Currently Listening Southern Weather By The Almost Dirty and Left Out see related

"Where the Streets Have No Name"

I just got back from our Mexico mission trip on Saturday.
It. Was. Amazing!

Here's how it went...

Day 1: Saturday, July 5th
We arrived at the church around 8am to pack our bags and leave.
We arrived at our hotel in Matamoros around 7ish(?).
It was about a ten-hour ride down there. Lots of stops.
Unfortunately, I came down with a fever on the way down.
I completely blame Chadd. I got the same thing that day that he had the week before.
This led to a bunch of other people getting sick throughout the week too.
At one point during the week, my whole hotel room was sick.
Also, it rained as we drove down there. A lot.

Chadd entertained himself at one of our stops.

Rain.

Van got stuck.

Our hotel room.

The view from the third floor of the hotel.

Trint showing us how to do our dramas.

Day 2: Sunday, July 6th
I slept through breakfast, you know, being sick and all. Sarah brought me some food.
We had orientation at 10am, which I attended, then ate lunch at noon.
We were supposed to go canvassing in the neighborhoods (we even drove where we were supposed to do so), but since we had a church service afterwards and little time to get ready for it, we decided to postpone it for the next day due to the fact that it was STILL raining.
Before the church service, my fever got worse.
I almost stayed at the hotel and slept, but I didn't want to miss anything.
The church service was incredible. I don't even know how to describe it. I was awestruck.
After the service, we went out to eat that this great Mexican restaurant.
I would've enjoyed it more if I wasn't sick though.

One of the many large group meetings.

Chadd being completely prepared for the rain and flooding... rain boots, swim trunks, and hat.
All mismatched, I might add.

The restaurant.

Encouragement bags. This is one of my favorite things about Glenview mission tours.
When they hadn't mentioned anything about them the first two days,
I was really bummed out.
We really need encouragement on trips like these.

Day 3: Monday, July 7th
We woke up at the ridiculous hour of 6:45 to eat breakfast at 7.
Morning quiet times were great.
By this time, I felt a lot better.
At 8:45, we left for our VBS sites.
Guess what? We had NO translators! So, it was really difficult at first.
But a few minutes after arriving, a hispanic girl named Star (or Strella in Spanish) comes up to me and asks where we're from.
I'm thinking in my head, "ENGLISH!"
I answer and say "Texas."
"Where in Texas?"
"Fort Worth"
"Oh, I live in Houston. I'm down here to visit my grandmother."
She went on to tell me that it was her eleventh birthday and that she hoped her mom didn't forget.
She had an older sister, Vanessa, who also spoke English, so they translated for us during the week.
As far as our VBS went, it was well-organized... so well organized that we almost felt useless.
They had some of their own songs, they taught the lessons and small groups.
I'm not entirely sure if it was a good or bad thing.
We returned to our hotel at 12:30 for lunch, then spent the afternoon on getting to know each other.
We had dinner at the hotel at 5, and had an evangelistic service at our VBS church at 7.
Garrett taught that night while Vanessa translated.
After Garrett taught, it got Vanessa to thinking, which led to her accepting Christ the next day.

My group... minus me, Sarah, and Laura.

See the arch? That's our VBS church.

Sarah and Gabe working on crafts.

Their songs.

Soccer with the kids.

Flooded soccer field. We called it a lake.

At the hotel.

The "get to know each other" exercise.

Me and Meghan!

Chadd being a nerd.

Garrett preaching.

Day 4: Tuesday, July 8th
Our typical day at VBS.
The previous day, VBS had been planned out (by the Mexican people) to last about 4 hours.
Since we couldn't stay that long, they re-planned it to fit with our schedule.
In the afternoon, we had community evangelism.
Our team split into two groups, and went down separate roads evangelizing with our EvangeCubes.
Alisha's group came to Star's street and they evangelized to some kids there.
As they were doing so, Alisha asked Star if she knew what they were talking about.
She said the story of Jesus.
Alisha asked if she'd ever accepted Christ. She said no.
She went on to share with her and lead her to Christ.
After doing so, my group joined them and Alisha announced,
"Guess what?! Star just became a Christian!"
We cheered! Then walked the kids to the VBS church.
We returned to our hotel for dinner, and had another evangelistic service that night.
Since the Melton's church was basically on an island with all the flooding, they joined us for the evening.
Caleb preached while Star translated.
I could hear Chadd and Alisha on the pew behind me talking about Star...
Chadd was extremely impressed with this little eleven-year-old girl.
After the sermon, Star felt like she didn't do a very good job translating, so almost EVERYONE of us came up to her and encouraged her and told her that we were very pleased with her.
She truly was a blessing to us.

