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.

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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!

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* 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