DAY OFF

Usually it is nice to have a day off in the middle of the week. I enjoy my day off as Thursday. Today is a day when rest is needed. Yesterday started with a phone call from a friend who told me another friend of mine, her mother was in the hospital. At 9 A.M. I went to prayer meeting at our sponsoring church and right after at 12 we had a pastor leaders meeting which lasted until 3. I left and then went to ministry kid's club. While there my helper told me this might be her last week helping. Really she has only helped a week. Then it was off to visit my friends mother in the hospital. I went with Carlos our pastor. We arrived about 6:15P.M. What a cultural shock it is to go into a public hospital in Mexico. I felt like we were in a cattle call, people were standing everywhere. I also thought what a blessing it is to have good health care. This hospital was like nothing I had ever seen..... maybe like 50 years ago in the States. My friends mother was stabilized when we left. By the time I got home yesterday it was 11:00 P.M. ... but as many of you know you can't just fall asleep after a day like that.
Thanks for your prayers for this last Saturday... The jovenes really enjoyed the ministry day.

Their off

Several of us headed to the airport last night to wish Eleazar and Susi a final farewell. Okay it was not adios it was only a hasta luego. Adios in Spanish has the connotation that you will never see the person again. Hasta luego means until later... They will be in Germany for four months, finishing up what needs to be done with their mission board. Anytime I go to the airport it makes me homesick. I wanted to jump on a plane and head out too. I always find it is harder to be the one who stays then the one who leaves.
This past week was a bit crazy weather wise. Hurricane DEAN hit Mexico twice. We got some of the effects on Wednesday. It started to rain about 10:00 in the morning and didn't stop until sometime late at night.... Any time it rains and rains hard here in Mexico the roads become rivers. It made driving a mess on Wednesday!!! Next time I think I will buy one of those cars that turns into a boat too.
Today we have a special activity with the young people. Pray many new young people will come out.

Opps

The blog below this one should read the 16th not the 9th. Sorry this blog stuff is new

STRESS

Yesterday I went to get my car worked on. The check engine light has come on and I want to know if there is a major problem or not. I don't want to be driving around town and break down. It is stressful enough in the States, but much more stressful in Mexico. My roommate asked her Mexican father if he could help us out. We arrived at his house at 8:30 in the morning. We wanted to get an early start. When we got to the mechanic we waited for over an hour for him to arrive. During our wait we ate tamales... When the mechanic arrived he said he could not help us.... We then went home and ate breakfast again. About an hour later we went and had my tires and alignment done. The great thing about that was the price 180 pesos which is less than 20 dollars. Where is the states can you get your tires rotated, new shocks, and alignment for less then 20 dollars?

We then went to a mechanic for electrical service, he sent us to another mechanic... When we arrived the mechanic told us he could not do the work because he was so backlogged. Maybe another day. All in all we went to 8 different places for parts or service, and I still don't know why my check service engine light is on. We finished the day at 2:00 and then I headed off to work... without ever knowing why my check engine light is on.... It was a typical Mexican morning hurry up and wait... and wait... and wait....:)

When I arrived at work three of the faithful kids who come to kid's club told me this would be their last week. How sad. Next Monday they start school and they have their school session in the afternoon. I told them to come when they have vacation times.

Today I get to go get my passport, which came in a week. Last week I went to the American Embassy to get it renewed. The delivery service came yesterday and left me a note which said I have to come and get my passport. It sound easy, but... we will see. I guess it is much faster to get your passport in a different country. In one week I have my new passport. WOW that was fast.

Birthdays

Happy Birthday... Or as they say in México Feliz Cumpleaños. On Saturday the 4th my mom completed 70 years. On Sunday the 5th my name sake Darlenecita completed two years. Just a weekend of birthday celebrations.

Life around town in Mexico

Brains!!! My friends love brain tacos. I can honestly say I haven't tried them yet. Don't think I will try them any time soon. One of my friends Letty her favorite taco meat is eye. Another meat I am NOT going to rush out and eat..

Living life in a big city can become interesting. Yesterday I went downtown to get my visa. Por fin!!! Only 3 weeks late. Three weeks of riding the buses. I am very thankful Mexico City has great public transportation. It is easy to get around when you can't drive. However yesterday when I was on the bus the weirdest thing happened to me. I was sitting in the back with several other people when this older lady boarded the bus and sat next to me. She must have been in her 60's or maybe even 70's. Nothing odd about that... HOWEVER about 10 minutes into the bus ride she started to slump over. I grabbed her because I thought she was going to fall out of the seat onto the floor. I kept asking her if she was okay, but she did not respond or sit back up. I was rubbing her back to try to get a response. I really thought she was having a stroke or was dying. I looked to the young man next to me for help. Maybe this older women didn't understand me. He must have had the same face I was wearing... I don't know what we are going to do. He then started to ask her if she was okay. Again there was no response. A few minutes later she sat up and then looked at me with this blank stare like she didn't know where she was or what had happened. Again I asked her if she was okay. She still did not respond. I though maybe she can't hear. When she sat up from her slump she put her arms in my lap and proceeded to rest until she felt better. I didn't know what to do. The only thing I did was pray for her when I got off the bus. I sure hope she is alright.

Ministry is going well Eleazar and Susi got married on the 15th of July. It was a nice wedding. My helper who is helping with kid's club and Bible club hasn't been with me for the past two weeks. I have been on my own in ministry but God is providing great opportunities with the kids.