Movin' Back With the Gringos

As I implied in my blog the other day, my friend Sarah left Queretaro on thursday to move back to Kansas (and wherever college is, I'm so bad, I forgot).

Sarah came here the middle of August for a study abroad semester at the Queretaro state university. The family she stayed with is friends with a lady who comes now and then to Horizonte Church, so Sarah came to Horizonte her first sunday here. Hence me meeting her.

Sarah immediately got involved in the young adults' group at church, and made lots of friends - at church and school. It was great getting to know her and share stuff that I've learned about Mexican culture, missions, and life as a gringa in Mexico. We went to Guanajuato together, went out for crepes or coffee or crepes or ice cream... or crepes... many times, and I showed her how to make Honduran pupusas! Sarah is an amazing Christian lady who I know God will use in great ways, and already has! I was sad to see her leave!

We had a goodbye party for Sarah on tuesday night, at our house. I think there were probably about 30 people in and out of the house that night... And if you've ever seen our house, you know that's a pretty big feat. Especially with the lack of places to sit. hehe

Cinthya, Brisa, Sarah, Ari, and Me (I am SO the old lady of this picture! Everyone else is between 17 and 20!)
Everyone who was at the house when the picture was taken (minus JP who was taking the picture!)

So, we'll miss you Sarah! (jaja, creo que vas a leer esto!)

Hasta Luego??

One thing that I am really terrible at is saying goodbye to people. I've been to Honduras and El Salvador several times each, and everytime I cry when I leave. I know that I'll be back, but I still cry and it takes a few days (or longer!) to get over it.
My first time hosting a short-term mission team (well, helping host) was in Honduras in 2004. A team of high school students came for a week and I bawled when they left. I realized that if I was going to be a long term missionary, I'd need to get over it and not let it bother me so bad to leave people.
I'm fine with the short term teams leaving now. But the first time we had an intern here in QRO for 2 months, I bawled when she left! I'm actually starting to get used to the two month people leaving. But now, we had Helena, who was here for FIVE months. I bawled when she left! It's really hard to have people leave, and Helena was especially hard... It's rare that we get people here that are truly from MY culture. Many of our interns and all of our teams are from the southern USA, and truth be told, I fit in a lot better in Mexican culture, and understand better Mexican culture than the culture of the south. Helena's from Arizona, so we're both extremely informal westerners. She's 20 and single, and speaks the same native language as I do... even with the same accent! haha! She was here for a third of the time that I've been here, so it's like she's just always supposed to be here. But she's not anymore.

Will I EVER be able to learn to deal with saying goodbye to people?! I dread the day I have to leave QRO for good if that ever happens! Even tough Helena left, I still live in the same place, have all the same friends (minus one without her), do the same things. She is the one who has to re-adjust to everything again. What happens if someday it's ME leaving here?! I don't even want to think about that...

Anyhow, God has always gotten me through the goodbyes (I want to call them BADbyes), and I suppose it might get easier...

Bye Helena!

Ok, I haven't written here in FOREVER, so here is a brief update at what is going on...

Global is closed for the month of July, so that gives me some much needed time to catch up on the technical side of things at the cafe, and to meet up with some of the girls in my small group, and girls that I've met through Global.

On Monday, Helena, who was with us since the beginning of february, left for Arizona. She will be missed!!

Lots of friends at Helena's good-bye party:

Now THAT'S a mordida!! (yes, that is me on the left helping dunk Helena in her cake!!)

Dany and Helena goofing off enjoying the music!

Bye Rose!

On Monday we said goodbye to Rose, a 28 year old lady from Indonesia (lives in Australia) who has been working with us since March.

Rose stayed with Silvia and her kids:

We had a goodbye party for Rose on Friday at Global Grounds. LOTS of people who Rose met during her time here came to say goodbye! Here is Rose after taking a "mordida" of her cake:

Some of the party guests goofing around!

Ana, Rubén, Rose, Dany, and Casandra posing for a picture:

Rose has been a great blessing to our ministry here, and will be missed!

Bye Guys...

After four years in Queretaro, Julian and Whitney and their girls moved back to the U.S. last monday. At Horizonte, we had a big going away party for them, because we'll miss them a bunch!!

Here is Whitney, Talya, Micaiah, and Julian:


Julian with his junior high boys group, and the new group leader, Juan:

We pulled out the "Pegale al Pastor" (hit the pastor) game again, and stuck Julian behind it since he is the one who always invents weird stuff like this!

The aftermath:

And the junior high boys group giving a big thank you (GRACIAS) to Julian and Whitney from the whole church: