Wednesday, Sept. 29th, 2010

Mi primero: Oy. Oy este dia bien. Tal vez porque yo solo trabahe in la guarderia por tres horas, y Elda ayudaste me, tambien, porque Grete (bebe con mucho llorando) estaste in la guarderia con Abril. Elda tiene mucho paciencia! :)

Mi segunda (after my Aunt helped me revise): Hoy. Fue un buen dia. Tal vez porque yo solo trabajaba en la guarderia por tres horas. Elda me ayudó tambíen. Porque Grete (la bebe quien llora mucho) estaba in la guarderia y Abril, tambien. ¡Elda tiene mucho paciencia! :)

So there's a little peek of where I'm at in my Spanish learning, as well as how far I still have to go. :)

So yes, today did go well with only having worked in the nursery for 3 hours (and with Elda's help). A nice morning!

Oh and during Devotionals, Mari-Chewy had us read through the chapter by each person reading a verse in a systematic, boy-girl order... well I thought I wasn't going to read since I'm still learning Spanish (and I was using my English Bible), but when it got to what would be my turn (and also the last verse of the chapter), Estair nudged me and held her Bible in front of me and whispered in Spanish "You'll read this verse"; Alex finished the the verse before mine, I cleared my throat and then I started speaking in Spanish like a man... No, haha, Silbano, Mari-Chewy's husband, broke the boy-girl order and read the verse I was supposed to read. Oh well. I was a little excited and nervous to read a sentence aloud (butcher a sentence aloud), but was saved by the fell...ow.

(If you got my last attempt at a joke, you're a good person)

I guessed the moment I saw Mari-Chewy would be leading Devotionals this morning, that Devotionals would be faster than they're supposed to be--she's the type to half-do assignments--and I was right; an extra 15 min. before breakfast to sneak back up to the dorm to finish getting ready (I woke up WAY late--and was, of course, late for Devotionals, tambien).

*It is part of the students' duty here to each have a morning where they prepare the commentary for the Devotional chapter of the day. The Devotionals are supposed to end with about 5 min. or so before breakfast, however, the Devotional commentaries seem to be getting shorter and shorter cada dia.*

After breakfast and stuff, Chelita and I somehow ended up being the only two in our room and we got to chatting and giggling (it was a nice time together) and we ended our couple minutes by praying together for our day.

After watching the babies with Elda this morning, I was pleased to, first, find that I had the rest of the day off, and second, enjoy my favorite arroz con leche drink for snacktime at 10:45. :) [don't worry mom, it has poco leche, no mucho]

Lunch = bean, rice, and cabbage burritos (everyone else ate cow stomach soup--I forget the name) with Horchata. Yum Yum!

I also took my roommate Dalila to el centro (downtown center) to have her pastor, who came to visit her, follow me back to the BI. El centro is a pain in the rear to navigate around in, however, I managed with the peace and patience of God.

Colonel Sanders once said, "Cool beans and good night".

Ketchup, not mustard, because God is good.

I’m sorry. I have failed to blog for a week or so. I’m a rude dude. But alas! I’ve returned with purpose!

Well, well. What interesting things have happened since I last blogged? It feels like nothing, really. That may be a lot of the reason I have failed to keep you updated—feels like nothing is worthy. I’m just really getting into the swing of things and it now just feels like my life, instead of a mission trip. It’s becoming my life, instead of a mission trip.

Cool thing: for the past year I’ve made it a goal of mine to be in communion and conversation with God at every moment I am coherent. I’ve found that having been here, I getting closer and closer to reaching that goal every day. Jesus is truly taking on the role as my best friend. It’s pretty wonderful; I can’t believe I’ve been missing out on this for the first 18 years of my life.

And the old (yet new) way of praying for healing epiphany is coming-along—I’m listening to Curry Blake (a healer in Faith) and I prayed with Rigo (the blind guy) several times so far, but to no prevail. It’s getting easier for me to go in their house and pray with him every time (I don’t shake as I knock on the door or anything anymore), but I am starting to get discouraged from not seeing results. God just keeps reminding me that He is pleased with me, which I definitely appreciate.

The daycare is going well. It was less consistent last week with the schedule of who I had when, as well as the moods of the babies, but hopefully this week will bear the consistency and lack the tears and tempers.

