How are y’all? This week marks 6 months living in Mexico! Crazy?! And it is starting to feel like home. While I’m not crazy about living in the city, my friends here make this place my current home! Chihuahua is feeling like home! Which is a very good thing!
Last time I wrote you I was getting ready to go on a trip! Amy & I, a missionary couple (Chris & Rachel), and two friends (Erick & Edgar) from church helped move Juan & Dorothy down to a town in the state of Nyarit, which is three states away from Chihuahua & an 18-20 hour car ride! We had a fun filled 5 day trip down and back. The six of us stayed with Juan & Dorothy’s team members, Chava & Andy. We had a great time with them, checking out the town, checking out the river near their house, & even heading out to the beach for one afternoon! It was a very good trip & it was nice to get out of the city for a bit!
When we returned to Chihuahua we started back into Spanish study! We have had a couple of rough weeks with it being the summer & our friends are very busy. But we are working hard on learning Spanish! I’m meeting with my friend Rouss 2-4 times a week & it’s going really good. This last week I had a language evaluation to see how I was doing. And I’m doing good! I’m right where I need to be after living in Mexico for 6 months. And a lot of my friends have been very encouraging the last few weeks. They really are amazed that I can tell them what’s been happening in my life, and I can ask questions. I understand them & they understand me! That’s so huge.
Amy & I were able to help our church out with Vacation Bible School in July. We helped prepare the snacks for the kids. But snacks here isn’t cookies & punch, they were close to meals. With tacos barbacoa, nachos, and sandwiches & chips! So different than what I’m used, but very cool & a fun time!
Our time working in the Casa Hogar has been so much fun. I think it’s the highlight of my week! We are teaching them to read Spanish on Thursday afternoons. We have had two boys that have finished two of the literacy books! And now I need to work on the next book, so they will have something to read this week!
Here are some ways you can be thanking God on my behalf & prayer requests:
:: Praise: Language evaluation went well! I’m where I need to be!
:: Praise: A good summer helping out with our Mexican church & friends!
:: Praise: safe trip to Nyarit & back!
:: Request: This week we are going to start studying Spanish with one of the new Bible School students, her name is Lily. And she wants to learn English.
:: Request: A new possible ministry opportunity with our church here in Chihuahua! We will be working with the women from our church on Friday mornings to teach English to the mothers in the colonia, and the other women will teach the Chronological Bible Lessons! A very exciting opportunity for our church.
:: Praise & Request: for the time at the Casa Hogar. The kids are doing great with their ready. Please pray that the kids that are needing to learn to read will be able to come each week! And wisdom for Amy & I as we work to teach the kids to read in Spanish!
Thank you all so much for your continued prayers! Let me know if you have any prayer requests too!
Serving in Mexico,
Crystal
July & August 2010
Road sign on the Devil’s Spine! Four hours of curves!
Learning to wash the dishes outside!
A very colorful cemetary in Nyarit
In Mazatlan
Handing out snacks at VBS
Helping Eliseo learn to read! He’s 10 years old!