Aday in the life of Jen

Prayer

· Of praise for God’s constant provision

· Of praise that God is using Mexico to change me

· Of thanks for God’s healing of my unexplainable rash

· For quality time with friends and family over the holidays

· For the HOM team as we spend a week together at a Calvary missions conference in Murrieta January 4-7

· For January as the kids and I begin a consistent school schedule

· For the opportunity to teach English in El Zorillo

A Day In The Life Of Jen

The title is kind of a joke because there are no two days alike at the ranch. Each day seems to change by the hour. They like to call it “Flexico”. But I will try to give you an idea anyways.

When you go to bed at eight, the day starts pretty early. I am typically awake before six . I crawl out of my chilly loft house and venture over to my trailer to make a cup of tea and snuggle up to do my Beth Moore bible study. Then I head out for a walk to enjoy the fresh air and beauty that covers the ranch.

Between eight thirty and nine the school day begins. We have not yet started a set schedule with the kids so some days I teach 2 kids and some days I teach 6. Some of the kids I teach in the school house and some at their homes. This will all change in January. We will have a specific, but flexible, schedule and all the kids will come to the school house. Many afternoons we finish up with PE of some sort.

Evenings can get a little lonely and they are very chilly right now in a non insulated loft house…so if we are not having a meeting, watching the Truth Project or having a kids game night in my trailer, I usually hang out with one of the families.

On the weekends I am up early and to bed late. I help cook all the meals for the groups from the states and I take advantage of any opportunities to play card games with people in the evenings. On Saturdays I join the moms for a bible study and then meet up with a build group. On Sundays I head into town to go to a Calvary Chapel missionaries service. The afternoons are mine to rest and gear up for the next week.

El Zorillo

Though much of my time will be spent on the ranch speaking English, I have been encouraged to find an opportunity to be out in the community and have someone to practice Spanish with.

God has clearly opened a door which I am really excited about. We work with a pastor in a little community called El Zorillo. I have only spent a little time with him and his wife, but I have taken to them quickly. They are dear people.

They use to have someone come teach English at their church to adults in the community, but that stopped a year ago. I don’t know exactly how I am going to go about this, but I am going to start it back up again in January on Thursday evenings. By teaching English I will have no choice but to learn Spanish.

I am also hoping to spend some quality time getting to know Pastor Bogar, his wife Maria and their 2 children.

God Sightings

God has been very evident in the last month. He has shown up in beauty, protection, and laughter.

A few weeks back I took 3 of the boys on a hike. As we ventured up one of the burned hills we began to see many vibrant green and red sprouts of new growth. It was a beautiful site! God is faithful!

When I drove home for Thanksgiving I had quite an eventful day. It began with seals in my transmission blowing and losing all power miles from the border. After all other options failed, we were pushed to the border by a Green Angel. We told him that he was a true angel for us that day.

I love that God has a sense of humor. The other day, after teaching, I caught a ride with Cade and Colton to their house. I began to giggle because I was sitting in the middle of two boys, neither old enough to drive, but do. On top of that we were driving in the oldest truck on the ranch that smells like a dump because it is used to take the trash to the dump. I wish I had a picture.

Christmas Wish

I am excited to be flying out tomorrow morning for Tenessee with my parents and grandparents. We are spending Christmas with my Aunt, Uncle and 4 cousins in a cabin in Pigeon Forge. We have never spent Christmas away from home so this will be a new adventure.

I pray that you and your family are filled with God’s joy and peace during this Christmas season. Many Blessings to you in 2010.

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