Oh the Times

Altotonga, Mexico -- What a time here. The week right before we left for Mexico City, it was busy. I did a lot of talking to youth-- had quite a few opps to minister to kids... I also went around and told people about plans for the future (me leaving)... so, it was a busy time.

On Thursday night we left for Mexico City to go to a conference. At the very last second, we had an addition to our group-- one who I had orginally thought of asking, but who hadn't really decided to go... So, anyway, another youth offered to pay most his way, and he ended up going, and I'm glad he did.The youth were crazy excited. While we waited in a cold terminal at Perote in the bus station, I asked what they were expecting to receive from this weekend... what they expected to see God do in their lives. They had high hopes for this weekend. Then we played spoons and were a bit crazy.

We got to Mexico City about 4:40am on Friday morning. As we were getting ready to go to the bathroom there, I was looking in my bag for coins to be able to get into the bathroom. I realized that my little black bag that had all the money and everything in it was missing. I panicked. I emptied my bookbag there on the concrete floor while the youth were standing around me in a circle. I ran back to the bus and checked on there and it was all clear.

Anyway, I was trying to figure out what happened and Chris and I (who had come to Altotonga the day before for some business and was going to be speaking at the conference that we were going to) went to try to get ahold of the bus station in Perote, because I wasn't sure at what point it went missing.I realized that when I had gotten on the bus, I had stuck my bus ticket in the black pouch, which was in my bookbag. I slept with my bookbag in my lap, hugging it kind of-- but I realized that in some of the ways I was sleeping that you could have gotten into it. Anyhow, so sometime while I was sleeping, someone got into my bookbag and stole the most important thing in it--- a lot of money, my driver's license, visa, credit card... So, that was how the conference began. I was able to call and cancel those cards and get new ones. And Chris lent me sufficient money to get the kids back home and for me to eat that weekend.

The kids had an amazing time this weekend... the speakers were dynamic-- everything was just-- really good. It's the best of the best there.We stayed with a family there from the church-- and they were really nice and fed us dinner at midnight and breakfast.... Oh, gosh, we hardly slept at all... this being the one in charge thing-- wow, it's craziness. So, between Thursday and Sunday I slept like 13 hours or so, and 6 hours of that was in one night. Today we made our way back home and I talked to the kids about what was the most impacting thing, what they wanted to change when they got back home, and starting today.We got home in time to go to church and then I've come back home to rest...Tomorrow I'm going to go to the gov't offices here to see about getting a new visa-- since mine was stolen... and carrying on with stuff here....Pics to come later!

The Breaking News

Altotonga, Mexico -- We continue through our study in 1 Timothy-- and tonight our discussion was about how we can and should be examples in our speech. Consider it for a moment.After our meeting tonight, we watched the movie-- The End of the Spear-- the kids were captivated and they really liked the movie. In all the various movies that I've collected this last month when I was back home-- in all those movies-- everyone is an ordinary person whom God uses to do incredible things. And that was my message to the kids this afternoon...I talked to the kids today to let them know that God has been leading me out-- or in other words to leave. It was something surprising for me, but that God has confirmed. And since taking that decision, a lot of doors have opened for the future.

So, what's going to happen? Well, in May of next year, I will be moving out of Altotonga, Mexico, and will be in St. Louis for a 2-3 months. After that, the plans definitely include Japan-- but right now, I'm still waiting for God to show exactly which path He wants me to take. So, I talked to the core group of kids about that tonight. I can't say they were happy about this, but it was a Joshua message. The vision still lives and they have my support and everything I can do as long as I'm still here and the pastor's support to keep moving forward. If you could pray for their encouragement during this time, I would appreciate it. After the initial shock wears off, I'm praying that they will rise up with vision, new ideas and energy. I can already see a glint of it in one teen.

So, here we go! Another adventure!

Todo, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore...

Altotonga, Mexico -- It's been a rainy week here-- and cold. We've had weather more common of November. I remember walking around in St. Louis just 2 weeks ago with t-shirts and capris, and now am dressed in a few layers and always seeing my breath! :)

Well, my first week has been an adjusting week. I've seen just about everyone again, talked, carried on and gotten used to the climate, elevation and culture again.

It certainly has been good to see all the teens again... to find out how they've been and what's been up. I've enjoyed that.

I managed to catch the inevitable cold when you do such a change to your body. I'm getting better-- yesterday was the worst of it all, and I'm sure I've gone through a role of toilet paper and another half, in these last 2 days. I've taken some meds, and as long as there's no pounding headache, I'm doing fine!We're going through a series on Saturday nights about 1 Tim. 4:12... well, 11-16. I've been trying to break up the "sameness" and change things around a little bit.

So, a lot of changes have been going on since I've been gone and since I've gotten back, both inside the church and club and without-- in the city. We have 2 new light posts, which are an absolute waste. There's really no purpose for them, and I hear rumored one other. Buildings have been painted other colors, businesses come and gone, and just all kinds of things.

Next week I take a small group to the Mexico City Conference. It's a great conference and the kids are really, really excited about it. It'll be a long journey than usual, because we don't have Chris' car anymore and have to go by bus schedules instead of creating our own. But, like most youth, they'll be just fine and will be more awake than I am.

Well, let's see... what's on the schedule for tomorrow? I need to go pay the rent and the phone bill... spend some time doing Japanese, prepare my lesson and the format for Saturday night's meeting... getting a few other errands done, and of course, the Club's schedule-- be there for about 5 hours or so.

Alright, I'm getting. I'm going to try to get some stuff done, before I crash out. Take care!Also, congrats to my friends Em and Jose who had their baby on Tuesday! Woo-hoo!

Waste No Time

Hi all, I'm back in Mex now. It's been a busy 48 hours since I've been back-- and I haven't even been back in this city for 48 hours!There's always a lot to do when getting back-- seeing everyone, stopping to chat, seeing what's new and what's happened since I've been gone, getting food in the house, etc!

So, that's what I've been doing. I've had the opportunity to stop and have some good talks with some girls-- which is good!

I've also been getting info together for the conference that we're going to in 2 weeks! It'll be my first time taking kids out of the city for a weekend, by myself. I don't think it'll be too much of a big deal!And, the Mormon people are back, trying to talk to me about the club and that kind of stuff. One is the same from before, and they transfered in a new one to replace the other one that was there. So, all in all, it's been an eventful less-than-48-hours back. Will keep ya'll posted!