Words can't convey the beauty of some things in this world. I knew this from the start. I have so many things I wish to express in this blog post; no words I use would justify what I have learned and seen.
I have seen my friend Ophelia in excruciating pain, paralyzed because of the cancer in her spine. And I have seen her one week later, moving on her own and free from pain ...without the help of modern medicine or chemotherapy. The change in Ophelia is indescribable. She went from looking like an old, forlorn dying woman to a content and capable mother in the course of one week. She is still weak and stays in bed to recover her strength, but last Wednesday she described what happened and told me she knows it is a miracle. Ophelia was in a lot of pain; the doctors gave her until Sept. 1st of this year to live, and stopped treating her with medicines. One afternoon she heard a voice say, "You will feel intense pain for a moment but then you will be healed." She felt pain so intense that she said everything went black for a minute - when she woke up she was calling out to her husband and sitting up in bed by her own strength. She hasn't sat up in bed since April! Seeing the change in her this summer was amazing - and to know that it is not because of medicine and to see that prayer works was intense.
That is all I have time to share now. My last 2 weeks are flying by and it has been action packed. I hope to update everyone once I return home August 4th! I can't wait to see everyone!
Much love!
Danielle
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Finally a real update
I have experienced some interesting things over the past several weeks that I just haven´t had time to write about!
1. Moving into barrio San Miguelito has been one of the coolest parts of this summer. My apartment building has a spectacular view of the neighborhood and I have some of the coolest neighbors. Life in the apartment is a lot different than at the missionary base - no showers, no toilet seat, and our concrete water trough is full of tadpoles and mosquito's ...but it´s worth it to really experience a different culture and a different way of life. My barrio is full of niños and the kids wander up to our apartment just to see what´s going on. For most, it is the first time they have seen a white person; one little girl even said her favorite part of the day is seeing what the new Gringos are doing. The same girl also thought I can´t afford zapatos (tennis shoes) because I always wear sandals. She´s blunt, so I like her a lot!
2. The "Eat what you are offered" cultural rule has once again pushed my boundaries. One of my neighbors invited two friends in for flavored water on a particularly hot day. Mind you, we have tried to avoid this situation the entire summer because of Mexico´s lack of sanitary water. I accepted the water, fainting happiness, and proceeded to feel like a horrible person for wanting to reject the best my neighbor had to offer.
...Then I discovered there was a tadpole in my water. Believe me, it was quite hard to disguise this so the woman wouldn´t be embarrassed. And harder to realize how uppity I was being. So I picked out the tadpole, chugged the water and decided to honestly thank to woman - it really broke my heart to realize that she was offering the most extravagant hospitality she could and that I had decided in my head I deserved better. This moment really struck me - I don´t want to be the middle class American that assumes they deserve better just because they´re from the US where clean water is easier to find. My barrio reminds me every day that the facts of life for most of the world are much different than what Americans are accustomed too. And I also realized for the first time how far society is from being able to provide clean water for everyone. So I am pretty fired up to help make water purifiers and dig wells this next week!
3. I was shepherding sheep again in Yucanama on Wednesday with my friend Kenny. We counted the sheep and said, "Oh no, there are only 28 sheep - shouldn´t there be 29?!"
Juana just smiled. The missing sheep was in the soup we ate for lunch.
Thanks to living on a farm, I know this is life- this is how a farm works. Kenny however is from LA so she insisted on having a moment of silence. Which wasn´t actually to mourn the ewe but more so she wouldn´t ralph up her lunch ... :-)
4. The Christians that came for the Youth Conference were easily some of the coolest people I have ever met. Almost 120 people from all over Oaxaca state, and they honestly live out their faith in every aspect of their life. My favorite part of the weekend was the talent show. A group of 4 guys sang spanish rap about bible stories. It may seem lame to think 'christian rap?' but honestly - it was GOOD! I bought the CD they made so when I get home if anyone is interested in hearing just let me know. These guys just learned about Christianity a few years ago - and decided instead of saying rap is evil (like some people unfortunately think) that they would rap about problems they´ve had and how faith gets them through. My other favorite competitors in the talent show was a group of 2 guys and 4 girls that break dance to christian rap and reggaeton. SWEET!
