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!
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