Theresa and Steven standing at the marker for the tropic of Cancer on the return trip to Cd. Valles. This is defined as the parallel of latitude 23°27 north of the equator. The most northerly latitude at which the sun can shine directly overhead.
Do you remember the times when you squirmed and whooped while being held down and tickled until it hurt? Or in my case, usually it was a “horse bite”, or an “indian rub” – or often as not, having my thumb bent backwards towards my wrist – until the tickling or tortured skin or scalp burn or screaming thumb joint could no longer be endured and one called “uncle” to make it all stop.
On Monday night I called “uncle”.
After almost two weeks of working in preparing the tractor and trailer and waiting for promised help with Customs to bring them to Cd. Valles I hit the final closed door at the Mexican Customs in Reynosa on Monday night. I was told conclusively that I could not bring in a donated tractor or implements through the border in this way and would have to either work through the government import offices in Mexico City, or through a customs broker. If I should choose to work through a broker I would need to pay import taxes and duty on the tractor and implements as well as brokerage fees.
When I checked out the brokerage fees and import taxes and duties I was most likely looking at over $2000, and
Marker at tropic of Cancer
possibly upwards to $3000 dollars. This of course is ludicrous, and Theresa and I decided to pull the plug and head back to Cd. Valles and attempt the process again later on from Mexico rather than continuing to work from the border.
On Tuesday I hauled the trailer loaded with the tractor and implements back to Flame of Truth Ministries in Donna, Texas from a location where I had earlier brought it closer to the border in preparation for crossing. Then I turned around and did the same with the chipper. All are now stored at Donna in preparation for crossing as soon as we can get clearance from Mexico City.
This morning Theresa and I left Donna, Texas with a very overloaded van filled to the brim with gifts, 300 pounds of pinto beans, a 20 pound frozen turkey, personal effects, and much more. We prayed fervently for God’s favour, and favour with the customs agents as we crossed. I personally prayed desperately for a green light in the cross over, meaning that we would not have to have our vehicle inspected piece-by-piece at the border.
To my chagrin we got to the light and got the buzzer and a red light. Oh boy, now what! However, God was definitely with us, and the inspection was very simple and swift. We were given a cursory check and waved on our way.
At the second customs post we were simply asked if we had already been checked. “Yes sir”. Did we pay our duty there? “No sir, we were checked and simply told to continue”. “Proceed”.
Wow what an answer to prayer!
The rest of the journey was uneventful and one of the most pleasant for a long time. Theresa and I arrived in Cd. Valles in good time and in daylight. Thank you Lord for answered prayer.
My daughter Laura’s favourite restaurant, and one of which she can barely speak even today without salivating embarrassingly. Granted, this has much more to do with childhood memories and childhood hunger than the actual cuisine. Also, the ambiance of scurrying chickens, strutting turkeys and rooting pigs around the table helped enhance the childhood memories. I wonder if her appreciation of the menu would be as profuse today as it was when she first visited it many years ago.
Now we need to settle in and reorganize again. Theresa has been gone for almost six months and she needs to reacquaint herself with the work. I have been gone for about three weeks and there is much to take care of as well.
We will jump through the hoops and pursue the channels that are set up for the import of donated equipment through the Mexican government. Obreros Unidos para Cosechar under which we are bringing the tractor in is a Mexican registered non-profit, and we have a mountain of paperwork. Besides, agricultural equipment is not supposed to be taxed when it is brought into Mexico. But the Mexican customs agency has rarely been known to follow its own rules.
However, this is God’s tractor and God’s equipment and we need them to proceed with the work. So, I guess it is also God’s problem to get them here to where they are needed and not mine. We will rest in his faithfulness.
Theresa and I are back in Cd. Valles and encouraged in the Lord. Christmas is coming fast and furious, and we are far, far from ready. We wish each of you peace and joy as you prepare for the celebration of this Christmas season.
Blessings,
Steven and Theresa
