Mexico, Florida, and Home Again

I'm convinced that with each passing month, time seems to go faster and faster. Yes, I've been back in the States for almost a month, and am just now getting around to posting on here. Life has been crazy!

July in Mexico passed with language sessions, trips downtown to the market, helping the missionaries, and visiting old friends. Before I knew it, the time had come for me to return to the States.

I left on July 14th to meet up with my siblings and some friends in FL where my newlywed sister Katy and her husband Jason are now living. We spent about 10 days there helping them fix up the house they are staying in, going to the beach, and just hanging out and having fun. What a blessing! Here are some of the pictures:

After about 7 hours of traveling, I was warmly welcomed in Orlando by my sister, brother, best friend, brother in law, and 3 friends!!! It was such a wonderful thing after being gone for 6 weeks to come back to people who know me inside and out. I love them! This is me and Jenny.


On the escalator on the way to baggage claim



Katy and Jason's house before we got it cleaned up. The guys installed flooring, painted and primed, and fixed up the living room and dining room.


Danny and Jim hanging out the laundry. I thought it was funny so had to snap a picture of these two :)


Jenny, me, and Ryan at Sonny's BBQ which by the way is one of my favoritest restaraunts!



Me and my happily married sister, Katy on our way to the beach


We went to an ocean side restaraunt one night for dinner in time to watch a gorgeous sunset. God is so amazing to paint those colors in the sky!



The guys got a little bit too much sun on the beach :)


Jacquie, Jen, and I on the plane ride home trying to look angry which wasn't too hard since we got less than one hour of sleep the night before! :)


Now that I've been home for awhile, people have been asking me the inevitable question "When are you going back to Mexico?" The answer is, right now I don't know that the Lord will take me back there. Every year after a mission trip, it seems I go through the same old thing where I don't know what step to take next. It can be frustrating. I'm sending out applications to a few different schools so we'll see what the Lord does. For this year, I am taking classes at the community college and working about 35-40 hours a week which is SUCH a blessing. My bank account was in need of some help :)

Thanks for all your prayers and support. I still haven't gotten the team pictures yet from Mexico but when I do, I'll definitely post them. Dios les bendiga!

My Support Group

Hey All,

I was thinking (scary thought, I know) that for all these months of this blog, I haven't really mentioned what an amazing support group I have at home. So this post is dedicated to the wonderful people at home who cheer me on, pray for me, and care what's happening in my life.

As some of you know, my dad is the pastor of a small independent Baptist church out in the country. I was born and raised in that church and the people there truly are family. They have watched me grow up and (hopefully) mature. They were right there for me when the Lord first laid on my heart the desire to go to the foreign mission field. I am so incredibly blessed.

Here's the whole group at the airport to pick me up. Please disregard the girl holding the roses (which her darling brother bought-- awwww!)
Ok, so my point is that I look awful in this picture. I thought that since Mexico was only 1 hour time difference as opposed to 14 hours time difference in Papua New Guinea, it'd be no problem readusting to the time. Um, WRONG!!!!! There were many factors working agaisnt me that I hadn't counted on. Like me getting sick, the whole team camping out for most of the night when we should have been sleeping(I think I got 2 hours of sleep that whole last night), saying goodbye one by one to each of my dear teammates. That about killed me! The travel wasn't too bad. It was only 12 hours from start to finish as opposed to the 48 it took to get home from PNG. Let me tell you, it was very encouraging to come home to this group of people. Such amazing family and friends. I love them all.

Hope you all have a blessed Easter. Remember why we celebrate isn't because of chocolate or the Easter Bunny or a big elaborate dinner, it's because our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ died for us. He DIED for us that we might LIVE through Him. Think about that for awhile....

Tickets are Booked!

Hey All!

My tickets are booked for Mexico! I fly out the 10th of July and come back August 1st. God has provided a girl who lives about an hour away to fly with me. That's a relief because I really didn't want to fly alone. Now I am starting to make contact with the other teammates. There are 9 people going. 3 guys and 6 girls. I am SO excited to see how God works. Please be praying for me and my team. I have been praying that the Lord will be glorified and that He will show me what the next step is.

I've been praying about applying to bible school. Actually, it's a missionary training school in TX. I'm not applying until after the trip though. God has provided a waitressing job for me as well when I get back so I can start saving money for school. We shall see what God has.

Tuesday, a friend graduated from high school so to celebrate, yesterday my sister Katy and I went with him to the park and took lots of crazy pictures and ate pizza and chicken wings. Yum! I'm so blessed to have the friends I have.


A gorgeous view of a very romantic spot. We all agree that it's the perfect marriage proposal spot :)


Me and my sister Katy Dee. She's the best older sister I have. Even though I don't always act like it, I love her dearly.



Andrew and me being goofy as usual :) I'm so thankful for a friend like him. He really challenges me in my walk with the Lord.


Katy and Andrew. Um guys, I think those are supposed to be used to look out at the gorge....


Me, Andrew, and Katy. We were at a place called Inspiration Point. Do we look inspired? :)

It's May!!!

Hey All,

I can't believe it's May already! Where does the time go? It seems the older I get, the faster time flies. That's kind of scary because I'm only 18! What will it be like when I'm 30 then 40? That sounds like such a long time away but it's really not. But a comforting thought is knowing that in Heaven, we won't have to worry about time 'cause there won't be any. We will have eternity to do the things we want.

I guess this post is going to be as confusing as my thoughts are right now. I just wish that I knew what the Lord wants me to do concerning college and Mexico. I've had 2 offers for trips to Mexico next year which sound amazing. I also have a job offer at a restaurant that I substitute at. Then there's college. Do I do summer school or just stick with the fall semester? SO confusing!!! I just want to do what the Lord wants me to do but what is that? I know that I am to follow Him and serve Him wherever I'm at. But what about the future?

A friend shared this from Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest. The title of the devotional is The Graciousness of Uncertainty: "Naturally we are inclined to be so mathematical and calculating that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We imagine that we have to reach some end, but that is not the nature of spiritual life. The nature of spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty, consequently we do not make our nests anywhere. Common sense says---'Well, supposing I were in that condition...' We cannot suppose ourselves in any condition we have never been in.
Certainty is the mark of the common sense life: gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness, it should be rather an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. Immediately we abandon to God, and do the duty that lies nearest, He packs our life with surprises all the time. When we become advocates of a creed, something dies; we do not believe God, we only believe our belief about Him. Jesus said 'Except ye... become as little children.' Spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, but uncertain of what He is going to do next. If we are only certain in our beliefs, we get dignified and severe and have the ban of finality about our views; but when we are rightly related to God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy.
'Believe also in Me,' said Jesus, not--- 'Believe certain things about Me.' Leave the whole thing to Him, it is gloriously uncertain how He will come in, but He will come. Remain loyal to Him."

God knew I needed to read this and meditate on it this week. I AM uncertain about my future but I am certain about God. Praise You, Father!

This post's picture is of my younger sister, Jennifer Marie. She is 16, almost 17 (Yes, 'You are 16 going on 17' is running through my head right now, too!) No, this picture does nothing for me. I look HORRID but it shows the kind of relationship Jenny and I have. I call her Juanita or Bubba depending on the day. Jenny is very talented with guitar and singing. She is looking into going to college for worship major. I'm excited to see how the Lord leads her. We do not have a perfect relationship either. I have struggled alot over the years with jealousy towards her because she is better at so much stuff than me. It's a constant battle for me. But the Lord helps me. I am consistently rude to her and my other sister and brother but they forgive me and are patient with me (usually). This is a better picture of us. We love to ride horses together and also eat Chinese food. My siblings and I have many precious memories together and I am so blessed to have all of them. I wouldn't trade them for anything. I joined a group on Facebook that says "Only I can fight with my siblings, you lay a finger on them, you die!" A bit violent perhaps but I'm a fierce defender of my siblings. I love them all SO much.

