Intense

Read Cry, the Beloved Country. It's really good.

Other news: Folks from my church have made it to Juarez, Mexico. I've gone with them for the last five years, but this time I'm still in Norman. My roommate Kim went for the second time this year and was kind enough to send me a text message saying that Maria had asked about me first thing. Maria helps out in the kitchen and with the children at the orphanage and is very dear to my heart because of the memories built one week each year. One time when I was there I got very sick the day before we left. Maria came to check on me repeatedly throughout the day, she gave me her blanket to keep warm when I developed a bit of fever and later asked someone to drive her to a convenient store so she could buy me gatorade and yogurt which actually did help my stomach, as doubtful as I had been when she suggested them. She has a daughter, Adrianna, and a son, Jorge. She understands English, but doesn't speak it very well and was always there to help when I didn't know how to say something or was obviously confused.

Last year I was really stressed out because we were doing two vacation bible schools instead of one and we hadn't brought anyone that year who was fluent in Spanish... She came and sat by me and listened to me and not only comforted me, but redirected me to trust in God and not to depend on myself as I was trying to do. It ended up being my favorite year of all five that I gone. God did amazing things and showed himself faithful in so many ways. I could write so much more, but I don't think I will tonight. I need to learn to help out on the trip through prayer instead of sulking and revelling in the memories of years past. :-)

Goodnight.