Thursday, May 25, 2006
I will be back in the states in 9 DAYS!!!! I almost can't believe that the time has finally come to head home again. The prospect of fund-raising is very overwhelming right now, but I know the Lord will work that out as well. Please pray for guidance in putting that together as well as safe travels and an encouraging yet wonderful time of growth and preparation while I'm home!
The girls and I have continued to have a good time getting to know each other. Recently, we took it to the next level with intentionality! A couple of weeks ago, a group from the church in Tepic came and hosted a mini-revival sort of thing on a Friday night and Saturday. There was great worship with their worship band on Friday night along with a message from their pastor, Dwight, who is the brother to Linea Hackett (her and her husband Tom founded A.M.). Then Saturday morning, Dwight had a message for the leaders in the churches, and Saturday afternoon the worship leader, Pocho, spent some time with the youth from both bands teaching them a new song and encouraging them as musicians but as faith-walkers more importantly. Then Saturday night there was another all-church meeting with worship and another message. I had the privelage of being at all the meetings and was tremendouly encouraged by everything that was shared, both in worship and in teaching!
What was especially neat for me was the opportunity to worship and learn WITH the girls. Normally they are up front worshiping becuase they are all in the band in Arrayanes. But this time they too were in the congregation receiving and partaking with the rest of us, and it was so neat to get to interact with that part of them on a more personal level. I really sensed the Lord saying that it was time to be more intentional about interacting with them in that way on a regular basis in the time we spend together during the week. So, I spoke to them about beginning to meet once a week for the purpose of sharing what we are reading in Scripture or what the Lord is teaching us as well as praying together.
We began last week. It has been incredibly neat to hear how they are learning and growing and being challenged and encouraged in the word and to pray together. What a precious thing we truly have as members of that ONE body! Three of the girls have expressed a desire to be missionaries, and all of them have family members who are not Christians. So, it has been challenging and a priveledge to encourage them that they are already missionaries because they are members of Christ's body and have the Holy Spirit, the Great Missionary, living inside of them; they have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-control; that they have been comissioned to go into all the world preaching the gospel and making disciples and that that commission starts at home and THEN works its way outward (Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the utter parts of the world--Acts 1); that they do not need to worry about what to say but that they will know when the time comes because it will be the Spirit speaking through them--they need only obey and open their mouths and speak; that we must first nourish ourselves in Christ by getting alone with him to rest and be filled and strengthened and encouraged in his presence, and that then it is our responsibility AND our priveledge to go out and share that with others, but that joy of it is that Jesus calls us to get away alone with HIM.
The last month and a half of spending time with these girls has been such a blessing for me! I've enjoyed building these friendships and getting to know them. It certainly fills a need in my own life for fellowship, but more than anything it has been such an unbelievable priveledge to see how the Lord has encouraged them through our time together specifically. There is something different in their eyes today that was fading when I first met them. How awesome the Lord truly is and amazing are his mercies which are new every morning!
What was especially neat for me was the opportunity to worship and learn WITH the girls. Normally they are up front worshiping becuase they are all in the band in Arrayanes. But this time they too were in the congregation receiving and partaking with the rest of us, and it was so neat to get to interact with that part of them on a more personal level. I really sensed the Lord saying that it was time to be more intentional about interacting with them in that way on a regular basis in the time we spend together during the week. So, I spoke to them about beginning to meet once a week for the purpose of sharing what we are reading in Scripture or what the Lord is teaching us as well as praying together.
We began last week. It has been incredibly neat to hear how they are learning and growing and being challenged and encouraged in the word and to pray together. What a precious thing we truly have as members of that ONE body! Three of the girls have expressed a desire to be missionaries, and all of them have family members who are not Christians. So, it has been challenging and a priveledge to encourage them that they are already missionaries because they are members of Christ's body and have the Holy Spirit, the Great Missionary, living inside of them; they have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-control; that they have been comissioned to go into all the world preaching the gospel and making disciples and that that commission starts at home and THEN works its way outward (Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the utter parts of the world--Acts 1); that they do not need to worry about what to say but that they will know when the time comes because it will be the Spirit speaking through them--they need only obey and open their mouths and speak; that we must first nourish ourselves in Christ by getting alone with him to rest and be filled and strengthened and encouraged in his presence, and that then it is our responsibility AND our priveledge to go out and share that with others, but that joy of it is that Jesus calls us to get away alone with HIM.
The last month and a half of spending time with these girls has been such a blessing for me! I've enjoyed building these friendships and getting to know them. It certainly fills a need in my own life for fellowship, but more than anything it has been such an unbelievable priveledge to see how the Lord has encouraged them through our time together specifically. There is something different in their eyes today that was fading when I first met them. How awesome the Lord truly is and amazing are his mercies which are new every morning!
Youth Worship Leadership
We took the youth to a youth event hosted by the church in Rosa Morada last weekend. They had asked our worship band to lead worship for the event. So, the Cofradia band led worship and Mili , who is the worship leader in Arrayanes, sang as well with Chupa, who leads the band in Cofradia. They did SUCH a stellar job.
The coolest thing took place at the end of the event, the speaker was "brining it home" and asked if someone could come up and play guitar just softly in the background, etc. So, Julio (guitarist in Cofradia) went up. You could see in his face that he wasn't really sure what to do, but he started playing one of the songs we had sung during worship and it was great. Well as the speaker was finishing her "bringing it home" and beginning the altar call/prayer time, Chupa led the rest of the band up there to join in with Julio. They played really well in the background, with Chupa singing softly, for 30-45 minutes. It was so neat to see that. They were just following the Spirit's leading and it was awesome!
This is something that the missionaries here have been working really hard on with these youth. The worship bands for both churches are comprised almost entirely of youth ranging in age from 14-18! The only adults are gringos who either play drums or guitar! They have been working hard to teach these youth about LEADING in worship and not just playing in a music band. Well the Lord has been working even harder, and the work that HE has done came out quite obviously last weekend. What a blessing to be there to witness it!
L-R: Mili (vocals), Diego (drums), Golliot (bass), Chupa (lead vocals), Julio (guitar), Ruben (keys)
The coolest thing took place at the end of the event, the speaker was "brining it home" and asked if someone could come up and play guitar just softly in the background, etc. So, Julio (guitarist in Cofradia) went up. You could see in his face that he wasn't really sure what to do, but he started playing one of the songs we had sung during worship and it was great. Well as the speaker was finishing her "bringing it home" and beginning the altar call/prayer time, Chupa led the rest of the band up there to join in with Julio. They played really well in the background, with Chupa singing softly, for 30-45 minutes. It was so neat to see that. They were just following the Spirit's leading and it was awesome!
This is something that the missionaries here have been working really hard on with these youth. The worship bands for both churches are comprised almost entirely of youth ranging in age from 14-18! The only adults are gringos who either play drums or guitar! They have been working hard to teach these youth about LEADING in worship and not just playing in a music band. Well the Lord has been working even harder, and the work that HE has done came out quite obviously last weekend. What a blessing to be there to witness it!
L-R: Mili (vocals), Diego (drums), Golliot (bass), Chupa (lead vocals), Julio (guitar), Ruben (keys)Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Sunday in the Arrayanes church, Horacio preached on fear. His main text was Matthew 8:23-26 where Jesus calms the storm. Before he does so, however, he rebukes His disciples saying, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" He also referenced 2 Timothy 1:7: "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline."
These verses really struck me hard, because I find myself being attacked by fear daily--fear that maybe I am hearing God wrong, fear that I really don't have much to offer, fear that I'm going to mess things up or undermine progress already made here, etc. But today as I was meditating some more on these two verses, I came across a passage in Matthew 10 where Jesus sends his 12 disciples out to minister and heal and preach. He warned them that they would suffer for Him, but He encourages them by saying, "On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you" (v. 18-20). I was really encouraged by this in light of the other scriptures on fear because whether or not I am ever arrested, etc., the truth is still true for me that it is never my effort that makes the difference but the effort made by the Spirit THROUGH me. I am the vessel, but HE is the living water, the bread of life, etc.
Gollo had talked in the Cofradia church about how doubt is the absence of faith. Well, according to that passage in Matthew 8, so is fear. But the truth is that I have nothing to fear because it should never be me speaking or acting or attempting to change anything. It should always be the Spirit of my Father speaking and acting and moving through me to produce HIS change in this world. I need only to believe, to have faith in HIM, to focus on HIM. I have nothing to fear when it is only me and HIM. If anything depended on me, well we'd be in trouble, but it doesn't. And because of that I can be bold; I can walk forward in power, in love, in self-discipline, in faith. I can speak without fear because I know the Son and the Son knows the Father and reveals Him (also in Matthew).