As usual, I've written what's on my heart. The only problem is my heart is confused right now so this post might be, too. I hope you are all blessed by this. I serve an amazing God. Praise Him! Cuidate.

Disappointments...

Hey All,
You know how I've mentioned that I've been eagerly waiting to hear news from the language school? Well today, I got something in the mail... It was my application RETURNED! AURGH!!!!!!! SO disappointing. All these months of waiting were for naught. But I'll just try resending it. I can't help but wonder, why? Why God have I been waiting and waiting to hear news and now I have to start the process all over again? But I really have no right whatsoever to question God. He knows exactly why but doesn't owe me an explanation! Please pray that I will have patience and faith in this adventure that the Lord is leading me on.

You know how the last post I did was about the neighbor puppy? Well, that puppy is now my family's! We named him Tagg after an old western show from the '50s, Annie Oakley. Her brother in the show is named Tagg and this puppy has the personality of him. SO exciting. We haven't had a puppy in the house for 11 years since our other dog, Gretchen was born. She's not too thrilled about this little one but I'm praying with time she'll come around. It's been fun having a puppy in the house but also an adjustment. He's so little (8 weeks) and is very curious and enterjetic. Fun but exhausting!!!

For this post's picture, I'm digging in the archives! This is from 2008. From left to right is me, Jacquie, my sister Katy, Nini, and my sister Jenny. We all got together, put on make up, and danced and posed for pictures. This was a silly pose and none of us look to bright. I'm afraid I don't do the kissy face too well :) It was a very fun night and we made lots of memories. We have had many nights like this together and hopefully will have many more! Friends are such a blessing from the Lord!

Thanks for taking an interest in my life and adventure as I pursue Mexico. Sometimes it seems like it's unattainable but I know better than that. Dios te bendiga mucho hermanos (God bless you much brothers and sisters). Cuidate (Take care)!

Trials

Hey All,
I'm not gonna lie, this week has stunk for sure! So many things seem to be going wrong all at once and I cannot do anything about it. I hate feeling so helpless, like my world is spinning out of control. Why do bad things happen in bunches? I know all things work for good but still! It stinks to be stuck in the middle of this yuckiness. Please be praying for my family and me during this difficult time.

It looks like I might be able to make a trip to Brownsville, TX this summer to visit the school I want to attend and also make a quick trip to Mexico maybe. I'm SO excited!!! Things with the language school are still at a stand still at the moment. I have yet to hear back from them but God's timing is perfect!


Here are a few pictures of my friend Jacquie and me. She came over and spent the night Sunday and we had a blast. We got the camera and made silly faces, ate fortune cookies, popcorn, and 8 day old brownies (don't worry, we're perfectly fine!) and danced to loud music until Mom made us be quiet. Ah, the joys of being a teenager! Although I'm thinkin' even when I'm not anymore, I'll still do stuff like this! All in all, it was an amazing night. We made memories that I will treasure forever!

In other news, I have been learning more and more Spanish. Today I tried to knock out the future tense. I already know present, imperfect, and preterit and need to know future. So many times I wanna say stuff but can't because I don't know it. Hopefully I'll be able to retain things. Another fun thing about this 501 verb book is that it has Spanish proverbs! One of my favorites is: "Comer para vivir y no vivir para comer" (Eat to live and not live to eat!) Don't know why that strikes me as funny but it does :P

I found a verse in Malachi that I used to comfort someone this week. It's Malachi 4:2 and says "To you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves." I love how it says 'with healing in His wings'. Such a descriptive phrase!

Anyway, I hope you all are having a blessed night. Thanks for listening to the random ramblings of a crazy gringa. Dios te bendiga mucho hoy! Cuidate hermanos.