Hello Out there!

Well, I really just found myself to be so hypocritical.  I get so annoyed when my blogger friends don't update their blogs and saw that my last true entry was in August.  I have also lied to so many of you when I tell you that I am really going to sit down and update this thing soon.  So, here I am, the saint that I am, being true to my word.  Since getting back from Mexico, I have to say, my transition has been a challenging one.  There are so many things I miss about Mexico, about Auburn and at the same time appreciate so many things here.  For the most part, I am enjoying school, but ready for the semester to be over.  I am not really enjoying my Spanish teacher nor the subject we are and have been talking about all semester.  If anyone ever wants to chat about global warming, globalization or localization in Spanish, I am your woman.  Really, since August, that is what we have been talking about in my Spanish class.  My professor even drew a picture of the earth, ozone layer, carbon dioxide and the absolute deadly effects it is having on our atmósfera!  Seriously, go hug some trees for me.  Anyways, wedding planning has proven to be a little stressful.  I broke down on the sweet woman in the flower store the other day.  She gave me the look of, "I don't know if I should feel sorry for you and stay away from you."  She proceeded to hug me and quoted me the most fantastic price I have heard since planning this thing.  Weddings cost a fortune.  I think we should just go to the Justice of the Peace and say I do.  Well, that is all for now.  I have posted some pictures of the place we are getting married at.  It is cute (and affordable) little "house" called "The Birdhouse at Mountainview."  

Spanish word for the day:  La Boda (wedding)

"But these things I plan won't happen right away.  Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.  If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place.  It will not be delayed."  Habakkuk 2:3 

  

Ceremony Option "1"

Ceremony Option "2"

Inside Reception Site

 

Pray, Pray, Pray!

I know I haven't written since returning from Mexico and I promise I am going to start updating again!  One of my friends who is a missionary for YWAM posted this on her blog and I really felt the urgency to share this with as many people as I could.  I am not sure the background of actually who wrote this, but obviously much prayer is needed.  Please just add this to your prayer requests!  I will be back on soon to update you all on what is going on in Greenville, SC!  

In the last week we have received 2 emails calling for urgent prayer for India. I am including both of these emails so that you can read what is going on there. Please join us in prayer for this nation and the Christians there. 

Please read and make this a matter of urgent prayer.
Dear beloved sponsors and friends of Good News India. We have never seen anything like this. We knew that Orissa was the most resistant and hostile State in India as far as the Gospel i s concerned. And we brushed off the continuous threats and harassment we faced as we went about His work. But none of our staff imagined that they would see this kind of carnage....And it seems to be totally under the radar of the Western Media .... Let me explain.... A militant Hindu priest and 4 of his attendants, who were zealously going around the villages of Orissa and 'reconverting' people back to Hinduism, were gunned down by unknown assailants in Central Orissa last weekend. Immediately the Christians were blamed. The cry rose up...'Kill the Christians!' And the horror began.... In the past 4 days, we have first hand witness to hundreds of churches being blown up or burned and many, many dozens of Christian tribals have been slaughtered. For no other reason than they bear the name of Christ. Night and day I have been in touch with our Good News India Directors spread across 14 Dream Centers in Orissa... they are right in the middle of all this chaos. In Tihidi, just after the police came to offer protection, a group of 70 blood-thirsty militants came to kill our staff and destroy the home. They were not allowed to get in, but they did a lot of damage to our Dream Center by throwing rocks and bricks and smashing our gate, etc. They have promised to come back and 'finish the job.' Our kids and staff are locked inside and have stayed that way with doors and windows shut for the past 3 days. It has been a time of desperately calling on the Lord in prayer. More police have come to offer protection. In Kalahandi, the police and some local sympathizers got to our dream center and gave our staff and kids about 3 minutes notice to vacate. No one had time to even grab a change of clothes or any personal belonging. As they fled, the blood thirsty mob came to kill everyone in the building. We would have had a mass funeral there, but for His grace. In Phulbani, the mob came looking for Christian homes and missions. The local Hindu people, our neighbors turned them away by saying that there were no Christians in this area. So they left. We had favor.
The same thing happened in Balasore. All our dream centers are under lock down with the kids and staff huddled inside and police outside. The fanatics are circling outside waiting for a chance to kill. Others were not so fortunate. In a nearby Catholic orphanage, the mob allowed the kids to leave and locked up a Priest and a computer teacher in house and burned them to death. Many believers have been killed and hacked into pieces and left on the road.... even women and children. At anoth er orphanage run by another organization, when this began, the Director and his wife jumped on their motorbike and simply fled, leaving all the children and staff behind. Every one of our GNI directors that I have spoken to said: 'We stay with our kids.... we live together or die together, but we will never abandon what God has called us to do.' More than 5000 Christian families have had their homes burned or destroyed. They have fled into the jungles and are living i n great fear waiting for the authorities to bring about peace. But so far, no peace is foreseen. This will continue for another 10 days.... supposedly the 14 day mourning period f or the slain Hindu priest. Many more Christians will die and their houses destroyed. Many more churches will be smashed down. The Federal government is trying to restore order and perhaps things will calm down. We ask for your prayers. Only the Hand of God can calm this storm. None of us know the meaning of persecution. But now our kids and staff know what that means. So many of our kids coming from Hindu backgrounds are confused and totally bewildered at what is happening around them. So many of their guardians have fled into the jungles and are unable to come and get them during these trying times. Through all this, I am more determined than ever to continue with our goal: the transformation of a community by transforming its children. Orissa will be saved... that is our heart's cry. If we can take these thousands of throw-away children and help them to become disciples of Jesus, they will transform an entire region. It is a long term goal, but it is strategic thinking in terms of the Great Commission. What can you do? First, please uphold all this in fervent prayer. Second, pass this e-mail on to as many friends as you can. We must get the word out and increase our prayer base for this is spiritual warfare at its most basic meaning. We are literally fighting the devil in order to live for His Kingdom. The next 10 days are crucial. We pray for peace and calm to pervade across Orissa. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please pass it on and help us to get as many people to partner with us on this cutting edge effort to fulfill His mandate: Go and make disciples of all nations.... Prayer works! 

