Transportation Adventures...

Ok, so some adventures I have had using the public transit system here in Guad!

1. About a week after I arrived, Jay and Faith came to Guad to do some shopping. They called me up and we were able to put together a time and a place to meet up to go have dinner and see each other since we hadn’t seen each other since June! However, I had only been in the city a week and had no clue where anything was, so I had to take a taxi to meet them—a little expensive, but worth it! The catch was that I met them at Wal-Mart in a large plaza area of the city—no biggie, everyone knows where that is. However, then I had to take a taxi home to my little residential street. The taxi driver new the area of town, but didn’t know where my street was and he wouldn’t listen to my directions once we arrived. So instead of turning left onto my street at the intersection, he did a U-turn and headed back the way we came. Then he turned onto an ally and asked a girl how to get to my street. She told him something completely wrong because here if you ask for directions and the person doesn’t know, they won’t tell you they don’t know; they’ll just tell you something and you’ll end up more lost. Well, he kept going and turned onto another alley that thankfully dumped us out on my street almost across from our condo complex, and I was able to point to where he needed to drop me off….but oh! The stress I felt when I thought he had gotten us lost AT NIGHT in a city I didn’t know simply because he didn’t believe me when I told him to turn left!!!

2. Heading to Cofradia, I had to take a bus. No big deal! You can get direct busses to Penas which is only about 20 minutes from Cofradia! Well, after classes, Lisa, the director, took me and another girls to the bust station, but instead of leaving us in the bigger station, she dropped us in a smaller one next door—none of us realized there was another one. Anyway, this smaller one had about three bus lines that it serviced, and they all went to Tepic. The woman at the counter told me I could buy my ticket to Penas when I got to Tepic, but did not tell me that I couldn’t get it on that bus line. I just thought I had to catch another bus from the same line to get there. No No NO…this bus line has it’s own bust station in Tepic..very small, and does not go to Penas. SO..I had to take a taxi to the central bus station and buy a ticket to Penas there. So, I got to Central Bus station and lugged my two suitcases and my computer bag (one suitcase was going to stay in Cofradia) to the TAP counter to buy a ticket..they definitely go to Penas. But they didn’t have a bus leaving for another hour…they directed me to Pacifica, a couple counters down…more lugging of heavy suitcases, and Pacifica tells me their bus doesn’t leave for another hour. But they also inform me that Sonora del Norte has a bus leaving in ten minutes….so I lug my heavy suitcases all the way to the OTHER SIDE of the terminal to buy my ticket and finally was on a bus to Penas. Faith was supposed to meet me to take me to Cofradia, however the base truck dropped a shock earlier that day, so she couldn’t come for me, which meant I had to take a taxi. However, no Cofradia taxis were there, so I had to pay 100 pesos to get to Cofradia instead of 60 pesos! But I finally arrived, and all in one peace! Getting home was much easier. Taxi to Penas (20 pesos!) and then a direct bus all the way to Guad! And Romel picked me up! Yea!

3. Today I went to pick up Mili to hand out. She’s been here a few days now and today was a free day (no classes), so we made plans to hang out. But she doesn’t know my area of town (called El Batan), though it is very close to hers, so I went for her instead. Angeles went with me first to the bank and then the post office to pick up a package from my fam, and then I took a taxi to Tabachines, where Mili’s family lives, and met her at the Civil Registration building. Then we were to take bus R-641 back to my area of town, only several km away! The first one we took was SO FULL that when we tried to get on, we couldn't get pass the stairs! And the crazy bus driver started to drive off with us on the stairs and the doors open!!!!! So, we precariously jumped off that bus pretty quickly, and decided to wait for another. However, there are several routes for the 641, and we didn’t pay attention to which one we got on, so we ended up heading back to where Mili lives instead of where I live. But that’s ok, we finally got off and got back on a 641 bus that was headed to El Batan, all was well until I realized (as we were about to get off the bus at my street) that I couldn’t find my keys! The condo complex is gated, so I had to have a key to get in, plus I LOST MY KEYS, and had no idea where. Since I had waited a while for Mili to meet me, we thought maybe I had set them down at the Civil Registration building..so we decided to GO BACK to Tabachines to look for them—but no luck..they weren’t there! So, then we returned once again to El Batan, where I called Angeles and she opened the gate for us. Then when it was time for Mili to head back home for the night, we waited for like half and hour for a 641 bus to pass…that is not normal because that bus has a lot of units on each route…we finally got on one, and about 2 stops later, it picked up everyone and their mother getting off from work or coming home from school…when we got to our stop in Tabachines, we almost couldn’t get off because the bus was so packed! But we did finally push our way through and disembarked from the bus. I took another bus home and Mili took her bus to her house and all ended well, but oh the afternoon we had!!!

Yea for public transportation!!

Celebrations Abound!

Sept 13 was Josue’s 2^nd birthday. So, we had a party! Jeremiah and Kelly (missionaries, and youth leaders at La Carpa, and best friends of Romel and Angeles) came over with their daughters, and we grilled hamburgers and had cake. So, just a little sidenote, apparently Mexicans like to eat their hamburgers with ham as well and also with guacamole!!! YIKES! I had mine with just plain cheese! Lost of fun!

Angeles made the cake. I don't know what kind it was, but it was DANG good!

Josue blowing out his two "candles"...they were actually matches!

The family: Romel, Jair, Angeles, and Josue

The Frey Family: Jeremiah (Jer), Kelly, Emma, and Anna Grace

Friday, Sept 15 was Angeles’s Birthday, and it was also the day of El Grito (“The Shout”), which is the day before Independence Day (Sept 16). I don’t really know the history very well, but at some point in Mexico’s history, some president ended up making himself dictator, and finally someone yelled for freedom—that is El Grito—and the day after they declared independence from the dictator and and began to overthrow his gov’t, etc. They celebrate El Grito way more than the actual independence day—For El Grito, at about 11 pm, the president comes out and gives a speech and yells three times, “Viva Mexico! Viva Mexico! Viva Mexico!” And it’s a big deal!

