Just one more week left

 I want to start this blog by asking if you are interested in a missions trip? WGM has teams that come here for a short term. It's usually for a week or 10 days. If construction is your gift, they would love to have you here. If construction is not your gift, but you are willing to help where needed, they would love to have you here. An e mail is how I found out about the need for the English Teacher. Please reach out to me if you are interested in being a part of a team. Joe and Corinna are great hosts and to work alongside. 

It seems so crazy that this is my last Monday in Mexico. At this time next Monday, I will be in Kansas. Reality is hitting that my time here is coming to a close. I was praying this morning with our staff and I started crying as I am so thankful for all the love and support they have shown me here. Who knew 10 months would have such an impact!

Last Tuesday, we had a spelling bee at school. I thought I was helping, but then Liz went to practice Monday and I stayed with the class, so I assumed she was helping. I should not have assumed. Tuesday morning she tells me to go help with the spelling bee. I was frustrated as she just told me to go up there and no directions. I took a deep breath and went and asked her if she could show me what do do, so she did. Just a little miscommunication : ) 

Primary and secondary class each had 10 words to spell. Karina the coordinator was holding the words for them to spell. I am not sure if it's because they were in English or if that's how they always do it. They had one student come at a time and they spelled all 10 words. 

Back in my spelling bee days, you all stood up front and you got one word at a time. If the person got it wrong they sat down and the word went to the next person. We always had to study a big list. My mom often tells me how I purposely spelt a word wrong in first grade, so I wouldn't have to advance to the spelling bee-too funny. 

Good news, I survived the spelling bee : ) Of course, they had the cutest decorations. I got just a couple pictures. Be sure to check them out. 

Tuesday was Norma's birthday. It was so fun to spoil her a little and celebrate her. She is always doing things for others, so she deserves to be spoiled a little. We picked up a cake and tacos and went to her mom's house for the evening. 

Wednesday afternoon, I had a zoom interview. I was not looking for a job, but my dear friend Kayla shared a preschool job in Aitkin. I worked in Aitkin about13 years ago for 3 years. I really enjoyed it there, but moved back home as we had a tough fall and had lost 4 people in 3 months. 

Thursday afternoon they called to offer me the job! I love my job in Wadena, so was trying to figure out what to do. I figured I would start by checking salary and benefits. I sent an e mail to the superintendent to get benefit information as she had given me the salary info. I looked into the same stuff in Wadena. My prayer since I applied for the position was for God to guide and direct and make it clear. Wednesday night as I was laying in bed, I again prayed for God to make it clear.

Friday morning, I got an e mail that shared that the position was only for sure for a year with the possibility of more. I felt that was my clear answer! Thank you Lord for clear direction and answered prayers. I am not going to leave a job that I enjoy for something that may only last a year. 

I think I have shared this in another post, but I feel like God is telling me Wadena is right where He wants me for now. Last summer, I was busy preparing to come to Mexico. The summer before that I interviewed for a Children's Ministry Director in Nowthen. The summer before that I interviewed for a teaching position at the private school in Verndale. Both those doors were closed. Thank you Lord that you always make things clear for me. 

Wednesday night Norma and I went to prayer time at the church.I didn't take a picture or write a note, so I am having a hard time remembering what the message was on. We are usually there for about two hours with a message and then prayer. Always so powerful! They even sang happy birthday to Norma and others that had a birthday : ) 

Thursday I joined Pastor Francisco and his family for a meal after school. It was such a wonderful time of fellowship and delicious food. After we ate, 3 of the kids and I went to get our ears cleaned. What a fun adventure. Check out the pictures. It didn't hurt and was actually very relaxing. 

Friday, we took a field trip to where they are building the new school. I have seen pictures, but it was fun to see in person. They kids were in heaven as there were big dirt hills for them to play on : ) Check out a few pictures. Continue praying for the construction of the school.

Joe and Corinna picked me up after school on Friday. Sweet Corinna took me grocery shopping to get stuff to make lasagna. We had a bite to eat and then I made 6 pans of lasagna. It only took like an hour, super easy. Lasagna is one of my favorite things to make : ) 

I made all the lasagna for Saturday night. I invited my teacher friends, my host family and a couple other families that have become friends to the mission house for a lasagna dinner.  I wanted to do a little something to say thanks for their love and support while I have been here. Thank you Joe and Corinna for helping me host.

I told people to come at 5 and planned to eat around 5:30. I think it was 6 when we finally prayed and ate. There were people that still weren't there. We enjoyed some lasagna. I gave a sweet and short thank you message in Spanish. Then we had ice cream and a few people shared some words about me. When I was home in December I had MN towels and keychains made as a little goodbye/thank you gift, so they will always have a piece of me here : ) They will always remember me! I even got a few gifts myself. Check out the pictures. What a special night it was. My heart was full!

Sunday I went to church with Joe and Corinna. The message was on having faith like Abraham. There was even a couple familiar worship songs : ) After church we went out for lunch and then they brought me back home.

