Into the glorious unknown...: September 2008

Turkey, Turkey everywhere, on the ceiling, on the walls and on the floor.

So tonight we were having dinner and talking when Troy comes out of the kitchen and "klablooie" an explosion coming from the kitchen and a cloud of white proceeds to fill the entire kitchen, and when the dust settles (so to speak) there was cooked turkey everywhere.

So here was the deal: there was a pressure cooker on the stove cooking away when apparently something went awry and the pressure got to be too much inside and the next thing we know there goes the pressure cooker soaring up to the ceiling and slammed back down to the stove where it proceeded to make a HUGE dent in the stove. So needless to say the kitchen got a little extra cleaning tonight.

Hola!

Since it's been awhile since I last updated my blog let me catch you up:

On Saturday we had a September birthday party/Oaxaca Idol (lip-synching competition). Us single ladies did our lip-synch to "Jesus is a friend of Mine" (its on youtube if you are interested and seeing the original song/group its rather hysterical) the song is by a group from the seventies so we all dressed up accordingly we got some interesting clothing pieces from Reto, a used clothing store (for those of you who are on facebook that's where I am in my profile pic) for the occasion, it was a lot of fun. That night we played Ultimate Pong a ping pong game that gets pretty competitive (if you would like to learn we'll have to have a Ultimate Pong night when I'm home)

Here in Tlaxiaco we are surrounded by beautiful mountains, and ever since I got here they have been calling my name, so yesterday we finally climbed one. It took us about 2 and a half hours to climb it and I have to say that it kicked my butt the entire way, but it was totally worth it when we were at the top. I hope that it will get easier the longer I'm here and I get acclimated to the altitude. On the way down we ran some of the way and I took a complete no recovery tumble. Don't worry mom I'm ok I just have a sizable bruise on my bottom. No problem. It was a really good time, yet a very tiring time!

Today we started a new week of classes and this week we are learning about intercessory prayer. It's only one day in and I'm already feeling challenged by the things we are learning. I have been praying that God would break me and refine me so that there would be no more of me and all of him. This is a scary prayer for me because I know that there will be a lot of pain and questions that will come with this prayer, but I desire to be at that place. If you guys could keep me in your prayers as I'm going through this process I would really appreciate it. Also, if you could keep my health and everyone's health here on the base in your prayers I would appreciate it. Living in community with others is a wonderful thing, but it also comes with its own problems like sickness, so if you could keep that in your prayers I would be grateful.

That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Till next time, much love...

This week is death to self week here at GFM and that means a lot of dying to my way of thinking. To say that my world has been rocked just doesn't do it justice...I now know that I will not be the same person I was when I got here and this is only the second week. I'm sure over the next months you guys will start to see changes (at least I hope you will anyway).

Just to share a little about what I've been learning, I have been challenged in what I believe is suffering and what I believe is complete surrender to God. I have come to the realization that God's glory is so much more important than my life and my comfort and that God may use me in ways that I might not think is comfortable or convenient but it isn't about me its about God and his glory. I have also come to the realization that my relationship with god has been me-centered and not God centered, God wants to bless us don't get me wrong, but He blesses us so that we bless others for his glory and not for our own.

Whew.....that is just a little taste of what I have been learning. I can see that the process will probably be a long and painful one, and I know that God is going to chip away at me until I am completely broken so that he can use me for his will and glory. I'm ready, or at least I think I am. If you would like to know more about I'm learning I would love to tell you about it in more detail, just shoot me an e-mail or wright a comment.

On a lighter note, On Monday night we went to a neighbor's house who's daughter was Miss Mexico and we had dinner and walked in a parade to the Colonia's recreation center for the "Greeto", where they had a ceremony and the 'gringos' got ambush foamed. It was fun to get a little taste of culture and see how they celebrate their independence day (I was wrong in the previous post their independence day was yesterday September 16th).

I love you all and miss you guys!

In His Hands,

Leah

Greetings from Mexico-

I hope that you have had a restful and challenging Sabath. I personally have had a good one. This morning I went to church with Dan and Kelly Farr and their family and the Wheelers to a church that was on the otherside of town and outside on the side of a mountain and it was awsome! When we arrived they had already started music worship and I was pleased to see and hear that they were doing worship with an electric guitar, drums and an electric bass guitar I loved every mintue of it even though I didn't necessarily understand everything.

Ok, so I'm still trying to learn the language so this morning I was trying to pick out the words I could understand and I heard over and over again: "Gloria adios" and I thought to myself, 'why do they keep saying 'glory good-bye'', Finally I realized that Dios is God in Spanish and they were saying "glory to God". You've gotta love the humor in learning a new language, sometimes it just doesn't quite make sense.

