I love the smell of Chocolate cake baking

Blessed? I’ve received more than enough blessings from my Lord in the past few weeks. Unmistakable joy in the hope of my Lord amid the painful moments that my soul has endured-here’s an attempted to give a more mental image of what I’m saying:
The devil, my sin, flesh is still tempted by that which I can’t see-the evil forces in our world-I succumbed to thoughts and constant dwellings upon my ungodliness, the weaknesses, imperfections that lie open, ugly to all who do not have the forgiving eye of Jesus Christ. About a week ago, such realizations were made known to me verbally by a fellow Christian-causing me to rack my brain-focus on my egotistical habits-I could see where indeed I’d fallen short-daily. The knowledge of my deep issues pierced my heart unlike anything else I’ve experienced here in MX. There will always be opposition in ministry and I was facing it (still do). For a couple days I slacked, nearly cried in front of my 4th graders, and wanted to quit everything, get away-far away from the burden of guilt, knowing I wasn’t doing good enough-and even worse, someone else had noticed-truly a nightmare for me.
I was so weighed down and tired. Darkness before the light of day-redeeming hope of grace and love-where was it? I was in a pit. I was praying. Others were praying. God is always working. A few days and I awoke from sleep and felt at ease, the great burden was gone and I saw afresh all the good that can be done through my life and the importance of getting back up, throwing away my torn down pride-clinging to Jesus and the beckoning truth that is essential for me-go and fulfill God’s purpose here on earth-let go-let God lead me. The renewed hope didn’t just bring happiness, but zeal from the Holy Spirit that works to overcome all obstacles. Once my eyes were directed to God’s forgiveness, I was able to look farther, move as if on eagles wings-bless those about me-arise above people, their words, and feelings for me.
This was such a blessing from above! Part of my mind thought, wow-if it get’s this hard; I must be on the downhill slope now during my time here. Of course I was wrong. As I sit here and type-the emotions flow within my chest, dizzying my mind. I want to cry-to go beyond the difficulty of the Christian walk, which is necessary for me to have faith in God. Only God. There are times when I am here and confused about why I am so lonely, missing home, longing to leave and go somewhere where I feel loved-where people know me and I can just rest, feel safe with them and not be alone. God chooses to take that which I am regularly blessed with away, so that I will face the actuality of faith in God alone, not in His blessings. Loneliness? I have many orphans around me to keep me company-I must arise above such thoughts. God gives me this ability, but I am always on my knees first.
Faith in God alone has meant being torn away from the affections of others-when you reach a place where you know that it is just you and God. Yes, the church, yes Christian fellowship, yes living in the world but not of it-but only always you and God. The relationship-my faith, hope, trust, love, worship only for Him. To get there, He pulls all the others away. Ha-and especially for me, a people-pleasing romantic, longing to be liked by everyone, enjoying being among people all the time, leaning, resting on others-it’s a perfect target. God has called me here to ACA, a place where I’m facing separation from the above idols, the Holy Spirit leading the way.
This is not an update on my doings, only soul-the abstract-which I find to be much of what the Christian walk is. Christianity just isn’t practical or reasonable.
I’m on my two-week spring break, which is filled with helping out the American missions team serving/staying at Casa Hogar (construction, Bible studies, singing etc.) and preparing for a mission trip to a rural village next week with Maranatha church. Also, this is Easter week-a time of remembrance-and so there are a few services to attend at church. I’m able to sleep in some more and rest-my body is exhausted ☺
Right now I am watching Beauty and Beast with the girls…we just made cake! Yum-if I ever need a “ministry opportunity” with the girls…we just make brownies or cake. ☺ Will write soon concerning my trips to rural villages.

Sunshine on my Shoulders makes Me Happy

I've made it to a Starbucks-where the police monitor the doors with guns.
It's been a long day at school. Yesterday I started my new head teaching job-ESL to 4, 5, and 6th. Once again I'm forced to completely let go and rely on God to sustain me amid this new job. I've taken over for an older American teacher who was fluent in Spanish and had been teaching at the school for 10 years. I'm not sure if I can fill her shoes-this is my first teaching job and I don't even fully know the language of the students I'm teaching! Working with the little ones was different...

