¡No te vayas!

Alas the time has come. 

I must admit, it was very strange picking up all my belongings and cleaning (although cleaning is always strange for me) my house in Mexico so that I could return to my other home.

Yes. I can say that I have a house in Mexico. 

Our last day in Mexico was just beautiful. We had a final intern meeting to discuss any changes that the leaders could include for the next round of interns and so on. Then Marisa and I cried. 

Then we went home and finished packing and the family almost cried. They kept saying, "¡No te vayas!" (Don't go) and I had to keep explaining that I have family or something back in the United States to go home to.

Then we ate a final CARNE ASADA (kinda like a barbeque minus the BBQ sauce... and y

ummier). Our Spanish tutors Montse, Nadia, and Celene came as well as Sam, Ann, their girls and of COURSE the wonderful Sara. We ate so much I wanted to cry. 

My teacher Montse

After the Carne, we hung out for a while and then left the house. Morelia prayed a beautiful blessing over Marisa and I (I wish I could describe how amazing this woman is) and we cried.

We went to Sara's house, watched the taped Opening Ceremonies of the OLYMPICS and it was so cool I wanted to cry...but didn't (please, I'm stronger than that). 

Needless to say, there was a lot of crying. But even after a day that like, I feel even more blessed to remember the experience as a whole, for it was one that I will not forget. 

The things that I learned in Mexico:

1. Everyone wants to feed you.

2. Everyone wants to talk about the US elections 

(if they are over 20) or the Jonas brothers (if they are girls under 12).

3. Building/construction isn't necessarily done correctly the first time, but everything is done so that it is it's own and not a copy of something else.

4. I'm a güera.

5. The time difference between Mexico and Texas is about half an hour (Sara told me this one:)

6. Mexicans are proud of their country. For the most part, they do not want to be anything else than what they are. If family members come to the states, they are respected because they are leaving what they love and what they know to help those they are leaving behind. It is a humble  and difficult SACRIFICE to make. 

7. Morelia has fireworks in the Centro every Saturday night. 

8. Mexicans are crazy about jello and I don't think I will ever know why.

9. A combis is a public transportation system that I think everyone should experience.

10. Mexican people are beautiful. 

Morelia, Miguel, Marisa and I

Ok, I knew that last one but it's just so true. 

I learned SO much more than what I can share on this blog, and I would be so happy to share it with you. I appreciate your prayers and support for my experience. 

I assure you it has changed me.

I would love to keep writing, but I am in the airport and am stressing a little about missing my flight. So, hopefully I can write one more later and see you all soon to catch up and thank you in person!

Vaya con Dios,

Emily 

I'm getting a tattoo of a dinosaur

I noticed that I got a lot of response from my last post because I mentioned a nose piercing. I enjoy getting feedback and therefore titled this post with that idea in mind.

Well it's almost been a week since I reported our activities and so here it is...

Thursday, Marisa and I went to Ann's house for a bible study. Ann is married to Sam (the preacher) and is part of the original Team Mexico. Then we hung out at her house for a while playing with their four girls and then headed off to tutoring. My tutor told me that I had an exam later in the week....yikes. Then Marisa went to cell group (I go next week) and I walked to Sara's house so I could call the family and use the internet.

Friday, Marisa and I went to tutoring, headed home for lunch, created a kids lesson for the cell groups and headed down to the youth cell group. Honestly, I was a little nervous because Sara wasn't there (she was at the beach with her family) and I thought it would be awkward. I was wrong. Alex (a fellow intern) led the group and the kids responded really well. When I say 'kids', I'm talking about people from high school age to 25. So really, I should find a better word than kids...because some of them are older than me. We discussed what we thought God looked like and got some really interesting and beautiful answers. Then we ate cake because it was one of the youth's birthday.

Saturday was Sara's birthday. We went to a leader meeting then to Ann's house to prepare for the "surprise party" that Sara knew about. The party started around 4ish and it was SO FUN. We ate Tinga (a delicious meat), 2 kinds of cake, and fruit dipped in a chocolate fountain. Yum. Then we played Spoons and chatted for a long time. Afterwards, Morelia took us home and we watched "La Misma Luna" with her- it is such a good movie and Morelia liked it too.

This picture shows a great Mexican tradition. When it is someone's birthday, you sing to them and then chant, "mordida" (bite) and then they bite the cake. Well when they bite it, usually someone pushes their face in the cake. It's not surprise that Jeovel (the cheater at Spoons) pushed Sara's face into the cake. He said that he was trying to defend her and then we showed him this picture and he had nothing to say. :)



Sunday was a very restful day. We went to church, hung out with the family, rested at home, and then hung out with Sara and her family.

