Mexico, Memories, and Musings

Today is my second full day at home in Connecticut, and while I am really enjoying home, relaxation time, working out, internet, and while I cannot wait for the fall semester to start, my heart still longs to be back in El Tejaban with all the children with whom we've formed relationships.

I never got the chance to share with you what our last week in Mexico had in store for us, so let me take a moment to do so now...  Our very last week brought in a short-term team from Fort Worth, Texas, as well as a group of street kids from Acapulco through a program called Sobre El Puente.  An unfortunate bout of sickness due to the bite of a virus-carrying mosquito resulted in me not really meeting anyone until the fifth night of their stay, but once I got to know them all, the kids just blew me away!  They were hilarious and some incredibly intelligent, and it was a joy talking with them, sharing meals, and putting on a talent show together.  We interns shared our last day in Mexico together, getting our last taste of the amazing Tacos Roy and our last sight of the lively Jardín in the city of Guanajuato before packing and leaving the camp at 4:30 in the morning.

Mary Frances and me with Felipe and Juan Carlos,
two hilarious street kids from Acapulco

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention... we finished the wall!

So after a few days in Atlanta for debrief at the MTW office, I'm finally home.  My overall reflections?  If you were to ask me what I would list as highlights from my summer, I'd say this (and um, yes, I decided to try and be clever and begin each one with the letter P):

1. Power: God taught me to strip myself bare and come to him completely vulnerable and completely in need; he taught me to rely on his strength alone.  But he didn't just bring me to that point and leave me there; he showed me that when I have nothing and empty myself before him, it is then I am most filled with him and his strength, which is unfailing and always victorious.  This all gave way to what I deem to be my personal theme verse for this summer:

But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'... For when I am weak, then I am strong.  

~2 Corinthians 12:9-10

2. People: Going into this summer, I knew that our time in GTO would be focused on relational ministries, but thinking back, I am still amazed at the wonderful friendships that we made.  The Tejaban kids, our friends in English Club in GTO, our friends in English Club in León, the short-term teams from the U.S., and the street kids from Acapulco...  I feel so blessed to have met so many amazing people this summer, and I am sure that God has sown seeds, however great or small the size, wherever we went, and I am excited to see how all our friendships will grow in the future.  Friends, I miss you all, and you're in my prayers now.

Cristina, from El Tejaban 

León church

Isidoro and Eme

3. Possibilities: One week ago, on our second to last day in Mexico, we ran into a Korean family that lives in León and attends the Korean church there.  If you want details of this really exciting encounter, I'd love to tell you in person, but here in this post I'll just say that I am just pumped about the future possibilities of bridge-building and relationship-building between these two churches that have been in León for years but until now never made any connections with each other.  With a bridge built between these churches, the idea and the possibilities of God's gospel going out from León into other cities in Mexico that so desperately need God is mind-blowing.

And now a message to my sisters, the other five interns: Tori, Elisa, PH, Kaitlin, and Laura -- thank you for sharing God's light with me this summer.  You have been an incredible encouragement to me in everything that's happened, through prayer and hugs and laughter.  Not only could I not have lasted these past two months without you, but this summer would have been as dull as heck without the Deadly Six.  I will always refer to myself as your little Asian (of course, a generic term, since... well, you know), just as long as you never call me "amorcita".  You've changed the way I think forever: when I hear "Africa", I think "dance".  When I hear "Laura", I think "snort".  When I hear howling, I think "cállate".  When I hear "Canada", I think "insignificant".  And when I hear "freaking", I think "freaking please come back because I miss you".  I love you all; you're my sisters forever!

To my readers: thank you for faithfully following my blog throughout the summer.  Your support and encouragement has meant the world to me, and there's nothing better than knowing that there's a group of friends back at home interested in what God has been doing in my life in Mexico and praying for me all the way through.

I miss the stars of El Tejaban.  I miss the children.  I miss the rickety bus rides to the city.  I miss the streets of Guanajuato that come alive at night.  I miss the colorful houses built into the mountainsides.

