Seasons' Greetings!

I cannot believe it is already the Christmas season! My time here has been filled with much observing and learning about the schedules and customs in the Casa, but I did take a break for Thanksgiving Day. I took the bus to Mexico City and then drove from there (with the rest of the Spearhead team) to Cuernavaca. It was beautiful and warm, so we played volleyball and football (americano) while we waited for everyone to arrive. All the LAM missionaries gathered, each bringing a yummy traditional Thanksgiving dish (Spearheaders brought the Coca-cola...), and we all ate and fellowshipped on the roof. After the meal, everyone shared a little about ways they have been blessed and it was truly fascinating to hear about the lives of everyone there.

Back at the Casa, I have been working more with the girls on clothes, trying to establish a system that works. After getting advice from Nydia (the directora of Spearhead) over Thanksgiving, I decided to try putting labels in their drawers that say "pants," "shirts," "pijamas," etc. and have a picture of the corresponding item. This way, even the girls who cannot read yet will be able to organize their clothes, as well as hopefully learning to identify some words. The benefit for me is that the drawers are organized when I go to see how many more pairs of pants, shirts, etc they need, so I don't have to take everything out to see what they are lacking. There was concern from the Casa staff that they would just tear them down immediately, but I decided I had to try something, so I have made the labels and put them up. I have also talked one-on-one with each girl to explain the system in an age-appropriate way and make sure they understand it. They have been up for four days now and none have been ripped down, so I am optimistic; however, this is something you can pray for (that they labels would stay up and that this system would work), as silly as that sounds.

I am learning that God cares deeply for our most petty concerns and, like any good Father, wants to provide us with our every desire, as long as it is in our best interest. God has heard my most petty prayers while I have been here, answering in the sweetest and most intimate ways. He is opening up new opportunities for friendships and introducing me to many who are hospitable, welcoming and warm. But even in the struggles, frustrations and hard times (and there are many!) I can see how God is orchestrating events for my ultimate good. Like a child in the midst of being disciplined or gold being cleansed in the fire, there are circumstances that are not pleasant now, but I trust they will benefit me and ultimately serve to bring His kingdom to earth.

One such hard time began precisely a week ago, and has just come to a close. Last Tuesday, around 3:30, my stomach started hurting, then vomitting and diarrhea, and it went downhill from there! Around 8pm, I felt like I was going to pass out, and not knowing how to say "pass out" in Spanish, I panicked and decided to go down to Jacob and Charity's house (the missionary couple who live on the premises) to get some help. Charity was very welcoming and tried some natural medicine (oregano oil, apparently it is a natural antibiotic). I felt better for a while, but was unable to keep down any liquids. Around 10pm, I went on my first Mexican hospital venture! Jacob took me to Sanatorio La Luz, a very nice hospital close by. The wait was no more than 30 minutes, the consultation was professional and brief and they gave me an IV injection of some medicine to stop the vomiting so that I would be able to take fluids again. The 30 minutes of waiting for this medicine to kick in were probably the most uncomfortable 30 minutes of my entire life, because of my extreme dehydration, but finally they let me try drinking some "suero," or Pedialyte type drink, and it stayed down. The visit was about 350 pesos (with the current exchange rate, that's probably less than $30 USD), and the prescribed antibiotics were less than $9 USD. (If I had not been so delusional from dehydration, this would have impressed me more at the time. It was not until later that I realized how ridiculously cheap that is.) So I stayed the night with Jacob and Charity (what a blessing from the Lord they are!) and the next morning felt well enough to go back up to the Casa. I felt weak and my stomach was uneasy for the next few days, but I have felt 100% again since Sunday.

One great thing this uncomfortable sickness has done is to slow me down. I had gotten to the point of trying to do everything at once- organizing clothes, getting every girl to have her drawers organized, to shower everyday, to brush teeth and hair and put on lotion and wash their face and on and on. My goals were exceding what is humanly possible, which resulted in me stressing and feeling failure, along with ultimately forgetting the main reason I am here, which is to love the children and share truth with them. So it seems God has His purposes in everything...

Along with my physical sickness, I have been emotionally a bit down. Thinking of Christmas, family, friends and all the traditions that mean so much to me, it has hit me that those will not be the same this year, as I will be staying in Morelia for the holidays. I have been praying through this sadness, and since then, I have had 3 invitations for Christmas Day and have confirmed that my old roommate from Mexico City will be able to come visit the day after Christmas. Strangely, I have also felt a peace about just being here at the Casa. Today, I went and bought all my Christmas decorations, including a mini-tree, ornaments, nativity, door decoration and lights (for under $20 USD!), and I have spent the last few days listening to carols. So, praise God, I am on the upswing emotionally as well as physically. I still don't know my exact plans for Christmas, but I know this holiday season will be joy-filled and unforgetable.

I wish I had room to tell you all that the Lord has done, and all the promise of things that are still in the works that He is doing. Once again, thank you so much for your support, your interest in my life and your prayers. Please send me a Christmas card, and let me know what is going on in your life. I love you all and miss you greatly.

Love!