Some days in the city are just more extraordinary than others. Friday was one of those days. I would like to recap my adventures to and from campus. I was by myself cause my teammates all had other activities. This university is 2 hours away one way so I have to take a number of forms of public transportation to arrive.

I waited for the metrobus for 15 minutes. That is a little extreme really. After that I switched to the metro. I got a seat quickly which I was excited about seeing that that there were a lot of people standing around. I thought for a minute 'why doesn't anyone want to sit here?' I quickly realized that it was because the man sitting next to me had a strong pungent odor to him. I stayed there and swallowed my pride.

I then switched to a micro (which is like a city bus). I hopped on to find just a few seats left. I plopped down next to a teenage boy who was staring at something in his backpack. I looked over too to see what the fuss was about. Was I surprised to see him viewing the cover of a pornographic video. I was disgusted and insulted instantly. Yes, Mexico is a country literally littered everywhere with naked pictures for everyone to see. But this kid was so young and we are on a bus. My thought was that I should say to this kid 'if you want to ruin your sex life that's fine but do it on your own time'. I began to ponder if this is something the churches talk about here...pornography, infidelity, etc. Then just today I visited a church and the pastor was brutally honest about how we are unfaithful-in sexual relationships, with our bodies, in our relationships with Christ as well. He specifically talked about Pornography being a lie that people believe that will help them in their marriage, etc. I was encouraged.

Back to Friday, I got to campus and found the group I was going to work with. We sat in the lawn of the university where after a bit I began to smell something different. It quickly dawned on me that a group close to us had started smoking weed. Never before on campus had I experienced that.

I headed home after a few hours on campus. When I was almost home I was standing at the back of the micro to get off the bus and I hear a guy say to his friend 'that girl isn't mexican'. Being the sarcastic girl I am spitted back, 'really, was it that obvious?'. He followed up with 'and she speaks Spanish'.

All in all it was a crazy day in the city. I can't believe I wrote about pot and pornography in the same blog. I'm am getting more edgier!

Some of the students from UNAM want to take advantage of the fact that other universities around the country have 2 weeks off in April. They are asking for students to consider spending their second week doing ministry at UNAM...300,000 college students. Here is the video that they put together to promote the project. All student led. Students reaching students and asking other students to help. How cool is that?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIem0_RnD8c

As you know, it is that time again when Emily begins to celebrate her birthday.

I happened to be in the States last week and thought it was appropriate for me to have a party there with my family.






Then I followed that up with an Aluminum Foil party on Saturday here in Mexico.







And the craziest thing is, my actual birthday is still two more days away!

check out my sister's blog. She has done a better job updating than me.

http://amykring.blogspot.com

That's all for now.

Today Angie and I went to Tepito for a little bit. We had some donations to drop of at a church mission there. Tepito is not the safest part of the city. In fact, even my taxi driver today didn't want to go there. On the way home we saw a car accident that led to a fight in the street. It was a crazy day.

Anyways, I captured this picture. Angie was holding this baby at the church when he started to fuss during the sermon. Before long her arms rocked that baby right to sleep. When we needed to get going, she went to pass the baby off to another girl but he grabbed back on and she sat for a few minutes longer.

Doesn't it feel great to feel safe? I don't mean just physically even though that is a real thing for me here. But I mean emotionally and spiritually. I often refer to my walk with God as knowing he's good but it doesn't always feel safe. I know he will not let me go cause it's not in his character so why do I struggle so much to stay?

May I rest in my Savior's arms like this baby rests in Angie's.

I haven't updated in a while and that isn't because I don't love you all. I just haven't been really inspired and motivated to write anything specific. God has definitely been pointing me more and more towards his character and the amazing ways he gently affirms that he loves me and that he has a higher purpose for me.

I'm doing a Bible Study with some international sisters at a church here in the city. We are studying Esther. I had read it a couple of times leading up to this point but never dissected it the way our girl Beth Moore does it. It's been interesting. Esther has made me question and long to be a woman of character.

Esther's qualities that I admire...
-she was orphaned but was loved by her uncle. She respected him and obeyed her "father" figure
-she was chosen to go to Xerxes' harem for a chance to be queen. she never mentions her nationality and the book specifically says that even though the hundreds of women received beauty treatments, Esther never asked for anything additional. She was simple yet beautiful
- she first won favor with the eunuch hegei and then with the king. that kind of favor is not just in looks...she had charisma and character
- she was wise, obedient, submissive, compliant, listened, independent, humble and cooperative.

I have a lot to grow in. I know it. But I have hope. Jesus is faithful to change me.

And I would also like to share with you about another amazing woman.


I met Sandra about 2 years ago at a Crusade conference in Mexico. She was going to be joining our team here in Mexico City and honestly I just really liked her from the beginning. She was welcoming to the foreigners, genuine and her love for people was evident.

I've watched her do ministry here the last 14 months or so and have just really enjoyed having her here. On Saturday she heads back to Oaxaca where she is from. She will be missed.

Yesterday I had a Day With the Lord. Let me tell you what that means. One of the blessings of being on staff is spending one day a month with Jesus. Yesterday I went to the Latin American Tower-my favorite places here in Mexico City and I was able to process some of the things that God has taught me. If it's ok with you, I want to share them with you.

-A couple of weeks ago my friend John told me that good leaders are defined by what you say no to. I haven't done a good job saying no this year. I have allowed things to creep on my plate and I took responsibility of things that weren't mine. I have learned what matters to me and I'm committed to only doing that.

-Repaying the debt of love is something I have been learning the last 6 months. I have been very diligent in working off financial debt and comparing that to paying the debt of love--I just haven't worked as hard at that. I want to love like Jesus loves and that is what life comes down to right? Loving?

-I have figured out what I am passionate about...more than just my ministry with a certain missions organization but in life. It doesn't matter where I work. It matters what I do. (more could be coming on this if I get around writing down my ministry philosophy)

-I could stay in Mexico. Because I like who I am better here. No offense to those friends reading from the United States. Something changed in me where I realized that I won't ever be "normal" again in the US but I will never be fully Mexican. I guess I'll be stuck in between for the years to come...or forever.

I think that's all for now. It's been a roller coaster of a year but am so grateful for it.