Profound thoughts from a 12 year old

Ready Michelle? I guess, what are we doing?

An interview, you can tell the world what is going on inside your head. Hmm...ok.

How old are you? I turned 12 on June 8th.

Do you prefer rain or sunshine? Rain

How do you feel about starting middle school? I am scared and kind of nervous.

What are some problems you have in your life? Seth really bothers me a lot and Joel tickles me.

When you can no longer endure the heat, what do you do? Throw cold water on my head.

Do you have a boyfriend? NO!

Do you want one? NO!

What is the best thing that has ever happened to you? When I learned the things of God.

What is your favorite thing about God? He has a plan for everyone.

What do you think God's plan for you is? That I can accept Him someday.

What makes you laugh? When Jaqui does here hair like a lion and then prances/dances around.

How can people pray for you? That I can serve God and that my family can also repent someday.

Anything else you want to tell the people who read the blog? What should I say? ...I have people who really care about me here...I like chocolates...Hi to your Mom, Dad, Kristen, all of your family and also Jeff B and David. That is it. Bye.

Always Worth the Climb

This morning we got up early to try to beat the sun up the mountian. Any of the girls that wanted to hike, Steph G, Brittany, Emily and I were going to hike to the Cross before the female summer staff leaves. We ate Pop Tarts and headed out. Our start was a little late and when we got to the trail head at 6:20 am, the sun was beaming and I was already dripping sweat, I knew we were in for a hot hike up.


Jaqueline and Lili arrive and collapse into sweaty heaps. I was not doing any better. However, looking down, the valley looked absolutely beautiful and it seemed worth all the sweat.


While at the top, I looked over as Blanca stuck her sweaty little hands into her sweaty little pockets and emptied them of the Pop Tart that she decided to save. "Blanca! Did you really have to do that?" She laughed, smiled and cleaned out the other pocket to hand the other smashed Pop Tart to Yaneli.


Yaneli sits with her shards of snack on her lap.


Emily Gerber, Brittany Streitmatter and Steph Gerst with the girls. Arriving at the top was worth all the sweat. Each time I look over the whole town of Magdalena, I can just imagine God's hands lifting up the whole valley.

Funny Story of the Morning
Our conversation started on the way down.

Me: Girls, who forgot their deodarant? Remember, we have to put deodarant on every morning! If you forgot yours this morning, don't forget to shower when we get home.
Yaneli: Amy, I NEED deodarant!
Blanca: Me too, me too!
Me: I think you girls are really young to need deodarant, I will smell you and decide when we get down the mountain.

(Time passes, I forget to smell armpits and I am driving back)

Yaneli: (very indignant) I need deodarant Amy! I told you!
Me: Be patient, I said I would decide when we got back, besides, you are seven, that is really young for deodarant..
Yaneli: But I smell like an onion!
Me: (laughing at her accurate description) Ok, ok, just hold on, I will get you some when we get home.
Blanca: (taking the whole conversation in and waits a few moments) Amí, I need deodarant too because...because...because...I SMELL LIKE LETTUCE!

6th Grade Graduation

Last night Uriel, Lili, Michelle and Paola graduated from Elementary school. Fede, Frank and Karlota went along to help with the flag ceremony and the much anticipated waltz.

Pre-graduation Blues
Getting ready for 6th grade graduation started with much stress and tears. Trying to work out routes to pick everyone up had us all (adults involved) leaving early with much to plan. I was late getting home and got ready as fast I could and 3 hours later came out to a group of girls who were crying, "My family isn't coming!" "My beautiful hairstyle fell down!" "I wanted to wear LONG sleeves!" "This is the last time I am going to be with my friends!"

None of the boys were crying, just whining they had to wear ties.


Frank helps Uriel with his clip-on tie. :) At least they weren't crying.

The Graduation


Michelle, Karla J, Fede and Paola


Michelle and Francisco proceed in while...waltzing?


Some of Michelle's family came


Maestro Carlos stands with the kids that graduated from CVE. He actually celebrated his 23rd birthday yesterday. (Along with Kristen! Happy b-day Kris! Your Christmas present is in the mail, so another 6 months and I will send you a great gift for you.)


Lili and family members


Uriel and family


The Three Caballeros. They all looked so grown up and handsome last night.

Praise the Lord that graduation only comes once a year! Although, I am feeling very unsure that we are prepared to have kids in Middle School!


Joel took José and his sister, Lupita, to his school's graduation. He didn't graduate but danced in the "Dance of the Cowboy." The video footage is amazing!

