First Few Weeks...

As of Friday, I will have been in Fresnillo for 3 weeks! Certainly, a lot has happened during that time. While we definitely have a set routine during the school year with Club activities and such, the summer is a much more laid-back and flexible time. It is a good time to gradually transition into my life and responsibilities here. So in answer to the question, "What have you been up to?", I'd have to say a little bit of everything! This has included Spanish lessons, work projects like painting and cleaning, visiting with both American team members and Mexican families here, going to church, planning for VBS in August, learning more about Mexican history and culture, trying to how to drive around town, and lots more.

Two things that are pretty constant even in the summer are Torta on Saturdays and Tuesday chores/team meetings. Torta is a free feeding outreach where we typically feed around 300 or more children and youth each Saturday. Naturally, it takes most of the day to prepare for this and then clean up from it. I have helped with Torta a couple of times since my arrival and love being able to serve the children in this way. Perhaps, I'll write a longer blog about Torta another day with pictures. Tuesdays are also still routine during the summer. Every Tuesday morning, we have to do chores at the ministry buildings. Then, we have a team lunch and team meeting in the afternoon to discuss different events coming up.

So in a nutshell, that's what I've been up to my first few weeks here. Adios para ahora!

Refreshment

Today, I had the most refreshing day! Mondays are our days off so they are always nice, but today was an especially great day. My roommate Elizabeth and I went to Zacatecas (the city) for part of the day. We live in the state of Zacatecas, but the capital of the state is also called Zacatecas, and it's quite a bit more modern than our city of Fresnillo. The drive is about an hour or a little longer so it's an easy day trip.

We began our "ZAC" day with a quick stop at Wal-Mart to buy a few supplies, and then we had the wonderful treat of going to Starbucks! I thoroughly enjoyed my delicious chai frappachino and was even able to use the Starbucks gift card I'd been given for my birthday a few weeks ago (thanks, Laura!). So fun!

We then headed to the old convent, which was where we had planned to spend the majority of our time. The convent was built in the 16th century and is now a fascinating mix of ruins and beautiful grounds. The big trees, lovely flowers, and incredible green grass were a welcome sight to this Southeastern girl! Needless to say, that's not the typical sight around here. We split up and each found our own little space among the convent grounds and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of journaling, praying, reading, reflection, etc.

As I was reading the familiar words of Psalm 139, God gave me a fresh insight into one of the verses. "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them." (vs. 14) For some reason, the words DAYS just jumped out of the page for me today as I thought about my days here in Mexico. After only being here for just over two weeks, I am not exactly sure what my all my days here will look like. I usually know what I'm doing this week, and I have a picture in my mind of what I think this year will look like, but it's only blurry right now. As I thought about this verse, I was struck by how the Lord knows what EVERY one of my days will be like here. He knows when and why I will have a day that makes me cry. He knows the days that will cause me to be elated with joy as I interact with children and watch them grow in their understanding of Christ. He knew that today I would have a great day, complete with my chai frappachino. As they say in Mexico, "que chido" or "how cool!"

Elizabeth and I with our Starbucks!

the ruins of the 16th century convent

Some girls show how delightful the grass is!

Fresa

In Mexico, visiting people in their homes is very important. People show their love and respect by hosting others in their homes and providing a meal, and you honor them when you come for a visit at their houses. In fact, you're not even supposed to wait for an invitation...you are supposed to invite yourself over! Thus, visiting church members in their homes is something we do a lot of around here to build relationships. Since Felicia and I are new and still learning Spanish, we have been going on various visits with some of our other team members. Each family is so kind and generous, and it is a privilege to be welcomed into their homes.

Today, I went with my two of my roommates, Karen and Felicia, to Dona Olga's house. Dona Olga was one of the very first members of the church and has hosted in her home every missionary who has ever been here (or at least, I think that's what she said!). She has several daughters ranging in age from 12 to 24, and they joined us today for the meal and visit. We had such a blast talking and laughing with them! Olga endearingly calls them "locas" or crazy; they have contagious smiles and laughs and are constantly making jokes or telling stories. My favorite topic of conversation today was about the word, "fresa."

You might know that fresa means strawberry in Spanish. Today, I learned another meaning for the word fresa. It can be used as an adjective and might loosely be translated "girly." A "chica fresa" would be someone who likes to buy new clothes, always wants her outfits to be coordinated, enjoys bright colors, is constantly fixing her hair, etc. Olga named a few people we know who might be considered this, and then looked at me and told me that I was somewhat "fresa" even though she barely knows me. Felicia then heartily agreed with this statement! As we continued to talk about different examples of fresa, they definitely came to this conclusion.

I guess this makes sense because if someone asked me if I considered myself girly, I would say "yes, somewhat." Ever since I was little, I have liked my clothes to match, and I do usually make sure that I have a hairbrush with me at all times. I made sure to explain to Olga that I still loved playing sports though! Makes me think of how my high school volleyball team was very competitive, but yet we all wore matching ribbons in our hair. :)

So, today I learned that I not only love to eat fresas, but I also am a bit fresa.

Bienvenida a Mexico!

Well, I have now spent five full days in Fresnillo, Mexico!  I'm very thankful that all of the travel details and plans went so well.  After a bittersweet time of prayer and goodbyes with my wonderful parents in the Tallahassee airport on Thursday, I flew to Dallas where I (and my bags!) thankfully made a tight connection and then caught a plane to McAllen, TX, with the other new missionary, Felicia.  In McAllen, we were welcomed by three of our CFCI teammates and they drove us to Fresnillo the following day.  We arrived in Fresnillo late Friday night, tired but grateful for how well everything had gone even at the border.

My first few days have obviously been spent meeting lots of people, adjusting to a new culture and home, unpacking, and hearing A LOT of Spanish and speaking SOME Spanish.  I'm thankful to be able to understand a good deal of what I hear, but I feel like I have a long way to go in terms of speaking it myself.  Naturally, all of this can be somewhat overwhelming at times, but the Lord has been so gracious in protecting me and daily uplifting me.  I have truly felt people's prayers and am so grateful for them.  

Rather than focus solely on the transition though, I want to share a few recent highlights of the past few days that have brought smiles to my face...

• the genuine kindness and friendliness of the CFCI team here--I have felt so welcomed and loved already
• Sunday's church service--we sang one of my favorite Hillsong songs, "From the Inside Out" in Spanish
• anytime I get to eat fruits and vegetables (safe ones, of course)
• climbing a nearby mountain on our free day and being outside in nature
• wireless internet in my room here--such an amazing blessing! :) 

More highlights to come soon, I'm sure...