I had mentioned a few blogs back that I was “unofficially on the worships team”; well, that unofficially morphed into an eventually. I haven’t sang with the group since the conference that one Friday—probably should learn more Spanish first.
Ooh, but other cool thing: This past Sunday at church Rigo lead worship for the first time since his surgery—Bladimir had stepped up to the plate in the meantime (and had progressed so much)—it was such a blessing for everyone to see him up there. It was also his first time back in church, and really his first time out in public (other than to optometrist appointments) since the surgery. It blessed most all the congregation to see him. And he did a wonderful job leading the alabanze team (by memory)—sounded, and felt, great!

We have a new rescue kitten that Keila (10-year-old owner of the first rescue kitten) found wondering around on the property of the BI. The kitten was mangy looking with a coarse coat of fur and lots of fleas—no older than 8 weeks old; yesterday Keila helped me give it a bath. We lathered the little thing in my Herbal Essences shampoo, rinsed her off, then poured Tea Tree Oil on her (I’ve heard it kills lice, so why not fleas?), rinsed her once more, and then into the towel she went to snuggle and dry in Keila’s arms. By the end of this hygienic process, the little kitty had a lovely black-spotted, white coat, far less fleas (I found only two on her body), and let off the aroma of my dead great grandmother (I mean before she was dead). Something about Herbal Essences and Tea Tree Oil mixes oddly scent-wise. Little kitty was okay with it, though; seemingly happy to be clean.

Ooh, and I made banana bread yesterday. I substituted honey for sugar so that my Aunt and Uncle could eat it, but it still turned out decent—nothing compared to Suzanne’s, though!

And also, yesterday, I went into town to take the Escort to the auto shop—I had a few hours to kill, so I decided I’d walk to the store, since I had errands to run anyway—that way I’d save time. That was not one of my most clever moments. I was definitely not properly soled to walk four miles, and not properly clothed to walk in 100°+ weather. Two words sum up the consequences: blisters and sweat. And my GPS took me through some pretty shady parts of San Diego—luckily I have my Jesus. :)

That’s another thing—I don’t understand how people who haven’t accepted Jesus as their Savior can walk through shady parts of San Diego without being completely paranoid the whole time. He gives me peace and protection in so many circumstances
He proved that all day yesterday:
To start out my morning I woke up late to take the car, so I left the house at 6:10 instead of 5:30 (the appt. for the auto shop was at 7). Then when I got to the line to cross the border, it was outrageously long; cars piled up for a solid mile. Okay, so I’m definitely not going to make it to the appointment on time, but having worked for a mechanic for the past 3 years of my life, I know if I just call and give the guy a heads up, it won’t burn his day so bad. So I did that—called and left a message (they wouldn’t open for another ½ hour). Okay, things are fine. I’ll get there. Oh snap—gas lights on. I didn’t know how much longer it’d be—I’d only progressed 1/8 of a mile and still had a San Francisco hill to get over. Lord God, if you could get me just over the border, that would be a blessing, but if I run out of gas on this hill, please let me roll back safely. He got me across the border in an hour and safely. What a God! Also, I was driving down windy roads (speed limit of 55 mph) for 45 minutes, plus highways later on, and inevitable tale gaiting with one of my tires being a worn out spare. To be honest, I was pretty darn scared for my safety. But Jesus and I talked the whole way and all went well! He loves me.

When I arrived at the auto shop in San Diego I handed over the keys, the owner was totally chill about me being 1.75 hours late, and that’s when I decided to make the poor choice of walking to Walmart in the 100°+ weather in sandals. No fun, but good time with God, anyway.

The day was good, en todo.

Today was good, en todo, tambien.

I watched two babies from 11-1:45: they played together and napped together—twas adorable. Entonces I had Beteli, Nohemi, and Grete from 3:30-5:45—Grete cried the whole (as typical), Nohemi was a disobedient brat for half the time (as typical), and Beteli was perfectly fine (as typical). Also, today, with both la bebes y la ninas, I started a schedule for what activities we do when. It worked quite well for both; I even wrote it up in Spanish and hung it on the cabinet. :)

And GREAT news! Grete and Nohemi’s parents dropped their night class, so I don’t have to watch them until 8:30 anymore on Tuesdays!!! What a blessing!

Welp. God is good; all the time.

Oh, and in about 20 minutes I’m going to be teaching Keila and her dad, Jaun, how to sing. We started this last Friday—I give them singing lessons in trade for Juan giving me guitar lessons. Pretty sick!

Okay, adios por ahora!

