The Birthday Pictures!

And finally, a week later, I have my birthday pictures!

Lots of people from church all went out to Tlacote (a small town by QRO where Edith lives) for games, tons of yummy food, and of course cake!

Here are the three birthday people, Me, Jean Paul, and Lalo:

And some of my best friends at the party, Helena, Aidee, Ana, and Raquel:

It was a very fun day!

Birthdays and Stuff

I'm starting to get bad about taking pictures. We just had three wonderful ladies from NPCC in Atlanta come this week to help Iglesia Horizonte launch a new childrens' program. I think it will be wonderful once we get it off the ground! I also had my first taste of what it's like to be THE translator for a group of people. Two full days of constantly translating between the NPCC ladies and the Horizonte people, it was difficult. We have FOUR more teams scheduled to come this year, and are looking into a fifth one!

Yesterday was JP's birthday! Yes, he is THREE days older than me. We didn't have a cake or party or anything though, we are having a "TripleCumple" or tri-birthday party, this saturday - JP turned 26 on the 20th, I turn 26 on the 23rd, and Adiel (the youth pastor) turns 29 on the 25th. And we may possibly have a party on this friday night too, we'll see!

Ok, I feel like life will fall into a somewhat normal routine here this coming week... for a while at least. I like the feeling of "normal." Although, the School of Evangelism folks are off to Chiapas this monday, so I will lose Ana for a month, and we'll all need to pitch in extra with cleaning and maintenence that the students usually help with. Please be praying for the youth group trip to Chiapas, as we are wondering if we will even have enough people to fill a bus to be able to go. The next intern to our ministry will arrive in a little less than a month from Australia. And I'll be off to Aguascalientes for a conference the beginning of April. That's a little bit of what is coming up for a while.

Happy birthday to all the people I know who have birthdays this week (which is like 7 people!!)!

Chaos... But In A Good Way!

I think we had a record turn out for youth group last saturday night! It was our valentine's day celebration since it was the saturday before valentines. We had some typical youth group games, and a candy exchange. There were even several teens there who had never been to youth group before, but just had been to church on sundays a few times. We had right at 40 students, plus 6 leaders! That pretty much packed out the cafe where we hold our youth group! (Horizonte youth meets at Global Grounds, the cafe that is a hang-out for university students monday through friday). It was crazy!!
Anyhow, it was amazing to see so many kids involved this past week! Please be praying for our upcoming trip to Chiapas - a 15 hour bus ride from here - with the youth! We are hoping to fill an entire bus (the more people that go, the cheaper it will be per person!) so that would be 45 people!!

Lambies!!

What is a "normal" breakfast for you? Cereal? Toast and juice? Eggs and bacon? Pancakes? If I were to fix any of those things for people in Mexico for breakfast, they would be satisfied just as well as you. I've heard lots of gringos comment that refried beans are weird to have for breakfast, but my DAD even eats them for breakfast here, so they can't be too terribly weird.

So, this past monday (a national holiday - Constitution Day), I was invited by several friends to go to the town of Coroneo Guanajuato, about 45 minutes from QRO. They told me that there's yummy barbeque there. So I'm thinking barbequed ham, pork, or even steak. Meat with eggs is a common breakfast here. Imagine my surprise when they told me that we would, in fact, be eating "sheep tacos." I seriously thought they were kidding, or that maybe we'd be eating them for lunch (this particular group of people is well-known for their jokes). Nope, we arrived, and each received a free sheep taco... at 9:00 in the morning. I had two more, covered in onion, cilantro and hot salsa. I can't say that sheep is my favorite meat, but it was alright. However, I think I'll be content to stick with BBQ pork, beef, or chicken if I eat BBQ outside of Coroneo...

How Did THAT Happen?!?!

So, last night, Mexico vs. USA soccer game. In Phoenix, but about half the crowd was either Mexican or at least rooting for Mexico. Mexico has a REALLY good national soccer team, it was almost the same team they sent to the World Cup earlier this year. But something went wrong somewhere because they played TERRIBLE. And the refs were't biased either...
We showed the game on the projector at Global, and quite a few people came to watch. To watch USA pound Mexico 2-0. Soccer is the only sport that I won't root for USA in, but I think that's justified, because hardly anyone likes or cares about soccer there. And here, it's life! How many people didn't know that this past June was the Wold Cup, or that didn't know about the Mexico vs. USA game yesterday?? EVERY TV in the shopping center where Global is had the game on. It was BIG here.
But it was fun to watch!