All that to say I have been really encouraged this weekend. We had a group here Friday and Saturday from La Fuente Church in Tepic. They led us in worship, and Dwight (their pastor and brother to Linea Hacket, co-founder of Alternative Missions) preached, and Pocho (the worship leader of La Fuente and a very gifted musician) even spent some time with the youth on the two worship bands on Saturday, teaching and encouraging them. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and corporate worship and learning, etc. And then two wonderful sermons on Sunday that spoke directly to where my heart is right now. It is so wonderful to be surrounded by such an incredible family--the Body of Christ--and to be encouraged by the one who knows and loves me best! Thank you Lord!!
These verses really struck me hard, because I find myself being attacked by fear daily--fear that maybe I am hearing God wrong, fear that I really don't have much to offer, fear that I'm going to mess things up or undermine progress already made here, etc. But today as I was meditating some more on these two verses, I came across a passage in Matthew 10 where Jesus sends his 12 disciples out to minister and heal and preach. He warned them that they would suffer for Him, but He encourages them by saying, "On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you" (v. 18-20). I was really encouraged by this in light of the other scriptures on fear because whether or not I am ever arrested, etc., the truth is still true for me that it is never my effort that makes the difference but the effort made by the Spirit THROUGH me. I am the vessel, but HE is the living water, the bread of life, etc.
Gollo had talked in the Cofradia church about how doubt is the absence of faith. Well, according to that passage in Matthew 8, so is fear. But the truth is that I have nothing to fear because it should never be me speaking or acting or attempting to change anything. It should always be the Spirit of my Father speaking and acting and moving through me to produce HIS change in this world. I need only to believe, to have faith in HIM, to focus on HIM. I have nothing to fear when it is only me and HIM. If anything depended on me, well we'd be in trouble, but it doesn't. And because of that I can be bold; I can walk forward in power, in love, in self-discipline, in faith. I can speak without fear because I know the Son and the Son knows the Father and reveals Him (also in Matthew).
All that to say I have been really encouraged this weekend. We had a group here Friday and Saturday from La Fuente Church in Tepic. They led us in worship, and Dwight (their pastor and brother to Linea Hacket, co-founder of Alternative Missions) preached, and Pocho (the worship leader of La Fuente and a very gifted musician) even spent some time with the youth on the two worship bands on Saturday, teaching and encouraging them. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and corporate worship and learning, etc. And then two wonderful sermons on Sunday that spoke directly to where my heart is right now. It is so wonderful to be surrounded by such an incredible family--the Body of Christ--and to be encouraged by the one who knows and loves me best! Thank you Lord!!
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Faith and I took some of the youth to the beach on Saturday (this past one, that is). It was a good time. Mili, Sandy, and Lupe went, as well as 5 of the youth guys. The beach wasn't the nicest in the world, but it was the closest, which is why we chose to go there. At first, folks were just kind of sitting around talking, but after a little bit, everyone started taking advantage of the local and went in the water and buried each other in the sand and all that fun beach stuff. I got nicely burned on my ears and the back of my neck, but other than that I had a fine time with everyone! Here are some pics. Enjoy!
Jose Luis (aka Fursio) buried in the sand by Gollo's sons Julio (left) and Gollito (right)--Gollo is our pastor in Cofradia
Mili, Elizabeth, Lupe, and Isaiah burying their legs in the sand. We had a good time crafting feet for them out of the sand! Miguel Angel helped--he is the younger brother of Favi and Brenda. Elizabeth and Isaiah are Faith's kids
Jose Luis (aka Fursio) buried in the sand by Gollo's sons Julio (left) and Gollito (right)--Gollo is our pastor in Cofradia
Mili, Elizabeth, Lupe, and Isaiah burying their legs in the sand. We had a good time crafting feet for them out of the sand! Miguel Angel helped--he is the younger brother of Favi and Brenda. Elizabeth and Isaiah are Faith's kidsMay Update
Hello everyone!
Well, May has begun, and I'm beginning to realize how little the time is that I have left here in Mexico! Just over three weeks from now I'll be at home in Virginia with family and friends once again; I'm so excited to see everyone and to catch up on all that these three months have held, both for all of you as well as for me!
The last month has been simultaneously busy and not busy. I know that seems contradictory, but it's true! April began with a short-term team from Washington consisting of about 30 youth. They did construction work on our new church in the mornings, and in the afternoons they hosted a VBS Kids Club for 125 kids! None of us even knew there were that many kids in this area--they just seemed to come out of the woodwork. It was quite enjoyable to watch the Americans getting to know the Mexicans and the love that was poured out during that time! I have also continued to help Dave Elias, our base director, with administrative tasks, and I continue to learn more about what goes on here on a regular/daily basis.
The most significant development for me this month has been the opportunity to spend time with several girls from Arrayanes. They range in age from 16 to 23. Some are married and some are single; however, all of them love the Lord and desire to grow closer to Him and deeper in their faith-walk. I've had a wonderful time hanging out with them as a group as well as getting to spend time with each of them one-on-one. We have had two pajama parties, and lots of girl talk. Last weekend, Faith and I took a group of the youth to the beach; the girls went as well, and we enjoyed lots of fun and laughs and good talks on the beach all day.
The Lord has used the time spent with these girls to begin unveiling a vision in my heart for a ministry here in Cofradia. Therefore, the decision has been made for me to return to Mexico in August, first to Guadalajara to attend Harvest Language Center for 4 months, a language school designed specifically for missionaries to Mexico. and then back to Cofradia for at least 1 1/2 to 2 years. My goal for returning is to minister to the young ladies in this area. At this time there is no ministry geared specifically towards the young women. They have the opportunity to learn and be discipled in corporate settings (meaning co-ed youth group or family groups), but there is nothing specifically just for them, no one here with a vision to minister in ways that are specific to a woman's heart. As I've grown to know the girls in Arrayanes and seen the lack of teen female presence in the Cofradia church, this has become a desire that has grown in my heart--to return here and to minister in this way through corporate Bible study as well as individual discipleship and mentoring. The staff here have agreed that this fits well into the overall vision of our ministry base, which is to spread the gospel and make disciples, training up leaders who can then turn around and do the same in order to build and strengthen the body of Christ in this area and to spread the gospel into other towns and people groups. I'm simultaneously petrified and excited, but the Lord keeps bringing me back to Jeremiah 1:5, 7-8:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you...Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you..."
I know that the Lord will strengthen me for the work He wants me to do, and therefore I have nothing to fear.
Since my time at home this summer will be time set aside primarily for fund-raising, I need to begin now raising support for my summer at home. I will be in the U.S. from June 3 until the end of August; language school begins Aug 28, so I will have around 2.5 months to make necessary arrangements and to raise support for my months at language school as well as for my time on staff in Cofradia. I would like to ask each of you to prayerfully consider either continuing in your financial support or partnering with me financially for the first time. I am still working on my budget for the months at language school and my time in Cofradia; however, for my time home this summer I need to raise $1700/month. My biggest need right now is for monthly supporters--those willing to support me on a monthly basis with contributions of at least $25, $50, or $100 each month. Please prayerfully consider committing to partner with me and investing in the Kingdom of God in Mexico in this way.
If you are interested in financially supporting me, whether monthly or with a one-time gift, there is a safe, secure and trouble free way of donating via automatic Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). This is a giving option where funds can be transferred from your checking, savings, or credit card electronically, and you can even set it up to deduct your contribution on a monthly basis automatically if you decide to become a monthly partner. You can also mail checks made out to "Alternative Missions, Inc." to:
Well, May has begun, and I'm beginning to realize how little the time is that I have left here in Mexico! Just over three weeks from now I'll be at home in Virginia with family and friends once again; I'm so excited to see everyone and to catch up on all that these three months have held, both for all of you as well as for me!
The last month has been simultaneously busy and not busy. I know that seems contradictory, but it's true! April began with a short-term team from Washington consisting of about 30 youth. They did construction work on our new church in the mornings, and in the afternoons they hosted a VBS Kids Club for 125 kids! None of us even knew there were that many kids in this area--they just seemed to come out of the woodwork. It was quite enjoyable to watch the Americans getting to know the Mexicans and the love that was poured out during that time! I have also continued to help Dave Elias, our base director, with administrative tasks, and I continue to learn more about what goes on here on a regular/daily basis.
The most significant development for me this month has been the opportunity to spend time with several girls from Arrayanes. They range in age from 16 to 23. Some are married and some are single; however, all of them love the Lord and desire to grow closer to Him and deeper in their faith-walk. I've had a wonderful time hanging out with them as a group as well as getting to spend time with each of them one-on-one. We have had two pajama parties, and lots of girl talk. Last weekend, Faith and I took a group of the youth to the beach; the girls went as well, and we enjoyed lots of fun and laughs and good talks on the beach all day.
