Available

Well, I am in the midst of week 4 of my time here in Mexico (to be exact it is day 24 and there are 35 left, but who's counting?) and things are going really well. After completely reconstructing my mindset and the way I viewed my purpose of being here, I finally feel like God can use me here. Dejame explicar (allow me to explain):
First of all, I am not here to do "stuff," to complete tasks, to check off things on a list. For me, that is SO HARD. I am a planner, I like to be able to track my successes and failures, I want to know if I am doing a good job. But there is no one here to say "Laura, do this, this and this". There is no list. Therefore, I have come to realize that my number one priority this summer has to be my own personal relationship with God. I knew that in my head before I came, but now I know it in my heart. Here in Queretaro I don't have my family friends, house, car, culture, language, schedule, and my appearance that fits in with everyone else. I didn't realize how much I depend on these things, and now I have to depend on God to give me my identity and my peace becasue I don't have these things. I have come to realize that the one and only thing I have to offer the people of Queretaro is my heart, and when they see my heart I want them to see God. I want them to see the God of salvation, the Lord of love. Often I cannot express myself very well in words, but I trust that the Holy Spirit can still speak through me with or without words.
At first I was really frustrated that I wasn't always doing something. I felt like I had way too much free time, but now I have slightly less free time and I am learning to embrace the free time I do have. I have never taken so much time to spend with the Lord, free from the pressures of my schedule and responsibilities, and this opportunity has been an immense blessing to me.
I have been hanging out with many of the high school girls one-on-one and I am also planning group events. I see the Lord in these times in the fact that these girls like me! I honestly don't understand it. I know I sound like an idiot when I try to talk most of the time, I don't fit into the culture at all, so I don't really understand why they would want to hang out with me but they are genuinely excited to get to know me. Thank you Lord!
**Please pray for the girls because there is a lack of unity among them, and in this culture where the vast majority of people do not share their beliefs, they need each other more than they even realize.
** Also, there is at least one girl I know of who has not accepted the Lord as her Savior, but she has not come to youth group the last 2 weeks. Pray that I can connect with her and that we can have some good conversation
I want to also share a sweet story of how I have seen God working in the church. On Tuesday, a 27-year-old lady named Christina was walking past the church and she heard the worship team practicing for the Wednesday night praise service. She lives close to the church and she said she had wanted to come check it out for a while, but Tuesday she saw the gate was open and came on in. Pastor Martin saw her and started talking. She said she would come to church, but she didnt know anyone. So Martin introduced her to Jessica, Yetzi and myself. She came to the worship service last night and I sat next to her. She thought it was really cool but I don't know how comfortable she is with Christianity because when it was time to pray in groups she wanted me to pray (praying in Spanish is not exactly my strong point). But it was really cool that I had the opportunity to pray with her and for her. She said she is going to come to the young adults group tonight. Praise the Lord for working in Christina's heart and giving her the courage to walk into the church, and also praise the Lord for the love I saw poured out by everyone welcoming her.
Well this post is long enough, but the last thought of the day is this: The importance of being AVAILABLE. I think in the US we feel like we always have to fill up our schedule with stuff to do. But when we sit back, relax, and just enjoy the presence of the Lord, this is when he can fill us with is Holy Spirit. When our eyes and schedules are open to those around us, we can find such great ways to minister to others!