I thought now would be a good time to update my blog because I’ve certainly been doing a lot of “looking forward.” Actually, a lot of “looking back,” too.
Graduating from college is a strange feeling. My whole life I’ve had some idea of what to expect the next month, semester or year. I remember how tumultuous my senior year of high school seemed as I filled out applications and agonized over where I should go to college. But at least I knew I’d be going to college, and that I’d adjust to that new stage of life sooner or later. But turning over my Lee University tassel ushered in a phase of infinitely greater uncertainty. My future is wide open and I have no idea what the next few months and year hold for me.
As I’m processing the fact that I won’t be returning to Lee, I’ve spent time reading through my journals that I wrote in college. I’ve really enjoyed remembering in detail the many ups and downs I experienced, and my gratitude grew for the countless ways God provided for me and helped me grow—as a Christian, as a daughter, as a roommate, as a friend, and as a leader.
Though it’s beneficial to look back on my college years and reflect on God’s goodness, it’s easy to get stuck longing for the friendships and familiarity of college. I’ve always been good at looking forward and making plans, but lately I’ve been consumed by all of the uncertainties the future holds. I’m discovering how hard it is to live in the present. To be honest, I really don’t know what to do with myself. Living at home is entirely different from visiting home on breaks. I’ve enjoyed having time to relax and see friends and family, but I can’t stay in vacation mode if I’m going to live here for a few months. Moving anywhere is difficult, and it takes time to find a job, to get involved in a church, to build relationships, and to find ways to serve. I had to do that three and a half years ago when I moved to Cleveland, but Lee University made all of that pretty easy for me. This time, not only do I not have an automatic, ready-made community, but the question of “What’s next?” is always on the horizon, influencing my ability to put down roots here. Even if I stay in the Triangle area after this semester, this is a transitional period—I’m living at home and substitute teaching. Next fall I could be in a different city, state, or even country—so it’s hard to fully invest in people and activities when I may have to do it all over again soon. I feel paralyzed by my lack of clarity.
Though I don’t know how long I’ll be here or what to do with myself while I’m here, what I long for is to gain from this time whatever God has in store. I don’t want to waste this period because I’m consumed by questions or worries. Maybe this loneliness and uncertainty will prompt a period of intense growth like the year after we moved from Romania. If so, I welcome it with open arms. Maybe it will be a time to learn to walk by faith and not by sight, trusting in God’s planning instead of my own. I don’t know.
One thing I do know is God’s sovereignty is the only thing I can stake my life on.
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to an all-knowing God”
(Martin Luther)
A picture summary
A view of Mexico City
Dad and I at UNAM
Making friendship bracelets with Karla
My host family and I
Tortillas, the essence of Mexico
Teaching the intermediate class
Me+my classmates+Kelli, on of our tutors (not sure where Richard is)
Teotihuacan
The Close of a Chapter...
This time tomorrow I’ll be on a plane to North Carolina. I’m soooooo ready.
On Friday I successfully finished CELTA, and what a relief that was! I’ve never felt such a sense of accomplishment and success after completing a course. And what I gained from it is so worth all of the stress!
The last few days I’ve been wrapping up my time here, hitting the last couple sights and saying my good-byes. On Saturday I went to Teotihuacan with three classmates. About an hour north of Mexico City, Teotihuacan is a pre-Aztec civilization, famous for its two gigantic pyramids, the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. It really was an incredible sight—the vastness of the pyramids, the striking view of the Avenue of the Dead leading up to them, and just the thought of the centuries this complex has been here.
On Saturday evening I went home, said good-bye to my host family, and took a taxi to the Sassers’ house for my last few nights. They left to go to the States yesterday so I’ve got a couple of days here by myself.
Yesterday after church Tim and I did some souvenir shopping at a huge artesanía market. Afterwards we headed back to the neighborhood of our school (we just can’t stay away, apparently), attended a Catholic mass on a whim, then had dinner at Daša’s (one of our classmate’s) apartments.
Today I had the morning to myself—quiet time on the roof, a quick trip to the grocery store, then lunch. In the afternoon I met up with Jaaziel—we had some delicious crepes in Condesa (once again, the neighborhood where I went to class). We randomly ran into Tim and Leti (a student from the English class we taught) in a park there. From there the three of us met up with Abby (a classmate—who by the way already got hired by International House and started teaching English today!) for coffee and to say goodbye. Then I got caught in a lovely downpour with no umbrella, once again chose the wrong exit from the metro and had to walk around a million street vendors and through mucky puddles before finding the right bus to get me home. Now here I am—my stuff is packed and I’m ready to get on that plane tomorrow!
I’m so glad I’ve had this experience of living in Mexico City for 5 weeks. Each week was different, with its own highs and lows, but I can look back on this summer and see God’s faithfulness and wisdom:
Week 1: A great time with my dad and the chance to see Karla (my World Vision girl) for the second time.