God blessed me with a beautiful summer.  All I can say is "thank you" and ask him to continue to have his hand over my life that is always working promises that leave me awestruck and in wonder and praise of his name.

Time flies when you're having fun

It's already our last stretch; we have one and a half more weeks in Mexico, and this is the last time I'll have Internet access until we return to the States -- a strange thought.  Of course, there's still so much to do, so we'll save the closing remarks for another time.  At the close of this week of our normal English classes/clubs in El Tejaban, Guanajuato, and León arrives another short-term team from Texas, along with a group of street kids from Acapulco, Mexico.  They will be here for a week, and we'll work alongside the team in ministering to our friends from Acapulco.  I say "street kids," but their ages range from 13 to the mid-20s.  While I hope and pray that a week of activities at our camp and away from the street will be reviving for them, we've been warned it is also a great struggle for them to be here due to drug withdrawal.  Please join me in praying that God would bless the friendships that we form and that He would multiply our enjoyment and time of fun activities.

Now let's backtrack a little and see what this past week has been all about.

El Tejaban

Well, what a week it's been with these kids!  We held English classes on Tuesday and Thursday as usual, but because last week was their final one of real school before vacation, and now that they are on vacation, the boys are working in the fields and the girls are up to who-knows-what, and so we haven't had as full of an attendance.  On Thursday, we interns prayed and took the opportunity to teach the class vocabulary relating to the church, and through the use of Bible verses and song proclaimed the gospel to these children who attend the Catholic church in El Tejaban.  Boy, was Satan all up in our business.  It was a tough day, with attitudes all over the place, and tempers crossed more than once.  But praise to God, because His mercies are new every morning.  We opened up the camp yesterday not for classes but for recreation, and God brought the children back with new friends and completely blessed our friendships.  I truly love getting to know these kids, and am sad to think that this Thursday is officially our last time to see them.  But praise God for his victories!

María and Cristina

my Tejaban chicos

León

We were invited for fellowship at their church before English class normally begins -- or so we thought.  When we arrived empty-handed, we discovered that it was Mariana's quinceañera, the Mexican equivalent to the American sweet sixteen.  But Alex and Maggie snuck out to get her a gift, and English classes proceeded, and all was well.  I really love my English class in León.  It only consists of a few people, but their eagerness to learn just blows my mind.  Last Saturday I used a similar lesson plan as with the Tejaban kids involving the gospel, and we just enjoyed it so much.  Thank you, God for an awesome group of people.

Interns

I also cannot forget to thank God for this amazing group of interns.  All of the girls are so supportive and encouraging fun and God-driven and the list could go on.  He has truly blessed our team with unity, and I am convinced of prayer and His sovereignty to have had a hand in it.

I think this was a rather dull post to read, but I promise a more exciting one when I have more time to think back in the States rather than blurt out words.  Please consider these things to pray for:

1. Team unity:  Again, praise God for blessing us abundantly with this, and I would love to keep praying for this.

2. Last meetings: we have one more day with the Tejaban kids, two more English Clubs in GTO including tonight, and two more classes in León.

3. Our week with the Acapulco street kids and the short-term team

4. Physical wellness:  Elisa and I have both taken turns staying at home for the day with various symptoms, and Tori is also going through some rough times.  We've been here a long time, and all of our physical strength is failing.  Please pray that God would strengthen us and keep us strong for the final week and a half.

5. Travels back to the States: it feels strange to say that, but as it is the last time I'll have internet access in Mexico…  We'll fly back to the States the morning of the 25th.

See you back in the U.S.!

Yes.

Things to which one would say "Yes":

1. Catch Phrase at 3am:  Hands down, one of the greatest things in life is playing Catch Phrase when you're slightly sleep-deprived.  If you ever need a quote for the back of a t-shirt, try it out, because funny things come out of people's mouths at this time of night when intelligence is put to the test.

2. Pierced ears:  So I decided it must be done, and now it has been done.  It was also done with a needle, and with fainting on the side, and then of course with laughter at the ridiculousness of it all afterward.  But now I have pretty little punctures that were "Made in Mexico".  Yes.