P.S. I didn't really get ready for three hours, just wanted to see if anyone would notice. :)

Los Metiches de CVE

Today we heard a loud bang and our eyes turned to the highway. Within a few minutes we realized there was a cement truck overturned and a smashed car. We called the emergency services and then tried to get to the highest point possible. The kids wanted to run across the highway to check out the action, but I had to resist my own metiche spirit and we stayed within the fence.




We stayed put and Lupita led those in the treehouse in prayer for the accident victims.


The boys were jealous of the girls' tree house as it is much closer to the highway.



One of the girls commented, "Look at all those people, they are blocking what the police are trying to do." To which Lupita laughed and responded, "HA! Look at the mote in your own eye!" :) (Effective lesson Jeff!)

unimportant side translation error-The word for mote in Spanish is only one letter off from the word mustache, so it took me a little bit to realize she wasn't yelling, "look at the mustache in your own eye!

We saw three people extracted from the car and taken in the ambulances, but, praise the Lord, it looks like everyone survived.

The Little Duck, Patrick, The Little Dog and the Little Yellow Duck

The other night I was tired and excited to have the girls in bed so I could head to my own. As I flipped off the light and neared the door, I heard Eli's voice, "You forgot to kiss them." I ignored her. I felt justified in not kissing her 4 little stuffed animals. I kiss them every night and was pretty sure their stuffing wasn't going to fall out as a result of one night's neglect.

I opened the door to leave and heard, "AMY!" I rolled my eyes, turned around, flipped the light back on and went to the side of Eli's bed. I leaned over and started down the line, "Buenas Noches Patricio, Perrito, Patito y Patito amarillo," kissing each one. I looked at Eli to make sure I had met her expectations for the night so she would sleep. I could see the beginning of tears from when she had thought that I wasn't going to come back and kiss the whole zoo she has living with her.

What did I think? I was going to run out of love? That I had used up my day's capacity?



I realize that I have already posted the following C.S. Lewis thought, but it is such a good reminder for me.

"Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”

"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Romans 5:5

Isn't that awesome? I don't have to worry about running out of love. God wants us to freely love and freely give, to be vulnerable, to love so much it hurts and then to love some more. Love never has been mine to keep or decide who to lavish it upon.

Today I had a conversation with Fede, hands down one of the most caring kids I have ever met:

Me: Fede, do you ever get tired of loving people?

Fede: What do you mean tired of loving?

Me: I mean, do you ever think that you are going to run out of love, or that you just don't have it in you to love another person?

Fede: (long pause) I don't get tired. You just...love.

"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." 1 John 3:16-18 (KJV)

Isaiah 55

At the end of May,I asked for prayers for the Guerrero Leon family. Since that time José, the youngest brother (23), began to work at CVE for our three weeks of straight workteams. God's Hand in José's life is evident as He is doing big things in drawing José's heart to Him.

Against All Obstacles

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 3:13-14

From Heather's Point of View

I (Amy) am really not in the mood to blog right now, but my beautiful friend, Heather Furrer is here right now and she is going to tell you about our day of chaperoning adventure from her point of view.

Yes, I am honored to blog for Amy :)

Today Amy, Sheila, and I had the delight of playing the 'parents' of about 20 kids at a 6th grade graduation party- hosted by their teacher. (Correction: Amy played the parent, Sheila played the girl who can slightly communicate with the kids, and I am the one who can merely smile, nod my head, and say 'si!')

The afternoon's expectations were to pick up ALL the students in the 15 passenger CVE van, then watch the kids swim for a few hours. We did have quite a full van, but it turns out the kids can swim for days in MX and not stop!

Although my communication skills are nearly nada, it was fun to sit and watch the kids play together for hours and not get bored for a second- the teacher was even caught up in the fun, with no thought of passing time...

By the end of the day, Ames and Sheila had both fell victims to the kid's desire to be joined in the pool.. note: sitting on the Other side of the fence while reading a book keeps a person out of the pool. :)


Michelle and a few of her classmates enjoying the pool


Sheila and I relaxing beside the pool and trying to stay as cool as possible- yes, an impossible task in the MX heat! I believe Sheila thinks she has both staying cool and being the inconspicuous American mastered with the straw hat. :)


One of the other activities available for the kids: trampolines. Uriel is quite the athlete, working on mastering his flips..


No party is complete without snacks! Lili and her friends take a break from swimming to eat... although Lili seems to be the only one enjoying the food..


The boys impressing the girls with their strength..


At the end of the pool party before departure. Yes, this pic was taken at 9:00 pm :)

Overall, a wonderful day spent in the hot sun with great company!!

Signing off,
Heather

Always a Blessing

Sheila and Heather are here for the week. Hurray! :)

An Interview with Pollito

So, where does the name Pollito come from? unnnh, uhnhh, uhnnh, uhnnunh. Translation: I think it is because the gringos here can't say Eduardo, plus, I do kind of look like a little chicken.

