Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Prayer Request

On saturday we have a team coming from fort worth texas coming and bringing street teens from Acapulco. Please pray for their safety and that our ministry will be effective with these teens. We are also helping with the language barrier. Pray for my spanish. :) Thanks so much.

Week of Recovery


During the last two weeks the interns have definitely felt the exhaustions of our bodies. Almost every single one of us has been sick, either stomach or cold, but thankfully we haven’t had a team so we have been able to move at a slower pace and let our bodies rest. Not only have we been able to physically recovery but also able to refocus and spend large amounts of time in the word and prayer as a group. This past week with the kids from Tejaban we taught in ESL words associated with religion, mainly Christianity. Up until this point the gospel has not been shared as much as we would have hoped so as a group we decided it was our time to do so. After spending almost 4 hours preparing the lesson, making sure we covered enough material so they understood but did make it too complicated, because there are some topics of the Christian faith that are VERY complicated. We wrote down verses to share with them, in both Spanish and English, hoping they would understand what Christ did on the grace. We shared verses about faith, grace, and the gift of eternal life. We struggled at with having too many verses and not wanting the kids to fill overwhelmed. We also were going to open the camp back up later that night for a movie night with the kids cause they loved it when one of the teams did that. Well 4:15 rolls around and some of the older girls come into camp, then 4:20, then 4:30 (when we normally start) we have about 5 kids, 4 girls 1 boy. We decided to go ahead and start and if more decide to come then great. More kids did show up, but no kid had the intention of learning English. We had papers being thrown everywhere; a snakehead was pulled out at one point. After attempting to teach them the lesson we finally let them go play. Feeling discouraged we all went outside hoping playing would help, it didn’t. Basketballs and soccer balls were being thrown over the fence to be “borrowed”, another child throw a basketball at a sick bird trying to kill it, only for him to be escorted out of camp. Once all the kids left camp, we were very discouraged. We could sense the doings of Satan. There is always some type of opposite when the gospel is presented and I fully believe that now. We gathered around for a time of prayer. Tried to move on and get ready for the movie night. We set up the projector and sound system. I sat looking around camp and see the interns spread out around camp with Bibles in hands and head bowed. It was an awesome picture to see that we are frustrated and discouraged we turned to Him who is in control. He holds those Tejaban kids. We had no control over their salvation, we can present the gospel but that is all. He is the one who waters the seed NOT US. After spending some time in the word and prayer, we get ready for kids to come for movie night. Our spirits are lifted a little. 7:00 rolls around…then 7:15…7:30…at 7:45 we clean up the movie stuff and come to terms with the fact that no kids are coming. We tell ourselves the reason they couldn’t come is because they had homework and graduation from primary school was the next day. So we played cards instead, it always puts us in a better mood. I don’t tell you this story because I want you to feel sorry for us. I tell you this story so that you will get on your knees for these kids. Even though the frustrate us we love them to death and want to see them in Heaven. We are at the point now where all we can do is pray and love them. This has been yet again another learning experience for us. Continue to learn that we don’t have the power to save; we have the power of prayer.  I am grateful for all of your prayers for these children, keep them coming. Lets flood the throne with prayers for these kids’ salvation. 

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Surprises


There have been many things this week that have come as surprises.  This week started on Friday when the team from Nashville left. Maggie and Alex head to Acapulco for the week. Depressed and sadden we headed into GTO. Surprise number one was food poisoning my body experienced Friday morning. Along with food poisoning, there was some serious sleep depravation, seeing how I went to bed at 3:30 am and then woke up at 5 am to say good-bye to Emily and Sam, then went back to bed before getting sick around 6:30 and then again at 8. To say the least it was an interesting day. After doing some things in GTO I was exhausted and felt terrible. Mary Frances, Kaitlin and I headed back to camp where I fell into bed at 6 pm praying I would not wake up in the middle of the night sick. Thankfully I was woken up the next morning at 8:30 am having not woken up once through the night! God is good. We had a meeting with David where told us that we would not be alone this week. A family from Atlanta was coming through the Mexico and is looking at doing long-term missions in GTO, so we gladly opened the doors of the camp. Anyone who is willing to commit to being in the city long-term is more then welcome. After cleaning up camp somewhat we headed to Léon for English club. At the mall Monica got her ears pieced while Tori got her nose pieced (and yes I obeyed parents. Nothing is pieced). While trying to get to the church we got onto the wrong bus and ended up getting to the church 30 mins late. Thankfully this church is forgiving and gracious, they had not left yet! After we had church on Sunday we invited our friends from Léon over an afternoon at the camp, to play games and continues the relationships we are building. We thought maybe 20 would come. Kaitlin counted and there were 34! And they brought food! ¡Pollo Feliz! (Happy chicken!) Sooooo good! We had a great afternoon. By the end of Sunday I had slept 27 hours in a span of 48. Talk about self-depraved. Monday we went to celebrate Fourth of July in San Miguel…a very American city. It was a good day. Great bonding and shopping with my friends. This week we start back with our ESL classes with the village kids. This has been a great week full of new adventures. Not having a team reminds me how grateful I am for the 5 other interns I am serving with. We have so much fun together. We can go from goofing off in the kitchen to talking about our faith. I am blessed to call these girls my friends. God is truly working in each of our hearts to kit us closer together while drawing us to him.