5. My clumsiness did not stay in America. In the matter of one stinkin day I managed to
-lose my grip and partially slide/fall off a rope from 12-15 feet up and land on my bum
-slide down a 20 foot incline of mud to fully submerge myself in the river
-trip and fall into a mound of lodo (mud)
-fall up a set of stairs made of tires
AND spill food all over my pants at dinner.
On a plus note, the Mexicans really liked me because I am laid back and I constantly cracked jokes about my clumsiness. They´re a blunt culture, I´m a blunt person; happy combination.
The conference this weekend helped develop my spanish skills a ton, and I got the correo electronico of some people I met so I can email them my pictures from the weekend and continue to work on spanish once I return to the states.
Monday begins my final week of ministry work and will bring some very sad goodbyes. It will be my final time to see Ophelia in Yucanama and Lucy here in Tlaxiaco.
These final 2 weeks will fly by, but I have some pretty awesome things planned for the months of August and September and this is helping me look forward to heading home! Plus, we know I honestly miss everyone!
1. Moving into barrio San Miguelito has been one of the coolest parts of this summer. My apartment building has a spectacular view of the neighborhood and I have some of the coolest neighbors. Life in the apartment is a lot different than at the missionary base - no showers, no toilet seat, and our concrete water trough is full of tadpoles and mosquito's ...but it´s worth it to really experience a different culture and a different way of life. My barrio is full of niños and the kids wander up to our apartment just to see what´s going on. For most, it is the first time they have seen a white person; one little girl even said her favorite part of the day is seeing what the new Gringos are doing. The same girl also thought I can´t afford zapatos (tennis shoes) because I always wear sandals. She´s blunt, so I like her a lot!
2. The "Eat what you are offered" cultural rule has once again pushed my boundaries. One of my neighbors invited two friends in for flavored water on a particularly hot day. Mind you, we have tried to avoid this situation the entire summer because of Mexico´s lack of sanitary water. I accepted the water, fainting happiness, and proceeded to feel like a horrible person for wanting to reject the best my neighbor had to offer.
...Then I discovered there was a tadpole in my water. Believe me, it was quite hard to disguise this so the woman wouldn´t be embarrassed. And harder to realize how uppity I was being. So I picked out the tadpole, chugged the water and decided to honestly thank to woman - it really broke my heart to realize that she was offering the most extravagant hospitality she could and that I had decided in my head I deserved better. This moment really struck me - I don´t want to be the middle class American that assumes they deserve better just because they´re from the US where clean water is easier to find. My barrio reminds me every day that the facts of life for most of the world are much different than what Americans are accustomed too. And I also realized for the first time how far society is from being able to provide clean water for everyone. So I am pretty fired up to help make water purifiers and dig wells this next week!
3. I was shepherding sheep again in Yucanama on Wednesday with my friend Kenny. We counted the sheep and said, "Oh no, there are only 28 sheep - shouldn´t there be 29?!"
Juana just smiled. The missing sheep was in the soup we ate for lunch.
Thanks to living on a farm, I know this is life- this is how a farm works. Kenny however is from LA so she insisted on having a moment of silence. Which wasn´t actually to mourn the ewe but more so she wouldn´t ralph up her lunch ... :-)
4. The Christians that came for the Youth Conference were easily some of the coolest people I have ever met. Almost 120 people from all over Oaxaca state, and they honestly live out their faith in every aspect of their life. My favorite part of the weekend was the talent show. A group of 4 guys sang spanish rap about bible stories. It may seem lame to think 'christian rap?' but honestly - it was GOOD! I bought the CD they made so when I get home if anyone is interested in hearing just let me know. These guys just learned about Christianity a few years ago - and decided instead of saying rap is evil (like some people unfortunately think) that they would rap about problems they´ve had and how faith gets them through. My other favorite competitors in the talent show was a group of 2 guys and 4 girls that break dance to christian rap and reggaeton. SWEET!
