Ali Mitchell - The World Race 2006

Moving

Wed, 8 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

In the process of moving to a different website. check it out at www.myspace.com/kristinandali

Flying- On The Lookout

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

I sat over the wing of the plane yesterday. I like sitting over the wing of the plane. It makes me feel like I can keep an eye on things. Gary, a drill sargent from the Black tribe, told a story a few months ago about a commercial flight that began experiencing extreme turbulance. An old woman towards the front of the plane stood up yelling "Demons are trying to crash the plane....everyone pray."
In a state of shock everyone just stared at her so she repeated, "Did you hear me? Demons are trying to crash our plane. EVERYONE PRAY!"
The plane began flying smoothly again.

I sat praying that God would send his angels to guide and protect our plane. Kind of like superman, but better because I imagine angels are bigger. When we started bumping in the air a bit I would look out the window to inspect the wing and make sure all was clear. It was. I was glad.
There are many questions that come to mind when thinking about that little lady in the story, but I'd really like to know if she was aware and more uncomfortable than the people around her in the silence that must have ensued her announcement. Probably not. I can picture the stranger sitting beside her trying to make small talk afterwards, "So eh...what brings you to Nashville?"

Leaving Mexico

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

I am flying to Tennessee on Saturday! I am sooo excited to see my friends and family. It will be a bit sad to leave Mexico...especially since I have just begun to grow attached to our neighbors Monica and Garciela. Monica reminds me so much of one of my girls, London, that I used to babysit. [Hi Hope, Joy, and London! I miss you!]

The AIM director, Bob, told me I can always call this my home. He has welcomed me to come back at any time. And when someone opens the door in the Mexican culture it is the real deal. Their house is a regular train station. I think they are throwing Kristin and I a going away salsa party tomorrow night. I have gotten so attached to all of the FYM kids and the leaders here. I know God will use them in great ways.

Currently my plan is to visit with my family for about 2 weeks before flying to Nairobi, Africa. There is an AIM base there and I have made many contacts from my time here in Mexico. I hope to have an opportunity to work with the refugees from Sudan. I am excited to see where the Lord is leading.

Random Ramblings And Our Sweet Neighbor

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

I drink my coffee black now. There is a bit of freedom in a cup of black coffee.
I had a chance to drink a latte yesterday and I cooly ordered black coffee. I feel that makes me a deep person. No shallow frozen mocha frapp w/ extra whip and a flick of cinnamon for me. Just the house...black... [And a Twix] I have to have something sweet if I'm going to drink it black. Guess that makes me not so deep.

Kristin, my dirty Mississippi friend, prides herself in not taking showers- she frequently brings it up in conversations. "Hey I haven't showered in several days. I only shower on Sundays and Wednesdays."
It makes her pretty cool I guess. Deep. Not shallow. My old roommate and one of my best friends, Karen, used to try to be dirty- like a hippie...but it drove her nuts. She always ended up caving after a day or two and would shower. I think it's probably only cool to be dirty when it's a choice. I think when people just don't have access to showers it tends not to be as fashionable. Too bad.

The Neighbors
I have been getting to know my neighbors this past week. They live in the little bitty shack behind the church we are staying in. The husband gets wasted every night to the same loud Spanish song- on repeat. I must have heard it 7 times while journaling in my room last night. We have been scared to go over and visit his wife and daughter because of him. Finally on Saturday Kelsey and I took one of the Spanish Seminary Student guys over to the house with us so he could talk to the husband while we visited with Garciela and her daughter Monica.
Kelsey, one of the FYM students, is great with the Mexicans. Kelsey is one of my favorite people to spend time with here. I have a lot to learn from her. She is the one with the book in her hand on the far left of this picture.

She was relaxed and chill at Garciela's house. Surprisingly, because she is a bit uptight in her day to day life. She's organized and on time and stuff. She probably has a first aid kit in her car. I can really see how she is called to do what she does. I mean I can see God in her...work through her when she is with the Mexicans. Chill and relaxed. Not the person I thought she was when I first met her. It's cool to see God work through people.

