Well it is now my fourth full day here in Queretaro and so far, it has been so good! The feeling of overwhelmed-ness has passed and I'm just enjoying being a Mexican. Yesterday was a really good day. I met with Pasotr Martin in the morning and talked about the mission and vision for discipleship and small groups here at Companerismo Cristiano Horizonte. My chief role this summer will be to disciple the girls of "prepa" (la escuela preparatoria is like middle school). So really it's going to be great, this morning I made up a schedule of different events we can do this summer like sleepovers and movie night and swimming and whatnot, and I will also be meeting with the 7 girls one-on-one. It is kind of weird planning everything, because I haven't met the girls yet! Tomorrow (saturday) night is the first meeting of "extreme" the middle school/ high school group. I am so excited! Please pray that I can build great relationships with them.
Yesterday I also met with the other leaders of Extreme, I didnt know what they were talking about a lot of the time, they were discussing last weeks meeting and things, but they are awesome people and I am really excited to work with them!
Lastly, last night I went to the young adults group. I was a little nervous to be in a big group of people, but it went really well. I made a new friend named Carmelita and I just really enjoyed singing praises to our God and talking about my faith with people my own age. (ok, i basically just listened, but oh well)
God just blessed my so much yesterday. First of all, the confidence that pastor Martin has placed in me to minister to these girls is incredible. Doubts try to creep in that I am not the one for this position, but he tells me not to worry about my Spanish, or what they think of me. Talking with him reminds me that God has brought me here for a reason and he WILL work through me if I let him.
Additionally, when I was walking to the church before my meeting I was just praying to God that He would take away my fears of speaking, that he would give me the ears to hear and understand the Spanish and that he would fill my mouth with words to speak, and he totally did, he just gave me this peace and comfort even though I am living in a completely different world!
Speaking of different world, here are just some side notes about Mexican culture that I have found interesting...
everyone greets everyone with a kiss on the cheek. Whenever someone arrives or before they leave, they go to every single person in the room and give them a kiss on the cheek. I think it's great, it makes me feel like part of the group!
Some foods that I have eaten so far:
coconut ice cream
Mole
a billion kinds of "aguas frescas". Drinks made from fresh fruit. I have had mango, papaya, strawberry and watermelon
no intestine or tongue or eyeball yet, but who knows what will happen :)
ok this is way too long, if you read it all, congratulations!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
I am here!
Well, I am here. I arrived about 8:00 monday evening, cruised around the city with Jessica (one of the missionaries from the US) for a while, picked up her husband Jean Paul from school and then went to my home. Not going to lie, I am a little overwhelmed. I feel like my 6 years of studying spanish are completely worthless. But it was just the first night, so hopefully it will get better.
My house is great, I love it already. I live with Evy, who is about 40 and her mother America. They have a beautiful home. I have my own bedroom and bathroom and there is even a pretty fountain in the back of the house that she said I can sit and read by. Evy can speak English if she needs to but knows I need to practice Spanish. I think they are a little more direct than many Mexicans, for example, they just keep telling me that I have to tell them when I don't like any food because they want me to be comfortable and they want me to feel like family.
Even though I am asking myself "what the heck am I doing here" I know that God is in control. Evy and America say that I am an answer to prayer because they were praying that God would send them someone to live with them. Someone to whom they could be a blessing and someone who could bless them. Thank you Jesus that I have a house in which I can be comfortable! (despite the lack of AC)
Today I will go to Horizonte Church and meet the pastor and just be generally oriented, so I will let you know how that goes!
My house is great, I love it already. I live with Evy, who is about 40 and her mother America. They have a beautiful home. I have my own bedroom and bathroom and there is even a pretty fountain in the back of the house that she said I can sit and read by. Evy can speak English if she needs to but knows I need to practice Spanish. I think they are a little more direct than many Mexicans, for example, they just keep telling me that I have to tell them when I don't like any food because they want me to be comfortable and they want me to feel like family.
Even though I am asking myself "what the heck am I doing here" I know that God is in control. Evy and America say that I am an answer to prayer because they were praying that God would send them someone to live with them. Someone to whom they could be a blessing and someone who could bless them. Thank you Jesus that I have a house in which I can be comfortable! (despite the lack of AC)
Today I will go to Horizonte Church and meet the pastor and just be generally oriented, so I will let you know how that goes!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Why am I going?