Well the same day was Angeles’s birthday, so that night, we went out for dinner at a really nice restaurant called El Tango near where the school is. It’s an Argentinian restaurant and it’s in a little plaza. Well they close off the plaza for El Grito celebrations and they have this huge street fair with rides and games, etc. all in the street. They have a beauty pagent type thing for the local neighborhoods and elect a queen of El Grito, and just all sorts of fun things. They also had fireworks! So, I was finally able to use the fireworks setting on my camera, and it worked really well!

The "family" outside El Tango: (L-R) Jair & me, Angeles (in her birthday finery...care of Romel), Romel & Josue, Sally (my US roomie)

Josue as cute as he can be at dinner...those sugar packets were SO entertaining..they saved the evening...YOU try eating at a nice restaurant with active 2 and 4-year-olds!

Sally and I in front of a gazebo in the plaza

Jair riding a ride

I am extremely pleased with the fireworks setting on my camera! Wow!

We really enjoyed dinner and then went out to the plaza to walk around, etc. Jair got to ride on one of the rides, and we just enjoyed it all….LOTS of people crammed in that plaza, but tons of fun. Then we came home and opened presents that Sally and I had for her. Romel had given her money to buy clothes, which is what she wanted, so she bought the dress she’s wearing in the picture. Sally got her the watch she’s wearing, something she’d been wanting for a while, and I bought her the vase, also something she’d been wanting. The only vase she has really only holds a couple of stems of flowers, and her larger one had been broken by the kids some time ago. So, I got her the vase, and we both got her some flowers, and we had a great time watching her open up her presents and enjoy them!

A watch from Sally

A vase (in Spanish = florero) from me.

The girls: Sally, Angeles, and me!

Then on Saturday, we slept in, and spent the day relaxing. At one point we went to a really nice bakery and bought Angeles a berry cheesecake..it had strawberrys, raspberries, and blackberries, and was absolutely delicious…and I don’t even like cheesecake!!! We had a good time eating that up, and that night we played Uno, only to find out that we’re now addicted!

Sept 17 was Romel and Angele’s anniversary! They have been married 7 years! They decided that we should all go to Chapala as a family for the day. So, we slept in late (because church service is at night), and then got ready and headed to Chapala, about an hour away. It’s very close to Ajijic, which is home to the largest population of Americans outside of the US. Lake Chapala is also the primary water source for the entire city of Guadalajara, which has anywhere from 7-11 million people living in it…depending on what areas you count! We had fun walking around an artisan market, and I was able to buy some souvenirs, especially some artwork in a style that I just love! Then we had lunch at a restaurant owned by some friends of the family. That was a lot of fun too!

Lake Chapala....or a piece of it anyway

Yah, in Mexico, they serve fish with heads intact...I took this picture just as Romel was about to eat the eyeball you see on the right....argh!

Enjoying homemade icecream in a plaza nearby...a great end to a great day!

We finally headed home, but too late to go to church, so we ate dinner, and then decided to play more Uno…only this time I taught them Killer Uno….we have all decided we like Killer Uno better and we’re seriously addicted. We played again tonight, and I believe there are plans to play again tomorrow….so much fun!

Visiting Cofradia...

Well two weeks ago I went and visited Cofradia! We had a free day on Sept 8 (no classes), so after classes ended on that Thursday, around 12:30 pm, I headed to the bus station to go to Cofradia for the weekend. It was about four-five hours before I arrived, but it was wonderful to be there! I was shocked speechless to see how different things look there in the rainy season! It was seriously like a tropical rain forrest! Everything was green and lush and just beautiful! There was grass and bushes where there had not been anything but dust before! Whole streets looked completely different! So different, in fact, that a couple of times I was walking streets I new pretty well, wondering if I’d taken a wrong turn! It was marvelous!

These two are of a hill between the base and Jay and Faith's house

This is of the view between Cofradia and Arrayanes...I really do enjoy the view on that drive even if the road is terrible!

Thursday night I arrived and had dinner with Jay and Faith and their kids, and then Faith took me over to the base where my apartment is. We opened it all up and made sure now strange or dangerous animals had taken up residence and then she headed back home! It was very strange to be there truly alone! Dave and Kathy are on furlough right now in Canada, so everything is off and empty and locked! It was a little eery at first, but oh well! On Friday morning I headed to a store to buy some food because there was NOTHING in the apartment since it has been empty since I left in June. None of the local people knew I was coming so it was so fun to walk down the street and see them do double takes and then shout out, “Hola Ambar!” as they realized that their eyes were not lying and I really was there in front of them! I got so many hugs and had some fun conversation catching up with friends that I’d made during my internship!

I then headed over to Steve and Gena’s to talk with Steve about the youth events going on that weekend. He and Gena were in the states while I was there before because their second daughter was born in the April/May time-frame. I communicated with them some over email and blogs, but this was the first time we’d gotten to sit down and talk about the youth and what is going on this year and ideas, etc. Anyway, Friday night was the Youth Family Group, and Saturday was El Reto, which means “The Challenge”. It’s kind of a mix between Amazing Race and Survivor, but this particular time it was set up like Amazing Race. You can read more about it on Steve’s blog. So, we talked for several hours and I had lunch with them and just enjoyed catching up with them! Then I headed home to shower and get ready to go surprise the girls in Arrayanes. They had no idea that I was visiting, which was the whole plan. In fact, two weeks before I had called and talked some with Sandy and told her I wanted to try and visit but had no idea when; directly after that I called Faith and began to make plans. She spoke with the girls’ mom and got permission for them to spend the night with me on Friday night, but the girls had no idea.

