just a little sore

Everything has been going pretty well. English classes have been pretty fun. With the group at church, I was able to teach the first day using the C.S. Lewis quote about "Lord, Liar or Lunatic." I was sure to give them strictly an English class, and as they translated together in groups, I could see the wheels turning in their heads. I heard a couple of them say it was realy interesting. The following day, I taught using two parables. I used the parable of the seeds and I'm hoping that these little treasures they are finding will fall on rich soil! I'm excited to see them learning, and they thank me for helping them. It makes my day when they tell me I'm a good teacher.
Wednesday night, I spent the night at Rod's again because no one was at my house in the evening. So I hung out with the Fry's, Alberto and another family from the church. Then we played Settlers of Catan, until late, so I stayed there on the comfy couch to not be out late.
Early Thursday morning, I met with Abigail and another friend from the gym, and after doing a few exercises, we went to hike up the "Cerro del Elefante" (the elephant hill). I got to go last year, but this time we went a different path. Once we were up there, we ran to every corner and got to see all around. It was so beautiful. Perfect place to spend with God! When we got back down, we ran back to the gym. I'm a little sore today, partly from the hike, partly b/c Abi's been working me hard at the gym every morning.
Classes with her have been going well. She¿s learning quickly and practices a lot. When we're done with class, I had the chance to hang out with her and her sons. I can't say enough times how awesome and uplifting it is for me to be with her.
In a few minutes, I'm going to go with my sister, Ale, to DF, or the city. She's going to take me to do some sight-seeing. We'll see what the plan is.
Until then, I'm out. Thanks again for staying updated. Hope all is well. Dios te bendiga (God bless you!).

a little of what's up

The kids are asleep, or at least in bed. Today has bee quite a busy day, but I'm really enjoying being back. I woke up early this morning to get back into the routine of working out with my friend Abigail. As usual, she worked me hard, but it felt great. (We'll see if I still feel that way tomorrow).
When I got back from the gym, I had a cultural experience I haven't encountered since Costa Rica. After breakfast, I went to take a shower, and realized that there was no running water. I needed to wash up...I have to admit, after working out, I was pretty smelly. Well, they did have some water collected downstairs. So Ale and I decided to put it in a bucket to take it upstairs. COLDEST "shower" I've had in forever. The funny thing was, that as soon as I got out, haha, the water came back. Oh well, too late.
Afterward, I went over to Abigail's to give her her first English lesson. I must say, I really love teaching beginner's English. It's pretty fun, especially when it's with people I really love, and I get to encourage (and be encouraged by) along the way! Tomorrow I start teaching English lessons at the church. I'm also looking forward to that.
Well, after hanging out with Abi, I felt so proud of myself, I took a combi (van that is common public transportation) to and from another town in this same area all by myself (AND didn't get lost!). I went to see my friend that works at an internet cafe, since we don't have internet at home, and I hadn't checked my email since Thursday.
I came back to Rod's place, fed the kids and then it was off to swimming lessons. We all hopped in a cab, and thankfully Daniel (the oldest) knew how to get there. I felt like a soccer mom, with all their things in a big purse. And I was proud of the little ones swimming, and Cathy got promoted the second level...this "proud parent" feeling is a little odd...hehe. I got to talk to the other moms some, and they were like "Those three kids are YOURS?!?!" haha!
We came home, ate and did homework. Once they were done, we watched some movie...some kid-movie with dogs in it...I don't know. I tried to clean up the kitchen some, and all I could think was "Hats off to you Mom! My respects!"

