Roots

Well.  Another day.  This place is actually growing on me quite a bit.  For the first month I had images of Colorado flash through my mind involuntarily: being in the mountains, taking morning walks in the park, hanging out with my friends.  But hey.  I'm here, and of all my options, the best one is to live each day with decision and purpose.  And guess what?  This place has really become more and more special to me.  

Until recently, the Mexican culture has typically been somewhat of a distant thing for me.  Even though by heritage I am Mexican, the fact that I was raised in the U.S. has made me identify more with U.S. culture than with my Mexican roots.  However, being here in Juarez has begun to change that.  The Spanish language has been flowing more easily on my tongue, and my understanding of the Mexican people and culture has been growing.  Rather than seeing the culture as an entity that I simply observe or analyze, I now see a people who I can know because we have the privilege of speaking a common language.  And as I develop friendships with people here, my appreciation for the Mexican blood in me gradually increases.

Who knows?  Maybe I will live in Mexico for a long time.  Maybe not.  But as time continues, I am more satisfied with being here.

(Above is a picture of my team and a couple of staff members).

Thoughts about following Christ

Today we visited a small local church. Every Sunday, up until now, we have visited a different church. Some have been very big, with a large worship band and contemporary music, while others have been small with one person leading worship on a guitar.

This morning the sermon focused on the importance of sharing Jesus with others. Meaning, the good news of what he has done for mankind on the cross. Is it really important? Because if it's not, then I have no reason to share it.

In the book of Luke, Jesus says out loud to his audience: "Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." (Ch.14, vs.33). It's clear here that deciding to follow Christ is a decision that carries a lot of weight. And after hearing these words, the questions arise: What exactly am I giving up? and, Do I gain something better in return?

Continuing in this line of thought, sometimes the words "Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it," can be jarring. (Matthew 16:25). Jesus said this shortly before informing his disciples that he would be crucified. And so now, based on this statement, I pose the question: What does it really mean to have life? If the thing that's protected is not what's it's all about (read the statement again: protecting it obviously results in losing it), then what, specifically, is the "real thing" that can be found when the first thing is voluntarily given up? According to this passage, what one gains in return is much better.

I want to have real life, not something that looks kind of like it. And Jesus says that he is real life. So. I am left with the task of dealing with this claim in order to get my question answered. It's a big claim. The kind that needs to be faced, if indeed I am looking for an answer.

Above: My sleeping quarter, and the cafeteria! Below: A beautiful sunset.

My cool job duty!

Above is a picture of Erin, Jessica, Hayley, and me, respectively, in the kitchen! We are doing our clean-up duties after dinner.


One of the coolest things about what I get to do here is cook. When we first arrived, our leaders informed us that we would each be receiving a specific job duty. Now. Although I was completely resolved to being content no matter what duty I was assigned, even cleaning the bathrooms, I have to admit, I was extremely satisfied when I learned that I would be helping to cook dinner everyday! And no, the food is not bad. It varies between basic Mexican and American dishes, depending on the menu for the week, and sometimes I learn to make things that I've never made before.


What else can I tell you about? This week our theme of study was entitled "The Nature and Character of God." It was interesting for me. We studied the differences between nature and character: nature being the specific attributes that are inherent to a being, and character being the ways in which those attributes are employed. God, therefore, as part of his nature, is all-powerful. But because he consistently chooses to use his power in a righteous way, we can say that his character is one of integrity. By nature, he has no limits. But his limitlessness, employed faithfully in a just way, proves a character of goodness. What a wonderful thing to count on!


Salmo 147:3-5
El Señor restaura a los abatidos y cubre con vendas sus heridas. Él determina el número de las estrellas y a todas ellas les pone nombre. Excelso es nuestro Señor, y grande su poder; su entendimiento es infinito.


Psalm 147:3-5
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

Juarez skies

Hi!