The Lord has used the time spent with these girls to begin unveiling a vision in my heart for a ministry here in Cofradia. Therefore, the decision has been made for me to return to Mexico in August, first to Guadalajara to attend Harvest Language Center for 4 months, a language school designed specifically for missionaries to Mexico. and then back to Cofradia for at least 1 1/2 to 2 years. My goal for returning is to minister to the young ladies in this area. At this time there is no ministry geared specifically towards the young women. They have the opportunity to learn and be discipled in corporate settings (meaning co-ed youth group or family groups), but there is nothing specifically just for them, no one here with a vision to minister in ways that are specific to a woman's heart. As I've grown to know the girls in Arrayanes and seen the lack of teen female presence in the Cofradia church, this has become a desire that has grown in my heart--to return here and to minister in this way through corporate Bible study as well as individual discipleship and mentoring. The staff here have agreed that this fits well into the overall vision of our ministry base, which is to spread the gospel and make disciples, training up leaders who can then turn around and do the same in order to build and strengthen the body of Christ in this area and to spread the gospel into other towns and people groups. I'm simultaneously petrified and excited, but the Lord keeps bringing me back to Jeremiah 1:5, 7-8:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you...Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you..."
I know that the Lord will strengthen me for the work He wants me to do, and therefore I have nothing to fear.
Since my time at home this summer will be time set aside primarily for fund-raising, I need to begin now raising support for my summer at home. I will be in the U.S. from June 3 until the end of August; language school begins Aug 28, so I will have around 2.5 months to make necessary arrangements and to raise support for my months at language school as well as for my time on staff in Cofradia. I would like to ask each of you to prayerfully consider either continuing in your financial support or partnering with me financially for the first time. I am still working on my budget for the months at language school and my time in Cofradia; however, for my time home this summer I need to raise $1700/month. My biggest need right now is for monthly supporters--those willing to support me on a monthly basis with contributions of at least $25, $50, or $100 each month. Please prayerfully consider committing to partner with me and investing in the Kingdom of God in Mexico in this way.
If you are interested in financially supporting me, whether monthly or with a one-time gift, there is a safe, secure and trouble free way of donating via automatic Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). This is a giving option where funds can be transferred from your checking, savings, or credit card electronically, and you can even set it up to deduct your contribution on a monthly basis automatically if you decide to become a monthly partner. You can also mail checks made out to "Alternative Missions, Inc." to:
Alternative Missions, Inc
P.O. Box 5835
Goodyear, AZ 85338
Goodyear, AZ 85338
Should you decide to write a check, DO NOT write anything on your check concerning how you want the money designated; this information needs to be written on a separate piece of paper and included in the envelope with the check. Regardless of which method you may choose to use, your donations are tax-deductible, and once the head office receives your donation, a receipt will be mailed to you. I do ask, should you decide to partner with me in this way, that you please simply email me and let me know so that I may keep track of that and be sure to thank you appropriately and keep you updated on all that you are helping to do here. 
Your continued prayer support is invaluable to me. I covet your prayers daily, and I'm trusting that the Lord is continuing to bless each and every one of you. I have enjoyed hearing stories from some of you about how life is going in the states and how your families are doing and growing. What a joy to be able to continue to share in your lives even from such a great distance! How truly amazing it is to be part of the Family of God, knit together at the heart! Please keep checking my blog to find out more details about what is going on in my life and with our ministry here in Cofradia and the surrounding area. There are also pictures posted in the blog entries, and there are links to more pictures as well as to other staff who keep a blog, etc.
Thank you all once again, and I look forward to hearing from you and to seeing you all soon!!!
FACE TO FEET
ams :)
PS: In case the links to Harvest Language Center, the Electronic Funds Transfer, and my blog are not functioning, their web addresses are:
http://www.harvestlanguagecenter.org/
https://www.egivingsystems.org/support/42705/
http://amberinmexico.blogspot.com
Your continued prayer support is invaluable to me. I covet your prayers daily, and I'm trusting that the Lord is continuing to bless each and every one of you. I have enjoyed hearing stories from some of you about how life is going in the states and how your families are doing and growing. What a joy to be able to continue to share in your lives even from such a great distance! How truly amazing it is to be part of the Family of God, knit together at the heart! Please keep checking my blog to find out more details about what is going on in my life and with our ministry here in Cofradia and the surrounding area. There are also pictures posted in the blog entries, and there are links to more pictures as well as to other staff who keep a blog, etc.
Thank you all once again, and I look forward to hearing from you and to seeing you all soon!!!
FACE TO FEET
ams :)
PS: In case the links to Harvest Language Center, the Electronic Funds Transfer, and my blog are not functioning, their web addresses are:
http://www.harvestlanguagecenter.org/
https://www.egivingsystems.org/support/42705/
http://amberinmexico.blogspot.com
Monday, May 08, 2006
This week has been one of reminders.
Thank you Lord for your unceasing faithfulness to keep me growing, to keep me teachable, to keep me deeper.
reminders to be careful with my mouth, not only because of the effect that careless words can have, but also because of the responsibility that is inherent in my presence here
reminders that my justification is not man-made, not a justification that simply hides my sins, but is God-granted and actually washes my sins completly away so that I'm clothed in RIGHTEOUSNESS rather than just fig leaves
reminders that I'm to live out of an unceasing fountain of Life that is Christ and not out of the cracked and broken cisterns that I have a tendency to build for myself
reminders of the grace that He has lavishly poured out on me and how undeserving yet how unquenchably loved I truly am.
Thank you Lord for your unceasing faithfulness to keep me growing, to keep me teachable, to keep me deeper.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
The Girls...
From L-R: Me, Favi, Mili, Sandy, LupeMy mind and heart have been reeling ever since that conversation with Sandy. There is such an incredible void here when it comes to women's ministry. There are resources for kids (regular sunday school classes, STM outreaches, etc), for families (family groups), for the church as a whole (navigator's 2:7 class for adults and for youth, but it's co-ed, sunday school, etc.), for the youth in general (youth group, STM outreaches, 2:7 class, etc), and for the men specifically (discipleship, men's ministry, etc.), but there is nothing just for the young women around here. There is no ministry or discipleship outreach actively seeking out these young girls. There isn't even a formal friendship outreach with them....Until I showed up....And I can't seem to get enough of them. This week I have gone to Arrayanes 3 days in a row (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday), and they will all be spending the night here on Saturday again--including Favi this time too! I have had a chance to spend some time just with Sandy this week, digging in to some of the stuff she's dealing with right now and getting to know her much better, and I'm hoping to do the same with each of them.
Please keep these girls in your fervent prayers, and me as well. I need wisdom as it's coming up on decision time about whether or not to return, and how to proceed depending on what's decided. I need wisdom in how to navigate these relationships, how to make sure that each one of them knows that I am here for them individually and equally and not just for one or two or just for the group. When you're that hungry for that kind of relationship, it's so easy to get jealous, and I've already started to see a little of that. Please pray that the Lord would protect against that kind of attack, and that I would have the wisdom to know how to proceed with each one and with them all as a group. Please pray for these girls that they would know that the Lord hears their cries--each of them individually--that he hears them and answers in tangible ways, not JUST abstract ways. They are all Christians, so pray for hope and growth and maturity and a deepened love between them and their Heavenly Husband. And please pray for their families, especially the dad of Mili and Sandy--His name is Benito, and he is not a Christian (their mother is). Please pray!
And now for some pictures from another nail painting experience this week:
The girls had a good time doing my nails--a french manicure where 9 of the tips are the Mexican flag and one is the American flag. This was Sandy's idea after she had Lupe do hers with 9 American flags and 1 Mexican.
The result. You can barely see the American flag, but it's on my thumb, and underneat it says "MEX".
Mili and her nails painted by Lupe on Monday--little flowers with a couple of stripes. Lupe is really quite an artist!Thursday, April 20, 2006
New church update..
So, folks have asked if I will post updates every now and then on how the construction progresses on the new central church facility we are building. I posted one a few weeks ago with some pics, but there has been progress worthy of mention. The team that was here two weeks ago from Washington finished pouring the foundation for the wall around the property. Also, we have begun building what will be the power/storage room! So, I walked out to the property yesterday to take some pics, and I'm posting them here. Bye the way, they are taken from the opposite side from the pictures posted in a former update.
One other little note of interest. Before the team left, the pastor and some of the men from family groups here in Cofradia walked out the property and spent some time writing verses or prayers on large rocks tha were incorporated into that foundation they poured. Here is what Pastor Gollo wrote about this in an update to our home office:
This is the last part of the foundation finished by the Southside team from Washington
This is the storage/power room
A view of the foundation
The last wall foundation completed--a view of its length
A view up another side--big facility!
One other little note of interest. Before the team left, the pastor and some of the men from family groups here in Cofradia walked out the property and spent some time writing verses or prayers on large rocks tha were incorporated into that foundation they poured. Here is what Pastor Gollo wrote about this in an update to our home office:
"The pastor went with some of the brothers to the property of the new church to write inscriptions, thoughts, scriptures, or prayers on rocks. These rocks will become part of the foundation. Some of them read, “That this place would be where my children would grow spiritually, and that my brothers would draw close to God and worship Him here.” As well we went as a family group to have a time of prayer over the church. We asked that this church would be a permanent place of restoration for the surrounding towns."
