Thankful, but exhausted!

WARNING...this is a long post as lots has happened since my last post! Now you will know why I was exhausted!

I am going to start this by saying I think I have traveled more in my 5 weeks here than I did back home : ) I am so grateful for each and every opportunity, but man was I exhausted, physically and mentally. Thankfully Sunday I was able to rest and relax after church and have been able to go to bed early the last couple nights. Still tired, but not quite as exhausted.

It all started with celebrating Mexico Independence Day at school on Thursday. This was a great experience, but it was in Spanish and I am still working on my Spanish. I included some photos.  The kids did some things and then there was food and fellowship with families. 

After school, we had a teacher's meeting for about an hour or so. This was in Spanish too : ) I use google translate, but it doesn't always pick everything up. After the meeting I headed to Guanajuato with Rosa and Rafael, the director from the school and her husband. They don't speak much English.

Do you see a pattern already, LOTS of Spanish and LOTS of new : ) Again, I will say, I am so grateful for each and very opportunity, but it was a little overwhelming! 

I forgot to add I had a tickle in my throat on Wednesday and still had it Thursday. A friend of mine suggested doing hot water with honey and lemon juice, so I messaged Norma asking if she has honey and lemon juice at home. I told her why and I would make a hot drink after school. She delivered a hot drink to me at school with some cough medicine and other medicine. Norma has been my rock here, next to Jesus of course : ) 

We stopped and ate at an asian buffet on they way to Guanajuato : ) I was able to sit in the front seat and take in the beautiful scenery on the drive. It's about an hour drive, so was nice to just sit and watch.

Thursday night, some of Rosa and Rafael's family came over and we walked down to Guanajuato to eat and take in the celebration of Mexico Independence Day. Meeting more people and more Spanish : )  Thankfully, a couple of them knew a little English. Of course there were LOTS of people out celebrating! There were LOTS of steps and walking. I realized I am out of shape!  I think we were up until 12:15, that's late for me!

Friday morning, we went out for breakfast and viewed some more scenery by the water. Got to see some birds too. We headed to view Guanajuato, the city is huge and beautiful! 

Then we headed to the mummy museum. This was interesting. The tour was in Spanish, so I caught a few words : ) We stopped by to look at a very fancy hotel. Or I thought it was fancy : ) Then we headed to tour a mine museum. This was cool, but again the tour was in Spanish. Do you see why I was mentally exhausted?

Rosa asked if I wanted to go anywhere else and I said no I am ready to go back to the house. I told her I can come back another time. We don't have to do it all in one day. So much to take in. So grateful, but my brain was tired.

Of course Rosa and Rafael wouldn't let me pay for anything. They were so very generous from food, to tea to a room to sleep. They even gave me some shampoo and a shirt to take home. Friday night we were in bed much earlier than Thursday. Thank goodness as I was so tired!

Saturday, we headed to San Miguel as my cousin Jayson and his wife Beth were staying at a house with some friends and it worked out for us to get together. Another beautiful drive with scenery. Rosa and Rafael dropped me off while they went and shopped and ate. This was just what my heart and soul needed, seeing family and English! It was so good to see them and meet their friends. We had lunch together, rode the side by side downtown and shopped a little and then came back and hung out for a little bit. It was about 3 hours, but a great 3 hours. Even though it was good, it was a little sad as I wanted to be with my friends and family spending time together. I had some tears when I left, but tears are okay. 

Rosa, Rafael and I walked around San Miguel for a bit and got to catch a parade, had some ice cream and listened to some music. Another beautiful city! We stopped at Dolores Hildago and had some flavored water and did a little shopping. I just looked as I am not a big shopper : ) 

We made it home and watched tv for a little bit and headed to bed. I was able to talk to mom and dad for a little bit so that was good.

Sunday morning we went to church. One of the songs we sang was Te Doy Gloria. This was a song I remember from about 6 years ago when I was in Saltillo. That is where this journey first started as that's how I found about the school here in Irupuato.  We also sang No Longer Slaves, another familiar song. I was reminded I am a child of God. That is my identity! I took videos and tried to share on facebook, but they are too big. I will have to see if I can figure that out another day. 

I returned home after church and it felt so good. Home sweet home! I didn't realize until this last weekend how accustomed I had come to my new routine and familiar in Mexico. So thankful for time away, but was so happy to be back home. I missed my family and familiar! 

Norma, the rare unicorn she is, washed my bedding and cleaned my room. She is just too sweet! Like I mentioned before I was able to rest and relax. Enjoyed zoom with the siblings and nieces. I was beyond exhausted and cried a few times, but tears are okay. I went to bed early!

Just typing this I am feeling exhausted again! So much in such a short time!! It was great to be back to school on Monday morning and back to that routine! There were some frustrations too, but I won't write about those here incase some my co workers happen to be reading this. He knows and He cares! 

We had some excitement at school Monday afternoon. There was an earth quake about 5 hours away, but we could feel it a little at school. I was sitting in the chair working and it felt like something/someone was pushing e me from behind, so weird! Because we are on the second level, we had to evacuate the school for a little bit. The kids ended up getting picked up about 30 minutes early. 