Just a little catch-up on things I've done since I've been back:
Thurs: flew in, Ale, her friend Karen from school, and Alberto came to pick me up. Then I saw Abigail and later just hung out with my family at home.
Fri: I went to greet the Fry's and later met up with Brigam and sat in on his last English class. I went home and played Phase 10 with my family, and then went out for some AWESOME quesadillas with Brigam, Rod, a girl from the youth group and her mom.
Sat: Brig and I grabbed some tacos, before he headed out to a camp for a week. Then Elias, Ale's boyfriend, came to pick me up so we could go watch her american football game (a few hours away in a city called Ciudad Universitaria...kinda rings a bell...College Station, maybe?). After the game, I was playing around with Elias and Ale's little cousin, running around and tossing the football, and Elias dislocated his shoulder. An ambulance picked him and Ale up and took them to the hospital to set it back into place. Karen was kind enough to take me and Daniel most of the way home, and then sent us on our way in a combi. I chilled at home with Daniel until everyone made it back. I think it was real special for him and my family that I could play with him. Fabi's sister needs much of the Lord. I invited Daniel to come to church with us, and he did!
Sun: It was so good to be at church, to see sweet faces, and to see how much things had changed and grown!!! Ale and her cousin, Alex, taught the youth's lesson...great job! (I'm so proud to see how much she's grown!) After church, went out to the market with my host-parents, had some yummy food and went to watch Prince Caspian in Spanish...

Alright, I guess this update makes up for all the days I didn't! Looks like I'll be spending the night here at the Fry's. It's cool with me, they've got a comfy couch! So much more to tell, but I'm off for now. Thanks again for your love and prayers! God bless!

i'm here!

as you may have asumed, or at least hoped, i have arrived safely. everything went smoothly. no trouble at all. i've been keeping pretty busy, but with fun things. it's so cool and yet so wierd to be back. i love seeing all these familiar faces. today i taught my first actual english class. after i leave this internt cafe, i'm going over to rod fry's house to watch his kids until the night. i'm sorry for making this update so brief, hopefully soon we'll have internet at home again. thanks again for your love and prayers.

i am floored!

I just can't get over how faithful He is. Every time I obey, even to smallest degree (sometimes reluctantly, sometimes because I have no other choice, but sometimes because I know He's in control), He overwhelms me to the point of worship. As I sit here before my computer, there are tears in my eyes and there is joy in my heart.
This week has been filled with so many blessings as I prepare for my trip to Mexico as well as my trips this year. The main reason I decided to not go to France this past semester was financial. I didn’t want to have to take out that much money through loans. I got scared. But I think God was asking me to work hard, and do my best to give my part, and He’d meet me there. It was a very hard semester, trying to balance that much work and school at the same time. However, just this week, I received news of two scholarships that I have received for my fall semester. They also told me of a federal loan that I qualify for. I feel so much relief from the pressure and fear of having to take out alternate loans. God is meeting me, and He’s giving me peace! I know that this visa situation will turn out in His timing. He’s sovereign as He shows me time and again.
On top of that, I was walking in the parking lot at church, and I saw a good friend of mine, who incidentally supported me last summer when I went to Mexico, and when she found out I was going back, without hesitating, she wrote me a check for spending money then and there! WOW! I hadn’t asked for support, but God is providing for my needs!
Okay, so one more. Today, I went to go say goodbye to sweet friends I met here that are from Honduras. It was so sad to say goodbye because they are moving back to Honduras soon. But as always, it was so special to be with them. This time it was so amazing. Roberto’s mother was there too, and they were all encouraging me and letting me know that they’d be praying for my trips. We joined hands, and they all prayed for me. Then his mother said she wanted to be a part of my ministry and she gave me money as well and told me that she would be praying for me. I know this woman is a prayer warrior, and I feel so honored that knowing that she will be serving me through faithful prayers.

Well, I’m all packed up, and I head out tomorrow. I can’t believe how soon it’s come. In no time, I will be in a different world. This is bittersweet because I’m sad to leave, but I can’t wait to be there. Please pray for peace in my heart, wisdom, sensitivity and passion. Pray for my family. Pray for the people I come in contact with. Pray for my visa and financial aid paperwork as I’m gone. I really could go on. But I thank you for your faithfulness in service with me! The devil is like a prowling lion, seeking to devour those who are weak, but I know through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit, God will give me strength!

pic-chahs

Good friends I'm going to miss!!!
(After Roberto's graduation with his family from Honduras.)













