Birthday Week - February 21st to 24th

My birthday falls every year on February 22nd. One day, and on it I turn a year older. However this year my birthday took place over four days. The 21st was a Wednesday, the day we host a children's group to teach the Bible and some English. As the freshman from my college were here that week they were gladly helping out with playing and teaching the children. Near the end, Heather Hahn announced a celebration for those with birthdays as a Mother and son who come had both had their birthdays in previous days. We had a piñata - a wonderful tradition!! As well as a cake. In Mexico after people have sung happy birthday to whoever it is that is having the birthday the cheer for you to bite the cake. Now that may sound like fun to some of you, but there's a trick to it, you have to watch the hands of all those around you as the tradition continues as they put your head into the cake. This of course happened to me and it was fun as all the kids cheered. Thursday, the actual day of my birthday, Heather Paty and I went to Coyoacan where another group of freshmen were to help with our Narnia book club. I recieved a package from home and from my supporting floor at the college while I was there as the group had brought them for me. Once again there was also a cake. Being a little smarter this time, I held the free hand of my friend Meiyit who was holding my cake for me, however she is very clever (she is a doctor) and used the hand that was holding the cake to push it up into my face. I was happy to demonstrate another Mexican tradition to a short term team :)

It feels like I should stop this blog there, but wait there is more! On Friday we took both groups of the college freshment to Xochimilco, the area of the city that is like the old canals. As I enjoy Xochimilico that was good enough for me, but then in the evening a surprise party was thrown for me by the Pantitlan short term team and my Mexican friends... of course all orchestrated by Heather Hahn, an amazing woman. At this party I stopped short of tears as a friend handed me a present when I knew her family could hardly afford to eat and pay rent. The hospitality and love of Mexicans is a huge blessing!

On Saturady I had the opportunity to celebrate my birthday with the missionary community as well, and it was a double celebration as one of the missionaries here, Susan Hiebert shares the same birthday as me. While there, I was given another package that had been passed along through the short term team, this one being from my boyfriend. That night as me and Heather Paty took the metro home, my arms full of gifts from my missionary friends and the packages from my boyfriend, I had an experience I will never forget. A little girl who couldn't be more then 10 came onto the metro, clearly being someone who lives in poverty and went up and down the metro car singing so that people would give her money or food so that she could eat. I had seen children similar to her before in my time here, but this time was different as I looked down at all I had in my hands, and knew how much more I had at home. God broke my heart that night one more time for the needs that this world has.

I spent time reflecting on the things I learned that week and although maybe its strange to end a blog about celebrating birthays with a "God lesson", I think its good so here goes: God is good whether we have lots or little, God is good whether we celebrate our birthday one day or four days, God is good in Canada and Mexico too. God is unchanging and He is always good, and our world, our whole entire world, it needs God. We need God whether we have lots or nothing. We need God whether our passport says Canada, Mexico or any other country. God truly is our only hope.