This central church facility is going to be big, but it's size is not the most significant characteristic! It seemed strange to me that we would be building a central facility to house corporate sunday services for the churches in Cofradia, Santa Fe, AND Arrayanes, because Arrayanes already has a church facility, and the group of believers in Santa Fe is so small that they simply join in Cofradia. I didn't understand why they wouldn't just build a facility for the Cofradia/Santa Fe church. But it's been explained to me that because these little towns are far enough away that it's too far to walk, for the most part they feel isolated from each other as believers, and having sunday services in their separate villages doesn't help decrease that isolation feeling. So, the vision for this central building is not only to be big enough to have facilities for different ministries and needs but also to UNIFY the body of Christ in this area, to create a place where they come together as ONE body, learning together, fellowshiping together, edifying one another, and loving each other.
It's such a simple concept, and yet it is SO profound to me. In the states we don't have issues with getting together with other believers whenever we want. We are so mobile and for the most part there are believers all around us! Not only that, but rarely have I experienced a church body making strides to UNITE with another church body on purpose. Normally, we multiply--not necessarily out of strife, but also for various other legitimate reasons. So, for me there is something truly enchanting and captivating and incredible about the desire of these churches to unite, to do whatever it takes to maintain ONE body in our ONE Lord and to be the best body it can be for this area. Wow! I never ceased to be amazed here....NEVER!
Well, enjoy the pics, and please keep this project and these churches in your prayers...
This is the last part of the foundation finished by the Southside team from Washington
This is the storage/power room
A view of the foundation
The last wall foundation completed--a view of its length
A view up another side--big facility!Wednesday, April 19, 2006
So, last week was hard. It was so quiet after the team left, and I missed having so many people readily accesible. I found myself struggling pretty badly with missing the mental comforts of home like being able to communicate easily or knowing what's expected when I have company or knowing all the words to the praise songs so I can close my eyes during worship. However, since Sunday, the Lord has really been doing some attitude checking in my heart. I have spent some time in Haggai 1, 2 Corinthians 4-5, and Romans 12 the last few days, and it has come down to this:
No, I still don't know whether or not the Lord will bring me back to Mexico, but the bigger question is whether or not I'm willing to hear and obey joyfully either way! I don't think I was aware of this until now, but I'm not sure that I have been willing thus far. Now, however, He's got my attention, so we shall see what happens. I have needed this attitude check quite badly, and it's amazing to be able to sense the difference deep down inside. Thank the Lord! So, even though I had a hard time remembering that it was Easter time this past week, the Lord has been continuing to work renewing and resurrecting work in me, and it is all the more profound in light of what we have just celebrated!
Oh, Lord, settle your purposes so deeply into the core of my being that all I can do is trust and obey with joy and with love for the house you are building in and around me!
Am I living a life of offering?
No, I still don't know whether or not the Lord will bring me back to Mexico, but the bigger question is whether or not I'm willing to hear and obey joyfully either way! I don't think I was aware of this until now, but I'm not sure that I have been willing thus far. Now, however, He's got my attention, so we shall see what happens. I have needed this attitude check quite badly, and it's amazing to be able to sense the difference deep down inside. Thank the Lord! So, even though I had a hard time remembering that it was Easter time this past week, the Lord has been continuing to work renewing and resurrecting work in me, and it is all the more profound in light of what we have just celebrated!
Oh, Lord, settle your purposes so deeply into the core of my being that all I can do is trust and obey with joy and with love for the house you are building in and around me!
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Photos...
Ok, so I've added another link over there on the right! It's for my Yahoo Photos album storage...I've uploaded my pics to albums in My Yahoo Photos, so if you want to see even more pics, feel free to browse through those albums. The Christmas album is not complete yet, but the rest of them are...so ENJOY!
Thursday, April 13, 2006
cultural education
So, the cultural educating never ends around here! I'm constantly learning something new here that forces me to unlearn something I thought was just "the way it's done" in my American life!
I was told last night that for Mexicans, to say someone is fat is not an insult in the least. They use it all the time--it's just something they say, and often it's a compliment more than an insult, which is very backwards for us! But for them to associate any of their characteristics with an animal is HIGHLY offensive because it's like you could think them an animal. They do not value pets like we do in the states--your dog is just a dog, and it's got a job to do and that's really the only reason you have it. It's nowhere close to being man's best friend and is certainly not a member of the family! So, never compare a Mexican to an animal of any kind! And if they happen to tell you you're fat, don't worry, they are not insulting you!
I was told last night that for Mexicans, to say someone is fat is not an insult in the least. They use it all the time--it's just something they say, and often it's a compliment more than an insult, which is very backwards for us! But for them to associate any of their characteristics with an animal is HIGHLY offensive because it's like you could think them an animal. They do not value pets like we do in the states--your dog is just a dog, and it's got a job to do and that's really the only reason you have it. It's nowhere close to being man's best friend and is certainly not a member of the family! So, never compare a Mexican to an animal of any kind! And if they happen to tell you you're fat, don't worry, they are not insulting you!
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girls night "out"
Ok, so last night I headed over to Arrayanes, BY MYSELF!!! I had to drive one of the trucks there and it was not only my first time driving around here (which believe me is no picnic), but also my first time really finding my way around AT ALL in Arrayanes (a town about 3 miles away). I went over there to hang out with Sandy (19) and her sister Mili (16) and their cousins Faviola (Favi for short--20) and Lupita (23). What wonderful girls! I'm having such a good time getting to know them. They are totally girly and yet not superficially so all at the same time! What an amazing evening it was. I took my computer so I could show them pics of family and friends back home, and we also had a good time looking at pics from teams that have been here since I arrived. Then we had dinner..they made pancakes FROM SCRATCH! I was amazed because when this was decided, they sent Sandy to the store to get all the ingredients, and they just knew off the top of their heads what ingredients they needed AND how much of each!!! WOW!!! That's just crazy talk!
So, one of the things we talked about was really quite fun! I had been tagged on MySpace to do this little blog quiz where you write 6 weird charcteristics or habbits you have and then tag 6 other people to do the same. Well I had needed help cuz I couldn't think of any, so I'd asked my sister, Heather to help. One of these (#6 below) came up last night while I was hanging out with the girls, and when I explained the background behind it, they had fun going around and saying weird things about each of them as well as helping me come up with some (after the fact of course, so I have TWO blogs about this--one has the 6 that my sister and I thought up, and the other is the Mexican version..hehe). Anyway, here's what they came up with:
1. My eyes change color (they've been seeing that for themselves lately and they think it's so weird and so cool all at the same time!)
2. balbljablablakbalbalbhablalbhalbh --this is what I say to them when they are talking to me too quickly for me to understand them because that gibberish is exactly what I hear...I told them the really weird part of this is not that I say it but that they understand exactly what it means ("I'm trying to understand what you're trying to say to me, but I can't because you are speaking far too quickly for my gringa mind to process the words! Slow down!"--this is what ablablhbalhablhalbhalbha means, but I say that so fast that it sounds like blabhlabhlabhalhbalhbalhblahb).
3. I can't cook, not for real cooking anyway...If it comes with directions I'll probably be ok, but if there is anything like "season to taste" or anything else fairly subjective, them I'm toast! Last night we had pancakes for dinner, and when that was decided upon, they sent Sandy to the store with a list of what was needed to make them...FROM SCRATCH....I was amazed at how they didn't need to consult a recipe card or buy a box...they just KNEW off the top of their heads what ingredients and exactly how much were needed to make HOMEMADE pancakes!!!! Um....WOW!
4. My hair--it can be curly and poofy/big or straight and flat--they think this is so strange...and honestly it probably is, but I like it! Options, my friends..it's all about having options!
5. Apparantly, when I get embarrased and blush, my ears blush...but they were telling me that it's only ONE ear that blushes and gets really hot....this I did not know, so I cannot really validate its truth...but if it is true, then it is obviously weird and therefore must be incorporated!
6. I am "muy amigable", which literrally means very friendly, but it's significance is greater than that. This one they aggreed to after I told them what my sister said. My sister had told me that wherever I go I make sisters, not just friends, and she made her point by saying, "I bet you already have a group of really close girlfriends there, right?" To which I had to reply in the affirmative. I shared this with the girls last night when we were hanging out after they shared that they don't have friends here (all of them are related in one way or another) outside of their family and that they have never had a friend like me (a real friend that they can trust and be honest and real with) and that I'm an answer to their literal prayers....And the resulting weird thing was that I am "muy amigable". Talk about HUMBLING!
