Mundanity

Altotonga, Mexico -- Every time I think I'm getting to the end of my to-do list, I get about 5 more things added to it. :) That's life.

Well, my fam headed back home on Tuesday. It was an adventureful time while they were here... busy, to be certain-- especially the last few days. But it was enjoyable. With the very active Nathan around, the boys got to get out and do stuff-- like go swimming in the river, and hang out with the youth. So, I was glad for that.

Jessie (Chris' daughter) had her 15th birthday party here, the big to-do here in Mex. I was the "madrina" (a sponsor) for the decorations. With the very late-hours of my mom and brothers and Nathan, we made a very, very ugly building look gorgeous. Thanks, guys! People were kinda amazed.

I've been working on getting laundry done this week. I think all of my socks were dirty, and after a few hours of washing clothes, my fingers were pretty pruny. But at least they smelled nice. Yesterday I had stuck a sheet out to dry on the rooftop, as we had an uncharacteristically beautiful and rain-less day (it rained, I believe, every day my family was here, usually one down-pour a day, and drizzles/uglyness the rest of the day). Anyhow, I had put the sheet out to dry on the lines on my rooftop that overlooks half of the city, and when I came back up, a bird had pooped on my sheet! Take it down, wash it again... So, I know that that's really just a bunch on mundane information. But, apart from being in the club and being with the core group of kids this week, that's what my off-hours have been. That and lots of reading for the licensing process.I feel like I've gained their trust-- the core group that is. And I feel confident that they will make excellent leaders. I really want to pour into them, and let them do a lot of the work (outreaching to their peers). Of course, I would do that too, but as they are the remaining factor, I want to focus on that 20% that will give the 80% best results.

Tomorrow, Nathan is going to give the lesson. It's his last Saturday here-- on Monday he leaves for Romania. And so I'm going to translate for him. It kinda makes me nervous. I do it in my head when people are talking anyhow (oddly enough, even when people are talking to me in English, I translate it into Spanish), but it still is like... "official." I know it'll be fine, but it's a first.

Well, I've still got lots to do... I need to get... tomorrow's the busiest day of the week!!(Oh, by the way-- I think I've mentioned to you guys the webpage for the club-- the young man working on it is doing an excellent job! It's a lot of work, but I'm proud of him for all the work he's putting into it! Look what happens if you will give young people the opportunity and let their creativity flow!)

Mexican Experiences

Altotonga, Mexico -- What a week it's been! My mom and two of my bros are here with me. It's been fun having them here. I like that they get to play with some of the youth and hang out and that. Friday night, in fact, the boys were playing basketball with some youth out on the cancha (basketball court) and Mike landed wrong and ended up tearing the ligaments in his ankle, and possibly had up to 2 fractures (tiny little ones). But he couldn't really walk and it was swollen ugly.

Saturday I toted him and Mom around and we went to experience the "Mexican hospital experience." The doc told us what's mentioned above. And Saturday night at the meeting, we had the Lord's Supper and prayed for those who had some kind of physical ailment. We prayed for Aaron, who within not long was perfectly fine. And we prayed for Mike, whose ankle was completely healed. And Chris, who had been suffering from the start of a kidney stone, was healed that night too. Praise God! There were others there who we prayed for, but I haven't heard what happened.

Anywho, I had shared with the core group before the meeting a verse in Habaccuc about God doing His works of old today. And we prayed for God's presence and passion and for things to happen. And, what do ya know?-- it did. The prayer time right before the meeting, I felt, was really powerful, and you could hear it in some of their prayers.

On Sunday, someone threw eggs at the Club door-- which had just been freshly painted by Nathan a week ago. That was fun to clean up. I wasn't too concerned with it-- I know it wasn't the first time and it certainly won't be the last time. Monday, I took the fam and Nathan to Coatepec and to Xalapa-- where I managed to wipe everyone out. It wasn't the prettiest of days, but it was fun, and I think everyone had a great time. We met up with my roommate (who is from Xalapa and Coatepec and who was there on work) and so we went all around and made lots of... memories. Sometimes we laughed so hard we thought we might burst.

And today, beside doing errand-running and stuff like that, well... and my normal Tuesday discipleship with Zuri and English class (which-- Lupe is teaching mom how to make garnachas-- in English), I'm going to be studying.So, that's what I'm going to get to doing right now. I need to finish my Japanese lesson and then to working on the licensing process for 4sq. Woo-hoo!So, Praise God and have a great day!