3. Koreans:  (Who would say "no"?)  On Sunday we invited the León church (where we teach English classes) to fellowship at our camp, and they brought great tidings of… Koreans!  Apparently there is a good-sized Korean church in León, and apparently the Korean population of the state of Guanajuato is even larger than that of Chinese.  Unfortunately, I have had sightings of only Chinese and no Koreans in the city, but I can always hope… I have three weeks left.  Once I get the address from my León friends, I am going to scout out that Korean church (and communicate with them in Spanish).  Yes!

4. Pollo Feliz:  Along with these great tidings, the León church also brought with them boxes and boxes of food from Pollo Feliz ("Happy Chicken").  We have been wanting to try this popular chain ever since the beginning of the summer, and I can tell you right now that it's some of the most delectable chicken I've ever tasted.  Yes.

5. McDonald's french fries:  While I'm on the topic of food, last Saturday I also ordered some french fries ("papas a la francesa") from McDonald's.  Now, Mickey D's isn't my favorite thing ever, but those fries tasted heavenly.  Culture shock?  Mmm…  So -- french fries: yes.

6. Hot water:  We have not had hot water for the past three days, but today it finally worked!  You have never seen a more grateful group of interns.  Yessss.

So as I mentioned earlier, friends from the church in León visited our camp in El Tejaban on Sunday, and it was some of the greatest fellowship I have ever experienced.  We expected ten to fifteen guests; about 40 showed up!  They were so generous and brought lots of food (which was a relief, since we only had enough for the ten or fifteen guests we were expecting), and we had the most wonderful time playing volleyball, soccer, and singing and sharing praise songs in Spanish and English.  I am really excited about the friendships we are building with this awesome church.

Yesterday we had our first English class with the Tejaban kids for the first time in a few weeks (due to the short-term teams' presence and activities), and although the roll call was rather short, we praise God for a smoothly run, fun class and a good time of playing with the children outside after class.  This week is the children's last week of actual school before their vacation begins, so they are all busy with graduation preparations and festivities.

Things to pray about:

1. Tejaban:  We only have three more days of organized classes and free time with the kids, which makes me terribly sad.  Please pray that our friendships can continue to build, that they would be uplifting to the children, and that we would be able to share the gospel with them more and more.  We are starting to integrate more "Jesus" into our classes, which have so far been just English lessons.  I wish I could stay with them forever, but seeing as I only have a couple weeks left with them, well, I don't want to miss out on a second of hanging out with them.  I love these kids so much, which leads to the next prayer request to bring…

2. …Full-time missionaries:  God has burdened our hearts with the people of the village, and we are just praying so hard that God will send a full-time missionary to stay in El Tejaban.  I'm so thankful to be here for two months this summer, but at the same time I hate to leave a group of children that often have fathers in their family who are not very present.  This week, a family from Atlanta, GA (the father is Mexican, the mother is American) is staying at the camp, and they are considering long-term work here.  Please pray with me that God would call them to stay here and that their hearts would be moved for the people of this village.

3. Alex and Maggie:  These two lovely people are spending the week in Acapulco doing other mission work.  Please pray for their time there and for safe travels back here on Friday.

STRONGER

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  for the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

On Tuesday during crafts time with the Tejaban kids, I made a bracelet for myself that spells out the word "STRONGER".  For the rest of the summer now, whenever I look at this word I will remember that there is One who is stronger than I am and whose strength I can depend on to flow in and through me.

I guess the "hump" of any experience comes right in the middle, and goodness, has it been a difficult week!  More than once (or twice, or thrice) my strength just failed, my mind was unfocused, my heart wanted to be somewhere else.  Patience was tested, emotions were pushed to limits, prayers were cried out.  Through it all, God has been encouraging me to give up all my strengths and simply let Him fill me up with His, which is greater than anything I could muster up on my own.  While it's something that I am continually trying to remind myself every moment of each long day, simply put -- it's difficult.  When I put up my hands and say, "God, there's nothing more for me to give up to You," He always makes me realize there's still more that I'm not surrendering to Him.  He says, "No, come find strength in Me alone."