So, Faith and I headed to Arrayanes to pick up the youth for family group, but we went early so as to have some time with the girls before we had to participate in a group event. I arrived at the door, and Lupe was the first to see me. Her cousin had come running to tell them that I was there, but they didn’t believe her. Anyway, Lupe’s eyes almost popped out of her head and she screamed and jumped up to hug me. Mili and Sandy were in their bedroom and heard Lupe’s yelling and came out to see what was up. They saw me but it took a minute for it to register that I was standing right in front of them. They had looks of shock on their faces for about 10 minutes and Sandy kept saying, “Am I dreaming? Am I dreaming? I can’t believe you’re right here!” We sat out in the yard and talked some, and I told them about the slumber party. So they packed their things, we picked up the rest of the youth, and off we went back to Cofradia.

The overnight was tons of fun! Lots of talking and catching up until 3 in the morning! And then we did more on Saturday until it was time for El Reto. I was able to have some really great conversations with them corporately about what the Lord was doing and challenging them in some things, and I was also able to have some one-on-one time with Sandy! Oh it was so good for my hear to see them and spend time with them again. I have talked with them throughout the summer by phone, but nothing beats personal, face-to-face time with those you love! What a blessing that trip was!

El Reto was a blast, and it ended in Arrayanes. This particular one was modeled after Amazing Race. I had an activity to monitor, which was that the teams upon arriving at the base had to count all the bricks that make up the sound closet for the church palapa. The answer was 577. Steve had thought this would be the activity that took the least amount of time...it ended up taking the most! One team was there for almost an hour before I finally just gave them the answer..they were within 2 of the right answer anyway. But there were several times when other teams had come to me with answers of 575 or 576 or something else really close, and I had to tell them NO...but it was a lot of fun and the kids seemed to enjoy it immensly. From everything I hear it was a time of lots of growth both in numbers of kids coming to youth activities as well as personal and spiritual growth. I even found myself being challenged in certain ways!

The youth counting bricks to the sound closet

Since Favi had been working with her husband all day on Friday and Saturday, I tried one last time while El Reto was finishing up in the church. Finally, she was home, and when she saw me, she screamed and came running out the door. She hugged me so hard and she started crying! Apparantly she had not realized way back when I told them I was leaving that I was also coming back and for two years! She was very glad to hear that on Saturday night, though! She wouldn’t let go of me the whole time we were walking and talking! Oh how I missed her too!!! She made me a tortilla cloth while I was gone, too! So, now I have one from her too. This one however, is an actual tortilla cloth and it is stitched rather than painted! So beautiful!

Check out the stitching on that! It's so beautiful!

Then Sunday morning I headed back to Guadalajara, tired, but filled with contentment! I’m very excited now to return, but I’m also excited because Mili is visiting Guad right now for a month or so!! I’m really looking forward to getting some time alone with her. For some reason it was much more difficult to get time alone with her during my first months here—I spent more time with Sandy and Lupe individually, so I’m looking forward to getting lots of quality one-on-one time with Mili while here in Guad. In fact today, she came over for the afternoon, and we had a wonderful time catching up and talking about “stuff” etc. We also laughed a good deal over our bus adventures! I’m looking forward to meeting her family here and just hanging out!

God is good!

Update on the Fam...

For those of you who have been praying and asking, thank you. My family continues to “hang in there”. The last couple of months have been extremely tough in all ways: emotionally, physically, spiritually, etc. My uncle finally passed away on Friday, September 8, and the memorial service was on Sept 14. The same weekend that my uncle passed, my youngest brother was in crisis mode, and ended up in ICU for several days. However, praise the Lord, he is out of the hospital and seems to be doing ok: taking it “one day at a time”. He is talking with one of my aunts and her boyfriend about possibly moving out to Chicago

Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for them. I heard that my grandmother has also been sick during this time which is also hard—for her as I know she hates to feel burdensome, but also for the rest of us because every time she is sick, we worry! My step-mom tells me that my aunt is continuing to recover from the last couple months since my uncle’s accident. His son will continue to live with her for his senior year of high school and then plans to attend VCU. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to grieve and learn to go on with life. My uncle David was a wonderful man, and he will be sorely missed, but we are all rejoicing that his suffering is over and he is with the Lord now, waiting for us to join him one day in the huge party up in Heaven!

Introducing....

So sorry I haven’t updated in quite a while! I have not been able to use the internet on my own computer, so it’s been a little tedious to do the whole blog thing. But I have finally found an internet café where I can use my own puter, so here goes!

So, I arrived in Guadalajara on Aug. 23, and was wisked away to my new home (until October when I return to Cofradia). My new family is named Garza: Romel and Angeles, and their two sons Jair (4) and Josue (2). I also have an American roommate: Sally, from Nashville, TN. All of them are lots of fun, and we have a good time. Our most recent passion is Killer Uno! Man, watch out, cuz when the four of us get going, the going gets ROUGH! Romel and Angeles LOVED Uno before, but now that I’ve taught them Killer Uno, they tell me that Killer Uno is “la onda”, which is basically slang for “it’s the bomb diggidy!”

Romel and Angeles
(the g sounds like an h)

Jair

Josue

The House...Interior C-7 (the door on the right)

My room
I'm on the bottom and Sally is on top

The living/dining room and kitchen
There's a second floor too, with 2 bedrooms a 2nd bath, and a little sitting room

Language classes began Aug 28. The school is about a half-hour drive, and almost an hour away by bus. Normally Romel drives us all in the morning—Angeles is one of our teachers—and then we take the bus home—or rather two busses! It has been quite a challenge for me to learn the bus system, but I think it’s finally starting to click! One of the girls from Cofradia is here in Guad visiting family—Mili, the youngest—and I had to meet her in order to bring her to our house to hang out, and I did it ALL BY MYSELF! This was the first time, and we did alright! There was of course adventure involved because I can’t seem to leave the house by myself without encountering adventure, but we enjoyed it anyway! I’ll write a separate blog about transportation adventures!

