CURyCLUB Salsa Dancing

For our CURyCLUB (activity with RUF and English Club students combined) we had a free salsa lesson. What better way to integrate two groups and make new friends in Mexico!

Itzlahuaca

This weekend I was able to travel out of Mexico City with some friends. We passed throught Toluca and then I stayed in Itzlahuaca. The cool thing about Itzlahuaca is that it is the hometown of two of my Mexican friends/co-workers in Asheville. I was able to spend time with their families. Since I was out in the "country" I learned how to make corn tortillas from scratch over a fire, and before cooking and eating our corn-on-the-cobb we had to go out in the field and pick it. We had chicken soup for dinner one evening and it had the WHOLE chicken in it (minus the fethers). I was thankful that I got a wing instead of a foot in my bowl at dinner. I LOVED the whole experience!

Me and Joana-Belen ("Belen" means Bethlehem)

Cooking tortillas

Washing clothes by hand

Downtown Itzlahuaca

Corn Husking

English Club...answered prayer!

English Club consist of small discussion groups. Can you see all of the small groups in the pictures below?

I asked you all to pray for "English Club" last week in my email update. Well thank you for your prayers! They have clearly been answered! Last Wednesday we had our first meeting. Based on numbers from previous years we were expecting about 15, but had planned for 30. Well, about 35 showed up! On Friday we had about 45 students! WOW! We couldn't believe the turn out! This week our numbers have remained consistent...so I have be making extra copies.

After English Club students have the opportunity to sign up for Spanish Club. Spanish Club consist of having one-on-one hour with either me or Taylor (an exchange student from California who is helping out with RUF) in which we talk in Spanish. The Spanish Club has several purposes: to help me and Taylor with our Spanish, to allow the students to get to make an "American" friend, and for Taylor and I to build relationships with the English Club students. So far I have LOVED my Spanish Club meetings. I have learned a lot about Mexican culture by simply taking the hour to ask lots of questions. One of the girls I have met with even agreed to go to an RUF small group Bible study later in the week! Pray that God would continue to use the English Club as a way to build relationships and love the students of the UNAM.
On Fridays after English Club we have "CUR y Club". The "CUR" refers to "RUF" in Spanish and the "Club" is referring to the English Club. A CURyClub activity is some sort of social activity in which the two groups do things together (playing soccer...etc). This allows for furthering relationships, connections, and friendships between the two groups!

RUF Large Group

RUF large group meets in a "Baptist Student Center" (they let us use the space for FREE!) every Tuesday from 2:30-3:30. We (Peter, myself, and the RUF service team of 5 students) arrive around 1:00 to unload equipment (speakers and instruments) and get things set up. The official meeting starts off with a few songs (and we have some AWESOME musicians in the group) and then Peter preaches. We are doing a series on Parables in the Bible that Jesus taught. After large group most of us head to a local cafe to eat lunch and fellowship. After lunch (which usually ends around 5:30 on Tuesdays) we have RUF Guitar Club at Peter's house. Whew...what a day!

The Pyramids of Teotihuacán

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.

"Hermana" Blanca

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.

Beginning of the Year Party

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?