I would just like to share with you a little bit that is going on over here in India. I came a few days ago, but a lot of atrocities are going on in a neighbouring State to where I am. .approxiately 150 miles away. So many believers, especially pastors and key leaders, are being killed at this moment for their faith by miliatant Hindu's. About 100 Pastors are known to have been killed during these last few weeks.. Their homes are being burnt down and a those who have fled, are now living in special camps put aside for them or in the forests. Approx. 50,000 people are now homeless because their homes were burnt down and destroyed. Also the State officials are not allowing outside help for the refugee camps and there have been incidents of bomb blasts and poisoning of water in these camps. The refugees are not getting adequate food, or medical attention, and are greatly traumatised.Forcible reconversions are happening under the threat of their lives. They are being asked to.. shave their heads; put a red mark on their forehead; burn the Bible; to bow to their idols, and to prove that they have reconverted to Hinduism go harm a believer! Please pray that inspite of this persecution that the believers will stand strong in the faith and not deny their Lord. Pray for angels to minister,to them, with signs and wonders to be in their midst as God delivers them. Pray for their safety and rehabilitation. Please pray that the State goverment will be able to do that which is right and bring law and order back to it's people. Please pray for the peace of India!!

Hogar Dulce Hogar!

Home sweet home!  Soon!  I cannot believe I am coming home in less than 48 hours.  I have to admit that I am so torn with different emotions.  I think if I could just bring you all here, I could stay here forever.  There are so many things that I thought I would never get accustomed to and those are probably the things I am going to miss the most (well, some!).  I will not miss walking down the street and being whistled at or called "mamacita" or yelled to, "hey, girl, I love you" in a Spanish accent.  I probably will not miss taking cold showers or sleeping on a rock hard mattress, but those things are so worth being able to have the stuff I will miss so much.  I will so miss all of the great people I have met here.  I will miss just being able to do "whatever."  I have never been anywhere so relaxed with such a lack of plans!  People here just go with it, if you know what I mean!  I will miss the food!  I had the most delicious "lonche" I have ever had in my life.  There is a certain sandwich here called the "lonche" and I am in love!  I feel like I have finally become accustomed to so many things and have finally gotten comfortable here and it is time to come home.  Do you all just want to move here with me?  That would be great!  Bills are so much cheaper because no one here has air conditioning.  Wait, that is probably not talking any of you into coming here, right?  Well, I can't wait to show you all pictures and tell you my countless stories!  Talk to you soon!

I wonder if a Mexican child will fit in my suitcase??