He is so faithful.  He has pushed me to the point where I am just drained, drained, drained, and empty of all belief in my own capabilities -- what a gracious, cruel gift!  "For when I am weak, then I am strong."  When I can do nothing but admit that there is nothing in me that is sufficient, that can carry me, it is then that I see God the most and am filled up with His strength the most.  The greatest victories for me in our ministries have come in the times when I cannot lean on my own capabilities because of just being so drained and it is only and simply God working through me.

There is One who is stronger than I.

Things to pray for:

1. Physical health/safety for the team:  Now that we've been here for about five weeks and are reaching limits of our strength, it's easy to fall ill (and also just to fall).  Laura also sprained her ankle on Monday while we were playing Ultimate in the rain, but she's been awesome in thrusting herself into God's ministries here as hard as ever.  Our new friend Warren from the Nashville short-term team dislocated his knee within 12 hours of their arrival and has visited the hospital.  God's worked a miracle on my ankle and I ran up a mountain with Laura, Kaitlin, and Elisa yesterday, but it is yet to be fully recovered.  Please keep all of us in prayer!

2. Unity for the team:  Something we are continually praying for.  Please keep in prayer our leaders Alex and Maggie (happy one-day-belated anniversary!) and David, our translators Monse and Lina, and our team, which includes: Mary Frances, Laura, Victoria, Elisa, Kaitlin, and me, as well as our "short-term" interns Sam and Emily.  Sam and Emily leave for home today, so please keep their safe travels in your prayers, as well.

3. Trust:  That as my strength fails and my heart is distracted, God would supply me, fire me up again for His ministries and His kingdom here in GTO.  That He would continually grace me with renewed energy, patience, and His own love and strength.

4. Relationships: That my relationships with the children of El Tejaban and the youth of the church in León (where we have English classes) would grow.  These two ministries in particular have been such a blessing to me, and I love the people we interact and work with.  Please see pictures below for faces!

ili, Vasti, me, and Israel, a family that comes to English classes in the León church.  I just love them, and love getting to know them.

Esmeralda, me, and Elisa.  Esmeralda is a girl who also attends the León English classes; she is so sweet, and I am excited to be forming a friendship with her.  Their family opened their house to the church for an helote party (helote is like corn on the cob) on Sunday.

Crafts time in El Tejaban.  On the right is the designer of the beautiful artistry on my face, María.

Chava, one of my best buddies here in El Tejaban, showing off his dragon.

We hiked up the mountain again to see the sunset last night, and it was the most glorious one we've seen yet.

My lovely interns, Elisa, Mary Frances, Kaitlin, Laura, me, and Victoria, and our "Uncle" David!  And some members of the Nashville team creepin' in the background.

A Birthday Blog Post

(People are just wonderful.  I'm having a lovely birthday.  Thanks and praise to God for His faithfulness to me over the last 20 years.  I miss you, family and friends back at home!)

We're already halfway through with our time here in Mexico -- ¡qué increíble!  It's hard to believe, and I'm already fearing the moment when we have to tell the children here goodbye.  Even in the last week, God has blessed my relationships with the kids of El Tejaban and He has just grown my love for them so much.

Last Friday, a short-term team from a church in Jacksonville, FL arrived, and despite some challenges -- goodness, have we been blessed by their presence!  This is my first time on this side of the mission field (more long-term, rather than short-term), and it's incredible to realize with what vigor and energy a short-term team comes.  They only have four days to minister to the children here, and not a second with the kids is wasted.  I am so encouraged by their enthusiasm and thirst to know the children in the short time they have at this camp.