Yesterday afternoon, I took a little nap as it took me awhile to get to sleep Saturday night. Of course, I woke up bright and early. Please keep praying for my sleep. Friday night I got a good solid 7 hours. It was wonderful. Like I said before, I enjoy the quiet time to be with the Lord, but it makes for a long day.

I started going through pictures as I am making a video to share at church on Sunday. I am making another video to share at school. I have LOTS of photos. It was fun to look through them and reflect on all that has happened while here in Mexico.

We all went out for pizza last night. We sat outside and it was beautiful.

Today was another good day for a Monday. Some of the kids were sad as we were talking about how this week will be my last week. 

I got the video for Sunday done, but when I go to save it, it's only saving the last couple slides for some reason. Please be praying I will get it figured out. I decided to leave it and come back to it later. 

Michelle, my host sister, turns 20 tomorrow, so we went out for dinner tonight to celebrate. She loves Sushi, so we went to a Sushi place. We had a nice time together celebrating Michelle. Check out pictures. Oh to be 20 again! 

Last blog, I asked for prayers as I am in the process of possibly donating a kidney. I think I still need to lose weight, but will find out for sure when I am back in the states. I was remembering 4 or 5 years ago I was hoping to donate a kidney for a friend's daughter, but needed to lose weight. I have lost since then, but maybe not enough. Please keep praying for guidance and direction with all of that.

The kids love playing thumb wars. Such a simple game, but they love it. Recently, I have taught them give me a five, on the side, on the other side, up high, down low, too slow! So many laughs. Thank you Lord for simple games that bring laughter and smiles.

I think I have shared this before, but feel like my relationship with my parents has grown since coming here. We talk at least 2 or 3 times a week. Mom and I text at least once on the days we don't talk. Thank you Lord for growing relationships.

I GET to share at church on Sunday. Planning to share a thank you for all the love and support and share some of the things God has been teaching me. Please be praying as I finalize the message. Pray for my words to be His words and not mine. 

Also pray for emotions as it will be my last Sunday at church.

Pray for safe travels and that all goes well.

Pray that I can get my slideshow all saved and it will play on Sunday

Pray for the transition home to go well. 

Thank you Lord for relationships that keep growing here. 

Thank you that I GOT to host a lasagna dinner.

Thank you for your love and that it never ends, never gives up, never runs out. 

Thank you for clear direction.

Thank you for growing relationships.

Check out some pictures from the last week : ) 

Michelle and I out for her birthday dinner

My sweet mom and dad sent Michelle a birthday card. It got                             here the day before her birthday : ) 

Norma and Ricardo at birthday dinner

Ricardo and Michelle enjoying Sushi

My delicious stir fry

Norma and Ricardo looking at the card mom sent

Matza cake-a little brownie with icecream and walnuts. It was delicious

Flowers from Dulce

Handmade purse from Ruth

Photo frame and hand made strawberry and                                                                                                 cherries from Angy and family. Strawberry                                                                                                     represents Irupuato and the cherries their family's last             name

Chocolates from Karina and her husband

Shirt that Lili made. We used to do a Friday dance when she worked there

Sweet note from Lilli

Pastor Francisco and his family

Angy, Isiasas and girls

Special gifts

Silly faces

Few of the students from school. There parents                                                                                                work at the school, so they got to come to the                                         lasagna dinner

Two boys of teacher friends enjoying their ice cream cones

Ruth and I with the purse she made

Next few pictures are group pictures of everyone t                                hat was there

Ari and I missed the silly face memo : ) 

Lili and I with the shirt she made for me. So sweet!

Enjoying lasagna

I had some of these shirts made for my core support team here.                                 I used mine for decoration on Saturday

Towels and keychains for gifts

Keychains for kids-You are loved! 

Friday night lasagna prepping

Next photos are our time visiting the new school site

Enjoying a little bite to eat

Dani was in heaven : ) 

Group Selfie

Enjoying the dirt hill

Norma and I

Praying for the school and other needs

That building will be offices and bathrooms

More dirt hill fun

I gave out a few more shirts : ) 

Keychains for co worker...miles apart but always close at heart

Next photos are of our ear cleaning adventure : 0 

The white stuff above the brown spot is the gunk from my ear

Eating with Pastor Francisco & his family

We work them hard in preschool

They both fell asleep

Classroom door decorations. Kids helped make balls. 

Sweet card from Jenny. This was just what I                                                                                                     needed. Thank you Lord that you know exactly                                                         what I need and when I need it

All the birthdays at prayer time Wednesday night

Norma's birthday at her moms

Norma's birthday decorations

Do you see all those cute bees?

Few pictures from the spelling bee

I made a birthday basket for Norma : ) 

Goodies in the basket

Norma and I hugging after she shared Saturday night

More pictures from the new school visit

A few pictures from our last zoom with Mrs.                                                                                                 Gallant's class. This was May 19th, but kept                                             forgetting to post.