Monday was our day off and Marisa and I went to the market to get some stuff for the family and then to Cinépolis (the movie theatre....because we are addicted to VIP) and saw Journey to the Center of the Earth. I'm not ashamed to say I just loved it. We then went to Sara's house and hung out until tacos with the gringos.

Today, is also pretty restful because Marisa is sick. I refuse to believe it was the tacos because no one else is sick and they are too yummy for that.

I hope this wasn't too boring!
The final days of our stay here are approaching as we only have 11 left. It's a strange feeling because we are trying to be all here and at the same time prepare ourselves and our minds for our return to the states. It's hard not to think off all the obligations we have when we get home.

Speaking of which, If you or someone you know is interested in booking Seekers of the Word Drama Ministry from ACU this fall, please e-mail me at enj06a@acu.edu :) you can go to this website to check us out!

http://youtube.com/seekersoftheword

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFGA6EJmkaQ

Thanks for reading, sorry it's INSANELY long, but I really do appreciate it! I hope to blog at least one more time while I'm here.

Hasta Luego
Emilia

Woah there Little Donkey.

I've been studying Spanish for a long time. In fact, I remember, in elementary school, learning all about how to carry on a very surface level conversation of "Hello. How are you? How old are you? Where's the bathroom?"
I knew that Spanish speakers put "ito" or "ita" at the end of a word to say that it is little or as a term of endearment.
I knew the word burro means donkey.

However, whenever I thought of the word "burrito", it never occurred to me that the literal translation was "little donkey". I just envisioned lunch. And now I feel dumb and a little gross.

That was my attention getter. :) Did you enjoy it?

Beth (one of the interns) left on Sunday morning to go back to the states and enjoy a family reunion in Michigan. This is ironic because the state we are in is called Michoacán meaning land of lakes. Michigan means land of lakes.
Do wonders ever cease?

Well, Beth was the intern who was very good at blogging and telling her readers exactly what we did everyday. Marisa and I prefer big picture blogs (so sorry), and so now I realize that I have to tell you what it is we do in Mexico.

Here it is (well the most recent):
Two days ago (Monday), Marisa and I went over to a neighbor's house to eat breakfast. The mom is named Bety and she does a good job of speaking slowly and clearly to us (which makes her one of my favorites). She has three children, but we only knew two of them before going to their house. Bety wanted us to say goodbye to her beautiful daughters because they are going on vacation and won't return until after we leave. Sofía and Ana are the names of the girls and they gave us parting gifts: a necklace made of what looks like seeds, and a toy elephant that collapses at the push of a button. I don't think they are symbolic, but if they are, I would appreciate your prayers. :)

<- The famous aqueduct downtown.

This was our day off and so we headed down to the centro and got coffee and wrote postcards—which may or may not arrive before I get home. Then we went to see BATMAN at the VIP theatre. I loved Batman, almost as much as I love the VIP theatre. Therefore, it was a great day off.
We later hung out with Montse (one of my 'sisters') and ate tacos. As usual, they were delicious.

On Tuesday, Marisa and I hung out with Fernanda (another 'sister' of ours) by playing Barbies and taking turns hiding each others stuff. We went to Morelia's cell group at night where we met a woman named Angelica (I think). Angelica was very interested in how Marisa and I stay away from the night scene and bars. She told us that she has two kids that she worries about quite often. I told her of all you wonderful people. I told here I have found strong friends and made stable relationships with fellow Christians and that you all have kept me accountable. She thought that you all are pretty great...so do I.

Today we went to a prayer meeting. Sara's sister (Shelly) and her husband and children are here too. The kids are adorable and Shelly is wonderful, just like Sara...and I'm not just saying that because I know they read my blogs...as well as their mother. Hello Mrs. Holland. :) I didn't get a chance to meet Shelly's husband, but I will when they return from the beach—where they went today... without us.


Us and our tutors: Montse, Nadia, and Celene






I haven't been able to post for a while because the internet has been down.
There have been some days where I just look at the Mexican person talking to me and wonder why they are speaking Spanish to me.
But there are days that I LOVE and realize that I can understand a lot more than I thought I could.

I have learned so much about myself and about what I might want to do in my approaching future.
I also told my parents that I might want a nose piercing....that was fun. :)

Hasta luego
Emili (how the kids spell my name)

On a different note

I have discovered that trying to keep a blog while in living in another country and keeping those at home informed about what I am doing, is like trying to empty a boat that is leaking tons of water with your hands. 

More and more keeps coming in, but there is only so much I can get out. 

Here is my attempt:

Two weekends ago, my fellow interns, Sara and I went to the beach for a "Intern Retreat". The expected drive out there was only supposed to take about 3 hours, but because of rain, groceries shopping, tr

affic, and five people and all of their stuff packed in a little Honda, it took about 4-5 hours for us to finally 

reach the house. That's a long time to be in a little car.

