La Banda

I've been hanging out with Sam and Josh lately and we've been having a blast. When I was here for my first 3.5 months, they were back in the states so we didn't get to hang very much. They are MK's (missonary kids).

Our most recent adventures have included jamming. We've been jamming all week and practicing. Our first performance is probably going to be at the Coffee House Night that we are going to have at the office.

The coolest part is we've been attracting a lot more people to the office because of our loud music. We finally brought the drum set from the house and there is a not a single car that drives by or a person that walks by that doesn't stop to see what we're doing. Yesterday a bunch of girls came in and started taking pictures of us. I guess it doesn't hurt that we are also 3 foreigners.

I have also started working out regularly with Joseph who is really cut. We will see what results come of this. The gym is very nice and it is only 10 pesos each time.

Back

I am back in Mexico! Chris and Nancy came back to Jerez with me for a week and we were able to make it here for Independence Day. It was a crazy people filled night. I have never seen Jerez that packed before. It was a lot of fun having them here. So far I have been just settling in and getting back into the groove of things. Honestly, it feels like I never left. I had been battling in my head whether or not I should come back, but in the end I feel like I had to come back and give it another shot and finish what I started. I hope that this is where God wants me to be and do work, but if not, at least I gave it another go at it.

Visiting

It's been a while and I know it. What's been going on?

I am back in Los Angeles visiting friends and family. I am planning on heading back to Jerez in a month or so. I am definitely missing Jerez, but I definitely needed this time to think about what I want to do and to make sure I am listening to what God wants me to do.

To be continued . . .

Grads, Class, Trips

Sorry. I guess it was inevitable that I would post less and less huh?

Some quick updates. Lots of graduations the past month. Mical, Jerry's wife, graduated from high school. Luceralba graduated from Middle school. And Rulis graduated from elementary school. The only thing missed out on was a college graduation. They were all fun but very long. Each of them were very elaborate with lots of performances and such.

We also went to Tepatitlan and Guadalajara over the weekend to get a visa for Mical. We visited Luis (whom I met from the Harvest church) and his Aunts. They make really good food. He has 9 aunts and the 3 that we've met are super nice. It was fun visiting my first big city in Mexico. Felt like home more than anywhere else, which I don't know if I like. Although we did have KOREAN food. It was really good. Fun trip overall and good to spend more time with Luis who I feel like I've known forever.

I've alsot started teaching English classes. They are going well. Chris bought me some nice materials. I think I have the most fun in English class. Ok that was a quick update that I made in between classes. I have English class in 10 min.

We are also going up to the mountains again this weekend for one of the natives' wedding. That should be good fun. Also went to another quince. Check out pics here.

Loco Moco

It has been raining here pretty much every night for the past 3 weeks. This is undoubtedly the most rain I have personally every experienced. It just doesn't rain very much back home in LA. I had no idea that the rainy season here was July and August.. I was thinking the summer would be SUMMER! Good thing I always try to stay prepared though. I have ample jackets and even brought my anorak just in case. And of course I always have many flashlights with me because of my fear of not having light. This has come in handy during the blackouts. And it's not just rain, it is heavy heavy rain while still staying warm.

I've also had to experience DSL techinical support recently. The DSL modem stopped working. I called TelMex and they sent someone over the next morning. Amazing response. The phone support was better than the phone support I get in the US. Amazing! I was afraid I'd be without DSL for a while, but it was only for one night.

Estoy solo. I have been living at the house by myself for about 3 weeks now. Juan went back to the States and Gabriel went back to the ranch for the summer since school is out. It's sometimes lonely at night in a big house by myself in a foreign country. Thank God I have internet though.

It has been a busy week so I haven't had a chance to post pics or blog. A team from Harvest Church came down to Jerez for a week for a week long event. They did a medical mission the first weekend and throughout the week were outreaching. The last 2 days they held a big crusade at the gym. it was like having our own mini Harvest crusade. I met some really great new friends.

We found out about it pretty much a week before but we wanted to help out of course. So we decided to make dinner for them every night. We spent all last week cooking pretty much. it was fun but very tiring. We made chinese food, burritos, and other dishes. One night I folded and made 100 burritos. I can fold burritos like nothing now. I've also have had time during lunch to experiment with cooking. Pictured above is a loco moco I made. I found some gravy powder and decided to try and make some loco moco. I used hamburger patties for the meat. No rice, so toritllas were the substitute. It turned out pretty good.

I spent some time hanging out with the Harvest team. We went to Zacatecas and did a taco run. It was fun and great to meet some awesome people. I have a feeling we will be working with them again soon.