Sarah's Mexico Missions Journey

Hola from sunny Mexico : ) I didn't end up rearranging my room last Saturday. I decided to do some deep cleaning in the living room and dining room instead. Nothing better than fresh cleaned rooms : ) I may rearrange my room today or wait until another day. Who knows?!

If you read my last blog, you read about the hard lesson I had with Dani and the marshmallow. I saw Dani at church on Sunday and he gave me the biggest hugs ever! So glad he still loves me after our hard lesson. I also got a big hug from his cousin who I just met that day : ) Then Monday at school Dani was talking about how we saw each other at church : ) Thank you Lord for these loving relationships.

I was able to catch the whole message on Sunday as google translate picked it up, so that was nice. Depending on where I am sitting and if there are people in front of me, it doesn't always pick up. I usually pick up words here and there and always get the scripture as I can ask Norma or whoever I am sitting by what book it is if I didn't catch it. The message was about how we truly need to love Jesus and share Him with others. He also talked about how we each have a purpose. Great reminder!

I have been reflecting a lot on the last 5 years of my life and thinking about things I have done or doors I thought were opening, but closed. I took a Children's Discipleship Making Course and was the Children's Ministry Coordinator at Epicenter. Last summer I went through a very intense interview for a Children's Ministry Coordinator at a church in the cities. That door was closed. The summer before I interviewed for a teacher position at a Christian school and that door closed. Last summer the door for this missions trip was put on hold and of course last winter it was swung wide open.

I truly love my preschool teaching job in Wadena and was not looking for a new job, but felt like doors were opening. I told myself I would apply and trust that God would make His plans clear. I always pray for a two by four, very clear direction. I am thankful He closed those doors and made it very clear. I am also thankful He swung the door wide open for Mexico. While I have enjoyed my experience here in Mexico, I don't think I am being called to full time missions in Mexico. I miss teaching preschool. I miss my family and friends. All these thoughts to say, I think God may be trying to tell me that I was right where He wanted me.

Were those doors opened to see if I was really willing to go somewhere different? I say I am willing to go wherever He wants me to go, but do I really mean it? Or did I just think that they were doors being opened and they weren't. My continued prayer is for the Lord to guide and direct His plans for me. That I will be still and listen to what He has to say to me.

Even though I don't teach my preschoolers about Jesus, I show them the love of Jesus by my actions and the way I treat them. I show them and their family Jesus by the relationships I build. God continues to remind me that ministry is our actions just as much as our words. So wherever God has you in your life, you can do ministry. Smiling at a random stranger could be the one thing that brightens their day. You may never know the impact you have on someone. Shine bright wherever you go!!

Just the other day at school, one of the kids looked very sad at lunch. She looked like she was ready to cry. I asked if she was okay and she said no my stomach hurts. I gave her a hug and she still looked like she was going to burst out in tears. I asked if she wanted to sit with me and she did. She just sat in my lap and we snuggled for about 10 minutes. Ministry is loving someone that doesn't feel well and is sad.

God continues to remind me that it's my choice on how to respond to situations. Getting easily frustrated and mad about it only affects me and my attitude. Most the time the other people don't even know I am frustrated or annoyed. Thank you Lord for helping me to be quick to listen and slow to anger/frustration.

My dear friend Carol messaged me the other day and asked if I still had a cup by my bedside. A year or so ago, we had a conversation and shared the idea of putting a cup by my bedside and to say fill my cup Lord, I lift it up Lord when I see the cup. Then a couple days later a friend shared a post on facebook about letting the Lord fill our cup. I think the Lord knew I needed to be reminded to ask Him to fill my cup and to let Him fill my cup with His goodness. I encourage you to put a cup by your bed or somewhere you will often see it.