Anyway, Angeles is one of our teachers, and then we have Lisa, the director and our grammar teacher; Chayo, and Moi (short for Moises—Moses in Spanish) who is also the pastor of the church that we as a family attend. It is called La Carpa, which means The Tent. Chayo’s oldest daughter, Erika, also works at the school. She teaches classes to young children, when we have them (usually when there is a family attending classes), but since we have none right now, she is taking care of Lisa’s 2-year-old, Valerie, as well as Josue.

My Level 4 class
Front L-R: Sandra (Missionary in Guad) & Alyssa (living in Tepic after school--near me!)
Back L-R: Caleb, Jen (Missionary in Guad), Josh (Photographer in Mexico), Me

Pastor Moi with Josue
Moi is my Translation teacher and pastor of La Carpa, the church I attend

Me and Erica in the kitchen at school
She is QUICKLY becoming a VERY good friend! We each finally found another as crazy as we!

The Lord has really blessed me by putting some stellar people in my life here in Guadalajara! I’m enjoying their company, their laughter, their teaching, and their encouragement! This has definitely been a time of relaxing for me in many ways, and I feel as though the Lord is filling me up as well as building up a solid support system that is bigger than just Cofradia! I am so blessed!

Aug-Early Sept Update

Hey everyone!!

Well, I´m in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and things are going well. Thank the Lord my trip went really smoothly, and I´m now in my second week of classes. I am living with a wonderful family and another American student from Nashville. My ¨family¨members´names are Romel and Angeles Garza and their two sons Jair (4) and Josue (2). I am really enjoying getting to know each of them. They have been such an encouragement and a blessing to both Sally and me in the last couple of weeks, and they are very easy folks to live with!

I am sorry it has taken so long to send out a decent update email, however, I´ve had issues getting into the internet cafe in order to do so. However, here I am, and here is the update!

Classes are going well, and I am beginning to slowly figure out this city'--orient myself, that is. It´s VERY large, and we use the buses, something I´m not used to, so it is taking some time for me to figure the whole thing out, but it´s all beginning to find a place in my mind, so that is good. I have been attending church at La Carpa with Romel and Angeles and their kids, and I really enjoy the services there. In fact, the pastor, Moises, is one of our teachers at language school! We also work with Awanas on Saturday mornings in Coli, on a different side of the city...some of the American Missionaries from La Carpa have started this program in Coli as an attempt to reach out to a different area. They have about 30 kids each saturday morning, and then on Wedensday nights, they have bible study for the kids AND their parents. It´s been pretty neat so far!

Between that and school and church, there´s not a whole lot of free time, but I´m enjoying every minute of all of it.

I will be visiting Cofradia this weekend, and I´m very excited to see everyone after about four months of absence! The girls right now do not know that I´m coming, so it will be fun surprising them. Faith is also going to talk to their mom to help me try and plan a pajama party without them knowing ahead of time! We have a free day at the school on Friday, so I will take a bus to Cofradia on Thursday after classes, which end at 12:30 each day, and arrive several hours later. This means that Friday I will be able to attend the new youth family group they have started up this year, as well as the youth activities on Saturday night, called El Reto. This is sort of like a combination of Survivor and Amazing Race that they have done with the youth last year and now this year. It seems to be very popular amongst the youth and effective in getting kids to attend youth events. I´m looking forward to being there this weekend and experiencing all this for myself! Please pray for a great time of visiting and catching up as well as safe travels...

Also, please keep my health in your prayers and today I have not felt well at all due to a cold starting up. The first couple of days are always the worst, with sore throat and low-grade fever and just all around feeling miserable. But the cold has been going around, so I guess it´s my turn. Please just pray for it to pass quickly and be my only health speed bump for quite some time.

I also wanted to give anupdate on my uncle. The reports I keep getting from my family go back and forth. Most of the doctors say that David is not doing well and there is nothing more they can really do for him; however, the one surgeon that has been holding out great hope this whole time is still hopeful that David can recover almost fully and wants to continue treatment. Please pray for miraculous healing in David´s brain as well as comfort, rest, peace, and wisdom for his wife (my aunt, Sharon) and his son (Michael). This has been very tough on them, obviously, and use all the support we can give them. David is still being medicated and kept in a coma. He has a catheter to try and drain fluid off his brain that continues to collect and cause increaded pressure in his skull, and there have been issues with infection and inflamation. This is still quite a rough road in the process to getting David to a stable condition. Please keep it all in your prayers. Thank you!

I wish I could post pictures, but I am not able to use internet on my own computer at this time. But I promise that as soon as I am able, I will post pictures as well.

Well, blessings to each of you and thank you for your prayers and support!

FACE TO FEET
ams :)

arrived

hello everyone! i don´t have time to write a whole lot right now, but i wanted to put a post up and let you know that i have arrived in guadalajara, and the trip went very smoothly. the family i am staying with is very nice, and the mom actually teaches at the language school! we´ve had some good converstation so far, and i´ve enjoyed their two sons: jair aged 4 and josue aged 2. they are dang cute, that is for sure!

anyway, i am resting up and unpacking. i am trying to soak up the next couple of days of down time and really enjoy the rest time becuase i know things will pick up once classes begin on monday. please pray that this will be a rejuvenating time.

i´ll write more soon...thanks for your prayers!

Brave...

The gate is wide
The road is paved in moderation
The crowd is kind and quick to pull you in
Welcome to the middle ground
You're safe and sound and
Until now, it's where I've been

'Cause it's been fear that ties me down to everything
But it's been love, your love, that cuts the strings

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave, brave, brave

I am small
And I speak when I'm spoken to
But I am willing to risk it all
I say your name
Just your name and I'm ready to jump
Even ready to fall..

