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!

my classroom

The door to my class

Katie

This is Katie and I. We are the only single staff members except for the high school/college students living in the teen homes. I am so thankful for her and our apartments are side by side. She will be teaching grades 3,4,5 and I am teaching K,1,2. So in the evenings when there is nothing to do and all the families are putting their children to bed, we sit and watch TV series that people own. We finished "The Unit" and are now watching "The Closer" . Next on our list that some of the families have are "House" and "Ugly Betty".

community

So everyone here just walks in each others' houses all the time. The kids play in each others' houses and everyone takes time to sit and talk. I love that, but I'm not used to the 'just walking in' part. Today I wanted to talk to Heather Merrill and tried to call first. She didn't answer so I walked over. I knocked, waited, and then slowly walked in and called her name. It felt so awkward. No big deal she was in the kitchen. That's just how they roll. I have to get used to it.

Monday

Well I went to Nuevo Pacto church on Sunday which is where the Back2Back staff attend. They told me it wouldn't be rude to take a book since I wouldn't understand any of it so I almost finished "In a Pit With a Lion..." by Mark Batterson. The worship was great and I recognized some tunes including "The Happy Song" and "I Can Only Imagine". But it was only my 3rd day and I was emotional and missing GCC. We were there for 2 1/2 hours.
It is Monday night and I haven't left the base since. That is just how life is here. It is such a change from what I am used to but I just have to deal with it. I wake up and say "Okay God I know you want me here so I am trusting in you". I have been working on my school room as much as I can.
Sunday night I had a wonderful surprise. I got a phone call from Corey Mann at Lifeline (my youth group back home at GCC) and the kids all yelled 'hi' . I felt loved.

more photos

This is the main room where groups stay.

This is where my the new school is being built!

This is the main gate to our community.

Our swimming pool

prayer requests

For those of you who are my prayer warriors I just wanted to let you know how you can pray.
First, I pray that I would let God work through me here and not worry about my feelings of loneliness and uncertainty.
Second, I would love prayer for my headaches. I get a lot of headaches and often migraines. The chiropractor helped a lot in the states but I really don't want to have to look for one here and pay for one.
Third, I know this sounds silly but it is a real fear....I am so afraid of spiders and yesterday they were talking about the big tarantulas they have seen and I could hardly sleep last night. I have a loft where my bed is and I haven't slept up there yet because there are gaps between the wall and ceiling and I am fearful!! Pray that I can turn this over to God.
Thanks and I love you all, Ruby

My phone is working, praise Jesus! It is not a cell phone but you can call me and if I'm home I will gladly answer. It should not cost anyone to call, it is an Indiana number that works through my internet. 574-968-6468

my crib

My front door



loft to bedroom and bathroom

view from my front door

Monterrey

This morning Heather and I went to get groceries. I have nothing in my apartment! First we went by the man selling fruits and vegies from his cart and we stopped and bought some. Very cheap! Then we went to WalMart actually! It was very overwhelming. They do have a lot of the same things but usually it has added hot sauce and even the mayo had lime added. The food there is not cheaper. We had to tip the bagger and then a man in the parking lot loaded our things and we tipped him. The traffic in Monterrey is crazy. No one uses blinkers and the lanes are very close together. Pedestrians do not have the right of way and when people come to a stop sign they usually don't stop. There are wild dogs everywhere... I came home and was invited to another family's house for lunch. This afternoon I have to work on getting my apartment together and getting my phone to work!!

Day 4

I can tell there were extra prayers about crossing the border. Thanks so much for that! We had an easy crossing with just a lot of paperwork and I got taxed $75 on the things in my car, but no car searches. We arrived and were greeting by lots of staff who unloaded my car for me and then I was invited to dinner. Our electric was out so I am just now getting to write. I will write more tomorrow with pictures.

Day 3

I am finally in McAllen! It seemed like a loooong day. We passed Waco, the Texas Ranger Museum, Austin, San Antonio.... Went through some rain storms but everything went well! Tomorrow we cross the border.

Day 2

Isaac, Ella, and Jenna Merrill are enjoying the pool in Dallas. We had a sunny day to drive. I got to see some neat landscape and a dead armadillo on the side of the road.

Support $

I have raised my $19,000!!! God is good and he definitely wants me here for this year!

heading out

Sooooo today after coffee and tears with my friends, I met the Merrill family in Mishawaka and we left for the long journey! Bill and Heather Merrill and their 3 children live at Back2Back but were home visiting family so I am following them back. It is nice to have a friendly face when we stop. We have made it to Missouri today safely with only some rain leaks in my car... Praying for sun tomorrow!!

new address

So if you want to mail me things, letters, packages, money -haha, the mail goes first to Ohio and they send it down in bulk.
I will be getting a Vonage phone and will post my new phone number here when I get it.

Ruby Moyer
c/o Back2Back Ministries
P.O. Box 70
Mason, OH 45040

Goodbyes

Wow goodbyes are harder than I thought!! My roommates had a going-away party for me Sunday night and it was great to have a lot of my friends at one place together. We had a great time hanging out and throwing football and talking. I kept the tears to a minimum. My roomies asked everyone to bring a card for me to open in Mexico so I would have 1 each week. I will be there 40 weeks which I think is cool. 40 is used in the Bible a lot. 40 days and nights of rain, 40 years in the wilderness, etc... When everyone left we counted the cards and I had exactly 40! So awesome!!
Then Monday night I went to my sister's house and had to say goodbye to them. Leaving my niece was the hardest thing I think I'll have to do. She was sobbing and hugging me and I cried the whole way home. I love that girl!
More goodbyes this week, but I am learning that leaving makes me appreciate people more than I did.

the countdown is on

Well this summer has been amazing and now I have 16 days til I leave. I have been hanging out with friends as much as I can- going to the beach, weddings, movies, dinners, Camp Adventure, etc... I got to see family when I went to PA for a week in June and I have my last sleepover with my niece this week. A few weeks ago I was having a really rough time and was crying all the time and not wanting to go. I felt like my comfort zone was about to be ripped out from under me - which it is. But....I realized there is nothing better the enemy wanted to do than discourage me before I left. I want to enjoy my last few weeks! It was awesome to talk to the Mexico team from church when they got back Saturday! They got to see where I will be working, living, and the people I will be with.
My going- away party is August 12 at 4:00 at our house...please come.