My New House

It looks like I spoke a little too soon. I won't be coming home next Tuesday like I thought I might need to. Which is a sigh of relief. I'm very tired from this summer but not tired of Mexico. I'm surprised I'm not tired of this place.

I translated the story for the kids today. I really enjoy translating. Especially translating Bible stories or testimonies because when I'm speaking truth--deep, loving truth--that comes from the what God has done in peoples' lives, I get this feeling from the inside. It just makes me smile. It's this good, whole feeling. It's beautiful. The Holy Spirit is absolutely right there with me as I translate in the ministries here.

The reason I was thinking I might need to come home next Tuesday is because that's the day the last two interns leave from here. And I'm not about to live in Mexico by myself. Since I came back in November, Rosi and I always joke about them adding a room to the house for me. Well, all that joking will be a reality next Tuesday night. This summer, Rosi and Ricardo were built an addition onto their home which allows them more space for bedrooms. So Perla (Rosi's 16-year-old sister) and I will be staying in one of those added rooms. This will not be all fun and games. I thought I've had it rough up to this point. At their house, there is no running water. Which makes a whole lot of things harder to do. Shower, flush the toilet, do laundry, do dishes, cook, and you could probably think of more. Before the addition was added, they were living in a 16'x25' house with two bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen and living room. With the addition it's double the size. Perla and I will have a room that's about 10'x10' or a little more.

Here are some pics of the fam around the house. You can't see much but it gives you an idea.

This is Isaac inside the house.

This is Isai infront of the house.The whole fam in the living room.

This is Perla who I'll be sharing the room with. I love her!

Marriage Worthy Food

Here, there's a common saying that if you know how to cook, you're ready to get married. I've been told I'm ready to get married a number of times!

Things I've been taught to cook since being in Mexico (get ready, this list is long!)

• burritos
• carne asada
• enchiladas
• chiles rellenos
• flautas
• pozole
• tostadasmexican rice (here it's just called rice)
• refried beans
• empanadas
• horchata (drink made from rice)
• jamaica (drink made from dried flowers)
• champurrada (drink made from corn flour, milk & chocolate)
• fish tacos
• lots of different salsas
• homemade corn & flour tortillas
• nopales (a type of cactus)

The list goes on. I just wanted to share my Mexican culinary skills with you.

Are you impressed?

So if you're in the mood for some authentic Mexican food, call me up. We can make a day of it.

A Kevinese Proverb

It's not about not doing what everyone else is doing.

It's about doing what no one else is doing.

This thought is thanks to my new friend, Kevin. He interned with us for six weeks this summer. And I wanted to share that with you.

Mild? Hot? Or Spicy!?

I sit here and think about how little time I have left. I haven't let myself think about that yet. But it's coming so much sooner than I thought. I think I might leave next weekend. Next weekend. I haven't even told anyone that yet because it's just so unreal. This makes me so sad. But I have to remember I am the clay. And I have a Potter who knows what He's doing. I would love it if God brought me back here in a few months. Maybe six. Because I do really want to go home to see family and friends. I miss you all so much. And to go to Jamba Juice. To be in Vegas again with the beautiful city lights. To see the new building South Hills will be moving into. To share what God has done in me the past year.

But I don't want to stay there. I get too wrapped up in myself. I can't understand what it is to depend on God.

Not that I have it all together here. And I still have it really easy. But there's nothing I can call my own. Just my clothes. And honestly, it is such a blessing to me. To not own anything and to know that all of this is just lent to me right now. The bed I sleep in. The car I drive. The room I live in. The food in the fridge. The cell phone I use. Even the money I spend. All the money I have was given to me by supporters. People like you. I didn't earn any of it. It's all a gift. And I at home, I try to think about the stuff I have like that. My paychecks. My car. My house. But I still see it as being all mine. My brain just isn't big enough to realize it's still all God's. Whether I worked for it or not. I just don't want to live my whole life here acquiring more things. I still give. A bunch. But only if it's safe and doesn't effect my standard of living.

I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

Revelation 3:17-18

Again for the First Time

I feel like I've learned so much about God over the past year. And to me, they're huge things. But when I say them outloud, it sounds lame. Because I haven't really learned anything new about God. He hasn't changed. I've learned things that I've taught in Sunday school for years. But now, it's more than words. I've seen and experienced.

God is the Great Physician. In the States, I don't need God to be my Great Physician. If I get sick, I take some meds. If it gets worse I go to the doctor. Quick and easy. And I have the money to pay for it all. Here, we have to trust that God will heal. God can do things that no doctor can do. There was a man from Princeton, New Jersey who developed a tooth abscess on Monday. The left side of his face was so swollen it looked like he had a baseball stuck in the side of his mouth. We prayed. Not just once. Everytime we prayed (before breakfast, before construction, after construction, before lunch, just for fun...) we asked God to heal him. Wednesday rolled around and he was feeling better but still not too hot. We decided he needed to see the dentist but before he went, we prayed and put it in God's hands. He got to the dentist only to be told that the abscess had drained and was started to heal itself. There was nothing more the dentist could do.

God is the potter. I'm just a piece of clay. I can't do anything on my own. That is such a relief when I think about it. To know that God is shaping me. He knows what He's doing with my life and the end result will be beautiful. There are many stages in making a clay pot when it just looks so...not like a pot. The clay gets built up then torn down only to be built up again. But the whole time, the potter has an end goal in mind. And the clay has no say in the whole deal. What right does the clay have to say, "What do you think you're doing?" It's just some balled up mud. I trust with all I am that the Potter know what He's doing.

There's more. But I haven't processed it yet. Honestly, I'm a little scared to head back to the States. Comfortable. Selfish. Prosperous. Lazy. Lukewarm. I still am all of these things. Some more than others. And it's not that I think the United States is filled with awful people who are all going to Hell. Nothing like that at all. But I think in the States we're blinded. By politics, money, media, culture, "morality". The status quo. Within the church and without.

That was not the intention of this blog. I just wanted to tell you guys that I've fallen more in love with Jesus. And it's wonderful. I'd say you should try it. But it's nothing you can do. I had to realize I'm just a piece of clay, but I have a friend who knows what's up.

Bidi Bidi Bum Bum

Rosi had her baby!! Last night at 11:30. Perla (Rosi's little sister) texted me at 11 and told me she started having serious contractions. Rosi named her baby girl Viry. Pronounced BEE-dee. She says she named her after the Selena song from the 90's...Bidi Bidi Bum Bum. I don't know the real name of that song but I like it. Here are some pics. She's only about 15 hours old in these!

Having babies happens a lot different here as you'd probably guess. Yes, they have their babies in the hospital. But no one is allowed back with them when they're in there. They're in one big room while they're going through all the contractions and when one of the is finally dialated and ready to push that's when they take them away to have the baby in a separate room. And they don't hang around the hospital too long. Rosi was out of there by about 2 in the afternoon after just having the baby at midnight. She'll go back to the hospital tomorrow for a check up to make sure all is well.

Everyone is healthy, happy and tired.

Praise God for another beautiful baby girl He's made.