Seriously, do you think I could fit one of these children in my suitcase?  I love going and hanging out with these kids.  I am so grateful I have been afforded the opportunity to serve in this orphanage while going to school here.  These kids are precious and will do almost anything just to have your attention (as you can see in most of these pictures).  It really has been so much fun and such a break from school to just go and run around with them.  I will see ya'll so soon!  I am excited but also so sad to leave this place.  I absolutely love Saturdays here where I have no plans!  I can get up, go run, have mi mama mexicana make me breakfast (although it does not even compare to when mi mama americana makes it!), and just come to Starbucks. Have a great weekend!

My little buddy Alejandro and su amigo!

I tell myself this is their way of telling me they love me!  I really don't think they know what it means to flick someone off (or maybe they do???)

This little guy posed for the camera all day!

They love turning us into "caballos"

He is precious and is always such a goof!

Juego de Futbol

Sorry two posts in one day, but I don't know when I can update again, so I am going to tell ya'll about the soccer game today too! The pictures I took of this soccer game do not do the absolute craziness surrounding this event justice!  I felt like I was going to a college football game!  We got off at the bus stop and all we had to do to find the stadium was follow the huge crowd that led us to a stadium that was built to host the World Cup.  It was enormous!  We had so much fun!  I absolutely loved going to a soccer game and being able to just sit back and enjoy. Although, every time someone stayed on the ground too long, I felt the need to run out on the field and assess what happened!  What was crazy was that every time one of the guys went down, it never failed the athletic training staff removed them on a stretcher!  The crowd was absolutely nuts!  Again, these pictures do not do it justice!  While the opposing team’s starting line up was announced the ENTIRE stadium, yelled “Puto!” which is a not so good word! Needless to say, soccer is huge here and it was such a fun experience! 

These people did not stop jumping or singing the entire game!

There were vendors everywhere around the stadium.  I really felt like I was at a college football game IN THE SOUTH!

Friends from CEA enjoying a Coca and some Futbol!

I expected smoke to start rising when the team came out onto the field.  It was nuts!

Cuando En Mexico!

So, last weekend didn’t turn out quite like we had hoped.  We arrived at “Central Viaja” which is the Old Bus Station here thinking we could catch a bus to Mazamitla.  When we went looking for the terminal for Mazamitla, we kept searching and searching and everyone there kept telling us there was no bus to Mazamitla, but we continued looking!  By the time we were ready to admit there was no bus there, it was too late to get to the New Bus Station, where the bus we wanted actual was.  We instead went to Tapalpa, which we had heard was beautiful.  After a 3 hour bus ride with no AC, sweaty people and Mexican music blaring over the speakers, we arrived at Tapalpa.  After about 10 minutes, we were done looking at all of the sites, which consisted of a cute little downtown area much like ones we have seen before.  Everything that is interesting about Tapalpa is about 10 miles from the center of town.  It would have been great if we had a car or even a bike, but no one wanted to walk 10 miles!  Everyone had told us Tapalpa and Mazamitla are known for a drink called “Rompope” (Mexican Eggnog) so we went in search of some.  After asking everyone in town where we could buy some, we ended up with these little bottles.  I was so excited!  I didn’t think about the fact that I don’t even really like eggnog, but thought I would love it since it was “mexican.”  I took one sip and was done! Nasty!  But the bottles are cute, aren’t they?  Ok, enough of the negativity!  If there is one thing I have learned here, which there are so many things I have learned, but I have definitely learned to adapt to change!  Change happens here more than ever and we have come to use the term, “Cuando en Mexico!” or “Ce in Ce!”  “When in Mexico,” things just sometimes don’t go according to plan!  Well, a lot of times in Mexico, things don’t go according to plan.  My teacher has at length explained to us that Mexicans under no circumstances make plans for anything.  I can completely understand why after being here for 2 months. 

We went to an orphanage on Tuesday and it was so much fun.  These kids are so hungry for love and attention.  I loved every minute of it.  Some of the kids there have no families and some do but their families cannot support them and only come pick them up on the weekends.  These kids beat up on each other like nothing I have ever seen, but a second later, will defend one another and take care of each other like brothers.   As I was sitting there looking at these precious boys (we are not allowed to go to the girls orphanage because many of them were abused my men and males are not allowed in the orphanage so our group cannot go) and their shoes ripped in pieces, clothes “put together” and at the same time huge smiles on their faces, I am reminded that no matter how much I think I love them, God loves them so much more. When I leave here and can no longer go and love on these children, God remains here and is taking care of them.  He loves His children so much more than we could ever imagine and I am grateful I am counted as one of them! 

