Altotonga, Mexico -- I would first like to mention how gloriously wonderful it is outside. There is not a cloud in the sky... It's not hot, but the sun is warm.
Well, it's been a bit busy lately. This last Sunday was the last Sunday at the church location... it's now moved into the Club. Chris has reconfigured all the wires and stuff like that and moved the downstairs office upstairs. Today, I'll be getting a how-to on running the new sound system (or rather, the other sound system).
And I've spent quite a few hours painting at the Club. Pictures hopefully to come soon. It's pretty cool.So, this week the Club is closed. Mostly because Porfirio (the middle school closest to us) is closed on Thursday for all saints day and then day of the dead on Friday. How exciting.
Normally we get many, many kids from Porfirio-- I'd say around 200 different kids will pass through--actually, I'd move that up to about 300... they have two sessions to their school-- those who go in the morning 7-1:20; and those who go in the afternoon/evening.We've had a big growth in the number of kids from Eba... the high school just down the street. It's grown about 100% I'd say in this last year... and we have more girls coming! woo-hoo! So, we're excited about that, and we're excited to see where the new changes will take us.
Next week, I'll be going to Mexico City for a youth leaders' conference. I went last year, and it was amazing. So, we'll be taking a few youth there and will learn how to be better youth leaders!By the way, I have a phone line in my house now. That is a very exciting development. It only took about 6 weeks, but hey, it's in!
The big event today is that Aurrera opened. Aurrera is like a supermarket-- and it's the first "big" thing here. Which I suppose means that Altotonga is growing. But, we're hoping that they may have frozen turkeys so we don't have to go to Xalapa (an hour and a half away) for a turkey for Thanksgiving. So, I'm going to go check that out today-- it's been the talk of town for a few months now.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
Second Anniversary
Altotonga, Mexico -- Well, we had the 2nd anniversary of the Club last week. It went very well... we had some 100 kids in attendance... all of them had a blast. We then had cake and soda upstairs while the band played and Chris talked for a while. We were all very very sore on Sunday!This week we have the new wall up in the Club and the next two weeks we'll be closed to make the changes necessary to be able to unite the church and the club in one location. Please pray for the transitions going on with that.Other than that, I continue on my regular schedule and all those things!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Busy-ness
Altotonga, Mexico -- Hello there.
Well, it has been an interesting and busy few weeks since I've written. It's the regular schedule, but it's busy! At lot of changes are going on in the club, some I will mention later, but right now we are in the middle of construction on the land behind the club which will some day be the church's building.
But for now, it will be a basketball court while the court inside will be made into a makeshift church room.The major changes will come starting next week with that. For now, there is construction and a little difference but next week is when it will be like blam!
Other than that, I stay with the same schedule... I guess maybe you should know my schedule then... hmm.. there's a thought. :)
Sundays-- I go visiting around with youth, hit the market for food I'll need during the week; prepare for whatever groups I'll be leading during the week; church 4-6; sometimes an event after church. Other times I take Araceli to church in Xalapa... which is an all day event... from 9am-8pm (travel, church, stuff to do in Xalapa, etc.)
Monday! Free day, which inevitably turns into business day... or day to do whatever I can't do during the week. It's my day to cook in the house.
Tuesdays- Technically "business day", meeting with Chris and Vonda all morning, errands in the afternoon, Spanish class from 4-6 and from 6:30 is a prayer meeting and leader's meeting for college age group.
Wednesdays-- Usually I'll head out to Orilla del Monte to visit there. It's also chore day and my day to cook. Prayer meeting at the club around 5:45... at 7 a leaders' meeting and then at 8:30-- I have discipleship meeting with Araceli.
Thursdays/Fridays-- I go visiting in the morning. Club from 11:30-2:30 and 5:30-9. Business stuff in afternoon.
Saturdays-Dance Class 10:30-12:30; Club time 3:30-8
Generally, that's about it. There are always other things that come up and people that I need to go see... so I make my rounds. And then preparation time for dance class..
On Monday Telmex (the phone company here) came to put a phone line in the house. I was so excited. It had been a month since we had gone to Perote to contract it. So, Tuesday we went to Telmex in Perote (about 1/2 hr away) to contract internet. As it turns out, whoever put the phone line in didn't enter it with the system, and so it shows that we do not have service... and they say it could be a month before it gets entered in. I discovered today, after many tries with different phones and cords that our phone line doesn't even work even though you can dial it and it "rings."
That's been slightly frustrating.I've been working on the video for you guys. I know, I know.. I said that like a month ago. It's been busy, I'm sorry. But it's coming.Monday I may be going to Veracruz to pick up my Japanese program and birthday cards. Hopefully. Well friends, I think that is all right now. I really need to be going, I've a ton of things to do in the next hour before heading to the Club.