5. My clumsiness did not stay in America. In the matter of one stinkin day I managed to
-lose my grip and partially slide/fall off a rope from 12-15 feet up and land on my bum
-slide down a 20 foot incline of mud to fully submerge myself in the river
-trip and fall into a mound of lodo (mud)
-fall up a set of stairs made of tires
AND spill food all over my pants at dinner.
On a plus note, the Mexicans really liked me because I am laid back and I constantly cracked jokes about my clumsiness. They´re a blunt culture, I´m a blunt person; happy combination.
The conference this weekend helped develop my spanish skills a ton, and I got the correo electronico of some people I met so I can email them my pictures from the weekend and continue to work on spanish once I return to the states.
Monday begins my final week of ministry work and will bring some very sad goodbyes. It will be my final time to see Ophelia in Yucanama and Lucy here in Tlaxiaco.
These final 2 weeks will fly by, but I have some pretty awesome things planned for the months of August and September and this is helping me look forward to heading home! Plus, we know I honestly miss everyone!
Friday, July 20, 2007
Sheep soup
Things are slowly starting to wind down here in Tlaxiaco, yet kicking into high gear at the same time. This week has been super busy with solar cooker demonstrations, getting to know my neighbors in barrio, visiting friends in Yucanama and playing futbol with the kids I´ve met this summer. I also had to bid a sad farewell to my friend Juana and her family.
I am incredibly excited about this weekend. The Christian base Global Frontier Missions is hosting a Youth Conference - similar to the retreats Christian teenagers go on in America. People age 12-18 are coming from all over Mexico for this conference, and I will be participating as a team leader for a small group. I´m so excited because it will be an awesome opportunity to speak and worship in Spanish the entire weekend. I love this age range of students; I understand how hard middle and high school can be, and I want to teach high school for this reason. I´m hoping to learn what struggles Hispanic students go through so I can understand and relate to a larger population of my students once I begin teaching next year!
I have to go prepare for the conference - but I hope to update everyone more in depth by next Sunday!
Blessings and peace,
Danielle
I am incredibly excited about this weekend. The Christian base Global Frontier Missions is hosting a Youth Conference - similar to the retreats Christian teenagers go on in America. People age 12-18 are coming from all over Mexico for this conference, and I will be participating as a team leader for a small group. I´m so excited because it will be an awesome opportunity to speak and worship in Spanish the entire weekend. I love this age range of students; I understand how hard middle and high school can be, and I want to teach high school for this reason. I´m hoping to learn what struggles Hispanic students go through so I can understand and relate to a larger population of my students once I begin teaching next year!
I have to go prepare for the conference - but I hope to update everyone more in depth by next Sunday!
Blessings and peace,
Danielle
Monday, July 16, 2007
Still so much to learn!
This week has been full of up and downs! Monday and Tuesday I was having a very difficult time being content here in Mexico; missing home a bit and trying not to get stuck in a rut with doing the same thing for 6 weeks straight. Plus I was feeling pretty drained emotionally and physically. Wednesday everything started to change, I realized that I still have time remaining for a reason and that I still have a lot to learn about myself, loving people and Mexican culture.
I met a very old woman named Pratisp on Wednesday. She is a widower and shared the story of her life with me and my friend Kenny. I believe this old woman desperately needed to talk with someone; to see how lonely she feels was heartbreaking. Her youngest son left home when he was 14 years old and she hasn´t had contact with him since...he´s now 41. She recently learned from a family friend that he is still alive, but this too brings her grief - she doesn´t know why he refuses to contact his mother. This old woman was crumpled and crying in mine and Kenny´s arms and it broke my heart to see how much she craves friendship and love. I realized that there are old women and men all over the world just like her - feeling alone and unloved. Kenny and I prayed with her for her son and their relationship, and I understood for the first time how blessed I am to have family members and friends that truly show their concern and love. I want to adopt this old woman as a grandmother, and write her letters when I concern home. And I want to be more aware of the older people I am surrounded by when I return home - how many of them are feeling unloved and abandoned?