Week 2: A rough week as I had so many new experiences to deal with “alone”—but a poignant reminder that God is my strength and portion; weakness and vulnerability led me to depend on him.
Week 3: A great week of making more friends, loving my classes, and having an in-depth God conversation with a classmate.
Week 4: The third and most difficult week of class, got robbed on the metrobus, began feeling ready to come home. But another opportunity to trust in the Lord and not in stuff and to thank him for all that I have.
Week 5: Wrapping things up at school and thinking a lot about post-graduation options; gaining experience and qualification in TESOL and finding out more about employability has given me a lot to process. We’ll see what God has in store for after the fast-approaching end of college.
If you’ve been keeping up with my blog this summer, I appreciate it! I’m so excited about seeing all of you soon!
On Friday I successfully finished CELTA, and what a relief that was! I’ve never felt such a sense of accomplishment and success after completing a course. And what I gained from it is so worth all of the stress!
The last few days I’ve been wrapping up my time here, hitting the last couple sights and saying my good-byes. On Saturday I went to Teotihuacan with three classmates. About an hour north of Mexico City, Teotihuacan is a pre-Aztec civilization, famous for its two gigantic pyramids, the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. It really was an incredible sight—the vastness of the pyramids, the striking view of the Avenue of the Dead leading up to them, and just the thought of the centuries this complex has been here.
On Saturday evening I went home, said good-bye to my host family, and took a taxi to the Sassers’ house for my last few nights. They left to go to the States yesterday so I’ve got a couple of days here by myself.
Yesterday after church Tim and I did some souvenir shopping at a huge artesanía market. Afterwards we headed back to the neighborhood of our school (we just can’t stay away, apparently), attended a Catholic mass on a whim, then had dinner at Daša’s (one of our classmate’s) apartments.
Today I had the morning to myself—quiet time on the roof, a quick trip to the grocery store, then lunch. In the afternoon I met up with Jaaziel—we had some delicious crepes in Condesa (once again, the neighborhood where I went to class). We randomly ran into Tim and Leti (a student from the English class we taught) in a park there. From there the three of us met up with Abby (a classmate—who by the way already got hired by International House and started teaching English today!) for coffee and to say goodbye. Then I got caught in a lovely downpour with no umbrella, once again chose the wrong exit from the metro and had to walk around a million street vendors and through mucky puddles before finding the right bus to get me home. Now here I am—my stuff is packed and I’m ready to get on that plane tomorrow!
I’m so glad I’ve had this experience of living in Mexico City for 5 weeks. Each week was different, with its own highs and lows, but I can look back on this summer and see God’s faithfulness and wisdom:
Week 1: A great time with my dad and the chance to see Karla (my World Vision girl) for the second time.
Week 2: A rough week as I had so many new experiences to deal with “alone”—but a poignant reminder that God is my strength and portion; weakness and vulnerability led me to depend on him.
Week 3: A great week of making more friends, loving my classes, and having an in-depth God conversation with a classmate.
Week 4: The third and most difficult week of class, got robbed on the metrobus, began feeling ready to come home. But another opportunity to trust in the Lord and not in stuff and to thank him for all that I have.
Week 5: Wrapping things up at school and thinking a lot about post-graduation options; gaining experience and qualification in TESOL and finding out more about employability has given me a lot to process. We’ll see what God has in store for after the fast-approaching end of college.
If you’ve been keeping up with my blog this summer, I appreciate it! I’m so excited about seeing all of you soon!
CELTA Week Three
Week three is over, Praise the Lord! Between changing levels of students, doing 4 written assignments, and teaching three lessons (including our first hour-long lesson), the week just about did me in. I even dreamed about lesson plans!
In spite of the rigor, this course has been SOOO worthwhile. I signed up for the course hoping to learn practical teaching strategies that have been so lacking from the classes I’ve taken so far. And I have! I also had this fear going into the course that being a good teacher is a skill you’re born with; and if you’re just not a natural teacher (and I would say I’m not)…then there’s not much you can do. But even in these last three weeks of CELTA, I can really see improvement in my teaching ability. We learn strategies, put them into practice, and voila! Successful lessons! Of course I have a long ways to go. And I know that most improvement will come through experience…but at least I feel like I’m not a total failure at teaching!
On Tuesday I had some additional “excitement”. I stopped at the pharmacy on my way to class, turned my backpack around to get out my wallet---and realized that it had been pickpocketed on the metrobus. It was partly my fault, because I had been careless about where I put it. The night before when I got home, after using my key (attached to my wallet) to unlock the gate, I slipped it into the outer pocket, since I was just going inside. The next morning I forgot to move it to the deep inside pocket where I usually keep it—and someone took advantage of my mistake. Of course I was pretty bummed—and dealing with it added to an already stressful week—but worse things could have happened. They got my wallet (cash, credit card, drivers license), but thankfully I didn’t have much cash, it was my credit and not debit card, and my license and not passport. The worst part was that they took my phone and key as well, both of which belonged to my host family. But that same afternoon we got a new key made and I replaced the phone, which was fortunately the cheapest one out there. And it was a good reminder to “store up treasure in heaven, where moth and rust cannot destroy, and thieves cannot break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.” And also a challenge to “count it all joy when you experience trials of every kind, because the testing of your faith produces endurance.” I’m thankful that in spite of that unfortunate event, God is good and in control and used it to remind me of eternal truths.