I know God is using me when I'm patient and compassionate. It's not my nature most of the time. I tend to tell people to suck it up. I told one of the FYM girls, Vanessa-orange shirt- and the one who really gets into the spirit of digging through trash, to spit in Satan's face and tell him to go back to hell where he belongs. I also told her to stop feeling sorry for herself that will only allow Satan to have a foothold in her life. I told her if her friends started encouraging her to have a "pity party" to stop them because feeling sorry for herself will not accomplish anything.
It's a different story when I'm having problems.

Garciela said her husband drinks too much before saying anything else. Her daughter, Monica is almost 2 years old. She was sick. Their home has one room with a bed, 1980 TV, tiny stove, and 1970 stereo. There is one orange extension cord hanging from the ceiling that gets power from somewhere outside of the house. Barbies tucked away in the wall, and one, dirty lumpy pillow. It is a full size bed that makes up a majority of the room. I couldn't help but wonder how this married couple shared a bed with their daughter. What happens when she is 5.... Or worse 15?! Blah. That is pretty common here. Sometimes they have 7 kids and 4 parents living in a one room home. I think I'd sleep on the dirt floor.
I could see swirls in the dirt of Garciela's house and a broom laid to the side. It was a little broom, yellow. There was not much floor space. I thought it was nice that she had swept the floor. I don't know why I thought it was nice. I wouldn't have noticed if she hadn't swept.

Kelsey and I are going to make earrings with her today. I'm looking forward to it. I really enjoy Garciela's company and her daughter is ADORABLE.

Thoughts in Silence

Wed, 15 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

" Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things."
Philippians 4:8

No TV, no phone, no car, no radio... there is plenty of quiet time here. Books and journaling are a great way to grow AND overcome/ avoid complete stillness. So yesterday I took 30 minutes to sit with my thoughts. I found myself thinking about things that caused me anguish. I was continually trying to "check-in" and refocus my thoughts on something positive. I didn't know how uncomfortable I am simply sitting in silence.
A friend of mine once said, "Being humble is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less often." [Thanks Austin] Thinking about my needs, my desires, my weaknesses, my strengths, things I have done [good or bad], things I "should" do or things I "need" to do only lead to self-centeredness which seems to be a form of self-worship. It is the quickest path to despair and depression...the opposite of the fruit produced when I focus on God: hope and joy.
I think God calls us to do self evaluation to keep our motives and hearts in check, but to seek the things of his kingdom.

" Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life."
Luke 21:34

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Matthew 6:33-34

Prostitution In Matamoros

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Called To Walk and Pray?

I didn't know prostitution was legal here until seeing it first hand on a bus ride home through downtown Matamoros. I found out many of the girls are sold or forced into the business at a young age.

Friday, after praying about it, Kristin and I found ourselves in a coffee shop close to the prostitution houses. Becky, one of the AIM leaders told us about a pastor, Erasmo, who witnesses to the people of downtown Matamoros. She gave us his address and told us to talk to him and possibly get him to go with us to translate if we wanted to pray with people. It was beginning to get dark so we decided we would skip trying to find Erasmo and go ahead and walk and pray.

We asked for directions from a little couple who reminded me of Kristin's parents, except Mexican. They were hesitant But pointed us in a direction. They yelled out after we had turned to leave and said in very broken English, "Careful. Prostitution. Careful." I could hear our parents speaking straight through them.

We began praying out loud as we walked. The air became thick. The closer we got the harder it became to breathe. I felt as though my lungs were in a vice. It was spiritual oppression. I have never felt anything like that in my life. We prayed a tunnel of light through that area. A group of men crowding on the sidewalk saw us coming and each put their hands behind their back and cleared a large path for us to walk. God had sent his angels to walk with us and people felt it as we passed.

