Here I am sitting in my living room typing on our laptop, listening to KTIS (MN Christian station) on the radio. We had a very nice warm day, which is a nice break from the clouds and rain. It rains everyday pretty much.
I wanted to update while I have time. We only have three weeks left in Guadalajara. These eight months have gone so fast. I am going to be done with all four levels of language school. It does feel good to know that I will be putting all of the knowledge I have learned into practice. It will all settle in. I mean I have learned Spanish, but all of the little rules that come with it, it is hard to remember all of them. That is all part of the process that I have to go through, I guess.
With only three weeks of time left here, comes another world of different things. There will not be one thing the same when we get to Autlan. It is hard to wrap my mind around it. I won't be going to school. I won't have to drive through the traffic. Our house will be different. Where we get our groceries will be from one big grocery store. The roads are all cobblestone in the outer areas of town. We will have to adjust all over again. It is a prayer request of ours that we would have a smooth transition to Autlan.
As of right now, our living situation, when we get to Autlan, is that we will be living at the Center. By the center, I mean a compound that was designed for short-term missions and Bible school for pastors that our mission owns. It has one kitchen and can sleep up to 70 people. Our other team members, that we have mentioned before, Rick and Jo'ell Bruggeman, will be staying there as well. We have grown to love them over the last 8 months. It has been such a blessing to get to know them while going to language school together. They have 5 kids that are ages 4 to 16. Their 9 year old Morgan, 4 year old Christian & Anna love to play together. So for us,to live with them for a while will be heaven for the girls. It will be fun to have the girls be able to play outside. The middle of the center is grass and cement where they can ride their bikes. They already love the hammock that is in between the trees there.
Only a couple of weeks after moving to Autlan, we will have a week long seminar where Elizabeth is going to show us all the ins and outs of teaching English. This, I will admit is not an area that I would have ever thought I would be doing. But, the need to have male teachers will open up many opportunities to share the gospel, especially for the young man that come to the language classes. I am sure it will take me a couple of classes to get comfortable, but I think it will be a stretching experience. Having gone through the process of learning another language, I now know what a past participal is, as well as pronouns, adverbs, and adjectives. It is amazing that I will know exactly how they feel trying to communicate to someone with a language that doesn't just come naturally. I think it has given me a different view on teaching English. I always thought, "Why would I ever teach English?" It is now that I realize, that it is a vital ministry with this culture, as well around the world. The seeds that can be planted in a person's heart can't be counted. I have seen the classes that Elizabeth has done and I am amazed at what topics she brings up. For example: being faithful to your spouse. This is a problem that many people face. The truth that you can put out there, just about your own life and how the Bible talks about that even looking at another man or woman with lust in your heart, is committing adultery in your heart. In this culture, they are already open to spiritual things.
Jessie and I both are very excited to get to Autlan. It is what we have been waiting to do for the last year and half. In November, it will be two years since we had the decision to come to Mexico. Man, time passes fast. I hope you are blessed today.
