In Conversation

To start, I will share this song that has been rolling around in my head for the past few days, its to the right there and it is called Psalm 62 by Shane and Shane. It is really a great song. The particular lyrics that were stuck in my head could be applicable to my life right now but even more so, this part right here says it all: Oh my soul, oh my stubborn soul, won’t you wait on Him?  Wait in the quiet, even in your fear. Oh your God is here, to lean on! He won’t move.

Current climate in Miguel Aleman – super duper HOT, too hot to really do much of anything outside during the day. Current climate of life – confusion mixed with scattered frustrations and doubt. Since being here I have been speaking more and more Spanish. There are a few people I interact with very regularly who speak only Spanish and I do my best to have conversations with them. What usually happens is the following:
Other person: Espanol, espanol, espanol, espanoooooool.
Me: (lots of head nodding and about 25-75% comprehension, depending) Si. (short sentence repeating something they said, or a short follow up question and usually some nonverbal “hmmms”)
Other person: Espanol, espanol, espanol, espanol, espanoooooool.
Me: (see above).
Haha, its something, right? If any friends or fam reading this has any suggestions, feel free to let me know. I would like to try all different ways of learning Spanish now that I am here and I don’t know if there are any tried and true methods out there. And hey, you can let me know about tried and failed methods as well!
Whoa. Okay. Well, I just took a little break from writing and it seems that God had something to show me. I was eating with the family here at the house and they were talking about all the things they have going on right now, all the things they have on their plate that they feel like there are not enough hours in the day (or week) to complete, not the least of which is figuring out my Visa situation. Entonces, I could tell that they are all frustrated and feeling the stress of a seemingly-endless stream responsibilities. My first thought was “So I am not the only one!” Then, it put things in perspective. I can wait, I really can. My friend Amy worked somewhere last year where most of her days (in the beginning) left her feeling not very useful. She managed, and rose above it! Some other friends moved into a house that didn’t have completed bedrooms or working toilets. They managed, and learned much from it! This family travels back and forth across the border often for work or school, runs a school that has many needs, heads a church with a small congregation, and hears stories about violence, robbery and kidnapping more often than your average suburbanite (me). I can manage. If God’s grace is enough for all of that (and more), it’s enough for me, now.
After lunch, my laptop slideshow popped up with pictures from the first time I went to Mexico. I mulled over it for a few seconds and then decided to go ahead and ask Lorena (the mother) if she’d like to see them. I knew my explanations/descriptions of these really sweet memories would be lacking in Spanish, but if our relationship is going to grow, things like this water that seedling. And guess what – I think it bore fruit immediately! We just had a conversation for like 45 minutes…I mean she said a lot, I understood like 70% of it and asked a few questions (see above), but it lasted a long time. The Holy Spirit comes at the strangest of times but also at the best, of course. Amen, amen, amen. That is all I can say.
I don’t know what tomorrow will be like. My guess is this: I will get up at 7, go walk around the park before it hits temps near Hades, come back and eat breakfast, spend time with God, read, talk with the housekeeper Elvira, eat, and just maybe find out that we have moved forward in the Visa process. From what I can gather an accountant and a lawyer have seen my papers and the necessary papers from the school, then will be able to send them soon to the appropriate places and then I can get the special permit within the next 2 days. God can do that, and I am ready for it. I am ready to be in the classroom, success or failure. Or at least I tell myself that. The question is, am I really?
Prayer request: Pablo, the father of the housekeeper Elvira had surgery and has been in the hospital for over 3 weeks. She speaks to me in very fast Spanish so I am not entirely sure how he is doing. She said he is recovering and he has lots of family there (in Houston) to come visit him but I also got the impression that she doesn’t think he will ever fully recover.

Miguel Aleman, Tamaulipas, Mexico

So, I can't go to work yet.  Not physically anyway.  I learned a few days ago that the Mexican laws recently changed - a foreigner cannot be at the workplace until Visa is in hand or else immigration may come and can deport said foreigner.  Or at least that is my current understanding.  I don't feel totally comfortable with that or certain about it so I hope to go over the details a few more times with the family I am staying with through the help of Lore's (daughter) translation.  Overall though, they assure me that this will put things on hold for me for no more than one week.  So far, I find it very easy to believe and trust them and I hope I continue to feel this way.  They have been so good to me thus far: sharing food, room and transportation - all for free!  I appreciate this opportunity more than I can say, in english or in spanish!
While I await the visa, I have been playing with their dog Choco, knitting, reading, spending time with God and doing a little exercise here and there.  The family has a nice home, air conditioning and bathrooms indoors (for those of you imagining me roughing it!).  Most of the year the mother, Lorena, and her daughter, Lore (25), live here and work at the school.  Lore's father (who is a pastor), Rogerio, and his sons Roge (22) and Josue (13?), will live in an apartment in McAllen, TX which is nearer to Pastor Rogerio's cell phone business and Josue's school.  Their life is pretty complicated as they spend a good bit of time traveling back and forth over the border for a variety of reasons.  I sometimes try to imagine what life will look like here, but honestly I can't predict even what next week will look like!
As far as work, I know I will be teaching around 15 three-five year olds.  I will likely have an assistant (praise God!) who knows some english because she lived in Dallas (shoutout to Ms. Cobon!) for a few years.  Her name is Cyndia, and she was very kind when I met her.
That's it for now.  I hope to begin to settle into some sort of rhythm soon so I will keep you guys updated on that.

Prayer request: one of my neighbors back in Houston was recently arrested - a case of mistaken identity.  Last I heard he was in jail for a few days and hadn't been released yet.  This is the 3rd time the police have hassled his family (and our nieghborhood) and I don't know what is best for them to do.

Headed back to Mexico!

In a few days I will be moving into a house in Miguel Aleman (city), Tamaulipas (state), Mexico.  I will be staying with Pastor Rodriguez and his family while I serve as a teacher at the school they run called Instituto Del Rey - Institute of the King.  Right now, I am both looking forward to beginning and freaking out a bit by all the responsibility I am taking on.  But I keep reminding myself that God's vision and plan is always bigger than mine.  He is going with me (and He is already there!) so I have no doubt that I will experience His goodness and faithfulness, no matter what.  Friends, please pray for me.  And stay tuned!

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.  They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” 
Jeremiah 17:7-9