1 Timothy 5:3-4 "Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God."
This week I also talked with my friend Roberta, and she told me the 2 hour story of how she stopped her lifestyle of pagan idol worship and converted to Christianity. It gave me so much hope for the people here that still worship and sacrifice to idols. And hope in my Spanish ability! I´m not fluent but I´m learning a great bit! My Grandma and Mother shared a bit of history about the Catholic church here in Mexico that has made it much easier to understand peoples ways. I never realized persecution was such a reality here even into the 20th century.
I have many amazing experiences from this last week, but very limited time to write - so a longer blog update will have to wait until later. Thanks to everyone for your encouragement and love, I miss you all dearly!
In faith,
Danielle
I met a very old woman named Pratisp on Wednesday. She is a widower and shared the story of her life with me and my friend Kenny. I believe this old woman desperately needed to talk with someone; to see how lonely she feels was heartbreaking. Her youngest son left home when he was 14 years old and she hasn´t had contact with him since...he´s now 41. She recently learned from a family friend that he is still alive, but this too brings her grief - she doesn´t know why he refuses to contact his mother. This old woman was crumpled and crying in mine and Kenny´s arms and it broke my heart to see how much she craves friendship and love. I realized that there are old women and men all over the world just like her - feeling alone and unloved. Kenny and I prayed with her for her son and their relationship, and I understood for the first time how blessed I am to have family members and friends that truly show their concern and love. I want to adopt this old woman as a grandmother, and write her letters when I concern home. And I want to be more aware of the older people I am surrounded by when I return home - how many of them are feeling unloved and abandoned?
1 Timothy 5:3-4 "Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God."
This week I also talked with my friend Roberta, and she told me the 2 hour story of how she stopped her lifestyle of pagan idol worship and converted to Christianity. It gave me so much hope for the people here that still worship and sacrifice to idols. And hope in my Spanish ability! I´m not fluent but I´m learning a great bit! My Grandma and Mother shared a bit of history about the Catholic church here in Mexico that has made it much easier to understand peoples ways. I never realized persecution was such a reality here even into the 20th century.
I have many amazing experiences from this last week, but very limited time to write - so a longer blog update will have to wait until later. Thanks to everyone for your encouragement and love, I miss you all dearly!
In faith,
Danielle
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Evidentally there was an earthquake ...?
July 5th I experienced my first earthquake at 8:39pm... and I didn´t even notice it! The center wasn´t actually in Oaxaca, where I´m currently living but most people in the area still were able to feel the earthquake and I am told it registered as a 3 here in Tlaxiaco. I was sick the entire day from an allergy attack and was pretty dizzy that night - so it probably could have been a ful-fledged earthquake and I still wouldn´t have noticed! I´m still adding it to the list of cool things I´ve experienced in Mexico.
In other news I ate soup made from flowers this week! Violet and pink flowers to be exact. But not until after I went on a 3 hour shepherdess expedition up a mountain and helped pick the flowers and greens for the soup while the sheep were grazing. Times in Yucanama are always delightfully Little House on the Prairie style! The soup was actually really good too...much better than the piece of Cow Kidney I ate on Saturday. One bite of that and I refused any more. Basically, it had the texture of a harboiled egg and tasted like spoiled liver. Mom- next time you insist on making liver for dinner I´m going to make you Kidney and you´ll understand how Laura and I felt growing up :-P
This week was full of interesting conversations; including one with Lucy about Dia de los Muertos. [Day of the Dead] is a spanish celebration that comes from ancient Aztec and Mayan cultures and has continued through hundreds of generations. Lucy explained the practice to me in detail. Here in Tlaxiaco, the schools close for the days surrounding Dia de los Muertos and the entire town shuts down to prepare elaborate feasts for the spirits of the dead. Many women and men here believe that if they prepare a feast for the ´spirit´of a deceased family member they will receive protection if the feast is pleasing to the spirit. Lucy noted that more than a time to remember the dead (like Memorial Day) it is a time to entreat spirits for protection from evil, and if a feast is not found pleasing it means wrath on you and your household. The town shuts down to ensure every best grain, fruit and meat is offered and many people fear their offering will not be pleasing. This was a new perspective because in school I was taught that Dia de los Muertos is a happy celebration, and we never learned about the underlying anxieties that accompany the festivities.
Lucy was pretty shocked to learn this celebration is very different from Halloween, and informed me that people in Tlaxiaco have always seen Dia de los Muertos and Halloween as equivalent.
Our conversation was amazing because I really enjoy learning about the Mexican culture, and Lucy was incredibly relieved when we finished talking. She said su madre y abuela (mom and grandma) want her to carry on the tradition but she doesn´t believe in offering sacrifices to spirits. She was pretty excited when I told her I don´t believe in that either, and we talked very in-depth about why and also why her mother and grandma believe what they do. Basically, I believe in God and so I don´t believe in offering to other spirits, and I am firm in my belief that these offerings will not protect someone from evil. I really love talking with Lucy because neither of us are pushy in our beliefs but we genuinely want to learn more about a different culture from each other.
Now for the sobering news: this past week I found out my friend Ophelia is much sicker than I realized. She has cancer in her legs and a tumor in her spine that is inoperable, so she has been receiving home pain treatment and nothing else. No chemo or radiation. I found out that the doctors told her she shouldn´t expect to live past September, but I´m still praying for a miracle. Hearing this was eye opening. I am Christian, but at the same time I never understood why it mattered if other people weren´t Christian. Everyone I´ve been close to that has died was Christian...so I had never faced the reality about my beliefs with heaven and hell. I had to take a step back this week and realize that if I truly believe in Christ I have to understand that it is sad, even tragic, when someone dies that doesn´t believe in Christ. Many of you may not agree - and that is a personal choice - but it is the belief I was raised in and I am honored to uphold my beliefs though it isn´t easy. I was pretty upset when I realized how sick Ophelia is and that she doesn´t believe in God but at the same time it made me realize that God has purpose for my time here this summer. I will continue to visit Ophelia and be myself with her; joke, talk about our childhoods, have a good time, and pray. And maybe through this, she will have hope. Seeing her smile when I visit is the most rewarding and encouraging thing I have experienced this summer and reminds me of a quote I learned from Michael.
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
That is one thing that holds true despite your culture, religion or any other belief - people need kindness and hope.
In other news I ate soup made from flowers this week! Violet and pink flowers to be exact. But not until after I went on a 3 hour shepherdess expedition up a mountain and helped pick the flowers and greens for the soup while the sheep were grazing. Times in Yucanama are always delightfully Little House on the Prairie style! The soup was actually really good too...much better than the piece of Cow Kidney I ate on Saturday. One bite of that and I refused any more. Basically, it had the texture of a harboiled egg and tasted like spoiled liver. Mom- next time you insist on making liver for dinner I´m going to make you Kidney and you´ll understand how Laura and I felt growing up :-P
This week was full of interesting conversations; including one with Lucy about Dia de los Muertos. [Day of the Dead] is a spanish celebration that comes from ancient Aztec and Mayan cultures and has continued through hundreds of generations. Lucy explained the practice to me in detail. Here in Tlaxiaco, the schools close for the days surrounding Dia de los Muertos and the entire town shuts down to prepare elaborate feasts for the spirits of the dead. Many women and men here believe that if they prepare a feast for the ´spirit´of a deceased family member they will receive protection if the feast is pleasing to the spirit. Lucy noted that more than a time to remember the dead (like Memorial Day) it is a time to entreat spirits for protection from evil, and if a feast is not found pleasing it means wrath on you and your household. The town shuts down to ensure every best grain, fruit and meat is offered and many people fear their offering will not be pleasing. This was a new perspective because in school I was taught that Dia de los Muertos is a happy celebration, and we never learned about the underlying anxieties that accompany the festivities.
Lucy was pretty shocked to learn this celebration is very different from Halloween, and informed me that people in Tlaxiaco have always seen Dia de los Muertos and Halloween as equivalent.