These girls are such a blessing and an answer to prayer! They have basically incorporated me into their inner group of friends, which is extremely honoring and humbling and joyous and sad all simultaneously! Now I think I have a glimpse into what it must have been like for my exchange student friends in high school....I came home last night completely joyous and ready to do a little dance for how thankful I was to have real friends here, but at the same time I just wanted to cry because every minute I spend with them is another minute that I love them more, and yet it's another minute closer to the day when I have to tell them goodbye...and at least for right now I have no idea if that goodbye will be permanent or only temporary. I just wish that my heart didn't have to be broken one way or the other--come back or stay home--either way part of my heart is going to stay very far away from me, and that is just way hard when it's a distance not easily traversed when the missing gets too hard.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to the next week or so...we've made plans already for three days coming up which include me accompanying their home group on their regular weekly outreach to Mojocuautla, a Cora Indian village in the mountains nearby; making a kind of Mexican cookie a week from today; and a pijama party next Friday during which we will EAT those cookies and do lots of girly things while we stay up all night having fun in my appartment (assuming that's approved by Dave)!
God is just so good!
So, one of the things we talked about was really quite fun! I had been tagged on MySpace to do this little blog quiz where you write 6 weird charcteristics or habbits you have and then tag 6 other people to do the same. Well I had needed help cuz I couldn't think of any, so I'd asked my sister, Heather to help. One of these (#6 below) came up last night while I was hanging out with the girls, and when I explained the background behind it, they had fun going around and saying weird things about each of them as well as helping me come up with some (after the fact of course, so I have TWO blogs about this--one has the 6 that my sister and I thought up, and the other is the Mexican version..hehe). Anyway, here's what they came up with:
1. My eyes change color (they've been seeing that for themselves lately and they think it's so weird and so cool all at the same time!)
2. balbljablablakbalbalbhablalbhalbh --this is what I say to them when they are talking to me too quickly for me to understand them because that gibberish is exactly what I hear...I told them the really weird part of this is not that I say it but that they understand exactly what it means ("I'm trying to understand what you're trying to say to me, but I can't because you are speaking far too quickly for my gringa mind to process the words! Slow down!"--this is what ablablhbalhablhalbhalbha means, but I say that so fast that it sounds like blabhlabhlabhalhbalhbalhblahb).
3. I can't cook, not for real cooking anyway...If it comes with directions I'll probably be ok, but if there is anything like "season to taste" or anything else fairly subjective, them I'm toast! Last night we had pancakes for dinner, and when that was decided upon, they sent Sandy to the store with a list of what was needed to make them...FROM SCRATCH....I was amazed at how they didn't need to consult a recipe card or buy a box...they just KNEW off the top of their heads what ingredients and exactly how much were needed to make HOMEMADE pancakes!!!! Um....WOW!
4. My hair--it can be curly and poofy/big or straight and flat--they think this is so strange...and honestly it probably is, but I like it! Options, my friends..it's all about having options!
5. Apparantly, when I get embarrased and blush, my ears blush...but they were telling me that it's only ONE ear that blushes and gets really hot....this I did not know, so I cannot really validate its truth...but if it is true, then it is obviously weird and therefore must be incorporated!
6. I am "muy amigable", which literrally means very friendly, but it's significance is greater than that. This one they aggreed to after I told them what my sister said. My sister had told me that wherever I go I make sisters, not just friends, and she made her point by saying, "I bet you already have a group of really close girlfriends there, right?" To which I had to reply in the affirmative. I shared this with the girls last night when we were hanging out after they shared that they don't have friends here (all of them are related in one way or another) outside of their family and that they have never had a friend like me (a real friend that they can trust and be honest and real with) and that I'm an answer to their literal prayers....And the resulting weird thing was that I am "muy amigable". Talk about HUMBLING!
These girls are such a blessing and an answer to prayer! They have basically incorporated me into their inner group of friends, which is extremely honoring and humbling and joyous and sad all simultaneously! Now I think I have a glimpse into what it must have been like for my exchange student friends in high school....I came home last night completely joyous and ready to do a little dance for how thankful I was to have real friends here, but at the same time I just wanted to cry because every minute I spend with them is another minute that I love them more, and yet it's another minute closer to the day when I have to tell them goodbye...and at least for right now I have no idea if that goodbye will be permanent or only temporary. I just wish that my heart didn't have to be broken one way or the other--come back or stay home--either way part of my heart is going to stay very far away from me, and that is just way hard when it's a distance not easily traversed when the missing gets too hard.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to the next week or so...we've made plans already for three days coming up which include me accompanying their home group on their regular weekly outreach to Mojocuautla, a Cora Indian village in the mountains nearby; making a kind of Mexican cookie a week from today; and a pijama party next Friday during which we will EAT those cookies and do lots of girly things while we stay up all night having fun in my appartment (assuming that's approved by Dave)!
God is just so good!
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
oysters and all that jazz..
So, I just realized something the other day...when I return to the states in June, I can go anywhere and do anything I want (assuming the Lord doesn't in fact tell me to return to Mexico right away)!!! Granted, I want to walk in the Lord's will and plans for my life, but for the first time in my life, that will and plan could litterally be ANYTHING and could take me ANYWHERE!! I have no words to describe how joyous it is to have that kind of FREEDOM facing me! When I graduated from high school, college was next, and I was limited to in state. Thankfully the Lord had me at Mary Wash, and I'm so thankful for that. After graduating college, I needed to find a job AND FAST to pay for bills and loans, etc, and ever since it's been that rat race where you can never quite catch up and just forget trying to get ahead...until now.
Now, I'm in Mexico for three months (52 days to go), and I have a return ticket for BWI in Maryland from which location I will head to Richmond for Becky's wedding. I do not currently know where I will live and I do not currently have a job lined up. I have nothing but complete confidence that the Lord will work those things out, so I'm not worried; the point of this is, however, that there is nothing that I'm OBLIGED to return to in VA aside from wanting to see my friends and family again and hear their beautiful voices after three months.
There are just no words to describe the elation that this realization has illicted in my heart!
Wow...God is SOOOOOOOO INFINTELY GOOD!!!!
So, I'm taking suggestions as of now! :) :) :) :) :) :)
Now, I'm in Mexico for three months (52 days to go), and I have a return ticket for BWI in Maryland from which location I will head to Richmond for Becky's wedding. I do not currently know where I will live and I do not currently have a job lined up. I have nothing but complete confidence that the Lord will work those things out, so I'm not worried; the point of this is, however, that there is nothing that I'm OBLIGED to return to in VA aside from wanting to see my friends and family again and hear their beautiful voices after three months.
There are just no words to describe the elation that this realization has illicted in my heart!
Wow...God is SOOOOOOOO INFINTELY GOOD!!!!
...When Jesus is MY PORTION
A constant FRIEND his He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I KNOW He watches me
So I SING because I'M HAPPY
And I SING because I'M FREE
His eye is on the sparrow
And I KNOW He watches me!
"Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." ~Is. 55:2b
A constant FRIEND his He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I KNOW He watches me
So I SING because I'M HAPPY
And I SING because I'M FREE
His eye is on the sparrow
And I KNOW He watches me!
"Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." ~Is. 55:2b
So, I'm taking suggestions as of now! :) :) :) :) :) :)
Monday, April 10, 2006
Southside Christian Church
So, last week was a buzz of activity around here! We had a team of 32 here from April 1-8 (they left Cofradia on April 7 for Mazatlan and flew home from Mazatlan on April 8). They were from Spokane, WA, and they were SUCH A BLAST! I had such a good time with them! I was very impressed with how much fun they were all able to have with each other and still manage to behave themselves. It was simply fun for the sake of enjoying themselves and not for the sake of causing trouble! How amazing to find that kind of maturity in kids between the ages of 14 and 17/18. Most of them were in the younger part of that range, too! They worked so hard on the new church building being constructed right now. I believe they finished the work needed on the last part of the wall foundation and actually got that poured and completed ahead of schedule! So, since they had finished early in Thursday with their construction activities, we took them up to the Penas Mountain (see one of my earlier posts) to see the countryside.
In the afternoons all week they hosted a Kid's Club VBS. We averaged about 120 kids here on the base property EVERY DAY! It was amazing! I didn't even know we had
that many kids around here! We brought them in from Arrayanes and Santa Fe also, but the bulk of them were from right here in Cofradia! The Kid's Club activities included worship at the beginning. There were also dramas put on by the kids and narrated from scripture passages (Creation of Man and Woman, The Prodigal Son, The Healing of the Paralytic, and The Good Samaritan). The kids did such a good job acting out their parts in the drama--they were quite entertaining but they got the points across very well.
Creation of Man and Woman--Adam (in white) trying to find a suitable helper amongst the animals
The Prodigal Son--The Father's joy when his son comes home
The Healing of the Paralytic--The Lame walks again!
The Good Samaritan--Taking the man to get help
Then after the dramas, the kids were divided into groups that they stayed in all week, and those
groups would do crafts that were somewhat pertinant to the dramas they had just seen from scripture. At the end of the week--Thursday night--we showed The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe for all the kids who had come during the week AND their parents! It was a smash hit. Lots of popcorn (they eat it with chile sauce on it!) and lots of people and lots of fun!