Why did I take this vow of compromise?
Why did I try to keep it all inside

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me wanna be brave, brave, brave

I've never known a fire that didn't begin with a flame
And every storm will start with just a drop of rain
But if you believe in me, that changes everything

So long
I'm gone

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me wanna be brave, I wanna be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me wanna be brave, brave, brave

BRAVE!

By Nicole Nordeman, from her album Brave

~~~~~~~~~

I love this song! There is just so much in it that makes me go YES! It hits the nail on the head on so many issues that I think we as Christians face daily, but so often we're just too afraid to take the fall or the leap and get out of the middle ground into the Promised Land. Thank you Nicole!

The Skinny...

Well, I leave ONE WEEK FROM TODAY! In fact, one week from right this minute, I'll be in the air between the US and Mexico! CRAZY!

This past weekend was my last real weekend in Fredericksburg. I'll be up in Stafford this Saturday night in order to be at church on Sunday, but that's it. So, last night (Monday), there was a get-together at my friend Jen's townhouse. My small group friends all came over, and we had great fun eating, laughing at the special few who got doused with water in unfortunate locations, and playing Scene It Squabble, a game I have heard so many things about but have never been fortunate enough to play with this group of folks. So, they arranged for us to play it last night. I enjoyed it! Can I just say that I LOVE my small group! I'm sad that they are no longer meeting together as such, but I'm so overjoyed that the Lord has built up those relationships and that we/they will still be hanging out as friends for much time to come!

Chip and Katy, Becky and Matt, Jen, Noelle, Bethany, and Madison!

I also got to have dinner with a very precious girlfriend of mine from work (pre-Mexico). This month actually makes it one whole year that we've been friends. We met while suffering through proposal work on our contract last year, and hit it off immediately. The Lord has just blown my socks off through knowing her. Every time we get together and talk I walk away with this incredible joy and excitement and this deeper and more profound amazement at who God is and just how amazing He is at work! Because every time we talk I'm given these massive glimpses into God actively at work, and it's always stupifying to behold! So, we had dinner last night. It was WONDERFUL! We have been missing each other and playing phone tag (or phone stalk) all summer; this was the first time we'd been successful in getting together, and we talke for about three hours. Then I had to head to Jen's for the good-bye get-together. But I got to see her again today when I went in to the office to terminate myself--aka, quite my job! HALLELUIAH! I'm so glad to be done with that STUPID BOAT! But while I was there I got to see all sorts of friends that I made while working there the last two years, and I drove away thanking the Lord for the relationships and people that He placed in my life as a result of that job. I certainly have no regrets from my time there, and I'm very thankful for it!

The rest of this week will be crazy busy: another dinner date tomorrow night in Fred before worship team practice. Friday I have a dentist appt in Fred in the morning and then will see another friend from college and meet her youngest child! Then Saturday night my family and I are having dinner in Fred (again) with a cousin and his wife, and I will then spend the night in Stafford so as to be at church bright and early. After church I'm heading straight home to continue packing and being with my family before flying out on Tuesday, Aug. 22. In the midst of all this traveling, there will be the purshasing of final needs, trial packing, figuring out what to do about the stuff that doesn't fit, lugging stuff to my grandmother's basement, final packing, final details, and finally saying goodbye to folks around here in Richmond. I'm not sure how it will all get done, but I am confident that it will, and that it will get done well.

Update on the fund-raising! PRAISE THE LORD! I'm somewhere around 75% of my goal! He has just been showering me with provision in this way. I finally let go of the reigns and it started pouring in, and even from folks who originally didn't think they'd be able to do monthly support! HOW INCREDIBLE IS OUR GOD! My funds went from 32% of my goal to 75% of my goal in TWO WEEKS! So, I am now at the "safe" point for my time in Guadalajara--meaning there will be no savings or whatnot, but at least all my bills will be paid. And if no more were to come in, I would be a little over the safe point for after my return to Cofradia! It is comforting to see on paper (and in the bank account) the provision for every need coming true! Thank you, Lord! My goal is still to reach the 100% mark. We have certainly gotten closer, but please continue to keep that in your prayers!

Folks are definitely being generous in the one-time gift department as well. I'm overwhelmed by the generosity being litterly lavished upone me! My needs are being met in ways I just didn't think possible, and so quickly too! So, thanks to all of my supporters, both monthly and one-time! You guys are amazing! I have so much to learn from you. Thank you!

Well, now I must sleep! Long week ahead!

it's coming!....

So, I leave in less than two weeks! I can't believe the time is coming so quickly! I keep getting more and more excited, and just can't wait to get back there!.....exciting things! Please pray!

Undeserving...

So...I've recently been overwhelmed by the amazing and undeserved goodness of God.....again! I don't know why I'm surprised, but I do find myself amazed by that...maybe because very often my experience of His goodness is accompanied by a deeper understanding of just how undeserving I really am which makes me aware that the gap between what He is and what I am is even wider than I originally thought and that His grace is even more amazing that I could have imagined...

I had it out with God last weekend, and much came out concerning my frustrations with trying to raise funds for getting back to Mexico. In an online conversation with my friend and mentor and fellow staff-member in Mexico, Faith, on Monday night (while at the wonderful Townhouse), I found myself trying to figure out why I got so truly angry with the Lord....I'm still not entirely sure, but I found myself summing it up to the Lord by saying, "It's just a lot, Lord. It's just way a lot." And in that moment, I heard Him respond,

"Come to me all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." ~Matt 11:28-30

And I realized something....my frustrations in this stem from the fact that I come up against an obstacle and I do everything I can to tackle it. Then I get to the point where I need to step back and let God do his thing, but instead of leaving the burdens on His back where they belong, I pick them up and try to do it all myself. The result is I end up frustrated and disappointed and feeling defeated, and then I get mad at God for putting something in front of me that I simply am incapable of doing...DUH...THAT'S THE POINT, right?!