Mom and Dad

My parents came to visit me last week too, and we went to Guanajuato for a day:

We hung out in QRO for the week, and I dragged them to my favorite restaurants, and to some of my activities here. I think they enjoyed it though! And, they got to meet JP. :-)

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:

Ana and the Deer

A couple months ago, I spent a week at Julian and Whitney's house while they were in the States. Ana lived with them and didn't want to stay by herself for a week, so I stayed there too. Anyhow, one day, she came home from school and we decided to fix something for lunch. I found some beans to cook up, and was looking for other food to eat too when Ana told me "Oh! My aunt gave me a cut of meat the other day, we'll eat that!" And she proceeded to pull out the giant, round, dark red, inch-think chunk of meat out of the freezer. "It's deer," she told me. This slab of meat was so big, it even had a big indent in it where it looked like Bambi's backbone may have been. Ana tossed the whole thing in the mircrowave for a little bit, then told me to cook up half of it. Ok, I'm from Oregon, so eating deer isn't abnormal. But I've NEVER cooked it, and had NO idea how that works! So I cut of half of it, cut that half in shishkabob-sized pieces and tossed it in a fry pan with a little oil and whichischire sauce. It was a little rubbery, but it tasted alright.
Later, Ana thanked me for having cooked up the deer, as she didn't have the foggiest idea how to cook it! Now we both know how to improvise when cooking a slab of large forest-dwelling animal!

On to a more serious note, Ana has joined my english class for this semester. It's always weird for me to have friends in my english class, but this has turned out really well... Wednesday was the first class. One student - Noemi - accidentally came an hour early for class. She sat and talked with Ana and Raquel (another girl who works at the cafe) for quite a while. During class, I asked each student where they go to school or work. Ana said she goes to the Horizonte school of evangelism. That sparked questions with Noemi about what in the world IS a school of evangelism, and why would Ana go there?? So Ana and Noemi are getting together this weekend to go out to coffee and get some of Noemi's questions answered.
I don't think I've ever met another person who just has so many evangelistic opportunities dropped in their lap!! SOOO many people just ask Ana out of the blue about the Lord - her sister's boyfriend, a taxi driver, a girl from her high school who she hadn't seen in like 7 years... Wow!

It Happened...

I, along with all single missionaries I'm sure, am always asked if there is "any special young man" in my life. So far, the answer has always been "No." So far...

I have known Jean Paul since I moved to Queretaro last February. We are involved in a lot of the same ministries of Horizonte Church, and have many of the same friends. He's basically a really great guy! And he apparently thinks that I must be a really great girl too, as this week he asked me to be his girlfriend! So now I guess I can't say "no" to the question I am frequently asked!

Here is us at the Christmas formal at church in December

Slumber Party!!

I don't think you're ever too old to have a good slumber party. And that we did last friday night! Whitney's husband is in the States, and her mom was in QRO, so we took the opportunity to have a little party! Diana and I were technically the only people "invited," as Ana, Aidee, and Whitney's little girls live there all the time...

Here we are (Ana, Micaiah, Diana, and I) enjoying pizza and nachos:

Alice, Talya, and Aidee surrounded by yummy junk food:

And what girls' slumber party wouldn't be complete without some nail-painting?! Here is Micaiah attempting to paint Whitney's nails:

Is it just me, or is Tayla already more than half the size on Ana, at 11 months?!

It was nice to spend some time all together for an evening... Julian and Whitney and their girls are moving back to the States the 29th of January. This puts Aidee (who is working as their house helper and living with them) and Ana (attending the school of evangelism, and had been passed between like 4 houses before finally spending the past three months living on the Kreveres' couch) out of a home. I was getting really worried, and wished that I could offer some floor space in my room... But thankfully, the Lord has provided - Aidee is moving in with Justin and Lluvia in their new house (they have been living with Lluvia's family for over a year!). Ana has found a place with Adiel (the youth pastor), his wife Nadia, and their son Gerardo.

This month has been full of changes, but all for the better I'm sure. My parents will arrive right in the middle of the caos (and I had been so sure that the week they were coming would be non-busy...!). They'll be here from Jan. 26 to Feb. 2!!

Home... Again!

Well, I am now home (in Queretaro) after being at home (in Tegus). I am glad to be back and sad to not be in Honduras. But, I know that I am supposed to HERE now, in Mexico!!
I have not much going on this week, as we don't open the cafe until next week, I have no english classes to teach, am no longer taking spanish classes, youth group won't be until saturday, and I haven't gotten in touch with my girls yet to set up meeting times with them. SO, I have time to put some pictures of the rest of my time in Honduras on this blog!

