Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Mexico Missions Trip---a bit delayed :)

I know this happened during winter break but I wanted to talk about my trip to Mexico with CSF. We went down the Juarez Mexico with about 25 or so people in two vans...that was pretty much amazing! I got to know so many of the upper class men on a very intimate level--we all slept on each other, smelled together, and didn't shower together. it was a very interesting week!
Here are some pictures of what went on during the drive...

obviously tons of sleeping..


tons of reading and chatting..and of course picture taking...
Once we got to Juarez it was a whole different experience. We went down to build a house with Casas por Christo. While we were down in Mexico we stayed at a local church and didn't shower. we did have a few guys brave the cold water though. While we were building the house on the second day we were there it started to snow! so for the rest of the day we went to the market. that was a very interesting experience too because everyone was urging us to come look at their stuff..in some points it got me sort of stressed out. i didn't like telling people no. :/
After the snow melted and we dried all of our clothes we went back to another day's work. My team consisted of Lindsey, Lauren, Hal, David, and Brian..here's a picture of the girls



my team had the job of getting the interior of the house done....so while everyone was hard at work on the outside we were putting up insulation and dry wall...and putting the electrical wires in. we had help from the amazing Marks, Mark Walker and Mark Turner!!

we were so excited on the last day when we were able to present the house to the family! This is the entire group in front of the house--our last day in Mexico..

while on the trip we went to a rest stop so we could release some "extra baggage" lol...and we found that the girls bathroom was closed so all of the girls were forced to use the men's bathroom..we thought it was so amazing that we took a picture, by the way..the guys bathroom was really dirty and there was no ceiling!



The trip to Mexico was an experience that i will never forget...it was my first "true" missions trip and i was able to learn so much from the people who went with...and i know its cliche but we ended the trip as a family. The most interesting part on the trip was wanting nothing more than a shower and warm water but also as we crossed the boarder I look back and saw myself slowly slip back to my "American" views...

Monday, February 19, 2007

Birthdays and flowers

TODAY is my little sister's birthday, she is turning 14. she has gotten so old! here is a picture of her....

she will be a freshman in high school next year and she is really excited about it! i went home this past weekend and gave her a present as well as had birthday dinner with her.

Going home i missed the McKendree game..but i have heard that we won! whoo HOO!
tomorrow night is senior night..which is going to be so much fun!

I have been super busy this semester with all of the homework, clubs, and work stuff. its been interesting to manage all of it but i get by. This monday I have a ton of stuff i have a small group meeting for CSF along with small group. Then i go to USAS which is United Students against Sweatshops. we talk about things that are going on in the community that we can help with--like walmart. it is a very interesting grou! after that i go dirctly to worship band practics for csf--which is so much fun. we practice and play around with music all night! its a great time! then i am finished for the night.

The snow we got last week is slowly melting away...:( im gunna miss it..even though it was annoying and cold. we had a snow ball fight last monday night we got like 15 people out at like 12:30 and had a huge snow ball fight. Stephani and i made a sign in the snow that said Hi UIS but unfortunatly the snow was coming down so hard that it was covered within 15 min. we all had a bunch of fun out there and it wasnt very cold yet either which was good. we all came in at about 1:30-2 soaking wet! it was awesome. For the next two days after that we didnt have school. which was awesome cuz that ment i didnt have to go to work--i work at the YMCA before and after school program.

well that is all for now...ill update again soon! probably later this week. Enjoy the snow--or what is left of it and ill see you next time!