tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66072714756393518182024-03-13T00:58:01.768-07:00TraciCav AbroadTraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-88008434898326043062011-01-02T20:08:00.000-08:002011-01-02T21:32:37.436-08:00123 Days of LifeWell, it has been 123 days since returning from Mexico and even longer since I last blogged. So, I thought it would be a good idea to update you all on what I am up to and how life in the States has been.<div><br /><div>Since 4 days after returning from Mexico, I have been working at my home church (<a href="http://elimgospel.org/">Elim Gospel Church</a>) as the office manager and administrative assistant to the lead and executive pastors. I am also taking classes online to finish my BA in business administration. If all goes well I will be done in the summer. So that is what I am "doing."</div><div><br /></div><div>Emotionally, though, the transition has not been so simple. When I went to Mexico, I experienced virtually no culture shock of any kind. Sure there were things that were different, but I did not notice it effecting me. Returning has been very interesting, because I have felt reverse culture stress or re-entry shock more than I anticipated.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let me explain it this way. Everyone has an emotional bandwidth. This is the amount of emotional energy that each one of us have that allows us to respond to the highs and lows of our day in an appropriate manner. We obviously sometimes encounter situations that require more emotional energy than we have, either because it is a very demanding situation or we have already used up our emotional energy on other things without refilling it, and we thus feel taxed and stressed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Since returning, I feel that I have a very small emotional bandwidth with very little emotional energy. I have contributed this to the idea that my emotional bandwidth has not shrunk, but rather that I am subconsciously using my emotional energy to readjust back to life in America in ways that I am not even aware of. This results in me being much more stressed and emotional than I have ever been in my life. It seems, especially when I first returned, but even still at times, that I do not even have a sufficient emotional bandwidth to handle the everyday normal small spikes and dips on the emotional radar. For example, when I first returned, you could have told me, "Good work Traci, I appreciate you" and I would have burst into tears with an overwhelming since of appreciation. While "words of appreciation" ranks last in my 5 love languages, this would obviously not be a typical response for me, but yet I would find myself fighting back tears all day long. Or for example, one of my bosses asked me to do a very simple calendar planning task a few weeks after returning. A task that would normally take 15 minutes and very little brain power. And for reasons that I still cannot grasp or understand, it totally stressed me out. It stressed me out to the point where I took a half day and went home and watched 4 straight hours of <a href="http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/cake-boss/">The Cake Boss</a>. Now that is not normal activity for anyone, and even less normal for someone who's favorite week of the year just 2 years ago was the should-be-stressful week of the 1000+ person conference she organized and was responsible for.</div><div><br /></div><div>This uncharacteristic emotionalism has been the hardest part of my re-entry stress. Obviously there are other things like readjusting to the English language, being away from close friends in Mexico, just being away from everything I love about Morelia, not being able to walk 2 blocks to eat $2 quesadilla meal for dinner, etc. There is a bunch to readjust to, but not having the emotional energy to adequately readjust makes everything harder. It makes the effort to reconnect with old friends or even make new ones a battle, because when you don't have enough emotional energy to deal with the little things, it means the energy that is exerted to connect with others is non existent. It also means getting frustrated at the little things which brings added friction into relationships. It means not knowing what to do with yourself when you don't fit in where you did when you left.</div><div><br /></div><div>But, it also means some other things that are just little stresses that add onto the pile, which sometimes tip the scale. A lot of this has to do with information overload. If my work email inbox doesn't all fit in one screen without scrolling, I start to get anxious and quite often will just have to walk away until I can muster up enough emotional energy to tackle it. And while a minor stress like this should only take 5-10 minutes to get the energy to accomplish, it will sometimes take me days. Restaurant menus whether sit down or fast-food overwhelm me. The thought of browsing through each item is a daunting task and so I order whatever the giant picture tells me to. Large groups of people, or any size group of people including someone I do not know or do not know well now cause this outgoing extrovert to socially shut down and sit quiet until called upon. And the list could go on.</div><div><br /></div><div>The hard part is, I don't know how to make it better. I have found some relief in running. What I used to despise has become a good release/relaxer for me. (So much so, I signed up for a triathlon that will take place in August). But aside from that, I think I just have to wait this out. Which is not easy.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are some definite positives of being back as well. I love my job and my co-workers. My bosses (Pastor Josh Finley and Pastor Wayne Hedlund) have been particularly awesome in helping me adjust. <i>(For proof of my emotionalism, I will confess that tears are rolling down my cheeks just thinking about how awesome and supportive they are. They really are the best. Which is probably why I love my job so much.) </i>I have also been able to spend time with my family, which has been awesome. It had been 10 years since we have all been together for an extended time. And my 6-month-old niece is adorable and just makes everything better.</div><div><br /></div><div>Many people ask me, <b>"What are your plans for the future?"</b> or <b>"Do you plan on going back to Mexico?"</b></div><div>My answer is: When I felt the Lord telling me to come back to NY for a season, I also felt very strongly that my time in Mexico was not yet completed. I admit that I do not know what that means - perhaps it will look like me leading short term teams a few weeks each year or spending my summers there or maybe it means going down more permanently. So while having a complete peace in knowing that this is the right place for me right now helps a ton with not feeling regret, it still doesn't tell me the future nor console me when I miss Mexico. So I guess the answer is for this season I am here. And well, when this season will end, I am not sure. I am committed at my job until Sept 2011, but honestly, I think I will stay at least another year after that. I have thought about considering the possibility of starting a master's program in the Fall, but still don't have a complete peace about that. So, I am just waiting for the Lord to make the future clear, while leaning on the peace that He has me here.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I know this was a long post, but thanks for reading. Hopefully that helps clear up some answers and give you a little peek into what is going on with me. Please be patient with me during this time, but please also lift me up in prayer.</div>TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-1290254963616747112010-08-09T16:16:00.000-07:002010-08-09T16:29:19.044-07:00...nothing $100 pesos can't do...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">At</span> 8:17<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">am</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">arrived</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">friend</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">house</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">where</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">meet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">night</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">before</span> so I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">accompany</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">him</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">license</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">arrive</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">greet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">aunt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">who</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">expecting</span> me <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">find</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">out</span> he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">still</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">bed</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">After</span> he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">dragged</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">himself</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">downstairs</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">let</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">aunt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">know</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">going</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">on</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">started</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">search</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">documents</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">needed</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">After</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">realizing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">didn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">an</span> original <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">birth</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">certificate</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">turn</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">the</span> "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">dmv</span>", I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">started</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">walk</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">home</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">head</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81">back</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83">bed</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84">About</span> 12 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_85">blocks</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_86">away</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88">leg</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89">starts</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_90">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_91">vibrate</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_92">answer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_93">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_94">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_95">friend</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_96">tells</span> me <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_97">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_98">return</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_99">We</span>'<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_100">re</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_101">going</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_102">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_103">give</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_104">it</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_105">go</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_106">regardless</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_107">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_108">our</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_109">lack</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_110">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_111">documents</span>.