Our conversation was amazing because I really enjoy learning about the Mexican culture, and Lucy was incredibly relieved when we finished talking. She said su madre y abuela (mom and grandma) want her to carry on the tradition but she doesn´t believe in offering sacrifices to spirits. She was pretty excited when I told her I don´t believe in that either, and we talked very in-depth about why and also why her mother and grandma believe what they do. Basically, I believe in God and so I don´t believe in offering to other spirits, and I am firm in my belief that these offerings will not protect someone from evil. I really love talking with Lucy because neither of us are pushy in our beliefs but we genuinely want to learn more about a different culture from each other.
Now for the sobering news: this past week I found out my friend Ophelia is much sicker than I realized. She has cancer in her legs and a tumor in her spine that is inoperable, so she has been receiving home pain treatment and nothing else. No chemo or radiation. I found out that the doctors told her she shouldn´t expect to live past September, but I´m still praying for a miracle. Hearing this was eye opening. I am Christian, but at the same time I never understood why it mattered if other people weren´t Christian. Everyone I´ve been close to that has died was Christian...so I had never faced the reality about my beliefs with heaven and hell. I had to take a step back this week and realize that if I truly believe in Christ I have to understand that it is sad, even tragic, when someone dies that doesn´t believe in Christ. Many of you may not agree - and that is a personal choice - but it is the belief I was raised in and I am honored to uphold my beliefs though it isn´t easy. I was pretty upset when I realized how sick Ophelia is and that she doesn´t believe in God but at the same time it made me realize that God has purpose for my time here this summer. I will continue to visit Ophelia and be myself with her; joke, talk about our childhoods, have a good time, and pray. And maybe through this, she will have hope. Seeing her smile when I visit is the most rewarding and encouraging thing I have experienced this summer and reminds me of a quote I learned from Michael.
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
That is one thing that holds true despite your culture, religion or any other belief - people need kindness and hope.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Halfway Already?!
To begin, I`m not quite sure what to say about this week. It definitely flew by! My friendships with the women in Oaxaca are continuing to flourish, and I have learned a lot about the Mexican culture this week.
I learned quite a bit about Catholicism in Mexico...and I was floored how much is strays from the teachings of Christ. They believe in fantasmas which are evil spirits that can only be warded away by sacrificing and praying to the saints. And my good friend, Lucy, whom is 20 and works in her fathers clothing store, was shocked to find out that Catholics in the US don`t sacrifice in the name of the saints.
...she was also shocked to hear people don`t ride horses into the town for festivals in the US...
It has been awesome to form a true friendship with Lucy for the past two weeks. She finds my life in the US as fascinating as Ashley, my ministry partner, and I find her life in Mexico. Lucy gets bored pretty easily working in the store all day, and it has been so invigorating to see how genuinely happy she is when we visit!
Our conversations range from everything from how expensive college is, to gross materialism in the United States to her beliefs on the saints and church. She said she lives her life in fear because the fantasmas will capture your body and destroy your soul if you are not faithful to sacrificing and praying to the saints. She was completely amazed and excited to learn that not everyone in the world lives in fear. She said she doesn`t like believing in the powers of these evil spirits but it is all she has ever known, so she constantly asks Ashley and I questions about our faith.
“Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
He is coming to save you.”
She also asks a lot if we believe in miracles, which I do. Lucy wants to believe in miracles but she can`t. It was cool to have an honest conversation with her on what she believes and why, and what I believe and why. What is even more amazing is that at the end of the conversation, we are all still great friends. I do not judge her and she does not judge me. Friendships like this are hard to find in America...but even harder to find in Mexico. Honest conversations are rare in Mexico because the culture is so focused on being hospitable and conforming to others opinions to make them happy. I`m not one for conformity, and Lucy actually thanked Ashley and I for being different. For being geniuine people that aren`t afraid to talk about what they believe in. Praise God that I have been given the strength to be myself in Mexico even though it is a bit taboo!
In other news, I, along with the 6 other female interns, will be moving into an apartment tomorrow! This apartment is in a little barrio on the edge of Tlaxiaco, meaning no more taxi rides into town! This is a relief because all 7 of us girls are usually sqwished into 1 car meant for 5 people. Oh, and one thing everyone should experience before they die is driving in Mexico. It really is an adventure! There are speedbumps like crazy and there isn`t actually designated correct sides to drive on. But have no worries; as crazy as the drivers here are, it`s safe to say taxi`s are much safer than in America! And much cheaper. $0.40!
