(Top: Johan, my pastor; Second row, left to right: Paulina, Betty, Brenda, Me, Memo (May-mo), Sergio, Diana)
Howdy from Mexico!
It has been a crazy month for me, filled with lots of changes, a little culture shock, and tons of blessings!
I live with a wonderful woman, known as Hermana Maru (Air-ma-na Ma-du), who calls me her "blondie daughter," yet my host parents are technically her son and daughter-in-law, Johan and Gaby, who also refer to me as their daughter... Needless to say, the family dynamics are a little strange in that regard, but they are absolutely amazing! Gaby and Johan are also great, and we get along incredibly well. In my house, I am blessed to have a shower - some people on my team don't - but have the joy of learning to wash clothes by hand, which is proving interesting... I thought bleach turned clothes white... In reality, it turns things blue and yellow. And no, I haven't figured that one out yet!
I know there are food junkies out there, so real quick, my favorite foods thus far have been tacos al pastor (tacos al pah-store), pozole (think Bozo-Lay, but with a P) and pretty much any of Hermana Maru's soups! They are so delicious! Gaby, Johan and I have found this great little taco stand on the way back from courch that we stop at once in a while! Good times! Sadly, though, food also causes problems sometimes... I've had a few stomach issues because of some of the things I've eaten.
I am attending Iglesia Cristiano Sion (Ig-lay-see-ah Chris-tee-ah-no Zion), or Sion Christian Church. I love attending services there! The church has Pentecostal roots, or so I'm told. The worship is slightly more charismatic than Living Hope or Frankenmuth Bible Church, and by that I mean that everyone participates in clapping.... My experience there is a first, though, because this church is in a whole different economic sphere from anything I've ever experienced. I mean, ever. As in, my tithe is roughly $50 but I can't give my entire tithe to the church because it would double or triple their monthly budget, if not more... Even $10 a month is stretching their budget considerably, and I don't want to artificially inflate their income, so I am super excited to support a ministry or missionary back in the states! =D To further illustrate this point, there is a tree growing through the front wall of my church! The people at my church are positively wonderful! I am already starting to build relationships with the joven (hoe-ven) girls, who range in age from 15 to 17. They are positively wonderful! The families in my church are also incredibly welcoming and a great blessing! I am very thankful for how they have welcomed me in.
Part of my ministry this year will be discipling the joven girls, although I am still considering what that will look like exactly. Of course, the "Project Queen" in me already has her wheels turning. My goal is to begin showing them the possibilities of this world and to help them begin to dream about where God can take them.
The other major part of my ministry was just decided last week! I will be helping out with Compa (think the abreviation Co.-mmm-pa), or IFES Mexico! I will start out by attending a Cell group (small group) one day a week, at least until I get a better grasp of Spanish. The goal is to grow into a psuedo-staff role around January, which would be a HUGE help to Mario, who is the only full-time staff worker for all of Mexico City. Just for reference, that means he is in charge of 26 Cells on campuses throughout the city, or roughly 150 students, which is a little different from the goal of 1 staff for 50 students throughout the Red River Region. Honestly, it's a little tempting to say that my desire to go on staff with IV may be better fulfilled here in Mexico, where there are maybe 10 Christian organizatiosn, including churches, active on any given campus, than it could be in the states (U. Arkansas, where I was considering going on staff, has 26 differetn Christian organizations). Anyway, I met part of my new Cell for the first time on Monday, at La ESCA, or Escuela Superior de Comerico y Administration of the Instituto Politecnico Nacional. I'd give you a pronunciation of that, but I haven't heard it pronounced myself...
Other than that, life is busy with Spanish class and Spearhead meetings. Oh yeah, and travel. If you thought your 30 to 45 minute commute was crazy, imagine traveling an hour and a half, one way, daily! And I'm one of hte closer ones to the office! Oh yeah, and when traffic is bad, sometimes the best way to get around is to stand in the open door of a bus... Yep, I've done that, too! Hey, I have more space there than when I'm on the Tren Ligero (Train Li-hair-o; light rail system) or the Metro (May-tro; subway) sometimes...
Please continue to keep me and my ministries in your prayers! Pray for:
- My Spanish to continue to improve
- No more getting sick!
- That God would give me wisdom as I consider how to best serve my church and the joven girls (Betty, Diana, Brenda, and Paulina)
- That God would show me how he wants to use me in my Compa Cell