<div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_112">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_113">trip</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_114">starts</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_115">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_116">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_117">the</span> Red <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_118">Cross</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_119">for</span> a $4 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_120">medical</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_121">exam</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_122">After</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_123">waiting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_124">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_125">line</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_126">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_127">about</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_128">an</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_129">hour</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_130">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_131">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_132">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_133">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_134">need</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_135">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_136">head</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_137">out</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_138">After</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_139">pit</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_140">stop</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_141">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_142">breakfast</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_143">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_144">go</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_145">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_146">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_147">aunt</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_148">office</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_149">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_150">pick</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_151">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_152">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_153">papers</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_154">There</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_155">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_156">head</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_157">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_158">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_159">road</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_160">test</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_161">place</span>. As <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_162">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_163">drive</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_164">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_165">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_166">start</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_167">looking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_168">for</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_169">parking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_170">spot</span>, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_171">man</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_172">asks</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_173">us</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_174">if</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_175">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_176">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_177">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_178">our</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_179">car</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_180">washed</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_181">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_182">guy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_183">driving</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_184">us</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_185">parks</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_186">where</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_187">directed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_188">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_189">leans</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_190">towards</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_191">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_192">car</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_193">washer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_194">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_195">says</span>, "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_196">we</span>'<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_197">re</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_198">here</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_199">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_200">get</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_201">license</span>." A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_202">few</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_203">glances</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_204">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_205">hand</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_206">him</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_207">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_208">friend</span>'s ID, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_209">and</span> he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_210">walks</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_211">away</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_212">About</span> 4 minutes <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_213">later</span> he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_214">walks</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_215">back</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_216">with</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_217">signed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_218">paper</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_219">saying</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_220">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_221">road</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_222">test</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_223">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_224">passed</span>. </div><div>...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_225">nothing</span> $100 pesos can't do...</div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_226">Then</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_227">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_228">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_229">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_230">head</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_231">to</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_232">State</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_233">building</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_234">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_235">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_236">other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_237">side</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_238">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_239">town</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_240">where</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_241">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_242">didn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_243">even</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_244">ask</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_245">for</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_246">birth</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_247">certificate</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_248">They</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_249">took</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_250">picture</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_251">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_252">WAHLAH</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_253">in</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_254">matter</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_255">of</span> minutes <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_256">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_257">shiny</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_258">new</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_259">hall</span>-o-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_260">gram</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_261">filled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_262">license</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_263">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_264">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_265">our</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_266">hands</span>.</div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_267">SUCCESS</span>!!!</div>TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-86896646480248030492010-07-12T12:33:00.000-07:002010-07-12T12:43:21.292-07:00Life Change<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">"I have been so selfish."</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">The powerful words that reflect a deep heart transformation that has been occurring in one young woman who has been here in Mexico the past week. The past week a short term team of 20 youth and young adults has been here ministering. We have gone to a rehab center, orphanage, and two different church plants, as well as helping out here at me home church preparing for the youth conference that starts tomorrow. It has been very tiring for me on every level as I have been organizing it all on top of traveling, working, and ministering with them. But it has been so good. God is using them in powerful ways and it is incredible to see the transformation happening in their lives as they step out of their comfort zones and serve. This was my vision for first coming down--to see God use me to help young people get sparked with a passion for the Lord and the lost. It is happening. I am seeing it before my eyes and it is incredible. And it has only been the first week. I will be with teams from the States until July 29!</span></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-_mzvf0kHnV7EtTBPd6tLsPbR8gvBiwOb1BuOt6qNJyiLHFf2wGfBjB_a4Ied7bxhwgr8lRfGf2L0vfeEYezyE-vzohJdrbTBh4BB4UFYVmn70OwmOG0lFTAhXlWE3BPuYCNHIz4CSTm/s320/IMG_4925.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493107038788135298" /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div>TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-36918457312229073382010-07-04T12:30:00.000-07:002010-07-12T12:33:02.437-07:00OH How He Loves Us!<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif; ">"<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">If</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">just</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">understand</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">how</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">much</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">God</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">loves</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">change</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">everything</span>!" I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">shared</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">room</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">filled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">with</span> 75 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">young</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Mexicans</span>.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3NrL2Mleoa1Z5RK4-UMU6WdOKzGpZo04n71dhai2oo46DZP0JmtM1qNALOW59dU4Rp_TLkUlEVYV8bqQcMhHrzdd2hfqOwq2vWfZ_6PY1UouMh-7YNR-ym5TGBuNaKiFblqh4b4XCqon/s320/IMG_4916.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493104792372400370" /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:small;"><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">closest</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">friends</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">here</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Mexico</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">have</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">band</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">put</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">concerts</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">events</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">share</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">Gospel</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">This</span> time, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">invited</span> me <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">speak</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">powerful</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">night</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">ministering</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">best</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">friends</span> as I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">preached</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">revelation</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">the</span> Lord has <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">been</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">giving</span> me <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">past</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">year</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">His</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">love</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">Like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">always</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">they</span> Lord <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">came</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">through</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">despite</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">short</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81">comings</span>, He moved <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82">in</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83">powerful</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84">way</span>! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_85">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_86">ministry</span> time <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88">incredible</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89">received</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_90">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_91">very</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_92">specific</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_93">words</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_94">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_95">people</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_96">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_97">feel</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_98">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_99">chains</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_100">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_101">bondage</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_102">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_103">broken</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_104">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_105">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_106">special</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_107">for</span> me <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_108">personally</span> as I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_109">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_110">able</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_111">to</span> embrace <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_112">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_113">pray</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_114">for</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_115">woman</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_116">mother</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_117">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_118">aunt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_119">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_120">two</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_121">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_122">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_123">best</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_124">friends</span>) as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_125">tears</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_126">rolled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_127">down</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_128">her</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_129">face</span> as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_130">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_131">experienced</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_132">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_133">love</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_134">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_135">Christ</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_136">And</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_137">even</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_138">better</span> as I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_139">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_140">able</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_141">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_142">lead</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_143">friend</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_144">here</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_145">in</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_146">prayer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_147">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_148">salvation</span>. </div><div><br /></div></span><br /></div></div>TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-43878645354045743702010-04-12T05:57:00.000-07:002010-04-12T06:01:12.853-07:00Popcorn and Marshmallows<div align="left">"Uh.... the fire doesn't normally burn that strong." I thought to myself as I noticed the flame on my stove top extremely high and abnormally orange while I was cooking some hamburger meat to make lasagna. I opened the door to the preheating oven to find a even larger flame and lots of smoke. Confused and slightly afraid I was going to burn my apartment building down due to a gas leak or something, I studied the mini bonfire coming from my gas stove to realize that there was something down there that had caught on fire. I lifted up the bottom cover only to find my stove had turned into a popcorn machine.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">For the last week, a woman in the church and her two kids have ben staying with me. Apparently, out of fear that her kids would eat too much junk food, the mother hid some cookies and popcorn in the bottom part of the stove. While I don't approve of the dangerousness of this, I must admit it was a great hiding place. So, when I went to preheat the oven for the lasagna, the hidden boxes caught on fire. It was probably one of the funniest experiences I have had here as the kids and I took advantage of the opportunity and roasted marshmallows over the fire that had popcorn shooting out of it. :-)</div>TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-3512544352668825072010-03-20T06:25:00.000-07:002010-04-12T06:32:00.185-07:00I am NOT a fan<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Wednesday</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">nights</span> I do <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">the</span> "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Word</span>" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">half</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">the</span> "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Worship</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Word</span>" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">session</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">House</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Prayer</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">From</span> 7-8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">pm</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">platform</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">adoring</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Daddy</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">At</span> 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">pm</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">when</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">set</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">switches</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">gears</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">little</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">stepped</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">down</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">went</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">into</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">office</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">check</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">something</span> real <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">quick</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">walked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">realized</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">everything</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">was</span> as I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">left</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">it</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">Almost</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">everything</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">order</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">thing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">missing</span>... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">laptop</span>!<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">Thinking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">maybe</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">friends</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">borrowed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">it</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">quickly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">walked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">downstairs</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82">who</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84">there</span>. No <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_85">sign</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_86">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87">any</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_90">friends</span>. So, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_91">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_92">else</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_93">could</span> I do <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_94">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_95">head</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_96">back</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_97">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_98">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_99">House</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_100">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_101">Prayer</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_102">finished</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_103">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_104">session</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_105">and</span> as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_106">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_107">ended</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_108">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_109">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_110">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_111">friends</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_112">asked</span> me, "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_113">What</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_114">up</span>"... I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_115">looked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_116">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_117">him</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_118">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_119">said</span>, "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_120">Well</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_121">think</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_122">someone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_123">stole</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_124">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_125">laptop</span>."