This weekend has been nice and relaxing after a crazy week. On Saturday I went and played racquetball with a friend on the campus of UNAM. I was so surprised when we got to the courts! First of all, they were outside! Just three huge stone walls, no ceiling (so we got the extra exercise of chasing balls!). Also, not a single person there had a racquetball racquet—it was either a tennis racquet or bare hands (OUCH!). It was a lot of fun, but the sun beating down wore me out!
In the afternoon I left with my host parents and a family friend to spend the night and next day in Cuernavaca, a town about an hour and a half to the south. They call it the “city of eternal spring” because of the beautiful weather and lush greenery, and it really is beautiful! We stopped at a nursery to buy a few plants, then toured a little spa/resort, then arrived at their condo. Today we picked up a few things at the local market, ate breakfast, laid out by the pool, and headed home in the evening.
It’s hard to believe how quickly my time here is going by! I have one more week of classes, then I’m staying at the Sassers again for my last few nights before I head home on Tuesday.
In spite of the rigor, this course has been SOOO worthwhile. I signed up for the course hoping to learn practical teaching strategies that have been so lacking from the classes I’ve taken so far. And I have! I also had this fear going into the course that being a good teacher is a skill you’re born with; and if you’re just not a natural teacher (and I would say I’m not)…then there’s not much you can do. But even in these last three weeks of CELTA, I can really see improvement in my teaching ability. We learn strategies, put them into practice, and voila! Successful lessons! Of course I have a long ways to go. And I know that most improvement will come through experience…but at least I feel like I’m not a total failure at teaching!
On Tuesday I had some additional “excitement”. I stopped at the pharmacy on my way to class, turned my backpack around to get out my wallet---and realized that it had been pickpocketed on the metrobus. It was partly my fault, because I had been careless about where I put it. The night before when I got home, after using my key (attached to my wallet) to unlock the gate, I slipped it into the outer pocket, since I was just going inside. The next morning I forgot to move it to the deep inside pocket where I usually keep it—and someone took advantage of my mistake. Of course I was pretty bummed—and dealing with it added to an already stressful week—but worse things could have happened. They got my wallet (cash, credit card, drivers license), but thankfully I didn’t have much cash, it was my credit and not debit card, and my license and not passport. The worst part was that they took my phone and key as well, both of which belonged to my host family. But that same afternoon we got a new key made and I replaced the phone, which was fortunately the cheapest one out there. And it was a good reminder to “store up treasure in heaven, where moth and rust cannot destroy, and thieves cannot break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.” And also a challenge to “count it all joy when you experience trials of every kind, because the testing of your faith produces endurance.” I’m thankful that in spite of that unfortunate event, God is good and in control and used it to remind me of eternal truths.
This weekend has been nice and relaxing after a crazy week. On Saturday I went and played racquetball with a friend on the campus of UNAM. I was so surprised when we got to the courts! First of all, they were outside! Just three huge stone walls, no ceiling (so we got the extra exercise of chasing balls!). Also, not a single person there had a racquetball racquet—it was either a tennis racquet or bare hands (OUCH!). It was a lot of fun, but the sun beating down wore me out!
In the afternoon I left with my host parents and a family friend to spend the night and next day in Cuernavaca, a town about an hour and a half to the south. They call it the “city of eternal spring” because of the beautiful weather and lush greenery, and it really is beautiful! We stopped at a nursery to buy a few plants, then toured a little spa/resort, then arrived at their condo. Today we picked up a few things at the local market, ate breakfast, laid out by the pool, and headed home in the evening.
It’s hard to believe how quickly my time here is going by! I have one more week of classes, then I’m staying at the Sassers again for my last few nights before I head home on Tuesday.
Week Two
I´m just over the halfway point now in the course. This week, though, is notoriously the hardest: on top of teaching three lessons and turning in three written assignments, we have to get used to teaching a different level of students. My group has the easier switch; we´ve been teaching elementary students and now have intermediate. Their ability to understand instructions and to communicate will make planning easier and open up the possibilities of activities we can give them. It´s kind of sad knowing we won´t see our beginner students anymore, though. On Friday after class we went to Starbuck´s with a handful of them. I love having adult classes because you´re on the same level, and can do things like go to coffee after class.
