Love One Another

I teach the 3rd grade class every Sunday at South Hills and I sent this email to a parent of one of my students (names changed)...

Hi Jessica,

I have Jill in my 3rd grade class during second service every Sunday and I wanted to share something special that happened last Sunday. We were playing duck duck goose with all of the kids in the classroom. The kids started calling Billy silly names. He laughed at first then got really upset, put his head down into his hands, and began to cry. The rest of the kids in the circle scooted away from him. Joey, a high schooler who teacher the class with me, stood up from his spot in the circle and went to fill up the emptiness on one side of Ethan and patted him on the shoulder trying to comfort him. Then, Jill got up and sat on the other side of him and reprimanded the other kids in the circle for saying such surtful things and that they shouldn't do that because they wouldn't like it if someone did it to them. She remained next to him, the game went on, and he cheered up. It was a beautiful picture of standing up for the outcasts as God calls us to. You're doing something right with that girl. :) Thought you should know.

Peace

As I strolled through Anthropologie with some friends, I picked up a coffee table book. It was about African art. I only looked at it for a few minutes but one piece stuck out to me.


It's by an artist named Kester.

I read that African artists have collected 600,000 weapons in nine years. People exchange them for things such as sewing machines, building materials, and tools.


This reminds me of the verse


"They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3



It's beautiful.

Naive

I am so naïve to the world around me. I was talking to Dane about this yesterday and then it was brought up again when I was looking at the news online this morning. This weekend there was crazy flooding in Tennessee. And I had no idea it was even raining there. No idea. I know it’s not possible to know what is happening constantly all over the world. And that disconnect was much worse years ago when there was no such thing as a car, phone, tv, internet. I guess God made us to focus on those around us. To love our neighbors. Love them like we love ourselves. Which is a lot. I don’t think God intended us to know what is happening across the globe each day. He knew we would one day. But He created us to live in community. Together. Close knit. Sharing life with only the people whose homes you could walk to. Technology is great and useful but it’s not a necessity. For thousands of years people have lived without the daily technologies we depend on.

In Mexico, it was more like that. They depend on their neighbors when they don’t have transportation, food, money, childcare. Almost the entire church was made up of those who could walk there. Who lived in the community. But this tight group of people can also lead to a lot of drama. A lot of stress. Disagreements. Because when we have a disagreement with a friend or co-worker, we can go home. We can get away. They live right down the street and there is no way to escape. To let things air out and get a little breathing space.

I can’t say which is better. There is not one that is better. We are just different. With different lives. And cultures. But when I hear of the famine, genocide, disease, abuse, neglect all over the world I can’t help but feel guilty. Guilty that I don’t do more. That I don’t want to do more. I say a quick prayer, maybe even shed a tear, and then I get up and go to dinner with friends and forget all about it. But it’s not that I just don’t care about people hurting across the globe. I don’t care about my neighbors. About people living a short drive from my home. Because there is disease, hunger, murder, abuse, neglect right here in Vegas. And a lot of it.

Maybe if I start loving my neighbor like I love myself, I’ll start caring about that person so far away. Step by step.

The Man of My Dreams

I thought it was time for an update.

Not that there's much to update.

There's one thing I'm sure of...I don't want to live here in the States for a whole lot longer. Things are too easy here. I get too comfortable. I forget about God. Because I can pretty much do it all on my own. And that's what defines the American culture. I am strong. I am an individual. I can do it. On my own.

But when I look at the Bible...Adam was not good by himself. We were created to live in community. To be dependent on one another. And the Church...it's supposed to function like a body. My fingers can not type without the aide of my hands, arms, shoulders, eyes, brain, heart, lungs...If any part of my body fails...even my liver, which you don't consider needing just to type, but if my liver stops working, I stop working. Like the human body, we depend on one another.

This is very basic stuff and really just rambling but I forget it so easily. Because I can do so well on my own. And I don't know if that will ever change. Financially, will I ever have to depend on someone else? Physically? Spiritually? Emotionally? I'm a pretty stable person. Or at least I like to think I am. And deep down, I don't want to have to depend on someone else. Because I was raised in a place where it's important to be able to do it all on your own.