<br /><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_126">wish</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_127">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_128">story</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_129">had</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_130">better</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_131">end</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_132">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_133">it</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_134">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_135">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_136">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_137">it</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_138">Some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_139">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_140">stole</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_141">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_142">laptop</span>. :( I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_143">am</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_144">far</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_145">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_146">happy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_147">about</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_148">it</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_149">but</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_150">know</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_151">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_152">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_153">isn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_154">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_155">end</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_156">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_157">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_158">world</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_159">While</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_160">am</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_161">sad</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_162">about</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_163">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_164">special</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_165">photos</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_166">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_167">irreplacible</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_168">documents</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_169">lost</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_170">hope</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_171">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_172">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_173">theif</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_174">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_175">blessed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_176">by</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_177">my</span> virus <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_178">infected</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_179">laptop</span> :)<br /><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_180">hope</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_181">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_182">buy</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_183">new</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_184">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_185">soon</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_186">Right</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_187">now</span> I'm <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_188">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_189">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_190">middle</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_191">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_192">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_193">Mac</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_194">vs</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_195">PC</span> debate...TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-41459475006054465702010-03-15T06:15:00.000-07:002010-04-12T06:25:06.092-07:00Sisters"<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Um</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">should</span> come <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Mexico</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">break</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">instead</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">NY</span> :) come <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">on</span>... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">see</span> me, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">get</span> a tan, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">well</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">see</span> me. So <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">much</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">better</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">than</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">NY</span>!" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">That</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">how</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">all</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">started</span>, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">well</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">intentioned</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">hoping</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">best</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">acutally</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">believing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">anything</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">Turns</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">next</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">day</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">she</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">bought</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">plane</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">ticket</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">Mexico</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">and</span> 4 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">days</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">later</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">arrived</span>.<br /><div></div><br /><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">Lifetime</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">friends</span> are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">hard</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">to</span> come <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">by</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">when</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">find</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">one</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">treasure</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">them</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">forever</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">This</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">past</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">week</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">opportunity</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">spend</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">some</span> time <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84">those</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_85">friends</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_86">My</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87">next</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88">door</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89">neighbor</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_90">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_91">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_92">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_93">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_94">best</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_95">childhood</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_96">friends</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_97">Beth</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_98">Allport</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_99">came</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_100">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_101">visit</span> me. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459241057546169826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmiG4GmgpiD19M2y97Emj7VNZVnxSeZo-7wXHm-DaJobay9WXzzVrIL66XhP3BNCA5pj8v28cTR9hdhogNSZ6LdgMGlII45FUkBnjdf6JvQ_UL590ix3oQZqC2boqo-0YrPHPFL2Ka3xN/s320/26078_415409551123_545061123_5272695_7235415_n.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_102">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_103">had</span> so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_104">much</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_105">fun</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_106">together</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_107">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_108">went</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_109">horseback</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_110">riding</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_111">got</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_112">our</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_113">nails</span> done, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_114">saw</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_115">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_116">sites</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_117">went</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_118">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_119">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_120">waterpark</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_121">got</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_122">sunburned</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_123">went</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_124">shopping</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_125">and</span> ate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_126">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_127">goodness</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_128">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_129">Mexico</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_130">But</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_131">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_132">best</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_133">part</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_134">about</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_135">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_136">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_137">just</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_138">got</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_139">to</span> be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_140">together</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_141">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_142">talk</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_143">It</span> has <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_144">been</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_145">few</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_146">years</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_147">since</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_148">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_149">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_150">spent</span> extended time <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_151">together</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_152">and</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_153">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_154">just</span> so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_155">blessed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_156">by</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_157">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_158">opportunity</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_159">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_160">hang</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_161">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_162">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_163">chat</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_164">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_165">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_166">closest</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_167">person</span> I've <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_168">ever</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_169">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_170">to</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_171">sister</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_172">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_173">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_174">such</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_175">blast</span>!</div>TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-81417333834113829642010-03-02T09:02:00.001-08:002010-03-02T09:13:27.325-08:00One Small Step"Traci, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">tranquila</span>."