I had a great weekend—it was a nice mix of time to relax and to prep for this week. On Saturday I did some sightseeing with Evelyn, a German girl who also lives with my host family. We went to a craft bazaar, met up with some of her friends downtown and ate at a famous restaurant (called Azulejo—converted from a fancy hotel to a restaurant). Then we went up in the Torre Latinoamericana where you can look out on the city from 42 stories high. It was incredible! This city is gigantic. Then on our way home Evelyn and I got caught in a downpour and were absolutely soaked. Saturday evening I went to see Harry Potter with a friend. Sunday I went to church (Tim, a guy in my class, came with me) then headed home and worked on projects.
Week two was really good overall. I had more time than usual to chat with my host family; Evelyn moved in and it´s nice to have someone my age there; and I had an awesome conversation about God with one of my classmates!
Now the most intense week of the course lies before me…prayers appreciated!
I had a great weekend—it was a nice mix of time to relax and to prep for this week. On Saturday I did some sightseeing with Evelyn, a German girl who also lives with my host family. We went to a craft bazaar, met up with some of her friends downtown and ate at a famous restaurant (called Azulejo—converted from a fancy hotel to a restaurant). Then we went up in the Torre Latinoamericana where you can look out on the city from 42 stories high. It was incredible! This city is gigantic. Then on our way home Evelyn and I got caught in a downpour and were absolutely soaked. Saturday evening I went to see Harry Potter with a friend. Sunday I went to church (Tim, a guy in my class, came with me) then headed home and worked on projects.
Week two was really good overall. I had more time than usual to chat with my host family; Evelyn moved in and it´s nice to have someone my age there; and I had an awesome conversation about God with one of my classmates!
Now the most intense week of the course lies before me…prayers appreciated!
CELTA Week One
Here’s a little glimpse into my first week of Mexican immersion and the CELTA course:
Food: Lots of fresh tropical fruit and fruit juice; tacos, quesadillas, rice; fried plantains and beans for breakfast; cactus soup, to name a few!
Life: kiss on the cheek for hello and goodbye; shrines to Guadalupe on every corner; Friday night “fiesta” with my host sister (=lots of drunk high schoolers=not my cup of tea); late meals; warm and affectionate people; learning the way on metros, buses, taxis; TRAFFIC.
Language: picking up on some Mexican slang: qué padre=cool; chavo/chava=guy/girl; órale/ándale=I don’t know, but they work in about every situation; qué onda=what’s up?; qué bárbaro=that’s crazy!
Classes: long hours, lots of lesson plans and assignments; learning a TON; enjoying teaching my lessons; learning the personalities of our students; starting to think in a British accent!
Other highlights of the week include time with new and old friends: Friday night with a new friend Jaaziel, Sunday lunch with the Sassers, and this Wednesday I’m having lunch with the other Maki, who Christina and I met on our last trip here.
Also, I discovered that one of the guys in my class is a Christian—that’s been so encouraging because between class and my homestay I’m not really around believers. He’s planning on coming to church with me next week.
Well, that’s a little look at the last week. It was a bit tough at times, but I’m getting more and more settled here and making friends helps a lot. And God is so good—he knows that I need to be stretched in order to depend on him more!
Food: Lots of fresh tropical fruit and fruit juice; tacos, quesadillas, rice; fried plantains and beans for breakfast; cactus soup, to name a few!
Life: kiss on the cheek for hello and goodbye; shrines to Guadalupe on every corner; Friday night “fiesta” with my host sister (=lots of drunk high schoolers=not my cup of tea); late meals; warm and affectionate people; learning the way on metros, buses, taxis; TRAFFIC.
Language: picking up on some Mexican slang: qué padre=cool; chavo/chava=guy/girl; órale/ándale=I don’t know, but they work in about every situation; qué onda=what’s up?; qué bárbaro=that’s crazy!
Classes: long hours, lots of lesson plans and assignments; learning a TON; enjoying teaching my lessons; learning the personalities of our students; starting to think in a British accent!
Other highlights of the week include time with new and old friends: Friday night with a new friend Jaaziel, Sunday lunch with the Sassers, and this Wednesday I’m having lunch with the other Maki, who Christina and I met on our last trip here.
Also, I discovered that one of the guys in my class is a Christian—that’s been so encouraging because between class and my homestay I’m not really around believers. He’s planning on coming to church with me next week.
Well, that’s a little look at the last week. It was a bit tough at times, but I’m getting more and more settled here and making friends helps a lot. And God is so good—he knows that I need to be stretched in order to depend on him more!
Class begins!
The last week in Mexico has been full of adventures! It was so great to have time with Dad, exploring the city, spending time with Fabian (the new pastor our church is beginning to partner with), and visiting Karla.
