Tuesday, December 30, 2008

I'm Back

Hi!

Just wanted to let you all know I'm back in Mexico. Safe and Sound.

Right now we have a group from North Carolina with us. I already knew a couple on the team because they came over the summer and it's been fun to see them again and catch up. That's one thing I've been finding a lot of fun...seeing people again that I got to know a little bit over the summer.

This group is building a house right next to Iglesia Aposento Alto (Francisco's church). They've been doing a great job and getting it done very fast even though it's a relatively small group.

I'm very happy to be back in Mexico. When the group went to the construction site this morning us interns went to the Boys' Home to teach English. We could tell they didn't really want to have class. They never really do. So we just decided to play volleyball. They knew the rules pretty well. We all had different opinions on some calls but it was lots of fun. And a beautiful day. I have to say I am thoroughly appreciating the weather. It's been sunny and a high of 70 or 75. Just beautiful.

Well, we're off to dinner. Then to church at Aposento Alto.

Please just pray that I would continually grow more into Christ. That I can learn from His Word and apply it to my life. And the Holy Spirit would work mightily in my heart. Because I can't do it on my own. That's for sure!

Love you guys!!

ps. Thanks to all of you guys who are reading this humble little blog of mine. When I was home so many of you told me you were keeping up with my blog and praying for me when you look at my magnet. It surprised me and it means so much. So thank you! And keep it up!

Saturday, December 06, 2008

Hermana Sarita

In Spanish that means Sister Sarah. At church everyone calls each other brother and sister. And I freaking love it when they call me Sarita. I think it's my favorite nickname ever.

Roca Fuerte had our very first women's ministry meeting tonight. A woman there called me Hermana Sarita and it was funny because it was the first time she met me and was already calling me that but I think it's because she just heard Rosi call me Sarita and picked it up. Anyways, tonight went really well. I was really tired before I even got there and a small part of me hoped no one would show up so I could go home and go to sleep. But there were 8 women total. I'm not really a woman according to Mexican culture. Once you're married, you're an adult. That goes the same for guys. If you're 30 but not married you are still called a youth. I know. Crazy. Not a concept Americans (me included) can easily grasp.

Tonight, there was a "woman" who kind of blew my mind. She walked in with two kids in tow and sat next to me and I didn't think she could be much older than 19. Her name is Mary. We got to talking and I came to learn that she is 17 years old with a husband and two kids. A two year old and a one year old. Can you say wow! She was beautiful. But now I know why women look so much older and more mature than their actual age!

But I had a lot of fun tonight at the women's ministry meeting. We had coffee and cookies and just sat and talked. We went around and everyone shared a little and it was really cool to see a little into their lives. It's so hard for me to break down those walls at a service so this was really neat.

Pray for the women of Roca Fuerte to be bright lights for Christ in their homes and in the communtiy. That they would know their worth and power and purpose in Christ.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Micro Madness

So I have to take the Micro to and from Spanish class now. That means I take a bus to school. But they're not like the public bus transportation we have in the States. Have you ever heard of the short bus? For students with special needs. Well, here, there are hundreds of short buses painted white driving around all day. My first experience was yesterday. Granted, I'd been on the micro once before but I was with four other interns and a friend who lives here and he talked to everyone and did everything for us. So, yesterday was my first time by myself. I got on fine. No problem. I happily rode it for a good twenty minutes. Then it came time to get off. I forgot to tell you that the way you get on and off is different here too. To get on the micro, you just stand anywhere on the side of the street and they'll pull over to pick you up. There are no real bus stops. That goes the same for getting off. You can get off wherever you want. When you want to get off all you do is say "Bajan" which means something like stop and they'll pull over. So I said, "Bajan aqui, por favor" and I hear a teenage boy in the back repeat me. I'm sure because he was mimicking my accent. But it was kind of funny. Anyways, I'm slowly getting used it. One of my friends offered to give me a ride on his friend's horse so I didn't have to take the micro. I think I'll stick with the micro. :)

I spent all afternoon with Rosi yesterday. I took the micro to their house after class yesterday because Casey and Kourtney went to the States. Rosi and I made fish tacos, painted a wall in her house (purple!), and talked and laughed a lot. For some reason there were tons of flies in her house yesterday afternoon. They just covered the ceiling. So we got some big sheets of paper, rolled them up, lit them on fire and held them up to the ceiling so the flies would fly away and out the door. It was pretty nasty.

This Saturday, December 6th is our first women's ministry meeting at Roca Fuerte. Please pray for Rosi. I think she's pretty nervous. She really like working with kids but she has a harder time working with women older than her. I think because she's been hurt in the past. She told me yesterday that a woman from the neighborhood came up to her at church and told her that since Rosi is so you she doesn't have the wisdom or ability to teach anyone else anything and the woman said she didn't have anything to learn from Rosi. Rosi is 26. So you can pray for her. That God would give her love and wisdom in how to lead these women. That she would have confidence in the gifts God has given her and not doubt because of her age.

Monday, December 01, 2008

Missing Home

Today was hard.

It's the first day I've really been bored. Nothing to do.

We were supposed to go to the States so switched around my Spanish class schedule but it ended up that we couldn't go because the car we needed to take went into the shop on Saturday and isn't done yet.

And last night I was in a bad mood because I was just getting frustrated not being able to understand and speak Spanish. Sometimes I feel good about the level I'm at and then other times I just can't seem to get through a sentence. I spent all afternoon yesterday with Rosi, Ricardo and Perla. We went to visit a boy from Durango (the area Roca Fuerte is in) then we walked around Walmart and a little shopping mall, and got hamburgers and ate in the car infront of a convenience store. It was fun to spend so much time with them but I just got so frustrated by the end not being able to talk to them the way I want.

So that bad mood has carried over to today since I really didn't get to see anyone or do anything besides grocery shopping and studying Spanish. This whole sitting around thing has really made me miss home and friends and family.

I miss you guys and I love you. Please keep praying for me and my Spanish and just living here in another culture and new people.