Well, it has been an interesting and busy few weeks since I've written. It's the regular schedule, but it's busy! At lot of changes are going on in the club, some I will mention later, but right now we are in the middle of construction on the land behind the club which will some day be the church's building.
But for now, it will be a basketball court while the court inside will be made into a makeshift church room.The major changes will come starting next week with that. For now, there is construction and a little difference but next week is when it will be like blam!
Other than that, I stay with the same schedule... I guess maybe you should know my schedule then... hmm.. there's a thought. :)
Sundays-- I go visiting around with youth, hit the market for food I'll need during the week; prepare for whatever groups I'll be leading during the week; church 4-6; sometimes an event after church. Other times I take Araceli to church in Xalapa... which is an all day event... from 9am-8pm (travel, church, stuff to do in Xalapa, etc.)
Monday! Free day, which inevitably turns into business day... or day to do whatever I can't do during the week. It's my day to cook in the house.
Tuesdays- Technically "business day", meeting with Chris and Vonda all morning, errands in the afternoon, Spanish class from 4-6 and from 6:30 is a prayer meeting and leader's meeting for college age group.
Wednesdays-- Usually I'll head out to Orilla del Monte to visit there. It's also chore day and my day to cook. Prayer meeting at the club around 5:45... at 7 a leaders' meeting and then at 8:30-- I have discipleship meeting with Araceli.
Thursdays/Fridays-- I go visiting in the morning. Club from 11:30-2:30 and 5:30-9. Business stuff in afternoon.
Saturdays-Dance Class 10:30-12:30; Club time 3:30-8
Generally, that's about it. There are always other things that come up and people that I need to go see... so I make my rounds. And then preparation time for dance class..
On Monday Telmex (the phone company here) came to put a phone line in the house. I was so excited. It had been a month since we had gone to Perote to contract it. So, Tuesday we went to Telmex in Perote (about 1/2 hr away) to contract internet. As it turns out, whoever put the phone line in didn't enter it with the system, and so it shows that we do not have service... and they say it could be a month before it gets entered in. I discovered today, after many tries with different phones and cords that our phone line doesn't even work even though you can dial it and it "rings."
That's been slightly frustrating.I've been working on the video for you guys. I know, I know.. I said that like a month ago. It's been busy, I'm sorry. But it's coming.Monday I may be going to Veracruz to pick up my Japanese program and birthday cards. Hopefully. Well friends, I think that is all right now. I really need to be going, I've a ton of things to do in the next hour before heading to the Club.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Everyday life lessons...
Altotonga, Mexico -- Dear friends, I am writing to you with icky fingernails. Why? Because of an adventure... :)
Two days ago, I went down to the Club to put together some stretching bars for the dance class that is going to start on Saturday. It was an adventure just getting the pieces of pipe.. two long almost 9 feet pieces, walking through town. Some of them I had to get threads made on... Some sautered together (or however you spell that).
I finally got all the pieces, and with the help of my lovely roommate (who is so happy because of all the adventures I drag her into ;)). We finally got it together and left with very greasy hands.
Yesterday, I went down to paint them. Everything was going wonderful. I hadn't made any messes and there was more paint on the bars than on me. I was getting ready to clean the brush as I was comtemplating the sense of independence that I felt for having accomplished all this-- venturing into the world of the hardware store and other manly stores... in another language-- when I grabbed the paint thinner and headed downstairs to clean up.
Well,I poured what I thought was the paint thinner over the paint brush and started rubbing. My hands got blacker and blacker and sticky and the paint was only going all over the sink. I then realized that what I thought was the bottle of paint thinner was just water. I panicked, because now my hands were very very black and no matter how much water I used, the paint wasn't going anywhere!I went back upstairs in search of the real stuff, and found the very clearly marked bottle-- "thinner." (sigh)
So, I got a good portion off my fingers with the paint thinner and cloth.. and eventually got the paint brush cleaned. It was just that my hands.. in all the creases and knuckles and those parts were all black and gray. I scrubbed and scrubbed and got the majority of it off. So much for not making a mess.
It took me longer to get the mess cleaned up than it took me to set up and paint. By the way, did you guys know that paint thinner will melt plastic cups? Interesting!
So, while I was being infumigated by the odors of paint thinner and trying to return everything to the clean state it had been in, I began thinking about the effects of sin on our lives. As I started getting paint on my hands and continued rubbing it around, I laughed about a joke I remembered a friend making--that she was going to inject me with ink so that I would be a little darker. I remembered that as my fingers were turning black.
But as the black paint started to take over and get sticky, I started to panic. Isn't it a little like sin? We may think it's fun(ny) at the beginning, and then we realize that we can't control the spreading of the sin and its stickiness. No matter what we do, we just make more and more of a mess of things.Until we bring out the Word of God... the paint thinner of our lives. It cleanes and dissolves that black gunky mess that we've made and brings peace. It has an airy feeling pouring over the hands, and sometimes it's a little tough to scrub with or when it gets into cuts, but nonetheless, it cleans up the mess. That is, if we choose to apply it. So, if you've made a mess, bring out the paint thinner-- the Word of God Himself. And apply it to your life and bring yourself closer to God.