On Sunday afternoon Dad and I took a taxi over to my host family’s house, where I’ll be living for the month I’m taking classes. The last couple days have been a little tough, beginning with Sunday afternoon—after having such a great last week where I felt so confident getting around the city, I’ve been overwhelmed, suddenly feeling like the young, helpless American that I am in a city of 20 million. After meeting my host family (the Olivo family) on Sunday, Dad and I decided it would be a good idea to go to the school, so that I would be able to find it easily on Monday morning. Mrs. Olivo gave us directions to get there by metrobus (all week long we’d taken the subway so this was different). When we got to the station, we didn’t realize you can only enter one end of the platform. So we climbed up the wrong end, where we were immediately met by a honking bus and an angry police officer. I apologized profusely, explaining that we didn’t understand how it worked (meanwhile the cop was threatening to deport us!). The problem was that you have to go through the other end to swipe your card and enter through the turnstyle, so he thought we were trying to get in for free. I think he understands now that we were just dumb Americans, but now I have to see this same cop at the station everyday! That event shook me up, then we couldn’t even find the school because we misunderstood the directions.
But even now, Day 2 of class, I am much more confident about my commute. It’s about a 40 minute trip each way by metrobus and walking, but I’m starting to enjoy the time to myself.
My host family is very nice. Señora Olivo is talkative and opinionated, so that provides plenty of conversation. Sr. Olivo is in New York right now but will be back on Thursday. They have two kids, a 20-year-old son named José and a 17-year-old daughter named Ana. I barely see José but have gotten to spend a little time with Ana. The two kids are leaving next week for a vacation in Canada, so I’ll be the “only child” for the rest of my time here. I don’t have much time to spend with my host family during week-days because of my class schedule and homework load, but I’ve enjoyed the time I do have.
I’m really glad I’m taking this TESOL course; I’m already learning a lot and it’s only the second day. They throw you right into teaching: this afternoon we will each teach a 20-minute lesson. Tomorrow and Friday I’m teaching 40-minute lessons! I expect a lot of pressure with all the work and planning we have, but I’m excited to be learning the practical side of teaching English that I haven’t really learned from previous classes.
I’d appreciate your prayers for my time here: the last couple days have been kind of overwhelming and lonely. This summer is different from anything I’ve done in the past in that it’s not a Lee trip or mission trip. I miss having other Christians around. But I’m also thankful for feelings of loneliness, because they’ve pushed me to rely on God as my Father and Friend in ways that I don’t on a normal basis. Psalm 73:25-26 resonates with me this week:
“Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My heart and my flesh may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Also pray that I’ll have opportunities to be a light in the lives of my host family and classmates. I don’t know of any other believers in the class, and I hope God will use me to reveal some truth about himself. Miss you all!
On Sunday afternoon Dad and I took a taxi over to my host family’s house, where I’ll be living for the month I’m taking classes. The last couple days have been a little tough, beginning with Sunday afternoon—after having such a great last week where I felt so confident getting around the city, I’ve been overwhelmed, suddenly feeling like the young, helpless American that I am in a city of 20 million. After meeting my host family (the Olivo family) on Sunday, Dad and I decided it would be a good idea to go to the school, so that I would be able to find it easily on Monday morning. Mrs. Olivo gave us directions to get there by metrobus (all week long we’d taken the subway so this was different). When we got to the station, we didn’t realize you can only enter one end of the platform. So we climbed up the wrong end, where we were immediately met by a honking bus and an angry police officer. I apologized profusely, explaining that we didn’t understand how it worked (meanwhile the cop was threatening to deport us!). The problem was that you have to go through the other end to swipe your card and enter through the turnstyle, so he thought we were trying to get in for free. I think he understands now that we were just dumb Americans, but now I have to see this same cop at the station everyday! That event shook me up, then we couldn’t even find the school because we misunderstood the directions.
But even now, Day 2 of class, I am much more confident about my commute. It’s about a 40 minute trip each way by metrobus and walking, but I’m starting to enjoy the time to myself.
My host family is very nice. Señora Olivo is talkative and opinionated, so that provides plenty of conversation. Sr. Olivo is in New York right now but will be back on Thursday. They have two kids, a 20-year-old son named José and a 17-year-old daughter named Ana. I barely see José but have gotten to spend a little time with Ana. The two kids are leaving next week for a vacation in Canada, so I’ll be the “only child” for the rest of my time here. I don’t have much time to spend with my host family during week-days because of my class schedule and homework load, but I’ve enjoyed the time I do have.
I’m really glad I’m taking this TESOL course; I’m already learning a lot and it’s only the second day. They throw you right into teaching: this afternoon we will each teach a 20-minute lesson. Tomorrow and Friday I’m teaching 40-minute lessons! I expect a lot of pressure with all the work and planning we have, but I’m excited to be learning the practical side of teaching English that I haven’t really learned from previous classes.
I’d appreciate your prayers for my time here: the last couple days have been kind of overwhelming and lonely. This summer is different from anything I’ve done in the past in that it’s not a Lee trip or mission trip. I miss having other Christians around. But I’m also thankful for feelings of loneliness, because they’ve pushed me to rely on God as my Father and Friend in ways that I don’t on a normal basis. Psalm 73:25-26 resonates with me this week:
“Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My heart and my flesh may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Also pray that I’ll have opportunities to be a light in the lives of my host family and classmates. I don’t know of any other believers in the class, and I hope God will use me to reveal some truth about himself. Miss you all!