Sorry this has been so long!  It has been a while since my last update and so much happens in only a few days here!  I also wanted to share some verses that have meant so much to me lately:

“See I have written your name on My hand.  Ever before me is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruin.”  Isaiah 49:16

“Who among you fears the Lord and obeys His servant?  If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God.”  Isaiah 50:10

“For the Lord will go ahead of you, and the God of Israel will protect you from behind.”  Isaiah 52:12

“The servant who grew up before God…One look at Him and people turned away.  We looked down on Him, thought He was scum.  But the fact is, it was our pains He carried-ourdisfigurements, all the things wrong with us…He took the punishment, and that made us whole.  Through His bruises we get healed…And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on Him, on Him.”  Isaiah 53:1-6 (Message)

There was a festival of "Aztec Culture" going on in the street while we were eating on the balcony of a restaurant.  We had the perfect view!

No matter where you go in Mexico, there is always a huge church in the center of town!

"Rompope"

Topalpa was beautiful, just boring!

There were tons of street venders along this road, where we bought our "rompope."

More Pics

A lot of you have emailed me asking for more pictures so here you go!  We are going to a soccer (futbol) game tonight which I think will be crazy.  I have heard that the people in the upper decks don't want to have to walk to the bathroom so they go in a bag and throw it over on the people sitting in the lower decks.  Guess where I am sitting!!!  I am praying that I do not get a bag of pee thrown on me!  I will just die!  I appreciate so much everyone reminding me that I will miss this place when I leave and to be "all here."  God has been teaching me so much about that the last couple of days in themes.  I was sitting on my house's rooftop yesterday, which I get to do almost daily, and I started thinking, "when in the world am I ever going to get to do this on a daily basis?"  I was sitting in the kitchen this morning having a conversation (to the best of my ability) with mi mama mexicana, listening to the radio in another room blaring mexican music with Leo (one of mi mama's friend's sons) singing it to the top of his lungs and thought again, "don't let this pass you by!"  

I have been reading through Isaiah have learned through it that whatever the Lord says will be, will be.  His plans always come to pass no matter what.  We can seek our own ways, but ultimately we are accountable to Him.  This theme is throughout the book of Isaiah.  "The Lord Almighty has sworn this oath:  'It will happen as I have planned.  It will come about according to my purposes...The Lord Almighty has spoken-who can change His plans?  When his hand moves, who can stop Him?"  (14:24, 27)  God's message to Hezekiah in chapter 38:  "And this is the sign that the Lord will give you to prove He will do as He promised:  I will cause the sun's shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz!  So the shadow on the sundial moved backward ten steps."  (vs. 7-8)  God cannot lie!  What He says and promises always happens.  What a comfort to me!  Throughout Isaiah, He reassures His people that He has got them, that He is holding them up and will not let go.  Those are His promises to us as well and I am grateful. 

AJIJIC..

We went horseback riding and there a huge path covered in Oak Trees where the horses lived

Our breakfast buffet in Ajijic!

GUANAJUATO...

The view from our balcony.  We stayed in a hotel that was 300 years old and was formerly a convent.  

This cafe was on a little bridge overlooking a Cobblestone Street

The view from "Pepila."  We had to hike it up a lot of stairs to get all the way to the top but it was well worth it when we reached it!

"Have you never heard or understood?  Don't you know that the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth?  He never grows faint or weary.  No one can measure the depths of His understanding.  He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; He offers strength to the weak.  Even youths will become exhausted and young men will give up.  But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength.  They will fly high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  The will walk and not be faint."  Isaiah 40:  28-31

We have our midterms next Wednesday-Friday, so please pray I don't get super frustrated or grow impatient when studying for them!  I miss ya'll and am praying for you!  

I am a Mexican Chef!

Hola!  Sorry it has taken me so long to update this. I really have not had a lot of time since getting back from Ajijic to sit down and write.  We finished with finals and then headed to Ajijic for a weekend get away and it was absolutely beautiful…a little hidden treasure in Mexico. Although, I heard just as much English as I did Spanish.  It is a place of retirement for many Americans and it was a great break to actually understand what everyone was saying.  We started our next set of classes last Tuesday and I will definitely be more challenged in the upcoming weeks.  I am getting so frustrated with having to use my dictionary to look up everything and getting really confused with all that we are learning right now. 