Nudity

A few note-worthy things have occurred these past couple of days:

• The Spirit led me to go to Rigo's house (the blind guy) while everyone else was in Chapel, and I prayed over him with his wife for about 15 minutes (it was DEFINITELY God-lead; I was freaking out as I was "walked" to the house).
• I sang on the worship team for a Tecate Mission Int'l conference that was held here at the BI last Friday (a God activity, definitely).
• I got my last two wisdom teeth pulled on Saturday, and the water used in the oral surgery leaked into my muscle tissue on the side of my face, so I was half-swollen for a few days (it's been going down since Sunday, and by the end of today I didn't look as much like an ogre).
• I ate 2 really delicious salads at the Sizzlers in La Mesa, CA on Sunday in the company of Uncle Kent, Aunt Lila, Willa (the TMI Ex. Secretary), and Elaine (Uncle Kent's adorable mother).
• I started on my Aunt's APEN (CEF) inventory today and watched kids some with Marbe.

Well, yeah. I'm reaching a trough in life, once more.
At the conference, they talked about ulterior motives as a missionary (they referred to them as "shadow missions"), and God pointed out to me that I have one. Not only do I have one, but I'm living one. Here I thought that I was all eyes on God and was here only for God, but turns out I have my own intentions and motives.

The truth: I like the attention. And I'm getting it. I like being known for being original and doing something that no one else my age is doing. And I am.

"You're a missionary? Wow, what a great person, you are."
Those are the words my ears crave.

"So where is your daughter going to college?"
"Oh, she's not yet. She decided to be selfless and go volunteer at a Bible Institute instead. We're so proud of her."
"Wow, you're so lucky to have a child like that."
Those are the words I want to be uttered about me.

PRIDE.
Not the kind accompanied by a rainbow (obviously), but rather that which infects your brain with vanity until there is nothing more. You literally become a monster on the inside. No one else matters in world, unless you need them to get the praise you want.

It hasn't gotten to that point for me yet, however, a teaspoon of pride or 50 gallons of pride are both going to get you wet.

God's trying to kill Lynda, though; and the killing is beneficial.

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." Matthew 16:24, 25

I feel like I'm losing my life. My old life is no longer. I'm starting to cry just thinking about it. I no longer get to sit on my parents bed with the whole family and just crack jokes with them at least once a week. I no longer get to close at Taylors and eat french fries out of the pan. I no longer get to drive through Loomis every single day. I no longer attend Tuesday nights and Sunday mornings with Rock Harbor. I no longer get to go to college right after high school. I no longer live in California. I no longer...
I think I'm mourning within this realization. I'm mourning the comfort and love that I was blessed with before.

I'm so arrogant though. With this new area of pride for what God has me here doing, I've ignored the fact that all these kids here at the Bible Institute were, TOO, called by God. I'm not volunteering at an orphanage; I'm volunteering at a Bible College. Most of these kids here, too, are denying themselves to follow God. They're just like me; minus the pride.

I have no reason to be proud of where I am and what I'm doing here because it wasn't/isn't my Plan. It's God's.
So away with the self-pity for the loss of self. Away with the pride. I'm stripped down. Naked. Ready for God to clothe me in Him and His true purpose.

Pumped

Yesterday for the BI work day, I watched kids until 10:45 (while the students did miscellaneous jobs around campus) and then we had worship practice from 11 to 8:45 with a few hour breaks. I was definitely sung-out by the end of the night. We're doing about 9 or so songs--6 of which are 100% Spanish and in the other three I sing some English verses and choruses in the mix (ooh, and on “Lord I Lift Your Name on High”, we sing the chorus twice in Hauve--an indigenous language native to southern Mexico--which is neat because a majority of our students speak Hauve as their first language).