We made it to Mexico!
¡Saludos desde la Ciudad de México! My dad and I arrived yesterday about noon. We had an exciting morning—about a month ago Delta changed our flight itinerary giving us a 45 minute transition in Atlanta. That would be difficult enough, but our first flight was late so we had 20 minutes from the time we got off until our next flight’s scheduled take-off! Better yet, we landed in terminal T, which is the furthest terminal from our connecting flight in terminal E. As we were on the train through the airport, it had some sort of mechanical problem and stalled for about 3 precious minutes. When we got up the escalator to our terminal, we saw that our gate was literally at the very end of the hall. So as we were running through the airport, we heard “Final boarding call for Delta flight 363 for Mexico City. The gate will close in just a moment.” But thankfully, we made it just in time!
We made it to the Sassers’ house without any problems, got settled in, and then went to lunch with Mr. Sasser at a friend’s house. Later that afternoon Dad and I walked around to check out the neighborhood (and because I was trying to keep him from going to bed at 5pm :)). Eventually we both got to bed early, since we’d been up since 3:45 am.
Today, after a relaxing morning here, Dad and I headed out. We took the metro to the Zócalo, the historic center of the city. We were on a mission to find a place to change money, which proved to be trickier than we expected. I asked about 6 times, and we were pointed in 6 directions. Eventually we found one, then met up with Maki, a young Japanese woman who translated for my dad’s mission team last fall (clarification: translated between English and Spanish, and she’s Japanese!). We had lunch, walked around downtown, then headed home. Dad is giving a message this Sunday and I have reading to do for my class next week, so we both have some work to do this evening.
Tomorrow we’ll spend the day with Fabian, a new pastor who our home church will probably be partnering with on future mission trips. Friday is my visit with Karla, my World Vision girl.
So far, it’s great to be here. Dad and I are enjoying spending time together, and it’s fun being back in a big city—there’s so much to see and do! I have such high hopes for my time here, but I’m realizing I won’t be able to fit everything into just 5 weeks. But I’m excited about the experiences I’ll have, especially as I meet my host family on Sunday and begin my course on Monday.
We made it to the Sassers’ house without any problems, got settled in, and then went to lunch with Mr. Sasser at a friend’s house. Later that afternoon Dad and I walked around to check out the neighborhood (and because I was trying to keep him from going to bed at 5pm :)). Eventually we both got to bed early, since we’d been up since 3:45 am.
Today, after a relaxing morning here, Dad and I headed out. We took the metro to the Zócalo, the historic center of the city. We were on a mission to find a place to change money, which proved to be trickier than we expected. I asked about 6 times, and we were pointed in 6 directions. Eventually we found one, then met up with Maki, a young Japanese woman who translated for my dad’s mission team last fall (clarification: translated between English and Spanish, and she’s Japanese!). We had lunch, walked around downtown, then headed home. Dad is giving a message this Sunday and I have reading to do for my class next week, so we both have some work to do this evening.
Tomorrow we’ll spend the day with Fabian, a new pastor who our home church will probably be partnering with on future mission trips. Friday is my visit with Karla, my World Vision girl.
So far, it’s great to be here. Dad and I are enjoying spending time together, and it’s fun being back in a big city—there’s so much to see and do! I have such high hopes for my time here, but I’m realizing I won’t be able to fit everything into just 5 weeks. But I’m excited about the experiences I’ll have, especially as I meet my host family on Sunday and begin my course on Monday.
Home from Honduras
Hola, everybody! I’m back from an incredible week in Honduras. There’s so much I could say but I don’t want to bore you with too many details, but here are some of the most impactful or memorable things about the trip:
1. Before flying out, I had the unexpected gift of a few hours in Cleveland, during which I got to spend time with some of my favorite people—my roommate Emily, the kids in J Mack Circle, and the Davies family. In past summers I haven’t gotten to see anyone from Cleveland between the end of spring and beginning of fall semesters, so even though it was short, having time there was a midsummer blessing!
2. God took care of our team from start to finish! We had smooth plane and bus rides, no visa or customs issues, a great facility. We spent our first night in Honduras at a hotel outside of San Pedro Sula so that we could get an early start Sunday morning. San Agustín, the village where we set up the clinic, was about 6 hours away, up in the mountains. Except for the days we travelled to and from the village, it rained cats and dogs for a few hours each afternoon. If it had rained on the days we travelled, we don’t know if the winding, unpaved mountain roads would have been usable! God also provided us with a great facility in San Agustín. The principal of the elementary school allowed us to use the whole campus for the days we were there, so we had dorms, kitchen, clinic, and church all at one site. Of course it wasn’t the most luxurious housing (I’ll skip the description of the baños :)), we had electricity and running water, more than the teams have had in past years. Another way I saw God’s provision is through the people on the team. Before going I only knew Matt Davies, but throughout the week I was able to build relationships with other members of Grace Point and the 3 other girls about my age who were part of the team.