We had SO much fun at the beach, even though the first night there was a HUGE storm that caused the hous

e to lose electricity. It was creepy because we were in a ginormous house without a way of turning on the lights. Yikes.

The next day however, the storm was gone but there were still a few clouds. I forgot that even when there are huge clouds, you still need to put on just as much sun screen. 

I got fried. If you want a good mental picture of how I looked, imagine my face on a red tomato. 

It was rough.

Since our beach adventure, we have played more cards with the Guinto family, attended more cell group meetings, hung out with our teachers in the centro, gone to the mercado, and met 

various members of Richland Hills Church of Christ and friends. 

Last weekend, Rick and Jamie Atchely (the preacher and his wife from Richland Hills Church of Christ- the sponsoring church of Río de Vida) came down. Rick preached Sunday at Río de Vida and another Christian church, Filodelfía. He is an amazing 

speaker. 

In the morning, he preached about how Paul in the New Testament refers to the church members as "saints". He then made a strong argument about how anyone and everyone who believes in Christ has been called a "saint". 

That's you and me. 

This was especially meaningful because in the Latin America culture, Catholicism is overwhelmingly dominant. Rick pointed out that in this culture, there is a different connotation to the word "saint" that what it really means in our faith. 

He then preached about our identity in Christ. He mentioned that once God changes our name, he never refers back to our old names (for example 

Abram to Abraham). In Christ, we have a new identity. Just see 2nd Corinthians 5:17. 

THEN, he gave the best example of this ever. He referred to another idea that Mexicans and Latin Americans in general can understand. He discussed Don Quijote.

Don Quijote was a man who was a little crazy. He thought he was a knight when he was really just an average guy, he fought things that weren't there, and he met a prostitute and acted as if she were a real lady. In fact, he referred to her as "Dulcinea" (the sweet one). Well, by the end of the story, Don Quijote is dying and Dulcinea is there at his side. He finally takes his last breath and from then on, the prostitute no longer refers to her old name. Because she has encountered love, she realizes that she is new and she has power in the love that she found. She is forevermore Dulcinea. Her identity has been changed through the understanding of love.

That's us.

Maybe it's not as powerful in writing as it was in real life, but I thought it was really cool. It was also really fun watching Rick speak and then Sam translate right after, they kinda got into this rhythm that looked as if they were almost dancing with each other. Very funny. 

This is long, and it maybe a little boring, but I hope to add more later this week!

hasta luego

Emily

I think a 14-year-old asked me on a date...and I think I accidently said yes...

I am reminded on a daily basis just how little Spanish I know. When I walk away from a conversation thinking that we were talking about a band called Camila when really we were talking about cinnamon, I see just how true this realization is.

Last Thursday, I was at a Let's Start Talking party. It was a blast. We ate pozole (YUM), danced (the cotton-eye joe...), sang, talked, and watched as people received diplomas for finishing their English class. 

I was talking with a 14-year-old boy named Alejandro. He was asking about the youth cell group and when the next one was gonna be. 

Here's the problem...he talks really fast. There was also music and chaos all around, so this cannot be all my fault. 

Anyway, he said something about pizza after the next cell group. He then said, "I'm buying." Well, I didn't really know what he was saying (did I mention that he talked fast?). All of a sudden he left to go play with the other kids and it dawned on me that he probably just asked me on a date.

Whoopsies.

Welp, I'll let you know how that goes later, if that's what happened, that is. 

I think it will be on Friday. Maybe his mom will take pictures of us or see us off on his bike. :)

Romantic relationships here are much different than those in the United States. 

For one thing, you are considered 'young' until you are married. 

Also, after about a week here, I noticed that there are many people, who I know are married, who do not wear wedding rings. 

Sara explained to me that wedding rings are not as big of a deal here as they are back home. She said that mostly the upper-class wear them. 

Sara also said that for a few generations now, women have grown accustomed to a saying similar to, "Your husband is your husband when he is at home with you. He is not necessarily married to you when he is out and about." Obviously I'm paraphrasing, but the general idea is the same. 

That one is for you my feminist friends, Mackenzie and Jenny. Chew on that one for a while. :) 

The last major relationship-based difference I noticed is that there is no such thing as P.D.A. rules. There are couples left and right, embracing each other as if no one else is around. And I mean, these couples aren't just young. They are all ages, all shapes and sizes. These people wouldn't care if the whole world could see them.

Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it even makes me feel uncomfortable (which can be somewhat difficult). 

I know that I am in a neighboring country. It's just a reminder that I am so close to home, but worlds away in culture and customs. 

Good Morning, Cheater.

It is Tuesday of week three and we are finally feeling like we are now a part of Mexico.

A family of the church, the Guinto family, recently moved into a house right next to where Sara lives. 

Jeovel Guinto (pronouced "hey-oh-veyl) turned 6 on Saturday, and he invited us to his birthday party. 

