When you first arrive here, there are many things that stand out as different. One of these is driving. Whether it's the multitude of VW Beetles still on the road, the glorietas (traffic circles), or the absence of signs telling what street you're on or what street you're crossing, few things match the US driving experience. This can be both fun and frustrating. It's fun (more for me than for Amy) because the US rules of absolutely right and wrong driving go out the window as everyone focuses on the basic driving goal – getting there. People do crazy things but are also prepared for everyone else doing crazy things, resulting in surprisingly few accidents. People change lanes or merge with only the narrowest of openings (or sometimes the lack of an opening altogether), the speed limit signs appear to be nothing more than roadside decorations, and you can sometimes fit 4 cars across on a 2 lane road. The frustrations come up when you don't know how to work within the system: you make a wrong turn, you miss a turn, you don't know how to cross multiple lanes to get out of the traffic circle, etc. – or you can't get around the various obstacles: the Datsun (lots of these) that can't get out of first gear in front of you, street vendors selling flowers in the middle of your lane, the unannounced road construction or the biggest obstacle of all: buses. When aggressive driving doesn't properly take obstacles into account, you have problems.

Saturday afternoon I was riding with my team leader, Larry, on the route back from speaking at a men's retreat. Suddenly a car coming from the other direction entered our lane as it tried to pass a bus. There was no chance to avoid an impact. Larry steered out of the way – as far as the foot-high concrete curbing allowed. The other car scraped down the side of ours (Larry's) and slammed head-on into the car behind us. Amazingly, no one was seriously injured. As we have analyzed the details of the wreck, we can't explain why no one was killed, and we are so grateful for the merciful providence that allowed us to get over just far enough to avoid a head-on collision. I believe the distance between life and death measured about 6 inches – had we been 6 inches to the left, one or all cars would have spun into the bus or turned sideways into the car behind us. Please praise God for his mercies to us. Your prayers mean so much to us, and they are effective. Please keep praying!

Here are some updates:

• WE HAVE A NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: As much as we have tried to avoid it, we are changing email addresses. We apologize for the hassle, but sbcglobal wasn't delivering a lot of our mail reliably. Please note the new address: steveamymexico@gmail.com. If you have sent us email that we haven't responded to, we probably didn't get it. Would you please re-send it to the new address? Also, please note the other updated contact information below.
• We have had a good resolution to the question of whether or not to take on the building we mentioned last month. The brother-in-law of one of our Mexican teammates is renting it and is going to try to start a church there. Please pray for us as we seek to see how the Lord wants us to support him.
• * The kids have made a good start at school. They have also started practicing fútbol (not football – fútbol). They are struggling some with language and culture. Please be praying for them.
• Amy has been able to get to know some of the ladies in our neighborhood and is starting some good friendships. Please pray for these relationships to grow and for us to be able to make contact with husbands as well.
• I am getting into a teaching schedule – a Sunday School class at one of our churches and a class on biblical interpretation for the developing leaders from another of our other churches, with other preaching/teaching times mixed in.
• It is really hard to get to know men in Mexico. They work awful hours, and it is rare that I am able to meet them when they are 'out and about' as they almost never are! Please pray for good opportunities to meet and get to know men in our neighborhood.

• September 16th is Mexico's Independence Day, with the major celebration occurring on the night of the 15th, commemorating the "grito" (shout) made by Miguel Hidalgo, calling Mexico to arms to fight for its independence from Spain in 1810.
• Lunch is at 2:30 or 3:00 in the afternoon, so you'd better eat a good breakfast.
• If the driver who is at fault does not have insurance, all the cars in an accident are impounded until all payment arrangements have been made (which can take a while).

Thank you for your continued prayers for Mexico, Guadalajara, and us. We love to hear from you! Please stay in touch.

In Christ Jesus,

Steve (for all the Robertsons)
steveamymexico@gmail.com or srobertson@mtwla.org
http://www.mtwla.org/people/srobertson.htm

Mailing Address for LETTERS ONLY -
packages/items of value will be rejected/stolen/or will cost us:
413 Interamerica Blvd, WH1
070-149
Laredo, TX 78045

Our phone # from the USA: 011-52-333-855-8824

MTW donations address: PO Box 116284, Atlanta, GA 30368-6284. Mark payments Robertson 016521