*I'm unofficially a part of the worship team here, now.*

Okay, also, last night was a big bummer but turned out for the better. All day Luci (one of my roommates who is pretty dramatic and extroverted) had been singing at worship practice, however, after cena (dinner) she said she felt sick and was crying. Anyway, we decided to just finish practice without her; well, 45 min. later I was called out of practice to call my Aunt and Uncle (who were running errands in Tijuana) because apparently Luci had “passed out” on the ground. When I walked into our apartment, it was crowded with BI residents who were watching one of the hermana’s here coach Luci on her breathing as she lay on the ground seemingly suffocating/hyperventilating. God insisted I pray for her, so I did. I handed my phone off to someone else who spoke English, plopped on the ground, and began to pray for Luci aloud (in English); during this, people just continued to stare and the hermana just continued to coach. I was hoping others would come lay hands on her as well, but no one did. And I was praying for her breathing to return to normalcy, but that never happened. She actually stopped breathing a few times (or so she had people thinking). I held my fingers on her wrist as I prayed and her heartbeat was regular the entire time. Like I said, she’s pretty melodramatic, and the whole ordeal seemed pretty fishy (like she was exaggerating her symptoms)—I also later found out that she faked a similar episode last year; it’s nothing new. Anyway, I didn’t know this at the time. I just kept praying until the ambulance came.
I was pretty discouraged for two reasons:
#1 I didn’t see any healing manifested, and it took a new place in my faith for me to do what I did.
#2 No one else prayed with me. Why was I praying alone at a Bible School??
I called my Pa for encouragement, and it helped a lot. We finished band practice for another half hour and then I took Efren (a student/ worship team member who speaks good English—he has a cool story) with me to go pick up Luci and Elda from the hospital (Elda accompanied Luci in the ambulance--she is the mother hen in our dorm apartment—I’ll tell you more about this admirable lady in a minute). By the time Efren and I got there, Elda had already been waiting an hour, and the three of us waited another hour before Luci was released.
*Mexico has Health Care similar to the plan we were trying to pass in the States last year. It’s pretty crappy. The hospitals are small and patients are treated like animals—they are dealt with and decided for on the hospital’s terms. Waiting is to be tolerated—no matter how long. There was no telling when Luci would be let out, and they prefer you not to ask.*
The doctors supposedly said that Luci just had indigestion which caused some other pains… but see where I got the fishiness? :)
Anyway, I went home and crashed in my Tio and Tia’s house (that’s two nights in a row I’ve slept in their house instead of my dorm); to be honest, I’m much more comfortable there than I am in here, but in due time things will improve.
This morning I woke up exhausted! So much went on Monday—and to still wake up before 5:30! Ugh. After Devotionals and breakfast I had the morning off until 11, which was so nice (I got a nap in). In daycare I had baby Abril, baby Daniela, and 5-year-old Priscilla this morning; things went great! Both Daniela and Abril don’t cry much at all anymore—and they PLAYED TOGETHER! So neat! After comida at 2 pm, I chilled out for an hour until I had Beteli at 3:30. We tried to spend most of our time outside because it was cooler out than in. Juanita and Keila also came and hung out with us on the deck and I helped Keila with her homework some.
In the middle of my slot having Beteli, Aunt Lila had mentioned to me as we walked past eachother that one of the student’s, Efrain, younger sister had just died today (we had just been talking about her kidney disease—which runs in their family—last week). I didn’t think anything of it; maybe just an “Aw, poor guy.”
That was way too light of a reaction, I later found out. Right after cena at 6, there was an unexpected service for Efrain and his sister. Students and friends of his went up and prayed over him as he sobbed and mourned. I sat their. In the pew. Thinking about my brothers and sister (and even Laura) and how devastated I would be if they died. I don’t even know how I’d react; I don’t even want to think about it. I got teary-eyed anyway.
Then God told me to pray for the resurrection of Efrain’s sister. What? Resurrection? Why not, like, peace for the family or something? She’s dead. In Oaxaca. Well, I guess I could pray for her to come to life. So I did. I commanded her body, from here in Tecate, in the name of Jesus, to rise again. I prayed, in the name of Jesus, for her to have perfect kidney’s when she’s alive again. I commanded Satan, in the name of Jesus, to leave the family alone. I prayed the whole time. It got me excited, really. I’m excited to see if there’s a phone call tomorrow praising God that Aresale’s alive. God can do that, you know. He’s given us the power. I like this healing stuff that my dad is all hyped up on—it’s making me love God more. My dad’s been healing people, in the name of Jesus, left and right this past month.
So Rigo (the blind, aspiring pastor who is a student here) and Jocabed (my roommate with the shaky arm) are next on my list. God’s wants them to be healed; it’s just my job to use the power He’s bestowed. Here I go!

**Efren’s story is that he is an ex-convict who has lived most of his life in the states; he spent five years in prison and then last year when he was sent back to Mexico, he decided to utilize his faith he had gained in prison and become a pastor; so now he’s here.**
**Elda is in her late twenties, 4’9” (the small, but mighty type) and is just an all-around great gal! She deserves THE VERY BEST GUY, when it comes time for her to marry. She’s emotionally strong, a natural leader, and very considerate yet confident. Even though I have to look down at her, I look up to her.**

Oh dearest Saturday

Yesterday was Friday. Friday was Yesterday. Was yesterday Friday?

Yesterday, Friday, I got up at 4:30! Woohoo! Aren't you proud? By posting my issue in my previous blog, it totally kept me accountable to get up on time. So, yes, I got to pray with the girls to start out the morning AND I was on time for devotionals--7 minutes early, even! Cool beans.