We finally have friends here that want to hang out with us... even though they are under the age of ten... 

Birthday parties here are very different than the ones in the states. For one thing, it was a party for a little boy, but all the kids stayed in the kitchen while all the adults were i

n the living and dining room. 

It was in honor of the boy, but it was probably more fun for the adults.

Most of the people there were family members (making us feel very awkward and confused when we first arrived, especially because most of them are named after each other).

After a few hours, people started to leave but we were invited to play cards with the family there. 

Spoons was the game, and I was very excited because—not to brag, but I'm kinda a big deal at Spoons.

But I did not win.

Not even once. 

But this is only partly because I wasn't having luck. The other part to this was that EVERY SINGLE family member (and I mean every single one: Davíd, Nestor, Jeovel Sr., and Jeovel Sr. Sr. —the older grandfather of the birthday boy) CHEATED. 

Every time 

we dealt the cards, we made them stand up and turn around and reveal their strategy of cheating. Almost every time, we would find spoons stuffed in their pockets, cards tucked in their sleeves, or entire hands of four of the same number on their chair. 

Nestor, who sat next to me, tried to frame me NUMEROUS times by stealing a spoon, asking where it was, and then when I wasn't looking, stick it right in front of me. 

It got to the point where Jeovel Sr.  got a watergun and sprayed his family members with water when they cheated, even though he himself cheated. 

Spoons were bent, water was thrown, but we all went away with a smile and a feeling of belonging. 

It was SO much fun.

Since then, we have gone to tutoring, planned kids cell group lessons, saw a dance of the viejitos at an AWESOME restaurant Sara took us to, had coffee with two youth members (Amy and Larisa), been recognized by a Mexican woman from a Let's Start Talking party on the street and had a mini chat (that was exciting), served breakfast at a 6th grade graduation, and so much more.

On Sunday, our church (Río de Vida) met at another Christian church here called Filodelfia. Sam preached an awesome message about unity, a woman thought that I was Sam's wife (HA!), and we were greeted by the grandfather of the Guinto family with, "Buenas dias, tramposa."(Good morning cheater).

I later came up with a comeback, "Buenas dias, mentiroso" (Good morning liar), but it was too late... That happens to me a lot.

More to come!

Hasta luego

Emily

There are two sides to the cone.

I hope you enjoy the title of this post. 

It turns out I have a hard time speaking in English as well as Spanish.

This is something I told Marisa while trying to tell her that there are always at least two ways of looking at things.

I tried saying that "there are always two sides to one coin" but instead 'cone' came out.

I'm learning that with Marisa, I can't ever live mistakes down. :)

So much has happened since the last time I blogged, but I will try to include all the important and interesting parts.

For starters, the preacher (Sam) and his wife (Anita) had their fourth child last Tuesday. 

They had their fourth girl. If you would like to pray for their sanity (especially Sam's) I'm sure they would be grateful.

Isabella

 Joy was born July 17 at around 10:40ish PM.

She is a tiny bundle of precious joy and high-pitched screams.

Over the past week or so, Marisa Beth and I have participated in the cell group that Morelia began with a few neighbor friends. I just can't get enough of this woman. She is absolutely amazing. 

She has this wonderful ability to encourage everyone around her without having to put herself down or make herself become less.

She has the joy of the Lord and has a stunning desire to share it with everyone. 

A few days ago, Morelia was telling Marisa and I about her favorite birthday memory. She said it was a surprise party for her that happened 3 years ago. 

All her family was there and she didn't have to cook or prepare anything for it. She was almost in tears when she told us how much it meant to her that EVERY member of her family was there. 

For her. When she didn't even ask them to.

Maybe it's because I just met this woman, or maybe it's because I had to translate everything she said in my head, but for some reason this anecdote made me realize how many things I take for granted. 

And she is

 teaching me more all the time.

Above is an 'action shot' of Morelia at her Tai Chi exposition.

On a different note, there are a few fun things I have done over the past few days with the girls. We hung out with the youth of the church by having a scavenger hunt downtown- my team totally won.

We also went to Huandacareo for "water park" fun. 

On our day off, Sara and Montse got their belly buttons pierced, and we went to a VIP movie theatre.

Before I go, let 

me explain this wonderful concept and then maybe one of you can explain to me why I've never heard of this. 

The VIP movie theatre is a theatre filled with recliner chairs with armrests and trays attached to each chair. There are menus you can glance over before your WAITER comes and takes your order so he can deliver your meal.

Please.

Maybe I'll come home if we get some of these.

Okay, I promise I hope to blog soon, maybe tomorrow. 

If not, the other girls have blogs too, check them out!

Marisa's blog is http://muchomunoz.blogspot.com

Beth's is http://lovecoloredglasses.blogspot.com

¡Hasta luego!

Emily