Hola

Thanks so much for your prayers. Last Sunday went well. Ricardo recorded it in pieces, so he would be able to send the videos. I will try posting them to facebook in the next week. It was so good for me to reflect on my testimony and the things God has been teaching me on this journey. Praying each person took a little nugget from the message to apply to their life. It was great having my host family and a couple friends from school join me for the service. The love that day was wonderful! Of course, they had to feed us afterwards : ) Check out a few pictures.

Sunday I recognized all but one song during worship time. We sang Waymaker, This is Amazing Grace, How Great is our God and The Blessing. It made me smile to be worshipping the same God in different languages. I ended my message by playing One Thing Remains on you tube.

Later that evening, I was watching a Marco video from Emily's Barn and they sang One Thing Remains and How Great is Our God. God knew I needed to hear those songs again. I love how He speaks through music. Thank you Lord for technology, so I can still be a part of Emily's Barn while here in Mexico.

It has been quite a week as it has not been our routine schedule. I forget how much of a routine person I am. Monday we had practice again for the Mother's Day musical. Then they had a spa day. I knew the spa day was happening, but didn't know what was happening : ) There is often a lack of communication. This is not just the language barrier, but that Liz just forgets to tell me something or what exactly is happening. I have learned to often just go with the flow and whatever is going to happen will happen.

They invited the moms in and then the children did their nails, hair and gave facials. Such a fun time for the children and moms. It was especially fun watching the boys pamper their mothers. There were a couple students whose mom didn't come, so I got to play games with them in the room.

Tuesday we were scheduled to have practice at 9 and it didn't happen until 1:30 p.m. Thankfully I had a lesson ready to fill that time that I thought we would be at practice. Liz just left the room half way through class and never came back. Found out later she was helping decorate. The next teacher didn't show up for class as they were decorating for the musical. I was happy to cover the class, but again just a heads up would be nice. Thankfully I have a list of games and activities for when we have extra time.

They continue to amaze me with how much they decorate and that the create all the decorations. Decorating is not my gift, so I am thankful for creative people with the gift of decorating. I like to use art work the kids create as it's cute and it's saves time : ) Check out the pictures of the decorations.

Wednesday was Mother's Day in Mexico, so we had the musical. Of course, it went well! The kids did a great job and the moms were proud. The kids were excited to give their moms their gift. They did a fun activity where they put numbers under the chairs for the moms and each number had a prize. That was special for the moms. They also gave all the moms a popsicle for a treat. After the musical, we were done with school for the day. I didn't know that until then, but I was okay with that as I had woke up super early that morning and couldn't get back to sleep, so I was able to go home and take a nap.

Wednesday afternoon we went to Normas mom's house and celebrated with her family. Norma's 3 sisters and 2 brothers were there as well as spouses and cousins. It was fun being with their family, but it also made me miss being with my family.

I am so thankful for Norma's family and that they have taken me in as one of their own. Her one sister said I hope you will always remember us, even when you go home : ) They will always have a place in my heart! Thank you Lord for my bonus family in Mexico. I especially enjoy Norma's mom as all my grandparents have passed away, so it's fun having the bonus grandma.

I am thankful for Norma as my adopted mom, my mom in Mexico. I gave her a crockpot and told her I would teach her how to make Chicken Wild Rice Soup before I go home : ) She used to have a crockpot and brought it to church one time and never got it back, so thought that would be a fun little gift to say thanks for the love and care she has shown me.

While I was happy to celebrate Norma and all the moms here, it did make me think about how I won't be there to celebrate with my mom on Sunday. It's those little things I often take for granted. Thankfully I can call her and we will be zooming as a family as we do every Sunday afternoon. Thank you Lord for technology!