<br /><br />The kind words of a good friend telling me to relax just minutes before I got up to preach my first sermon in Spanish. Amazingly, I really was relaxed. While prior to grabbing the microphone I was concerned about my Spanish, I still felt such a peace and lack of nerves. I want to thank you for praying! I feel really good about how it went. While I am sure my Spanish <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">wasn</span>´t perfect, I communicated what I needed to. The youth leaders had asked me to talk about small groups, so I focused on the important of having Godly community from Hebrews 10:22-25. At the end of the night we had about 20 young people sign up to join a small group. While I am sure I could have been better prepared or that I could have communicated it better, the Lord spoke and moved.<br /><br />I feel like this was a step in breaking down a wall of Spanish that has been containing me. Always the first is the most difficult. Now that it is done and over with, I feel like I can do it again. I even feel a breakthrough in my conversation in Spanish with friends. This weekend I have been able to have some great conversations with a good friend in which I feel that I have been able to communicate and express my thoughts and feelings well, and that they understood what I was saying. In the past, I have felt that I can´t express myself when there is something deep within me or serious that I want to convey, or that they don´t understand what I mean. But this week I have felt a breakthrough. Even on Sunday in praying for people at the altar, I felt an ease that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">wasn</span>´t there before. This past week was one small step for me in my language breakthrough, but a giant leap in the Kingdom of God. It is just the beginning.TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-67972116876372828602010-02-28T09:03:00.000-08:002010-03-02T09:13:15.361-08:00Where Are You From?This past Friday was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Oremos</span> Mexico, a monthly prayer gathering. They way it works, is various congregations in the central states gather monthly in their city, and then once every 4 months all the different congregations from various cities and states gather for a 4 hour prayer meeting for Mexico. On Friday, almost 400 from my church here went to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">León</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Guanajuato</span>. This was my first time in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">León</span>, so that was fun. I drove there with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Lucateros</span>, my family here. It was a blast to spend some time with them. The praying service was mind blowing, as over 15,000 people from different churches joined together in unity to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">intercede</span> for Mexico.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFczDCz45rPuTqFhTs6soFc3mtCMIWRNXvnSoBX_KCQ1bNLFRWKRd7cexpE7Q5wEHDrYppx32IC_xRil6xKMsQgzVyWuYyzxhvotH5_4PFSchV-JVADvbGrFR8dv-l_QwrmTu3KURwXPzw/s1600-h/IMG_4006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFczDCz45rPuTqFhTs6soFc3mtCMIWRNXvnSoBX_KCQ1bNLFRWKRd7cexpE7Q5wEHDrYppx32IC_xRil6xKMsQgzVyWuYyzxhvotH5_4PFSchV-JVADvbGrFR8dv-l_QwrmTu3KURwXPzw/s320/IMG_4006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444084505073564114" border="0" /></a>The next day, we ran into the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">León</span> soccer team in the hotel we were staying at. I went down to the lobby with 7 year old <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Alek</span> to take a picture of him with the team. The guys were very nice and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">obliged</span> to the paparazzi. One of them asked me where we were from. I quickly responded, "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Morelia</span>." ... It took about 5 minutes before I thought through it and realized, "Oh wait, I´m not from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Morelia</span>, I´m from NY." Ha. The more I am here, the more the Lord is knitting my heart to this city, this church, and the people. So much so, it is becoming home.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZBdH30OaWINMcTZnpH08A_v8uktZGPfz8JWt89gU9pIM7AKzWTNmLKC9vvs9PHy82T5QKy5_hAa4T8_j3QTD-8jSCtRFFwaFRkxcKrtUVxicQh48IBiYjhuCDqyY2UGYZaeaOTDuscrJ/s1600-h/IMG_4050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZBdH30OaWINMcTZnpH08A_v8uktZGPfz8JWt89gU9pIM7AKzWTNmLKC9vvs9PHy82T5QKy5_hAa4T8_j3QTD-8jSCtRFFwaFRkxcKrtUVxicQh48IBiYjhuCDqyY2UGYZaeaOTDuscrJ/s320/IMG_4050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444085342783096418" border="0" /></a>TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-7552696386388709272010-01-24T15:36:00.000-08:002010-02-04T09:01:57.846-08:00Celebrating the 1 year anniversary of the House of Prayer<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='409' height='339' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw3Uo4FGTO0R7GkMx7zcYZ61YZuKOVnDG6zuIR_IaIAobM9N4AqEAQRyLQtww_W6RCZOcq5137F3_S6qfzoVw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-31563393229161856152010-01-20T15:23:00.000-08:002010-01-20T15:45:41.165-08:00BOMB on the plane!"I saw him run to the front of the plane!" said the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">camouflaged</span> dressed military man that was seated across the isle from me to the flight attendant in a slightly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">panicked</span> state. I was fast asleep on my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">overnight</span> flight from LA when I woke up to the cabin lights abruptly coming on and to a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ruckus</span> by my side with a group of flight attendants interviewing this man that saw someone run to the front of the plane. I woke up with the thought, "Oh my Lord, they are rushing the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">cockpit</span>. There are terrorists on my flight!"<br /><br />I had always wondered how I would respond to a situation like this, so immediately in my half awake state, I started going through my options. I then heard one of the flight attendants ask, "So the rat ran to the front of the plane?" I then realized, it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">wasn</span>´t a someone, but a something! Although, the thought of a rat lose on the plane instead of a terrorist <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">wasn</span>´t much of a comfort.<br />Soon, as I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">eavesdropping</span> on more of the interrogation, I realized it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">wasn</span>´t a rat, but a cat! Someone had brought there pet cat on the plane and it had escaped out of it´s leash and was lose on the plane. Flashlights were out and the hunt was on. Soon people in the rows in front of me began <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">exclaiming</span>, "I see it!"... "Oh, it just touched me."<br /><br />Then, like a bolt of lightning the cat flashed down the isle and headed to the little food station in the back of the plane. It´s owner was then able to retrieve it and I went back to sleep.TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-56325461642156867462010-01-06T12:01:00.000-08:002010-01-06T10:01:30.722-08:00I Should Be a Bank RobberJust finished doing some laundry, lasagna in the oven, and the house nice and clean...it was turning into a successful afternoon. I decided to get one more thing off my to-do list and so I headed to the little store about 3 houses down to replace my water jug.<br />So, I grab the empty jug that was sitting by my door and headed to the store. I got out my front gate, pulled it shut, and took about 5 steps down the sidewalk when I realized that I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">didn'</span>t bring my keys with me. OOPS!<br />Knowing there was nothing I could do at the moment, I bought my water and headed back to my house. In broad daylight with cars driving by, I jumped the gate. Then walked around and picked up my water jug that I left on the sidewalk so I could make it over. That was the easy part. The hard part is getting in my door!<br />So, I am now standing at my door with about 13 pesos in change, a water jug, and a gum wrapper. I always liked puzzles.<br />I went down to the trash cans and grabbed some papers out thinking maybe I could fold them up and use them like the good old credit card trick for opening doors. They were too floppy... <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">didn't</span> work. Meanwhile the lasagna in the oven is about 10 minutes from being done.<br />I then pulled some coins out of my pocket. They <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">aren't</span> as flimsy as the paper, so maybe they will work. After getting 11 pesos stuck in my door, I decided that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">wouldn't</span> work either.<br />5 minutes until lasagna is done. I then had an idea. I opened up the water jug. The top has one of those plastic things that comes off, like on a milk container. I thought, maybe I could bend that and use it. I got it partly there, but right at the last second it would bend. Still too flimsy.<br />Time is counting down. After a failed search for some twigs, I shoved some paper into the bend water jug plastic and shoved it in.<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">WAAAALAAAA</span>!<br />I did it! 20 minutes later, just in time as the buzzer sound and the lasagna was done.TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-90869798623951087562010-01-06T09:25:00.000-08:002010-01-06T09:26:29.294-08:00Um, Do I Know You???"Hey Traci, It's Marco."<br /><br />I searched my mind trying to figure out who this guy was calling me on a Sunday morning. I drew a blank. "Marco.... Marco... Marco... nope, don't know a Marco," I thought.<br />He continued, "I have my application, can I leave it with the receptionist?"<br /><br />"OH! Marco!" I shouted in my head.<br /><br />All the pieces started coming together. Marco had attended the informational meeting about Campus Target back in November. There were a few who had attended that meeting that I saw serious interest in, but Marco was not one of them. But, in the last few months he had made the decision to give a year to go to the nations, and now he was acting on that and handing in his application. I am so excited about the partnership that is being birthed with Campus Target and the idea of sending Mexicans to work with this incredible ministry that has been so fruitful!<br /><br />The rest have until January 10th to hand in their applications. Please stand with me in prayer for the rest of those who attended the meeting while they are in decision mode.TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-78660352594883157062010-01-02T09:27:00.000-08:002010-01-06T10:02:02.134-08:00The HolidaysThis entry may lack some creativity and humor, but I wanted to let all who are interested know what I did for the holidays. It was such a special time for me. I had so many little touches of home and so many who reached out to me during this season.<br /><br />Some of the things I look forward to the most and that really make the holidays special to me in the States are:<br />1. The candle lighting service on Christmas Eve.<br />2. Eating cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning.<br />3. Being with family.<br /><br />And here, I got all those things. On the 24<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> the church had a special Christmas Eve service here just like my home church in NY does. And the best part about it, was we even had a candle lighting to Silent Night. While the song was in Spanish and we used glow sticks instead of candles, it was just enough to make me feel at home. Although, it was lacking the famous "It isn't the presents that matter at Christmas, it's the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">presence</span>" quote from my dad, Pastor Andres gave a great brief sermon.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_DsL7aWUGxN76CJdGwJmTWM-RtIxhS_2ITPW2Uv8InjOK-VhCjJGfE84Byj_yUyzrJUGJpvme1BI_sIo9GrqydJB20Vf07d_-xmDkpvdV4zYLlneoejHfWgMsskvE790G9y2F2oe41xw/s1600-h/IMG_3687.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_DsL7aWUGxN76CJdGwJmTWM-RtIxhS_2ITPW2Uv8InjOK-VhCjJGfE84Byj_yUyzrJUGJpvme1BI_sIo9GrqydJB20Vf07d_-xmDkpvdV4zYLlneoejHfWgMsskvE790G9y2F2oe41xw/s320/IMG_3687.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423683006544737570" border="0" /></a>After the service I went with my pastors, to Andres' parent's house. We enjoyed some great cooking, laughs, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">sparklers</span>, and gifts.<br /><br />Then, on Christmas morning, I even had my cinnamon roll. Kelly's mom, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Paty</span> Evans, makes cinnamon rolls for her family on Christmas, so she made me some too. From the start of the day it was special. Then I headed over to Robbie and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Paty</span> Evan's house for lunch with their kids and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">grandkids</span>. Again, more great times.