But in all seriousness, I am excited to be living closer to town; having real neighbors and really experiencing life in a Mexican ciudad! This last month is going to be pretty different than the first.
As of today I have 34 days remaining in Mexico. It`s pretty shocking and sad to know that this adventure will be over all too soon...but I am excited to return to the US to prepare for school, and begin my teaching observation/internship on September 19th! And of course because I miss everyone!
I`m excited about this coming week: More well drilling, 4th of July Mexican firework style- off the top of a mountain, and my friend Ellen turns 19 on July 3rd too - so it will be a week full of fiestas!
Thanks so much for checking in on my adventures, and keep me in your thoughts and prayers! I promise the next post will be better! I`m feeling pretty scatter-brained today!
Nos Vemos,
Daniela
I learned quite a bit about Catholicism in Mexico...and I was floored how much is strays from the teachings of Christ. They believe in fantasmas which are evil spirits that can only be warded away by sacrificing and praying to the saints. And my good friend, Lucy, whom is 20 and works in her fathers clothing store, was shocked to find out that Catholics in the US don`t sacrifice in the name of the saints.
...she was also shocked to hear people don`t ride horses into the town for festivals in the US...
It has been awesome to form a true friendship with Lucy for the past two weeks. She finds my life in the US as fascinating as Ashley, my ministry partner, and I find her life in Mexico. Lucy gets bored pretty easily working in the store all day, and it has been so invigorating to see how genuinely happy she is when we visit!
Our conversations range from everything from how expensive college is, to gross materialism in the United States to her beliefs on the saints and church. She said she lives her life in fear because the fantasmas will capture your body and destroy your soul if you are not faithful to sacrificing and praying to the saints. She was completely amazed and excited to learn that not everyone in the world lives in fear. She said she doesn`t like believing in the powers of these evil spirits but it is all she has ever known, so she constantly asks Ashley and I questions about our faith.
Isaiah 35:4
Say to those with fearful hearts,“Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
He is coming to save you.”
She also asks a lot if we believe in miracles, which I do. Lucy wants to believe in miracles but she can`t. It was cool to have an honest conversation with her on what she believes and why, and what I believe and why. What is even more amazing is that at the end of the conversation, we are all still great friends. I do not judge her and she does not judge me. Friendships like this are hard to find in America...but even harder to find in Mexico. Honest conversations are rare in Mexico because the culture is so focused on being hospitable and conforming to others opinions to make them happy. I`m not one for conformity, and Lucy actually thanked Ashley and I for being different. For being geniuine people that aren`t afraid to talk about what they believe in. Praise God that I have been given the strength to be myself in Mexico even though it is a bit taboo!
In other news, I, along with the 6 other female interns, will be moving into an apartment tomorrow! This apartment is in a little barrio on the edge of Tlaxiaco, meaning no more taxi rides into town! This is a relief because all 7 of us girls are usually sqwished into 1 car meant for 5 people. Oh, and one thing everyone should experience before they die is driving in Mexico. It really is an adventure! There are speedbumps like crazy and there isn`t actually designated correct sides to drive on. But have no worries; as crazy as the drivers here are, it`s safe to say taxi`s are much safer than in America! And much cheaper. $0.40!
But in all seriousness, I am excited to be living closer to town; having real neighbors and really experiencing life in a Mexican ciudad! This last month is going to be pretty different than the first.
As of today I have 34 days remaining in Mexico. It`s pretty shocking and sad to know that this adventure will be over all too soon...but I am excited to return to the US to prepare for school, and begin my teaching observation/internship on September 19th! And of course because I miss everyone!
I`m excited about this coming week: More well drilling, 4th of July Mexican firework style- off the top of a mountain, and my friend Ellen turns 19 on July 3rd too - so it will be a week full of fiestas!
Thanks so much for checking in on my adventures, and keep me in your thoughts and prayers! I promise the next post will be better! I`m feeling pretty scatter-brained today!
Nos Vemos,
Daniela
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