Thursday I was in a mood and seemed very irritated. Not sure if it was lack of sleep, lack of communication in the week, emotions of missing home or all those things combined. There was one little guy in our primary class that was not wanting to work and honestly was driving me crazy. I felt like I was hounding him the whole class to get to work. The work wasn't that hard, so that's what made it even more frustrating. Come to find out later, he is living with his aunt and uncle now. He had been living with grandma and just moved this week. Boy, did I feel like a jerk when I found that out.

The next day though, he came in and greeted me with a hug in the morning, sat by me at lunch and gave me another hug at the end of the day. Thank you Lord for students that offer me grace and remind me to give them that extra love. Help me to be patient and extra loving with all the students, but especially those that are going through hard times.

Friday morning the one teacher didn't show up to primary class, so I was in there until another teacher came. Again, I am happy to cover, but like to know what's going on. Liz was working on her lesson plans, so I did library time. My attitude was not the best! I did sent a text message out to a few people for prayer and it did get better. Jenny reminded me I GET to spend the next month in Mexico : ) It's all about the attitude!

We did get to zoom with Mrs. Gallant's class Friday afternoon, so that was a little piece of home for me. Thank you Lord for technology and Mrs. Gallant taking time to zoom with us. We did a couple movings songs and made flowers as Spring is finally in Minnesota. We worked on colors in Spanish and English.

I think it was just too much this week between being out of routine, lack of communication and just really missing home. Lord, help me to have a better attitude and to be okay when the routine is different. Help me to be slow to anger and have peace in those trying moments.

Liz could tell something was wrong. She thought I was mad. I said I am not mad, just missing home. She gave me a big hug and said you know how much I love you. I said yes, but I still miss my family. Thank you Lord for Liz and the love she shows me even when I don't deserve it.

I came home from school and cried a little and just laid on my bed and listened to worship music for almost 2 hours. Thank you Lord for tears and worship music. Thank you for prayer warriors to lift me up!

Last night, Ruth invited me out for coffee/tea. We ended up going to eat and then went to her daughter and son in laws for coffee/tea, popsicles and cake. This is the 4th time I have been with this family and they continue to show me so much love. I appreciate that they continue to invite me out and try to converse with me, even though I don't always understand. Sometimes I just laugh and smile and hope they aren't making a joke about me : )

Today, we are just hanging around the house, so I thought I would get a blog done before the day sneaks away. May do some cleaning or may just relax. Time will tell.

So yeah, the emotions have been up and down this week. Please continue praying for me to finish strong and to deal with the emotions as best as I can. Pray that I can be filled with His love and peace and not get so easily irritated and frustrated.

My head has been a little stuffy and a headache off and on. Not sure if it's from the weather or if I may be coming down with something. Hoping it's just the weather. Praise that Ricardo is feeling better, but hopefully I didn't get whatever he had.

Pray that I can sleep better. I have been waking up super early and not being able to get back to sleep. This is great as it's quiet and I can do my devotions, but the one morning I woke up at like 3 a.m. That makes for a long day if I stay up.

Pray for my eyes, ears and hear to be open to what God continues to have for me here in Mexico and when I return to the states. May this last month be the best month yet.

Continuing praying for time management and that I remember I GET to spend time with Him. May I know how precious that time is. So thankful He is always there and loves me even when I don't deserve it.

Praise for all the moms here in Mexico and in the states. Praise that I get to be a spiritual mom and bonus mom to all the students. While I have the desire to be a biological mom, I am being thankful in the season I am in. I continue to work on being content.

Praise for the relationships that continue to build.

Praise for encouragers, prayer warriors and supporters back home. I know I have said this before, but I couldn't do this journey without all of you!

Praise for God's faithfulness and never ending love!

Delicious popsicle on a very hot night

Supper with Ruth and her family

Pina tomale

Beautiful sky when we were out walking

Silly picture with flowers

Flowers we made on zoom with Mrs. Gallant's class

These 3 kiddos show me so much love! The little guy doing the peace sign in the one that I was hounding the other day. The other boy, Dani, always grabs my lunch and brings it to his table, so I can sit by him : ) It's like my own little fan club!