I am especially encouraged by the blessings the team brings to the younger boys of the village.  My heart just aches for these rowdy boys, knowing their family backgrounds and seeing them struggle to act older and tougher than they need to be.  But so far, I haven't seen these boys happier and acting more their energetic, innocent ages than when the FL guys played with them during the past few days of VBS.  I don't think the short-term team realizes it, but there is such a change in the young boys when they have older, mature Christian guys around who are willing and wanting to play with them and love on them with all their strength.  I just love it.

The short-term team is also helping with construction work around the camp, and I am in charge of re-painting walls, which includes the scary and exciting honor of re-drawing and painting the MTW logo on the camp's front wall!  Here is evidence of my awesome team's progress, and later I will show you the finished product:

The two English Clubs are going well:

English class at the church in León met for the second time on Saturday, and I taught the non-English speakers some basic vocabulary and grammar for foods.  I was a little nervous at first because it was my first time in a room teaching by myself this summer and all in Spanish, but I was again so encouraged by their desire to learn and their enthusiastic reception to the lesson and game.  It was even requested that next class I teach vocabulary words such as "shovel", "spade", and "hammer".  (You can probably guess that it was the request of an older gentleman who uses such tools on a daily basis.)

We continue to develop friendships with those in English Club in GTO, and last week we also learned how to dance salsa at their church.  This is an interesting experience overall, however, because most of the people who meet for English Club happen to be Mormons.  We are praying and working to guard our hearts well and also be clear to them that we are Christians.  I am excited to see for what reasons God has brought us together, and what will come of this summer and our interactions.

We've gotten to enjoy quite a few sunsets from the top of the mountain lately:

However, during our last hike, I -- being the Great Klutz that I am -- slipped and turned my ankle (what a surprise…).  What a humbling experience, though -- I've learned that I like to be independent, but that night it was necessary for me to depend on other people, and quite literally: three boys from the short-term team took turns carrying me down, and I could do nothing but receive help from others.  What grace it is that God gives us, that says -- Do nothing but receive my righteousness as yours.  "All the fitness He requires is to feel your need of Him; this He gives you" (Come Ye Sinners, Indelible Grace).

The above pictures were taken at Cristo Rey, where we took the team on Sunday.  What was I expecting?  A tourist-y trip, in which we'd drive up the windy mountain path and take funny pictures with the Jesus Christ statue.  What did we actually get?  Hearts heavy and burdened for the people of these cities.

It is an incredible and heart-breaking sight up on the top of the mountain: you see crippled people everywhere, their family members leading them to the feet of the statue of Jesus thinking that this the act of coming before statue will give healing.  You see people taking out not just one but several newly bought candles and lighting them, hoping that their act of reverence will bring some change.  You see people on their knees, crawling the long walkway towards the feet of the statue of Jesus, craving forgiveness from this dead image of our living God.  This land is full of statues and images of Mary and Christ; every time we go on the bus, or are in the city of Guanajuato, we see people making the cross sign whenever they pass by a church.  The weight of superstition, and fear and awe of images, is very great.  We pray and pray and pray that this land will come to know that God is a living God, that the images they so fear are dead and powerless, and that true healing and true forgiveness and a true change in life come not from throwing oneself down before the statue of Cristo Rey but from the real, living, loving, merciful God.

Things to pray for:

1.  The children of El Tejaban: I love them so much.  I pray that the VBS activities of the short-term teams open up new doors of conversation with the kids, that God would really use me to show them His endless and all-embracing love.

2.  The people of Mexico: that they would know that God is alive in this land, that God would send more full-time missionaries to continue to be His light in these cities.

3.  The short-term teams: both the one that is currently here (leaving on Monday), and the one that arrives on Friday, that they would make the most of their short time in this camp, that they would experience God working in and molding their lives for His glory, and for safe travels to and from the States.

4.  My ankle: in giving thanks to God my Healer that I am still very able (physically) to lead my construction team and play with the kids of El Tejaban, but also in praying that nothing worse comes of my klutziness, that God will provide throughout the healing process and continue to use me and show others that my work here is not of my own but rather that it comes solely from God's strength.