I had Abril and Beteli in the morning. It was a little hard to watch the two of them because Abril was having an off-day (she's be constipated lately and had just started taking suppositories the day before), so she cried the whole time I had Beteli, and Beteli really wanted me to play with her; it all worked out, though. The second half of the day I just had Abril until 1:50; after her mom came in and nursed her, I was able to get her to fall asleep for a solid hour (I even napped next to her for the last half hour)--it was nice.

Uncle Kent, Aunt Lila, Lidia, and I met in the library (Biblioteca) at 2 o'clock to pray cause we were still fasting until 6 o'clock. After prayer Aunt Lila and I took off for the bank and then my dentist appointment for wisdom teeth extractions. The bank was PACKED (and we only had 20 min. before the appointment) so we skedaddled on off to the dentist.

In Mexico, being on-time for things is not a priority in their culture, as it is in America. The dentist walked in from his lunch 25 min. late. Not a big deal for us (we brought our laptops), but it's just funny how that goes.

The extractions went well; I got to be coherent for the whole things. At one point it felt like Dr. Hernandez (oh, who's fluent in English, by the way) was going to crack my jaw in half (and it didn't help that my aunt told me a few horror stories of that actually happening :P); apparently my bottom wisdom tooth was really stuck and really big, too! He had to drill part of it off to get the rest of the tooth out--it's about the size of the top section my pinky in volume--the second tooth was a little smaller. It was weird knowing that he was cutting through my flesh with scissors (seeing the scissors go into my mouth and hearing the snipping of the flesh), but not feeling it. But I sure could taste the blood! Yuck!

When we drove back, we stopped to get bananas at a fruit stand so I could make a smoothie for dinner (bananas and frozen blueberries :d); I also blended up some pinto beans and microwaved them and drank them through a straw. :) I watched "The Littlest Angel" (an old movie staring classic celebs such as Johnny Whitaker (in his youth), Fred Gwynne (Herman from The Munsters), Cab Calloway, and Tony Randall. It was a cute plot, obviously not great on the graphics, but it was made in the late 60s, so... But I didn't finish it cause I was tired (waking up at 4:30, soothing babies, and getting teeth pulled will do that to a gal), so I wen to bed at 8.

Right after I had gone to bed, Cheli came in and turned on the light; I sat up and she asked me if I was okay and I told her about me teeth then back to bed. I woke up later at 10:30, but I had hoped that it was later because I was so uncomfortable, I didn't want to be asleep. I toughed it out and went back to sleep.

Woke up at 7. Got ready. Made some really good guacamole (Chipotle recipe) and fried up some chips (and limed them like Chipotle does)--Tio & Tia loved it! :) Then Tio proposed/asked that I sing in English along with the band at a conference type thing that is taking place next Friday. I agreed and we practiced today.

It's not what I expected though. I thought I would be singing in English at the same time they sing in Spanish--and that was the original plan--but nope. We changed it. Every other verse I pretty much sing a solo. It is a darn good thing God had me take choir for 4 years, and it's an even better darn good thing he blessed me with solos two of those years, otherwise I would not be prepared for this. The key that the songs are in are really high for me, but somehow God is allowing my voice to JUST hit those notes. We sang songs from my childhood, such as: Lord I Lift Your Name on High, Take Me Into the Holy of Holies, and How Great Thou Art. Yep, yep.

So after that (we're practicing again at 6:30 tonight), I came to the house and made a smoothie (Keila and her little sister Juanita followed me in) for myself and the girls. Then I worked on some computer stuff for Tia while I listened to Andrew Wommack on iTunes--a faith-speaker that my dad introduced me to.

I read half of a book out of a series that Kayla wanted me to read (Junie B. Jones)--it's in English and is a 3rd grade reading level or so (only 44 pages long). Anyway, then I took a nap, woke up, we had pizza that Keila's mom made (I've missed American junk food, like pizza & In-n-out!) and now Uncle Kent is making a fruit salad with Lala creme sauce and Agave syrup (which replaces sugar as a sweetener and is REALLY good--I highly recommend it since it is WAY better for you than refined sugar; it's called Agave sweetener, comes in a bottle, and you can buy it at Costco).

Now I'm off to that worship practice! Hasta pasta!

P.s. My mouth isn't swollen or hurting much at all! Yea for listening to mom when she tells you to ice it and yea for Tylenol!

Thursday it is!

