Entonces...

These past few days have been interesting. Typical baby watching during the day, but the nights have been different.

Two nights ago we went to a hospital in Cali to pray with a bunch of other members of TMI over a friend of the organization who has cancer of the cavities (spinal and sinus) and it has crept to his brain. For the first time yet, I prayed the way we’re supposed to (addressing the disease, the person, and the demons, instead of God) in front of English-speaking people who actually could understand what I was saying, other than my dad—before I had only prayed over Rigo and my dad. Anyway, my “praying” really stuck out against everyone else’s and I noticed I caused some offense. Before we prayed, I was Kent and Lila’s niece, and a person those people had never met or only met once or twice; after I prayed I was a different person to them. I prayed with power and authority, in the name of Jesus—I even got a little loud. Some came up and complimented my prayer (which I thought was awkward and unnecessary), but mostly people just looked at me strangely; a mixture between fear and judgment. I felt bad at first, but then God reminded me that we are to be persecuted if we are doing what He has called us to do.

Pablo’s very lovely mother was one of the ones that was more inspired by the way I chose to pray; when I met her coming in the door it was a “Who are you? Well, welcome, thanks for coming” deal, but after we had finished praying together it was an “Okay, WHO ARE YOU? Thank you so much for coming and praying for my son!” Haha Anyway, I really liked Pablo’s mom; she was very warm, beautiful, and together (even with her son being in the hospital with cancer).While her and my aunt talked in Spanglish, I understood everything they said. And after, she even chatted with me for a sentence or two in Spanish. She was neat! Oh, and later while talking to my aunt, I found out she’s even cooler—she’s fluent in 4 languages! I think that’s incredible! She’s a person I’d love to get to know better. Oh, and as soon as I saw Pablo, her son, I was like, “Whoa, he looks just like Kevin!” (Kevin is one of my best friend’s [Steph] brother)—fair skinned and light haired and eyed, even.

Last night our last day of fasting began. I ducked out of church midway so I could Skype my family and talk to my mom. I also wanted to get out of church because there’s this socially awkward girl named Karla who goes on Thursdays and Sundays to church and she has kind of decided that we’re best friends—she always wants to hold my arm or my hand during church and I never bring a pen with me to service anymore otherwise she write things on my hand like “Karla + Linda = friends forever” with a big heart around it. I don’t know; she just gives me the creeps—and the other girls feel the same way. I’m trying my best to see her the way Jesus does, but it’s apparently taking time. :\
Anyway, I was so glad I got to talk to my mama.

Today after watching the niñas, we prayed during Comida (for the fast) and then I took a 3 hour nap! SO NICE! When I woke up, it was really close to being time for the last fasting prayer meeting of the day (where we’d hand it off to the last group). I told Lidia that I would give the “baton prayer” (and in Spanish—this would’ve been my first official prayer in Spanish), but I was 3 min. late to the meeting trying to translate my prayer from English to Spanish, so Lidia gave the “baton prayer” instead. :\ I was disappointed and felt bad, but she said it was fine. I need to discipline myself so I’ll be on time.

Ooh, speaking of which, I’m trying to be on time for Devotionals and the meals (I’m not required to because I’m staff, but it’d be good for me). If students are late to meals they end up having to clean the rocks out of beans on Wednesday mornings at 4 o’clock, and when I found out that Keila was late for a single meal and had to go to la Fiesta de Frijol, I decided I needed to start being on time. So I went to the Fiesta de Frijol along with her on Wednesday at 4 AM. Cleaning the rocks out of beans… I must say, I’m pretty profesh. I think I cleaned the most beans of every one. Fast and thorough is how I do. :) Anyway, enough gloating about my bean cleaning skills—I’m going be on time for meals so I won’t have to practice that skill. :P

Tonight, after the last prayer, I went into my aunt and uncle’s house to make myself some food (Bocas on Rye), and when they came home we watched Robots and I prepared myself a pomegranate. I grew up watching movies while peeling pomegranates on newspaper with my Papa.

Exhaustion. Good night! (or Good day, probably)