<br /><br />After that, I was able to get together with some friends and watch a movie. Which was nice, since as time to time, if we are home, my family goes and sees a movie on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Christmas</span> Day.<br />Between Christmas and New Year's there was a youth conference in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Morelia</span>. It was so nice being able to go to a conference, attend, and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">receive</span>, without having to plan or organize anything. I haven't done that in a long time.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOARWJY9ykQj2Wbs8op5MyCKiz3OMAQdLLnLnKSMkXp5_PNPynBek_irP2q8hcdnUfNDA3N_qKw4GMZFTFKdYaonkecJYkZ9sx2-uZG9ZxZNHcXw6PMQ2QsTPRYB3kfrC-rRm0PIi5lkRe/s1600-h/IMG_3743.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOARWJY9ykQj2Wbs8op5MyCKiz3OMAQdLLnLnKSMkXp5_PNPynBek_irP2q8hcdnUfNDA3N_qKw4GMZFTFKdYaonkecJYkZ9sx2-uZG9ZxZNHcXw6PMQ2QsTPRYB3kfrC-rRm0PIi5lkRe/s320/IMG_3743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423684110990742290" border="0" /></a>Here, New Year's is a big deal. It is very much a family holiday. It is almost on the same level as Christmas. The church also had a special service on New Year's Eve. Again, a great service. After the service, I went out with one of my friends. We went downtown and enjoyed some great conversation and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">appetizers</span> at a really nice restaurant right <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">in front</span> of the beautiful cathedral downtown.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.soulofthegarden.com/Images/MoreliaCathedralWideNight.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 228px;" src="http://www.soulofthegarden.com/Images/MoreliaCathedralWideNight.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>After chatting for awhile we headed over to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Lucatero's</span> house. (The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Lucateros</span> are great friends here that I adore. They have really made an effort to welcome me into their family.) At their house we enjoyed a delicious dinner and hours of great conversation. It was a blast. After leaving there and picking up another friend, I went home. At 3:30am I snuggled in bed and welcomed in the New Year with some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Zzzzs</span>.<br /><br />Then, New Year's day enjoyed some more delicious food and a movie at the Evan's house.<br />I had my "candle lighting service", my cinnamon rolls, and while although my genetic family were not around, I was surrounded by family. It was an amazing holiday season.TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-28711499415554120812009-12-15T11:51:00.001-08:002009-12-15T12:12:35.989-08:00Hello. Goodbye.The last few weeks have been ones of hellos and goodbyes.<br />I guess the story starts when I went to renew my visa about a month ago. Everywhere I had looked online, it said that it was very easy to renew tourist visas. All I needed to do was go to this government building right here in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Morelia</span> and give them $50. The problem came when I realized that I misunderstood something and I could not renew my visa. It turns out 6 months is the maximum you can have for a tourist visa, and after that you need to leave the country from 3 days to renew it.<br />So, with a this snag in my plan, I began to think up all the different options for getting across the boarder.<br /><br />ROAD TRIP!!!!<br /><br />Unfortunately, that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">didn</span>´t pan out. Turns out it would be very complicated and expensive and well, a lot of driving. While doing laundry at a friend´s house, they tipped me off to some good, safe, cheap Mexican airlines. I found some great deals from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Morelia</span> to Los Angeles and so that was my plan. From there my friend from NY was talking about going to LA to see me and we could spend a few days together. Quickly my cheap airline tickets were getting added to rental car and hotel fees which made the trip a lot more expensive. It was then, that I decided, hey if I´m going to spend all that money just to see one friend, why don´t I fly to NY with that money where I can see everyone and sleep and eat free in my family´s house. And so I found a cheap <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">roundtrip</span> ticket from LA to Rochester. The fun part is though, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">didn</span>´t tell my family, or hardly anyone else, that I would be arriving :)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GDXPzLAai2cKPTYP8CSbx9CTXmn2GoV2czyaFacYeqU2R-7idXmPr9gVhJOHw13JUxbZhL1tT9090j0-htqLYxwthAFE9_v1pgIKYF52Anh6f-noILO-UFPVwIXmpqpUj7nDkSrRm2j2/s1600-h/IMG_3372.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GDXPzLAai2cKPTYP8CSbx9CTXmn2GoV2czyaFacYeqU2R-7idXmPr9gVhJOHw13JUxbZhL1tT9090j0-htqLYxwthAFE9_v1pgIKYF52Anh6f-noILO-UFPVwIXmpqpUj7nDkSrRm2j2/s320/IMG_3372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415557065313801090" border="0" /></a>(My mom had no idea I´m behind her when we took this)<br /><br /></div>It was such a blessing to spend a week in Lima. I successfully <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">surprised</span> people and was able to spend quality time with the people I love. It was a great week - even worth sleeping on a bench in the LAX airport :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkD2JeNlZsLpUNc5bWBjeHWftkkxmaJYwrSUd79HB8wTHL8VIK03tP1NBxuoZ_RoDVhBYNfnXWdDQcIiyTyQfj5eMkXZ4k3jFreXWj1h7KPtgouNDhdIVHuHp6V4PGPSJ0kLvPOWdE1uL/s1600-h/IMG_3484.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkD2JeNlZsLpUNc5bWBjeHWftkkxmaJYwrSUd79HB8wTHL8VIK03tP1NBxuoZ_RoDVhBYNfnXWdDQcIiyTyQfj5eMkXZ4k3jFreXWj1h7KPtgouNDhdIVHuHp6V4PGPSJ0kLvPOWdE1uL/s320/IMG_3484.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415556159260560178" border="0" /></a>While there I was able to reflect a little too. It is so neat how the Lord is knitting my heart to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Morelia</span>. While being in my hometown, where I grew up and have lived 21 years, with the people I love, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">couldn</span>´t help but be excited to return to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Morelia</span>. It is starting to feel more and more like home here.<br /><br />But, just a day after saying goodbye to my friends and family in NY and arriving back in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Morelia</span> I had to say goodbye to some very close friends. Two of my friends, brothers Nestor and Diego, headed to Arizona for Christmas vacation with their family. While they will be coming back in a month, it is still sad to say goodbye to them as we hang out often. And, I had to say goodbye to Aaron, an American, also from NY, who has been here for the last 3 months. It seems like a short amount of time, but we have gotten to know each other very well. I´m going to miss having him around.<br /><br />But, as the song goes... "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">na</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">na</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">na</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">na</span> life goes on." It is good to be back in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Morelia</span> and I am just as excited as ever for what the Lord is doing here both in and through me.TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-55326947622962307402009-11-27T17:00:00.000-08:002009-11-27T17:06:07.160-08:00Happy Thanksgiving!!!As I reflect on this past year today, there is so much to be thankful for. The Lord has been so faithful. Back in the beginning for the year, I had the joyous opportunity to invest into the young people of my home church as the youth director. I was able to organize an outstanding (if I do say so myself) conference in May where many church leaders heard from the Lord, received healing, and were refreshed. I was able to spend time and connect with my brother and sister-in-law who live overseas. He has also been faithful as I have been adjusting to my new life here. I have an incredible apartment in a great location. I truly have amazing friends with whom I have made some incredible memories. I am involved in an awesome church that is doing incredible things to influence this city and transform the world. I love my work and have a great job where I am able to administrate (which I love) to create a culture of prayer in this church and city. And I have an incredible support team that stands behind me in prayer and blesses me financially so I can be doing the rest of these things that I am so thankful for.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthuFHk7jHED3vlEJFVOTQJTpAC539Ciodp1sGrVd8EwPhVaZLoa7CHf799vFueKBulRxa6A-APXj34CVe-8vDUy9HxGGbo50aROBlbICc0qlVLC6nX-Fvf_ihbeu_joKAMIVnKXOdIpNS/s1600/IMG_3335.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthuFHk7jHED3vlEJFVOTQJTpAC539Ciodp1sGrVd8EwPhVaZLoa7CHf799vFueKBulRxa6A-APXj34CVe-8vDUy9HxGGbo50aROBlbICc0qlVLC6nX-Fvf_ihbeu_joKAMIVnKXOdIpNS/s320/IMG_3335.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408953470384857250" border="0" /></a>For my first Thanksgiving away from home, I celebrated it with some American friends (and some Mexicans too) whom I met at Elim Bible Institute. None have us had ever really done much of the cooking for Thanksgiving before, so we were a little worried, but we worked like a team and it came out great! And the best part is, we were able to borrow a big screen TV and watch some American football!!! While it was different not being with my family to celebrate this special day and plan for crazy Black Friday shopping, I am so blessed to have friends here who are like family!TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-65369927438797791522009-11-18T12:48:00.000-08:002009-11-18T12:53:20.513-08:00Scythe in Hand<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">"What's your name?"<br />"Where are you from?"<br />"Do you have a boyfriend?"<br />"What do you do to celebrate Christmas?"<br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">These are all questions that I was bombarded with as I stood at the English Corner in China in December 2007. Not knowing it at the time, I am now realizing that standing in the courtyard of that Asian university speaking English with practicing students would be a momentous moment in my life.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWhHmvf9roN75MNsOioZPI5LR9gglUr1N4sc9Tu3ZjwxPH_Jjvug_L1ZPdaQcWI0CXDpPz-DurL-4p2cdlL8rgNXwgzSuAibWrtIvkxZl_sCaZQ3l55WigV7rRHCVMm4RKxngc7uMh9zV/s1600/IMG_5971.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWhHmvf9roN75MNsOioZPI5LR9gglUr1N4sc9Tu3ZjwxPH_Jjvug_L1ZPdaQcWI0CXDpPz-DurL-4p2cdlL8rgNXwgzSuAibWrtIvkxZl_sCaZQ3l55WigV7rRHCVMm4RKxngc7uMh9zV/s320/IMG_5971.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405549127207158386" border="0" /></a>(Me with some friends in Asia in 2007)<br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Maybe being a "missionary" is making me think differently--I am on the mission field so I should be doing more "missions" outside the 4 walls of the church. I have never been much of an evangelist, but those who do not yet know the Lord are now becoming my priority. I can't explain it, but leading people to the Lord and watching them grow in Him is now a thought that is constantly flowing in my mind. This is developing burden in me is taking shape in 2 very exciting ways.<br /></div>The first is, I get to be a part of lives transformed all over the world! Last Friday, we did the first of four promos for Campus Target (<a href="http://www.campustarget.org/" target="_blank">www.campustarget.org</a>) in an attempt to get young people from Mexico to spend 10 months witnessing to and discipling the university students in Asia. I am super excited about the part I get to play in mobilizing young Mexicans to the nations. This time next year, some of my friends here in Mexico could be standing at that same English Corner sharing with Asian college students who are hungry for the truth just exactly what Christmas means to them and why they celebrate Christ.<br />The second way this is taking place is not just by me sending others to the harvest field, but by me picking up a scythe and getting to business. I am going to begin taking a Spanish class here. While I'm excited for my Spanish skills to improve, I am even more excited to connect with some other college-aged young people who are here in Morelia (and a plus is that they will probably be other Americans that I can share the Gospel with in my own language). Also, in January I am going to begin attending an English Corner here in Morelia! At one of my friend's universities there is an English Corner type thing (called SAC) where Mexican university students get together practice their English. I have seen how effective this ministry works in Asia--you meet a friend at the English Corner, you get their number, you call and ask them out to eat, you meet them for lunch, you lead them to the Lord, and then you disciple them. I am praying that the Lord gives me the same favor that I saw in Asia with the Mexican students that I will be connecting with at SAC as well as the other Americans I will meet at my class.