Manchego cheese, Ministries, and Dolphins

So it's already been almost 3 weeks since I've arrived in Mexico, and at the same time I feel that I've been here forever and that they couldn't have flown by any faster.  I'm starting to get a great ring tan on my finger, Manchego cheese and tortillas have become staple foods in my diet (while I'm here for the summer, anyway), and we recognize faces and faces recognize us wherever we go in GTO and in the village.

So many exciting things have happened since my last update, and this time you'll see some pictures, too, but first let me share with you some

Things I am thankful for:

1. Cheaper books:  Lately I have really been wanting to read Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Spanish, so every time I see a bookstore or any place that sells books I go in and check the price.  The cheapest I've found it is 200 pesos, and the most expensive is 290 pesos, which would be about $19 and $28 USD.  Dear Amazon.com, you and I will most certainly reunite when I return to the States.

2. Free bathrooms:  I don't mind having to remember to throw out the paper, but it also costs 4 pesos each time you use "un sanitario público".  We celebrate every time we see a bathroom that doesn't have someone guarding it in front.

3. Being a "gringa":  Sometimes this can be to your advantage.  Sometimes it can get you free time to help train dolphins.  (*See below.)

4. Cool mornings:  I appreciate the cooler temperatures of the morning more and more.  The weather is so dry during the day that the grass crunches loudly when you walk on it, but the morning and night air is breathable and free and cool.  Yum.

5. Swept floors:  It's also rather dusty here.  During the first week, I saw my first daredevil whirling across the brown land in the distance.  We have to make sure to seal our containers with forks and spoons tightly or else the dust gets in, and I remind myself not to leave my laptop open because if I do, the next time I open it and start typing, it feels like I'm playing a piano that hasn't been touched in years.  And -- please bear with me in my future mom moment here -- sweeping the floor gives me a grand satisfaction when I see the floor change from brown to blue when all the dirt gets re-located into the trash can.

6. The Office:  Yes, as in the TV show with Steve Carell.  We love winding down and resting with an episode or two (or three) of The Office.  We're currently in Season 2, and I just want to fast-forward to when Jim and Pam are actually together.  But really, watching the seasons and munching on some snacks together is so relaxing, and I am so thankful for these moments.

7. Asian food:  Gol-LY do I miss my mom's home-cooked Korean food!  The food here is great (last night we went to Tacos Roy, again!), and we interns and the staff take turns cooking for each other, and of course the amazing Elvida, a pastor's wife from Irapuato, Mexico who used to own a restaurant, comes by and surprises us with above-standard meals…  But still, if I hadn't had to run out to catch the bus last night, I would have grabbed some Instant Ramen from the shelf and paid for it at the counter.  I found decent Chinese fast food at a mall in León, so every Saturday when we go there (for English Club at the church later at night), my cravings will be partially satisfied.  Maybe next time I'll be brave enough to even try out some of my Mandarin "skills" with the couple of Chinese workers there.

--

And what of the ministries, you ask?  Since I last posted, we have had two ESL classes (I'm writing this before I get to the city with internet access, so by the time I post this online, we really will have had three), one official English Club meeting in GTO, and one English "Club" meeting in León.

ESL in Tejaban:  Mary Frances and Tori both did a fantastic job leading the classes on Tuesday and Thursday when we taught them about food and then reviewed the last three lessons with games.  The children are definitely getting more and more comfortable with us, evidenced by their growing rascally attitudes during free time, as well as their growing level of joking and friendliness.  By the end of the summer, I'm sure will we all have nicknames for each other and inside jokes. :P  I am just very thankful to God for blessing this ministry so much with energetic kids that keep coming back class after class and keep wanting to hang out after classes, too.