I ended up having to help with translation this week, too. That was quite a stretch for me because I do alright in casual conversation when I have something to say because I can figure it out ahead of time; but there is no way for me to know what someone's going to want to say and therefore cannot plan it out ahead of time! So, that was quite a stretch, but it was so neat because by the end of the week, I was having an 2-hour-long conversation with one of the girls from Arrayanes that I'm getting to know. Her name is Sandy (the girl to my left), and her younger sister is
Mili (to my right, and the girl all the way on the right is their cousin Lupe)--I've mentioned them before. They are cousins of Faviola and Brenda, about whom I've also blogged before. It was such a neat thing to see how much more comfortable I was with sticking myself out there and just talking with people by the end of the week. The funny thing was that on Friday I accompanied the team to Mazatlan, where I spoke almost no Spanish for about 36 hours, and by the time I got back to Cofradia, I felt like I'd taken a step backward--you know, 2 steps forward, 1 step back. However, that's ok, because at least I know that I CAN do it and that it DOES improve with practice, so I'm trying to make arrangements that will provide me with lots of opportunities to practice! One other exciting happened that happened this week!! I saw my first armadillo, and I actually ATE armadillo! It was very flavorful!!
Here's our armadillow friend in the arms of Rachel, surrounded by Alejandra (left), Rebecka in the green (in Tepic for 3 months from Canada), and Lili (Mexican girl who works with the others in Tepic)
And here is our Armadillow friend trying to get away. Yes, we ate him--boy was he tasty!
We had quite a blast in Mazatlan on Friday and Saturday. The bus ride there was quite enjoyable for me because I actually got to spend some time with the girls of the group. The oddest thing happened with this group--I spent almost no time at all with any of the girls! I always ended up hanging out with the guys, which is SO out of character for me. But I never felt anything but completely comfortable with this group of guys, and it was really good for me to have the chance to be "one of the guys" if you will and grow even more in my ability to interact with men well and to get more insight into man-world! However, I greatly enjoyed getting to know some of the girls on the team on our way to and in Mazatalan! In fact, a couple of them walked with me on the beach Friday night late for about an hour and a half and we had such a good time talking and laughing and
sharing. They are such a stellar group of guys and girls! It says a great deal about the caliber of leadership at that church that their youth group--and such a young youth group--has turned out as it has! Makes me want to go check out that church because they must be doing something right! One other enjoyable aspect of this past week was that we had some folks come from Tepic to help out in the kitchen and with translating (see the armadillo picture above), since we are so short-staffed right now with two of our staff families out of the country. We had a married couple and three girls around my age staying with us all week. The three girls stayed in the room in front of mine, and we had such a blast! It was great to have some girlfriends around and to get lots of social time with them! What a blessing all of 
this has been for me this week. I'm very much an extrovert, and I had spent A LOT of time by myself over the first four weeks I was here; but I don't think I'd realized how depleted my energy sources had become until I had this group and these three girls here to talk with and enjoy! I truly just soaked up every ounce that I could. The only time I really spent alone was when I was sleeping or working on stuff for Dave or team expenses (which took about an hour a day tops, if that)! Two of the girls ended up going with us to Mazatlan, and we had a blast out on the beach all day (I actually got some sun without burning!!!) and at dinner Friday night. We also shared a room and had some good girl-talk in our room! I'm loving making friends here, but it's going to be awefully hard to leave them when I return in June!
The sunset in Mazatlan as we at our team banquet in a beautiful, open-air restaurant on the beach!
So, now I'm almost half-way through my three months in Mexico. It's amazing to realize that, and unbelievable all at the same time. We have no more teams coming during my time here, so we shall see how things go. Semana Santa is arriving here--either this week or next. It will be interesting to see how they celebrate Holy Week and Easter here! It was so cool to experience a Mexican Christmas, and now I'll get to do the same with Easter--what better holidays to experience in another culture! I'm excited over that. :)
I'm continuing to tutor Cecilio with his reading. He is improving, slowly but surely. I'm trying to encourage him to start reading words and not just syllables, but that's a hard concept to understand. I've also been asked by a girl in town to teach her English. Now, that's a challenge, because I've never taught English before. So, we'll see how that goes. She wants to come 3 days a week; we're gonna try that at first, but that may change depending on how well it goes. Thankfully, Jan and Doug will be back in a week or so, and both of them are professional teachers and have even taught English here before. So, hopefully I can get some help and advice and guidance from them. I'm also going to be branching out a little more and trying to head over to Arrayanes more frequently on my own to hang out and talk with Faviola, Brenda, Mili, and Sandy and some others. I really want to get to know these girls better. I'm told by some of the missionaries that they respond so well to me in ways that they've never really responded to any of the others that have been here so much longer than I. They tell me that I seem to be able to reach the folks that no one else has ever been able to reach, and since I don't know everyone's history, I don't look at someone and think, "Oh, she's never gonna get it, so I'm just not going to try anymore." Every person in this town is fresh and new to me, and for that I have a special opportunity to reach people in ways that others haven't been able to. I'm trying to be open to that, but it's hard because it requires me to get out there and interact with people that the others are spending as much time with, which means I'm on my own in a lot of ways...YIKES! But the Lord knows why He has me here and what He wants to do in and through me, and all I need to do is keep my heart open and willing and obedient. So, please keep that in your prayers! I still don't know if I'm coming back or not, but I'm enjoying my time while I have it, and that's all I need to know for today!
In the afternoons all week they hosted a Kid's Club VBS. We averaged about 120 kids here on the base property EVERY DAY! It was amazing! I didn't even know we had
that many kids around here! We brought them in from Arrayanes and Santa Fe also, but the bulk of them were from right here in Cofradia! The Kid's Club activities included worship at the beginning. There were also dramas put on by the kids and narrated from scripture passages (Creation of Man and Woman, The Prodigal Son, The Healing of the Paralytic, and The Good Samaritan). The kids did such a good job acting out their parts in the drama--they were quite entertaining but they got the points across very well. 
Creation of Man and Woman--Adam (in white) trying to find a suitable helper amongst the animals
The Prodigal Son--The Father's joy when his son comes home
The Healing of the Paralytic--The Lame walks again!
The Good Samaritan--Taking the man to get helpThen after the dramas, the kids were divided into groups that they stayed in all week, and those
groups would do crafts that were somewhat pertinant to the dramas they had just seen from scripture. At the end of the week--Thursday night--we showed The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe for all the kids who had come during the week AND their parents! It was a smash hit. Lots of popcorn (they eat it with chile sauce on it!) and lots of people and lots of fun!I ended up having to help with translation this week, too. That was quite a stretch for me because I do alright in casual conversation when I have something to say because I can figure it out ahead of time; but there is no way for me to know what someone's going to want to say and therefore cannot plan it out ahead of time! So, that was quite a stretch, but it was so neat because by the end of the week, I was having an 2-hour-long conversation with one of the girls from Arrayanes that I'm getting to know. Her name is Sandy (the girl to my left), and her younger sister is
Mili (to my right, and the girl all the way on the right is their cousin Lupe)--I've mentioned them before. They are cousins of Faviola and Brenda, about whom I've also blogged before. It was such a neat thing to see how much more comfortable I was with sticking myself out there and just talking with people by the end of the week. The funny thing was that on Friday I accompanied the team to Mazatlan, where I spoke almost no Spanish for about 36 hours, and by the time I got back to Cofradia, I felt like I'd taken a step backward--you know, 2 steps forward, 1 step back. However, that's ok, because at least I know that I CAN do it and that it DOES improve with practice, so I'm trying to make arrangements that will provide me with lots of opportunities to practice! One other exciting happened that happened this week!! I saw my first armadillo, and I actually ATE armadillo! It was very flavorful!!
Here's our armadillow friend in the arms of Rachel, surrounded by Alejandra (left), Rebecka in the green (in Tepic for 3 months from Canada), and Lili (Mexican girl who works with the others in Tepic)
And here is our Armadillow friend trying to get away. Yes, we ate him--boy was he tasty! 