How would you describe yourself to the readers? unh. (A wanderer)

What is your favorite toy? uhnn y uhnn. (Anything that someone else is playing with.)

What can't you talk? uhnn nuhnnhi uhnnhu. (I don't have to, they have taught me sign language and they think it is really cute when I do it, so why stop a good thing?)

What makes you mad? uhnnnnuhu! uhnnhuhnhuuhnhuhhuhuh! (I hate it when Joel dumps water on my head! Also, I hate time out!)

How can we pray for you? uhhnhhuhuhuuunnhahannannnnunnna (I think that before too long, I get to live with my mom again. I will miss everyone here if that happens, but I think they will miss me more.)

Who is the coolest person you know? huhnnhuhnhhhnh ahuuhunna. (I would have to say Amy. She is great.)*

Anything else to tell everyone? uhnnhunhnhunnhanhuhn. (Jenna, it is time to come back!)


Disclaimer *Parts of this interview may have been fabricated.

School Cancelled! Because of the Train?!?

This morning I went to get the girls up and I noticed the train was stopped on the tracks...Hmm...interesting. 7:00 rolled around. The kids needed to get to school. All of our vehicles were trapped in. So, at first we had a one-hour delay. The kids' last day of school is tomorrow and today is a party day. Some of the kids were sad and prayed that the train would move. After an hour, we had them change and cancelled school. I never thought school would be delayed/cancelled because of a train. :)





In other news...


We celebrated Bill and Joan's 29th anniversary with the Washington work team.


We had a rainy day! Daniel pulled out his winter coat, heaved a mattress on top of the monkey bars and chilled in the sprinkles. It was pretty weird, but really funny.


We have a three week stretch of workteams! The church is going up quickly. It was exciting to watch the windows literally take shape this week. We are using "foam block construction." It looks like people are playing with styrofoam legos, but then they have to work really hard to fill them with cement.



Please pray for those in language school:

David Sceggel who left for language school this morning.

Tomorrow my cousin, Regg Beer, leaves for a summer in Morelia for language training.

Jenean is there for a few more weeks.

Pruning the Palms

Today we had the unique experience of watching a man/monkey shimmy up our tall palm trees to trim them. We learned some interesting things about him and his profession:
1)He has never been afraid of heights
2)If you are interested in the job, you can train cheaply in Mexico, but it pays ridiculously well in the states. (He would recommend getting the proper paperwork first)
3) It doesn't matter if over 200 bats are flying at your face-don't stop working and don't let go of the chain!


Notice the man trimming at the top of the palm


A crowd gathers to watch his progress.


When we let the kids loose on all the trimmings, I heard Fede yell, "Hey look, I am an ant!"


Not to be topped, Angel transforms into a peacock.


The girls started stacking the palms to make a house. I told them to make their fiercest, "I-am-a-jungle-warrior-face." Here is their depiction of it. Not too bad, I actually feel pretty intimidated.


Señor Tree Trimmer catches the enthusiasm and puts on a piece of the tree to be a jungle king.


I looked across the lawn to see Lili following around Señor Tree Trimmer, holding him by his chain. She said she found a new pet. Who takes care of these girls? Gloria, where are you? I am losing control!


Señor Tree Trimmer climbs the second tree. A few minutes after he started, he broke into a huge nest of bats. I don't think I would be exaggerating to say at least 200 broke loose and flew around disoriented, looking for a new dark place to lodge.

Definitely not something I have seen before. I don't think any of the viewers made a decision to switch careers to follow in Señor's footsteps, but interesting, nonetheless.

The Cows in the Corn

Oh wait, the cow was last year. Last summer Jeff, Dave and Joel had enough of the cow in the corn...nothing that three guys and whiffleball bats can't handle. :)

We had our first picking of the sweetcorn on Saturday. It is delicious corn, actually it is of the "Incredible Sweetcorn" variety. We did have to battle against lots of worms, "character building" we said. I actually had to tell myself that, over and over, especially when Uriel threw a really juicy, gross one at my head.






Those at the husking station were those that we didn't trust to use a knife to clean the corn and those that had been kicked out of the fields. :) Not Pepe and Limón, they were just chaperones.


Armando sat himself on a bucket where he designated himself "the worm extractor." The chickens had a feast!



The cleaning crew

Judging by pictures I must have not had a very good time. In every picture I look grouchy and stressed out. Maybe it was the worms. Maybe it was the heat. Maybe it was that the kids kept calling me "the girl with hair of corn." Despite all of this, I will carry happy memories of the harvest.