Tortilla-made relationships

It all started when I found a sweet boy, Carlos, rolling out hand-made tortillas. I asked him to show me how thin he rolls it and what ingredients he used. Then I made a comment to the leader that I really want to learn how to make tortillas to which he volunteered another sweet boy, Franco, to be my teacher. Franco is the best tortilla maker of them all. Plans were made and I left excited for our upcoming "date."

Yesterday afternoon came and Franco began to teach. He has a quiet spirit but is quick to smile and laugh. He is a very intelligent 17 year old who is studying administration and computer technology at a local preparatory high school. He came to the boy's home three years ago due to poor behavioral choices but has since let Jesus into his heart and has become a wonderful young man. He is now a leader among the boys, respected and adored by all. The younger boys will spontaneously hug him and he allows them to follow him around.

He pulled out the bowl, the flour, salt, and oil and began telling me how tortillas are made. When my spanish understanding failed me, he patiently repeated himself or found another way to communicate his instructions. And even though he was done with his dough long before I was done, he waited, asked if I needed help, and offered helpful advise, like how to properly knead the dough. Though we never counted how many tortillas we actually made, I would guess it was somewhere around 80...enough to feed all the boys and a few added staff members. It was a three hour long process where I got to practice my spanish with him and thereby get to know Franco a bit more.

It wasn't until a couple hours later, after the evening's english class was over, that I found out that Franco sacrificed his homework time to teach me how to make tortillas. Once english class was over, he pulled out his school homework and began working on it...4 pages of homework due today and that was only in one subject.

I was, and still am, so humbled and touched by his heart and time.

Birthdays in Mexico

So Mexican churches, at least the ones I visit, have this great birthday tradition. Well, at least I think it's great. And I don't know if it's solely a church tradition or if there is a variance of this in secular areas, such as schools.

If it's your birthday, they call you up in front of the church, usually at the end of the service. Then the pastor prays for you...all the words that I've understood have been really beautiful prayers of blessings.

Three people recently had birthdays, hence the larger group

Then, they play an upbeat birthday song while everyone, and I do mean everyone, walks up front and hugs the birthday person. It's this long parade of people to hug and say "felicidades" or whatever else.

After the line is through, everyone sits down and the service moves on.
I love it! I love the prayers. I love the hugs. I love this tradition.

But despite this sweetness, they will also smash cake into your face, if they have opportunity. Consider yourself warned.

This week

This week has been a bit fun! Anytime I have an opportunity to exert creative energy is a good time. So what has this week included? Let me share:

• I got to take two kids to the park. This park was pretty cool. I've been there before but prior to taking the two kids, I hadn't visited the toy area. This toy area had a whole collection of toys that allow for exercises...for example, the park has one toy that is basically an elliptical trainer and another that is essentially a rowing machine...but they're toys for kids to play with (as well as the adults who accompany said kids).
• I was assigned the responsibility of providing banana and pumpkin bread for a church service in Tijuana next week. The estimated count is approximately 100 people. So I've been baking up a storm the last three days. With the two banana loaves in my oven right now, I now have 13 loaves ready for devouring. I love cooking/baking so this has been enjoyable. Plus my house smell a-maz-ing!!
• Then tomorrow, I get to go to a Craft or Homemade Fair in Ensenada. It's all day tomorrow and I've been told that there will be a whole gamut of things from products to food to crafts. I have a friend who has started her own business creating beautiful accessories for hair, as well as jewelry. She is going to have a booth there and I am going to help her man the table from about 1-7pm. The location is right next to the port where the cruise ships come in and Saturday is a cruise ship day, so I'll be the English speaker for such visitors. I think my friend will do fabulously well at this fair...I so hope that is the case. At any rate, I'm excited to walk around and see the sights as well as trying to sell cute things. Maybe I should try the following Mexican salesman lines:
• For you 99% off!
• Almost free for missionaries/cruise visitors!
• Come buy something you don't need! (seriously, I've heard these all!!)
• And last but not least, I got to operate an electric hand saw. There is something about power tools that make me want to grunt like Tim Allen in Home Improvement...do you know what I mean? I don't know if it's because I'm a woman that feels empowered, in that moment, or if it's just an innate desire of all humans when holding something that roars with power and a little danger. Regardless, I cut some wood and loved it!

Prayer's struggle

I have this one specific prayer request that I've talked to God for about 4 months now. Not every day but regularly...several times each week, to be sure.

I was reminded yesterday by a Mexican friend of a story in the book of Daniel where Daniel prayed for 24 days on a certain request. On the 24th day, an angel came to Daniel and said that he had left immediately to minister to Daniel but was stopped in battle and had only just been freed to come. If Daniel hadn't continued to pray until he received an answer, I wonder if he would have missed out on the blessing.

This is a good encouragement for me to persevere and faithfully bring my request before God. Plus, even without this encouragement, I know that God cares about the things that weigh on my heart, including this.

But I was also reminded, about two months, ago of a passage in Romans: "Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts..." (Romans 1:24). This came to mind because although I know God cares, I have no desire for Him to answer my prayer in the way I desire, unless it is also what He desires for my life. I don't want to be given over to my desires only to find out one day down the road that I "settled" instead of waiting for God's blessing...much like the story of King Saul and David. The people of Israel demanded a king, so God gave them Saul...a weak and unfaithful king...when instead the people of Israel should have waited for the "man after God's heart," King David.

All this to say, I'll keep praying faithfully, like Daniel, until God provides an answer. And I keep praying humbly, seeking God's time over my own desires.

Tienes amigos?

Since the beginning of September, I have been taking Spanish classes every Monday and Wednesday, for two hours each day.

Up until yesterday (Wednesday), our classes have consisted of many many vocab words. In the first two or three classes, I think she literally threw about 300 words at us to memorize. Then she gave us more. We have reviewed and reviewed with each class. I understand the value of knowing vocab words...but was ready for more.

Yesterday, she gave us questions! Questions we can use to actually converse! My heart soared...I long for conversations! Although I had to laugh over three of the questions:

• Te pagan bien?--Do you get good pay?
• I'm not sure I'd ever feel comfortable asking that question, outside my own family or closest friends.
• Tienes amigos?--Do you have friends?
• Ummm....yes?!?!
• Que clase de amigos tienes?--What type of friends do you have?
• The good kind?!?!
• And no, this list of questions did NOT include: Donde es el bano? Where is the bathroom?

Learning a language is an adventure, to be sure. Partly because of the teacher. Both this teacher and my previous teacher from high school (from Puerto Rico and Cuba, respectively) have large personalities. They are crazy, loud, laugh a lot, and talk fast! I think they're great!

Going to Spanish classes isn't the most fun I do but it is definitely helpful. I just need to keep practicing in public until I can speak without making my statements into questions, due to uncertainty.

Anyhow, that's enough on Spanish 101 for today...I need to go study some more. I'll leave you one last question that is worth knowing: Cual es tu estacion de radio favorito? What is your favorite radio station?