This is my new favorite picture ever!! The first time we've taken a picture of the ENTIRE immidiate family!


In back are: Iván (brother, 26 years old), Franklin (brother, 22), Suyapa (mom), Michelle (sister, 33), Me, and Martha (grandma who lives with us). In front are Delmer (dad) and Ronald (brother, 20).


And the newest couple, my best Honduran friend Luisa, and her new boyfriend (who we've known forever!) Moisés.

My friend Flor and I... she's my shopping buddy!

The gringas - Marlia, Michelle, and I. Marlia is from California and was in Honduras visiting (she went there on the team from Simpson in 2003). Michelle has been a missionary in Honduras for 5 years.

Extended family members hanging out at my house - Larissa, me, Karla, and Flor (They'd be my cousin and second cousins)

And here's the kind of thing that goes on in the house when we've all had too much sugar and it's late at night...

(Iván, Fran, and Delmer trying to see who can wrestle who to the ground first)

Our family Christmas picture... although I now like the one with EVERYBODY better!

And, who says you can't have snow in the winter in Central America?! Michelle brought fake snow with her from Arizona... add water, and it turns into what really feels like snow!!

More Honduras!

Greetings again from Central America! And happy New Year!!

I'm still enjoying my time here in Honduras, it's been nice to have a few weeks to hang out, rest, and visit my friend here! I DO miss Queretaro though!!

Here are just a few pictures:

Suyapa and I on New Years Eve:

My two youngest brothers and I:

Fran, Luisa, and I at the mall:

Delmer and Suyapa (my honduran parents) and the evil orange cat:

I'll be heading back to Mexico Monday, Jan. 8! Sad as always to say goodbye to everyone here, but this time I'll also be very happy to go back "home" to Queretaro!!

CatrachoLandia...

Here are just a few pictures of my Christmas here in Honduras!

Singing in the choir on Christmas Eve...

The kids' part of the service...

And my brother Franklin and I enjoying some Christmas presents (I didn't get a mask for Christmas, I was just borrowing Ivan's!)

Christmas Banquet

Stepping back a little over a week, I have some pictures from our youth group Christmas banquet at Horizonte Queretaro!

The banquet was an evangelistic event - we asked the youth from churh to please invite a non-Christian friend. We figured about 35 or 40 from our church would come, and that maybe 10 would invite a friend. When it came time to buy food and stuff, we had 94 people registered to come!! 85 actually came!

Here are several of the university girls:

Aide, Ana, Whitney, and I

My good-looking little sister Gaby, and little brother Roberto

And, me with friends Dany, Ana, and Kike (KEE-kay)
It was a fun night!

"Home" Number 2

Greeting from Honduras! I arrived safely here sunday afternoon, and am staying with my wonderful Honduran family! I don't have much of a plan for my time here other than relax and hang out with friends and family. I'll be here until January 8.
Hasta luego!!

And Some Good Mexican Food...

... to tide me over while I'm in Central America!!

I actually took pictures of some of my favorite foods here (yeah, I know, I'm kind of lame...)

Here's my very very favorite food - it's called a gringa! The gringa is on the right, it's a big lump of white cheese and BBQ pork all melted together, and some places even add pineapple. It's eaten in flour tortillas. It's really really yummy!
I didn't get a picture of "mole" (MO-lay) which would be my next favorite food... It sounds kind of sick, it's chile sauce mixed with chocolate. It's usually eaten over chicken, or used instead of enchilada sauce!

Here is a "Guajolote" (wah-hoh-LOW-tay), or also called "pambazo" in outher parts of the country. It's a big sandwich. The bread is dipped in really yummy sauce and toasted on a grill. It is filled with meat (I like pork, chicken, or chorizo sausage), lettuce, tomato, beans, jalapeños, and cream. Definitely a good choice in mexican food!
And here's one that would make "health fanatics" cringe even more than the first two foods - the "Elote" (ei-LOW-tay). It's corn on the cob. Now, corn on the cob is pretty good for you - here they serve it boiled or roasted. However, when you eat it the mexican way is when it starts the arteries a'cloggin'. First you put on butter. Then mayonaise. Roll it in shredded white cheese. Squeeze on some lime juice, and sprinkle on some chile powder. There you have your cooked mayonaise on a stick! No really, it's really tasty! The one in the picture was bought on the side of the road out in the boonies. It's the best elote place!!
And I'm sure you're familiar with tamales, but you've probably eaten them with chicken or pork and spicy sauce. I like them like that too. However, since tamales are commonly eaten for breakfast, I usually acompany my chicken and green sauce tamal with a sweet tamal! The pink think in the picture is indeed a tamal. It's stawberry flavored with raisin. My favorite is pineapple flavored! We had gringos here when we were eating these particular tamales at church, and there were two guys looking at the tamales and thought the pink ones looked gross. but I gave them a taste, and they also liked them better than the meat ones! The women were afraid to try the sweet ones... they missed out...

