The Orphanage

On Sunday I went with people associated with my cell group to an orphanage in the city of Cuernavca. Its a nice little city of 2 million people! The orphanage is one that Heather Hahn has had an opportunity to visit in the past. It is Christian and is run completely by faith, meaning they have no constant source of income, but go month to month. There were about 100 children living there of all ages. We put on a clown show for them about the salvation message and then played games with them afterwards. It was bit of a gongshow as we had limited time to practice and work through what we were doing, but I think the kids enjoyed themselves. I did my lines in Spanish as best as I could and I think they understood me. When everyone was playing games at first I was really discouraged because I had no idea what was happening or how to speak to the kids so I went and sat down behind the little kids. In the middle of me asking God what exactly it was I was to do if I couldn't talk to those I came here to serve, a little hand found its way into mine. I looked up and there was this little girl, probably about two looking at me shyly. She couldn't or wouldn't speak Spanish so I was on her level. All she wanted was attention and I was glad to give it. Unfortunantly later on she got scared off when Carlos, one of the guys with our team tried to take a picture of us and she wouldn't come back to me afterwards. A few other girls spoke to me as they wanted to know how to say certain things in English, but half the time I wasn't sure what it was they wanted translated. There were a few other cultural miscommunications through out the day and by the time I came home I was exhausted and emotionally drained. It seems every moment here is a challenge to get through or if I find myself really enjoying myself the next day I will have really discouraging things happen. Such is the life of learning to live in another culture. Spanish is still discouraging too, it seems every time I think I've made a step forward, I get told by someone just how much farther I have to go in one way or another. Mixed amongst the great things are some trials.

Death to Pictures

I was really hoping to be able to put up some pictures today online so people can actually see some of what I've been up too/where I live HOWEVER I have encountered problems at each step of the way of trying to do this. I am not exactly technologically savy and so these problems are truly annoying to me. So if you all want to pray that technology would stop standing in my way/ I would suddenly be struck with the wisdom of the best way to get pictures to people that would be fantastic.

Last night I witnessed to a guy on the metro (subway). In my head all I could think was "I would never have done this in Canada... I can't believe I'm doing it in Mexico City". But it was kind of an opportunity thrown into my lap as all of a sudden he started talking to me in English as he noticed I was reading an english book. Pretty interesting, although to be honest when he first started talking to me I was a good Canadian woman and looked immediately for my exits as a strange man had just invaded my space by actually speaking to me in a public place (CRAZY!).

Yesterday was Owen's birthday and I was not there for it. Its hard to think we still have eight more months of being apart as it feels like its already been unbarably long. There's an Amy Grant song that in the chorus goes like this "missing you is just a part of living, and missing you just feels like a way of life. I'm living out the life I've been given... missing you all the while." I was listening to it the other day and had to turn it off cause it pretty much sums up how I feel right now. However I know I must make every day I have here count and therefore I will not get caught up in feeling sorry for myself. Hopefully.

It's been a few days.

Life has been busy so the following is a "reader's digest" version of my past week. Last Friday I attended the new English Book Club that has begun meeting. The personalities at it are completely different and it will make for lively Friday nights in my future. We are still doing "the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" for the book, just like the Thursday night group. Afterwards I stayed at Heather's place as we woke up at 6am to leave on a road trip to a town called Quetatero (I hope I spelt that right). I say town, but really its a city of 1 million people, it just feels small coming out of Mexico City. Heather mentors a pastors wife there, and while she was doing that I got my first experience driving in Mexico! I personally LOVE the amount of potholes and speadbumps that make Mexican roads so unique.

On the way back into Mexico City we stoped at little town called Tequeisqueapan (I hope I selpt that right as well). This town was actually a town and is really cute with lots of little central stores that were fun to brose through. Then on Sunday at church I read scripture verses as Heather led worship and also read out the song names and page numbers. It is nice to be able to contribute in some way to the service as I am still so limited. After church I drove down to Coyocan (the whole way with the gas light on). If you think you drive defensively in Canada... think again! Anyways we made it the gas station and then a Fusion meeting afterwards.

Monday and Tuesday at school was my midterm. I didn't do so well and bot quite discouraged and frustrated about my abilities to learn another language. Heather and Lisa were both quite encouraging in that though, and reminded me that its about the attitude. Jonathan Mike's wife Rosio has made a deal with me as she is learning english, that from now on we will do our best to only speak the language we are learning to each other. We will also be spending Friday afternoons together to "practice". I am really excited for this as I need the practice, in a safe setting.

About eight Canadian youth pastors arrived on Monday for a five day long exploration trip as they are bringing down youth groups in the summer, or are committed to the vision of Fusion. On Tuesday afternoon I went on the Turibus with them. Wednesday I had supper with them and then yesterday I led two on a prayer walk through the area of Pantitlan. It was good to be around them, especially as one was Grant Weber, my former youth pastor when I was in high school. However it has been a stretching week for me as I have had very little time to stay in contact with others and have realized more about just how much I really miss Owen... and everyone else from Canada too.

