Navidad, Menudo, and Alejito

SUNDAY: Only one lady from Auguajito came to San Pedro with us. Rod had the message about the names of Jesus in Isaiah. I enjoyed singing the Spanish Christmas carols; they still made my heart feel the Christmas joy. Jesi sat beside me again and was pretty good compared to other Sundays. She made me laugh: I always shush her with my finger to my mouth when she's being too loud. So she took my hand, carefully folded down three fingers and tapped my pointer finger against her lips, "Shhhh!" I wanted to laugh out loud, but reduced it to little snorts and deep breaths of air. During the afternoon, I read "In the Presence of My Enemies" and realized what an easy missionary life I lead. I was very challenged. I watched Stacey pack and then we trotted off to the afternoon service. After the service we made it to Mochiqui and back before dark. On the way there, Rumaldo made fun of my Spanish. I felt like rattling off something in English, but I politely refrained. I waited with Sam and Stacey for the bus. While I stood there, Salvador came riding up on a bike (I wrote about him in my last entry). I was so excited, because I had been praying for another opportunity to talk with him and then POW there he was in front of me. Let me briefly describe his hair: all pretty short with a long strand in the middle front that hangs in his eyes (some theorize that his hairstyle has something to do with his gang...although no one knows for sure). So I told him that his hair was ugly and could I please cut it for him? He said no, but kindly tucked it up under his baseball cap while he talked to me. He only knows a few words in English, and most of them are not good. I explained that he should learn some good words too, and I taught him to say, "God bless you!". It came out more like: "Cod bess oo!" We talked for quite awhile about him and me and anything else my limited vocabulary dared to explore. After he left and Sam and Stacey hopped on the bus, I prayer-walked my way up to the clocktower. My heart was heavy as I thought about all of the people in Choix who don't know Christ. I took my time (walking like a Mexican). Strangely enough, no one really noticed the lonely little gringa walking uptown by herself. It was marvelous! When I got to the top of the clocktower, feelings of Christmas again overwhelmed me. Colorful Christmas lights were strung around the top of the tower where I was alone with God. I paced, prayed, and practiced my Spanish. I left, feeling that the evening was God's Christmas present to me. On the way home, three little girls stopped me to see if I would teach them English. I talked with them for quite awhile and then we walked back up to the clocktower. I couldn't keep up with three little rapid voices speaking a language I am only beginning to understand. But they were very forgiving. Eventually, I came home and called home to talk with my parents.
MONDAY: Everyone asked me if I was lonely today. I wasn't though; Stacey is coming back on Wednesday. I picked out some tracts at Loren and Donna's and then walked some groceries over to Vanessa's place. Only the grandmother and Gabi (SolAngel) were home; the rest were in Los Mochis, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Lupita's baby. So I sat and listened as the grandmother talked and talked and talked. Fortunately she did not ask any questions. While she talked I debated over the best expression to wear. I eventually decided to look concerned at all times. That way, if she was telling me bad things, I would look like I understood, and if she was telling me good things, I would look like I was concentrating on the language. I finally went home, not knowing much more than I knew before I came. Salvador spotted me while playing a video game and yelled out, "God bless you!" We went to San Pedro for Kid's Club. The group was smaller, thanks to a nearby fiesta. I was okay with only having a couple of tables full of children to keep track of. Fransisca cornered me with more questions about the church that I didn't know how to answer. I must look like I want to be a victim. I spent my second evening alone, but this one was better... No pulsating music shaking my bed and rattling the windows!
TUESDAY: I tried to do language study, but fortunately the computer didn't work (!!!). I made chocolate cake instead. Unfortunately, the guys took my cake to the prison for the men. Marlen came and we made a double layer cake for Christmas. For lunch I whipped up some red rice and beans like an old pro...and American pro anyway. When I stuck the mixer in the beans, Marlen freaked out. But she didn't say anything when they turned out nice and smooth. I came home to relax, but suddenly some children burst through the adjoining door to the landlady's house and handed me my Internet bill. Ummm... okay. I guess my landlady's visitors assume that we're one big, happy family. I walked over to pay it without having the exact change. They couldn't give me the exact change right away, but they gave me a plate full of cheese. Yum. Time to buy some chips and throw a party! I barely made it back to the Yoders' in time to jump into the truck with a pile of other people on the way to Aguajito and Colexio. We passed out tracts in those two little villages. I had fun with Miguel and Diego on the windy ride home. I was tired and my hair was a mess when we got back to lovely little Choix.
WEDNESDAY: Christmas Eve with no snow. And no cold. It was strange, but I really enjoyed short-sleeve weather so close to Christmas. Since Rachel was in the States and Bri was in Los Mochis, Donna drove me out to the orphanage to help for the day. The children were delighted to see me. Mostly, I spent the morning trying to figure out the schedule and learning to multi-task efficiently. (I definitely didn't have it mastered before I left that afternoon.) I made bread, roasted pumpkin seeds, fed Chuyito, ate lunch, did laundry, and rode bike back home. The day was uneventful but also refreshingly different. That afternoon I called home, made cookies for my landlady, and helped with making the Christmas dinner for the evening. I was about to walk home and change out of my dirty clothes when the Tucson crew arrived...very travel-weary. My practically spouse (Stacey) jumped out and gave me a homecoming hug. We went home to change and get our gifts. When we returned, dinner was ready. The candlelit table was beautiful and it honestly felt like Christmas. We had green jell-O, clam chowder, crescent rolls, oranges, cookies, and coffee. Kedric had my name for Christmas and he did a very good job picking out my gift. When I got home, I called my family and was on speaker phone as they finished opening their gifts.

