Beautiful summer

Well a little about me: I'm not in mexico. Don't worry, I didn't tell anyone that i was coming home, my parents didn't even know the day until I was flying into Portland (talk about last minute right?).
Mexico was wonderful! I miss it a lot and all of people. I left early because of this darn parasite in my body. I also got a uti, which later thought to be a kidney infection..who knows. Mexican hospitals: little sketchy; shopping carts to carry their drugs around. theirs labs: different, giant bigger than your head carvings of Jesus on their desk strange. anyways, thats another story. 

My idea is to lay low for a little while in the states to get better. I'm working on it. God has just given me this strange peace about everything and I'm happy with it. Like whatever happens is in God's plan for me. 
So i came home, because I got so sick and it was like stick out or come home. They told me that it was going to get worse before it got better and I didn't know if i could handle that. I was kind of at the end of my rope and my body was wearing really thin. So I don't feel like I gave up, I feel like I gave into what needed to happen for my body, ya know? 

So thats where I'm at. I'm home, my body feels like shit but I'm happy and I have a great peace about the things to come and the things going on in my life. I'm excited for new adventures and everything and anything to come. 

I have learned so much in the past 2 months about myself, about how God is working in the world, in other people, about what He is teaching me. I definitely received a lot of patience and peace about the things that were going on. To try and go with the flow sometimes when I would before be frustrated. He taught me about love and that it never runs out even in you. He instilled in me a love for the children there that I didn't think could get any bigger or wider or stronger. Even when I was so sick, I was loving on them and teaching them about God. I miss it. It was a beautiful summer. Christ has been present in every moment of it. 

I got to know beautiful people, who  have beautiful hearts and souls, that I am so thankful and blessed to have gotten to know. 

He is still teaching me so much and I am sure when I look back even years later at this summer, I will have realized so much more that God had taught me. 

Thank you for all reading my blog and being a part of my summer adventures. I wish that each and everyone of you could have been there and shared the beautiful things that God did and shared with me in my adventures. 

Blessings to all!

If you want to donate anything to my donation fund, anything would be helpful and appreciated :-) :

http://web.nazarene.org/site/TR/Events/YouthInMission?pxfid=2370&fr_id=1160&pg=fund

To share:

Something I don't think I have shared with many of you:

http://web.nazarene.org/site/TR/Events/YouthInMission?pxfid=2370&fr_id=1160&pg=fund\

My donation site. I know not my ideal posting but sometimes or maybe it will help. Anyways, I have a little bit of my story up there too. 

I hope all is well with everyone. I will update the happenings of life here soon. 

Blessings to all!

Week of July 6-11

July 11, 2009

 

I haven’t journaled in a week. Lots has happened.

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Monday was our day of rest. I wasn’t feeling very well, so I stayed back home and did chores for the group (like laundry and the weekly update to Youth in Mission) while Maddai went with each of the groups to visit the neighborhoods we are each working in. I also caught up on emails and whatnot. Pretty busy day, doing a lot at home.

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Tuesday, I got kind of sick in the morning and so we took a trip to the hospital. It was quite the experience. They have shopping carts in their hospitals that they use for supplies and drugs, its pretty funny.  Samuel, the doctor that usually gives me medicine and treats me wasn’t unvaliable and this parasite was hurting me pretty bad. God is teaching me a lot during this and challenging me. So many people are surprised I’m still here, but I love doing this stuff. God really blessed me with a heart for these children and Latin America. Even tough I have had some rough days being here, I love it. God has blessed me with something great and when that happens, you gotta grasp it by the horns and love the life you are given.

Anyways, the medicine I had used before wasn’t working so that’s why after talking to Emily Armstrong we decided it best we take a little trip to the hospital to get an idea of how to exactly cure this little bugger. I also got my 3^rd shot in Mexico. Yeah, that’s not something everyone can say, haha! The one in the hospital hurt more than the ones before at the house, weird! So, I got 3 more medications on Tuesday and just relaxed for Tuesday and Wednesday.

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So Thursday I went to the neighrborhood and man I love it there! We did lessons with the kids and with the adults. I got to play and run around with kids. I’m starting to feel like an old woman but Danielle says it’s the parasite effecting my body. But, I LOVE doing this stuff. She says she would have been home already. I think God blessed me to be here and I need to stick it out. He is teaching me so much and I know that He will provide a way for anything and everything that I do. I made the decision to go to Mexico in Him. I know probably sounds a like crazy, but it’s like this passion that’s pumping through my veins and I just remembering that when I’m not feeling so well. His love sets me free. And He is giving me His eyes and hopefully His love in every situation. I think that’s why I am still here and not at home being sick.

On Thursday we also went to the downtown to get stuff for our new ministry we are starting: English lessons!

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Yesterday, Maddai, Sarai and Israel came in and had lunch with us from their community they have been working in. It was good to see them and I got to talk to Emily and Scott Armstrong and talked with the team about my health and are starting to make some decisions. I will let you know.

