June 9, 2009

Sorry I did not write on the plane, but here I am now in San Vicente. I must admit that so far this missionary stuff has not been as hard as I was expecting, partly becuase I simply love what I get to do here and because the real work starts tomorrow. The Jon Greere guy that I had everyone at home praying for turned out to be a 22 year old guy from Murrieta, not scary at all, and he brought his friend Ryan. They were awsome, and I really hope to see them again! Thanks to those guys I not only got down here safely, I went the farthest I ever have out in the ocean on a boogie board, but next time it will be a surf board. Most importantly, I can honestly that even after only a day a half with them, I learned of most characteristics of my God.
Anyway, yesterday I woke up in the morning and made a fire outside, on the fire I heated up a huge tin of water, then I put that hott water into buckets and carried it inside to a foot in a half tall and two feet in diameter tub sitting on a cement floor with a curtain seperating me from the rest of Tina's house (who I am staying with for this week). While I was standing there completely naked and uncomfortable, trying to figure out how to wash my hair I could not help but say over and over "gracias dios" becuase although the lifestyle that I am now living here is so much different, and as I am changing everyday my God stays the same. Yes I have known that, but I have never been so thankful for it. Jon and I talked a bit about the characteristics of God and how to let Him be everything that He wants to in our lives, and while I was standing there I recognized how difficult it is for us to try to get to know all of those characteristics, how much more difficult would it be if He changed them as we tried to her to know Him?!?!
I have fallen in love with the book James in the last two days, and tonight we had about thirty young boys come to the Remnant Center where they split up into their small groups to learn the lesson prepared for them. The book Jame, a letter written many years ago is now my prayer to the Lord for these boys today, and tomorrow. After the lesson Tina and I served them nachos and played soccer with them. I am extremely excited to see them all again next Tuesday and plan to pray especially for Carlos and Christian during this week, that they may be more aware of what a real man is, and how that is only possible through God.
Tomorrow we are going to two labor camps and also have man more things planned...I will update you again when I can.
Love you all!!!
Thank you for all of your prayers, my biggest request right now would be that I would have patience with the language barrier, it is not bad between the everyday people that I meet, but I want to be able to have better, deeper conversation with Tina and it has been difficult.
Buenas Noches!