Back to an update...I don't think I'm moving away from the States until I have a husband. Because I don't think I could, or I don't want to live the rest of my life alone. There's a love and a bond that God created between a man and a woman that I want to experience. They were made for one another. And I don't think I'm strong enough to walk away from friends, family, and home without that person to walk with.

So you can pray that I find that man.

I hate planning

Hello all,

It's been a while and I don't even know who might still read this. But that's ok...This is really just me thinking in my own head. I like to write things down. So lately I've been thinking a lot about what's next for me. Right now, I'm a receptionist in the construction field. And I hate it. So I'm looking to see what's next.

Some thoughts have been

Substitute teacher
Start a small business in Mexico
Work with the ministry I was with for a year in Mexico again
Waitressing
Nursing

Nursing is at the top of my list right now. It requires going back to school for two years which is the only down side. And I'm not positive that I'll like it. But I'm going to look into what kind of schooling is offered around here and if I can swing going to school full-time and working full-time. And I've heard the nursing degree is tough. But I have some money saved up which I could use if I couldn't do both school and work.

It's looking pretty good.

Duck tacos, anyone?

Something silly I miss about Mexico are my ducks.

Nacho and Nacha.

I think about those ducks a lot because here at my mom's house, there are a bunch of ducks that live on the lake out back. They come up from the lake to my mom's back yard to eat whatever they eat from the grass. It makes me smile. To know someday those ducks in Mexico will look like them. If Perla doesn't kill them before they grow up. Which, if I'm honest, I wouldn't be too surprised by.

Maybe one day I'll see them again in Mexico. Or in Duck Heaven.


Amendment: Funny, but not really...Immediately after writing this, I checked my email to find this..."la nacha se murio el isai la piso solo queda nacho." Translation: "Nacha died. Isai stepped on her. It's just Nacho left." Sad news. But, like I said, I'm not surprised. Maybe they'll make duck tacos.

A Midwest Beauty

It's beautiful here at my mom's in Minnesota. Fall is starting to come around and I love the crunching and shuffling of the dry leaves under my feet.

These are some pics I took around the lake. I've had run ins with all sorts of creatures. Caterpillars, snakes, raspberries, dead mice and more. But all along I've enjoyed being surrounded by God's creations. It's something you don't get much of in Vegas. So enjoy.

And let me know what you think.

An American Girl Trying to Cook Mexican Food

For those who don't know, I'm staying with my mom in Rochester, Minnesota for the next few weeks. Not really sure how long. Time will tell. For now, I will share my adventure in the Land of 10,000 Lakes...

My plan was to put my cooking skills to use and make an authentic Mexican meal for Mom. I planned to find the local Mexican market (even Rochester has one. actually more than one!). I knew they'd have all the ingredients I needed.

After walking in the glass doors, immediately I saw labels and foods that are so familiar. But I had no idea where anything was. It wasn't at all like Fernando's--the little market downstairs from where we lived in Mexico. In Fernando's I know exactly where the eggs, Arizona iced tea, and tomato puree are. This store in Rochester was familiar but so different. After circling the small store a few times, it was time to check out. I thought to myself, "Do I speak English? Spanish? Does she speak Spanish?" I chose English. And walked out to the parking lot hoping never to go in there again. It was just too akward.

Well, besides burning the hot peppers for the salsa, it turned out pretty well. Like always, I made WAY too much. What can I say? I'm used to cooking for 50. Not 2. But I don't think I should ever cook Mexican food for Mexicans. My cooking is just not the same. I would need a bit more training.

Goldilocks...Just Right

This was my home.

With children I love.

This is a beautiful picture.

I spent so many mornings, afternoons and evenings in this neighborhood. Got to know so many people. Who know how to give and know how to receive. There's a balance.

At the present time your plenty will supply what they need,

so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.

Then there will be equality, as it is written:

"He who gathered much did not have too much,

and he who gathered little did not have too little."

I have always been the one with plenty ready to supply the need. Will I ever be in need? Then again, there were so many people who supplied what I needed to be in Mexico. Their plenty supplied for my need. It's true.

The church is supposed to be like Goldilocks.