Basketball... with a balloon.
They also played volleyball with a trash bag full of balloons.

Small groups....

Chelsea giving her testimony while Star translates.

Shane also.

Performing one of our dramas.

Caleb preaching.

Day 5: Wednesday, July 9th
Same agenda. VBS in the morning, though it felt busier. Lunch at noon.
Community evangelism in the afternoon.
We split our group for evangelism again.
Sarah talked to most of the people.
The first two people we came across were almost too easy. They accepted Christ.
The third person, a middle-aged woman, was difficult.
I'm not sure how long we talked to her, but for a majority of the time,
I prayed silently, "God! Please let her understand! Open her heart!"
I was deeply saddened when we left her without her accepting Christ.
As we went on, Sarah asked if anyone else wanted to talk to someone.
I said I did. So she gave me her EvangeCube and just told me, "Just say what you feel led to say."
We approached one guy, and I started talking with him.
It started out well. He didn't know that he could make it to heaven because he was a sinner.
He said that. So, I told him I wanted to share something with him that would give him hope,
And I went through the cube with him.
Unfortunately, he was strong in his beliefs and again, we walked away without him accepting Christ.
This saddened me even more. I held back tears. Sarah gave me a hug and told me, "That was a hard one."
We returned to the hotel shortly after.
We had our service that night. Ryan Ward taught.
And out of appreciation, our VBS church gave us each a shirt. We were really thankful.
We wore those shirts the next day.

Day 6: Thursday, July 10th
Typical day at VBS. Nothing new to report.
After lunch, we went to the dump.
Two years ago, the construction teams went to the dump, and it was a great experience apparently.
So, we visited them and handed out 100 handmade cloth backpacks with sandwiches and apples/oranges in them.
We handed out soup as well.
And Sarah brought along two blankets to give out.
She thought she had more, but we felt it was enough when we saw two pregnant women to give them to.
We didn't spend much time there, but it was a great nonetheless.
When we left, we all went to the market to shop.
I almost bought some bongo drums. I now regret not getting them.
That night, we had the most amazing worship at our hotel.
No one left with a dry eye. Even the guys cried.

Did I mention that at the dump, the junk was 50 feet high?

I took this picture in our moving vehicle.

Tritn eating a cup of fruit he bought at a vender.
I got mango. It was delicious.

Taylor and Benjamin kicking around Ben's new soccer ball.

Day 7: Friday, July 11th
We woke up and packed our stuff. We were to leave for South Padre after lunch.
This was our last day of VBS.
As we were in our van about to drive off, they wrote in the dust on our windows, "I'll miss you."
After we left, Alisha tells us that Vanessa said that Star went home to cry. I lost it when I heard that.
We didn't arrive at the hotel for lunch until about 1pm because we didn't want to leave.
We arrived at South Padre probably around 3ish. Not entirely sure.
But this hotel was a whole lot nicer than the other one.
I didn't get to room with Sarah and Meghan as I did in our other hotel though, but oh well.
After checking in, we went to the beach!
The saltiest water I have ever tasted (by accident).
And they buried me. Shane tried to make it look like a mermaid.
But it was difficult getting out. They dug a hole to put me in before actually burying me.
We went back to the hotel, showered, and went to one of the coolest restaurants ever...
With some of the best food I'd had in FOREVER!
Fried fish, brisket, AND hamburgers! Smallest hamburgers I'd ever seen, but by far the most delicious.
After eating, we had worship on the beach.
The coolest thing ever.

Our songs. Tim Mercer led the songs, Jaclyn held the posters, and I led the motions and encouraged enthusiasm.

Me and STAR!

Me and Vanessa.

South Padre.

 
The hotel we stayed at in South Padre.

?
The beach.

Fireworks!

Day 8: Saturday, July 12th
We left to come home.
Oh, but word of advice: Don't ride home in the very back seat of a 15 passenger van.
You get no air conditioning.

May God change your heart to be a servant, leader, and follower of Christ.

