I Love Mexico

It's late. I'm tired. I had a really good, somewhat busy day. It was busy because I didn't play video games. It was good because I saw GOD using me in ways I didn't know I could be used. So now, I'm going to have to write this stuff down while it was still fresh or I'll forget it by tomorrow morning.

So, first off, I was able to talk with my cool cousin Adam and read a little before going and having copies made of the fliers Sean and I had made up on his computer. Then, I went to lunch at my favorite place, "Los Pavitos" and the two workers that know me best were there. It just so happened that their boss arrived there a little while after me to collect the money out of the register and that was the first time I think I've seen him. I had an idea. Wouldn't it be nice if i told him how good a job his employees were doing. So I did. I hope it helps them in the future. It's my favorite place because I find it the most relaxing. It's easiest place to just sit and read my bible in the whole city, I think. They aren't usually too crowded that I can't take my usual table at the back, grab a drink from behind the glass, and open up my Bible after having placed my order. I don't like studying while at home, so I go there instead. I'll need to make several different lessons before I leave and I think I have just the place to do it. I stayed there at Los Pavitos until it was time to go to small group.

I love being there. Tonight we studied different places in the Bible where the term 'forty days' shows up, like with the Flood, Jesus being tempted in the desert, and the time after Jesus' resurrection that He spent with his disciples. Israel asked me if I could take over the lessons for that group until I leave. I reluctantly accepted. I don't know if he remembers my last lesson there but it wasn't as good as I had hoped. I hope I can give them consistently good lessons. I really love the people there. I'm really going to miss them. Before we left I was just watching Valeria because she was the only kid there at the time, thinking, "I'm really going to miss her." When Israel dropped me off, it sounded like he was saying, "don't forget us". He said when I go back to Alaska to talk about them and keep praying for them. There's no way I think I could ever forget them.

And that wasn't even the best part of the evening! After I was dropped off, I had some tacos at the stand that's still open late at night and had an awesome spiritual conversation with an old woman who works there. I think she's there for PR because the guy making the tacos was trying to convince me to sell him my camera like the whole time I was there. Anyway, I told them that I was a missionary here and she asked what religion I said Christian and she said that she respects that. She's Catholic and she asked me a couple questions which was just enough to get me onto a role. We talked about all kinds of spiritual things and she seemed very interested; even through the part where I was saying we need to make that decision to turn to GOD and be baptized to be saved. I told them how GOD's grace is a free gift (unlike my camera) and that it's an open invitation for anyone, but most people don't take it. We talked about how our relationship with Him is the most important and how we are all sinners, but GOD gave us a way out. We mentioned reading GOD's word and praying everyday. I think that was something this old woman was especially impressed with about my faith, especially since she kept saying that they don't study like that in the Catholic church. Cool, huh?

Then, when I was finally on my way back home, I ran into the little girl Bryce and I had met the other night walking back from small group on Tuesday. When we had met her I was buying a coke, so she asked me if it was good, but I think the added seeming familiarity with her made her parents suspicious. It would make me suspicious. I forgot her name so that made me feel even more awkward meeting her parents, too. At least that's who I think they were. She is very friendly and laughs a lot. Whoever this little girl is, she's a shining light in this dark city.

Carlos from Cuernavaca just asked me on facebook if I will miss Mexico, and for the first time, I'm getting all emotional about it. I'm going to miss the coke and 'boing' drinks, sure, but more so the openness of the church and especially the kids in San Andreas where we meet for small group. The fact that I'll have to leave soon is more of a reality now, and now that it's so close, I realize that I don't really want to leave. I'm still looking forward to being home and doing what I think will move my life forward, but I'm sad to just pick up and leave now that I've been here for a year. The fact is: I love the people in Mexico. I'm going to be a wreck when I do finally come home: Reverse Culture Shock will not be kind to me.
Have a nice night! I'm out.