But I guess in my flesh I find it easier to pick up the burdens I think God is dropping the ball on than to concentrate on NOT picking them up and instead focus on walking step by step with him....learning to take steps the way He does...just like two oxen yoked together. If they don't walk in sync, then things go really badly for the poor farmer. But if they walk well together, then there are straight rows in the ground ready for planting and eventual harvest...and anyway, isn't the point of sanctification to walk more and more like Christ and in tune with Him??? It's not about the tasks, but how we approach them and how we interact with Him in those tasks.....

And when HE carries the burden and I simply walk with Him the way He does, then I find rest deep down inside and I get to watch Him be amazing and then share it with me....

...will I ever get that one right? One step at a time, I suppose...

July Update

Well, July is half-way over, and I'm more than half-way through my summer at home; my plane tickets arrived today, and I leave on August 22 for Guadalajara. I can't believe how quickly time has flown by! It has been a busy but very enjoyable couple of months, and I'm so glad that the Lord made it possible for me to be here with so much time available to spend with people.

This has been a VERY busy month! July began with a road trip to Colorado! On my way to Colorado, I stopped in St. Louis and Nebraska to visit with friends. In the end I stayed about four days in Boulder, CO with my youngest sister and was able to attend the wedding of an old friend in Denver. If you'd like to see pictures from my trip, just click on the link to the right that says "!!My Photo Album!!". When not traveling across the country, I've been living with my parents in Richmond, VA, and on weekends I stay in the Fredericksburg area in order to be involved with my church and my small group on weekends. That has been wonderful as well, as staying up there has allowed me the time to get together with people to visit and catch up on life and all that the Lord has been up to!

In the midst of all this, my father retired and turns 59 on July 21, my sister graduated college (just befor I returned) and turned 25 in June, and my grandmother turned 90 on July 7! So, there have been parties and social gatherings galore! My aunta nd youngest cousin are also here right now from Minnesota, so that has been a wonderful opportunity to spend time with before I leave the country for a while. And we have recently found out that my brother and sister-in-law are expecting their third child! It has truly been a blessing of a month!

In the meantime, there has been a development regarding the time I will spend at Harvest Language Center in Guadalajara. It turns out that after completely all the placement tests, I will only need to complete one session there instead of two as I had originally planned. I have tested into the fourth and final level of their program, which means that I will be in Guad for 7 weeks rather than 4 months! Though I don't often like to deal with change, I'm praising the Lord for this change in plans because it means that I will be able to return to Cofradia and get back involved with the ministry and the young ladies in October rather than December. I am very excited about this!

I am continuing to try and raise support for my return to Mexico. The Lord has been faithful in providing the funds I need this summer to pay bills and cover travel costs, and He is brinign people along side me as monthly supporters! So far, I've raised about 32% of my monthly budget and about 44% of the lump-sum I need for my time at language school in Guad. This is such a blessing, but there is still a ways to go. My goal is to raise $1300/month and a lump-sum of $2200 for my return travel costs and language school. Some of you have already begun to help me meet these needs, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. However, there is still need for more financial partners. Please prayerfully consider joining me as a financial partner on a monthly basis at $25, $50, or $100 per month. If you would like to contribute financially but aren't able to do so monthly, then please know there is a place for your gift as well! One-time gifts are a wonderful way to mee that lump-sum need, which covers school costs and the extra expenses that come each month from living in a big city. If you are at all interested in partnering with me financially, please let me know; I would love to talk further with you and send/give you more information about what I will be doing in Cofradia.

As for ministry updates, while here in Virginia, I've been singing with the worship team at my church, which has been so great; I desperately missed this while I was in Mexico. I've also been looking into Bible study options for when I return to Cofradia. So far, I've been considering books by Beth Moore and John Eldredge. Please pray that the Lord will make clear exactly what materials He wants us to study and that He would be preparing the hearts of each girl He has planned for that groupl. We have lots of great ideas for youth ministry in the upcoming year: home group, Bible study, one-on-one relationships, etc. I'm excited to get back and jump in!

This week, 12 of the youth and our youth leader, Steve (one of the staff missioanries) are on a retreat in Mazatlan. Please pray that the Lord will do mighty things, that each of the kids on the retreat will be responsive to His move and work, and that they will come back ready to impact their worlds even more for Christ.

One final note/update: The new church construction is progressing beautifully, as you can see from the pictures below which were taken by Steve Silberman. For those who do not know, we are in the process of building a central church building in Cofradia that will be the location of all Sunday services and will provide classrooms and resources for ministry activities! It is a large undertaking, but the Lord has been providing in overwhelming ways. I'm shocked and amazed at how much work has been accomplished since I last saw the building just before my return to the states. Please continue to pray that the Lord's faithfulness will be evident in every way concerning this project and that things will continue to progress as beautifully as they have so far.

Well, folks, that is all the update I have for now. Again, I ask that you would please keep my finances, preparation, and future travel in your prayers, and that you would seriously consider partnering with me in this journey. The Lord has amazing things in store, and I'm excited to be a part of this. I would truly love to take all of you along with me in whatever way I can. I'm thankful for your love and support and prayer in all of this, and I pray with joy every time I remember you! Thank you!!

My New Favorite Movie!

Ok, so I just got back from MY NEW FAVORITE MOVIE! No, that's not the title. It's actually called The Lake House; it's the new Sandra Bullock/Keaneu Reeves flick, and IT'S AMAZING!!! I left the theatre with that sigh of wonder and contentment that you always hope to have when you read a book or watch a movie but which often remains ellusive. No, this was perfect. The story was perfect, the ending was perfect, and I had lots of discussion points rattling around in my brain wanting to get out! Oh it was SOOOOOOOO GOOD!! I HIGHLY recommend it. I absolutely plan to buy it when it comes out on DVD, and I'm praying now that it will come with a SPANISH language track in addition to anything else, because I desperately want to show it to the girls in Mexico and have some good discussion about it and God!