We had quite a blast in Mazatlan on Friday and Saturday. The bus ride there was quite enjoyable for me because I actually got to spend some time with the girls of the group. The oddest thing happened with this group--I spent almost no time at all with any of the girls! I always ended up hanging out with the guys, which is SO out of character for me. But I never felt anything but completely comfortable with this group of guys, and it was really good for me to have the chance to be "one of the guys" if you will and grow even more in my ability to interact with men well and to get more insight into man-world! However, I greatly enjoyed getting to know some of the girls on the team on our way to and in Mazatalan! In fact, a couple of them walked with me on the beach Friday night late for about an hour and a half and we had such a good time talking and laughing and
sharing. They are such a stellar group of guys and girls! It says a great deal about the caliber of leadership at that church that their youth group--and such a young youth group--has turned out as it has! Makes me want to go check out that church because they must be doing something right! One other enjoyable aspect of this past week was that we had some folks come from Tepic to help out in the kitchen and with translating (see the armadillo picture above), since we are so short-staffed right now with two of our staff families out of the country. We had a married couple and three girls around my age staying with us all week. The three girls stayed in the room in front of mine, and we had such a blast! It was great to have some girlfriends around and to get lots of social time with them! What a blessing all of 
this has been for me this week. I'm very much an extrovert, and I had spent A LOT of time by myself over the first four weeks I was here; but I don't think I'd realized how depleted my energy sources had become until I had this group and these three girls here to talk with and enjoy! I truly just soaked up every ounce that I could. The only time I really spent alone was when I was sleeping or working on stuff for Dave or team expenses (which took about an hour a day tops, if that)! Two of the girls ended up going with us to Mazatlan, and we had a blast out on the beach all day (I actually got some sun without burning!!!) and at dinner Friday night. We also shared a room and had some good girl-talk in our room! I'm loving making friends here, but it's going to be awefully hard to leave them when I return in June!
The sunset in Mazatlan as we at our team banquet in a beautiful, open-air restaurant on the beach!So, now I'm almost half-way through my three months in Mexico. It's amazing to realize that, and unbelievable all at the same time. We have no more teams coming during my time here, so we shall see how things go. Semana Santa is arriving here--either this week or next. It will be interesting to see how they celebrate Holy Week and Easter here! It was so cool to experience a Mexican Christmas, and now I'll get to do the same with Easter--what better holidays to experience in another culture! I'm excited over that. :)
I'm continuing to tutor Cecilio with his reading. He is improving, slowly but surely. I'm trying to encourage him to start reading words and not just syllables, but that's a hard concept to understand. I've also been asked by a girl in town to teach her English. Now, that's a challenge, because I've never taught English before. So, we'll see how that goes. She wants to come 3 days a week; we're gonna try that at first, but that may change depending on how well it goes. Thankfully, Jan and Doug will be back in a week or so, and both of them are professional teachers and have even taught English here before. So, hopefully I can get some help and advice and guidance from them. I'm also going to be branching out a little more and trying to head over to Arrayanes more frequently on my own to hang out and talk with Faviola, Brenda, Mili, and Sandy and some others. I really want to get to know these girls better. I'm told by some of the missionaries that they respond so well to me in ways that they've never really responded to any of the others that have been here so much longer than I. They tell me that I seem to be able to reach the folks that no one else has ever been able to reach, and since I don't know everyone's history, I don't look at someone and think, "Oh, she's never gonna get it, so I'm just not going to try anymore." Every person in this town is fresh and new to me, and for that I have a special opportunity to reach people in ways that others haven't been able to. I'm trying to be open to that, but it's hard because it requires me to get out there and interact with people that the others are spending as much time with, which means I'm on my own in a lot of ways...YIKES! But the Lord knows why He has me here and what He wants to do in and through me, and all I need to do is keep my heart open and willing and obedient. So, please keep that in your prayers! I still don't know if I'm coming back or not, but I'm enjoying my time while I have it, and that's all I need to know for today!
Moving Again!
So, Dave's parents left to return to Canada (where they are from) last week on Wednesday, which means I have moved again. I've now taken up residence in the apartment beneath Dave and Kathy's. So, here's some pics of my living quarters for the rest of the time here. I'm enjoying it so far! It's very spacious, and honestly, it's the first time that I've ever had my own apartment--without roommates, that is. It's so nice to have room to spread out a little bit and places other than my bed to sit and read or work on my computer or watch a movie or visit with folks or whatever. I also now have my own kitchen and can buy and store my own food, whereas before that was a little more difficult since I had to use the base kitchen and we were anticipating another team's arrival. So, I've gone shopping for groceries, and I'm set for a little while anyway. Yea!!!
The bedroom is about the same size as the room I was living in before, but now I don't have to store EVERYTHING in it, so it feels bigger. What you can't see in this pic is that just to the left of the edge of the picture is a hanging rod just like I had in the other room, for hanging clothes, and there is another bedside table there too. The wodden furniture in this room was hand made by Dave's parents! How cool is that?! And I actually have a real dresser here for clothes, etc! Dave's mom left some candles and silk flowers and a little mirror for me too! So, it's pretty to look at and quite homey for sleeping! Just outside that window is where the bunnies live. Dave, Kathy, and Jonathan raise bunnies to sell. They are very loud at night, so it's a good thing that I'm a deep sleeper! You can see the bathroom at the back of the room. That is the same bathroom I used when living in the other room. That other room I lived in is on the other side of the back wall where the bed is.
This is the kitchen! Isn't it so airy and pretty? Dave's mom did a very good job with decorating and painting. I love the stenciling higher up on the walls. It's not very Mexican in color and all, but it suits my American decorating sensibilities quite nicely, so I'm enjoying it! There's another big window on the other side of the table, which you can't see in this pic. Just for your FYI, this is the room where I realized the Lord might bring me back to Mexico during that Christmas trip!
And the living room! As you can see, lots of space, and even a TV and VCR! I still have to use my computer for DVDs, but now I can watch VHS videos as well, which Dave and Kathy also have an abundance of and share quite freely with me. It's nice also to have a little work station for the computer, etc. I love the windows, too--LOTS of light! Very happy for me!
The bedroom is about the same size as the room I was living in before, but now I don't have to store EVERYTHING in it, so it feels bigger. What you can't see in this pic is that just to the left of the edge of the picture is a hanging rod just like I had in the other room, for hanging clothes, and there is another bedside table there too. The wodden furniture in this room was hand made by Dave's parents! How cool is that?! And I actually have a real dresser here for clothes, etc! Dave's mom left some candles and silk flowers and a little mirror for me too! So, it's pretty to look at and quite homey for sleeping! Just outside that window is where the bunnies live. Dave, Kathy, and Jonathan raise bunnies to sell. They are very loud at night, so it's a good thing that I'm a deep sleeper! You can see the bathroom at the back of the room. That is the same bathroom I used when living in the other room. That other room I lived in is on the other side of the back wall where the bed is.
This is the kitchen! Isn't it so airy and pretty? Dave's mom did a very good job with decorating and painting. I love the stenciling higher up on the walls. It's not very Mexican in color and all, but it suits my American decorating sensibilities quite nicely, so I'm enjoying it! There's another big window on the other side of the table, which you can't see in this pic. Just for your FYI, this is the room where I realized the Lord might bring me back to Mexico during that Christmas trip!
And the living room! As you can see, lots of space, and even a TV and VCR! I still have to use my computer for DVDs, but now I can watch VHS videos as well, which Dave and Kathy also have an abundance of and share quite freely with me. It's nice also to have a little work station for the computer, etc. I love the windows, too--LOTS of light! Very happy for me!
Sorry I haven't posted in a while. It's been a pretty hectic couple of weeks! About two weeks ago, I headed to Tuxpan again with a woman connected to the ministry here in order to run a few errands for Dave. We had a good time in the city--had lunch and walked around a bit. I took some pictures and wanted to give you an idea of what the city is like here. It's SOO different from the country, where I'm living. In fact, the differences are shocking sometimes to me! Every time I go to Tuxpan or a bigger city, like Tepic or Mazatlan, I feel like I've stepped back into the 20th-21st century; but then I return home to Cofradia, and it feels like I've stepped back in time a bit--almost like the 20th century, but in many ways it's like stepping back about 50 years! It's a very strange experience and extremely difficult to put to words, but perhaps the pictures will indeed communicate the thousands of words that I seem unable to find.
Ok, so tthese are a shot of a typical street in Tuxpan (left) and a typical street in Cofradia (right). Notice the stark difference! I
don't really enjoy going to Tuxpan because it is SOOO crowded that it just makes me nervous. There are so many people walking around and the roads and sidewalks are PACKED with cars and sidewalk shops or eateries (for lack of a better word for the little places you can stop and eat that aren't really like restaurants, etc.). However, in Cofradia, I can walk down the street and breathe, and enjoy the plain beauty that God has placed in this country. It's almost like getting back to what's real.
The sidewalks there are swarming with vendors selling everything from food to shoes to jewlry and more! In addition, you can also see the buildings that are full of stores as well! It's crazy! As you can see, this is me in just such a store--a flower shop.
Isabel and I stopped and ate at a little sidewalk eatery that made really good seafood stuff. So we had
what they call Jugo de Camarones (the J sounds like an H)--literally, that means Shrimp Juice, but as you can see it's really like a brothy soup. I believe the broth is tomatoe based, and it has shrimp in it along with onions and cucumbers and some other vegetables. You can get it cold or hot. Mine was kind of in between, but it was really good!