English Club in GTO:  This has just been sensational; God has certainly blessed this ministry, as well.  Our last meeting was held in a little café that both served delicious food and hosted great conversation.  I am so encouraged by the people that come to the Club and their enthusiasm to build friendships with us.  We made plans to hang out on Friday, so this past Friday we played soccer and basketball with them at their church, and later saw "X-Men, Primera Generación" at a local movie theatre (each ticket was less than $1.50, and it was fantastic).  We were invited to go see "Psycho" (Alfred Hitchcock) with another girl this Wednesday…  I thought that for the sake of building a friendship I could put on a brave face and see it, but I might just chicken out…

English "Club" in León:  I am so thankful to God for strengthening us and blessing us with an amazing two hours on Saturday.  We were expecting a relaxed atmosphere of conversation and music, something like English Club in GTO.  But when we got there, we found that they came expecting actual classes.  So we split up into two groups depending on their speaking level and taught lessons on the spot.  I was rather nervous at the beginning, having to put together a two-hour lesson in a minute for a group of people that spoke only Spanish, but God absolutely delivered.  Thanks to teamwork with Laura, Kaitlin, and Elisa that produced interesting lessons and a fun game, the encouraging enthusiasm of the students (ranging from ages 7 or 8 to almost 50), and their hunger to learn beyond the "planned" lesson, it was the smoothest class I had ever taught.  It just taught me that no matter how much I am prepared or am unprepared, it is really GOD who delivers, and it is HIS victory that I reap!

--

* I know this is a long post, but if you want to stick with it a little longer, your curiosity of my above dolphin comment may be gratified.

On Sunday, our team took a break and went to a waterpark called "Splash" in Silao (Sabbath is for rest and rejuvenation, right? :P).  The slides were great, but what I was most excited about was getting to swim with the dolphins.  Maggie, Mary Frances, and I decided to make one of our dreams come true and swim with dolphins, which was unbelievably incredible.  Before that happened, though, we went to the dolphin show in which we volunteered Kaitlin for a dance-off with four Latina girls and cheered for her so loudly that she won the prize of swimming with the dolphins for free.  Afterwards, we met the dolphins, Chame (20-year old male) and Habana (6-year old female, my favorite!), and it was such fun swimming with them, getting hugs and kisses from them, and "water-skiing" by being pushed by their strong noses.  They are such beautiful creatures, and I am so excited to have played with God's amazing creation liked we did.  Not only was it an unbelievable experience, but we gringas were also invited to come and help train the dolphins any day, any week for the rest of the summer!  Of course, ministry first, but what an incredible opportunity!  I hope it happens :)  Dear Habana was so beautiful!

Things to pray for:

1. Thanks to God for a great team.  We're finally all here (including Emily, who will be here until July 1), and we're always praying for unity to stand against difficult times and to work together for God's ministries here, and that as we work to build relationships with people here that we would also build strong relationships with each other

2. The children of Tejaban, that they would keep coming to classes and that we would just love on them with God's love

3. The two English Clubs and the friendships we're building, and that at the club/class in León God would continue to strengthen me as I will be teaching the non-English-speaking class by myself

4. For me, that I would be able to trust in God's omnipotence in every circumstance, but that at the same time that I would be surprised again and again with a bigger perspective of His greatness

5. For strength, as I miss people dearly.

I am so encouraged by your reading my blogs, and for your prayers!

I sing for joy at the works of Your hands

God has just been awesome and wonderfully faithful to us this week!  We began new ministries starting Monday, and every day just burst with songs of God's might.

Men's Camp: On Monday we prepared for and waited for the men of the village to come to the camp that evening.  Our plan was to open the camp for recreational and relationship-building use on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings.  No one came any of those days, but after that first day and our initial disappointment, it was so encouraging to hear everyone remind each other that often times our plans and hopes are not carried out in the way God has planned for us.  Not only that, but God's way is always the best and most blessed way!  God gave us the strength that evening to keep trusting in Him, for His promises are always good.

