Escalating Violence

Last year I blogged about the increasing drug-related violence in Monterrey (click here and here). The situation continues to spiral out of control. Today, CNN had a story on their website that highlighted the bloodiest battle between police and drug gangs. Although that specific incident happened far from here, we have seen a sudden increase in violence here in Monterrey. While all of last year, approximately 50 people died in this kind of violence, we have already shot past that number this year (no pun intended!). The violence is also spreading geographically in the metropolitan area. While the shootings used to occur almost exclusively in Monterrey proper or San Pedro (the ritzy area of town), that is no longer true. Recently several violent incidents have taken place right near our area. One shootout left two men dead. Mrs. Montes, the pastor's wife, woke up in the middle of the night and heard the shots. Another shootout happened just a few blocks from the university. Apparently, some man had kidnapped the children of drug-related person. He was chased by this man's associates. The chase ended in a shootout right near the university. The kidnapper escaped, only to be found shot to death the next day in another area of town.

While this kind of violence sounds spectacular and certainly is, daily life has not been greatly affected for the majority of people in Monterrey. However, our prayer is that the violence would decrease instead of increase. It would truly take divine intervention for this to happen. Although the new president has taken a harder stance against the drug cartels, they continue to kill with impunity. Several high-ranking police officers in the Monterrey area have been shot and killed. One police chief in a town near Monterrey was decapitated, and his head was left on the steps of the police station. The most discouraging fact is that not one single person has been arrested for these killings. Yet in all this, we remember that our Father is stronger and more powerful than any drug cartel. He controls where their bullets fly.