<span style=";font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span>TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-52588802906954657812009-11-18T11:25:00.000-08:002009-11-18T11:57:33.838-08:00Mi CumpleañosWell, on Friday, November 6, I turned 22. Yup, the big 2-2. Although it was my first birthday without any immediate family around to celebrate it with me, it was still a ton of fun.<br />First, before I get too far into the festivities, you need to understand something about Mexican culture. Birthdays are a big deal here (meaning people assume you will have a party, and you will be flooded with hugs and congratulations on completing another year). While people are always sure to point out your big day, they don´t celebrate you like we do in the States (for example, they don´t buy you gifts, and if you go out with your friends for dinner to celebrate, don´t expect them to pay for you, you pay for yourself). I have observed this over the past 5 months, and realized that if I was going to do something for my birthday, I was going to need to plan it. Not wanting to come across as "It´s my birthday, LOVE me" by planning and throwing myself a party, I decided to grit my teeth and bear it. So, I decided to invite everyone over to my house for Spaghetti.<br />But before we get to that, the celebration starts Thursday night the 5th. Not sure why, maybe emotions of being away from home for my birthday, or culture stress, or who knows what (no, not pms :-D) but I was in a bad mood. I just needed to get out and be with people and not be at home by myself for the rest of the night. So I called a friend Aaron who happened to be hanging out with 2 other friends at Starbucks and they invited me to join. So I met them at Starbucks. Knowing I was not in the best of moods, Aaron, being the amazing friend that he is, bought me my favorite drink from Starbucks (Which was easy to do. Since I have now made friends with some of the workers at Starbucks, all he had to do was asked the barista for the drink that Traci orders). I was already feeling a little better :) What can I say, I´m easy to please. After Starbucks we headed to Los Camineros for some tacos. After hanging out awhile longer into the wee hours of the morning, I said goodbye to my friends for the night and snuggled into bed in a very pleasant mood. (Thanks Aaron, Abraham, and Israel!)<br />Then, Friday was the big day. I was tired from my adventures earlier that day, so I slept in. (A cool thing about Mexico, or maybe just the church I work for, but on your birthday you get the day off from work. Like I said, birthdays are a big deal here.) Then one of my friends called me and we went to a movie. Now I must admit the movie was retarded, but fun to hang out nonetheless.<br />After the movie I headed to the church for the evening service. I ducked out a little earlier to give my family a call so they could tell me how much they love me. Success. I was able to chat with all my State-side family and catch up which was nice.<br />Then after the service my friends insisted we go out to eat to celebrate. I could not refuse. We ended up going to Wing's Army, a Buffalo wing restaurant. It was absolutely amazing. Granted it was not the same quality as the Anchor Bar, but it wasn't bad. It reminded me of the many nights after small group going to Buffalo Wild Wings with friends in the States. It was the absolute perfect meal to celebrate my birthday. And I think it may have become one of my favorite places in Morelia :)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hZh4gWlxmpFzbkGxKdwoA7nj6zpfkxuie-SyG5BamSl4Y8-mLWN8UM9xt3oDt6ZQJPB3CP39vXmh3kdHRdgWSMA9FFD4Csmjk7g1lBwGrr9IZiGOYCIyRGjXCN1RYjEYPtwNcP0TR4bu/s1600/IMG_3178.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hZh4gWlxmpFzbkGxKdwoA7nj6zpfkxuie-SyG5BamSl4Y8-mLWN8UM9xt3oDt6ZQJPB3CP39vXmh3kdHRdgWSMA9FFD4Csmjk7g1lBwGrr9IZiGOYCIyRGjXCN1RYjEYPtwNcP0TR4bu/s320/IMG_3178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405532366760212210" border="0" /></a>Then on Sunday after church I cooked Spaghetti for about 25 of my friends in my apartment. Short of birthday cake, balloons, and singing, it was still a good party. We ate food and hung out. Then after the majority had left, a group of us headed to Starbucks and then to the theater. There were no good movies showing so we decided to rent a movie, which also failed for lack of consensus. So we headed back to my apartment to hang out and ended up playing one of those rythm games you play in kindergarden. Normally those aren't so fun, but when they include animal noises, they become a lot more hillarious.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrs5vsPY-HyMhmSgpmLj9sR8bWkOHqSD4F4gy08340KeIU93zNhEJcTIh4ILUR_gFPEMwSpbmvoAElQhMgOKahsjqF35rNyKGatmDh_ZPBn7_AG11jU9KawXgabdgc1cGvzduFKydN79-x/s1600/11545_1197572272342_1619573626_493026_6575226_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrs5vsPY-HyMhmSgpmLj9sR8bWkOHqSD4F4gy08340KeIU93zNhEJcTIh4ILUR_gFPEMwSpbmvoAElQhMgOKahsjqF35rNyKGatmDh_ZPBn7_AG11jU9KawXgabdgc1cGvzduFKydN79-x/s320/11545_1197572272342_1619573626_493026_6575226_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405535006105944402" border="0" /></a>And so, as my good friend Bob would say, "There it is."TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-29653668057422618392009-11-03T13:55:00.000-08:002009-11-04T11:43:48.064-08:00Oremos MexicoThis last weekend I had a super cool experience. On Oct 30, the night before all the festivities of Halloween and the Day of the Dead start here, I gathered with (I´ll guesstimate) over 10,000 Mexicans in the capital city of Aguascalientes to pray for revival in Mexico. It was an experience unlike any other.<br />First, it was just a lot of fun traveling with some of my closest friends here on the four hour bus ride and experiencing a new city with them. We had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdYujHQx63OKrusp1O1Ih8nemEqN2d1mzOtr3mhrHyri_LNIci_AvEevndpbp_Wa6SbMpMSmt6ocsYihNRah9ggqIuhDkkmyEANnVqMqgDzunpq_3nz5-ER43MBzR-bvXWDLG2_NAdlin/s1600-h/IMG_3087.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdYujHQx63OKrusp1O1Ih8nemEqN2d1mzOtr3mhrHyri_LNIci_AvEevndpbp_Wa6SbMpMSmt6ocsYihNRah9ggqIuhDkkmyEANnVqMqgDzunpq_3nz5-ER43MBzR-bvXWDLG2_NAdlin/s320/IMG_3087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400329078439755762" border="0" /></a>Second, uniting in prayer with thousands for four hours was absolutely incredible. Outside in the city plaza downtown, we cried out for revival to fall on Mexico.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OYUYC858-vs5tWYMAaez3a93A_nv3TkjLr080_fx_70cVbR0mdHr_4mhJsOhtfuTl2QZA0Jtx_wpyCCH25MJ9LnEkjz0av_Ah2ExdW8WDv1FyE59TuJIXaCypRJwdo35wKTM_WDYQNpm/s1600-h/IMG_3079.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OYUYC858-vs5tWYMAaez3a93A_nv3TkjLr080_fx_70cVbR0mdHr_4mhJsOhtfuTl2QZA0Jtx_wpyCCH25MJ9LnEkjz0av_Ah2ExdW8WDv1FyE59TuJIXaCypRJwdo35wKTM_WDYQNpm/s320/IMG_3079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400328245293770146" border="0" /></a>Third, a very bizarre feeling came over me as I walked into a market with two of my friends. We were walking around looking for some good food. I couldn´t help but feel out of place in a new city. The thought came to me... "this isn´t home." I realized that Morelia has become home to me. This isn´t just some strange foreign city in Mexico, this is my city, this is my home. And I was so glad when the bus pulled back into Morelia. It was like I had returned home to NY after an out of state trip. That feeling you get when you are in your place, where you are comfortable.. your home. I don´t know what all the Lord has for me here in Morelia or how long I will stay, but for now, it is home :)<br />It was an unforgettable experience.TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-23103453913146771072009-10-27T13:56:00.000-07:002009-10-28T10:36:29.973-07:00The last few weeks in four paragraphs or less...So, the month of October is the 25th anniversary of Vida Abundante (the church I´m working with), and there have been tons of cool events to celebrate. There have been many slide shows and videos, a banquet with all the founders, a concert in downtown, special guest speakers, cake for all, and a live cd/dvd recording in which my guitar and sweater were both featured.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYD3GTLWEoCUIv7ij-zwV4xIWpmuZ5AcrPlKgmm6pCjvTbwpqV5tZdg9FaiBygLMjPnntV2Jriv8K-39Z6-b-qvyoIAapG6HWUS9ze_9Yb84zFieVaevU1KmUvr8zD3GWOBEyXZu-7n0Jc/s1600-h/IMG_2964.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYD3GTLWEoCUIv7ij-zwV4xIWpmuZ5AcrPlKgmm6pCjvTbwpqV5tZdg9FaiBygLMjPnntV2Jriv8K-39Z6-b-qvyoIAapG6HWUS9ze_9Yb84zFieVaevU1KmUvr8zD3GWOBEyXZu-7n0Jc/s320/IMG_2964.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397388825305221282" border="0" /></a>(that is my brown sweater on the violin player)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mnNzhqIjRo8Vg6BptWKQI0_wniX88mOGi6Up1HGI3ppKfApIil35-AAjYMcNqugwFxJbBQZXFsCSuci8Nd8Z_tYdq49P4k9oELIfvbYw5timzn9ub2dvsyc_QI1-Z9QHJYzcORq2P_3p/s1600-h/IMG_2959.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mnNzhqIjRo8Vg6BptWKQI0_wniX88mOGi6Up1HGI3ppKfApIil35-AAjYMcNqugwFxJbBQZXFsCSuci8Nd8Z_tYdq49P4k9oELIfvbYw5timzn9ub2dvsyc_QI1-Z9QHJYzcORq2P_3p/s320/IMG_2959.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397389875925416146" border="0" /></a>(That´s my guitar being played by an extremely anointed man of God and worship leader)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">One of my reasons for getting an apartment by myself instead of living with a family was because I wanted to be able to have friends over whenever. I´m not sure why, but I had a strong desire to have my apartment be a safe place for people to come hang out in... almost the get together place for the young people here. And well, over the last few weeks I have had the opportunity to do just that. I have had 2 lasagna nights (photo below), 2 hot chocolate nights, and a spaghetti lunch with some friends. It has been great just hanging out with friends and being able to use the awesome apartment that the Lord has blessed me with for some awesome fellowship.<br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7oIzjIbQiJMrfCPBqejAxucF5cg94LsW9bG-mRsTUIOs3sdGBMAWthH5ExFVgcKapWR4U4urZD2sa3uyTaCC2hAxguTSwgzOMTLV766cYAa6ZV0GVkYijINUyBiJolpAaprLgEW4pqUO/s1600-h/Photo-0020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7oIzjIbQiJMrfCPBqejAxucF5cg94LsW9bG-mRsTUIOs3sdGBMAWthH5ExFVgcKapWR4U4urZD2sa3uyTaCC2hAxguTSwgzOMTLV766cYAa6ZV0GVkYijINUyBiJolpAaprLgEW4pqUO/s320/Photo-0020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397704336438990770" border="0" /></a>I wish I could recount to you all the amazing memories I have made over the last few weeks. It seems like the last little while has been a time of joy. I have just had so much fun and laughed so much! It has been such a blessing!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4FrS3FByvW0VTP0PpkkpvqZUWmScCabpcYpiPMAD_F-ApmWSaHeGt7fB7KIzSFfiuyGkzGZVy8u2uCycYk3n3PVfxy_mVjaONIpiuEEAeq8xKsH3apZftWH2iLWR5Si-QKkGSKDeQasd/s1600-h/IMG_3016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4FrS3FByvW0VTP0PpkkpvqZUWmScCabpcYpiPMAD_F-ApmWSaHeGt7fB7KIzSFfiuyGkzGZVy8u2uCycYk3n3PVfxy_mVjaONIpiuEEAeq8xKsH3apZftWH2iLWR5Si-QKkGSKDeQasd/s320/IMG_3016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397705677830968658" border="0" /></a>TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-15176301133680953282009-10-08T16:03:00.000-07:002009-10-08T16:04:41.153-07:00What Did I Get Myself Into?<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >"I can´t do this..." were the words of my friend last Friday. Busy preparing for an upcoming conference in a new position and leading the junior high youth group was all beginning to weigh down on him about fifteen minutes before the Friday night service. Before I could even think about what I was about to say, "I´ll preach for you tonight," came out of my mouth.<br />So, 15 minutes before the service started, I now found myself prepping to preach to about 75 junior highers about dating and relationships. I quickly printed out my notes from two sermons (one to just guys and the other to just girls) I had preached to my youth group back in NY in a series called Guy Talk / Girl Talk. I then quickly worked to combine the two into one. Prepping so last minute, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wasn</span>´t comfortable doing it in Spanish, so I called one of my friends and asked him to translate for me. (Poor guy, he had to translate for me talking in first person as if he were me in a talk about dating and relationships... it added some humor though). We went over it quickly during worship and then prayed, and then it was go time.<br />I felt really good about the way it went. I was concerned that while he was translating I would be too focused on listening to his translation to make sure it was right that I would get distraction. But the Lord answered my prayers and I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">wasn</span>´t distracted by his translating at all, and he did an incredible job communicating what I was saying. I challenged the kids to make a stand for purity and then we ended the night with communion.<br />After communion a young girl whom I have never talked to before came up to me and started telling me about how she was sexually abused as a child. I was able to pray with her for forgiveness and healing. As she sat there in tears, the Lord ministered to her powerfully.