ESL: Tuesday was our first day of English classes with the kids in El Téjaban.  We nervously prepared for a lesson on "la familia" -- I say nervously, because we had absolutely no idea what to expect -- ages, number of kids, level of English -- nada!  But this day was given to us to show us how small our faith was, how big it could really be, and how awesome God's faithfulness and might are.  We set up two tables and twelve chairs, and waited for the kids to come -- but not for long, because they started running in before it was actually time for class to begin.  And they kept coming, and kept coming... God sent us 50 children!!  I laugh at myself now when I think that I didn't think we could even fill up 12 chairs.  But God is so good.  The children were so energetic and very rowdy, and although we were now faced with bigger challenges of how to better organize and teach the children on Thursday, I was just so excited that so many came.
So I had (kind of) volunteered to lead the teaching on Tuesday, and thought I might get a "break" on Thursday, since we were all taking turns to lead.  Well, I was to lead again on Thursday (this time on "los deportes" -- sports), and for some reason, I was a lot more nervous this time than I was on Tuesday. But God is just too faithful to leave me alone in my doubts, and He reminded me through the book of Acts that His ministry is worked through not by my words or my strength, but on His alone.  God supplied me with so much strength and energy and the words to speak to the children that afternoon, and I can't claim anything to my own credit, for it was truly God working through me!  Honestly, I was using subjunctive clauses in Spanish without stumbling!  Haha, just kidding. :)  No, but really, as my wonderful papá once said - God doesn't choose the prepared, but He prepares His chosen.  God is so good.

English Club: I prayed that God would show us His might again like He did on Tuesday by bringing us 50 kids instead of the 12 we expected.  Yet again, He showed me how small my faith was, and how big He actually was.  It was well past 6pm, the time we set for English Club for the university students to start in La Plaza Mexiamora in GTO, and I kind of crumbled inside whenever we saw young people walk up only to walk past us.  But finally people did come, and we had just the most fun two hours ever, simply chatting away in a mix of English and Spanish with a group of about 7.  I am excited for future plans to grow our friendships through watching "Piratas del Caribe", playing soccer, and going to cafés together.  God is so good.

Stars: Sometimes we have to catch the late bus back from the city to El Téjaban.  That means the bus drops us off about a mile and a quarter from our camp, and we walk the rest of the way back.  That also means we get extra time to look up at the stars, and it's one of the most thrilling sights ever.  The stars are absolutely beautiful, and there are just so many.  Shooting stars are visible every night, and just knowing that there are billions more stars than my human eye can see makes me feel so small.  But knowing that we are held in God's hand, who is greater than all creation for He is the Creator, is also one of the most encouraging things to know - something that makes you feel safe... even when you know there are coyotes in the night nearby!

"It is about the greatness of God, not the significance of man.  God made man small and the universe big to say something about himself." - John Piper

Extra Tidbits and Observations:
1. We have chickens in our camp, and Alex and Maggie challenged us to catch a chick.  If we can even touch one, we'll be rewarded with a gallon of ice cream.  Let's do it!
2. GTO has square trees.  We also saw some shaped like ducks.  They like to make art out of the trees here.  I like it.
3. Starbucks has become one of our havens.  I think I've drunk more Starbucks in the past two weeks than I have ever previously altogether.
4. Bakeries here are delicious, and every so often, we like to indulge a little bit and nibble on some treats.  Nom nom.
5. In the past two days, I have had four sightings of fellow Asians.  You may laugh, but it brings some sort of small comfort.  I was surprised to learn that there is a good-sized Chinese population in the state of Guanajuato, and there are quite a few Chinese restaurants around.  Who ever knew that my Spanish and Chinese major/minor would ever mix so nicely and advantageously?!

I wish I had pictures to post up, but I am afraid I didn't even pull out my camera when playing with the children!  There are some on facebook that are tagged of me, if you would like to see those.  I promise to be more dutiful to photo-taking in the future, though!

Things to pray about, if you would:
1. Our last teammate's travels (Laura Edwards) on Tuesday!
2. Our ministries: ESL with El Téjaban kids, English Club with university students in GTO, and English Club with the youth of a church in León called La Vid Verdadera, which will begin this coming Saturday
3. That all our strength and all our words and all our love come from God alone
4. Thanks and praise for all God's awesome works this past week!

I will update you again in about a week to tell you of all this coming week's adventures!

God is so good.

"For You make me glad by Your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of Your hands." - Psalm 92:4