One Small Step

"Traci, tranquila."

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 wasn´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.

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 wasn´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.

Where Are You From?

This past Friday was Oremos 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 León, Guanajuato. This was my first time in León, so that was fun. I drove there with the Lucateros, 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 intercede for Mexico.The next day, we ran into the León soccer team in the hotel we were staying at. I went down to the lobby with 7 year old Alek to take a picture of him with the team. The guys were very nice and obliged to the paparazzi. One of them asked me where we were from. I quickly responded, "Morelia." ... It took about 5 minutes before I thought through it and realized, "Oh wait, I´m not from Morelia, 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.

Celebrating the 1 year anniversary of the House of Prayer

BOMB on the plane!

"I saw him run to the front of the plane!" said the camouflaged dressed military man that was seated across the isle from me to the flight attendant in a slightly panicked state. I was fast asleep on my overnight flight from LA when I woke up to the cabin lights abruptly coming on and to a ruckus 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 cockpit. There are terrorists on my flight!"

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 wasn´t a someone, but a something! Although, the thought of a rat lose on the plane instead of a terrorist wasn´t much of a comfort.
Soon, as I was eavesdropping on more of the interrogation, I realized it wasn´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 exclaiming, "I see it!"... "Oh, it just touched me."

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.

I Should Be a Bank Robber

Just 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.
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 didn't bring my keys with me. OOPS!
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!
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.
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... didn't work. Meanwhile the lasagna in the oven is about 10 minutes from being done.
I then pulled some coins out of my pocket. They aren't as flimsy as the paper, so maybe they will work. After getting 11 pesos stuck in my door, I decided that wouldn't work either.
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.
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.
WAAAALAAAA!
I did it! 20 minutes later, just in time as the buzzer sound and the lasagna was done.

Um, Do I Know You???

"Hey Traci, It's Marco."

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.
He continued, "I have my application, can I leave it with the receptionist?"

"OH! Marco!" I shouted in my head.

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!

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.

The Holidays

This 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.

Some of the things I look forward to the most and that really make the holidays special to me in the States are:
1. The candle lighting service on Christmas Eve.
2. Eating cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning.
3. Being with family.

And here, I got all those things. On the 24th 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 presence" quote from my dad, Pastor Andres gave a great brief sermon.After the service I went with my pastors, to Andres' parent's house. We enjoyed some great cooking, laughs, sparklers, and gifts.

Then, on Christmas morning, I even had my cinnamon roll. Kelly's mom, Paty 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 Paty Evan's house for lunch with their kids and grandkids. Again, more great times.

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 Christmas Day.
Between Christmas and New Year's there was a youth conference in Morelia. It was so nice being able to go to a conference, attend, and receive, without having to plan or organize anything. I haven't done that in a long time.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 appetizers at a really nice restaurant right in front of the beautiful cathedral downtown.
After chatting for awhile we headed over to the Lucatero's house. (The Lucateros 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 Zzzzs.

Then, New Year's day enjoyed some more delicious food and a movie at the Evan's house.
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.