I have an issue. Every day, lately, I am either late or barely on-time for Devotionals at 6 AM. I keep sleeping in until 5:15--I never thought I would consider that sleeping in--and I'm also missing prayer with my roommates because of this fact. Because of my seemingly carelessness (and also my daily lack of involvement in the "student life"--i.e. hiding out in my aunt and uncle's house a lot not going to student chapel on Wednesdays (which I actually had forgotten occurred), and not always eating the cafeteria food--my friendship growth with the girls is being hindered. The first step is recognizing it. The second step is prayer. The third step is making the change. I'm gonna do it--and by saying I will (publicly, especially) I will be held accountable. :)

Okay, so after breakfast (I had cereal and yogurt at the house) I took a 45 min. nap until 7:45 when I would have babies. Abril first for 3 hours. Guess what! Barely any tears this time! She even laughed a little at one point! So yes, some of the babies are getting used to the routine of their moms dropping them off everyday, which definitely makes my duty easier! :)

After break at 10:45, Abril went with her mom (oh, and I got Abril to fall asleep twice--I'm getting to be a pro) and Daniela was dropped off by her mom and I would have her until 1:45.

*The moms almost always drop their kids off 5 min. after the tardy bell rings, so they're typically 10 min. late to class. That's Mexico for you!*

Daniela cried all but the last half hour of her 2.75 hours with me. Not just cry, but tantrums for half of it. Two reasons: #1 She missed her mom, obviously. #2 I was an insufficient replacement for her mom. #3 Her mom hadn't changed her diaper since the night before. Gross. At least 3 different times of going potty worth of pee in her diaper; so yes it did leak all over her clothes and the blankets she was sitting on, and yes I did change her and she didn't like it, and yes this is the same baby I mentioned a few blogs back that has poor hygiene. Sad, quite sad.

Anyway, I was glad to be done with daycare, ready to eat at Comida (beans and rice, yo!), and I was SO ready to go pick up my new laptop, that my dad bought and sent for me, from the post office. Oh my gosh, what a guy! I am thrilled! Such a blessing! I'm typing on it right now!

So I drove across the border for the second time by myself--good times!

When I got back I skyped my best friend cause we miss eachothers faces. Church was at 6:30, and then I ducked out of church early to skype my family. It was so nice! I miss them so much!

Oh, and tonight my 24 hour fast slot began, so we prayed with our group (Lidia, Uncle Kent, Aunt Lila, and I).

Tengo sueño y hambre, so I'm going to bed! Good night!

Lacking ketchup, but am going to catch-up anyway

It is Wednesday already?? Wow! This week is flying by like a pterodactyl!

To start off, the weekend was a lovely break from the stresses of the first week.
On Saturday, Aunt Lila and I spent the whole day cleaning the house (which, in my opinion, is very calming).
On Sunday, we had Sunday school and church, entonces [then] the church had spaghetti together for comida [the mid-day, big meal], entonces Uncle Kent and Aunt Lila took me downtown for smoothies (more like a milkshake, though), y [and] we were supposed to go to the big meeting that introduced the fast cycle (which I talked about in my previous blog), pero [but] we were misinformed the time, so missed it by an hour.
On Monday--y cada Lunas [and every Monday]--the students are trabajar [to work] from 8-5 in exchange for being here, kind of. I did not do nursery though... instead I helped Tia Lila organize her APEN store/office. Cool beans.

Didya like my rough start to Spanglish? :)


So yesterday was good, but long--jam-packed with babies that, although cried less, cried a lot. 8 AM to 8:30 PM is a heck of a long daycare day, but luckily God blessed me with an unexpected 4 hour break in-between, so it was not nearly as rough. Praise Him!

*Cool story that I forgot to mention: On Monday, Jocabed was not able to work because of her arm (activities included picking up trash, sweeping, sorting clothes, cleaning the kitchen, building fences, etc.) and she seemed a little down (possibly about it). Welp, God topld me to pray with her, so guess what I did... Yep, I sat down, grabbed her hand (she did not undestand what was going on at first) and prayed for her--in English. I think it made my day more tnan it made hers. Good moment, and she has treated me sweeter (not that she treated me badly before) ever since. Thanks God!*

Today was good! Only had one baby until 10:45, another God kiss. So this day was a free day to spend getting to know Keila better (the girl I previously mentioned who is learning English and brings me gifts often). I love hanging with this awesome 10-year-old (way mature for her age). She reminds me in so many ways of a younger Lynda, which I have never been able to say about another person before--and her speaking English brings me comfort in my lingual discouragement. She has really blessed my life. A God kiss, as well. :)

Oh, and tonight I helped in the kitchen for a few minutes with (shoot, I do not remember her name!). We were making arroz con leche [rice with milk]--you drink it in a cup.

