Travel time: first flight went smooth –but the second flight’s departure time was pushed back about 45minutes. However, we (a boy named Dakota-who is taking Spanish classes as well) arrived just on time to meet David (missionary) and his wife Laura (missionary/nurse at the base). Secretly, I think they were amused at how much luggage I had brought with me.
We went to a town about 10 minutes from the airport and ate our first Mexican meal. It was little sliced of “steak” – looked just like that steak they use in Chinese food, with carrots drenched in a spicy sauce. It was delicious. After the meal they took us to Puerto Escondido (45min drive) to run a few errands with them. Laura helped me purchase a phone to call home with – at a very low cost – so yay for finding a phone! : ) I can only use the phone in one VERY specific spot on the base. But it works so that’s all I care about! After errands, we traveled to Cacalote to meet my house family and unpack my stuff into my new room.
The house is HUGE – well, much bigger than I anticipated it being (especially for the village it is in - it is by far the nicest house in the village). They have tile floors, furniture, and my room is a very nice size as well. I have a dresser, desk, bed, and clothes rack in my room; along with two windows-no glass just bug nets over them and with bars on the outside of the nets for safety purposes. They have an actual room for the shower and it’s about as big as my bedroom. Haha! The toilet and sink are in a different enclosed room adjacent from the shower room. The dresser & clothes rack perfectly hold all of my clothes and necessities I brought.
The family speaks no English and has an 8 year old little girl as well as a one month old beautiful baby girl. Seriously, probably one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen – and I still haven’t heard it make a noise yet.
Last night was interesting – the shower was freezing (which I knew they did not have warm water) so it was refreshing after sweating a bit. I then came into my room, laid on my hard double sized bed, and reached for my phone to call my mom. Whoops…can’t do that anymore. That was when it hit me, I am in Mexico. I almost started to panic because I had been looking forward to talk to my mom tell her about my first day. So I quickly got out my journal (yes, the one you bought me for my birthday, Malia!) and started writing. That is going to be my nightly routine instead of talking on the phone now. = ] Journaling and talking to God – since He knows English. ;-) He has always been my friend and someone to talk to, but now He’s really going to be my BEST friend. As it should be. Quiet time is hard for me , so this journey is going to have some rough spots, but it will be good. It will make my relationship with God so much better. Pretty excited about that!
I slept pretty good. I woke up a lot though because I was not sure if I was close to the edge of the bed or not, noises outside, and probably just because I am in a new place. My room was nice and dark though. They have like only 3 street lights in the whole village so it is very dark outside of my windows. It was like sleeping in the basement, until 6am hit when the sun started to come up.
Today/Sunday I went to church here in Cacalote. A young girl that I sat by – remembered me by NAME and during the service said “Hola Laura”. You could have imagined the look on my face. I grabbed my camera out of my purse and showed her a picture of herself I still had on my memory card from my trip in may. = ] She thought that was pretty stinkin cool. Church went well (even though I do not speak fluent Spanish BY any stretch of the imagination). During the service I swapped Bibles with the little Mexican girl so I could attempt to recognize a few words while she attempted to speak English. It was funny!
After the service I saw Adriana – a young woman my age that I met back in May. She graduated from Bible school and is now helping with the music school at the base. She saw me, gave me a big huge, and said how excited she was to see me (in Spanish) as well as being thrilled to hear I would be here for at least 3 months. She also offered her services to help me with my Spanish as I help her with her English!! So I will have a helper! J
David and Laura are leaving to do a Bible study about 45 minutes away and then will return, pick me up, and take me to the Bible study with the locals here in Cacalote around 7pm. Then it’s back to the house to shower, hang out with my house family, journal, and go to sleep!
The first day of Spanish school starts tomorrow! Pray like crazy that I pick up on it fast. I can not wait to learn!
Ps) David said “you’re defiantly not an introvert are you?” I giggled and said “No…I am defiantly not.” I am not sure if that was a compliment or another way of saying you talk too much. = ] He later said that is a good thing because I will be open to using my Spanish with other people – to make conversation – and that will make me learn a lot quicker.
- Figured the people who know me best would get a kick out of that! = ]
Pss) Pictures are being sent to my Mom -
rklima@cox.net if you would like to see them. Our limited access on internet/bandwidth does not allow me to upload to this site!!
Love you all & may God continue to open your eyes to your blessings = ]
