In Mexico, among Christians, it is common to refer to one another as "hermana" (sister) and "hermano" brother. So, those in the church who don't know my name call me "hermana" and those who do call me "hermana Lara".
The lady who cooks all of the meals in the seminary is named Blanca, and is therefor referred to as Hermana Blanca. Hermana Blanca has children my age in another city and she treats me like her daughter. She is always asking if I have eaten breakfast, she asks if I want seconds after each meal (but doesn't ask anyone else), she helps me with my laundry, she tells me when I'm cold (or at least when she thinks I am) and that I need a jacket, etc. ...and she is a GREAT cook! It's nice to have someone here "taking care" of me.
On Friday late afternoon we had the "Welcome Back" former students- "Welcome to College" new students RUF Party. It was a blast. We played a few "rompe hielo" (ice breaker) games, ate, and just hung out. We had about 50 students in attendance. Can you find me in the group pictures below?
Looking for a new "hip" phrase to add to your vocabulary? Well, look no further. "Que Padre" is probably the phrase I have heard the most since I have been in Mexico. It is used to mean "how cool, how pretty, how neat, how big, how strange, how interesting, etc." As you can see it is a really useful, and popular, phrase to add to your vocabulary!
Because it is the first week of classes the UNAM has lots of "fun" things going on on campus. Today there was some sort of "field day" with lots of games and activities. One of the activities was Salsa dance lessons (see picture below). They were way "padre" and I just had to participate! ...I mean, I all about embracing the culture when I can.
Today I was given my first tour of the UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico). This university has 120,000 students. My "tour guide", Karina, is one of the students from the RUF group. Karina is pictured above. During our "tour" we also posted lots of flyers about our up coming English Club meetings. The English Club meets twice a week and offers FREE English classes taught by us "gringos" (the term for white people). These meetings are a way for us to meet and build relationships with students from the university that we otherwise would never come into contact with. The long term goal is to connect them to RUF and share our faith with them.
As we toured the campus and put up flyers, Karina shared her testimony with me. She is one of seven children and still lives where her parents in the city. She is very close with her family. About a year and a half ago she became the first (and only) Christian in her family. When I asked her what led her to Christ, she said "I went to English Club and met other students from RUF. They were just different than any other religious people and I wanted to know more."
How exciting it was to be post flyers about English Club with a girl who became a Christian through that very ministry!
I leave on Saturday morning around 10am from the Asheville airport headed south of the border. I will arrive in Mexico City around 2:30pm (their time; which is one hour behind us).
It kind of seems surreal that I'm leaving in two day. I am really excited! Strangely I'm not really nervous or sad...which I thought I would be considering I'm leaving for such a long time.
It all just happened so fast. About two weeks ago I was not sure when I would be leaving because I did not have all of my support raised. God provided in a mighty way and His provision is a clear sign that He wants me in Mexico on August 7th. This "clarity" I think brings peace because it is so obvious that it is God's timing and will, but frankly I'm just excited. I have been in love with everything Mexican for the last six years of my life: the people, language, culture, pride... I do love Hispanics in general, but there is just something about Mexico that attracts me; and I'm finally going there. It's just exciting! I know God has big plans for me to see in Mexico (apparently starting August 7th) and I can wait to be a part of them.
Though I was sad to turn 22, it was still welcomed with as much celebration as 21. I returned home from App State on Friday July 16th around 6:30pm, quickly went shopping with my mom for my dad's birthday preseants, and then got ready to go out with Eliza, Sarah, and Susannah for appetizers. We ended up going to Stoneridge Tavern where we ate Buffalo bites and Nachos and then a brownie Sundae for dessert.
After appetizers we went Salsa dancing. Many of my friends from work came because I told them it was my birthday celebration.
Saturday I met up with some friends from work at Lake Julian here in Asheville. To my surprise it was a birthday party for me. We (well, they) grilled out Carne Asada and had rice and tortillas. We paddle boated (partially in the rain), fished, and socialized. They also bought me a traditional Mexican tres leches (three milk) cake and of course pushed my face into it....tradition! Saturday evening I went out to dinner with my parents to celebrate my dad's birthday, then I dyed my hair, and then I went out with some friends to celebrate my birthday once more.
I woke up EARLY on the actual day of my birthday to compete in the Asheville Triathlon. Both me and my dad ended up getting second place in our individual age groups! After the triathlon I hurried to church and arrived just in time to teach my 4-year-old Sunday school class. My 6 sweet little girls sang "Happy Birthday" to me. After church I went with my parents to go and eat a Asiana for lunch. Then I took a nap, packed for school the next day, and then headed out again to eat dinner with Sarah and Eliza on the day of my actual birthday. We were going to go downtown but it rained...so we returned to Stoneridge Tavern because we once again wanted Buffalo Bites and Nachos. We also were given a full rack of ribs and two brownie Sundaes compliments of the guys in the back! We were stuffed! Also, sporadically throughout the weekend I had several sweet phone calls and visits to make my day even more special. That pretty much sums up my birthday weekend. It wore me out, but I had a blast!
For my first weekend a few of the RUF students took me to see the pyramids of Teotihuacan about and hour and a half from where I live. These pyramids were the central location for the Aztec Empire. It was neat to experience such an important part of Mexican history WITH Mexicans.
