A day of firsts!!

Today was busy and fun, but the unexpected was noteworthy... Katie went with me to the Chiropractor. I finally had to give in and go because of headaches and pain. I found one who speaks English, but I had a 2-page survey to fill out in Spanish so I was thankful Katie was there. Then on the way home I had my first run-in with the policia. A policeman on a motorcycle motioned for us to pull over and we hadn't done anything wrong. He came to the window and asked something and I said I didn't speak Spanish. He asked for my papers and I did not have them with me (something you should never do). I told them they were at mi casa and he hung his head. After about 5 minutes of him talking and me saying 'no comprende' Katie said 'can we go' and he said 'okay'. It was so funny.
Then on the road Back2Back is on, we saw a huge crowd of people. As we got closer there was a parade of people in costumes and singing. I guess it was a day of one of the Saints.

2 days in a row with the kids!!!

We had a cookout tonight at Casa Hogar Douglas (another childrens' home nearby). The kids are in line to get hot dogs and I fed Marta, a 1 year old who just arrived at the orphanage with her 4 brothers. I fell in love with her...I need to go back and just hold her!!

I finally got to go to Manantial de Amor, the childrens' home our GCC group usually spent the most time at!! There were a few girls I recognized, and Connie, one of the director's that I know, was there. To my GCC Mexico trip friends, I got to see the orange you painted and it looks great!! You might remember these boys in the picture. They are so adorable, especially Joel on the right.

Babies

Several of our staff have been expecting babies and they both came within a few days of each other.
This is Caleb Cooper:



This is Camila Porto

Meet Lily

My friends here, Bill and Heather Merrill, have a new addition to their family. Lily is 2 and is very energetic and talkative. Please pray for them and their 3 children and 6 teens in their home as they adjust to 1 more.

The Back2Back staff in Monterrey, Mexico

I haven't written for awhile...life's been crazy. I decided not to go to my grandfather's funeral after much deliberating. The cheapest ticket I could find was $650 and I felt like that was my answer. But I got to call a lot and feel like part of it.
We had the US staff from Back2Back here this week and so that kept me busy so I didn't just sit around and feel sad. We had meetings with the 7 staff people about the vision of this ministry and where are we going. We had special lunches and dinners and then Saturday we had a long meeting about the results of our Myers-Briggs personality tests. I am a ENFP if you know what that means. We talked about how this affects our relationships and work environment. They flew back to Ohio today but it was great putting faces with names. Many of these people I have talked on the phone with or emailed but never met.



Our school had a pizza picnic with the Back2Back staff from Ohio. The students recited Bible verses and poems for them.

About 3 hours ago I found out my grandfather, Carroll Walter, had passed away. He was 91 but in good health until a few weeks ago. He was involved in his church most of his life. He has 7 children and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was always happy and content. I remember laughing with him a lot. Grandpop, I love you!

So I was reading in my Bible about the Israelites wandering in the wilderness and complaining and grumbling. God provided everything they needed - he brought water from a rock and the manna came every day, but they didn't trust him enough. I was convicted that I need to stop complaining about the little things that I don't have like my internet or phone not working, or the bugs and water leaks. Especially about missing my friends. I have plenty and God is bigger than every problem I have here. So I won't talk about it anymore and please help keep me accountable to that. - Phil. 2:14-15

These are all the teens who now live on campus. I am excited to get to know them even though I have a limited Spanish vocabulary!!

Sierra Madre's first field trip this year

On Friday afternoon all the students and parents went to a nearby zoo for our first field trip! It was a very hot day, but we had fun! I saw several interesting things. They had rabbits and raccoons in this zoo. I was waiting for puppies and kittens next!! Also, there were a ton of ostriches. Almost every other exhibit. The childrens' favorite were the elephants who put on a show by spraying themself with water and going to the bathroom right in front of us.

shopping

I got to check out some markets today with Christy, Kelli, and Corrie

an evening in Monterrey

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. - Ps. 19:1

My days

I think I am finally getting into a routine here even though it is totally different than home. I get up and walk about 10 steps to the school. The kids come at 8:30 and of course they walk. We have school till 12:00 and we all go home for lunch. At 1:00 either 1st or 2nd grade comes back depending on the day. They stay till 3.
Monday is Spanish class for me from 3-4. Usually I work in my class for awhile and then..... Well someone might come by and talk, or sometimes we drive into town, watch movies or TV series on DVD, celebrate a birthday, or I spend time on the internet. There are about 70 people living on the base including the kids in the boys' and girls' homes, so that's why people are always around to talk to or there is a birthday to celebrate.
Tuesday before school we have a ladies bible study.
Groups will start coming from colleges or churches in a week.

*Tonight I drove by myself for the first time and that is a big deal! Gone are the days of driving while talking on the phone or messing with the radio. People drive crazy and fast and make all kinds of quick moves. I can get a little angry....but it helps me to feel independent. I met Katie at a restaurant to watch Monday night football and it felt a little like home. Except for the fact that the game wasn't in English and I couldn't ask the waiter anything.

So anyway, I thank God that my headaches are better and I haven't seen a tarantula yet!! I am getting to know the staff here and they are all amazing people! I am so blessed by the emails/facebook messages from friends at home who encourage me and keep me going. I miss you but will see you soon...Trusting God has gotten to a whole new level!!!

My new friends

"la cucaracha" - I pretty much see them every day. I can handle them better than spiders.

You know you live in Mexico when....

(Katie and I came up with these today!)

-you put your shoes on to kill a spider
-cows and chickens are your alarm clock
-you can smell what your neighbors are cooking for dinner or hear their dinner conversation
-you have to get out of the car to open a gate to leave or come home
-you have to turn down plastic bags of shrimp for sale on the highway
-it rains just as much inside your house as it does outside
-the only TV you watch is last season's DVDs
-you carry your laptop around on Sunday wearing your team jersey and checking espn.com
-you take walks carrying rocks to fend of the wild dogs

Sierra Madre Christian Academy

My class!

prayer requests

Tomorrow is the first day of school and I would love prayer. Pray that I would get accustomed to the new curriculum and teaching several grades together in one class. Pray that I would love on these children and build them up and be an example of the love of Jesus. My students are: Josh, Gus, Corinna, Chloe, Luke in 2nd grade; Mark, Ella, Jake in 1st grade; Sami, Cameron in Kindergarten.

Also, pray for my health. I have been having pretty bad headaches daily. I am not sure if it is the weather being so humid and hot (100 degrees at 6:00pm) or allergies being worse here or my chiropractor issues with neck and shoulders.

Thanks for your prayer and support. Love you all!

Since I wasn't in Indiana to tailgate and go to the first Notre Dame game with my friends, I got in the spirit and one of the boys made a pennant with "Notre Dame" on it... Plus one of the men has slingbox and I was able to watch it!!

the city

Last night Heather and Katie took me into the city. I have never been there before, since when I came with groups we stayed and worked in the outskirts. I loved it! It is a very old city with stone streets and old buildings and very romantic. It felt like a movie. I will definitely go and explore there more later.




Monterrey is a city of 6 million people and Back2Back is at the southern edge of the city. Monterrey is known for a food item 'cabrito' which is baby goat. I did not eat that!