The Bible

I read it.
From Genesis through Revelation.
One of my goals for this year was to get through the entire Bible, something I had yet to accomplish in my life. And it felt good to cross that off the list I have posted next to my door of all the things I hope to accomplish before leaving Mexico in 2 months!

So, the Bible is interesting.
I suppose my blog is not somewhere to go too in depth into such concepts, that's more a "talking" type of conversation to be had. Let's just say, I learned a lot. And I have even more questions than before! Ah, such is life right?

The version of the Bible that I read is called "The Inclusive Bible." The back of my Bible explains itself as follows:

"Although this new Bible is certainly an inclusive-language translation, it is also much more: It is a re-imagining of the Scriptures and our relationship to them. Not merely replacing male pronouns, the translators have rethought what kind of language has built barriers between the text and its readers. Seeking to be faithful to the original languages, they have sought new and nonsexist ways to express the same ancient truths..."

Reading this version of the Bible was, simply put, refreshing. I so easily get caught up in language use when reading the Bible that I fail to grasp the message that is trying to get across. Being able to read the scripture without the stumbling blocks of male-dominated language (neither for God, nor for people), really gave me the chance to focus on and grasp the real message. I encourage you all to look into this version of the Bible.



Colossians 3:
¹²Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as Abba God forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Baptism!

7:15 am. I am dressed and ready to go! I was told we were leaving for the church at 7:20, so in classic form, I'm ready 5 minutes ahead of time.
7:45 am. I hear the shower turn on, as every other of my family members start to shower.
8:15 am. the parents and the kids leave for the church. Misa started at 8. Maru is still in the shower, so I stay back to wait for her.
8:30 am. Maru and I finally leave the house. Good thing the church is only about 5 blocks away!

Somehow, despite all the time I've now spent in Latin America, this whole time and showing up late thing still continues to drive me up a wall. It is definitely one of my biggest cultural challenges!

Anyways, church was, interesting. It was more like mass chaos with a bunch of people running around and lots of crying little kids dressed in white. I don't think a single person listened to anything the priest was actually saying. There were about 10 children being baptized today, so there was a lot of lines and waiting. Not exactly the kind of baptisms I have witnessed in the past!

Pues, it was an interesting time. All the kids were super cute, and a bunch of family came over to the house afterwards to share in some delicious chilaquiles and atole.

finally! a semi-decent picture of the whole family! (minus smiles...)

the cherubs all cute for the big day

Feliz Dia del Maestro

To all the teachers out there - Happy (Mexican) Teachers' Day!

"To learn and never be filled, is wisdom; to teach and never be weary, is love.

In celebration of the holiday (today), we canceled classes yesterday at La Buena Tierra. Instead of a grueling day in the heat battling tattle-taling, runny-nosed, completely distracted, booger-eating 4 year olds, I spent it relaxing by the pool, laughing with my coworkers, and eating some great food.

It's always a delight to spend time with the other teachers outside of the school setting. It's refreshing and always entertaining. Yesterday provided us with a much needed boost of energy to get through these last few dragging weeks of school when no one (teachers and students alike) really want to be stuffed into a sweat-filled smelly classroom!

To the rest of you teachers out there - you can do it! We're so close! (and you all in the U.S. are much closer than me....for some reason Mexico has school until July 9! ridiculous!) Just remember, soon it will be SUMMER. Hang in there!

"Teaching is the greatest act of optimism." - Colleen Wilcox

i was so close....

MCC Mexico Reunion in Olinalá

Pues, last Thursday night I hopped on a bus in Mexico City with 8 other MCCers for an overnight trip to Olinala, Guerrero. A family of 5 on our team lives and works in Zacango, a small town outside of Olinala, and MCC has been involved in that area for many a year. Anyways, I got on the bus, ready for the big trip ahead of me. Little did i know the truth of all the horror stories I had heard. The first half of the trip was great. Then we got off the highway and into the land of mountains. And curvier roads than words can describe. Needless to say, with about 3 hours left in the trip, i felt pretty darn awful. I ended up sitting on the stairs next to the driver so that i would be able to see out the front. I spent the last few hours there, with the result of bruises on my legs from bracing for the curves. I held it in for so long, and i was so close to making it the whole way, but about 10 minutes away from the bus' end point in Olinala, i was grateful for the plastic bag another MCCer had loaned me...fun times. we got to the hotel soon after 5 am, and crashed. am i ever thankful i live only 1 hour away from Mexico City, and not a horrish 8 hours away!

the next two days of the reunion were a delight. we spent time hanging out, shopping for classic olinala artisan work, eating good food, singing, having devotions, etc. Following are some of the highlights of the times:

The essence of Olinala: scorpions, the infamous boxes and gourds, and paletas!

Sunday: devotions, yummy lunch, celebrating birthdays (including mine), and making the baby blanket for the new member of MCC Mexico who will be joining the team soon!

Friday night bonfire in Zacango, including roasting marshmallows and belting out songs with Elizabeth and Jaime

Donkey rides, dry latrines, paletas, and eating rabbit along side a baby bunny

PIZZA!