Well I leave in about 6 days, and as my first real blog post, I think I should just share why I am going to Mexico to serve God and people this summer.
In John 10:10, Christ says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full". I have accepted Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for my sins. Jesus is my Savior, and I have a personal relationship with him. He gives me joy, peace and purpose. I truly believe that there is life after death, life in heaven with Christ. I know that I cannot keep this salvation to myself, I want to share it with others.
In one of our SOS meetings, Tommy Moon stated that missions can be summed up in Christ's words in Luke 7:37-38, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." It begins with me and Jesus, spending time with Him, getting to know Him and just resting in His love. When we are filled with Christ's love, it will naturally flow out into other areas of life and affect other people.
I know that I could spend my whole life sharing Christ with people right here in Iowa, but God has also given me a passion for the Spanish language and Latin American culture. I love the passion of the culture, the relaxed lifestyle, and the value of family. For me, it only makes sense that I combine my love for Christ and and my love for hispanic language and culture!
I think many times, we Christians here in the US forget that we really arent the only Christians in the world. We forget that God is moving outside of our neat little model of what a good church and good Christians look like. Plain and simple, I want to see what God is doing in other parts of the world! I want to learn more about Him and the way He works! I'm not expecting to go down to Mexico and change a bunch of stuff and show everyone how they can make their lives better by being more like me. No, I'm just excited to get involved in what God is already doing in Queretaro and Horizonte church!
Lastly, one of the main reasons I chose to go to Mexico this summer, rather than some other part of the world, is because there are so many Mexicans in NW Iowa and I want to become equipped to serve them better. There are so many disparities between the American culture and the Mexican-American culture, and I think a little understanding could go a long way in reaching out to each other, and drawing people to the love of Christ. I want to learn about Mexico, the way people think and the way they live. I want to learn about people's views on faith, missions, and immigration to the US. I want to use this understanding when I return in August to build relationships with Mexicans in the US. What I truly desire to see here in Sioux City, in Orange City and in all of the US is described by Paul in Ephesians 2:19-20, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone."
In John 10:10, Christ says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full". I have accepted Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for my sins. Jesus is my Savior, and I have a personal relationship with him. He gives me joy, peace and purpose. I truly believe that there is life after death, life in heaven with Christ. I know that I cannot keep this salvation to myself, I want to share it with others.
In one of our SOS meetings, Tommy Moon stated that missions can be summed up in Christ's words in Luke 7:37-38, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." It begins with me and Jesus, spending time with Him, getting to know Him and just resting in His love. When we are filled with Christ's love, it will naturally flow out into other areas of life and affect other people.
I know that I could spend my whole life sharing Christ with people right here in Iowa, but God has also given me a passion for the Spanish language and Latin American culture. I love the passion of the culture, the relaxed lifestyle, and the value of family. For me, it only makes sense that I combine my love for Christ and and my love for hispanic language and culture!
I think many times, we Christians here in the US forget that we really arent the only Christians in the world. We forget that God is moving outside of our neat little model of what a good church and good Christians look like. Plain and simple, I want to see what God is doing in other parts of the world! I want to learn more about Him and the way He works! I'm not expecting to go down to Mexico and change a bunch of stuff and show everyone how they can make their lives better by being more like me. No, I'm just excited to get involved in what God is already doing in Queretaro and Horizonte church!
Lastly, one of the main reasons I chose to go to Mexico this summer, rather than some other part of the world, is because there are so many Mexicans in NW Iowa and I want to become equipped to serve them better. There are so many disparities between the American culture and the Mexican-American culture, and I think a little understanding could go a long way in reaching out to each other, and drawing people to the love of Christ. I want to learn about Mexico, the way people think and the way they live. I want to learn about people's views on faith, missions, and immigration to the US. I want to use this understanding when I return in August to build relationships with Mexicans in the US. What I truly desire to see here in Sioux City, in Orange City and in all of the US is described by Paul in Ephesians 2:19-20, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone."
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