We went to Guanajuato this past weekend and these places continue to astound me.  It had much more tourists than Ajijic and again, I heard a lot of English.  It was a cute little town filled with Cobblestone streets, beautiful architecture and grounded in incredible history.  There are so many things I want to research when I return to the states to really be able to appreciate the history of these cities.  We had a cooking class last night, which was so interesting and so tasty.  I am now a professional Mexican chef and even have the certificate to prove it!   This weekend, we have a soccer game scheduled and then going to a place called Mazamitla, better known as the “Switzerland of Mexico.” 

I miss everyone so much and it is very hard for me not to countdown the 24 days I have left here!  God is continuing to show me Himself through His Word and I had such sweet times with Him this weekend.  We had a balcony off our room and I was able to just sit out there ALONE with an amazing view and enjoy some much needed prayer time and time in His Word. It is so hard to find a place here to be alone.  Please be praying that I continue to seek His Word alone and get to know Him through it, that I am able to find a time and place for intimate prayer and that I persevere in this crazy language.  Hope everyone is doing well!  Know that I am praying for you from Mexico! 

Proof that I am a Mexican Chef! We learned how to make several different kinds of salsa, guacamole and the best enchiladas I have ever had and I don't even like enchiladas!

AJIJIC...

The view from the center of town was breathtaking.  The town of Ajijic is nestled in between mountains and a lake.  

Our little "hideaway" suite in Ajijic.

GUANAJUATO...

Most of the streets were all in Cobblestone.  The look here has a very "Spanish" style due to the invasion of Spain.  The history here is so fascinating.  I can't wait to get back to the states and research everything in English that I have learned to make sure I have learned it all correctly!

We ate at this little cafe on afternoon.  There were cafes all over Guanajuato similar to this one.  Most of the people in this photo are most likely Americans.  There were tons of tourist in Guanajuato.  

Really half way done!

So, now I am really half way done (happy Jonathan?) and am so excited I have a few days where I don't have to study Spanish!  We had our finals today and I am super glad they are over.  Finals were not as easy as mid-terms, which I guess makes sense, but I am just thankful for a little break.  We are headed to Chapala early in the morning.  Tonight is the last night I get to hang out with a lot of great people I have met here.  By the time I get back from Lake Chapala, they will be gone and new people will have arrived.  God is continuing to teach me so much about Himself and how important His Word is.  I think I have become so reliant on books, bible studies and friends to teach me about the Word and I tend to neglect truly digging into the Bible.  I was so excited to find a Christian store right around the corner from my house (which by the way has Hillsong United in Spanish!!), but everything in there is in Spanish.  Basically, I have no choice but to get to know Him solely through His Word.  I pray that the Spirit intercede for me and I continually pray for insight and wisdom, to walk away from reading His Word changed, knowing Him more intimately.  I so want to use this time wisely. I really do have so much down time here and I don't want to look back thinking I could have used it better.  

"See, God has come to save me.  I will trust Him and not be afraid.  The Lord God is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.  With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!  In that wonderful day you will sing:  'Thank the Lord!  Praise His name!  Tell the world what He has done.  Oh, how mighty He is!  Sing to the Lord, for He has done wonderful things.  Make known His praise around the world.'"  Isaiah 12:  2-5

MI ESCUELA...

Almost half way!

Is it bad that I am looking forward to the halfway point?  Hope not!  We are almost done with the first minimester of classes and will have finals on Thursday.  We have Friday through Monday off with classes starting back up on Tuesday.  We are planning to go to Lake Chapala and make some day trips to various places throughout the weekend.  I am excited that I am almost halfway done, but also am a little sad that the girls I have gotten to know are leaving this weekend and a whole new group will be coming in.  Its seems like I have just now gotten comfortable with people and they are leaving!  There are a couple of girls with CEA that are staying for the entire 10 weeks, which is a little comforting.  Please pray for the people coming in and that I would be anticipating all that God will do in the upcoming 5 weeks based on how sweet He was these last 5 weeks. Through my grumbling and complaining, He provided companionship.  This past weekend, I went to the Centro (the Center of town) and then back to Tonala as well as a great little town called Tlaquepaque.  Please also pray for my last week with these classes.  I am getting so frustrated and the more I learn, the more frustrated I seem to become.  Again, there is so much and the more we learn, the more we realize how much we have to learn!  Mi mama mexicana continues to tell everyone who walks in our door that when I got here, I knew no spanish and now I am understanding so much (well, I think that is what she is saying!) but I just don't feel that way!  It is all jiberish!  I miss ya'll and love you like crazy!  