This weekend is going to be pretty busy too as we are having a leader's retreat and I am going to be helping with the children's ministry at it. I thankfully have Monday completely off though. That will be a glorious day of rest!

Spanish / Español

So I was going to write today about how after a semi-breakdown yesterday over my frustration at how slow language learning is, that today was much better. Then the owner of the internet cafe I frequent asked me the most basic of questions ¿de Donde eres?... "where are you from?" and I couldn't get it. He finally dropped into English, as a lot of people have memorized a few basic questions in english. Yes that was probably the most dissapointing moments of my time here in Mexico so far. I have been encouraged though that it will slowly get easier as time goes on, my stuggle will just be hearing the language I guess.

Tonight I am leading our English Book Club. That is a little scary, but at the same time exciting. I enjoy my time at the club because I feel useful as I don't have to know that much Spanish and really its just all about building relationships... something I would like to believe I'm good at! Also tomorrow night will be my first time to attend our new Friday night English Book Club. I am excited to meet all the new people who are planning on attending that one.

Did I ever mention how the key to my house never worked? No? Well that's probably because I didn't want to worry anyone that there were times of coming home in the dark when I could not get into my house for a little while as my hand strained just to be able to turn the key in the lock. Well on Thursday of last week I finally showed my landlady just how hard it is for me... and our lock has now been changed!! Yay! The first time I used it and it worked so easily I actually wanted to jump up and down shouting, but I held myself in as their was neighbor out on the street at the time.

Mentally and emotionally I'm doing well, or so I've been told. I really miss Owen... and downtown Calgary actually (something I didn't really think I would miss), but yes I am learning to take joy in the unfamiliar that surrounds me. Hope all of you are also taking joy in your lives!

Stories

I haven't written in a little while as Wednesday to Saturday of last week I was attending a conference put on by Exodus Latinoamerica and then yesterday I was at a "celebration" sunday for my church where all the cell groups get together for a full church service. The conference was intense as it started at 10am and went to 9pm every night that it was on. I usually went a little late and left a bit early to make travel by metro a little safer and easier. The topic was about sexuality and sexual healing. I learned a lot about the culture I now live in and how they deal with sensitive issues, but I also learned a lot about healing in general. It was a very well done conference.

I've been meaning to share a few stories the past little while so I will share them now. The first one I would like to entitle "always check your socks for beattles". Yes you're right the plot of this story revolves around a beattle being in my sock. You see, here in Mexico we hang out clothes out to dry on the roofs of our houses. I had left my dark load up on the roof for about three days due to some heavy rains soaking it a few times just when they were almost dry. So then fastforward to last tuesday and I'm getting ready for the day. I put on a normal pair of socks and my boots as it was still a little rainy. It was a rather busy day with me going pretty much straight from School to Pantitlan for afternoon ministry. Near the end of the day the top part of my left foot was really starting to hurt. I thought maybe that my boots were giving me a blister. Luckily Heather gave me a ride home so I was thankful that I did not have to walk at all with a blister forming on my foot. I got home, flopped on my bed and proceeded to take off my boots. I rubbed my foot where it had been hurting and there was a lump there so I thought maybe somehow I had picked up a rock. So I took my sock off and something black fell to the ground. I looked first at my foot and there was an imprint of what looked like a beattle against my skin... so I picked up the black object and sure enough it was a dead beattle. I choose to beleive that it had been dead from the time I put the sock on (brought there by the rain) and not that it had once been alive and crawling around on my foot.

My other story shall be entitled "death to my stomach". I won't go into gory details on this one, as I know I few "weak stomached" readers. At the conference though we went to a nice chain of restaurants as we didn't know of any "clean" food vendors near by. I shall never eat at that chain of restaurants again, or at least never order what I had. My stomach hurt so bad on Friday night I couldn't stand up straight. Its been getting better as the days go on, but I still have the lingering effects. Praise God for bowel medications!

Well that's all for now. Take care y'all.

Fruta Fiesta Explained

Okay so a "futa fiesta" is a fruit party. It was dreamed up a few days ago as Maria from Spain was convinced that she did not enjoy papayas until Sara, from the U.S. bought her a good one and prepared it with lime juic and chili powder (a VERY mexican thing to do). Maria decided that there should be a celebration of her new found love of fruit so the four of us housemates set out on Monday evening in search of good fruit. We even managed to find mangos, as they are going out of season right now. Mangos are my favorite. On the way back home we picked up some "street tacos" as Maria decided I must be convinced of their greatness. I was convinced... even if my stomach wasn't so much later on. :) It was good for us housemates to be able to hang out together as it will be the last time. Maria announced on the weekend that she is moving to a new home, the circumstances surrounding this decision aren't the greatest so if you remember please pray for my changing living environment.

I don't have school today or tomorrow or the next day because of the "day of the dead" celebrations. Its where they set up alters to dead relatives or loved ones in rememberance or them. It is quite interesting to observe, as even the catholic church supports this tradition (but strongly discourages the celebration of halloween). I learn more and more about this culture everyday!