I woke up at 6 or 6:30 the next morning and quietly crept into Kristin's room and pulled her out of bed, trying not to wake the other 3 girls still sleeping in her room. Off we went in the cold of the early morning. We caught the bus downtown and had to force the bus driver to stop on the corner of 11^th and Independence Street. He had been refusing to stop.

A man leaning against a building said, "Hey do you know where you're going?"

It is always surprising when someone speaks English in Matamoros. We said a quick "yep" and kept walking. Then he said it again so I stopped and turned back. We explained that we were going to pray. That led to a conversation about how God had saved him from prison in 1994 and now he was here ministering in the area. Kristin asked his name and it was Erasmo! The preacher that Becky told us to find. Erasmo told us to be careful that the men were "tricky." He warned us, but we didn't understand the extent of what he was explaining until he said, "They traffic girls and force them into prostitution. The mob pays the police and there is little to no help."

We talked for a bit then continued on our way, praying Ephesians 6:10. We were able to safely make 3 trips up and down 11^th street- starting at Independence Street claiming ground in the name of Jesus. Even in daylight it felt dark and heavy. The prostitutes were out early looking for business.

I'm not sure we will go back. We are praying about it. Until then, please keep 11^th Street and Independence Street in your prayers. Surprisingly there are babies and children who survive in the mist of it all.

Praying for Sudan

Tue, 7 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

I've spent the past four days focused on praying for Sudan. I originally posted a long blog but it some how got deleted, so I just never rewrote it. :) Sorry for the empty blog page the past couple of days.

Praying Luke 4:18 and Isaiah 61 & 58:6-12 for Sudan

I got to make earrings with a bunch of kids yesterday! I'll post pictures and stories later today or tonight if I can.

Digging Through Trash- My Call To Mission Work

Sun, 5 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Your trash=someone's treasure
Last night, after the boys had gone back to their house, the girls gathered to sit and talk in my room. We began talking about who REALLY got into the ministry that day. The girls and I got quite a laugh thinking about what our lives have become. "So Becky, how did you spend your Saturday?"

"Well, I hung out and sang songs with a bunch of Mexicans this morning, then off to the trash heap. I was looking for cardboard. Then I made ham and cheese sandwiches for 20 something people. Then to bed by 10pm."

We walked to the trash heap yesterday to minister to the people of Granhas. There are many people who go to this mountain of trash to find food to eat, and treasures they can sell in the market. They wait on the dump trucks to come and fight for a good position to rip open the bags and have first dibs. It's like Belk, department store, the morning after Thanksgiving. Some of the more competitive missionaries, well, Vanessa was standing knee deep in trash with a borrowed glove on her right hand, forgetting about ministering, only hoping she would be the lucky one to find something GREAT. The key to this game is no fear. You can't let a little bag of used toilet paper slow you down. [I am horse laughing as I write this by the way]

The locals stood in awe watching the American way.

But wow, what a way to minister huh?

I woke up thinking about when and how I was called to mission work.
It must have been my first mission trip to the Appalachia Mountains. I was 15 years old and went with my church on the yearly Appalachia Service Project, where we went to do low-income home repair. I was the rookie and the smallest in my group so they squeezed me under the house with piping insulation and a light. I was terrified of the spiders that were crawling and the sewage that was very near my head. My group could see the terror in my eyes.

Leah, not a rookie to such circumstances, leaned her head under the porch as far as she could get and began singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. She was just in time, as I was about to worm my way back to the sunlight and refuse to go back under. Instead of giving up, which I so desperately wanted to do, I sang Jingle Bells at the top of my lungs for two days and worked as quickly as I could maneuver under that house. I think at the end of that week is when it hit me that God definitely called me to mission work.

