The End...but not really

Today I boarded a plane and flew back home to Columbia, Maryland from El Paso, Texas. I have left part of my heart in El Paso and I will only get it back when I return.

My last few days were bittersweet as my departure loomed closer. As Saturday came, my emotions got more extreme; I was more and more sad to leave, but more and more excited to see my family and friends back home. 

On Thursday, Lucy and I spent the whole day together. She took me to the malls and markets I had not yet been visited. I made sure to stock up on my new found favorite, a brand called Abuelita, a spicy Mexican hot chocolate. 

On Friday, my last day, after some shopping for Mexican goods, Pastor Tito took me to lunch so we could spend some time reflecting on the past weeks. We brainstormed about future internships, whether with me or with new people. We also discussed my observations of the people and the culture. 

Friday night, everyone from church was invited to the Padilla’s house for an informal farewell party. So many people shared about how I had blessed them and how much they loved me. I was floored by what people had to say. I felt strange hearing them thank me because I do not feel I need to be thanked at all. All that I did was a pleasure and no trouble at all. I told them all how much they had blessed me, how much I loved them, and how grateful I am that I have a big new family in El Paso, Texas.

My time in El Paso is over, but my internship, in reality, will not ever be over. Building and maintaining relationships with the High School girls is a major goal of my internship, and I intend to keep pursuing that through phone calls, text messaging, and Facebook.  As soon as God wills it, I plan to return to El Paso.

Lunes y Martes

On Monday a bunch of the high school kids and I went to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. It was AMAZING. I have been to Lurray Caverns on the East Coast, and I was amazed by those, but Carlsbad puts it all to shame. I cannot even comprehend how large the parts I did see are, and I did not even see nearly the whole cave. On our tour, the guide conducted a Black Out, which is when everyone sits down and all the lights are turned off. It is something I have done in a cave before, but it amazes me every time. There is nothing quite like pitch blackness. You can not even see your hand in front of your face. It is very bizarre to see no difference between when your eyes are open or closed. After spending awhile in total darkness, the guide pulled out a cigarette lighter. That one little flame produced an astonishing amount of light, enough light to get oneself out of a cave in an emergency. The spiritual parallels abounded. When you think of seeing God in nature, mountains and thunderstorms come to mind, but he can be seen clearly in caves as well! On the car rides to and from the caverns, we had a great time chatting about classes, friends, homework, and what it can be like to be a Christian in the midst of High School. I am so grateful for where God has guided our conversations.

On Tuesday, I informally interviewed some of Yolanda's friends and neighbors on their opinions on bilingualism in El Paso. It was delightful to get to know Letti and Isela and to learn about what is important to them in terms of language. Both are primarily Spanish-speaking, but understand and speak some English. They want their children to learn both English and Spanish, and it saddens them when they meet Mexican children who speak Spanish poorly or not at all. Isela says her daughter speaks perfect Spanish, but when she writes, she inserts English ways of spelling words. They both want to learn more English, but they are easily frustrated when they try, and it is difficult when they work and raise children as well. I loved talking with these ladies. They are both very kind and welcomed an opportunity to teach me about their world. I wish them both the best.

A Few Updates

As some of you know, this blog is primarily written as a school assignment. I was extremely blessed this summer to receive money from Dickinson College. They have grant money for low or unpaid summer internships and I was thrilled to receive the news that my internship was accepted. In exchange for the grant money, I've been doing what is called the Transcript Notation Program, which basically means I have to do a couple of assignments, including this blog, for the school. I am extremely grateful for the flexibility and ease of mind the grant has given me. I decided to come here before I even knew that Dickinson had a grant, let alone knew that I had been accepted. It is amazing how God always provides for our needs, especially in ways we never expect. I expected to be poor all summer, but now I am able to bless the people here in El Paso in more ways than I expected.

This past Saturday some of the youth from Las Tierras returned from YXL camp, a Christian camp focused on developing young leaders. This means for me talking with the girls about just processing their week at camp. Everyone is sad to leave camp but glad to be home and at the same time trying to figure out what to do with what they learned. My prayer is that they don't let themselves return to exactly as they were two weeks ago, but rather live out actively what they have learned and how they have grown.

On Monday, some of the girls and I watched Harry Potter movies #1, #2, and the first half of  #3. Then on Tuesday we continued with movies #5, #6, and #7 Part 1 all to lead up to going to see #7 Part 2 in the theaters Tuesday night. We had a great time making cookies, eating pizza, making fun of the movies, and just geeking out about how awesome Harry Potter is. As most of you know, Harry Potter has been a huge part of my life for about 8 years now, so I had a fantastic time.