En "El Centro" at a little cafe where we stopped for cafe!  These are my friends from class, Socorro and Laura.

The view from the cafe.

This is what I like to call a "bowl of heaven."  We stopped and ate at a cute little restaurant in Tonala after shopping!

Tlaquepaque had the cutest streets and we stopped to take a picture with this nice man!

Tlaquepaque had the most beautiful churches.  

Tequila

We went to the town of Tequila and to the Jose Cuervo plant to see the process of making Tequila from start to finish.  It was so interesting and I wish I could have taken more pictures inside the actual distillery but they wouldn't let us.  I only have 3 more days of class and then our finals are on Thursday.  We don't start up the next minimester until the next Tuesday, so the girls in my group that are staying 10 weeks are taking a trip to a place called Lake Chapala.  I have heard it is beautiful and very relaxing, which is what I need right now!  I hope everyone is doing well!

There were thousands and thousands of the Tequila Cacti!  

The town is actually called "Tequila."

 El hombre es muy, muy viejo!  

Pictures from the weekend

Here are the pictures from this past weekend.  We are headed to Tequila tomorrow to see how Tequila is made...we actually are going into the fields and watching the process from start to finish!  Should be interesting!  Miss ya'll!  

View from our balcony

Our walk to the beach..so pretty!

Our hotel

Everywhere you looked, there were mountains!

Where we ate breakfast every morning..right on the beach.  

La Fin De Semana!

I had such a great weekend!  We went to a beach called Guayabitos (might be mispelled!) and it was such fun!  It was an all inclusive resort and there were so many activities included.  We went kayaking, "bananaboating", bike riding and just got to relax on the beach.  Well, I don't know if relax is the right word with all the vendors in your face every 5 minutes trying to sell you something.  I forgot to download my pictures, but will do that tomorrow, so you can see the mexican beach!  It was so great to have air conditioning (please don't take that for granted!), hot water to shower in and it was incredible to take a shower that wasn't just water "dripping."  It was a great break and a great vacation.  But, it also made me realize how much I take for granted.  As we were walking downtown, I looked around and saw small boys and girls working for every penny, sweating in the hot sun and thought about the fact that they don't get to go back to an air conditioned home or a great shower.  I pray I will always appreciate these little things when I return!  

On Saturday, I was reading through Ecclesiastes, and really got excited about what I read. Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 says "And I know that whatever God does is final.  Nothing can be added to it or taken from it.  God's purpose in this is that people should fear Him.  Whatever exists today and whatever will exist in the future has already existed in the past.  For God calls each event back in its turn."  I looked up this passage in commentaries and found this:  We have the world so much in our hearts, are so taken up with thoughts and cares of worldly things that we have neither time nor spirit to see God's hand in them.  Wow!  How much we should realize how fleeting our lives really are.  We are meant to spend eternity with Him and are simply visitors on this earth.  We focus so much on the trivial and meaningless junk of life, all the while, we are called to fix our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith.  I pray that my eyes are fixed on Him during this time.  Ecclesiastes 6:10 says, "  Everything has already been decided.  It was known long ago what each person would be.  So there's no use arguing with God about your destiny."  There are so many days I want to argue with God!  But, how much should I revere and fear Him knowing that He knew all of this long before I was even here.  The commentary on this passage says, "Our life upon this earth is fleeting and uncertain.  Let us return to God, trust in His mercy through Jesus Christ and submit to His will.  Let our sight rest on God and not dwell on present things."  This was so timely for me, because I am so homesick right now.  I am so ready to come home, but know I need to focus my sights on Him and His purposes for me here.  He is not done yet!  I want to be, but He is not!  Sorry this is such a book today, I just really wanted to share what He taught me this weekend!  I miss ya'll like crazy, am praying for you and loving you!  

Barranca y Tonala

Saturday, one of my roommates and I decided to go "hiking" with Ricky, the son living in our house.  Oh my gosh!  This was not hiking like I have hiked before.  The pictures do not do it justice..it was by far the hardest thing I have ever done.  After nearly spraining my ankles on the way down (the path was nothing but pebbles), we finally go to the bottom of the mountain to find a beautiful river.  The peaceful feeling lasted about 5 minutes due to the fact that we had to hike, or should I say crawl up an abandoned railroad to reach the top.  There were literally points in the path that in order to move forward and not tumble down the mountain, it was necessary to get on all fours!  We opted out when we got halfway up the mountain to exit onto the pebbles and weave our way back to the top.  It was a great workout, but extremely hard. My goal is to go back once a week so that I can one day tolerate going up the whole way on the railroad tracks. 

