Hablando con Extranjeros

Wow! It's been a whole week since I last wrote on this page! It wouldn't be so bad if I wrote only once a week, I suppose, but I'd like to do better than that.
Well, the topic I would like to talk about today is evangelism... but not in the way you're thinking. I realized a couple days ago that I have met someone new almost everyday since I've been in Mexico. To tell someone about GOD, all you have to do is look for opportunity. That, of course, doesn't mean that I've shared the gospel with all those people. It does, however, mean I was out of my comfort zone for every single one of those people. It's a great feeling every time you talk with someone new, knowing you have brightened their day. It's almost addicting! I don't even remember all of their names, but I know that I made a difference in each of their lives somehow, even if it was just for that day. You always run into those people who are just rude or having a bad day (I would prefer to think the latter), but I was always better off for having started a conversation.
You know hose awkward moments? You know, when your crammed into a bus with a bunch of other people? Maybe not, but those times when your not quite sure what to say? Talking actually removes the awkwardness from those moments. Unless you like awkward moments, I like it when the other people around me feel comfortable. And do you know what I've found? Talking makes it all better. Even when you don't know what to say, if you just say anything, it's better than nothing. ... I just realized that there are entire libraries written on this subject... I wonder how many people I passed by till now. How many opportunities did I have to reflect the love of Christ in an every day, normal conversation with someone I'd never met before?
I've met the vendor at the corner shop of our street. His name is Ektor. Every time I walk by there, I look in to see if he is there right behind the counter to see if I can go in and buy something to have an excuse to talk with him. I met a group at UNAM that all talk together in the mornings before class: Peter, Carl, John, Ed and Amy, Stephen, and Murry. Murry's from Ireland. Each day at class I've gotten the chance to learn a bit more about a different person in that room. First, I met Robin from Holland who also has blonde, curly hair and blue eyes. Then, I met Christina from Germany. Then I got to talk with Tomas from Chicago, Illinois. Today, I learned more about a Korean girl named Victoria and the city she is from. On Tuesday, I ate at this haurache stand across from the beisbol (baseball) field, and met Joel and Julia who were very interested in Alsaka and me being a missionary. There was also two people there listening in and occasionally asking questions. I also talked with John, a Korean banker, about other denominations and differences in culture as related with the Message. This has been an unusually talkative week.
That's not even the best part! On Sunday I met another missionary on the metro bus, and his brother-in-law. David was reading this religious pamphlet, and as I was trying to decipher it behind him, he noticed me and started speaking in perfect English! We talked till we were well past my stop, and he invited me to have lunch with them at their house. After he woke up Samuel, we talked some more on the way and I got to meet his wife, Stephanie, and mother-in-law, Luz. Seriously, I was over there for about four and a half hours, all the while talking about spiritual things about Christ and heaven and stuff. It was the most encouraging day I've ever here! Even though they didn't believe in exactly the same doctrinal things, I still felt a strong sense of kinship with them. Ephesians 4:1-17 I think matches up great with why that conversation was SO good.
Anyway, I hope you all have a good night! Ustedes tengas una buena noche!

School of Foreigners

Today I was able to pay for the language classes at the university up here called UNAM. I had actually signed up for the classes yesterday with Pronunciation from 8-9, Basic 2 from 9-12, and then, on Mondays and Tuesdays--Salsa Dancing! It was really cool to find out that when I pay for just the Basic 2 class, I can have two other classes each day, and not have to pay more. When I left this morning to go pay for these classes there was long line, but I didn't mind: I had time. The only reason I had to pay the next day was because I forgot that I had my card with me that day, and left without looking. I got up to the front, all the while admiring the room I was in where Dance classes were to be held, and payed. But when I went over to the next station, the woman told me she couldn't enroll me because my schedule was a day late. She called another woman over who had been so helpful the day before, and I found out it wasn't valid anymore! I ended up having to re-enroll for all the classes, but by now, all the open slots for Salsa were taken. So, I lost my Salsa class but was able to salvage the truly important ones. I was really bummed...
The two times I visited UNAM this week weren't a complete waste: I was able meet six new people. I don't think I remember all their names, exactly. The two girls who were talking behind me in line were from Europe: I noticed their accents and thought that was really cool so I turned around and said, "Where are you guys from?" One, Emanuel, was from France and the other, Nikki, was from England. It was a very pleasant conversation, but it made me feel kind-of awkward when they started making fun of each others' countries. Nikki maybe in my class, but I don't know about Emanuel. Most of the people I met, though, were in much higher levels than me. One was in the most advanced class you can take, others were in basic three or four. I can't help but wonder where everybody in my class is going to be from. Last time there were two from Israel, one from India, and three more from Korea, not including Bryce and I; the two Americans.
If anyone wants to: I would always appreciate prayers for learning Spanish. :)

One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for Me

As you can see, I have decided to start up a blog. If you're reading this I'm very happy that this has met with some level of success. I've never written a blog before so I hope you will be patient with any errors and the lack of decoration around the site. Hopefully, I will be able to use this to send out word of what my most recent exploits are and other news more frequently while having a channel for random thoughts and ideas. I figure if I just keep trying different forms of communicating my ideas, I will find one that really works. Honestly, I don't know how many people will follow this blog, but I'm willing to give it a shot; even if it is for kicks and giggles. I had never followed one myself until people in my AIM class started writing them. It was actually John's blog that gave me the inspiration to start one of my own.
Well, now that I have one, I suppose I will need to dress it up a bit more and keep it maintained with recent events. Hope you enjoy!