Monday, June 27, 2011

Adjusting

...Was tagged on a photo of Julito and I in front of the mural, see at the end... that feels like ages ago. We are so fast pace here, even when we're slow.

My parents have a bi-annual work conference here in Colorado, so it worked out perfect to see them before we leave for the mountains this afternoon to meet up with a handful of couples from the Miller side...we are sharing a vacation cabin for the week. Spent the last several weekdays with my immediate family and now the weekend with close cousins from Matt's side. What a blessing to come into family, really, it has saved me from many things I am sure.

It has been sweet, but, there have definitely been moments of adjustment, even sadness. My family and I were celebrating my belated birthday, and sitting around the table I couldn't help but feel like we should call 20 people and ask them to come over, even if they were strangers.

My parents and sister's apartment in Colorado State for the conference is a one room apartment. One of the staff asked where Matt and I were staying and we told them we were staying with my parents, and in shock they said, "Where do you all sleep?" I turned away as I teared up thinking about Darlene, Miguelito, Fer and Lupita on that king size mattress their whole lives. We just have little idea here.

I attended a leadership course with my Mom during the week conference... as we were doing the "myers briggs" activities, shuffling into groups and discussing our traits and how we interact, I was overwhelmed by how analytical we are here in the States, instead of just "being." I understand that it is important to understand one another, but I couldn't help but remember how well we got a long with people in Mexico, not because I knew if they were an ESTJ, but simply because love and forgiveness seems to transcend psychology. And the degree of structure was comical, everything was on a timer and I just wanted someone to talk 5 minutes too long, or something just to see if they would escort them off the stage... I know I sound ridiculous, but I thought it, I really did.

God is good, and I am giddy thinking about seeing more family that we haven't seen in almost 9 months. Was up last night at 11 sending resumes to more contacts... Life is back to fast.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Our last days in Mexico... Baptism, Parties and Julito

Matt was really bummed when the immigration guy didn't say, "Welcome home" but he cheesed all the way down the moving walkway of the airport to baggage claim nonetheless. It was a surreal feeling. It still is... different.

Our last weekend, really couldn't have ended better. Saturday afternoon we set up bunk beds for our good friends and neighbors Iris and Miguel, their 4 kids had been sleeping on a king size mattress together. It was a family affair, and I am thankful to the giving that came in to do it.

That evening a group of us went to a local restaurant with live music and salsa. Sunday was a combined baptism service between the first and current church plant. We all met at 7 in the morning and bussed to a water park where 19 people professed their new faith and were baptized. We spent the rest of the afternoon there, and at the end, they surprised Matt and I with a "Despidida" or going away time. They gave us words of encouragement, a huge card with notes and pics and prayed with us and gave us beautiful gifts. I couldn't stop crying for a time. Later that evening, we hosted a surprise birthday party for one of the missionary kids (cake, ice cream, tamarindo, music...).

Monday morning we packed, had breakfast and unloaded a give a way bag of clothes and random stuff with the kids of Iris and Miguel. After, we took pics with the interns in front of the mural and as we were loading the van to head to the airport, we saw " Julito" the #1 gang guy in the community. I walked over to him and I introduced myself. I thanked him for not giving us any issues with the mural, as I know it is his territory. He said it was all good and he thought the mural was pretty cool. One thing lead to the next and we ended up taking a pic together in front of the mural. I shared the message of the mural and when I told him I had experienced the transformed life on the left side and he could too, he teared up. I told him, my husband and I would be praying for him. He said he had been meaning to talk to us, so I put him in touch with Iris and told him he should speak with them, since they are good people and it was our last day.

My heart was so full all the way to the airport. God can do all things, he is the maker, owner and king of all... Julito is nothing hard for him. Pray for him, and that he would give his life to Christ, and that his faith would ripple effect to the youth in the community.

Final Mural Pic
My Ballet Girls
The kids receiving their bunk beds

Baptisms at the Waterpark

Sunday, June 5, 2011

2 weeks

Tomorrow marks 2 more weeks left to our travels abroad. I am not quite sure how I feel about it honestly. We are finishing up the mural, my 6 weeks of baking classes have ended, my ballet classes conclude next week, the little girls will be doing a dance to "Dame tus ojos" by Marcela G. during church. And, we are still hosting... so it is easy to forget that we are returning. Matt begins a week of physical games in the evenings with the youth here, and I am hoping to get some knitting lessons in from Hannah and finish the mural before we leave. We have also been working with a young kid in the neighborhood named Miguel, teaching him how to read. Hoping to make some headway on that as well...

We had the youth over today after church, devotionals, carnita tacos and a movie. Several of the youth don't understand why we need to leave. I told Brian that we had to find jobs and his response was, "Well, their are jobs here in Mexico..." That one I didn't expect, but I explained that we dont have working visas so it would be illegal. The following was wanting to know when we will return, how long we will stay...

I can't help but have this overwhelming desire to make sure I implement the service here in Mexico, into my community in Mpls. Why don't I think to paint Murals in Mpls. as an avenue to share the gospel and build relationships with youth? Why don't I think to start free baking classes to build relationships with my neighbors? Why don't I offer free ballet classes to little girls as ways to introduce them to worship with their whole selves? Why? Why? Why?

Just finished "Radical" by David Platt. Read it.