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Title: Mexico A Land of Builders
"He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and the rain to fall on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45.
If you were to ask a dozen differt people about their first impression of Mexico, I feel sure that you would get a dozen different answers. Some probably would complain that the land is dry and barren. If you were to arrive between September and April that is what you would find. For the rains do not come in the winter season. If you want to see Mexico, at least the central part of it, with her green mountains and fields as beautiful as any land you would care to visit, then you must come in the summer.
Others might complain that the houses and commercial buildings are not up to par with what we are used to. To understand the process of construction in Mexico one must dig deeper than the appearance of what the eye can see. This country is always in the process of construction. The houses and commercial buildings never seem to be quite finished. The young families find a small parcel of land some distance away from the center of the city. For those who must conserve every pesos, their first home is in a tent. When the time finally arrives that this piece of ground is theirs, the process of purchasing concrete, sand and gravel begins. After food and clothes are purchased, little remains for such trivals things as walls to protect the family from the winds and a concrete roof to shed the soaking rains in the summer. The process may last for years or even generations to come. Slowly but surely the process continues.The footers are poured deep in the ground where the foundation will last for centuries. The footer, walls and roofs are all tied together with rebar and concrete. From the beginning the house is so constructed that a second and even a third story might be added. The people have learned well of the lessons from the past when earthquakes have torn the ground apart and brought death to their ancestors. Assetically their homes may not look as pleasing to tour eyes, but when the superfically homes of their neighbors to the north have long ago melted into the earth - leaving not a trace of them to find - the children of Mexico will still be taking the advantage of the labor of their ancesters from centuries before them. One would expect no less from these humble folks, for these are the people who built great cities eons ago, with their towering edifaces, that still becon the traveling to investigate the prowness of the ancient builder.
Brick by brick their homes begin to rise from this ancient volcanic land. Soon walls are up on the two to four room house. The tent may become a roof until money is suffieient to buy concrete for the construction of a more permanant covering.
Finished? Not hardly. The wait might be years. But sooner or later the second story is added to the first. The progress on the house never seems to stop.
If the owner dies before he is finished his children, the wife's second husband, or the next owner will continue the process.
For the poor these humble shells are built some distance from the center of the town where the land is more affordable. Slowly but surely the mega cities spread ever outward. And what had once been a worthless piece of property now becomes and essential part of the city with paved streets, electricity, phone lines, water, sewage etc and etc. Gradually the life of the humble worker is made more bearable and the fruits of their labors are enjoyed.
It may be that the trival improvements such as plastering and painting may have to wait. But with the heart the house in place, the masonary makes for a cool environment in the summer and a warm one, when winds bring the cold air of winter. Close the windows and doors and the house becomes a snug refuge from the labors and cares of the day. A man's house becomes his home. Or could it possible still be true that his house is surely his castle. Or as the Mexican would say "su casa hogar" or your house is your home. Children are born, old people are cared for and life goes on.
But thinking folks know that any house is only made a home by those who live within. The house only speaks to us of the stubborn spirit of man that refuses to give up and plans well for the future of those to follow after him. No man can know what the centuries to come may bring. I have a suspicion that this land that becons to us from past milliniums will stand itself in good stead. For its people refuse to give up. What can not be accomplished today will wait until tomarrow. There is always manana. People may come and people may go but Mexico still remains and will continue to do so as long as its people refuse to quit, and keep pushing forward one day at a time.
"Viva Mexico" and Dios biendice tu.
"Long live Mexico, God bless you."