Listening Prayer and Living Simply

Thu, 2 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

LISTENING PRAYER
Have you ever prayed and then just listened? I mean really cleared your mind and listened for God to speak? Sounds pretty basic, but I have only really begun to practice it the past year. I am so guilty of asking God a question and then not listening for an answer- usually running out the door or turning up my music. Seth Barnes, CEO of AIM, wrote a book on called The Art of Listening Prayer. I haven't read all of it yet, but it's on my "to read" list.
What I heard God speaking to me yesterday morning:
Come to me weak and broken and I will restore you and bless you. Do not put boundaries on me and neither shall my love for you have boundaries. Move with my Spirit. Throw off you old ways and seek me with all your heart. Listen and be still. Listen and know I am your God. I will never leave or forsake you. I am here. I will never leave you. I am here. I love you. You are my child, my daughter. Be still and know. Do not take my word lightly. I shall love you forever. You are my child, I will not let you go. You make
me proud and I will feed you with my wisdom. Speak and be heard then sit and be still. I will speak to you as you invite me. Make time to listen for me. Trust me with your life and you will be blessed.

I imagine God is speaking this same message to all of his children. I hope it speaks directly to you as you read!

Recent Challenge
Dee, FYM kid, gave all of the women here a book, Lady in Waiting by Debby Jones and Jackie Kendall. It is probably geared to a bit of a younger audience, but I have been challenged by it. Most recently it inspired me to want to "Learn the mystery of contentment and it's power over the restless torture of desire. Lack of contentment is the result of the terrible burden of wanting life on your own terms." Ouch. Lord please help me lead a life of simplicity.

I am frequently reminded of living simply here in Mexico. Our neighbors, the people of Granhas, the kids at the orphanage. To the left is a picture of my neighbors.

Speaking of living simply, check out Kristin Berry's page to see our recent Starbuck find...I feel too guilty to write about it after talking about living simply! There are fun pictures she posted too!

My walk- GROW WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

MY WALK:
Sunday afternoon Kristin and I decided we would go downtown to Cafe Aromas. Long story short we walked 12-15 miles getting back to the center Sunday night. To have a full appreciation for this story I should share that I have probably only worked out a total of 10 times in the past year...and I happened to be wearing my cheap flip flops- sweet.
Kristin and I laughed and had a good time walking- the last mile or so were a bit rough.  But we figure God MUST be preparing us for a Safari or something REALLY cool. hahaha...I get tickled just thinking about our adventures.

GROW:
So I thought I was on break for a bit and I could just help out occasionally and then off to Sudan....WELLLL, God has been speaking to me about growing where he has planted me...in Mexico. What God??? Mexico? This is not my heart's desire... but God is. Ouch. There goes my pride getting in the way of total submission to Him and His will.

I feel God moving in my heart. He is allowing me to draw near to Him and it is wonderful. Right now I feel Him calling me to take my eyes off of Sudan and seek His face. Right now, that means growing in Mexico. I am not on a siesta break, until He opens a door to Africa. So I am taking Spanish classes twice a week and diving into ministry opportunities God has given me here. My little mind keeps asking, But God you're not going to make me wait 4 months, or worse 6 months to go to Africa...are you?? O me of little faith. God knows my heart and He knows deep down all I really desire is to be complete in Him. O I am starting to get it now God. It is not the location I am in but the location of my heart.

Lord, sweet father God, I only want to be with you. Amen.

Orphanage

Sat, 28 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Early Christmas list:
opportunities, the hope, bread, freedom, and jobs...for everyone.

Father, make me strong so I can endure much for Your kingdom.

MINISTRY AT THE ORPHANAGE:
We dropped off 4 1st year missionaries at the prison and then me, Kristin, Robbie, and Danielle headed to the orphanage. Most of the children are living in this orphanage because their parent(s) have been put in prison. The orphanage is a well run, warm, and tidy place. They have a large playground surrounded by a fence. There are a few lazy dogs and a cat. There is one small building that is the kitchen/dining area and a second building that is slightly larger where everyone sleeps. Their little rooms are filled from wall to wall with cute little kid bunk beds...every bed was made. All the kids had their own style and bit of influence on their bed. Some beds were pink and purple with stuffed animals. Some had 8 dolls and others had just one or two. There were also a few beds that looked plain and cold. If anyone wants to mail blankets or stuffed animals I'll be glad to ask the head "momma" if we could give blankets or stuffed animals to the children. [Just e-mail me if you want an address] Overall, the children seem very loved and happy.