View from the top of the mountain

Random horses on the trail

On the way up...this pic does not do it justice!!

Sunday, I went to Tonala, which is a huge market about 45 minutes outside of downtown.  It was crazy, but I got lots of souvenirs.  I have one midterm on Wednesday and the other is on Thursday.  I have been a little frustrated in class because I feel like by the time I grasp something, we move on to something more complicated.  Then, I walk out on the street and have no idea what people are saying!  It is so frustrating, but I know I have to be patient in this. We are going to La Puerta Vallarta this weekend, which is a beach about 5-6 hours away.  I am excited, but also anxious in that I am traveling with a group I do not interact with much here. While I do desire companionship here, I also know that the Lord is continuing to teach me to fill myself with Him alone.  I cannot tell yall how much your encouraging emails and phone calls mean to me!  I miss ya'll so much and am praying for you too!  

My Safe Haven...

Starbucks is only about 5 blocks from my house!

This is definitely my safe haven and I am so thankful we found it.  It is the place I can come and communicate with all of you and it brings a sense of peace to my day!  It is so cute and best of all, has great internet service!  Well, I am almost done with week 2!  I have to say that week 2 week by pretty fast.  Thank you so much for your continued prayers and encouragement.  I know I have said this before, but they truly do keep me going and lift my spirits!  I love hearing from ya'll!  So my roommates are from Nebraska and I already have one of them saying ya'll!  I love it!  Yesterday, my group went to Zapopan, which is about 15 minutes from where our school is.  It was beautiful and of course when I took out my camera, it was dead!  I am going to back though on my own so I can take pictures.  The people here in Guadalajara are extremely proud and protective of their country and bring everything to the feet of their "virgin" asking for help in defending their country.  We went into a church yesterday where we walked into the entry way and their were pictures of babies, thank you cards, etc thanking the virgin for protection and healing.  But then you turn the corner and their is Jesus in the tomb.  It is obviously a very Catholic centered country and everyone is extremely religious.  But they also like to have a good time!  On the other side of my bedroom wall is a bar.  I am accustomed to going to sleep every night to people screaming, singing and whatever they are doing over there! After our tour in Zapopan, we went to dinner at a little quaint Mexican restaurant and it was delicious.  Surprisingly, the food here is not as weird as I thought it would be.  It looks weird but it tastes fabulous!  After dinner, a few people went over the a Karaoke bar and sang Shakirah.  It was so funny, because the crowd (which consisted of about 10 other people) stared at us until she started singing in Spanish, then they would join along.  It was fun, but I am not into the night scene here.  I would rather come to Starbucks and chat with ya'll!  Sorry this entry is so random!  Lots of thoughts!  Ok, well again, I love ya'll and miss you!

Inside the starbucks...so cute!

La Luche Libre

Hey!  So, last night, we went to "La Lucha Libre" which basically means to me, "very very bad WWF."  Oh goodness.  Because of all the hype here over this event, I had so much anticipation all day awaiting our arrival to the arena.  Basically, EVERYONE in town comes out for this and is an excuse for everyone to drink, cuss and scream at each other as these 110lb. mexican men "fight" in costumes that we dressed up in when we were 12.  The most exciting part of this was seeing what type of outfits the men had chosen and what songs they had chosen for their amazing entrance into the "fighting" ring.  Then came the worst acting I have ever seen in my life.  Worse than "Days of our Lives" I promise!  It makes me laugh just thinking about it!  

Anyways, we are headed to a museum tomorrow which should be pretty neat and then I am going to a Salsa club to apply what I have learned in class!  Really I am just going to watch because it blows me away how good people can dance here.  We have our midterm exams next week, so please pray that I would retain some information!  I did learn to say "Que Miran!!"  to all the mexican men that do nothing but stare at gringas when they walk by.  I don't know what is so amusing about seeing someone from the U.S. walk down the street, but apparently it is.  I miss ya'll and hope ya'll are doing well.  Oh!  I found a Starbucks about 5 blocks from my house that has free internet, so what a great excuse to go to Starbucks a couple of times a week!  

Some of my roommates, Adrianne and Kendra