Well, so much has happened in the past few weeks. I flew home on the 13th then the next day a friend from college (who’s now married) picked me up and we went back to the Peay. From there, we went with a blended group, current students and alumni, to the gulf-coast of Mississippi. Let me just tell you, what I saw was heartbreaking. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, and that was after tons of cleaning up had already been done. It literally looked like a giant had stepped on top of the homes and then kicked all the parts. Oh, and the mold. Yuck. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much mold in one place. One of the houses that we worked on was even on 10-foot stilts and was still completely gone. Currently, I have family in FL hunkering down to take on Wilma...
In other news, I am spending some time at home. I think I’ve pretty much slept my days away. I am very thankful for days like that. They are soon to be very few (and much needed). I really do miss things at the shelter, but at the same time I am very excited at the things to come! I’ll be 24 on Friday. Crazy. I still feel like I’m 18, for the most part. There is just about a week left until I head to training. That should be a neat time of preparation. Mom and I are on the “South Beach” diet. Not bad. I just miss chocolate (aka my worst enemy). Haha. I also love being close to a Starbucks again. Thank goodness for Vanilla Latte Sugar Free, Fat Free! Thank goodness there is Starbucks in Mexico City! That’s ‘bout it for now!

The details are coming...

So, it looks like I might be teaching middle school science and helping with lab at Instituto Metropolitano Estrella! How fun! I also found out that I will be living in an apartment with another new teacher name Kristie! They said they were in the process of renting in for us! yay.

On a bitter sweet note, I fly out to Nashville in the morning. Getting stuff into 2 bags, a near impossible task. It will be done!

Changes, again.

Currently Reading
Church Planting Movements: How God is Redeeming a Lost World
By David Garrison


Changes. "Parting is such sweet sorrow" how true a phrase. It has become very real to me over the last year. Yet again I find myself facing changes. It seems like the past year and a half that my life has been one change after another. College, student teaching, graduation, St. Louis, CWJC, Tulsa, Charleston, Tulsa, home, VA, home, Mx! It seems very rare that I ever spend more than 5 months in one place. I am very much looking forward to being in Mexico for 2 years (or maybe longer...whatever God has in store). I know that once I am there, Mexico City is home. I can really be able to pour into my students, learning Spanish, and the locals! I look forward to making relationship that go beyond just the surface level. Relationships where I can really talk about important things. It is very hard getting to know people and establish relationships in a new community knowing that after a little bit of time, you are leaving. I still can't get over how blessed I am that God would allow me to be His servant in Mexico. I still often question why. When those doubting moments begin, I can't help but look to His grace and knowing that is enough. I must go. (24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24) The task is scary. The task is risky. The task is hard. BUT... God is bigger. The cross is worth it. Jesus told us to "Go into all the nations", and although the USA is inclusive in that statement, I know with a peace that passes all understanding that Mexico is exactly where I need to be, where God has called me. I have considered the cost and I must go. Yet again I am reminded by the scripture that I can't seem to move away from.

"24 But the king replied to Araunah, 'No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.' " (so, King David has been told to make a sacrafice and Araunah offers to give him whatever he needs, the above is King David's reply)

No sacrifice without cost. There is a cost, but their is a greater reward!

"7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. " Philippians 3:7-13

¡Al dios solamente sea la gloria!