But regardless, you just NEED to see this movie. I think it's on its way out of theatres right now, so go quickly if you haven't already. If you miss it, then plan to rent it. I promise you won't be sorry!

RSS Feed

Hey everyone. So, I have been informed that you can use an RSS reader to receive alerts about my blogs. If that interests you, then you can get the feed for my blog at amberinmexico.blogspot.com/rss.xml. Just thought I'd let you know!

Something really cool happened today! I went to get my oil changed! Let me explain...

The Lord saw fit several years ago to bless me with a wonderful mechanic at our local Firestone; his name is Carson. He was so good to me and my roommate throughout all our car woes. Then he got a promotion and moved to a store farther north. When I moved north, I was able to start taking my car to his new store, which became an even larger blessing because I discovered that another one of the mechanics, Mike, from that earlier store had moved up with him also! All of this right as I started having major car troubles..and right before going to Mexico! Anyway, the result was that I spent many a hours there waiting on my car and was able to get to know the two of them a little better as well as the receptionist, Barbara, who is just a dear sweet woman! Mike and Carson are Christians; don't know about Barbara, but she listened enthralled to all my stories from my Christmas Mexico trip.

So, I have been looking forward to seeing them all again after returning from Mexico and letting them know how things went and what's up next, etc. Today's oil change was just that opportunity! I went in early because this store doesn't take appointments. Mike and Barbara were there, and Mike got my car right in. The first blessing was that I got to share with Mike and Barbara about going back to Mexico and what the plan is for that; I also got to catch up a little on what has been going on with their lives the last few months. The second was that it only took 45 minutes, which is the shortest oil change I've ever gotten! And then I went up to pay and ask Mike if he needed my card (because sometimes they just look it up in the system), and he told me no because it was on him! That's right, folks...I got a free oil change!

I know that doesn't sound like much, but I don't have a job and I'm walking in serious faith this summer concerning my finances. Bill due dates are looming right now and my checking account is low and I'm nowhere near my budget goal, nor have monthly gifts really begun to come in regularaly yet. I don't say that to illicit pity but rather to illustrate that whereas normally $25 doesn't seem like much, it's a whole lot for me right now! I've been spending many a night praying for peace and increased faith over the last couple of weeks, especially after the lights go out at night and the anxiety starts to try and creep in. But every time something has come up so far, the money has arrived just in time. I've had to depend on God for my finances before, but this is a whole new level of that and the Lord continues to show Himself faithful. And not only that but it was through the most unlikely of places; I certainly wasn't fretting about how to pay for the oil change, but God used that anyway, not just to bless me but to bless Mike too, I'm sure! This turned out to be an opportunity for him to bless someone else, and he took God up on that opportunity; I'm excited for him because I know that the Lord will bless him mightily for it! How cool to be able to be there to witness a moment like that! What an awesome God we serve!!!

Anyway, it was a wonderful way to greet my day and my week. I drove home with the biggest smile on my face because I was reminded of just how much God deeply, passionately, and joyfully loves me and wants to include me in His works and will move heaven and earth to do so! All that from a little ole' oil change! Thank you Lord!

All in all, my drive home from Colorado was an enjoyable one; if you click on the link for My PhotoSite on the main blog page, you can view a photo album of pics taken during my trip. I left on Monday and arrived hom Tuesday night at 11:30 pm. I got to see the great state of Kansas. Everyone told me that Kansas was REALLY boring and that it was a drive that just never ended. Yah, it was pretty flat, but I didn't mind that so much because it's new scenery to me, and I love nature. So, I can enjoy even Kansas at least once. Thankfully, I only drove through Kansas once. My problem driving through Kansas was that I was not feeling well at all, so sitting in my car was extremely uncomfortable. But the feeling of illness subsided as I headed into Missouri.

I had a great surprise right as I was passing through Kansas City...Faith called me! She and her husband, Jay, are on staff in Cofradia, and she and I have grown rather close over the months. They are on vacation in Washington state, so she called me just to chat for a few minutes. What a joy it was to hear her voice! I have missed talking with her and our regular Alias nights and the iced lattes that she makes, etc. We have a good time, and I'm looking forward to more good times when I return to Mexico!

Monday night I stayed with Becky and Andy again. This time Bec and I really got to chat it up and catch up on life, love, and other mysteries. We looked at pictures and videos from Mexico as well as pictures from their honeymoon, and then we hung out in my room just talking. We didn't get to do much of that on my way west because she had to be at work the next morning. But this time, she had off Tuesday because of the holiday so we could afford to stay up a little later and finally chat it up! Then Tuesday morning we had coffee together before I left. That was very nice!

I had another surprise on Tuesday....the girls from Mexico called me!!!!!!!! I had tried to call them on Monday while driving through Missouri, but there were so many signal problems that we really couldn't hear each other, and then their phone ran out of money and hung up on me. (The phone system in Mexico requires them to pre-pay their phone if they want to be able to use it, and then they are charged when they make calls and when they recieve calls. So, if there's no money on the phone, then they have no phone services.) So, they bought a phone card for the public phone and called me on Tuesday morning. It was quite a surprise to answer my phone, which indicated an unavailable number on the caller ID, and hear my name in Spanish! It took a minute to register, but we had a good, though short, chat, and it was such a joy to hear their voices. We have not talked in three weeks, so it was quite a special thing! I really miss them and just cannot WAIT to get back and see them again!

Most of my drive through Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia was uneventful. It got dark as I was driving through western Virginia, and I was able to see some fireworks going off as I was driving up I-81. That was a treat! I also had a good time listening to Derek Webb's album I See Things Upside Down. I really love his music, and I had some good perspecitve and attitude checks as well as some worship time, believe it or not, just thanking the Lord for all that He did and continues to do for me.

Now, I'm in Fredericksburg hanging out with some friends and catching up on relationships that I have not been able to enjoy yet since arriving home. And on that note, I'm going to go enjoy one particular friendship with the beautiful Suzi McElvy! Scrapbook shopping is on the horizon...woo hoo!!!

Yea for blessings and joys and mercies that are new every morning!