Anyways, we went to the community afterward and taught our first ENGLISH LESSONS! I love it! It’s really beautiful and I am learning so much. In the kids lessons, we started out with 1, 2, 3’s, ABC’s, numbers, colors, greetings, and some nouns. Danielle and I are having a lot of fun doing it. The kids asks lots of questions.

Later on we went and taught discipleships lessons (which are these really great packets, interactive and fun) to other new believers in the community. While Pattie and I were about to start a lesson, 2 people were really curious what we were all about and became Christians right then. It was incredible. There is a lot of sorrow and tough things going on in this woman’s house, so it was a really beautiful experience.

Right after the lessons we went to the center of the neighborhood and taught English lessons to the youth in the neighborhood. And come to find out there are 2 guys living here who used to live in the LA for 10 years and speak fluent English and helped us teach lessons. I find little treasures in unexpected places all the time here.

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Today, we went to the lab to have some samples done to figure out what is going on with me.  Results pending.

Love you all! Blessings to all!

July 5, 2009

Everyday I am here God touches my heart someway. He is so alive in this place and working so agressively. I love it! Today when we debriefed with all the groups at the end of the Maxim Mision almost all the groups mentioned how much we impacted their hearts. It was a beautiful time. 

Here are some beautiful faces in my neighborhood. They are incredible. God gave me a heart for these kids:

July 4, 2009

Happy 4^th! Another 4^th spent out of the 

States. I wonder where I will be next year. Today was our first full day in the neighborhood in Tehuacan, Puebla. We have split into our groups and Danielle and I are in same group because I need to stay in the city because I’m still pretty sick. I have a stomach infection and we’re living with a doctor here who is giving me free medicine and care. It’s wonderful! I have even gotten shots for the pain. But I am still trying to make the best of my time here even though I haven’t been feeling well.

It was a fun day, pretty packed with lots of stuff to do.

This morning, after breakfast, I gave the devotional to the group about being special. I really needed to remember that God put me here for a reason.

Then we dispursed into our separate groups for the weekend and 2 weeks following. 

Here is some of my group for the week(end):

Most of the rest of the group:

After we got all of our supplies for the weekend we drove to the neighborhood. By the time we got there we split up into 2 groups: one for Remi and one for evangelism/discipleship lessons.

This is the neighborhood we are working in:

We set up for Remi on the basketball court. We had Kassie, Sally and mini Carlos as clowns and I was Cometa again.

Kassie, Sally and myself:

Everyone keeps praying so strong for my health. PRAYERS PLEASE!

After Remi we played games with the kids and made balloon animals, I taught myself an elephant today! J

After we painted the basketball court lines, backboard, the light poles, changed the street lights and installed. While most of the others went and evangelizing and inviting people for the Jesus Film. It took most of the day.

I LOVE all the kids here so much!

Danielle and I are starting our own ministry soon. We are going to teach some of the kids here English for an hour each day. I’m so excited! I love that kind of stuff.

While writing this we’re watching the Jesus Film, the kids version, which I absolutely love. Very interesting.

So sunburnt. Missing you all! Blessings!

June 29, 2009

Today was our first day in Tehuacan. We are here for 3 weeks total. This week we are teaching workshops to the new members of our group who will end up becoming leaders the next week. We are doing workshops to get ready for the next 2 weeks of ministry. Today we taught Remi, first the songs, I was Cometa of course. We also made the sheets for the songs and the verses for the kids, it was a busy and good day for the most part.

I finished my 3^rd book in less than 3 weeks! Woot!

We are also going to being having a Maxim Mision this weekend. Which is when we have a lot of people come in from all over Mexico and do service projects and in this case we are continuing on in each of the communities afterward and planting churches even after the people leave

June 28, 2009

Today I begun to feel sick, sick, sick! 

This morning we got up super early and made copies for the upcoming projects until the ink ran out. Then everyone got ready and went to church while I was really drugged up because I was in so much pain, close to when I had my cyst.

When then finally got back from church, an hour later than expected, we went to Maddai’s grandparents house and ate lunch. So YUMMY! But always so much food! We left sort of quickly, and hurried and got all our stuff and left the house and Sarah and her husband drove us to the bus station.

I found postcards, I just need to send them or well find a post office.

We traveled all day and met up with Merna (a new friend from northern Mexico who will be with us for the week). She is really sweet.

Miley and I with all our luggage:

When we finally got to Tehuacan, Ezi (another brother I worked with in December) picked us up from the bus station and another brother from the church. Then we just went home and we to sleep! Long day!

June 27, 2009

Today we got to sleep in. We started making copies, bought paper and forgot it in Maddai’s car. We went to 4 bookstores hunting for English books. Danielle and I found these crazy ones. The storekeeper was trying to get us to buy some about architecture another one about the family & sexual education (interesting combo), so funny.

Our constant fight with the copy machine:

We each got a book for 10 pesos; we’ll see how they are.

After we went to a bakery, because Danielle is maybe in love with pan dulce (sweet bread). Then back to the house to work on the copies and pick up our laundry @7pm. But when we went to go pick up our laundry only Miley’s was ready. Here’s where our night took a turn. We got Miley’s laundry and they said that we could come back in an hour and pick up the laundry and we had to because we are going somewhere for 3 weeks on Sunday. So we told the laundry lady we would back in half hour or so.

