Reflection

Why is it when I have no desire to go to church is when I get the most out of the mass. So I have been struggling with the whole I have to go to mass everyday thing. And it is not easy for me. For starters it is all in Spanish, and the priest rushes through the Eucharist which is the most important part for me. Well if you have been following my blog we attend two churches one on Wed and Mon and the other on Tues and Thurs. So today at mass that I had to force myself to go to again I was listening to the reading and not really paying attention but just having prayer time with God. And literally the reading was so long and then there was the responsorial psalm. But I had yet another moment with God and I truly felt his presence and it was just he and I in the Church. As I am faced with the challenges here it amazes me how God has been working with me. I am the type of person who enjoys my alone time, which is a hard concept for many to understand here. But the times I have been in church and I have been in the presence of God I have been able to shut out everything that is going on and just listen to what he wants me to do.

The other day my mother asked me if I was going back to school. And I told her I do´t even know what I am doing tomorrow. I have had to just take things as they come here I. I have no time to worry about the future, I can only focus on the presence. And it is such a wonderful gift I have been giving. We ofter worry about so much that is not in our control, and I have learned to just take one day at a time. And the days here have flown by. And my worries are very few here I am excited to see what is in store for my next chapter in life. Because if it is anything like this experience I am having now I invite it with open arms.

Oh Spanish

So this weekend was a three day weekend because their is a national holiday here in Mexico. Which means the kids go home for three days. It is always nice to have one extra day off. But I had to go to a retreat with all the ex-volunteers from the DeLasalle program. And for the first time since I have been here in 5 months Spanish was a real challenge for me. First off my Spanish has improved immensely and I am understanding more and more. And the kids understand me more and more each day. But this past weekend I was almost on the verge of tears. I had to sit in a room for 14 hours and listen to talk after talk. I finally told Hno. Julian my head felt as if it was going to explode. And so he made me go run errands with Goretti to go buy bus tickets and toiletries for the people who were at the retreat. And first off I had to drive the Eurovan which I have only driven twice in the colonia. But it was a great adventure for the two of us. We laughed the whole time and she told me how to shift and use the clutch. And for the two of us Spanish was not a problem. So I am looking forward having more and more practice with the Eurovan. And once we returned 4 hours later I was feeling much better. And the mass we had was beautiful, the music was breath taking. We do not have anyone this year with musical talent, well we do but they do not have their instruments. So every Sunday our music is pretty much as off key as it can be. So last night with at least 10 guitars and everyone knew how to use it. It was pretty amazing.

But now I get to spend my day doing laundry and relaxing till the kids come at 5:30.

Some Pictures

This is Noé and I. He is one of my lovely boys in Chicos B. One day he absolutely loves me and the next day everytime he gets in trouble somehow it is all my fault. I am learning the ins and outs of parenthood each day with him and the others. His favorite toy right now is POGS which let me just tell you are the most annoying things in the world, and they have gotten him in trouble on many occastions, but he has my heart, and I love him to death.

This is what I look like on a daily basis when I have kids.. Below is a picture of the community when we went to dinner for Nestor´s Bday. And we actually look like people.

It´s been awhile

Well it has been way too long since I have written on here. First and foremost my 10k was amazing and so much fun. But today I went with Goretti, Cecy and Néstor to help register the poor of Saltillo for free health care. Every year the major cities in Mexico along with other organizations give free health care. It is really amazing to see a never ending line of people needing and wanting health care. It also saddens me that we do not even offer this type of service for the people in our own country. I am happy to have given a leanding hand to the people of Saltillo, even though it was frustrating at times it was well worth it. I am looking forward to it again on Thrusday.

Well in Chicos A another child has decided to leave, but we got a new grande the same day. I have a feeling Casa Hogar will be fill all year long. As one child leaves another child arrives. Chicos B is doing well we have our moments but for the most part the kids have been great this past week. But today is Tuesday and this is usually our hardest day of the week. So I will let you know. But fortuantely our children´s parents are really helping us with discipling the children at home. Elizabeth and I put up a chart so the kids will keep their space cleaning and it is truly working well. The boys have been working really hard to keep everything in order. I am looking foward to giving out prizes at the end of the week for their spaces. Well I need to eat I am starving and I have to be creative there is literally no food in our kitchen. For the first time we do not even have queso so I will be eating tortillas. Peace and God Bless.

