Mexico Adventures

Well, Andy and I are home after a CCF Alumni mission trip to Mexico. Andy attended CCF while he was at Vincennes and he was a resident in the campus house his last year. There were 21 people that were going on the trip. He knew a few of them, but several of them had graduated more recently. We were two of the older ones on the trip, which seemed kind of strange. We all met at the campus house on Thursday night (May 31) and Scott (the campus minister) wanted to meet with everyone that night. At about 11pm we found out that we might not have transportation to travel to Mexico. We had a group prayer session. The maintenance guys had gone to just fix something small and they ended up finding more wrong. We thought the entire engine was shot. Several other area churches were contacted, but for various reasons we weren't able to borrow their vans or buses. About 45 minutes after our prayer the maintenance guys called and said that the bus seemed to be working right and they were going to take it out to get it hot and see what happened. Amazingly, the bus did fine. We took it on the trip and we had no major problems. If you remember, Andy and I had planned a Bolivia trip last year that was cancelled as well. When we heard this news about Mexico we just looked at each other. I had this amazing calm feeling, and I wonder if God didn't just allow this to happen just to show me how to trust more.
Well, we spent several hours in the bus...about 25 each way. I made some amazing friends that I really loved hanging out with. It was really great to have that christian community feeling again. I really miss it, and it seemed kind of amazing how I fit right in with all the girls.
We arrived on Saturday morning, and actually had a little more problem crossing into Mexico than we had coming into the US. We went shopping in the market. I almost wish we could have had a little more time there...maybe I'm a shopper at heart and didn't know it. Anyway, we relaxed for the rest of Saturday, and Sunday we woke up early to head out with the church that was at our location. They were going to have a church picnic. It was fun. They all brought breakfast -the potato tacos were quite yummy. Then we were part of the worship service (it reminded me a lot of church camp). The singing was great, and I caught a few phrases in the sermon...but I definitely need to brush up on my Spanish. The lunch was wonderful ~ chicken and rice...I loved it!!! We stayed at the picnic until about 4pm, and then it was about an hour drive in buses back to the compound. Sunday night one of the guys asked his girlfriend to marry him. Not long after that we were having a time of singing when God sent crazy wind and rain. We had to go into the lower level and hide out for a while. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were hard working days. I painted a ceiling rafter on Monday...I don't like the unbalanced feeling on scaffolding. Tuesday and Wednesday took all my arm and back muscles while I dug a trench, mixed, wheel barrowed, and poured concrete. Tuesday it was just girls, but thankfully we were able to keep a few guys to help us on Wednesday. I got incredibly sunburned on Wednesday, but it's not so terrible now. We packed up our stuff Wednesday night and Thursday morning we headed out at 6am to cross back over into America. It ended up being quite easy to get back across. The return trip seemed to take forever, and I was very ready to get off the bus. We finally got back to the CCF house Friday morning...and it was a bitter-sweet return. I was very happy about getting off the bus, but I was sad about leaving the company that we had. I really loved hanging out with the people we travelled with. Andy and I got home around 10am on Friday morning, and I suppose we start back with our mundane work week Monday. It was a great trip, and I met some wonderful people. I am happy to be back at home where I can flush my toilet paper, live with air conditioning, drink water with ice, and get out of the shower without immediately sweating -but, I loved my Mexico experience.


Andy & Me at the Sunday service


Andy playing soccer with some of the kids



the compound where we stayed



Me, Jess, Autumn

Summer is here...almost

I think that technically Summer begins June 21, but since school is almost out (they have four more days), AWANA is over, and June is quickly approaching...I can say that Summer is here. I don't necessarily think of it as a season so much as a specific time of year. Maybe that's contradictory, but Summer is associated with no school, warm weather, and trips. I think we've got those three areas covered.

Tonight was AWANA awards night. I somehow end up taking on projects that I decide need to happen. I hope that the girls had as much fun as I did. Yesterday we did our service project and visited 6 elderly people, mostly in nursing homes. I think that it was the first time any of them had done anything like that...I hope that it was eye-opening and that they gained something from it. We had a little graduation party afterwards, and I think that went okay as well. Today I finished making little bags that were their end-of-the-year gifts. With candy, lip gloss, sidewalk chalk, and a marker I think they're ready for anything :) Some of the girls graduate into the junior high class. I'm a little sad about that, but I suppose you have to say good-bye sometime.

As far as I am spiritually, I really think that God is teaching me to trust. I feel more at peace now than I remember ever feeling, even though I know that I have no control at all. I've never been really good at the whole trusting thing. (the trust fall...didn't happen...I couldn't do it.) So, what I really love is that I feel that I can really minister to the girls I'm teaching and at the same time be open and receptive to learning my own lessons that God is teaching me. I love that I can teach and grow at the same time, and I'm really glad that God has it set up to work that way.

Finally, Jonathan is 23. It's strange that we're both much older than I ever remember that I've imagined us being. I think in my mind I've always kept us invisioned as high-schoolers. Now he even has a little baby, and it's just kind of weird. Weird, but cool. So, Happy Birthday bubby :)

Summer is here...almost

What's up...

