Week 4 & Wonderful Weekend

This past week, it has been very quite around Casa Hogar. With the boys on summer vacation, and all of the volunteers now at home, it is different around here. But I have been continuing with my classes which are going rather well. I am starting to enjoy them more and more as the am able to understand my teacher more. Every Friday my teacher has taken me out into the city. So far I have seen all of the major universities here, and they are beautiful. I have been downtown where I saw the cathedral, the government offices, and the many tourists shops. It was interesting, but on my previous trips to Saltillo we would visit the downtown area. I also have been to two museums with my teacher. She really is a wonderful lady. All of the people who I have met here have tried to make me feel as comfortable and at home as possible.

This past weekend I was going to be left alone at Casa Hogar. And not that it is not safe here, but the front gates are always open and just about anyone who wants to get onto the grounds is welcome. I was a tad nervous, but I knew I would be fine. With Brother Carlos in Gomez and Brother Genaro in Rome, Brother Julián did not want me here alone. So he asked a family if I could stay with them and they offered me to stay as long as I wanted. I have never felt so welcome in a place where I knew no one, and I did not fully understand them because on account that I am still working on my Spanish. But they were very friendly, and it was nice to have a different surrounding than Casa Hogar.

While at their house I felt at home, on Friday night I got to enjoy a Fiesta with their oldest son, Julio and we had very good time. All of his friends accepted me with open arms. And the language barrier was not too bad. Well we stayed out way later than I am use to, but I had a wonderful time. Then on Saturday we went downtown to get Marí Jose´s school supplies, and that was quite interesting. Downtown on a Saturday is very busy with lots and lots of people. Oh and I got to experience my first bus ride in Mexico which was interesting. I have never been on a bus before that is used for public transportation. But it was amusing to see all the different people get on and off the bus. After the school supplies we enjoyed corn, cream, and cheese, (no wonder all the volunteers gain at least 10 lbs. here). But it was delicious and worth it. Saturday night I got to experience a Quinceañera, which was amazing! I unfortunately had nothing to wear, so I borrowed a dress and shoes from Marí Jose´s sister. I had so much fun, the food was excellent, Martha´s dress was exquisite, and I learned how to dance to traditional Mexican music. I have never danced so much in my life, but it was well worth it, because I had such a great time, and I will never forget line dancing to "Achy Breaky Heart" in Spanish. The song is huge here, and the dance is great! But again we did not get home till 2:30, which was so late for me because since I have gotten here by usual bed time had been 10:00.

So we were all late for mass the next day, but I got to go to a Youth Mass. Which I thoroughly enjoyed. It reminded me of going to church as a teenager and how I ended up in Saltillo many many years ago. And now I am back for this new adventure in my life. I was talking to my mother the other day, and told her how happy I am here. I am still adjusting to this lifestyle, the food, and the long days, but it really feels like home to me. This past weekend I was invited to stay with a family who did not even know me, and they treated me as their daughter. I truly saw Christ working in that household, they took me in without even knowing me. I do not know many people who would do the same. I met them at 3:00 on Friday, and by 5:30 I was living with them for the weekend. It is so beautiful to me, I cried when I had to leave on Sunday, but I know I am always welcome in their home.

This is how the people are here, really open and loving. And I am starting to fall in love with this culture. Sunday afternoon, Brother Carlos and Genaro returned and we got to go eat a nice restaurant, and all we did was laugh, and I got to hear all about Brother Genaro´s trip all over Europe. Some of the kids returned briefly last night to head off to camp today. It was nice to hear children´s voices back in Casa Hogar. But they are now gone for the week of fun and games. For now it is just Brother Carlos, Brother Genaro, and me at Casa Hogar. By Friday this place will be packed with volunteer for two weeks for the summer program, and I am looking forward to seeing the kids back here in less than a week. I miss them and it is just too quiet around here without them.

For now I will just have to continue on with my studies, which includes lots of music and television the more I listen to and respond the more I will learn. God Bless!