My weekend of tears and blessing

This last weekend was eventful in every sense - activity, emotions, breakthroughs.

Saturday Violet and I had our second excursion to a rural town called Tepoztlan to climb a mountain by the name of Tepozteco and visit the local market. The drive there itself was interesting; I was able to see more of Mexico. At one point Claudio, a school authority and that day our driver, had to stop as a small pack of horses was crossing the road. It made me smile to think that this was a normal occurrence in that region. On the way there Irma, another school authority who was accompanying us, warned us that the climb could be a bit more challenging as it had rained extensively the night before. Violet and I decided we wanted to start climbing and then make a decision as to whether we wanted to continue or not....But once Irma got started on her way there was no opportunity to make a decision we just kept going. It was kind of pathetic because Irma (a woman most likely in her 40´s and also sick at the time) was breezing up this mountain while Violet and I were absolutely dying :) The hike up is 2km and took us roughly an hour. Upon reaching the top Violet and I were both quite sweaty (although she definitely won the grand prize for being the sweatiest), slightly wet from dripping flora and streams running through the mountainside, and extremely elated that we had made it. It was definitely worth it and we were so proud of ourselves. At the top there is a pyramid built by the indigenous people of the town for their God. It is nothing spectacular really, but the view from atop the pyramid is absolutely stunning (the best their is, Irma told us). We rested there awhile and had a snack and then it was back down. The way down was definitely easier except for the very beginning of the descent when it was extremely steep and slippery (Violet and I were so scared and we had no problem admitting that to Irma). Anyway, we made it back down in about half an hour and from there went to the market. The market was huge and there was so much to see (clothes, toys, ceramics, food...), but Violet and I were quite tired and really only had the time and energy to stroll around once and buy a few postcards. We plan on returning though when we are more in the mood to shop :)

Sunday Violet and I went to the same church again except this time by ourselves (our small group was canceled Saturday so we didn´t have a chance to talk to the youth and the rest of my family was going to a night service). I felt quite removed and foreign there that morning. Both worship and the sermon were empty for me. When we returned to my house and went up to my room the emotions I had apparently been storing up during the week came flooding out and I cried for the first time in Mexico (well...second if you count the day I couldn´t sleep but an hour and a half but that was more from exhaustion than anything else). I talked with Violet for at least an hour and a half about my frustration with my current Spanish abilities, my desire to know my family better, and the challenging state of our friendship at present. It was good to have her there and we prayed before she left which was much needed. It was soon after that that things much improved (God is good).

I ended up going furniture shopping with my family :) They thought I would be bored out of my mind, but I actually had a lot of fun. I got to talk with my host mom and Abram a lot more. Also, my dad wanted to know my opinion on every couch that they were considering (which did I like better, which was more comfortable). I found it slightly amusing that he wanted my opinion even though I would only be living with the family for 4 months, but at the same time I was touched by his consideration of my opinion on the matter. We ended up shopping right up until the point when my family needed to go to church so I ended up going again because it was easier that way. It was such a blessing from God. This time there was a different speaker whom I could understand better and her words reached my heart. Also, it was just really nice to be there with my whole family worshipping and praising God together.

So...that was my weekend. Very interesting, but in a good way. Going into this I knew that there would be challenges, but there was no way I could anticipate what they would be to prepare myself. Even so, God is right here with me guiding me through the new terrain. And like Maria said to me yesterday, "when God has a plan for your life, the enemy will try to place a battle in the midst of things."