Prayer Request:
-Family that is considering missions in Mexico (hopefully GTO)
-Rest and health for the interns
-Relationships being built for the kingdom
-Doors open for conversations about the gospel. 

Friday, July 1, 2011


The craziness of teams has come to a close for now. These past two weeks have been great. Crazy and lots of fun. Teams are learning experiences. I have loved being on other side of a team. We had the opportunity to work with the team on building sidewalks and this team knows how to have fun while working. There was always music playing and jokes were flying. We were always laughing. When the kids came in the afternoon everyday we watched the kids’ hearts soften and play with kindness. Almost everyday I got to play soccer, the solo gringa. Ha. The kids LOVED all the crafts. The team had brought these face crayons. Hit of the week. The kids also love all the foam stickers and the hair and nail station.
Prayer Points:
-Pray for rest and relaxation in our off week.
-Pray for the kids in Tejaban and that their hearts will be change and challenged from the teams.
-Continue to pray for our two English Clubs. Relationships are growing and people are starting to ask more questions about our faith.

Since pictures express more words here are some pictures. ENJOY!

                                                                     Monse and I.

Kaitilin and I getting ready for the kids. 

Construction Team on the roof. 

Warren with some kids. 

Marian. Always smiling. 

Nasheville Team

Interns with UNCLE 

My Bed. 

Green Raincoats. 

Guanajauto. 

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Work Crew week 1

Hello my faithful followers. I am sorry that I am not able to post as often as I would like too, but that is life on the mission field. This week has been wonderful. Our first team from Jacksonville, Florida came and they are LEGIT. I am obsessed with them. They are solid kids who are running to their Savior. Their love for our Savior is incredible; their love for the kids is awesome to watch. They do construction with smiles on their faces. It makes the work go by faster when you are laughing and having great conversations. I have gotten to know two girls Sarah and Bailey really well. They will both be seniors in the fall and they are madly in love with Jesus. It is such an encouragement to see high school students following our Savior. Both of them have been on THE BRAIDED SISTERS work crew. We have been responsible for making sand, yes I said making. First we had to build the sifter, without instructions. It was quiet an experience. Without us the team would not be able to make cement. We are very proud of ourselves. Having a team here has been a humbling experience remembering that we are here to serve not to be served. Just as Jesus came to serve He has called us to serve. Before the team came we have been serving but in a very different way. Before we were working with the kids but now it is our job to make sure the team has what they need to play and work with the village kids. The first day the kids came it was a very new experience having 40 other people wanting the attention of “our” kids. My first reaction was selfish, and then I heard a voice inside say “it’s not about you”. Man, talking about humbling, so many times I get the attitude it is all about me but in no way is that the case. It is all about HIM. On Tuesday of this week the team showed “The Jesus Film: For Kids” in Spanish. We invited all the village kids to come back and watch it. Not at many came as we had hope but the ones that did come eyes were glued to the screen. Tonight the team is inviting the village kids back along with their parents. If the parents come we are going to watch the adult version in Spanish. Pray that the gospel is received and people in the village turn to our Savior for eternal life. This weekend a team from Nashville, TN (Alexis I wish you were coming with them) and a local church are coming. The local church is coming for a youth retreat with the youth from Jacksonville. This weekend we will have close to 100 people on camp. It is going to be exciting. God is really working in the hearts of people we have become friends with. Victoria (an intern) shared the gospel last night for 3 hours with a man from our GTO English club. Pray that this man is brought to faith. I am extremely grateful for your prayers. I continue to learn the power of pray and how important it is to be constantly in prayer.



The team from Jacksonville in front of Cristo Rey. 

The BRAIDED SISTERS: Bailey left, Sarah right. 


Okay recap on Prayer:
-Gospel being present to the village.
-Man from GTO English club continues to ask questions and learn more about a relationship with Christ. 
-Strength for interns as teams come and leave.  
-Staying constant prayer for the people of Mexico and their NEED for a Jesus.