My mom also sent a picture that was very encouraging to me. I will share the picture below as it will speak better than I will : ) It was talking about a battle with two wolves inside of us. One of the wolves is evil-anger, greed, envy, jealousy, etc. and the other is God-joy, peace, love, hope, etc. The little boy ask which wolf wins and the man replies the one you feed. That was such a good reminder again that I am choosing how to respond to situations.

I feel like the fruits of the spirit have come up a lot in my devotions lately. Again, I think God is reminding me to be filled with the fruits of the spirit instead of anger, jealousy, pride and other worldly things. Thank you Lord for speaking through devotions.

God continues to remind me that I am not in control. I mean I never really was, but I at least felt like I was in Wadena : ) Jenny and I were talking about how much we let our circumstances and control (illusion of control) dictate our mood and contentment. We talked about how there are people that would love our life, but we are so focused on the things we don't have or figuring out what's next we miss what's right in front of us. Lord, help me to focus on you and what's in the here and now. Help me to be content with where you have me.

Good news, another one of the pokey students worked with no reminders a couple days this week and got all her work done so fast. We made a big deal about this : ) Thank you for praying for those kids to focus! Thank you Lord for answering those prayers.

Liz and I studied three days this week, so that was good. We even got Raspados (shaved ice) one day. She honestly knows a lot and I am there more for moral support or if she has a question. English is a hard language and there are times I don't know the answer, but am thankful google can help us. The one day she was asking me why we say an MP4 player and not a MP4 player. I said I am not sure, I just know that's what you say. I was able to google it and get her an answer : ) I think I have shared this before, but there are some things in the English language I just know and don't know why it's that way.

Friday was a fun day at school. The kids got to come in spring costumes and we did a parade. I knew there was going to be a parade, but wasn't sure if we were going to be in it or watching it. I have gotten better about going with the flow, most days : ) We had 3 trucks that were decorated and had students and staff in the back of each truck. Then a few parents drove their vehicles in between. It was sunny and so much fun. We just waved, said hello and sang to people that were out and about or driving by. The best part was seeing all the kids smiling and the smiles from the people that we saw. Again, you never know how you are impacting someone. Check out a few pictures below.

When I saw we were having a parade, I was thinking people would be sitting in the street and there would be many vehicles in the parade. It was just our vehicles and it was just the people that happened to be out or that heard us coming. Another reminder things aren't always what we think they will be or are. The parade was to celebrate spring and promote the school : ) After the parade, we went back to school and ate and then got to go home early : )

Things at home seem to be going well. Last night we watched a movie as a family. They love racing, so we watched some racing this morning. I am not a big racing fan, but sometimes you take interest in what others enjoy : ) We are just hanging out at home today and relaxing.

I think I shared a few weeks ago that Ricardo would be looking for a new job. It sounds like he is going to be starting his own business, so please join me in praying that it goes well.

Thank you Lord for the students being able to focus at school.

Thank you for relationships that continue to be built here in Mexico.

Thank you for family and friends that continue to encourage me on this journey.

Thank you for devotions that speak to me.

Thank you for the prayer warriors and encouragers back home.

Thank you for google translate and technology.

Thank you for relaxing weekends.

Continue praying for the school financially and with construction happening.

Continue praying for my attitude and for strength to finish the journey strong.

Continue praying for peace and unity in our family.

Continue praying for God to guide and direct His plans for my life and for me to be still and to listen.

Pray for me to keep my eyes on Jesus and be content with where He has me.

I know it's tax season and also the lenten season, so wanted to share the link to a campaign I am doing for the school. If you feel led, please click on the link to donate. Please feel free to share with others. A personal testimony from one of the students at the school "Being in a Christian school makes me feel happy to be able to experience God's love and above all to know it. I was neglected as a child and now I am a loved child since my mom and I know Jesus. Thank God I have a family and I can feel loved by God." This is just a small glimpse of what God is doing in and through this school.

https://www.wgm.org/campaign/20002/mexico-23565-scholarships-for-christian-school-students-in-irapuato-1

Enjoy some pictures from the last week : )