Me Di Cuenta Algo :)

Honestly I could sit here once again and write forever about my life right now. Its amazing and God is blessing me constantly. I am amazed by him daily.

Recently I got to go to the Circus in Mexico. Yes lets just say it was an AMAZING experience! Belen (britton) and I got to go last sunday night. The tickets were 125 pesos which is less than 10 dollars...and we sat in the front row! YES I SAT IN THE FRONT ROW AT A CIRCUS IN MEXICO! Not to mention it was my first circus to ever go to! so that made it that much better!! I got chosen to be part of an act. I WAS REALLY NERVOUS! So one of the guys pulled me into the middle and then saddled me up. I was the second person to go but basically the goal was to jump of the horse and then try and stand up. There is a video and I will be sure to post it on here. ALL yes EVERYTHING they did was part of the act! It was so much fun though! There were 3 different people that were choosen and all had the same task. However...the circus people did different funny things to the 3. At the end of the circus...after I thought everything was over with...they ask us to stand up. So we did. Then by cheering the audience had to choose who they wanted to win....I WON! haha and won 2 free VIP passes to go again! However...the next day was the last day of the circus...but Belen and I decided to go again! It was awesome! jaja and enjoy the video! Hope it makes your day!

I also wanted to let yall know that I did ask my sister to go to church with me. AND she said YES! I was so excited but then sunday came around and she was not feeling well at all. At first I was really confused and just frustrated...not with her and not with God..I guess just was really looking forward to her coming to church. However when I went to church we read Eph. 2:7-10 and in the message it reads "Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. Its Gods gift from start to finish! We dont play the major role. If we did wed probably go around bragging that wed done the saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing." This immediatly reminded me that God is in control! And that everything is under his control! Now though I have no fear in asking her to go with me again!

However something that I realized a couple days ago while I was talking to my love and amazing friend Samantha. We started talking about just my time spent here and how fast life flies by. Then I dont remember how we got on the subject, but we started talking about Churches. As most of you know one of my biggest fears was having to change churches and leaving the Yard and Chase Oaks Church. This church has been a part of my life since I was born and means a lot to me. That was one of the hardest things I had to go through. I also kept thinking about when I go off to college and trying to get involved in a new church and just how hard it was going to be for me. However, I have started to realize something as I have been here. Well I have realized a lot of things but one in particular and that is my church. The first weekend I was here I went to church...not knowing anyone and just hopped in the car of one of my teachers, who I just met at that time. I was scared for a couple different obvious reasons. However, the people were so loving and welcoming! I felt welcomed and loved right when I walked even, even though my spanish was iffy. The church was really small compared to Chase Oaks. When we started worship though...I recognized so many songs that we sing at Chase Oaks and songs that I know. I felt Gods arms just wrapping over me. This church is very special to me. Basically everything that I worried about was quickly forgotten with my new church. I love going their on Sundays and seeing everyones face and just the smiles and excitement that everyone has. I also love attending the youth group on Saturdays! Everything is so much fun!

I realized that its not the "church" or the "building" but its about God and when He is being worshiped, it is all that matters. No matter where I go I will meet new people, friends, and churches. I realized that it is possible to find other churches...yes they might be compeltley different but everyone is there for the same purpose, and that is to worship God. Therefore, no matter the size, look, people, the way church is done...God is There and God is being Worshiped.

I honestly am not sure if I would have realized this if I had not come here. I have a different perspective on things and still stand here amazed at what God has done in my life. Gracias a Dios que estoy aqui ahora. :) Le extrano mi familia, amigas, y todo pero yo se que estoy aqui por una razon y por Cristo.

I love you guys ALOT!

Here is the video of me at the circus if you would like to see it.....

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=180588229852&subj=618732952#

God Spoke to Me

Once again sorry I havent updated in awhile....I have been lazy. I will try my best to keep updating. I did want to mention that I was blessed to be able to see the Maulis Family two weeks ago. Most of you know that I went to Batopilas last summer for my mission trip. This family was the family we actually helped while we were there to build a church floor. They are a BEAUTIFUL family and I honestly thought after last year that I would never see them again because getting to Batopilas isnt exactly the easiest thing....God once again amazed me and showed me his power by allowing me to see the whole family again. I see Luis everyday because he works in the school, but I finally got to see Mickey, Flor, and Victoria.