<br />The whole night was powerful and amazing. While I love the administrative work have been doing, I was missing the practical ministry of preaching and one-on-one <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">impartation</span> and ministry. This night was such an answer to prayer and filled that hole perfectly. God is doing amazing things here.</span>TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-43629660432227245102009-10-01T14:13:00.001-07:002009-10-01T14:37:01.620-07:00I met the President of Mexico!!!Ok, well the title is a little deceiving... I didn´t exactly meet him parse, but I did see him from about 10 yards away!<br />Yesterday, I went to the parade downtown with my friends Israel and Aaron. We found a really good spot with a great view of the parade. The various military branches were represented, along with several public schools. I couldn´t help but remember my many parades marching along blowing in my alto sax as a part of the Lima Christian School Marching Saints. (I must admit, our band was much better than these schools).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlEW0pTlvcIHYD_-ur6vI4Fd8nbvn5Uh33bP-GmDv0T7TZoTri1c2J_nIRhOoAEpKcEiM7HNZYqHAfd6P08KdVDG3M4ugzZFBP_NGgFL0V7of6R0nTkmb3VlSe1pqNbEG9ejivbWiVa-Q/s1600-h/IMG_2657.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlEW0pTlvcIHYD_-ur6vI4Fd8nbvn5Uh33bP-GmDv0T7TZoTri1c2J_nIRhOoAEpKcEiM7HNZYqHAfd6P08KdVDG3M4ugzZFBP_NGgFL0V7of6R0nTkmb3VlSe1pqNbEG9ejivbWiVa-Q/s320/IMG_2657.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387744404459994130" border="0" /></a>Since the President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón, is from Morelia, the city that I live in, he came to watch the parade here! While I didn´t get to shake his hand or take a picture with him, I did get one of him driving by! He passed by as I was standing on the curb of the road. (He is in the passenger´s seat in the picture below... if you zoom in, you can kinda see him). It made my day. That is closer than I have been to any of the US Presidents! ... although I´m still waiting for the fullfillment of the prophetic word spoken over me that I will sit at tables of leadership and have influence in other nations :) ... Maybe at next year´s parade.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphabRLryVEgG6o5IK3y3_uQU7a1-batWCh0ZX-WFPxLt9sgfpeo5QAJfYEu2fvK8b4ddpYOHoMWHOPhmeHUp6d9XkX_vDHXQwNbjraOmZWFXonL9E4l5xpwE8l3YIOlg1Dn4tr9bwed9H/s1600-h/IMG_2715.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphabRLryVEgG6o5IK3y3_uQU7a1-batWCh0ZX-WFPxLt9sgfpeo5QAJfYEu2fvK8b4ddpYOHoMWHOPhmeHUp6d9XkX_vDHXQwNbjraOmZWFXonL9E4l5xpwE8l3YIOlg1Dn4tr9bwed9H/s320/IMG_2715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387745352745481554" border="0" /></a>After the parade we connected with Duke and Denisse and all went hiking. It was such a blast! It reminded me of a day out with my small group in the States. After getting very muddy and wet and having a great time together, we topped the afternoon off with some Burger King.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRygYMjtyUyRWAVHInjFfRXhAjeM4Ru_LOG6RBIl4D8bun4I8IQj5Ij15OIVE7-bpxPRw89zJmZeJLRfodH86OHsj-zPtVjYTPgT33SVjy5foiEOprGsVbZN142swglWYUamAJyRblajM/s1600-h/IMG_2850.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRygYMjtyUyRWAVHInjFfRXhAjeM4Ru_LOG6RBIl4D8bun4I8IQj5Ij15OIVE7-bpxPRw89zJmZeJLRfodH86OHsj-zPtVjYTPgT33SVjy5foiEOprGsVbZN142swglWYUamAJyRblajM/s320/IMG_2850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387748067889970386" border="0" /></a>Duke and Denisse then went home and Aaron, Israel and I headed back downtown for a concert of the orcestra of Michoacán (the State I live in) and a famous opera singer. It was pretty sweet. Another great day :)TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-74341088985850475962009-09-29T15:16:00.000-07:002009-10-01T14:13:08.858-07:00What to do with a battle ax, frisbee, and lasagna?It all started in 2006 when I went to Elim Bible Institute. There I met some fabulous people and was reunited with some old friends. I spent the year with many amazing men and women of God, some of who include, Israel Vergara, Aaron Hall, Denisse Gomez de Lamastra, Duke Lamastra, and Joel Catalan. Yesterday, I was able to spend the day with them all over again.<br />Israel, Joel, and Denisse are from Morelia. I had med them when I was here for the first time in the summer of 2005. Denisse and her husband, Duke, who she met at Elim are now serving down here as the first full time intercessors in the house of prayer here. Joel´s father pastors one of the church plants (of the church I work with in the city) and Joel works there with his dad as well as teaching English at the elementary school here at the church I´m working with. Israel also works at the church here as the JR High leader as well as overseeing registrations and the database. Israel´s best friend, Aaron, who just finished his EBI internship in the Philipeans decided to make a 3 month pitstop in Morelia on his way home. And me, well, you know my story. All of us, 3 Americansa and 3 Mexicans, together again thousands of miles and a country away from where we first met 3 years ago.<br />The day started out, after sleeping in, with some delicious lasagna at Duke and Denisse´s house. We enjoyed conversation over lunch and then sat around telling jokes to each other for over an hour. Many laughs later, Joel had to leave.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBfDb-VF8WeP4F8oPbqLTDD2Ip332LfhBqLYOFAWrkczMRRfk_cU53h60ipLMBTpnKx9MmCIOt43f0rO6Dyi3DCRIPHvmDnLkDrtCSnNYSOtphCtTKcaYET7m7g1IgiJWb7jqj0nPW9zL/s1600-h/IMG_2642.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBfDb-VF8WeP4F8oPbqLTDD2Ip332LfhBqLYOFAWrkczMRRfk_cU53h60ipLMBTpnKx9MmCIOt43f0rO6Dyi3DCRIPHvmDnLkDrtCSnNYSOtphCtTKcaYET7m7g1IgiJWb7jqj0nPW9zL/s320/IMG_2642.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387741866190261074" border="0" /></a>The rest of us headed to a WalMart type store in search of a frisbee. We found a hot pink one with about a 3 inch radius. We figured that plus a giant purple ball, a wiffleball and bat, a plastic battle ax, and 3 plastic swords would do the trick.<br />After getting some delicious ice cream we drove to the park. There we threw a football around, tossed a little frisbee, and played kickball (which my team won). And I wouldn´t do the story justice if I failed to mention that the boys all had their swords stuck in their belts.<br />Back at Duke and Denisse´s house we watched the Guardian to top the night off. It was almost perfect. The only thing left was for Israel, Aaron and I to walk through the city to our respective homes with swords in our belts carrying a giant ball, plastic battle ax, and wiffle bat.<br />Now that, my friends, was a perfect day :)TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-57845156928209993332009-09-21T16:54:00.000-07:002009-09-21T17:25:25.767-07:00Delirious in Mexico CityYesterday was a good day. Can´t think of a much better way to describe it.<br />We started out going to the early morning service at church and hearing a sermon in the series Enemies of Prosperity. Good stuff, as always. Then the 22 of us gathered in the parking lot and loaded into a 11 passenger van and 5 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">seater</span> car... yea, you do the math.<br />We headed out and after 2 brief stops for gas, food, and bathrooms, we arrived in Mexico City. After driving around for a good while in the wonderful <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">DF</span> traffic, we finally parked in a way to expensive parking lot and walked to Burger King for lunch. Yes, my first time in Mexico City and I ate at Burger King.<br />After lunch we moved the cars to the auditorium parking garage and decided to kill some time at Starbucks. Some of then wandered into a super sweet hotel, The W. They had an absolutely incredible lobby and so we took some pictures until being asked to leave :)<br />Then... CONCERT TIME! We gathered in front of the national auditorium, passed out tickets and then got in line for the gates. At the gates they patted us down and checked our purses and bags. They were stricter than an airport. They even confiscated my camera! Apparently they thought I was going to "shoot" Delirious. (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ba</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">dum</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">chhh</span>). So I had to check it in and go back for it after the concert. Now this was a little annoying. I don´t quite understand why you can´t just tell me not to take pictures, because the reality is, I am going to take pictures with my cell phone anyways... especially now just to spite you! Sorry, this annoyed me a little if you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">couldn't</span> tell.<br />But the concert started and all was well. In row N seat 50, right in the center, there they were in all their glory, Delirious.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6FSibb4AolL_OIg9uhv99_cdBdKHm0mfl14END37yJR4yR_rW9M8b0GQrFUs_UI0mSCbXFRKB22zmA_bZBK0YshXQ2FPewfuIGpD-lsC_u31nMkHNcGszJ4taaIcZvXyYKC4pt7aoyzQ/s1600-h/P200909_19.48_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6FSibb4AolL_OIg9uhv99_cdBdKHm0mfl14END37yJR4yR_rW9M8b0GQrFUs_UI0mSCbXFRKB22zmA_bZBK0YshXQ2FPewfuIGpD-lsC_u31nMkHNcGszJ4taaIcZvXyYKC4pt7aoyzQ/s320/P200909_19.48_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384078012722886770" border="0" /></a>I never realized all the songs that Delirious wrote. I quite enjoyed the concert as it was in English and they sang a lot of songs that reminded me of my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">jr</span> high and high <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">school</span> years (Deeper, I Could Sing of Your Love Forever, Jesus´Blood, Dance in the River, Majesty, History Maker, My Glorious). After two hours of singing and dancing (especially with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Sarai</span>), it was over. We regrouped outside and after a quick interview on camera we headed home.<br />Not sure why it took us so long to get home, but it did. We stopped about half way at a fair, complete with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">fariswheel</span> and all to eat dinner. The tacos there were super expensive (well only $1, but that is expensive for here), so we settled for buying snacks at a local store instead. A Gatorade and Doritos later we were back in the van and on the road. We then went through a toll where the Federal Police were doing a search. So, we pulled over. I´m not really sure what all was going on, but they asked for identification from everyone in the van. Luckily I had my passport and visa on me and so I passed it forward. The police officer looked it all over and passed them back and within a few minutes we were back on the road.<br />We finally made it home to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Morelia</span> at 2:30am. The weird part is, is that is exactly how I felt, like I was arriving home. I was sitting in the van and was taken back by my thoughts of "I can´t wait to get home." <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Morelia</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">truly</span> has become home to me. While in Mexico City, I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">couldn't</span> help but miss <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Morelia</span> and the streets that have become so familiar to me. It really is the grace of God, but I really do feel at home here.TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6607271475639351818.post-71826700381990117732009-09-18T11:15:00.001-07:002009-09-29T15:15:44.091-07:00Did you know?<span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:Century Gothic,Technical,Tempus Sans ITC,Gaze,Kids,Comic Sans MS,Verdana;font-size:100%;" >It would take 11 Empire State Buildings stacked one on top of the other to measure the Gulf of Mexico at its deepest point, in case you didn´t know. Also, something else you don´t know... I am now Director of Operations for the House of Prayer here in Mexico!<br />And in case you don´t know what that means, I´ll explain it for you. There are a lot of changes happening with how the House of Prayer (HOP) is organized here. There has been a couple here that has been overseeing the running of it for the past 9 months, since it started. They are now shifting out of this position and becoming full time intercessors in the HOP. This is going to be great, as it is our goal to open up more sessions and this is hard when the majority of musicians are volunteers. So, the pastor met with me last Sunday and asked me if I would take over most of their current responsibilities as well as some new ones. I will be overseeing all of the scheduling, policies and procedures, communication, etc. The pastor and his wife are the Directors, but I will be the one making sure everything gets done.<br />I love organizing things, so I am really excited about this opportunity. However, there is a LOT to organize. It is going to be a big undertaking. Due to some various reasons, none the fault of the couple that was serving in the HOP before, there are quite a few things that need a lot of structure and organization. One of the biggest problems is that the worship teams and prayers show up late for their sessions. It is now my job to figure out a way to get them to arrive on time. I am going to need a lot of grace this season!</span>TraciCavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03066557388373431352noreply@blogger.com0