No one has too much.

No one has too little.

They're all juuust riiight.

Look at the world you live in...Where do you stand?

Love Art

This is Natasha Wescoat.



I think her art is beautiful.



The colors and swirls and depth.

And thought maybe you'd like it, too.

Home Again

Here are some pics of my last day in Mexico. It was a Sunday. In church that day, they surprised me by calling me up front. Almost every person in the church, including my dad, came up and said a few words to me as a going away thing. It made me cry a bunch!! Then, after, they had a little party for me with lunch and a cake. My dad was there because he picked me up in Ensenada and brought me back to Vegas.

It's almost like I never left. Falling right back into the life I left a year and a half ago. Everything here is the same but I'm different. I know I'm different but I think it will take me a while to see how. I mean, how could I not be different after a year and a half in Mexico?

My beautiful friends have allowed me to stay with them this week. I'm staying in a friend's room while she's actually in Mexico! She's attending a wedding in Cabo. Then Friday, I'll be going to Minnesota to visit my mom. I'll be with her a couple weeks visiting family and just hanging out. I haven't seen them since Christmas so it will be good to be up there.

I think I need to give myself some more time to reflect on my time in Mexico. I think Minnesota will give me some good time for that. Here in Vegas, there are so many people I want to see and catch up with so I keep myself pretty busy. I just want to make sure I get time to look back.

Baby Ducks in Our House

So these are our baby ducks.



Nacho and Nacha are their names.



They enjoy swimming, lettuce, and flies.



And they poop everywhere.



I love them.

Attention All Supporters

As of September 1st (2 days ago), I will no longer be an intern with the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

Really, the only change this will make for me is that I no longer receive financial support from the C&MA. That means that if you are one of my monthly financial supporters, the last month I need support is August. Which is quickly coming to a close.

I will still be in Mexico for a few weeks to come. Some of that time I'll be here at the ministry base and some I'll be living with one of the pastor's families.

Thank you to all of you who have supported me financially. I reached my full fundraising goal and God gets all the glory. It's only through Him that I was able to raise over $10,000 for this year of ministry here in Ensenada.

And if you're wondering, I'll be home Monday, September 7th! This time has gone by so fast here!

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.

Mofles is Spanish for Muffler

I'm sitting here enjoying a glass of ice. Yes. Ice. It's a treat here in Mexico. It is settling in my stomach on top of the mantaray soup we ate after church. Yes. Mantaray. These things...

Rafa makes a soup that is actually quite delicious. You'll have to come to Ensenada to try it!

So much has happened through this ministry over the past few weeks. Within the past month or so, we've built a boys dormitory for children with special needs, 10 houses, and the second story of Reyerio's church. We successfully survived the largest week of our summer! Last week, we hosted 81 people from Princeton, New Jersey. Through all of these teams, relationships have been formed that are so encouraging. And even if these people never see one another again, they'll have lasting memories that their change lives. Even in just a small way.

I have a new friend at the weekly Bible class (VBS) at Roca Fuerte. His name is Mofles (MOE-flays). It literally means muffler. He's a skinny, bronen-skinned boy whose amost 4 years old. Last week, he came to VBS in a pair of khaki shorts. That's it. It was another hot day so it made sense that he wouldn't want to put a shirt on. But his shoes. Where were his shoes? I jokingly asked what happened to his shirt and poked his belly just to get a glimpse of his cute little smile. But where were his shoes? When VBS ended we all went outside to play and eat snack. I could tell his feet were burning on the hot sand so we went to sit on a bench in the shade of the church. I asked, "Where are your shoes?" He told me he doesn't have any. This makes me sad. But as sad as that makes me, it makes me just as happy to just sit with him. They way he cuddles into my lap. Showing me his animal crackers (he thought it was a horse. i thought it was a rhinocerous.) His shy smile. His skinny arms. His dirty hands. He is God's. And God will take care of him. If God wants to use me to show him a little love, good. If God wants to use someone else, good. But God will take care of Mofles.

Please pray for Rosi because she's due to have her baby girl this week!!

Here are a few pictures from these past couple weeks that I like. Just imagine you're here with me!