I spent November & December getting used to living life out here at the Ranch. I was able to settle into all my jobs including working in the office, organizing the cleaning of different buildings on the property, working on organizing socials for the students, staff, & other missionaries, organizing the prayer times which includes translating prayer requests, doing some discipleship, and helping out with the random jobs that just seem to come up. 🙂
Amy’s parents also made a quick trip down to Mexico. They were able to spend a whole week with Amy & Hector, and they had a great time visiting the sites in Chihuahua and meeting Hector’s family.
One of the activities that I planned in November was an American Thanksgiving meal for the students & staff to enjoy. We had a very amazing meal that was enjoyed by all and we were all thankful for so many things.
I finished the semester at the Ranch with 4 Christmas parties, a bridal shower, after 5 birthday parties I lost count, attending end of the semester interviews for all the students, and then there was a whirlwind trip to head home to Oregon for Christmas. 🙂 It was a super crazy 3 weeks!
And I was blessed this year to be able to head home for Christmas again (cheap Southwest plane tickets help so much!). So I was able to spend almost three weeks home with my family, friends, & churches. The only thing I missed seeing was the snow! There was no snow for the whole three weeks I was home. What’s up with that? 🙁
I made it back to Mexico January 7th, and the students started their classes on January 11th. Almost all 15 of our students were able to go to their homes to visit their families, and they all came back ready for the semester.
This semester we had a reception for two of the students, Darvin & Ari, that got married during Christmas vacation, this next week we will be hosting a group of Mexican pastors & their wives here at the ranch for a few days & I’ll be in charge of helping accommodate them, I an currently attending a literacy class here in hopes of helping/teaching the curriculum in the future, and one of the hugest events this semester is the language practicum that the students will be going on.
The language practicum that the students will be going on will happen here in Mexico in the mountains. We are still working on a location. Please be praying for logistics and all. Their practicum is similar to the one I went on while I was in the training, and we came to Mexico to learn Spanish without books or teachers, but using a method called Total Physical Response. It’s how I learned my Spanish here in Chihuahua – without textbooks, college, or teachers. 🙂 It’s amazing preparation for learning a tribal language and I pray that it will be beneficial for all the students here.
Thank you all so much for your love and prayers. Each day I’m praying for you.
These are some of my prayer requests & praises ::
I hope and praying things are going well for you all. And if you have any prayer requests please let me know.
In Christ’s love, Crystal
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Home in Oregon with my sister & friends! Amy’s Family & Hector’s Family Darvin & Ari – new married students at the Ranch |