Our porch swing!!! We've been waiting and thinking for quite a long time how to hang the porch swing. It seems like a fairly simple task until you take a look in our attic. The way the joists are crossing and all that made it difficult to find a way to safely secure the swing. The actual project didn't take that long once we figured out what we needed and got started. Now, we can swing happily on our porch at all ours of the day. We love it. :)

Tomorrow we're hosting 3 girls from Cedarville University. They are doing a singing performance at church. Andy and I both have to work unfortunately, so the girls will have to find their way around the house. I'm a little sad that I can't be here to greet them, but I suppose it'll be okay.

Niah seems to be growing well. Jon sent me pictures from recently, and she already looks quite a lot different than when I first met her. I'll be excited to see her again. Hopefully, when I see her she will be able to play with me some more.

Also, the Awana girls seem excited about their upcoming "service project party". I'm excited about it. I had some quality time with them tonight when we rolled down the hill outside to see who could get to the bottom first. I won the first time :) The second time one of the girls rolled on top of me, so I never quite made it to the bottom. I also found out that my skin doesn't like grass too much. I really liked rolling down the hill though. It was lots of fun.

So, I guess that's about it. I'm still looking and praying for the job that God wants me to have and that I'm happy with wherever He wants me. The second part is much harder than the first.

Oh, and one more thing. I love my fish. He's very funny. Today we had an episode where he actually jumped OUT of the tank onto the fireplace area...he was flipping and flopping so much that I thought he was dead for sure. I finally got him back in the tank. He was really dirty from the dust on the fireplace and I thought that he had permanently damaged one of his fins, but tonight he seems to be swimming well. I'm glad because I really like having him around.

p.s. happiest of birthdays aaron and carey :)

Just an update

Things have been going okay. Nothing too extraordinary to report. Andy and I were able to take a trip to St. Louis last Saturday to visit Archiver's. It was fun. We also got to see Barb and Grandma and took a little drive to Ted Drewes. This week has just been the normal work week. Tonight was AWANA. I'd talked last week about being a servant and how Jesus showed us an example of being a servant. In May I'm taking the girls to visit several elderly people in the church and I explained that it's just a way to serve. I talked to Dad earlier today to see if he had any other thoughts about serving people in the Bible that I could use for this week. He gave the example of Dorcas. So, I grabbed some "Bible clothes" from the church stash and cut out several small dresses. I told the story of Dorcas...up to how she died. I didn't finish the story and I challenged them to read it on their own. I think that I'll give them a little something if they actually follow through. Anyway, we made magnets with the small dresses to help remind them of ways to serve. I also read them Matthew 25:35 where it talks about feeding the hungry and visiting the sick. I hope that it sticks that they're able to remember it.

Happy Birthday

Saturday was my birthday. Mom and Dad came for a visit Thursday night and stayed until Saturday. It was wonderful just having them here. I miss my family so much. Jonathan wrote a tribute to me on his blog that made me cry. But if you read the part about hitting someone...well, it's true, but it's the only time I remember ever doing anything like that. I believe that he does clarify that it's "not typical Amanda behavior." It rained on my birthday, as it does almost every year. I believe that in Anderson they received some snow...not here though.

Andy and I have been enjoying a wonderful turtle cake that my Mom made for me. It's so yummy...and it tastes really good with ice cream.

Also, I got a fish on my birthday. He's a Tiger Oscar, and his name is Chicken. He's been spending most of his time pouting on the bottom of the tank. Andy and I looked through the window last night though and saw that he was swimming around quite happily...then, we walked in the door and he dashes down to the corner to hide and pout again. I think we should have named him "Oscar the grouch" instead...and if he keeps it up, I just might change his name.

Anyway, it was a lovely birthday. Thanks to everyone who called, sang, and sent happy birthday wishes.

Today was a beautiful day as well. I sat on the porch for a short time just enjoying the sunshine and reading through the mail. I'm very disappointed that I have to go to work tonight...I'm dreading what's to come and the fact that I have to be awake all night long. I'm working on getting happy.

Back Again

Alright, so I'm finally posting something again. Andy and I just got back from Belmont late last night, and two nights ago we returned home after our trip to England. It was fun but fast. Andy really enjoyed using all the public transportation, and I... I think that I just enjoyed being somewhere else and not having to go to the hospital. We did make it there and back safely, and we are very thankful for that.

It was great to see the family yesterday. We love just being with our family...I wonder if we would still appreciate it as much if we saw them more often. Carey was definately missed as was Cathy. It seems like a Carey hug is so far away, and I just suddenly got the longing for a sisterly hug. It was freezing cold outside yesterday, but the egg and basket hunt continued. Andy and I got some nifty items in our little basket. I was more excited about most of them than he was, but it was fun following the clues all the same.

So, tomorrow starts the beginning of a new week. I'm not sure what all is in our future right now, but somehow I feel fairly content with whatever it may be. Perhaps I'll really get going on a new job hunt. I'm not sure really how much longer I can stay at the hospital and remain sane.

I hope that everyone has a lovely Easter...and I hope that you all remember to thank God for his daily blessings as well as the big things (like eternal life) that we can't even fathom.

Much love, Amanda