3. Leading kids’ church was a great opportunity to “work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…it is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24). Up until the first day of ministry I felt clueless about what Matt and I would be doing with the kids, and what I heard from team members who had come in past years was mostly negative: kids’ church is hot, chaotic, etc. So going into the week I had sort of low expectations. But thankfully I got my attitude right before Monday morning, realizing that we could do more than crowd control. God had given Matt and me the opportunity to work with these kids, and I didn’t want to neglect that opportunity. We had the chance (and responsibility) to do more than just babysit them while their parents were in the church service. And for the three days clinic was open, we had a blast with the kids! They were happy to be there (several of them kept coming back) and listened really attentively as we share the gospel and made bracelets with them. I’m praying God will continue to open their hearts and minds to the truth we shared with them.
4. Our team was a picture of the body of Christ at work. It was different from any mission trip I’ve been on, but such a great system: to bring doctors, nurses, pharmacists, opticians, and dentists to people who didn’t have access to healthcare, and in the process to explain the cure for their spiritual needs—the hope of Christ.
5. One of the most rewarding aspects of the trip was putting my Spanish to use. As a Spanish major, most of the courses I’ve taken consist of analyzing literature and writing papers—not exactly the most practical side of learning a language. But in Honduras I was able to use the language I’ve been studying for so long. I could connect with the kids and adults in ways I couldn’t without knowing Spanish, and I was able to help team members communicate when a translator wasn’t around. At an evening church service, one of the Hispanic pastors asked me to interpret his message! Even though I was nervous to be on the spot, I enjoyed doing it!
6. Being part of a medical/dental mission gave me a new appreciation for my teeth! One afternoon I helped out at the dental clinic, holding a flashlight and handing things to one of the dentists. So many people had rotting teeth. Even little kids and teenagers were getting permanent teeth pulled out—they were beyond repair, and so the best they could do was relieve the pain by taking those teeth out. The dentist I was with let me hold the instrument and yank one of the teeth out! Seeing the results of poor nutrition and lack of hygiene made me grateful to live here in the States and to have access to healthcare.
I’m so thankful I got to be part of the Honduras team. Thank you for praying for me last week, and please keep praying for the people in San Agustín: that those who accepted Christ will grow in their faith, and that God will keep working the hearts of those who heard the message but haven’t trusted in him yet.
IN, NC, TN, GA, HONDURAS!
Those are the places I will have been in a one-week span!
Last week I spent a few days in Indianapolis and had the privilege of being in Ashley's wedding. It was so great to spend some time with her, especially since she just graduated and won't be back at Lee next year :( Her wedding was beautiful: she looked absolutely gorgeous, and Jonathan is one lucky guy! The best part was seeing the commitment they've both made to keep Christ at the center of their marriage, evidenced by saving their first kiss for their wedding day...and it was quite a kiss!
You can see a few pictures on Facebook, but I didn't get that many great ones. Ash and Jonathan, Congratulations!!!!!
Since Saturday I've been back in North Carolina getting ready for the next trip. Tomorrow I'm driving back to Cleveland, and on Saturday at 4:00 a.m. our team is meeting to drive to Atlanta. From there we've got a direct flight to Honduras. As it gets closer I'm getting more excited about being part of this team! Thanks for praying for our team and the people of San Agustin.
Last week I spent a few days in Indianapolis and had the privilege of being in Ashley's wedding. It was so great to spend some time with her, especially since she just graduated and won't be back at Lee next year :( Her wedding was beautiful: she looked absolutely gorgeous, and Jonathan is one lucky guy! The best part was seeing the commitment they've both made to keep Christ at the center of their marriage, evidenced by saving their first kiss for their wedding day...and it was quite a kiss!
You can see a few pictures on Facebook, but I didn't get that many great ones. Ash and Jonathan, Congratulations!!!!!
Since Saturday I've been back in North Carolina getting ready for the next trip. Tomorrow I'm driving back to Cleveland, and on Saturday at 4:00 a.m. our team is meeting to drive to Atlanta. From there we've got a direct flight to Honduras. As it gets closer I'm getting more excited about being part of this team! Thanks for praying for our team and the people of San Agustin.
Hebrews 12
The last few weeks I’ve started running, and if you know me very well you know I’ve never been a big fan of exercising, ESPECIALLY running! But the more I do it, not only is it becoming more bearable but I’ve started enjoying the challenge. This morning as I ran, I understood in a new way, from first-hand experience, the verse that says “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Running and my walk with Christ share many similarities: neither one is always easy or pleasant; both require training; and in both cases, the reward is so worthwhile. To persevere with running, I have to have a goal in sight, whether it’s the next stop sign or the finish line. With my faith, I also have to set my eyes on the goal: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” As I finished my run today, I listened to Jeremy Camp’s song “I am nothing” and it was so great to be reminded of the truth that I can’t do anything on my own:
I am nothing without Your love
I'm unworthy but Your death has been enough
I'm completed by Your touch,
But I feel like I've been given so much. I am nothing
You are everything
So I thank you
Two Weeks and Counting...
