2/22/12

I went to a womens retreat this weekend, up in the mountains. It was about a 4 hour trip. There were about 70 womens there. Most of them were Totonak (native Indians) and they speak a totally different language. There are two missionary ladies that have learned the language and were able to translate everything. We stayed w/ a missionary family while we were there. They have clinic where they are able to provide medicines and other medical needs for a very low price.

I was very glad that I got to go but also felt a bit helpless because I couldn’t talk to the people at all. I just smiled a lot and shook all their hands. There were a lot of meeting, where I didn’t know what was going on so I decided that this was a good time for me to just pray. So now whenever I’m in a meeting that I have no idea what’s going on, I just get out a pen and paper and pray for people here, people back home. I have never been so silent in my life before. I don’t get a chance to speak much English here and I miss it!

I got to cook dinner for part of Vicky's huge family one evening. It was a bit challenging trying to explain what all I needed but the meal turned out great! I love this photo cuz it really explains what my face looks like a lot of the time. Haha

On Wednesdays I help out at a school at the church. This girl has a hard time seeing and doesn't hear. She was so excited to get her hands green and kept looking at them while doing this project.

What's Next. This weeked, I will be going to another womens retreat about two hours away. I am not sure if part of it will be in english or not. I will be going w/ Janelle.

Florida and Meciso #1 2/2-2/14

FLORIDA

It was so nice to be able to spend a week w/ my former teacher and her husband in Florida. What a blessing they were. I felt so at home w/ them. They really took the time to show me all around Orlando and Tampa. One week was just too short but I will see them again in 2 months! (I tried to post a photo but can't get it to work grrr)





MEXICO



I arrived in Mexico to find that my biggest fear had come true. No one was at the airport to pick me up. I tried calling from my phone and it wasn’t working. I have no idea why. Then I tried to use the pay phones but didn’t understand them. I was trying to communicate w/ people but they didn’t understand me. I was really starting to get worried when I looked up and saw that Janelle had just arrived!!!! What relief I felt! She had had quite a long day herself. The taxi she was in had gotten a flat-tier. She had left at 7 in the morning to pick me up and got to the airport at 2ich! So thankful for her picking me up! I would have never been able to make it on my own. Janelle has been a huge blessing!





It took six hours to get to Janelle’s place and I was able to get on the internet and let everyone know that I made it. After that I finally was able to go to Vicky’s house (the place where I will be staying). I was so glad to finally make it to my final destination! It was late by the time I got there though and all I wanted to do was sleep!

I am staying in a little house that is surrounded by Vicky’s family so people are in and out of the house all the time. I met a lot of people the next day and learning a lot of Spanish words. I thought that one of her family members spoke English but come to find out, no one speaks English! It has been pretty interesting so far. I have never been in a situation where no one can even translate for me so that has been kind of challenging. I'm very thankful for my dictionary!



Picture of Vicky and I at the market.

Vicky’s family invites us over for dinner all the time. The food here has been AMAZING!

I am teaching two teens how to sing an English song that we are planning on singing together at church.

How it All Came Together.

A few months ago I decided to start looking into the possibility of maybe staying in Mexico for a little while. I have always wanted to go there to experience a new culture and maybe learn some of the language. After mentioning it to my mom, she got me talking to Janelle, a lady that I knew 11 years ago in the Philippines. She is now a missionary in Puebla, Mexico.

Honestly, I didn’t think that I would actually end up going but felt I should at least look into it. I asked if it would be possible to take two months off work and it was approved. Then, Janelle found a family that I could stay w/. The last thing I really wanted to find was a cheap ticket. I looked all over and they were about $750 from Arkansas. I had a vacation planned to go to Florida already so I looked into leaving form there. The price was about $500. I just kept my eyes open and the evening that I found out that everything was set up for me to go, I found a ticket that happen to leave just when I had planned to leave Florida and it was for $366! I was so shocked and felt like this was kind of a confirmation that I should go.