You can call me an Oslen twin

Sunday June 12, 2011 was the day being a gringa paid off. The team decided we needed a team-building day and to try out the water park that is close by called SPLASH. We started the day like any other Sunday, worship and breakfast. The best day of our lives was still to come. We got to SPLASH and sat our stuff down and immediately went to find the slides. We ran up the stairs to take our first ride on a slide. After that first ride I knew it was going to be a good day. We played like kids all morning in the wave pools, water slides and swimming. After lunch we went to explore the dolphin show. Monica, Maggie and Mary Frances wanted to swim with the dolphins, they signed up and paid. After the show they would get to live their dream. The six interns stayed to watch the dolphin show while Maggie went to find Alex and David. I LOVED the dolphin show. Dolphins are INCREDIBLE animals, so talented and smart. At one point during the show the MC asked for volunteers, 4 Mexican girls volunteered and we convinced Kaitlin to go.  Because she is a gringa she was chosen to be in the competition, the dancing competition. Where the winner got to swim with dolphins. J The other girls we dancing with their hips (if you know what I mean), Kaitlin on the other hand was being very reserved. But again since she is a gringa so she WON! Ha One of the dolphin trainers really liked Kaitlin’s ankle bracelet and told her if she gave it to him he would give her a free picture with the dolphins. She asked if her friends could be in the picture as well, at first he turned her down. While Maggie, Monica and Mary Frances were swimming with the dolphins he came over and told us we could all be in the picture. WE WERE PUMPED! So we kept watching after some time that same trainer came over and told us to follow him. We thought it was time for our picture, little did we know we were all going to swim with dolphins. Incase you didn’t catch that I SWAM WITH DOLPHINS!  The dolphins jumped over us and lifted us by their noses. It was awesome. Once we finished playing with the dolphins we got our free picture but not just one picture with the dolphins but also every gringa got an individual shot with the dolphins and we got a group pictures, both the trainers wanted pictures with us as well. When we finished those pictures the trainers told us we could come back any Monday through Friday from 10 to 3 to help them train the dolphins. Man o man were we living the life. Honestly at the end of this I figured Mary-Kate and Ashley Oslen were going to come out and tell us we had just helped them filmed their latest movie. This scene was straight out of one of their movies. Growing up I always thought things like this happened to people when they went out of the country because of their movies and for the 1st time EVER it happened to me.  The rest of the day we walked around with smiles on our faces and constantly telling each other we swam with dolphins! It was one of the best days of my life!


I was so happy. Cheesing so BIG!

The team with one of the trainers. 

Friday, June 17, 2011

A week in the life of a MTW intern




Well my first week is over and there is a lot that has gone on. Last Wednesday I went to my first English Club where I became friends with 3 girls (Jenny, Dallia, and Fani). We spent about 2 hours talking, them in English, me in Spanish. We also made plans to meet them on Friday to play fútbol and basketball and then go see a movie. On Thursday we had ESL with the village kids. This was my first time to go into the village, Tejaban. Class went really well. After class we went into GTO to watch México play Cuba in the Gold Cup. Talk about fun. We were in a restaurant with locals and for those of you who don’t know fútbol is HUGE here, and since México killed Cuba everyone was in a very good mood. Friday we got to play fútbol with the girls and then went to see X-men the fourth generation….don’t worry it was all in Spanish. My head hurt afterwards from trying to understand. I did get most of the plot but missed a lot of the jokes. Saturday we went to a city called Léon where we are starting an English club. We rode in the NICEST bus I have EVER been in. It was like an airplane on wheels, we got a drink and a snack AND they showed a movie. It was great. Sunday we had worship at camp then had a team-building day at a water park. Don’t worry there are some GREAT stories to come with that, but they need a post all to themselves. Monday we had the moms of the village come to camp and have a field day. We played games and had relay races.  Tuesday we had ESL with the village kids…I taught. It was interesting, to say the least. Wednesday we came into GTO to do laundry and hang out till English Club. We also went up to Pipila, which oversees GTO. 







Thursday we had ESL again with the village kids. We taught them about mouth and numbers and had a birthday party. The kids loved it and were very well behaved. Monse CAMEEEEEEEEEEE! She is going to be with us for 2 weeks helping with teams. After dinner we hiked up a mountain and watched the sunset and moon rise. 

It was a full moon. Friday we had all the primary school kids come to camp and we had field day with
them. I worked with the 1st graders. They were precious. I wanted to pack some in my suitcase and bring them to the states (hope that’s okay mom and dad). 

Our first short term team came from Jacksonville, FL. There are 38 high school students and their leaders. Tonight the interns and Monse are going salsa dancing with our Dallia, Jenny, and Fani. This week has been truly a blessing. I have learned a lot about México and how much they need the love of our Savior. The people are beautiful and so is the city. I am blown away by the hospitality and sense of community these people have. This is a relationship driven culture and I LOVE it.

Prayer Points:
-Continue to pray for the relationships we have built and that God will open the door for us to talk about our real reason for being down here.
-Our first short-term team arrived today. Pray for their ministry and work in the village.
-Continue to pray for the language barrier.