I have really been enjoying my life here. Yes a lot of it is very different than in the states, but at the same time a lot is the same. The things that are different are things that I really enjoy. Life is simple. A typical week, I wake up and walk with my mom in the mornings, eat an AMAZING breakfast, go to school to learn some espanol, take a 3 hour break where once again I eat an AMAZING lunch talk with my family and take a nap, head back to school to learn some more espanol and then basically every night is something different. These past two months there have been free concerts almost every night! The concerts are really fun and actually really popular people! Streets shut down and car park wherever they want! I love it here! Then they are all the little "puestos" which is basically really cheap good food! As students we love to go out! Then some nights its salsa dancing with my sister and others going to the movies and others just spending time with my family.

I have been blessed with an amazing family here who treats me as their daughter. They call mi corazon or heart which is translated weird but here its is someone special. I feel loved and a part of the family. I am not just somone living in the house. Every time I meet someone knew my mom introduces me as the child they have adopted for 4 months to live with them. I just smile every time I hear that. They are amazing. I am blessed. They surpised me the other night and took me to one of the concerts without telling me and then afterwards we went and ate tripas which are basically cow intestines or cow guts. I know I know sounds discusting and trust me I thought it would be...but they are really cooked and crispy and just looks like regular meat, and you eat it like a taco. I usually dont like strange foods but I must admit I LOVE IT :) If you ever get the chance....face your fears and try it! You wont regret it!

Now to my story about how God really spoke to me this past week. Thursday night I read Sara Garza's entry in my journal that my mommy gave me. It was really good to here from here, but most importantly it was exactly what I needed to here. After reading her entry there was one line that stuck out. "Rember this is not only an oppoutunity to go live in Mexico and learn Spanish...but this is an opportunity to bring Jesus to people that dont know Him. Maybe thats even the reason He is putting you there-Remember you purpose of being there!" Immediatly I thought of the family I am living with because they are not Christians...they are Cathloics. Yesterday in class I got to talk with my teacher a lot about Cathloicism because I knew that it was very different here than in the states, but boy was I shocked.

Basically they believe that "La Virgin de Guadalupe" or the mother of Jesus is more important that Jesus. Also there are 1000 of different saints that they pray to or ask for help from. All their prayers are recited and from different books or things. They believe the way to Heaven is by good works, which the bible clearly states otherwise. They believe the way to talk to God is through the saints or "la Virgin de Guadalupe" and that you cant talk to Jesus to get to God. I was very shocked about this because before I honestly didnt really understand much about this religion here just knew it was very different. Also every time someone speaks all they do is read from a piece of paper or book. It is never actually being preached....just read. Pray for Mexico and the people here who have a skewed view of God and who Jesus is. "You're the Light in this darkness...You're the Hope to the Hopeless...You're the Peace to the restless...Your the God of this City...Better things have yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this City." I lift Chihuhahua up to you God.

I am not sure if my family here are very strong Catholics because I have never seen my mom go to church but there are things they say and things around my house that show that they are. Here in Chihuahua the majority are Catholics and if your not anything...you just say you are Catholic. However I have seen this as a huge opportunity to share my faith with my family. There have been a couple of times where they ask me questions and I answer them with the spanish I know. I have been able to talk to them about what I learned in Church and things like that. After I read Sara's entry I knew that God was pushing me and challenging me to go further. I would love to invite my older sister to CHurch one sunday. I ask for continued prayer to push myself and for God to continue to push me. Pray along with me for the salvation of my family. Since I have read this entry I have really been pushed and have reached out more and prayed more for my family. I just ask for help in this.

I was reminded I may not every see a change in my family. I may never be able to witness the work God has used me for. But I have faith in God that he will use me just how he wants me and will continue to put people in their lives to show them who God is and what Christianity is. I just want to be a seed for God and I have no doubt he will use me and that is why I am here. Once again just pray for my strength and the salvation of my family.

We all need a little reminder from God sometimes because we can get so caught up in the routine. God spoke to me and in the past week I have already seen a change in me and the way I pray for my family and for my strength to be a light! God is GREAT! ALL THE TIME! No matter where we are at!

Love you guys very much!