Monday-Mandy and I took the bus to Mega (kind of like Target but not nearly as nice) and I bought a couple light blue shirts so that I could match the other teachers-be "professional". I'd much rather wear a tank top, chacos, and shorts-but I guess I have to look the part, so much for comfort :)

I'm sipping on a Mocha Latte-AH! The wonder of coffee-expresso-chocolate. I had an excuse to head to Starbucks (pronounced "starbooks" in Spanish) after school today. I need full wireless connection for a Skype interview for grad school. So I get to sit in AC and drink coffee to extract the remaining bits of energy left in me. Last night I only slept about three hour. It's getting hotter here (yes, I know for Ky this is great-primavera is coming!) but for MX it is almost unbearable. No AC. AH! :) But I'm not as close to the equator as some folks. I'd like to shoot all the street dogs here. Yes, shoot them. Relieve them of their agony and hunger and diseases and...I might get more sleep at night. The poor dogs bark all night.

Some Gator fans came my way this past weekend-visited Casa Hogar. It was so much fun! We went to see the divers on the Pacific coast and ate at the Pink Flamingo Hotel-highlight of the 40's apparently. There was a Hollywood Hall of Fame where John Wayne and others had vacationed back in the day. I put some photos up on FB of the view- spectacular!

Some of the girls are getting lice at Casa Hogar from school-I am crossing my fingers I don't get lice! And I'm rinsing my hair with white vinegar twice a week. Apparently it makes your hair shinier too :)

So, I love teaching.
Even when I'm lacking sleep, impatient, some of the students don't have their own books, and I'm unable to translate sentences into perfect Spanish, I am thankful to have this position. I just act a lot and draw pictures. :) I'm trying to figure out how to teach outdoor adventure sports (that is the theme of our entire 6th grade unit for this month!) to kids that have never been horseback riding, rock climbing, white water rafting, on a hot air balloon, or on a plane-it's difficult. I am constantly frustrated with the textbooks so I make up my own lessons...if only I could take those 6th graders on a field trip to the Red River Gorge to rock climb and show them what outdoor adventures are really like... :)

Well, I should prepare for this interview. Audios mi amigas!

Breaking News from the Sunburned Teacher who Speaks Spanglish

Newest update as of Friday-another working of God's hands through my ministry here: I've been asked to teach 4,5, and 6th grade English. Dorothy-who teaches them now is leaving Wed. She is from the states and married a Hispanic. They want to retire close to her family. The teacher she had in line to fill her spot is unable to come-so I will be the new head teacher for those classes. I will be here until the school season is almost over, which works out perfectly. I'm really excited to be able to get to know the older ones, although I'll miss the Preschoolers and Kindergarten kiddos I worked with. It has been difficult getting to know the older girls at Casa Hogar-something about those teenage years. Even in the states, teens don't open up easily. I've always enjoyed being involved in the lives of youth at the two ranches I worked at and hope to do the same here...it's a slow process. But, when you are their teacher, you can't help but get to know them! Once again God affirms my purpose for being here in MX!

Also, I'm enjoying my hilarious, jocular, fellow teachers. Most of them are gals, single, and in their late 20's early 30's-so as usual, I am the baby. We have fun.

Yesterday was my first day of swimming lessons. Envision a tall white girl, roasting in the sun (I wore sunscreen....but....agh. I guess I'll have to work on my tan the painful/unhealthy way), screaming in spanglish to a bunch of energetic 2nd graders. I was hoping to work on technique...one of my downfalls is that I expect too much and get frustrated when things aren't what I'd hoped for-too idealistic. I will be happy if the kids learn to float by the end of the school year-however, if they can learn streamline, how to kick the right way, and some basic freestyle, I'll be happy :)

Some of you know...I lost my debit card a couple weeks ago.: ( Yep. My mind is always-absent-I leave things everywhere (you will not want to be my friend once I hit my 40s and 50s-ha). Thankfully God looks after me and showers down millions of little mercies. Even when I am at an ATM machine, constantly looking over my shoulders and scoping my surroundings-making sure I get a receipt and not counting my cash openly-I leave my card in the machine. Figures. Thankfully, I think it ate my card because three days later I realized my predicament and called the bank-nothing was stolen. Since then I've been creative with how to get money-after I called the bank I found a message from one of my friends saying that he knew someone that was coming to Casa Hogar with MTW in April and could bring anything I needed :-)

It's Saturday and I'm excited because.....I GET TO GO TO WALMART! Never knew the day that going to Walmart would be special. I'm meeting Mandy and we get to experience the wonder of it together. It takes about an hour for me to get to Walmart and their selection is MUCH better than any of the markets close by. I don't go often. There is no beef jerky, BBQ pork skins, or frozen biscuit dough, but ACA Walmart does have Kraft Mac n' Cheese :) haha-it is the little things in life that can be so exciting!