Links:
*God is Everywhere* New music video that I made with my friend, Shon!
*FB album: Valentine’s Day*
*ITESG ECC FB page*
February 8 (Day 173)
I found out that I was accepted in to Webster University’s
Global Masters of Arts in International Relations. Although Webster University
is based in St. Louis, MO, that is not where I would be located. This program
would allow me to complete a Masters degree in 11 months and travel to five
different countries: the Netherlands, Austria, English, Switzerland, and China.
I have not decided if that is what I am going to do, but it was a huge
blessing! Thank you to Mary Tolar and Anita Cortez for writing the letters of
recommendation. For more information about this program, click here.
February 9 (Day 174)
Today was the first day of English Classes at Trigo y Miel
this year!
February 12 (Day 177)
I am not going to lie. I have missed baked goods
tremendously! Due to this, I decided to make Chocolate Chip cookies and
brownies for the ITESG Conversation Club. It was my first time making desserts
without a professional baker standing right next to me!
February 13 (Day 178)
After a dessert amount of hours next to an oven, I finally
was able to have the students test the desserts. It was a huge hit! As a matter
of fact, brownies and chocolate chip cookies were demolished in less than 20
minutes. News really traveled fast!
February 14 (Day 179)
-School: So, in
Mexico, Valentine’s Day is known as the Day of Love and Friendship. I enjoyed
telling the students about how Valentine’s Day in the States is better known as
Singles Awareness Day. Although I am single, I absolutely love this day! I
delivered little Valentine’s made by the Conversation Club exec to its members.
It was fun J
-Singles Celebration:
Notice the irony in the following statement. Every year, I have a singles’dinner
with my friends back home. I did not want this tradition to die. So, I call my
friend Raquel and we planned a little gathering of friends mostly from church
(I also invited some of my students). I was surprised when about 15 people
showed up! We ate sandwiches and played games. I tried to teach them signs, but
they hated it! It was quite sad. :-/
-Karaoke/Dancing: It
was not in my original plan, but I decided to go to the Centro with my students
in the evening. I taught one of them what I knew about Salsa and we all had a
blast! We got back at about 4 in the morning and two of the ladies crashed at
my house because they lived pretty far from the town center.
February 18 (Day 183)
-So, due to a complicated payment system that I do not feel
obligated to explain…I found myself living for six months off of three months’
pay. As you may recall, I also took a pretty extravagant Winter Break trips.
Since my funds were depleted, I had a somewhat “Forced” Sabbath. It ended up
being a huge blessing in disguise. I stayed home all day, reading Redeeming
Love. It was very good for my soul to lose myself in a book.
February 19 (Day 184)
-Got paid! Having limited funds really gave me an opportunity to
see a new perspective. However, it was not very enjoyable at all!
My buddy from Chicago, Amanda, sent me a text saying that
there is a free Salsa class in town. I was so excited! When we got there, the
instructor gave us a huge schpeel about committing. He told us he was sick of
starting at the basics because of the new people. I was so discouraged because
when I did something wrong, he keeps yelling, “NO!” But halfway through the
class, he stopped. He told me, “You have rhythm and dance very well. Once I
teach you more complicated steps, you will be great.” Now, I just need to hunt
for a good male dancer to travel with me wherever I go!
February 21 (Day 186)
The same day that I got paid, my friend Mabel, sent me a
text saying that the price of airfare to go to Costa Rica went down! I
hustled to the travel agency and bought it before I changed my mind. I am so
excited to see missionaries that I met in Kansas City as well as my former
Mission Adelante boss’ family (they are on Sabbatical). On top of that, I will
be reunited with a girl named Laura, who was in my house church last year.
While in the centro, I got a call from one of my first
friends here in Guanajuato. We went out for coffee and she told me why I have
not heard from her in a long time. She has been have family problems and I was
excited hear that she was looking for the Lord. We then had a very long
spiritual conversation and I left interested to see how the Lord was going to
impact her life.
Guanajuato has had a mini fair over the last couple of
weeks. I say “mini” because I was surprised to learn that there was NO food. I
decided to go with my new friend, Paco. When we got there, he notified me that
he is afraid of the rides. I couldn’t help but laugh…a lot. He pointed out a
ride that was the equivalent to Cyclone
Sam at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. I must admit that I judged him, until
I got on it. About one minute in, it clicked that I was in México on an ANCIENT
ride. Let’s be honest, I don’t even go on fair rides in the States. His fear
was completed validated because I will not be doing that again…EVER.
Update:
**Conversation Club**
The last few weeks have not gone by too well. I need to
figure out a way to spark a fire under the butts of the leaders as well as the
students in the school. I can’t believe I have had more students at tutoring
sessions than Conversation Club!
**Church**
I have been spending a lot of time at church recently.
Finally, I have built a strong community (unfortunately, I only have 3 months
left). This week we will start a Conversation Table on Thursdays and I am
interested to see who shows up.
**My Birthday**
Originally, my goal was to get out of Guanajuato for my
birthday. I had a fear that I would be stuck at home, with nothing to do.
However, I have decided to have a little faith. So, on Friday, March 1st,
I will be here. However, just in case it is a bust, I already have plans to
leave on Saturday!
Love you all lots,
Sirenita
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"Life is a dance toward God, I begin to think. And the dance is not so graceful as we might want. While we glide and swing our practiced sway, God crowds our feet, bumps our toes, and scuffs our shoes. So we learn to dance with the One who made us. And it is difficult dance to learn, because its steps are foreign." -Donald Miller