When we got there "mom" was cooking in the kitchen cooking for her 20 children, so we said hello and quickly went to the playground to visit with the kids. As soon as I stepped on the playground I looked around and saw a sweet faced girl about 7 years old who got a huge grin on her face and came running for me. My eyes filled with tears because her smile was identical to my 7 year old nephew, Isaac. My favorite little man on earth. I couldn't help but compare little Leslie to my sweet natured Isaac. Leslie pulled me to the swings and in her best English accent said, "Push...please." So Danielle and I pushed a bunch of kids on the swings, played bato, bato, ganzo [duck, duck, goose] and then everyone played tag.
The bell rang and everyone went inside for dinner. Not speaking much Spanish I picked up a bible at the table and began reading in Spanish. I would say a sentence and the kids would say it back to me the way it was supposed to be said and laughing. My Spanish...well um...yea. So after a few poor attempts and having NO idea what I was reading little Leslie ran and got a Bible that had an English translation written next to the Spanish. So I flipped to the verse my dad used to read to me as a child when I got in trouble or had a bad attitude: 1 Cor 13. I read it in Spanish and they repeated it back to me the way it was supposed to be said...still laughing at me.

Then Leslie pulled out a pack of Skip-Bo cards, aww the key to my heart...a good game of Skip-Bo, but it turned out to be a Leslie wins, make up the rules as needed game which was okay by me.

I am praying for everyone in the States. I usually get a heavy heart for the churches in America on Sunday. Hope all is well and God is blessing you! Please let me know how God is working in each of your lives. It is encouraging to me. Much love, Ali

Mud and Coffee

Wed, 25 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

RAIN ON DIRT ROADS= MUD

and lots of it
It rained on Sunday so the roads are more like mud buckets. Everything is cold, wet, and muddy. Kristin and I, being World Racers, seem to be the only people in Mexico who do not have rain boots. And poor little Kristin's tennis shoes are needing repair so she had to wear her flip flops...which in wearing them I really mean carried them. The people who have been here a while laughed and comforted her saying the parasites would only last a few days. Joy.

FINALLY...A LATTE
The first year missionaries, who were here last semester as well, told Kristin and I how to catch a bus and how to get to the best coffee shops. So out we went with dreams of Latte's and good coffee.
We braved the cold weather and nasty roads for the sake of a bit of home. As the days pass I continually grow more compelled to write Mr. Starbuck to plead with him to consider opening a coffee shop here in Mexico. I crave and sometimes dream about my tall nonfat latte with a fresh blueberry scone. Woe is me, the spoiled paralegal. BUT Mr. Buck, if you happen to stumble across this web page, know that I would loyally support your interest if you opened a coffee shop here. In fact, I offer 10 hours a week of service for you, as unto the Lord I would work.

Anyways, so Kristin and I finally found the infamous Cafe Paris, which frankly looked like a waffle house on the inside. Ordering a latte is a whole other story when you don't speak the language of your waiter.
Apparently nonfat lattes are not in high demand here. And when Kristin ordered a taco with no meat the waiter almost fell to the ground. We are definitely strange to the locals. Even the first year missionary students have dubbed us "the vegetarians," like we have the plague. Not to say that I haven't eaten meat, I definitely remember eating pork at Mario's house the first week we were here. I just prefer not to eat it when there are other things offered. God is streatching my comfort zone. Yay.

We had a great day on Monday, and spent the day drinking coffee, snacking, riding buses, and walking in mud- praying against parasites for barefoot Kristin.

SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING:
Welll, I feel a little closer to God each day. I say that now because I just had wonderful praise and worship time with the FYM's. I love seeing them grow closer to God.

It's lunch time and I gotta run. I am going with a group to an orphanage today. I am soooo pumped to go play and love on some little kids. I'll take my camera. Thanks mom. The camera is awesome!

Love to all! Pray that I don't get home sick. I miss my family very much.
O. AND I make pizza from scratch now...yes the skills keep coming

Week two: Granhas

Sun, 22 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Rounding week two in Matamoros, Mexico:
Kristin and I have become cooks for the 1st year missionaries. They are trying to talk us into staying...and have even dubbed us with affectionate new names: Alice and Shequana [our kitchen lady names]
Granhas- the landfill
Kristin, Crystal, Naomi, Robbie, and I got to take food to the people in Granhas on Friday. Wow what an experience. I have posted lots of pictures for everyone to see. Little bitty Anna rode around on our backs while we walked through the area handing out bags of bread and praying for people. Robbie went with Kristin and I and translated for us. I wish we had been able to take a little more food and spend a lot more time in the community.
What does a little bread given once, really do?
In a word? nothing. The only thing I was able to truly give was my presence and an itty bit of love, just for a moment. It is the best I know to offer, and there is comfort in that. I pray that God is moving in a mighty way in that community. I know He is working through the stories I got to hear from families in the area. There is hope, joy, and color throughout the Granhas community.

Sunday:
We had church this morning and then set up camp at Bob's house to eat popcorn and M&M's while watching First Knight. Spanish subtitles.

I love Mexico and am happy to be here. I continue to make contacts in Africa and am happy to wait on God's timing. God is soo sweet to me.

BE STILL AND KNOW

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Where I am now and what was happening in my heart during week 1:
So here I am in Matamoras, Mexico. For the past few months I have been running crazy. I was focused on moving my stuff from SC to TN, quitting my job, tying up loose ends, saying goodbye to family and friends, and fighting serious spiritual warfare. I wanted to soak up every last minute with my friends and family and ended up spreading myself way too thin; not leaving much time for God. All last week I tried to hear from God and did not feel His peace in my heart [Colossians 3:15]. I spoke to several of the leaders and my friends about what was going on in my heart- as best as I could explain it. I was overwhelmed with sadness and not sure why. I was having a difficult time explaining to my team what was going on in my heart. I was tired and Africa was the only thing I could think about. By Saturday I realized I was homesick for a place I had never been, Sudan.
A little background to understand God's movement in my heart:
For the past 2 or 3 years the refugees from Sudan have been placed heavily on my heart. I am not much of an artist, but I began sketching faces of refugees that I found in articles from NYT or other news reports. It seemed to be the only way to express my heart's cry for them. Through the ups and downs of my walk I have never been released of my burden for this group of people. I have been praying for the past year for God to open up a mission opportunity. There were 2 or 3 specific occasions that I remember deciding that I was going to buy a plane ticket and go as close to Sudan as I could get. Like in 1 Samuel chapter 14 when Jonathan attacked the Philistines and in verse 6 he says "Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few." Jonathan acted on the basis that "perhaps" God would act in his behalf. Wow. What a testimony.
I want to go in total faith. Total faith is wisdom in my eyes. I do not want to boast in man but in God alone.
So God continually closed doors to Sudan and began opening doors to AIM and the World Race. So here I am.
God's movement the past few months:
I stumbled across the World Race application on the internet the day before the deadline to turn it in. It sounded awesome and totally my style. So I completed it and eventually ended up in New Orleans for orientation and acceptance into the race.
I began praying with my team in October once a week, every week. They knew my heart for Africa and that I was not sure if God was calling me straight to Africa or on the World Race. Loving me, they of course encouraged me to walk where God was opening doors and that was for the World Race. I am so thankful to have them in my life. I only hope I can bless them a fraction of the way they have blessed me in my walk.
Although I was walking in the direction for the World Race Mission Trip God was clearly telling me that I shouldn't write support letters and just trust Him. So I told several people that I was fund raising but did not write one request. And low and behold God laid it on someone's heart to provide the exact amount to get me to training and begin the trip!
So where does that leave me NOW?
Well, right now God has me in Matamoras, Mexico. YAY! I am able to rest and I am being rejuvenated by a wonderful group of 1st year missionaries who are living at the base. I have been spending my time praying/ jumping on the trampoline, helping where needed around the base, and praying on the roof of the church. I spent several hours just writing out prayers while lying in bed this morning. God is allowing me to rest in Him and refocus my gaze on Him. It is ironic how sometimes "doing in the name of God" actually can take my focus off of God. Sad. I'm soo sorry Father. But His mercy is new every morning and I celebrate in that.
I am emailing contacts in Africa and continue to just seek God on a daily basis. I think that's the whole point of this...I just need to seek Him and everything else will be just as He wants it to be.