Maddai was suppose to be at the house at 7:30 pm. 2 hours later she was not to found after several phone calls. She put us in a tough situation. It was pouring rain, no paper for copies, and Miley had to wait for a call about cena (dinner). It was so dangerous but at 8:30 pm Danielle and I walked to the laundry matt in pouring rain. Thank the Lord for REI and my rain jacket! So dangerous, we had men calling out to us and following us in a car for a while. SCARY! Maddai was so mad when she found out, but she just disappears. Never communicates, nothing and is ALWAYS late. We all talked to her about this tonight. She didn’t really listen. Instead told us all the times she was frustrated with us and told us she doesn’t need us for anything. It was frustrating. And nothing changed the next day. We didn’t make it to our bus on time. Oh well. Not that we need her all the time but it can be frustrating. Especially when we each hear something different about what we’re doing or hear nothing at all. I’ve spent so much money on meals here, when I shouldn’t have to. I don’t understand. WE don’t have money for that stuff. That’s when its like WHERE IS MADDAI?! WHERE ARE YOU?!! At 3 in the afternoon and there is nothing for us to eat all day.. I hope our friendship survives this summer because we were friends first and foremost. Prayers!

June 26, 2009

Most of vacation we just sat around and watched TV. Danielle and I both got full body, distress, 60 minute massages and they only cost $34.00, tell me that’s not amazing! I signed up for a training preview in the States in August for massage therapy school. Could be neat, it sounds so fun to me!

We watched a lot of movies, I got sort of caught up on my blog (like I’m doing again now) and posted some pictures and in past entries as well! Check it!

There was lots of good girl bonding time. It was a fun and relaxing trip.

 Our villa on vacation:

Today we came back from Huatuson. It was fun. The trip was 2 hours by bus and we watched Nacho Libre in Spanish. Its so much better in Spanish and I can make a lot of connections to the culture- like the corn! Ha!

When we got back we dropped off our laundry and went to The Italian Coffee Company (which is similar to our Starbucks, way cheaper and Miley’s favorite) and had dinner/lunch. Then we took a taxi back to the casa and in about 15 minutes I wrote out my what I was going to say for the Missions Study/Conference/Service, I talked about John 15 again – if you are interested in reading I will post it in my other blog (http://collegekaitlin.blogspot.com/).

Maddai translated for me, which was great! Her English is so GOOD! It’s an inspiration to me to learn Spanish.

This service has been a wonderful time of healing, praise, worship, God’s grace, mercy and prayer. People that were sick and needing healing went to the altar to kneel and were anointed with oil and prayed over. One of the women was demonized and all the pastors here (about 6) begun to pray over her and the whole congregation as well. I prayed that God would just reign in her life and bless her and that He would be her stronghold, that the demons would leave and know they are never welcome in her life again. EVER!

We could see the demons were leaving her when strange screams/noises were escaping her body and she was fighting and then her body broke down and she stopped fighting and was released. It was amazing!

Spiritual warfare is so tough, but it was so good that it happened here in this place. The pastor from Tierra Blanca (where I was working in December) just kept saying in Your name Father, In Your name! There was praise and cheers of victory afterward, it was really beautiful, sad, great and like nothing I’ve EVER seen before. 

June 24, 2009

Today we traveled to Huatuson for vacation. We were in a hotel room and while exploring we found these really nice villas and so we switched to them. It’s a little farther away but still really nice.

The town is tiny! We walked it all in about an hour or so. So not necessarily perfect tourist town but we will get some good rest. The hotel we are staying at is called Los Cocyous. There aren’t a lot of people here, there is a hot tub and these cool outdoor sauna type things, AND I’m going to get a massage! First ever! So excited!

June 23, 2009

Today was basically the same as yesterday except Maddai didn’t help paint. She went home to rest because she is really sick. Beto (Maddai’s cousin) and Miguel (Maddai’s brother) helped us paint, which was awesome! We finished all the trees (64 trees done!) in good timing and all got into a major paint fight. I still have flesh-eating paint in my hair.

After we had lunch and got ready for vacation, did laundry and got some stuff ready for another trip we are going on.

June 22, 2009

Today we got up and went to the market. After the market we headed over to the neighborhood and painted trees until it was time to go to lunch.

Today I gave a devotional on John 15 and Philippians 3:12-14 : which is about how I got to Mexico this summer. Afterward Judith (the District Superintendents wife) asked if we could speak at this missions study service on Friday, which is when we were suppose to be on vacation but Maddai changed our vacation to accommodate the service. It was kind of overly dramatic time and interesting and not so appropriate things were said but its over now and fine. So we decided to only go back to the neighborhood if physical work was needed after our vacation (Wed-Fri).

I’m excited for vacation!

After painting trees, Danielle made us Kraft mac n cheese, what a treat for us! We were at Maddai’s house for 5 hours. That’s real life, most days at least. It down poured for 5 hours. In a sense, it feels like I never left Portland, its rained everyday since I’ve been here. Crazy! Anyways, I’ve gotten a lot of reading done since I’ve been here.