Tickets, Futbol, and Gorditas

The Saturday afternoon futbol game.
Watching the game: Janessa, Carla, Darely, Marlen, and me.

The boys playing cards outside of our gate.

SUNDAY: Today was a little more exciting than usual. A lot of people were sick, so I wasn't alone... I felt sick on the way to the San Pedro service, but graciously attributed my stomach ache to the fact that I was reading Foxe's Book of Martyrs (which can make any stomach churn). I made it through the entire service before sickness hit me again and...I fainted. Unfortunately, I didn't have a romantic faint into the arms of a handsome stranger. It was humiliating after I felt good enough to be humiliated...not at all romantic. I took a nap in the afternoon and felt fine until after the Choix service. Stacey took me home before I could faint again and took good care of me.

MONDAY: I woke up with a headache, feeling feverish. I stayed home in the morning and eventually felt good enough to walk uptown to do a little shopping. Our landlady brought over some sort of Mexican meat and potatoes and I ate it for lunch. I walked over to help Donna a little before we went to San Pedro for Kid's Club. Loren had chicken noodle soup bubbling on the stove when we got home. After that, anyone would feel fine; I sure did. I had a message on the answering machine when I got home so I quickly called Mom. She delightedly told me that THEY GOT THE TICKETS!!! My entire family and one of my best friends is coming to see me in March. My heart almost stopped. And the best part was that I got to call my friend and tell her the news. I probably don't even have to say this, but I couldn't concentrate during verb class.

TUESDAY: Stacey and I had the hardest time deciding what to make for lunch. We had so many leftovers that we didn't even go to the store once! (Definitely a record for us). During break we both walked uptown to look for ideas for souvenirs for our families. Yes, I know I'm pathetic for going souvenir-shopping the day after I find out my family is coming. We hung out at the plaza and read our books. Later, we stamped tracts and I helped Donna with dinner.

WEDNESDAY: I made cookies in the morning. Loren thought they turned out so uniform that I should package and sell them. I did language study outside because the house was an icebox! I sent my family an e-mail, bemoaning the fact that it was freezing outside and I had to wear thermal underwear. Then I checked the thermometer and saw that it was 70*. Hmmmm.... Living in Illinois is going to be hard next winter. We had tostadas for lunch and then I wrote out verses on posterboard. We ate sandwiches and had prayer meeting. Janessa's blonde moment: She was trying to impress her parents into letting her do something because of her maturity. Meanwhile, I said something wise. Wanting to say something wise too, she blurted out, "Would you let me if I said something confound? I mean...PROFOUND!"

THURSDAY: I was tired of having dirty clothes so I boiled water to do my laundry. Ah, the beauty of living in Mexico! We cleaned and ate junk food for most of the morning, accomplishing nothing big. That's why I love Thursdays...even with freezing cold showers in January. I walked up to the plaza and read my book...in the shade because the sun was too hot! Salad and biscuits for dinner.

FRIDAY: I spent the morning writing out verses on posterboard and studying Spanish. Kedric quizzed me on history facts about Benjamin Franklin and other obscure characters from the past. I took a walk during siesta time (do you realize that I rarely sleep during siesta time?). Our twin neighbor boys, Eduardo and Fernando, were hanging out on our street and I talked with them for a bit. Afterwards, Donna, Kyle, and I went to Mochiqui. I helped Darely (Tita) and Carla with their letters and sounds. Then came fun night. It was fun (duh) but chilly. I was sleepy by 9:00, but we didn't get home until late.

SATURDAY: Stacey and I decided to recruit people for Saturday school. We talked to a few kids, but none of them could come. We sat through Saturday school and then made lunch for a crew of people who stayed over lunch. After lunch we took some chocolate cake to our landlady and ended up sitting on her couch and looking at her photo albums. She sent gorditas home with us...scrumptious! Stacey and I went walking, talked to Salvador, and fetched Carla, Darley, Janessa, and Marlen and watched a Mexican futbol game. Tita stayed with us and we drew on our street with sidewalk chalk. The boys playing cards in front of our gate laughed at us and kept making random comments. I stole their pile of pesos in the middle of the cards, but they made me put it back. We went for a walk and I came home to call Mom.