Currently Reading Let Me Be a Woman By Elisabeth Elliot see related

I'm posting for the sake of posting.
I have nothing to post about really,
Except that summer discipleship is INCREDIBLE!

That is all.

Currently Listening Fight the Tide By Sanctus Real The Fight Song see related

I thank God for reconciled friendships.
From the bottom of my heart.

Currently Watching Fiddler on the Roof By Topol, Norma Crane, Leonard Frey, Molly Picon, Paul Mann see related

Tonight at church, Meghan informed me that Michael, one of the college students at church whom we know pretty well, was driving last night when a man walked in front of his car. The man was hit, (I heard) the car flipped over, and Michael got out of the car and saw him die. Michael is deeply burdened by this, and I just ask that you would please keep him in your prayers.

Thank you.

Currently Listening Meet the Robinsons Little Wonders see related

I finally got graduation pictures uploaded...

Pre-ceremony:

That smile's completely fake.
Can you see my nervousness of the ceremony in my hands?

Ben's birthday was the day after graduation. So I got him a "graduation/birthday" gift.
I didn't have wrapping paper though. So I wrapped it in newspaper.
I believe I used the travel section, arts section, comics, and one other I don't remember.
I put the comics on top.

"I have to get you something really good now, don't I?"
The night before when waiting to be picked up from the movies,
Ben was talking about getting me a graduation gift, since I kind of got him one.

That's what I got him.
I photo edited and printed all those picture myself.
Unfortunately, due to errors on my computer,
Editing those caused my computer to freeze up... for days.
I couldn't even turn my computer off without unplugging it.
Oh well.

Mi familia!

Cap and gown.
We all HATED those caps. Especially the tassels.
Before the ceremony, Ben tried to hit me with his tassel (while wearing the hat),
But always ended up hitting his own eyes...
Which was... kind of funny.

My family... and Edgar!

Graduating class of '08!

Ceremony:

Caleb Augustus.

Amelia Brown.

Ben Dishman. And Brad Chance's shoulder.

Hannah Farver. And Matt Ficke in the background.

Rachel Forman.

Ben Leach.

Jessica Ramsey.

Me! And Jordan Stricker in the background.

Bailey Wattron. And Robert Wood... in the background.

"You may now move your tassels."

Cap toss. Mine's that one way up there.

Procession.

Ceremony's over!
I was extremely nervous about the ceremony, honestly.
Mostly about my parents' speech. I didn't know what to expect.
And I DEFINITELY didn't expect my mom to read a paper I wrote in the first grade as part of her speech.
When she mentioned it and said, "... and I have it right here," my thought was "OOOOH, NO!"

Reception:

My table.

Two days before graduation, my mom surprised me with two scrapbooks.
This one is Dr. Seuss' "Oh the Places You will Go" put together with our own pictures.
It is pretty flippin' hilarious.

My picturahs!

This was the other scrapbook my mom surprised me with.
I cried after I saw this one.
Each page has a heartfelt message from a friend,
Along with pictures of me with whoever's message is on the page.
I. Loved. It.

My maps. Completed and framed. Alas!

I was by a window sill... so I displayed a few more things.

My grandfather. My grandmother couldn't make it.

Sarah!

Ryan.

Haha. I just find this one funny.
I have nooo idea what my uncle was talking to me about here.
Or why Katie has that look on her face.

Jessica's table.

Katie really liked Jessica's table, and said that when she graduates, her table would be a lot like Jess's.

Kendall and Elise.

Elaaaaaaine!

Matt's table.

By the way, these are random tables.
There's no particular reason for these specific tables to have had a picture taken of them.
My mom photographed them.

Michelle and Edgar.

My grandparents.

My aunt and uncle and my cousins!

Tricia.

Brad's table.

Kessy.

Mr. Dishman! Otherwise known as "Happy."
The lighting in this picture is weird. I didn't edit it like that.

He was telling me that he would be my first client when I become a therapist.
Because he "had this son that wanted to go into the ministry, and [he] didn't know why!"
Haha. He's fun.

That ministry son of Happy's. Hah.

Of course, Ben would insist on getting a funny picture.

Ben's table. He displayed the birthday gift!

Ben's map.
Despite his difficulty of fixing his Africa,
I thought it looked pretty good.

My Uncle Chris.

Sisters and cousins.