Perhaps I am smaller than I originally thought.

08.05.11. Coming down to Guadalajara made me feel small. Mountains everywhere and orange rooftops, I knew I wasn´t in Kansas anymore. The airport was nothing that I´d imagined. As soon as I got on the otherside, I was greeted by my new Lincoln family. Looking around, I saw a Burger King and lots of shopping strips. It almost reminded me of the Newark airport. Quite shocked and surprised I kept going, not taking the time to think that this was indeed my life now. I was also met by two of the other girls who were new this year. We all started to chatting straight away as we got to the car to make our final car trip to the Casa Grande - my new home in Las Fuentas (our neighborhood). That same night, we went for tacos. Anna, told us they were super yummy but nothing like the tacos you eat in the states. I thought tacos, without the cheese and the sour cream, etc? Small? Like tiny tortillas? USeans like to put everything on their tacos. Mexicans like them fresh with just cilantro and onions. Personally I thought it sounded gross, but oh my goodness was it delcious! I also ordered a gringa (a taco with melty cheese). YUM! I still order one with my tacos to this day :) :) We went to the market the following day. Very much how I´d pictured but nothing that I was used to. Everything was out in the open which does sound odd to the USean ear but it is what it is and it´s not necessarily always a bad thing. You just have to use your smarts! We met the cheese guy, Enrique, knowing some English he listened us introduce ourselves. He made connnections with us straight away and recommended the Sandrita queso - the same queso used for gringas and quesadillas. YUM! Now about a month later, I am able to order food by myself and know where I am going in Las Fuentes :)

08.28.11. Spanish still frustrates me a good bit. More so, just because I can´t communicate with the people here. It makes me want to learn! I can talk with my coworkers - though something always gets lost in translation! It makes me feel small most days, being here, making me realize just how much of the world is unseen to the human eye and how much more there is even for someone who has been all over. So many things are different here and yet they are the same. I apologize for this being so long and so all over the place. I actually only came back to my classroom to grab some stuff to grade and ended up sitting down and writing. That is all for now. Almost 7. I should go home, make some dinner, finish grading, and go to bed. I will try to write again soon! Love and blessings to you all.

Dulces suenos, Laura <3

A Call to Mexico: What Brought Me Here.

Greetings! I hope that this letter finds you well. As you may have heard, I am embarking on a new adventure teaching third grade at an ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) accredited school, The Lincoln School in Guadalajara, Mexico, that pursues to uphold a well-rounded English immersion program. I am writing this letter to inform you, include you, and ask you that you may partner with me as I go to a foreign country; whether through prayers or financial support, my desire is that it will be of the Lord’s leading. First, may I invite you into the story that led me there as I feel this has been the big climax and rainbow of God’s promise and restoration to a never ending storm (and in the least, that you may find some hope in my story that you may claim as your own).

Since graduating from college I had met much adversity. I had not truly understood God’s call on my life to teach until my student teaching and was determined to find the right school to teach in. The Lord stretched me and pulled me in and out of various jobs and situations that continually made me feel like an outsider even in my own home but continued to show me His overwhelming grace as I struggled through the new realities of life. Finally, after almost a year of searching, a school had hired me. Excited that someone had finally taken notice, I continued on the exciting path the Lord has laid out for me; but again, I found myself back on my knees. Continuing to look for teaching positions, I decided to broaden my horizons to look abroad and found The Lincoln School in Guadalajara, Mexico. I had been to Mexico before for a mission’s trip in 2004 and decided this would also benefit me as I wish to eventually pursue a masters in English as a Second Language. The position incorporated a very basic salary which is just enough to live on. I applied, interviewed, and got the job.

The next question was: how do I know for sure that this is where the Lord is leading me? I began praying, talking to people about it, and found through various conversations and circumstances that the Lord was indeed leading me to this school! This is where I really became astounded, as I had never seen nor experienced anything quite like this! 1) My former pastor (in Rock Hill), his daughter and her husband are church planting in the city 15 minutes from the school and the house I will be living in. Such an answer to prayer! 2) I found out one of my friends from school, her cousin is the former third grade teacher I will be replacing! So cool! 3) I felt an overwhelming peace about going, as did my friends and family!

Incredible isn’t it? It has continued to amaze me how much God wants to answer our prayers, it just may not be in ways we expect or anticipate! So here's to my story; the accounts of my life and time in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and the adventure that happens when you chose to go with God!