It is really hard to believe that I fly home in a little over a week. I am excited to go home as I miss my parents and my friends very, very much. On the other hand, I am also heart broken to leave. I love my life and my friends here. I am not quite ready to leave when I feel I've only just got started. However I know my time here is not finished. I will return someday, only God knows when, and in the meantime I know my friendships here will not die easily.

P.S. - Making up titles has never been my forte. Please forgive the fact that my titles are basically the same every week.

A Quieter Week

My first week at the Contreras house has been a delight. It has been a more quiet week because as it turns out the majority of the church, including my boss, Pastor Tito, have been away either at summer camp, on vacation, or on trips to raise financial support. However, Tito gave me plenty to do so it has not been boring either.

For the past week and the next two weeks I've been living with Yolanda and her teenage daughter, Lucy. Their house is small, cozy, and very comfortable. I want a house just like it when I grow up. It has been interesting living with another family that is still Mexican, but yet still has a different feel and a slightly different culture than the Pena house. For instance, at the Pena house, we ate Mexican food all the time. Here, it is more of a mix between American food and Mexican food, mainly because Lucy prefers things like Spaghetti and PB&J sandwiches. Yolanda also speaks more English than my host parents at the Pena house. She and her daughter primarily speak to each other in Spanish, but more English words are randomly thrown in. For example, Yolanda always asks, "Tienes hungry?" instead of "Tienes hambre?".

This week I've been focusing on reading a book that Tito gave me titled Border People: Life and Society in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands. Essentially it is a textbook, but it is a topic that interests me greatly and it is mostly a compilation of interviews of people from all walks of life. I am about halfway through and it has been fascinating to learn about the different sectors of the border population. The book includes perspectives on the border from people who strictly adhere to their native culture, those who have superficial contact with the other side, and those who become very bicultural and transnational through deep social and economical relationships with the other side. I have also enjoyed reading it because through all the various people I have met here, I can see in real life the concepts which the author discusses.

Lucy and I have had a great time becoming friends. God really knew what he was doing when he put me here. She sings in her school choir and is extremely involved in her school's music department, just like I was in high school. She is also a huge Doctor Who fan, which is one of my favorite TV shows. In a week, we have watched a little more than a whole season. We also talk quite easily with each other and I am excited for our relationship to deepen even more.

This week I have been preparing to teach Sunday School for the High School kids. They are going through a lecture series from Covenant Theological Seminary on Christian Ethics. This Sunday I'll be teaching on the Death Penalty and the idea of a Just War. It's a heavy topic and I hope to do it justice!

A Few Scattered Thoughts

This past week and a half have been a little bit different. Without Sports Camp or Vacation Bible School, my schedule has been more flexible and more self-initiated. This means I'm doing a lot more things all at once - hence the title of this post. My writing itself can be scattered, but it gets worse when compounded with a multitude of things to say!

I’ve been able to start taking some of the high school girls out for lunch. I hope we can build some deeper relationships during these next three and a half weeks. I want to have a hang out time with all the girls, but summer schedules sure are busy! However, there are quite a few Harry Potter fans in the mix. Marathons are planned ending with going to the theater in costume. I might be the one most excited for this.

Sunday I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go into Juarez  for church with the Burkemper family (BEAMM missionaries). We went to Promesa de Vida, a church plant of BEAMM. When I came to Juarez five years ago, my church helped build the building where Promesa de Vida is now meeting. It was wonderful reconnecting with people I had met so long ago. I was pleasantly surprised about how much of the service I understood when it was all in Spanish. It is also amazing to see the differences in culture as it appears in different churches of the same denomination. The greeting time here is much more highly valued than at on the East coast. On the East coast, you greet maybe the closest four people near you without leaving your seat. In El Paso and Juarez, however, you move around and greet almost everyone in the congregation. It does not matter if church goes on promptly and efficiently, it’s about being a community. 

Monday and Tuesday I returned to Promesa de Vida to help out with their Vacation Bible School. It is such great fun to learn songs that I’ve known my whole life except now in Spanish. I don’t think I’ll ever sing “My God is So Big” in English again! I did not do much other than just play with the children, yet the people of Promesa de Vida were so grateful for our presence. I think they really appreciate the fact that we are willing to come when they know it is much more dangerous in Juarez and we do have the choice to stay in the States. I was more than happy to come. I have faith that God will keep me safe over there and I am fortunate enough to be able to leave after a few hours, while the wonderful people at Promesa de Vida don’t have that liberty.