One other thing I got see in Tuxpan was the market (below). They have stores there in Tuxpan--like
general stores really, but they call them Farmacias (Pharmacies), whether they dispense medications or not. But they have markets too. They are sort-of open air, in that they are covered but don't have doors on the entrances. There are booths set up, and it seems that they are permanent booths. Perhaps the vendors rent them or something I don't know, but they have a meat section and a fruits and vegetables section and all kinds of other stuff. It was pretty neat to see that! You don't see those in the states anymore, really! This was one of those times where it felt like the modern times mixed with about 50 years ago or more. It's really weird! And again, really crowded--which you can't really see in this picture, because we were there right before siesta time started (2-4 every day), which is when everyone shuts down to go home and have lunch, relax, or whatever. Then they open back up again around 4:30-5 pm for evening vending hours which generally end later than what we are used to.
Ok, so tthese are a shot of a typical street in Tuxpan (left) and a typical street in Cofradia (right). Notice the stark difference! I
don't really enjoy going to Tuxpan because it is SOOO crowded that it just makes me nervous. There are so many people walking around and the roads and sidewalks are PACKED with cars and sidewalk shops or eateries (for lack of a better word for the little places you can stop and eat that aren't really like restaurants, etc.). However, in Cofradia, I can walk down the street and breathe, and enjoy the plain beauty that God has placed in this country. It's almost like getting back to what's real.Speaking of sidewalk shopping and eateries:
The sidewalks there are swarming with vendors selling everything from food to shoes to jewlry and more! In addition, you can also see the buildings that are full of stores as well! It's crazy! As you can see, this is me in just such a store--a flower shop.Isabel and I stopped and ate at a little sidewalk eatery that made really good seafood stuff. So we had
what they call Jugo de Camarones (the J sounds like an H)--literally, that means Shrimp Juice, but as you can see it's really like a brothy soup. I believe the broth is tomatoe based, and it has shrimp in it along with onions and cucumbers and some other vegetables. You can get it cold or hot. Mine was kind of in between, but it was really good!One other thing I got see in Tuxpan was the market (below). They have stores there in Tuxpan--like
general stores really, but they call them Farmacias (Pharmacies), whether they dispense medications or not. But they have markets too. They are sort-of open air, in that they are covered but don't have doors on the entrances. There are booths set up, and it seems that they are permanent booths. Perhaps the vendors rent them or something I don't know, but they have a meat section and a fruits and vegetables section and all kinds of other stuff. It was pretty neat to see that! You don't see those in the states anymore, really! This was one of those times where it felt like the modern times mixed with about 50 years ago or more. It's really weird! And again, really crowded--which you can't really see in this picture, because we were there right before siesta time started (2-4 every day), which is when everyone shuts down to go home and have lunch, relax, or whatever. Then they open back up again around 4:30-5 pm for evening vending hours which generally end later than what we are used to.Monday, March 27, 2006
from L to R: Feliciano and Tonia, Guille, Jonathan,Chuy, and then KathyWell, this weekend was fun! On Saturday a bunch of us were going to go to the beach, but ended up going to a local waterpark instead. I found out this weekend we're only 45 minutes from the Pacific Ocean at best, and about 1.5 hours at second best! How awesome is that?! I'm definitely hoping we'll get to go some time before I leave! Anyway, the waterpark is called Las Ranas (The Frogs)--they have several pools of varying depths and a couple of water slides. I went with Kathy and Jonathan and a Mexican family from Cofradia--Feliciano, Tonia (short for Antonia), and their kids Chuy (real name is Jesus) and Guille (short for Guillermo--ll sounds like the y in yes--it means William). We got there around 9:30 and were there until around 3:30-4ish. Shortly before we left, Jay and Faith and their kids and Faith's parents (who are missionaries in Oaxaca--pronounced Wahaca) and some of the boys from the youth group joined us, but we left before they did.
On our way home, we decided to drive up this big mountain just outside of Penas (the waterpark is between Penas and Tuxpan). There's nothing really on this mountain except at the very top are some huge microwave towers. I have no idea what it's called, and I'm not sure what the towers are for, but they're there. We drop up a really narrow, bumpy, cobblestone road that goes up to the top. It was an amazing view of Mecixo, that's for sure! The picture doesn't show it very well, but the top is actually some bald rock face on which the towers were built. Feliciano had a good time pointing out various places to us from the top, such as where Cofradia is located as well as places like Santa Fe and Ruiz. It was pretty cool and absolutely breathtaking!
This is a view of the west side of the mountain. If you look close enough, you can see the Pacific Ocean right at the horizon line!!!
And this is to the east. That is the San Pedro River.
We could do without the shrine, but there's just something about seeing all that Mexican landscape with a cross out in front looking over it all! Yes, Lord, PLEASE!! That's Kathy and Guille sitting under the cross--also very meaningful!
Facing north-ish, this is our road home. Penas is just over the river, just outside the foreground of the picture. Tuxpan is another 8 kilometers west. These are the two closest cities.
I know it's a little hazy, but these hills/mountains are just to the east of the road we take home. This is a shot of the area where Cofradia, Arrayanes, and Santa Fe are located. If you can spot it, we think Cofradia is just behind the little hill just in front of the far right pointy hill/mountain in the middle of the picture just to the right.
And this is to the east. That is the San Pedro River.
We could do without the shrine, but there's just something about seeing all that Mexican landscape with a cross out in front looking over it all! Yes, Lord, PLEASE!! That's Kathy and Guille sitting under the cross--also very meaningful!
Facing north-ish, this is our road home. Penas is just over the river, just outside the foreground of the picture. Tuxpan is another 8 kilometers west. These are the two closest cities.
I know it's a little hazy, but these hills/mountains are just to the east of the road we take home. This is a shot of the area where Cofradia, Arrayanes, and Santa Fe are located. If you can spot it, we think Cofradia is just behind the little hill just in front of the far right pointy hill/mountain in the middle of the picture just to the right.
It's just so gloriously beautiful!!! (This is another shot just to the west.) You can see the Pacific in this shot as well--just at the horizon line.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Ok, so I finally got around to taking some pictures of where I live. Alternative Missions has a base/compound sort of enclosure where Dave and Kathy and their son Jonathan live full-time. This is also where short-term teams stay when they are here. All the other staff live in houses in town, whether they own or rent. Since I'm a single woman, however, and because I'm wholly unfamiliar with life and culture in Mexico, I too live on the base. Right now I live in a room under Dave and Kathy's house and adjacent to a guest appartment, which is currently occupied by Dave's parents who come for 3-4 months at a time about once a year. They come and do projects of their own to help out the churches--building stuff, decorating stuff, or what have you. When Dave's parents (Marianne and Jack) leave in the beginning of April, I will move into the appartment, and I'll post pics when I move in. However, in the meantime, here's what the place looks like now.
This is a picture of the base from the front gate. The building straight back is the church palapa, where the Cofradia church currently meets on Sundays. My room, Dave and Kathy's house, and the appartment are all behind the church palapa. There is also another palapa behind the church palaps used for short-term teams for sleeping and also for sunday school. The structure making up the front wall where the picture is painted is the kitchen on the first floor and the gym on the second. You can see the name of the church painted on the front wall--Centro Cristiano. Off to the right behind the kitchen are two more palapas where the short-term teams sleep. The building to the left contains two showers and the workshop. Behind that and not visible is a building with two storage rooms, one of which is a dental clinic when dentists visit, and a sunday school room. The two people are Dave (in the foreground) and Jay (just behind).
This is my little room for now. There is another room in front of it, where I lived for a week when Linea was here helping to cool, but this is the room I'm living in until the appartment is vacated and I can move in there, where I'll have a kitchen and a living room as well well as a bedroom!
My current room and the appartment bedroom share a bathroom. It's actually a
really nice bathro
om! I do love the tiling they did in there. Much of the decorating was done by Dave's mom and dad, and they continue to make improvements while they are here--on the appartment anyway. For example, Dave's dad is a carpenter by trade, and he is currently making two bedside tables for the bedroom; he plans to have them finished before they return to Canada, so that I might use them after they leave!
And this is the view from almost my backyard...acutally my backyard is the police station which buts right up against the back wall of the base, but if I were to walk about two blocks straight down from the front gate, this is the view. Isn't it breathtaking? Pictures really don't do it any justice at all!
This is my little room for now. There is another room in front of it, where I lived for a week when Linea was here helping to cool, but this is the room I'm living in until the appartment is vacated and I can move in there, where I'll have a kitchen and a living room as well well as a bedroom!My current room and the appartment bedroom share a bathroom. It's actually a
really nice bathro
om! I do love the tiling they did in there. Much of the decorating was done by Dave's mom and dad, and they continue to make improvements while they are here--on the appartment anyway. For example, Dave's dad is a carpenter by trade, and he is currently making two bedside tables for the bedroom; he plans to have them finished before they return to Canada, so that I might use them after they leave! And this is the view from almost my backyard...acutally my backyard is the police station which buts right up against the back wall of the base, but if I were to walk about two blocks straight down from the front gate, this is the view. Isn't it breathtaking? Pictures really don't do it any justice at all!
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