Next Sunday, I'm off to the world of "ketchup is the spiciest thing we can eat." HONDURAS!! I'm very excited about going there... there are even foods there that I enjoy, even though they aren't super flavorful. Looking especially forward to baleadas (flour tortillas with beans, scrambled eggs, and melted cheese), pupusas (gorditas to mexicans, or corn meal patties stuffed with cheese, meat, or beans), and cuajada - my favorite Honduran food (salted curdled milk that's hardened enough to cut with a knife! No, I'm not kidding...).

I probably won't be updating this blog for another 2 weeks or so, so enjoy the 4 posts I did today!!

Merry Christmas!!

State Fair!

The State Fair of Queretaro is going on right now, and I went last night! I unfortunately didn't take my camera in with me, so I have one picture... of us in the car leaving. There are two GIGANTIC expo center-type buildings (think two buildings that dwarf the Jackman-Long at the Oregon State fair) full of really cheaply priced goods! I bought some earrings for less than half the price that they sell them for in the Centro. We (Brisa, Lluvia, Justin, Dany, Aide, Shultz, and I) beat our way through the crowds for about 3 hours of shopping. Then, we hit the rides. I don't think I've been on fair rides in at least 8 years, and 8 years really ages you a lot!! I can't handle rides like I used to! But it was very fun! And, of course, the yummy greasy fair food was WAY overpriced, and Im not supposed to be eating it anyways, so I limited myself to an apple-flavored pop. Fair food in Mexico = french fries, hamburgers & hotdogs, corn on the cob (with mayo, cheese, and chile!), stuffed churros (Mmmm!!), pancakes (yes, pancakes!) potato chips with salsa, and fruit popsicles covered in chile powder. Anyhow, even without food, it was really fun!!

(the picture is Brisa, Aide (eye-day) and me)

And the Winner Is...

CHIVAS!!!!!!!

The Mexican League soccer final was yesterday, and my favorite teams, Guadalajara Chivas, were in it. And they WON! And it was against my LEAST favorite team - Toluca!

Here is my probable new favorite Chiva - Omar Bravo.

Omar and Bofo

Bofo with my as-of-right-now favorite Chiva - Oswaldo Sanchez

Unfortunately, it is very likely that Oswaldo will be moving to Tigres of Monterrey. Such is life.

Where Do I Live??

For those of you who have always thought that it never really gets very cold in Mexico, this picture is for you! heehee! This is me before leaving for my spanish class last week - I leave at 7:15am, and it is COLD. Not as cold as it is in Oregon, but considering that we have NO HEAT in our house, and I have yet to be in ANY building that does have heat, once it drops below about 45 degrees, it gets rather uncomfortable! About 3 weeks ago, there was actually frost on the ground, and people here say that they'd never seen frost in QRO before (although most of the people who live here who I know are originally from Mexico City...) Anyhow, it was dumb of me to leave the majority of my winter clothes in my parents' house... I bought the scarf/hat/gloves here! I like the weather here, it's kind of unpredictable!

Queretaro Nativity

For some reason, I have a fixation with Nativity scenes, Latin American style.
A few weeks ago, to my great joy, they put up a life-sized nativity scene in one of the plazas en downtown QRO. So I had to take some pictures...

Here is the Jesus' birth scene:
And, like all large nativity set-ups in Mexico/Central America, it also includes more scenes possibly based on Bible stories, as well as a typical village scene from the country.

Here are Mexican children doing piñata in their village:

And here is Bernal QRO/creation... Not sure how a lion and girraffe got in QRO...

The three wise men coming to see Jesus: (in latin america, the wise men have names, which I don't remember, and one comes from the middle east with his camel, another from china with his horse, and another from india with his elefant)

And, they put up a "hell" scene too. Not my favorite.