MEXICO

Hay, so EA, this is because of your inspiration.

my spring term resolution is to do better at this thing.

Today is saturday, that word is like the taste of honey. The most people interaction i did was going to supper at subway with jon dees and michael reddish. Kristen went home for the weekend (she took my sister to AAU basketball practice while my parents took my two brothers to Auburn University to check out the football program). So, its been a quiet day. sometimes i'd call it lonely, but today was much needed for my sanity and stability. Despite what most think, according to Mr. Briggs, im a hard core introvert, and need quiet/alone time. I've had an incredible past two weeks, but i haven't been able to breathe much since before exams. I took the two exams on thursday, left for mexico early friday morning, got back to school late sunday night, and went to class monday morning. for the past few days, i've related my state of being to the footprints story where God carries the guy. Wednesday night i had a little tear meltdown but thankfully had some support from amazing friends. When i woke up thursday, my eyes were sore, but i felt like i was in a dream-like state. I had no more energy, and had no choice but to rest in my Father's arms. Its really incredible.
Then was friday, and that is just one of the best words of the english language. A little infant came to our Religion 29 class with his parents who lived in El Salvador and talked about liberation theology (summing up much of our mexico trip). my other religion class discussed our group projects (mine is on judaism). and my chem class got to do an easy and fun lab. my lab partner and i have nicknamed our teacher Ms. Frizzle (magic school bus). She is really fun! and she brought a huge thing of rainbow sprinkles to class and fed us muffins and sweet tea!
then, the fighting but still loving baptists had our first softball practice and it was super fun! we have to defend our championship title. i think taylor and i are gonna be the pitchers. im not super great, but i always wanted to pitch, so im excited. its easier not to fall asleep in the field if you get to touch the ball a lot. we miss our graduates from last year, but we got some fun freshman that will learn. jon is a good coach. tj wasn't there, but i imagine he'll be a good motivational coach as well- since he is tj. then, we went to eat at la casa del fuego and then watched princess bride in andrew's apartment. i had to retire early because i was at the exhaution point of annoying myself and others; i went to bed at 9:20 and got up at 8:15---amazing! then, ran in the misty rain, and basically read the rest of the day until supper. when i was about to fall asleep in the pages, i decided to walk outside while reading. thats always fun. the honeysuckle trees smell so good, but for some reason, they aren't filled with suckable honey yet, even though some are falling off the trees.
ok, so, MEXICO. It was a priceless experience. Chris Cox told me that the two things he most highly recommended to me was to be a FRAD and go on the sophomore service learning trip. i must say Chris, that was fabulous advice! thanks tons!
We got to spend time at a couple of children's homes, cook/serve breakfast to children in a poverty community, and help turn compost at a backyard compost center. The children were amazing! at the poor breakfast place, two little kids came early for their food, and i sat with them while they ate. they liked listening to me read a couple of spanish kid books, and we also talked too (with my limited spanish skills). when they left, they each wrapped up half of their breakfast, and when i asked why, they said it was for their mama. It took my breath away. These 4 and 6 year olds were bringing home the food and taking care of their mama with such care and servitude.
we talked with many natives, indigenous, and people who had fled dangerous conditions in other latin american countries. we learned a lot about poverty, social injustice, boarder migration issues, labor problems, NAFTA and its harmful effects, other things that make us as US citizens opressors, and a whole lot about liberation theology. Some stories were heartbreaking, like the woman who lost her parents, sisters, and brother to some government invaders. the hope and love of the people we talked with though, was so inspiring, despite their "horror stories". We are starting a social justice group on campus and the positive response we have gotten from the furman population is really encouraging. we are hoping to go out into greenville and talk with people and see what things they would like us to do. so, i'll try to update how that goes.
Our group was absolutely incredible and divinely designed. we had absolutely no conflicts and clicked so perfectly. we felt safe sharing our thoughts with each other, and shared hugs often. i guess that is more natural after schrunching 19 people in a 15 passenger van. buckets come in handy :)
I got left by myself downtown once, but we didn't tell the adults so they wouldn't freak out. Thanks to God i made it back safely home. The weather was beautiful and i got tons of pretty flower pictures (all the pictures are on facebook if you have access to that).
there were a lot of sheep at one of the children's homes.
the first children's home was very emotionally draining because the guard i had built working at a children's home this summer wasn't strong anymore. i have been slowly letting it down as i continue to work through my summer experience. i wasn't prepared for what all was ready rush at me when i stepped into that mexican children's home. but the time flew by and i didn't want to leave when we had to go.
"kids are kids" - brad cake
and that is so totally true
at our ash wednesday service, we shared communion with wine and tortillas, and the ashes we used were caught by little kindergarteners at the big children's home (the one with sheep). the kids played catch with the ashes from a nearby burning of cotton or something.
these kind of trips are hard to put into words. they effect you to the core of your being. but its a good thing, though it hurts at times.

I have an amazing family! I just talked with them for about an hour! I wish i could see them before easter. but at least i can talk with them and i will see them in about a month.

furman has a lot of dogs, we need more kids :)
have a wonderful week!!!