Mexico City eh?

(A picture from the top of the valley of the largest lake in Mexico... taken on an old dirt mountain road on the way to Guadalajara where I went last weekend to work with missionary kids there)

Well, I have been here in the beautiful and large city of Ciudad de Mexico (that's Spanish) for eight days now. They have been busy, challenging and exciting days for me. I thank God for the strength He gives me each day as I believe I am doing well for the first time ever being out Canada. I mean, for someone who has the gift of crying I've only done it like three times so far!!

I have a strong desire to throw myself into the language learning which will begin this coming week as then I would feel I could communicate with these very friendly people around me. Just yesterday three different people offered to me that their house was my house whenever I was in the area. That is something that boggles my mind as a Canadian. I know there are hospitable Canadians, but Mexicans are so giving and open with all that they have, even if its not much.

Probably one of the biggest surprises to me since coming here is just the extreme difference there is between the rich and the poor in the city, even though they may only be seperated by a few blocks (or very high walls). To begin my time here I'll be living near the UNAM... the world's largest University where 300,000 people attend. I will be taking language there and even two cultural classes. Then in January I will move to an area called Pantitlan, which is a poor area, definantly by Canadian standards. Most people there live day to day, not really knowing where the money for tomorrow will come. My mentor Heather is invovled in Church planting there. The family I will possibly live with, are right next to a park where many of the neighborhoods children go to play. I am excited at the future and what God has for me in that area of town. I know I will be out of my comfort zone a lot, but really that is what I came here to do. I also realize how much I have to learn about the world, myself and my faith too.

Thank you all for reading this blog... let others know about it as the more people I have interested in what I'm doing here, the more likely I'll have the strength to make it through the next ten months.