In two weeks I'll spending my first night in Honduras!
I don't know how many of you have heard, but Honduras experienced a 7.1 magnitude earthquake just 2 days ago. It hit off the coast of Honduras and was felt throughout the country as well as Guatemala and Belize. Besides killing at least 6 people, a good number of houses, schools, churches, and bridges were either damaged or destroyed.
As the time is getting closer, I would appreciate your prayers for our trip, especially:
-For the country as a whole as they recover from the earthquake
-For the town of San Augustin: we just found out this is where our team will be. Pray for God to prepare the hearts of the people we'll be working with.
-For travel issues: safety, luggage, healt
-For our team:
~that we'll each demonstrate the same humility Christ did (Philippians 2:1-11)
~for the medical team as they serve local families at the clinic
~that God will communicate his gospel with love and clarity through the evangelism team
~that Matt Davies and I will bless the kids we're working with and help them understand God's love.
Thanks for reading along and I'd appreciate your prayers!
I don't know how many of you have heard, but Honduras experienced a 7.1 magnitude earthquake just 2 days ago. It hit off the coast of Honduras and was felt throughout the country as well as Guatemala and Belize. Besides killing at least 6 people, a good number of houses, schools, churches, and bridges were either damaged or destroyed.
As the time is getting closer, I would appreciate your prayers for our trip, especially:
-For the country as a whole as they recover from the earthquake
-For the town of San Augustin: we just found out this is where our team will be. Pray for God to prepare the hearts of the people we'll be working with.
-For travel issues: safety, luggage, healt
-For our team:
~that we'll each demonstrate the same humility Christ did (Philippians 2:1-11)
~for the medical team as they serve local families at the clinic
~that God will communicate his gospel with love and clarity through the evangelism team
~that Matt Davies and I will bless the kids we're working with and help them understand God's love.
Thanks for reading along and I'd appreciate your prayers!
The Scoop
One of the reasons I started a blog is because I wanted to keep everyone up to date on what I'm doing this summer. Most of you probably don't know this yet (I didn't either until two weeks ago :) but I'm going on a missions trip to Honduras in June. Grace Point, my church in Cleveland, is doing a medical missions trip to serve a village in Honduras. A couple of weeks ago they had someone drop out and needed someone to go to lead activities and lessons with the kids. Within a day of hearing about the need, I was signed up! In many ways I feel unprepared since it is so last-minute, but I'm so excited for the opportunity!
So here's a little run-down of my summer schedule:
>Now through June 3: I'm at home, substitute teaching, taking online classes, and enjoying summer.
>June 3-6: Trip to Indianapolis to be in my roommate Ashley's wedding.
>June 12-20: Honduras mission trip
>June 29-August 4: Mexico City, for a month-long TESOL certification course
>August 10-16: Victoria and Caroline (friends in California) are coming to NC to visit.
>August 16: Head back to Lee!
Wow, as I write all that down I realize what a busy summer it is! But I'm thankful for every part of it, from time here at home with my family to getting to travel! It's my last summer as a college student so I have to enjoy the freedom and flexibility. I hope you'll be able to check in every once in a while as I'll try to post updates and pictures. And a happy summer to everyone!
So here's a little run-down of my summer schedule:
>Now through June 3: I'm at home, substitute teaching, taking online classes, and enjoying summer.
>June 3-6: Trip to Indianapolis to be in my roommate Ashley's wedding.
>June 12-20: Honduras mission trip
>June 29-August 4: Mexico City, for a month-long TESOL certification course
>August 10-16: Victoria and Caroline (friends in California) are coming to NC to visit.
>August 16: Head back to Lee!
Wow, as I write all that down I realize what a busy summer it is! But I'm thankful for every part of it, from time here at home with my family to getting to travel! It's my last summer as a college student so I have to enjoy the freedom and flexibility. I hope you'll be able to check in every once in a while as I'll try to post updates and pictures. And a happy summer to everyone!
Getting Started
Thanks for taking the time to check out my brand-new blog!
I am definitely in a season of "looking forward"--to summer travels, to my last year of college, and (gulp) to the Real World. But as always, I want to remember that there is a whole other World to be looking forward to, and my hope is that in the midst of this crazy and exciting time, I will "fix my eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen" (2 Cor. 4:18).
I am definitely in a season of "looking forward"--to summer travels, to my last year of college, and (gulp) to the Real World. But as always, I want to remember that there is a whole other World to be looking forward to, and my hope is that in the midst of this crazy and exciting time, I will "fix my eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen" (2 Cor. 4:18).
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