Wednesday morning was the time of Hector’s, my host father, citizenship exam. It was his second time taking it; he only needed to pass the English-speaking portion. We had been studying all the three weeks I have been living with them and Hector had worked very hard. As the exam date came closer and closer, everyone in the house became more and more nervous and anxious. That morning we spent a lot of time praying together. While Hector was in the exam room, a couple from church came to wait with the rest of the family and give us comfort. When Hector came out smiling, everyone ran to hug him, laughing, crying, and cheering. Hector is now a citizen of the United States and he can now bring his wife and daughter into being permanent residents and eventually U.S. citizens as well. God has blessed them immensely.

Today I’m moving from the Pena house to live with the Contrares family. I have loved my time with the Pena’s. I love them all very dearly. However, I’m excited to move in with Yolanda and her 16-year-old daughter, Lucy. Lucy loves to sing and loves Japanese movies so I think we’re going to get along very well. As I only have a little over three weeks left here, I hope we can build a deep relationship that will last.

Until next time,

Lindsey

Alabamans & Gypsum

This past week, Las Tierras was blessed to have a team of nine come from Prattville, Alabama to lead a Vacation Bible School at a park in the Las Tierras neighborhood. It was a short and busy week, but the Alabama team became fast friends with many of the people of Las Tierras Community Church. The team had an amazing heart for sharing the gospel with children. Their passion and enthusiasm was contagious. Their presence was an encouragement to everyone. The team of nine had three teenagers who quickly built friendships with the teens of El Paso. Saying goodbye was very bittersweet, but we hope to see them again next summer.

On Thursday the Alabama team as well as the majority of Las Tierras’ youth group went out to White Sands in New Mexico. It is about a two-hour drive to one of God’s most beautiful bits of creation. It is a place with miles and miles of giant sand dunes made of fine, soft, powdery, white mineral called gypsum. We went in the late afternoon so we could sled until sunset, eat dinner, and soak in the view. For me, this was my first official time with the high schoolers of Las Tierras and it was a fantastic way to build relationships with the teenage girls I hope to mentor. During the four hours in the car I got to spend a lot of time talking and getting to know them. Now we already have future plans to hang out.

As of today I can officially drive a manual transmission! This means I am now on my own and no longer having lessons. It does not mean that I thrive at stick, only that I survive. However, I am excited for the opportunities that having my own transportation will bring. Now I can take much more initiative in building relationships with youth and being a blessing to other people in the Las Tierras community.

Until next time,
~ Lindsey

Some Observations

A large part of my internship is simply observing and learning about both Mexican culture and the culture of the Mexico-American border. Here is some of what I have observed!

I have always loved Mexican food and it was one thing I was very excited about when I found out I was coming to El Paso. I still find the food I'm having here delicious, but there are some things I did not anticipate.
- The majority of the food is meat, beans, and carbohydrates; delicious, but not the most healthy. The diet here does not contain many fruits and vegetables. From this, you can see where a lot of health problems arise for Hispanics.
- If the food is not already Mexican, they will make it Mexican. If you're having Fettuccine Alfredo, pour in some salsa and eat it with some tortilla chips. If you're eating an apple, cut it up and douse it with some chili powder. Peppers and chili powder are added to every dish. In some ways, this creates problems. People can develop stomach ulcers and will have to quite eating spicy things, but without it, food tastes bland because they've been eating chili peppers their whole lives. However, I personally thoroughly enjoy spicy food, so I'm enjoying this.
- Breakfast does not mean cereal or something light and sweet. Breakfast is normally very similar to dinner; eggs, beans, tortilla chips, and the like. It is all food that I enjoy, just would not have initially chosen to eat for breakfast. 

Another thing I have observed is how actively people love one another. The Penas, my host family, have many friends and family members that they love in big ways. One family that they are friends with doesn't have a washing machine, so Alma, my host mother, picks up them and their laundry every week to come do laundry at her house. The same family also does not have a car, so Alma often drives them when they need to go somewhere. Family of the Penas in Juarez recently lost their job, so Alma just prepared a big box of food to send to them. The Penas don't go the extra mile just once in awhile, but regularly. Their caring and love for people around them despite their own troubles has amazed me.

This week a team of 9 from Prattville, Alabama have come to lead a Vacation Bible School for the Las Tierras Community. They have been a real blessing and it has been a joy building relationships with them. They have an awesome passion for teaching children about Jesus and it has been contagious. Their accents are also delightful, and I might have slightly picked up on it, y'all.

I have had two lessons in stick shift driving. It's going well but I'm terrified to go on the real road by myself. At the same time though, I am getting more anxious to have my own transportation so I can take more initiative in doing more with the youth of Las Tierras.

Until next time,
Lindsey