I was able to take a nap after school, thank goodness. Then Norma did a Spanish class with me. Bless her heart. She is so patient and sweet! So thankful for her and her family! 

I was extra emotional Monday as it was the first day of preschool back in Wadena.  It was sad not being there, but know this is where I am supposed to be for now. 

This morning, I was feeling much better about things. Thankful that the good days outweigh the bad days! God reminds me that He is faithful and in each and every detail of this journey! He never said it would be easy, but He is my strength when I am weak and He will never leave me or forsake me.

We had to evacuate school again very briefly today as there was another earthquake. So much excitement!

I will be very honest, there are some days where I wonder why God brought me all the way to Mexico to teach English. In a new country, new culture, new language, new home, new school, you get it, everything new! Lord, why did I have to give up my familiar and my routine? Then He reminds me that He sent His son Jesus to die for me and my sins. This journey here is so little compared to what Jesus did. 

Lord, change my heart and attitude to be more like you. Open my eyes and ears to what it is you have for me here in Mexico. Thank you that you chose me to come serve you here. Help me to be a bright light and show the people here how much you love them! Thank you for the love they show me!

Some days I also wonder if the kids are learning and understanding what I am teaching. Liz is usually there to translate, but has had lots of meetings, so I have had to rely on google translate to help me. Today, while we were in the preschool room, a couple of the kids were singing some of the songs we had done last week. God knew I needed that friendly reminder.

If you have made it all the way to the end of this post, THANK YOU for taking time to read. Thanks so much for your love, support and encouragement. Each one of you and the Lord is what keeps me going here. Thanks for prayers especially that last couple days. I am feeling much better, but will continue to rest. Thank you Lord for your protection from the earth quake in Mexico. Thank you for the kids at school that are warming up and greeting me with smiles and hugs. Thank you for the opportunity to be stretched and have lots of new. Thank you for your love and faithfulness. Thank you for Norma and her family! Thank you for Rosa and Rafael hosting me for the weekend. So much to be thankful for!

Please continue to pray for peace and strength, especially on those hard days. Continue to pray for me to learn the language and to remember it. Pray for relationships with co workers, students and families. Continued prayers for direction with adult English. I think they understood I can't do it right now as they haven't brought it up. Protection as another earth quake could happen again. 

LOTS of pictures as you read, it's been busy!

Listening to music in San Miguel

Decorations for Mexico Independence Day in San                     Miguel

The stairs at school were too big for kids, so they just pull them                                                             apart and raise them up. No big deal : ) They are in process

Delicious enchiladas Norma made. I told her I                                                                                             would bring her home, so she could cook for my                                   family and friends

Liz and some primary students on Thursday

Preschoolers with Lilli and Liz

Stage for celebration

Decorations for celebration

Families waiting 

Primary class doing a dance

More dancing

Sharing about Independence Day

Look at their cute outfits

Secondary kids

more dancing

Pastor Francisco Sharing

Daniel and I. We are buddies : ) 

Playing thumb war. He and other kids love this game. Who                                         knew thumb wars would be so exciting?!

Some of the girls enjoying drinks

The drive to Guanajuato

Desserts at the buffet : ) 

A little piece of home with some of the food

My festive bow : ) 

Viva Mexico!

More pictures on the drive to Guanajuato

Night life in Guanajuato

So many people!

My orange water. So refreshing!

Rosa and I

Some dancing and singing

Taquitos

More music

View of some houses

Lots of steps to walk up! The walk up was much harder than down : ) 

Another view of a house

The University in Guanajuato

Walking by the water

Small boats you can take out

Beautiful birds

More birds

Beautiful View

Next photos are Central Guanajuato

People riding in the back of a truck. No big deal : ) 

The next photos are the mummy museum. They are a little creepy or very creepy

The fancy hotel we stopped to look at

Lobby of hotel

Mummy museum

Mummy museum

Mummy museum

Rosa and I climbed this tower. Rafeal at the bottom taking our picture

Fancy hotel

Entrance of hotel

Top of tower

Lobby of hotel

Entrance to hotel

Rooms at hotel

Church at hotel

Playground at hotel

Lounging area at hotel

Pool at hotel

More rooms

Ticket to mine museum

Next photos are mine museum

Going down to the mine

Inside the mine

Close up in mine

Inside mine

My fancy hard hat to be safe

Walking down to mine

More scenic views

Enchiladas

Supper on Friday night

This is one of the many lounging places at Jayson and Beth's place they stayed at

Riding the side by side to town with Jayson and                 Beth

Magnets

View of streets in San Miguel

Beautiful furniture

Another lounging place. Relaxing : ) 

Cousin love : )

Visiting with Mimi and saying good bye : ( 

Another street view of San Miguel

Beth, myself and Jayson

Parade

Parade

More parade

More parade

More parade

Beautiful church

Rosa and I 

Enjoying icecream in San Miguel

Stopping by Dolores Hildago

The drive back to the house

Rosa and Rafael's home

Neighbors

More neighbors. Interesting to see the different                     houses

View from Rosa and Rafael's house