This past week was great- it went by really fast and so it feels weird to be already writing a blog about it. We had the chance to start working with some new ministries that we will continue to work with while we're down here: a Catholic girls orphanage named Sister's of Charity, a couple of feeding programs, picking up trash on a specific street, and getting to know the Younglife group down here. We also had still continued to have class as a team this week: We finished reading "Victory Over Darkness" and we are starting a book called "Celebration of Discipline" (sounded kind of iffy but it's really good so far). We read the chapter on simplicity and were challenged in many ways that we live and think; for example- buying items we really don't need, speaking simply and honestly, even opposing things that breed oppression in others (like business' that employ people unethically...that was an interesting discussion). We also had a local pastor, Pastor Garcia, come by on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and teach on Job.

One of my favorite times this week was at Sister's of Charity. We went Monday and Tuesday as a group of ten or so, while our other teammates went to a school, to teach an ESL (English as a Second Language) class to the community. We went in pretty much blind, not knowing how many kids we would have or how much they would already know of English, if any. However, I ended up not helping in the classroom- Jennifer, Jessica and I went with one of the nuns and we met some teen girls who needed some help with their English homework. I sat down with Carla, a 17 yr old, who needed help with translating a story from English to Spanish. We worked together for over an hour and in that time I felt God move in me. He showed me that I can be used in ways that I don't consider a strength. I am not someone who wants to be a teacher. I dislike being in front of people , talking in front of people--- don't even ask me to teach in front of people.

After Monday, I wanted to be able to help with Carla the next day but was unsure if we would be needed again- which we were! I was able to sit with Carla again and help her with more of her English homework. (Even though I'm technically there to help her, she's also definitely helping me with my Spanish). She is heading off to college next year- it's name is San Marcos and it happens to be affiliated with a college in the states and it is taught solely in English. So it is imperative that her English improve- she understands quite a bit but is self-conscious about speaking it since a lot of the annunciation of English words are different. So if ya'll could be praying for courage in her to continue to try that would be great!

{If you go to 08mexicoawakening.myadventures.org you will find a list of all the people on my team and if you click on their names you can go to their blogs. They're going to have stories that I might forget to put up as well as more pictures--- for pictures especially check out Joann Weng, she has a link to pictures in one of her blogs.}

We're starting to have more of a schedule now which is good in a way I guess... not having a schedule definitely kept us on our toes! Please continue to be praying for our team and the people we will be continuing to be coming in contact with and building relationships with. Also, pray against any spiritual attacks- we've already experienced some and we know they aren't gone... I'm excited for this coming week to see what else we're going to be doing and how God will be working!