Also, I eat beans and rice for almost every meal(that is what I get for being a veg-head--luckily, me gusta.

Anywho, yo voy a the border to mail some mail. Toodles.

Viernes (Friday)

Today, today, today! Today, I woke up feeling completely well. Praise God! This is the last day of the school week, so TGIF (EVGA), as well!
This morning I slept through both alarms (late night last night--didn't hit the sack until 10:30 or 11), so Chelita woke me up at 4:40 for us to go to the mujeres banos to shower (I still haven't been able to communicate effectively that I don't mind her not accompanying me). After getting ready, Chelita did the prayer this morning for our group of four roommates. This morning she had us hold hands, which Hocabed was not thrilled about at all.

*Hocabed, I believe, suffered something of a stroke or was in an accident several years back, and has since regained strength and control in everything but her left arm. She can hold tangibles with it, if they're not too heavy and need not be stable, for her whole arm uncontrollably and constantly shakes. It leaves her physical impaired in some aspects, however the girls (and I am learning, too) are really good about helping her with what she needs without making it seem like a big deal. Especially, Cheli (who, if you haven't guessed from previous posts, is the leader of our group of girls--her and Elda) helps her with things such as ironing, clipping her nails, and brushing her hair. Hocabed is still very self-conscience about her obvious handicap, which I can't blame her for being, although people don't mind or tease; I find her to be all the more lovable. Also, with healing through prayer and faith being a recent epiphany in my family, God laid it on my heart to be praying for her; and once I learn Spanish enough, to even pray over her every day until she is healed by God.*

Anyway, so Hoca already being a little awkward around me (being the new Amercian, Anglo-Saxon girl, and all) made it all the more uncomfortable for her to have to hold my hand during Cheli's prayer. You could feel her tenseness through her pulse in her fingers. Her hands were shaking at an uncommonly rapid speed; she tried to use her other hand to damper the shaking, in reaction to embarrassment, but to no prevail. I just held her hand tight and prayed for her (in my heart); that God would heal her arm. I prayed for her throughout Cheli's entire prayer, but when she finished, I don't know completely why, but I hugged Hoca. She was a little caught off-guard, but accepted with a smile.

Devotionals at 6:00. Elda deliverd 2 Corinthians 12, I think it is, where Paul is writing to one of his churches about loyalty and his return. It was interesting because within the chapter Paul made mention of how he had a thorn stuck in his flesh of his side, so he prayed that God would remove it, but He never did. I had never heard that story until two days ago when Aunt Lila and I were discussing whether God answers prayers depending on your faith or depending on His will... I'm gonna research (in the Bible) more about healing since it's the Hot new thing with my Papa right now. However, I don't think it was a coincidence I heard that story for the first and second time within two days of eachother.

Breakfast, I had Honey Bunches of Oats and Banana w/ a little almond milk--I've missed cereal so much! I'm getting tired of beans for breakfast, I think. :)

In daycare at 7:50, I had Betteli (who's 3) and Abril (one of the non-stop crying babies). It was hard at first to juggle playing with a 3-year-old and trying to get a baby to stop crying for 3 hours, but Elda and Aunt Lila popped in and out to help, and it just worked in the end. Abril even slept eventually! Hallelujah! I also had Abril for 3 more hours--wasn't able to get her to sleep out of my arms the second time... however her mom, Rebekkah, came in for the last half hour and I got to see a whole different side of Abril. It's amazing how babies change when there moms are in the room! I also got to talk to Rebekkah a little bit about my learning Spanish and about Abril. She quizzed me on my colors (100%) and even taught me a few Hauve words since she's from San Mateo in Oaxaca.

For lunch--rice and beans and tortillas. :) It was good, though. I just don't always like beans for breakfast, ya know... :)

I escorted Aunt Lila and I in the Escort (Ford) to the other side (of the border) to run a few errands and pick some stuff up from Tecate Mission Int'l HQ.

Tonight Uncle Kent took Aunt Lila and I out to the Chinese Buffet for dinner (same place we went on my first official day here)--good eatin'!

Oh, and this 10-year-old girl whose parents graduated from the BI is learning English (she attends school at the TMI HQ), so is really insistent on getting to know and talk to me. She's, quite-frankly, adorable! She keeps bringing me food that her aunt makes and today she gave me a cut v-neck shirt. Total sweetheart!

Welp, this week has left me grateful and wiped. :) For the weekend, tomorrow's a "do what you want" day, Sunday's church and the start of our fast cycle**, and Monday there is no class for the students because it is a work-day for them to clean and work around the BI grounds. I'll only blog if something cool happens, I think.