I don't know how I manage to get myself into such adventures. But it's fun.Well, my friends, I continue working with the leadership of the college age group-- forming and developing the leadership so that we can go somewhere!
Other than that, as I mentioned the dance class starts this Saturday. I believe we're going to have a good turnout. We'll see how these things go.I am trying to get a video put together this week to be able to post. It would be easier to do if I could post it in my house (through internet in my house) but we're still waiting on the phone company to come put the line in. Who knows when they'll arrive. :)Have a great afternoon my friends, I need to run! (By the way, toothpaste also helps to get oil paint off your hands-- don't ask)
Two days ago, I went down to the Club to put together some stretching bars for the dance class that is going to start on Saturday. It was an adventure just getting the pieces of pipe.. two long almost 9 feet pieces, walking through town. Some of them I had to get threads made on... Some sautered together (or however you spell that).
I finally got all the pieces, and with the help of my lovely roommate (who is so happy because of all the adventures I drag her into ;)). We finally got it together and left with very greasy hands.
Yesterday, I went down to paint them. Everything was going wonderful. I hadn't made any messes and there was more paint on the bars than on me. I was getting ready to clean the brush as I was comtemplating the sense of independence that I felt for having accomplished all this-- venturing into the world of the hardware store and other manly stores... in another language-- when I grabbed the paint thinner and headed downstairs to clean up.
Well,I poured what I thought was the paint thinner over the paint brush and started rubbing. My hands got blacker and blacker and sticky and the paint was only going all over the sink. I then realized that what I thought was the bottle of paint thinner was just water. I panicked, because now my hands were very very black and no matter how much water I used, the paint wasn't going anywhere!I went back upstairs in search of the real stuff, and found the very clearly marked bottle-- "thinner." (sigh)
So, I got a good portion off my fingers with the paint thinner and cloth.. and eventually got the paint brush cleaned. It was just that my hands.. in all the creases and knuckles and those parts were all black and gray. I scrubbed and scrubbed and got the majority of it off. So much for not making a mess.
It took me longer to get the mess cleaned up than it took me to set up and paint. By the way, did you guys know that paint thinner will melt plastic cups? Interesting!
So, while I was being infumigated by the odors of paint thinner and trying to return everything to the clean state it had been in, I began thinking about the effects of sin on our lives. As I started getting paint on my hands and continued rubbing it around, I laughed about a joke I remembered a friend making--that she was going to inject me with ink so that I would be a little darker. I remembered that as my fingers were turning black.
But as the black paint started to take over and get sticky, I started to panic. Isn't it a little like sin? We may think it's fun(ny) at the beginning, and then we realize that we can't control the spreading of the sin and its stickiness. No matter what we do, we just make more and more of a mess of things.Until we bring out the Word of God... the paint thinner of our lives. It cleanes and dissolves that black gunky mess that we've made and brings peace. It has an airy feeling pouring over the hands, and sometimes it's a little tough to scrub with or when it gets into cuts, but nonetheless, it cleans up the mess. That is, if we choose to apply it. So, if you've made a mess, bring out the paint thinner-- the Word of God Himself. And apply it to your life and bring yourself closer to God.
I don't know how I manage to get myself into such adventures. But it's fun.Well, my friends, I continue working with the leadership of the college age group-- forming and developing the leadership so that we can go somewhere!
Other than that, as I mentioned the dance class starts this Saturday. I believe we're going to have a good turnout. We'll see how these things go.I am trying to get a video put together this week to be able to post. It would be easier to do if I could post it in my house (through internet in my house) but we're still waiting on the phone company to come put the line in. Who knows when they'll arrive. :)Have a great afternoon my friends, I need to run! (By the way, toothpaste also helps to get oil paint off your hands-- don't ask)
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
No, I haven't disappeared
Altotonga, Mexico -- Hey friends, NO, I promise I haven't disappeared. These last few days have been insanely crazy. I am planning an update for tomorrow, when things are a little less busy. :)
Also coming soon, a video! Yes, that's right, a video.
For now, if you all could be praying for my application process for residency here. I need a few papers, but the gentleman from an organization who was going to file it for me wants to charge me an arm, leg, ear, and part of a hip to complete the process. Please pray that I can acquire the papers I need in a timely manner. Thank you! Have a fantastic day!
Also coming soon, a video! Yes, that's right, a video.
For now, if you all could be praying for my application process for residency here. I need a few papers, but the gentleman from an organization who was going to file it for me wants to charge me an arm, leg, ear, and part of a hip to complete the process. Please pray that I can acquire the papers I need in a timely manner. Thank you! Have a fantastic day!
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