
This is where we spend most of our week- in class discussing interpersonal relationships, team-building and maintaining, and spiritual warfare, along with other relevant and practical concepts important to missionary life.

Here's what we did on break - eat, eat, eat. I have never eaten as much food in one week as I did in Mexico. Our host, Cande, fed us continually until we told her to stop - "muy llena" - which is the equivalent, (I think) of "I'm full."
Ah, and here's Seth, the one not in the pictures above. Seth is great, we enjoyed getting to know each of these guys and pray that God would guide and lead them down whatever path he has for each of them.
Below is Neal, founder of Emmaus Road International and leader of the ACTS bootcamp. The guy on the left is Marcos, who is the missionary-pastor of the church we were working with. Families from his church hosted each of us during the week. Marcos was an excellent interpreter - I felt like I was watching the Spanish TV channel. :)
We stayed in a very small village named "Ejido del Porvenir" which literally translated is "The village of the future," I think. The streets were horrific and will... eventually... be smoothed over with the dirt mountains that currently reside in the middle of each street.
Here's Cande, our host. I have been praying for Cande since returning, since she was widowed a mere 3 or so weeks before we arrived. I never got the details on how her husband died, but it was good we were there to stay with her. I think the Lord orchestrated that, since I spoke more Spanish than the other two couples and was able to have conversations that the Lord led (since my spanish isn't THAT good). Cande had four dogs: Pequin, Pequita, Nono, and Kiwi. They are her companions and we spent some time sitting with her, talking and feeding her dogs. Cande received word the morning were were to leave that her sister's husband had also died, so were able to pray and comfort her before leaving.
Here are Cande's beautiful orange trees. I have never had fresh-squeezed orange juice that can compare with fresh-squeezed orange juice from oranges picked moments before. Mmmm... my mouth is watering with the memory.

This is probably the only picture that I don't look grimy, I think. Due to... living circumstances, I only showered three times during the week, two of which were using buckets and bowls of water.
And here, I do look grimy... haha. Jesse and I went on a few walks around the village, since there wasn't much to "do." Walking, talking, and processing were really important for us.

This was such an important trip of us. It really solidified in our minds the call we believe God has placed in our hearts to work with our First Neighbors. The hospitality and prayers of this little church in Mexico were challenging and inspiring and we hope to return again one day to report how their hospitality helped to equip and prepare us for the work the Lord has for us.




Great pictures! I am glad we gave you the camera for Christmas. :)
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