the mission is now closed...

Sometimes you need to say, "Enough is enough!"  Sometimes it is time to say cue the finale and ed the show. Today is that day and I wanted to let all 12 of my dedicated readers know that.  Okay, that's a slight exaggeration, but you get the point. I started blogging in May of 2005 as a creative release and to have a place to share my sometimes outside of the box thoughts on life, God, politics and sports.  Now my life is going in another direction and I need to free up the time to make things fit. I'm still passionate about politics.  As recently as this weekend, I thought we should offer Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) who said on Saturday that Obamacare should be repealed because it "...shows a disregard for the will of the people" a deal.  Here's the deal I'd offer since he seems to believe it is the job of our political leaders to follow the will of the people. Pass the gun control initiative that was defeated in Congress.  The people overwhelmingly support it. Raise taxes on those making more than $150,000.00 a year.  Again, the people overwhelmingly support it. End all this talk and pass the debt limit extension and a continuing resolution to fund the government so even more people do not lose their jobs. Finally Mr. Stutzman, if you feel strongly that we should follow the will of the people regarding Obamacare, fine, repeal it, but then replace it with a single payer government backed system for all Americans since that would truly reflect the will of the people. Of course I am still passionate about God and in fact, my time serving in Mexico as a host receiver for short-term teams increases every year.  I will continue to write about that over at Notes from Dave, where my latest post is about American Exceptionalism and Mission.  I also send out a weekly Monday Mission Moment that you can subscribe to through my ministry, Adventures in Life. I still love sports and will continue to follow my teams, albeit not as fanatically and I will still be thinking and writing about life, just in another context.  After over 20 years of living, working and traveling in Mexico, I've decided to dedicate the majority of my writing time to that great country.  I'll be writing about the people, the culture, the art, the food and the beauty that can be found not just in the normal tourist areas, but off the trail as well. To that end, along with my good friend Joe Ramirez, who will providing most of our top level photography, I have started a new WordPress blog dedicated totally to my experiences in and around Mexico and her culture. It's up now, has a few posts and I'd love you to visit, give us a look.  If you like it, please take the next step to subscribe and recommend it to your family and friends, asking them to also subscribe.  We want to win a few awards next year for our work and no matter how good your blog is, you need readers, so please, come on over to Dave Miller's Mexico and follow me on the journey to My Mexico! Blessing to all of you.  I'll still be commenting here and there when something catches my fancy or gets my goat, but this will be my last post here at the mission. (All material posted on this blog is the sole property of Dave Miller (c) and represents his personal views.  This blog is in no way, nor has it ever been officially associated with Adventures in Life Ministry, for whom Dave has worked for over 20 years.)

Dinner in Oaxaca

One of the perks of serving in Mexico is that I get a chance to enjoy some great tacos. One of the places I always go when I am in Oaxaca in Taqueria El Primo. While they have lots of great options, perhaps my favorite is a plate of five tacos "al pastor." As is the custom here in the south, they are served with pork, onion, cilantro and pineapple. And yes, you read that right. Pineapple. Mixing the sweetness of the pineapple with the hot salsa makes for a wonderfully unique taste. You can have them on either corn of flour tortillas. The ones shown here are with corn tortillas, but honestly, I like mine with flour. Once you get your plate, you can then add whatever salsa, typically red or green, you desire, guacamole, pico de gallo, some lime and you're all set for the beginnings of a real taco feast. With a soda, the cost is about $5.00 and well worth it. But when you go, don't be a gringo and show up at 6:00pm. Get there after 9:00, sit and enjoy a soccer game with locals, relax, and talk with your friends. Remember, while dinner is about the food, life is about relationships. Take your time and enjoy it. Taqueria El Primo Calzada de la Republica Barrio Jalatlaco, Oaxaca Hat Tip to Joe Ramirez of MISSION Focused for the great photos.

In Celebration of Street Food

I know the foodies of the world may turn up their noses, but the reality is that the streets of a city often offer some of the best food around. No, you will generally not be getting some great presentation like you would at Four Seasons, but if you are even a little adventurous, let me tell you, the street's where it's at! Now while this is true in a city like Los Angeles, where I've had many a memorable meal from las loncheras, it is even more so in Mexico, where I spend almost half my life. Sadly, many people will never experience anything like a steaming plate of tacos right off the grill because they fear what might happen. Too bad. I still fondly recall the night my son Joseph, and friends Jose Luis and Cesar joined me for a night of tacos at El Flacco's in Guadalajara. An hour after arriving, we walked away from that little stand completely stuffed after a feast of 64 tacos! One of my favorite places for street food in Mexico is Tonalà, one of the cities that make up the greater Guadalajara area. On weekend nights, the main plaza is alive with people, excitement, and food. Tacos, bacon wrapped hot dogs, hamburgers with pineapple, tamales, pozolé and fresh fried potato chips are just a few of the offerings. Once you've had your main course, if you can pass by the tres leches cake booth, make your way to where they are serving bionicos for dessert. This amalgam of freshly cut fruit, nuts, honey and cream is the perfect way to top off your food tour of the main plaza in Tonalà. Another favorite of mine is Taqueria El Rodeo in Oaxaca. Located across the street from the ADO Central Bus Station in Barrio Jalatlaco, this place has some of the best alambre in Oaxaca. Thin strips of beef, bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms are all covered in melted quesillo, a wonderful Oaxaca cheese. Order a plate and Antonio, pictured below at his grill, gives you an order of ten tortillas so you can share with your friends. Now here's the beauty of Mexican food stands... your food is made when you order it, you can eat all you want, they are incredibly cheap, and they trust you to pay afterwards when you are all finished. Imagine that, you can run a taco tab! Looking for good food when you travel? Want to eat where the locals do? leave the five star places behind and hit the streets and the markets. Look for the crowds, follow your nose and be adventurous... you, and your stomach will be glad you did! Here's a few more photos, many shot by my friend Joe Ramirez from Mission Focused. Corn on the cob at one of the many carts in Oaxaca In front of Taqueria El Rodeo, Oaxaca One of the candy vendors in the market, Ocotlan, Oaxaca Here I am getting some tejate from a little market stand, Ocotlan, Oaxaca

The Mission... Oaxaca 2011

Many of my friends have been asking to see some pictures of our work in Mexico. You can view some great shots not only of our ministry, but the people and area of Oaxaca here. Brother Joe Ramirez and his team of photographers from The Rock Church in San Diego came and tirelessly shot picture after picture of what we were doing to document the work and help publicize our mission. I have written about how his specific ministry can make an impact on people at my Adventures in Life Ministry blog, "notes from dave..." Check it out. In the meantime, here are a few pictures from my time in Oaxaca. here I am waiting for a glass of the aztec drink, tejate, with pastor chable hermanas julia, her daughter norma, and maria elena... they cooked all week for our group... our team of men, pastor jesus, and pastor americo and his family hermana julia heating up a batch of zapotec tlayudas on her comal see more of brother joe's photos and those of his team at MISSION Focused