Thanks for your prayers and support. The Blue team ROCKS! AND I LOVE THEM AND MISS THEM.

Week one in Mexico- Mario's home church

Thu, 12 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

I am done using bottled water to brush my teeth. I now use local sink water with no consequences thus far....kinda funny how easy it is to get comfortable after only a few days.

On Tuesday my group got to spend some time with a really powerful pastor named Mario. We went with him to bible study and saw Mario lead 3 people to Christ. Then that night we got to attend church in his home which consisted of about 15 adults and 10 children under the age of ten in Mario's basement. Wow- amazing praise and worship music. Then they fed us dinner- umm I think it was spicy pork on bread and cake soaked in peach rum. [I was soo humbled] They were so generous and welcoming to our group. Mario had spent the day cleaning Wal-Mart in exchange for food [breads, guavas, bannanas, apples, etc.]. Mario brings home huge trash bags filled with this stuff to feed his church and anyone who is hungry. Pretty amazing ministry.

I love hearing from everyone! Thanks for the encouragement. Gotta run.

O and yesterday we bought a van! Looks like we'll be driving to Porta Vera Cruz next week for the race portion. I think all 3 groups are driving this leg. I tried to talk my group into motorcycles, but we didn't have time to do that much research etc. hahaha, plus I would have to learn to drive one. Maybe I better rent a scooter before I attempt to drive a hog for 20 plus hours.

AND training is going well. Lots of stuff to get done- seems like a lot of info. crammed into one short week. Please pray I can absorb everything.

okay- mucho love [my high school Spanish classes have proved to be quite handy]
Ali

Matamoros, Mexico- Day 1

Sun, 8 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

YAY!!! I'm in Matamoros, Mexico. It feels strangely normal. Besides a little extra dust in the air and chickens at my feet I feel pretty much at home. Being able to feel at home pretty much anywhere I go must be a gift. Thank you Lord.

Sights, sounds, smells of the area:
The sun is shining and there is a strong breeze. It feels like I'm at the beach, well kind of. hmm..maybe not. I do like the area though and we are having fantastico weather [picking up a little Spanish as you see].
Sounds- there are roosters in the morning- early in the morning. There is a neighobor who played his musico just loud enough for me to enjoy it this morning during my reading time on the roof. The roof overlooks the small dirt village we are staying in. All of the houses seem to be connected by clothing lines and it is all slightly romantic to me.
Not many smells to speak of...hahaha. ;) Hope to keep it that way.

Surprises so far:
#1 WE HAVE BEDS! Wow, bunk beds actually.
#2 PB&J sandwiches for dinner. I was preparing myself for eating meat or anything that was put in front of me and much to my dismay, but slight joy, they served us my favorite childhood meal.
#3 There is a trampoline in the backyard of our host's house...my favorite childhood toy- next to my little ponies.

Adios mi amigos and amigas