition. American's “looking in,” from beyond Mexico's borders or on “the frontiers” only see through a glass dimly. Here, in its brilliance, is the central light and life of God's desire for Mexico; to be a blessing to the world. Of course that would be so, given who God is.

Avraham stopped and looked at me closely through his glasses.

“Could you tell this to your American friends?” he asked, holding his open hand towards me. “Tell them; pray for us; give us a chance; ask that the Holy Spirit will flood us, heal us, change us and Jesus will live in our hearts. Then we will change the world.”