So, I was reading the other day in John 9 about when Jesus healed a man born blind. The manner of healing this time was that Jesus spit in some mud, put it on the man's eyes, and told him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam, and the man was healed! There are so many words in the Bible that don't translate. They are mostly names of places or people, and I always find myself wondering what they mean. Siloam is one of those words. Turns out it means "sent" or perhaps even "one who has been sent".

This word has stuck with me over the last few days, and I have ended up adding it to the title of this blog (just in case you hadn't noticed yet) because that's exactly what the Lord has done with my life...He has sent me! But I was really struck by the possible deeper meaning of the connection between being sent and being healed. First of all, this man was sent in order to be healed--he had to go to the pool and wash in it. And then immediately after his healing, he ends up having to basically testify about what happened to him and about who Jesus was because of the pharisees' investigation into his healing!

But for me personally, there has definitely been a connection between being sent and being healed--that is that the more I am healed, the more He sends me; and the more I walk in that calling, the more I see the proof of that healing and growth. Jesus said that he who has been forgiven much, loves much, and also that he who is responsible with a little will be given more. It seems to me that the more He heals us, the more He asks of us, and even if we don't understand what or why He is asking of us, we must obey. For me, as I have sought to obey, I find that He is putting together large pices of a huge puzzle. These are pieces that never really fit together, and I just could not figure out what picture they would make, what explanation could possibly come from their existance. Now, I'm here in this place in my life, and in the process of obeying the call, all of these pieces have supernaturally moved into place, and I find myself seeing the evidence of healing and growth and maturity, and I'm overwhelmed by the great work of God in my life!

He healed me of my blindness, and continues to clear my vision more and more. Now He is sending me, and I find more and more healing, restoration, and wholness as I walk where He sends me. I pray that my testimony of the work of God in my life will only ever echo this man's testimony:

"One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" ~John 9:25

Last night I drove down to the Denver area for the wedding of a very dear friend of mine. Six years ago, she and I were in LIFT together, a semester-long discipleship program at Camp of the Woods (COTW) in beautiful Speculator, NY (about 2 hours north of Albany in the Adirondack Mountains). We've been in touch off and on over the years, and it was such a priviledge from above to be able to be at her wedding. I had a good time catching up with old friends: others from our group as well as other groups were there. It was also really cool to meet her friends from college that I had heard about but obviously had never met. The wedding was beautiful. She was beautiful. God is just so good!

Lisa and her Dad walking down the aisle

Talk about an amazing backdrop for your wedding!

Lisa, Marc, and his three children

It was special for me for other reasons than those associated with seeing a good friend get married, which is special enough in its own right. But this was part of something larger that the Lord has been doing. Over the last few months the Lord has begun to redeem certain things from my past and restore them to my present. Last night as I stood under the moon and stars on the veranda of the place where they got married , looking out at the lights of Denver in the distant east, I realized that this was just such another gift from the Lord.

The friendship I had with Lisa six years ago was a caliber of friendship that I had rarely experienced up to that point in my life. We kept in touch for a while, but as life got busy on both ends, our communication tapered off. Most of the folks in my group don't really keep in touch, and that has always grieved me; after all that we experienced together, it is sad that we are not closer than we are. So, that made my friendship with Lisa even more special to me, and yet we too lost touch, for the most part, over the years. But our friendship has always held a very special place in my heart, kind of like pictures of a distant but joyous childhood that you display on the wall, always causing you to tell stories to those seeing the pictures. Those stories usually start off with, "Oh, this was taken when..." or "I remember when this happened...what a day!" or something like that. But you're a different person when you're telling those stories than when you lived them, and there's not going back to those places, though the memories bring you joy. Well, that is the kind of effect that memories of that friendship have had on me.

Well, last night I realized that God had not only preserved Lisa's place in my heart, but He seemed to have preserved my place in hers as well, and that just humbled me to tears and filled my heart with an incredible joy and gratefulness that I just can't describe. It was wonderful to not only see her for the first time in six years, but it was a precious gift to witness her marriage, and not only that but the beginning of her family, as the man she married has three beautiful young children! I was like a dream come true. I hope the Lord will provide ways for us to reconnect and get to know each other again, but it is precious to know that the friendship we had will always be there because it was found in Christ. How amazing it is to be members of that one Body and to experience that kind of one-ness and love!

It was also amazing to be able to catch up with these other friends from that time in my life. To talk with them and see how they have changed and hear what the Lord has been doing in their lives as well as to share with them how I've changed and what the Lord has been doing in my life. It's amazing to remember where we were and to see to where He has brought us! Wow!

So, all in all, that was definitely the highlight of my cross-country road trip. I'm overwhelmed by the Lord's goodness and unfathomable grace poured out on me over and over again. Thank you doesn't even begin to express the depth of gratitude in my heart, but they are the only words I can muster. So...

Thank you, Jesus!

I leave Colorado tomorrow morning at the colon of dawn. It's been a good few days here hanging out with my sister. Yesterday we went up to Estes Part and did a 2-hour trail ride...yup! We rode horses!!! It was so amazing! The trail through the Rocky Mountain National Park was beautiful. Amazing views! It was a little exciting for me because the Rocky Mountains are part of the same mountain range as the those that tower over Cofradia! So, there was a special connection for me in that!

Check out these pics! I'll soon be uploading more pictures from my trip to photo site; use the link to the right if you'd like to see them!

Me on Rasta and Elizabeth on Jasper. The picture was taken by our wrangler, Jed.


Later on, we went through the river instead of over it!


The beautiful forrest!


Apparantly, John Wayne died under this rock in one of his movies. I think it's called Cowboys.


The trail


You can swim in the lakes in the National Park!


More scenery...breathtaking!


Yup...it's BIG!