After dinner during dead week.












My girls from Bible study this semester (blued-up for dinner at Blue Baker).

falta poco

Time is flying by. In just FOUR days I get on that plane that will take me to Mexico. It's slowly sinking in, but it really hasn't hit me yet. Maybe I need to get some packing done to get things rolling. But I'm enjoying time at home, free from school work. (I'm sorry, but I'm just delighting in the pleasure of saying I'm free from school stuff!)
Pre-visa paperwork for my semester in France is processing. I sent in my registration to CampusFrance (a service provided by the Embassy of France to Americans and U.S. residents who wish to pursue their higher studies in France). Now I'm just waiting for confirmation from them to apply for my visa to the French Consulate. I suppose when I come back from Mexico, I will be driving back and forth from Houston a couple of times (at least I sure hope so...pray that paperwork will process in time!).
Tomorrow is my last day at Kohl's. I can't believe I've been there 9 months, almost 10!!! I've met some cool people, and learned much since I've been there. Hopefully He touched some lives through me.
I've been talking to Ale, people from the church, and friends going down from different parts of the US. I'm starting to get pumped about seeing everyone again. Ale and I talk almost every night through the computer, we're just giddy with excitement about "pajama parties" every night, lots of laughing, talking, and just having fun being sisters again. We're also looking forward to having some devotionals together. Please be praying for wisdom for me during this opportunity for discipling her. I would also appreciate your prayers as I work with some of the girls in the youth group and others from the church. This is about the time where I start feeling a sense of inadequacy (I supposed it's a chance to realize my need for dependency).
Well, I'm off to getting a few things around the house done. Or maybe some procrastinating, since I've perfected that over the year. :P

quick update...at least i hope so

I've been trying to sit down and write this next post for so long, but the end of the semester has hit, and everything leading up to it gave me plenty to handle. The semester quickly came to the close and I am officially done with my junior year, WHOOP! I can't believe that I just have one year left at A&M...crazy!
As crazy as this semester has been, yet again, it has been so amazing and I had a wonderful time. School was really tough, and I'm glad to be done. Bible study with my girls was really awesome. I learned so much and I feel like they each did too. We got the chance to hang out more toward the end of the semester, which was quite fun. Work has been going well. I've been getting increasingly closer to friends I've met in college. All around great things in my life.
As if that were all, there is so much more to count as blessings in my life. Since I have been back from Mexico, I have found out that my host-family have all trusted Christ, and about a month ago, they all were baptized. How exciting! I'm so proud of them, and so blessed to have been a part of that ministry. What a treat! This summer, God has allowed for me the opportunity to return for a month to minister to them and to others in the church, while just hanging out and living with them again! I can't wait to celebrate their new life with them in person!
When I return to Texas, I hope to have some good family time before I leave about two weeks later for a month and a half in Qatar. This should be a thrill! I will be staying with a family that I have known for almost nine years. They used to live here in College Station, where I would visit their house at least once a week, maybe five times. I got to babysit the kids growing up, and during my first two years of college, Angie was my mentor, and we were able developed an even more solid friendship.
After my stay there, helping with the kids, and catching up with Angie et al. I'll be flying to London to see at least three of my good friends that I knew in Costa Rica. I'm so excited about getting to spend two weeks with those sweet girls! And I can't wait to hear their lovely accents again (and tease them about them too). It will definitely be a treat to be with them and remember our good times in Costa Rica.
Starting September, I will begin my semester abroad at the Centre Universitaire d'Études FranÇaises (CUEF), in Grenoble, South East France. I will be studying there until my return to Texas in December. All this traveling is so exciting and scary all at once. But it is just proof of God's greatness in my life.
And one more blessing I must add before I finally conclude this post, I'm going to be an aunt to a precious baby BOY!!!! Daniel and Amber just found out today what the sex of their baby is. Amber is due October 4th. I'm sad I will be missing the first 3 months of baby, but I'm so excited to bear the new title!!! WHOOP!