Feeding Chuyito.
Roxina, Deanna, and MariChuy having fun with my camera.

Me with my Christmas gift.

I just love Kyle's expression as Janessa opens her gift!

THURSDAY: Navidad, Navidad, hoy es Navidad! This morning was not my favorite. All of the landlady's company (11 grandchildren and many adults) celebrated Christmas at midnight with yelling, screaming, gifts, and music. I knew I had no hope of sleeping until they settled down a little. So I got up and showered and would have thrown in a load of laundry if the water would have been on. They quieted down by 1:30, but were up before 7:00. I wonder if they even need any sleep. Determined to have a good day despite the lack of sleep, I got up and did laundry and cleaned up the house a little. Stacey told me to stop thinking about home because it was only making me homesick. She was right, of course... We walked over to Loren and Donna's to help with the Christmas lunch. On the way, I stopped by one of the archades to talk a little with Salvador. He was a little gentleman and left his game to come to talk with us, despite the fact that he was losing points. Later, he stopped by Loren and Donna's with his friend to see what we were up to. We helped Donna get things ready for the day, ate lunch, did dishes, and went home. I went for a walk to get my exercise for the day. Soon after I got back, Stacey, Donna, Janessa, and I went to see Lupita's new little baby boy, Alejito. We ended up taking Lupita to the hospital because one of her stitches from the C-section had come out. Stacey and I walked to the orphanage for the Christmas celebration. We watched the children's drama of the first Christmas. They did a wonderful job of adding unintentional humor to the Biblical account. Afterwards we had lots of delicious snacks and sang Christmas carols in English and in Spanish.

FRIDAY: I spent most of today in Loren and Donna's house, putting my perfectionist/organzing abilities to use. They bought a big shelf (with five stories...or whatever you call them) for all of their ministry materials. My job was to organize everything. I enjoyed it, although I didn't see much of the outside world all day. Stacey was helping at the orphanage all morning, so I didn't see her until siesta time. She came back over with me to organize the piles and piles of tracts. Then guess what we had for dinner to reward us from a hard day of work...Menudo! My favorite! I just love tasteless soup with miscallaneous cow parts and corn floating around in it. No, it wasn't terrible; Donna picked out the meat and seasoned it. Plus, we had bean burritos too (ah, safe Mexican food). That night, Stacey and I had our own little party with cheese and wine (er...sparkling grape juice). It was fun to hang out after a LONG day of being separated!

SATURDAY: Before Saturday school, Stacey and I walked down the street to see if we could find the neighborhood boys who mysteriously disappear every Saturday morning. We didn't find them, but we stopped by Vanessa's house to make sure that Vanessa and Gabi were coming. Saturday school was very small; a little disappointing actually. Afterwards, we made lunch, ate lunch, and went home. Marlen came over around 4:00 and we walked up to the plaza to study English/Spanish. We had lots of fun discussing languages, taking pictures, and being silly. Stacey and I dropped off Marlen and walked around Choix, passing out tracts. Mexicans are so open to literature that I was shocked to find someone who did not want the tract and refused to accept it. We witnessed a minor accident, decided that we weren't needed for witnesses, and headed back to Loren and Donna's to help with dinner. We cut up vegetables and I read stories to Kyle until Brianne and her family came. We ate delicious pizza together and sat around like borring adults and talked.

Having fun at the plaza.