It has been awhile since I have been on here. But it just seems that there is very little time to sit and reflect on the day. First off Elizabeth and I have come to realize that Tuesdays are going to be the toughest day of the week for us. And we thought Thursdays were weird, but no it is definetly Tuesdays. So yesterday 3 boys came home from school with reports, and after 3 reports the children are suspended or asked to leave the school. If the kids cannot got to our school they cannot live here in Casa Hogar or something close to that. It all just depends on the child. But it was a really bad thing that all the kids got reports. Then we have our new child Alejandro, and man is he a pistol. His answer to just about everything is a cuss word or NO. Hopefully his attitude will change because not only is he rude to Elizabeth and I but also the Brothers, which is not acceptable. So anyway Elizabeth and I have to remind ourselves of all the wonderful things we have in our lives here to get through our Tuesdays, and we just laugh ourselves till we hurt.

On another note Elizabeth and I had to do a presentation to a school and tell them about being Missioners. Well first off I have a hard time with the word missioner, because I see myself as a volunteer and not so much a missioner. But anyway it was a great experience to talk about what has brought me to this part of my life, and how my faith has grown. And of course the first questions out of the kids mouths were, "Tienes novio?" Elizabeth and got a huge laugh yet again. But it really was a new experience because I usually do not go around telling people my story about my life and especially not in Español, but I am happy I went and shared the a part of my life with others.

Today we had our first futbol game here in Casa Hogar with the Grandes and it is very exciting. To see them play in a field of rocks and tall grass I remember watching the guys at St. Stanislaus play and how amazing they were, but they have nothing compared to the boys of Casa Hogar. For staters the boys here do not use shin guards or cleets. And like I sid they are in a field of dust, dirt, rocks, and really tall grass. They are all very talented players and could take on any high school futbol team in the US. But now I am off for a nap I have had a long day, and another tomorrow, because I am going to Monterrey to get my stuff for the race on Sat. Yes I am running a 10k on Sat please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

More Things I love about Mexico

11. When it rains there is no Internet, and not just in Casa Hogar I mean the whole city.
12. While driving I have noticed there are NO lanes, people just go where they want.
13. Walmart is NOT the same as the Walmart in the States.
14. Hamburgers always, always come with Ham on top.
15. Work out clothes are an anomaly.
16. Roosters live next door, and we are in the middle of the city.
17. Oh when it rains here no one goes outside, the city becomes a ghost town.
18. There are only 6 radio stations the perfect number for Presets in the car.
19. There is no Pepper on the table ever, only Salt (which is essential in my diet now).
20. The fruit and vegetables taste delicious because they are without pesticides.
21. Everyone here seems to know everyone else or they are all kin.
22. We have the most beautiful Sunrises and Sunsets, it really looks as if God is breathing life onto the Earth each morning as the sun comes over the Mountains. And at night there is a blanket of pastel colors he uses to protect us from harm, they are breathtaking.

As the years go on I will continue with more updates but for now I am sure you have the idea of how much I love Mexico and all its little quirks.

Viva Mexico

There are just some things about Mexico that I am learning to love so here they are and in no particular order...

1. Every three or four days I have no water.
2. All sliced meet is jamòn.
3. Laundry detergent is used as hand soap, dish soap, and cleaning soap.
4. Pinol can probably cure cancer they live by it.
5. There are about 10 numbers needed to place a phone call depending on who and how you are calling.
6. Every grocery store also sells Televisions.
7. There are millions of speed bumps.
8. It is perfectly acceptable to have 9 people in a VW Golf.
9. The refrigerater is not for food just a place to put magnets.
10. Time does not exist here.

I have a lot more to share but right now I am off to la lavanderìa.