**The students at the BI are putting on a cycle where people sign up for one day a week (there are 50+ students and staff) to fast for 24 hours. during the main meal that we fast for, everyone signed up for the certain day will pray together. This way we will always have someone fasting for a whole month. Cool, huh?

He is my Strength!

Well. Yesterday was quite terrible. Truly. A cool thing happened though--in the morning, I actually went to Devotionals with the girls, and even before that we, our group of four roommates, prayed at 5:30 together. But the rest of the day, I didn't eat and I didn't feel good AT ALL. The last time my colitis was close to that bad was two years ago and my mom took me to the ER. So I spent the day praying, sleeping, & watching kids (I watched two crying babies--Aunt Lila and Elda came and helped--and I watched a 3-year-old boy who spoke English and Spanish, so the only thing with him is I had to play with him the whole time). I slept A LOT; at one point I slept on the cement ground in the shade. My parents were praying for me the whole day; rebuking the demonic spirits coming against me. And my aunt and uncle were praying for me, as well. By the end of the night I was wiped and ready to sleep for an eternity. The pain was peaking. I was contemplating taking my prednisone because it would alleviate the pain in a few days (but has terrible side effects), but God asked, "Don't you trust me?" Wowzers! Yes, God, I do trust you. Okay.

Well the pain was still there, the symptoms were still extreme, I was praying, my family was praying--just waiting for God to make manifest the healing He promised... Then He reminded me... "You haven't taken your Lialda in a week" I had totally forgotten! I had switched to probiotics to see if they'd work better than my regular medicine. I had just thrown it in a box and forgotten about it. So I ate some frozen blueberries and drank some water with my medicine. Over the night, I tossed and turned with cramping and chest pains (never had chest pains in my life!). I woke up at 4:30 and the cramping was gone! My stomach/colon felt fine! The prayer and the God reminder totally worked! The chest pains were strong, I couldn't breathe well, but they only lasted until around 7:45 (after my nap)--I'm guessing it was just gas bubbles from the blueberries.

ANYWAY, so other than the gas bubble, chest pain stuff, I felt great this morning and the rest of the day. God healed me completely! I'm feeling 90% better and feel strong and much healthier! Crazy what God can do in just a matter of hours! Going from "should be hospitalized" to feeling great! In our weakest moments, we find strength in Him. What an awesome God we serve, eh?

So this morning, Cheli accompanied me to the bathrooms (I'm the only girl that showers in the bathrooms down by the bodega; the rest of the girls use the one in our apartment)--Cheli didn't want me to be alone, she told Aunt Lila, but I honestly loved having the whole bathroom all to myself down there to shower and get ready and have some alone-time. I don't know how to tell her that, and Aunt Lila and Uncle Kent don't know how would be a good way to put it either. Anyway, I appreciate Cheli's considerate heart. I prayed this morning at 5:30 over our group of girls: in English. :) Devotionals went well; Uncle Kent, what a guy, mentioned my health when they were taking prayer requests. I napped during breakfast and then I woke up at 7:45--it's daycare time!

I watched two different babies at two different times. The first one still cries a lot, but I got her to lay down for a nap; the second one is a fairly content baby, but has really poor hygiene, which is sad (apparently, and from what I've heard, her mom doesn't bathe her often). I finished the day at 2:00.

I had green beans and apple sauce for lunch in the house (both are a fave), and after that I accompanied Aunt Lila on a errand run into town. Both my parents called to encourage me and check-up on me--I miss them so much, sometimes I get teary-eyed just thinking about how much I miss my family and seeing them everyday--like right now. :'( I never thought growing up and becoming my own person would be so difficult.

Anyway, tonight's agenda includes Thursday night church service and sack lunch dinner (which I'm curious to see of what's involved). I shall retire early, for I am one tired gal. Toodles!

P.s. Thank you for your prayers! God has provided much strength, as promised!

P.s.s. I'm not a burden. :) I'm a blessing, according to my lovely Aunt.

PRAYER REQUEST: Health

My health is failing me more than it ever has before; and at the seemingly worst time that it could. It's leaving me very weak and lethargic and in a lot of pain. And to top it all off, I'm burdening my Aunt and Uncle--I HATE when my own issues affect others.
So, my parents, my Aunt and Uncle, and a few others are praying for me, and it would be much appreciated if you could, too. The quote of this day for me has been, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” or paraphrased "When we are weak, God is our strength" I need His strength and His deliverance from this illness.