I hope this finds you doing well, and wherever you are, enjoying the beauty of God's creation! So I have to be honest: the place where I am currently residing is not really a beautiful place. It's located in a desert-like environment of little vegetation and hot weather, dirt roads in the suburbs and congested highways in the city, air pollution, concrete houses, litter in the streets, you get the idea. But: I assert that there is always beauty to be found in any place, and for me in this place, it's the sky. Every evening I can go outside, look up, and see hues of dark pink and red in the clouds. On a different note, one of the frustrating things about being here is the lack of freedom to move about. For instance, I can't leave the school premises at any given moment or take a walk if I feel like it (basically, anytime between 10am and 5pm it's just too hot, say, to try and exercise outside for 30 minutes). BUT, running in the mornings makes up for it, as well as staying busy with classes and activities. I love learning! Every class session challenges my mind. Bottom line of this posting? Is there one? I suppose it would be this: that even in the midst of less than perfect circumstances and surroundings, there is both beauty as well as cool challenges to enjoy!

Salmo 19:1

El cielo proclama la gloria de Dios y el firmamento anuncia la obra de sus manos.

Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

My Schedule!

So, blog posting number two.  Above is a pictures of Ben, me, and Sean.  These are the two guys in my group.  Above that is a picture of my whole team, including our leaders.  This morning I woke up at 6:45, went for a short run, then got ready for class.  This evening, after dinner, my team of students had to present our book reports, because every two weeks we read a new book.  Right now I am reading Bruchko by Bruce Olson, which is a very inspiring story about a young man who risked his life to take the message of Christ to an Indian tribe in Venezuela.  It's been a great read so far!  Anyway, if you're interested, here is the rest of my schedule:

8:00 worship and prayer

9:15-12:15 class

12:30 lunch and cleanup

Afternoon - job duties and downtime

6:00 dinner

Evening - varies

Although the schedule is structured, we do have plenty of time to hang out and do other fun things, like walk down the street to buy something, such as Mexican candy.  A lot of which is covered in hot chile, flavored with lemon and salt.  But those of you who know me well, know that I can eat spicy things until I cry!  On a more serious note, let me tell you about something I have been learning lately in my prayer times and scripture reading.  God has specifically been teaching me about the profundity of Christ's sacrifice for us, that it was more than just a historical act.  Rather than solely looking at his death on the cross as a way for me to access knowing God (which, by the way, is one of the most wonderful things about it!), I have begun to view not his death, but his resurrection, in light of a person's most basic desire: the desire for relationship.  Because Christ conquered death through his resurrection, he is currently alive, and I can know him personally, the way I know a friend!  And of all friends, he is the truest.

So there's blog posting number two.

   

First Update.....Finally!

Hi! So. This is my first official update from Juarez, Mexico! I am very excited to be here, and have already seen blessings from God in the things that I have been doing and learning. You may be asking yourself, "What is Cynthia doing in Juarez, Mexico?" For those of you who don't know, I am in training to do Christian missionary work not only in Mexico, but in other countries as well. Everyday, I join seven other American students in taking classes, eating meals together, doing clean-up duties, and meeting people through activities in the Juarez community. My team consists of five girls and two guys, as well as four team leaders who are on staff here. The picture above is of me with a girl from the country of Germany! Her name is Erena, and she came for a couple weeks to visit some friends who work here. The YWAM base here (just in case you didn't know: YWAM stands for Youth With A Mission) receives church groups from all over the U.S. to do various community projects in Juarez, Mexico. In October, for instance, we will be hosting a medical outreach, so that teams of trained U.S. medics can come to provide health services for Mexicans in Juarez. All in all, I have a lot of peace that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be! Check back again for updates and more pictures.


Salmo 25:4,5
Muéstrame, Señor, tus caminos, enséñame tus senderos. Guíame por el camino de tu fidelidad; enséñame, porque tú eres mi Dios y mi salvador, y yo espero en ti todo el día.

Psalm 25:4,5
Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.