Also, during the service they did a trust fall with some of the church members (whoever wanted to participate could) I didn't end up participating because I wasn't quite sure how that would work with a skirt on, I definitely did not want anything to fly up and offend them :). I always love worshipping with my brothers and sisters in different languages its a beautiful thing. I think I will probably continue to go to this church for now at least.

So far that's been my day, we have today and tomorrow off so I'm not exactly sure what we will be doing, but tomorrow is Mexico's independence day so I'm hoping to be able to go into town and see how they celebrate. I hear it can get pretty crazy.

Until next time..

Hola!



So I hope that you are all enjoying an event filled Saturday night! I got back from town about an hour ago and am ready for a night of relaxation and fellowship with the "gringos" here on base. However I must say that today was a spectacular day in and of itself. Let me expound:



So this morning/afternoon we went into town and tried our communication skills (or lack there of) we had a scavenger hunt where we had to ask towns people different questions to fulfill the points. I went out with Heather and Missy, Heather knows a lot of Spanish and was a very patient teacher encouraging us to use what we know and helping by giving new phrases to use with the people in town and translating when they answered back with words we couldn't understand. We met quite a few people today and I hope that we will be able to build on that foundation and create relationships with those people.



At about 2pm we met up with the rest of the "gringos" or white people (that's what they call us down here) and went to lunch with the groups that will be our Saturday lunch groups for the rest of the year. After lunch Tashia, Jon and I went back to the market in search of grasshoppers. Tashia said that I had to eat one (yes I'm blaming you Tashia :)). So after wandering around the market without success we finally found a woman who lead us to a vendor who had them and graciously (not sure if that's the right word) let us try one. My first grasshopper...interesting, not exactly disgusting, yet not exactly appetizing. After the grasshoppers we decided to get some coffee at a local coffee shop (I was happy to hear they have coffee shops with espresso drinks) and had a good time of fellowship.

Tonight I had alone time God sitting on the hammock, watching the lightning and drinking coffee (it was lovely) and felt so blessed to be here learning more about my Jesus and learning about how to be best be his vessel. I still don't know what exactly it is that God is calling me to, but its ok because I know that it's in His Hands and there is no better place for my future to be, right?
You can continue to pray for me in the language area I still have a ways to go, but I know that God is right there with me. Thanks for all of your prayers in this area I have definitely felt them!

I have been in Tlaxiaco for 4 days now and haven't exactly gotten into a routine quite yet, but I am hoping that I will next week since this is an orientation week.

So let me catch you up on my life the past couple of days, on Monday we had some neighbors kill and butcher one of the base's pigs, because she could no longer walk due to abuse from the male pig she indeed led a sad life of abuse, so it was better that she was put out of her misery. That was pretty much the excitement for that day.

On Tuesday we ate the pig in pork tacos they were pretty good! On Tuesday night we went into town, toured it and had taco Tuesdays at one of the restaurants the people here really like (it was pretty delicious). We will be doing taco Tuesdays every week so I am very excited (this will also be a night of ministry time where we will try and form relationships with the local people).

Today we had class (we've had class since Monday) and had a lesson on speed reading (I must say here I was a little skeptical, but it actually does work, within 30 min I improved my speed by 50 words per minute!). This afternoon I finally went for a run. I have been a little stir crazy the last couple days so it was nice to get out and stretch my legs and get some exercise. On a side note the one thing that wasn't enjoyable were the 3 dogs that chased me, luckily they didn't chase me for long. Tonight I'm not sure what we will be doing I suspect I will attempt to get some reading done and possibly go back into town. Thank you all for your support both now and as I've been on this crazy journey called life, I think back and don't know what I would have done without your prayers and support. I am one lucky lady to have friends and family such as you!

Prayer Requests:*Please pray for me as I am trying to make relationships with people here that I would be able to pick up the language fast and that I would be able to adequately communicate with them in order to make those relationships.

Greetings from Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca Mexico!

I have arrived safe and sound last night and have (shocker!) settled in for the most part already. Yesterday was a long day of travel that started at 8am and ended at 12:45 am (Tlaxiaco is an hour behind Minneapolis in case anyone was wondering). By the time we arrived at the base I was quite ready to go to sleep, so I was happy to hear that we would have the chance to sleep in until 10am this morning! Although I think I was too anxious to sleep that long I probably woke up at about 8am, so really not too bad. Today we had brunch as a big group and I met several people at the base here (however, I don't remember many of their names, I'm sure I will get a chance to learn them over the next several months). The rest of the day is a free day until 8pm when we will have mandatory fun time, I think I will probably take a nap and visit with my new classmates. I think we begin classes tomorrow, so if I have time I will try and do another update then. Love you all and hope that you are doing well!

The blogging begins...

I am leaving for Mexico in 4 days and can hardly believe that it's already time to go! My goal is to update all of you, my family and friends, on my life while I'm in Mexico. Hopefully that means weekly updates, but knowing me I have a feeling that it probably won't be every week, but I will try my best. So, until next time...