These are the days of my life...

I am awaiting my first morning of classes tomorrow. Honestly, it will be a good break from all this waiting for things to begin. This weekend we went to a few more museums (including a mine as the picture portrays). We also went to a soccer game in the next town over, Leon (note the other picture). The soccer game was really fun, being from the family I am from and all... as well as it being such a big deal here. The game was between two cities basically and the town we were cheering for won. So that was exciting!

I decided recently that it is when you are trying to blend into another culture, is when you probably stick out the most. If my skin color, hair color, dress, and speech aren't enough... there is always a good moment like this one that sneaks up on you:

As my roommate and I were walking down the street the other day (which you do to get anywhere and everywhere), we were just chatting it up and passing all the small shops. They are all open air and really don't have doors that close... thus things come all the way out to the sidewalk. Well this one store had a metal knight (similar to Rusty, for those who know Rusty) standing in the corner of the entrance with his little spear leaning a bit in my walking path. As we passed it I accidentally hit and my roommate Teryn, with her stealth skills, caught it and set it back up. We proceeded on, and literally two steps later, the knight did one of those slow motion falls where you turn and just watch it slam it's face on the concrete, causing the helmet/head to fall off. I immediately looked at the knight, then looked at Teryn, then looked at the guy who owned to store... bewildered and hoping that I wasn't going to have to pay for a stinking metal knight (which technically I already own one in C-Stat). The man rushed over and through my broken Spanish was extremely apologetic and he was very gracious. He just set it back up on its stand and put its head back on. It was quite humorous.

Everyday I am forced to walk past the knight, and am reminded that sometimes as much as you want to blend in... your clumsiness may just sneak up on you and teach you otherwise.

let the rains fall down.

So this isn't one of those, "Look at all the cool things I am doing updates!" ... Though I am doing cool things... it didn't feel like that today.

I woke up this morning in my room in Guanajuato. After eating my typical breakfast (I say, after two days) I had nothing to do until 1:00. Yes... nothing to do. I listened to a podcast from Grace Bible Church, realizing more and more how much I miss that church and the wonderful people there. The podcast was about God's wisdom and omniscience... a sweet reminder. Then around 11:30, my roommate and I walked into the center of town and to the ISA office (which is really cool, p.s.). We returned to our house around 2:30 to await to normal 3:00 lunch. After that, we had nothing to do once again...

You may be wondering, "What do you mean she had nothing to do? She is stinking in Mexico!"
You are right. I admit... but today's lot was for me to sit at my house and think... and think... and then call my Mom crying (thanks Mom). It wasn't one of those few tears taking a stroll down your cheek. No. It was a, "has it been hailing? because your face is really wet and really red." Now don't go feeling sorry for me, I mean, I am in Mexico (just for a long while).

I am a firm believer in crying... a wise person once told me it gives worth to that which you are crying about. This is true. You cry about things that hurt you deeply or that you feel deep emotion towards. I realized today I hadn't cried since before I left camp. This summer was incredible... absolutely incredible. Last week with my family, who are awesome and some of the most supportive people I know, was so refreshing (but short as always). Seeing friends the past 10 or so days was just so rich. That is what I was crying about...

People and the relationships I have in my life are extremely deep. They make life feel so full sometimes and when those are not there, life seems to be lacking. I've realized how blessed I am to have so many people in my life who love me and support me. I feel so inadequate and like a flaky friend for not being there for people at their weddings or in their sadness because I am off "conquering the world", if you will.

I am confident in God's calling me here to this place for this time. He is sovereign and so faithful to me. The provision He has already provided makes me want to cry once again... how easily I doubt yet how good He is to always wait with open arms, saying, "Kimberly... trust me."

Basically this is just a post in the middle of my "happenings" to tell you that if you read this (or if you don't) that you are important to me. I think of each of you often and miss being able to see your face or talk to you regularly or not regularly for some. Just know that my life is not the same because I know you.

May our God pour out His deep love on you today and that you would feel the richness and depth of the life He has to offer you.

Guanajuato = Beautiful

I am in Guanajuato, Mexico. I am moved in to my home for the next few weeks... it is a beautiful city. Absolutely beautiful. We arrived here last night after a 5 hour bus ride from Mexico City and Teotihuacan.

This first picture is from Tuesday at the Museum of Anthropology. It was a cool museum with a lot of cultural history.

We then went to Teotihuacan on Wednesday morning. Awesome. I have never seen any sort of historical buildings quite like the pyramids at Teotihuacan. They are still not quite sure who built them, though the Aztecs did use them for religious and ceremonial procedures, such as sacrifices. There is a place called the Calle de los Muertos... the Road of the Dead. Basically it was awesome... and really cool to see all of these things I have learned about but never seen outside of a piece of paper.

We arrived in Guanajuato and went to our host home where I live with another girl, Teryn (in the photo below). We share a room and a bathroom. Pictures will come at some point of that. This city if beautiful: windy streets, few cars, people everywhere, brightly colored. I love it thus far. I am excited to have more of a schedule and a daily routine... though it will be very relaxed and simple. My family is very nice and generous.

We have internet in our house, so skype will be quite easy. I have many thoughts that I want to put on "paper"/ this blog that are soon to come.

P.S. I laughed quite hard when I saw my comments from my last post. I want to redeem myself to some point by saying my gut instinct was to say the song was by Steven Curtis Chapman and was convinced into thinking it was Michael W. Smith. Never again. haha.

"This is the great adventure"

Reference Michael W. Smith anyone... when I was in the Houston airport yesterday for nearly 7 hours, that was the only song that was in my head... and the only line to that song. Thank you early 1990s.

Well... I arrived in Mexico City last night around 12:30 AM. We then went through customs and traveled to our hotel, putting my to sleep last night around 2:30. Crazy start to a crazy semester. Today we woke up and had breakfast at 8:30... followed by a day of tourism and crazy-awesome cultural sites around the City.

Favorite thing I saw today: Murals by Diego Rivera. Literally, they almost took my breath away. Kinda lame perhaps but that's what you get for me having a focus on Latin American art and culture.

The people in my group are extremely diverse. We are literally from all over the country. The first person I met in my group had never heard of Texas A&M... crazy. My roommate's name is Teryn. She is from Iowa and already a huge answer to prayer. We spent a few hours this afternoon talking about all sorts of things. It is going to be a blessing to have her... more about that in another post I'm sure.

Tomorrow we are going to see Teotihuacan... something I am very much looking forward to, then heading to our host homes in Guanajuato. We are getting there by a charter bus for all those people nervous about that. We begin class next Monday... so I'll be doing other things, I guess, until then.

Pine Cove Towers...

Well, summer 2008 is over. It was a crazy ride. This photo is the majority of Towers Leadership 2008/ my good friends from this summer. So, this photo is basically a shout out to them all. They are some of the funniest and incredible people I know (tear).

I have learned so much this summer about life and about living every day to its fullest, which means every day completely surrendered and in obedience to Jesus. God has been so faithful up to this point in my life... and will continue to be because that is who He is. That is very comforting as this group of people who have been consistency and support for me are spreading out all over the place.

Myself to Latin America, another to Hong Kong, many to College Station (including a few future roommates!), Baylor, Missouri, Tyler, Houston, Alabama, and Abilene/Portland?...

The Pine Cove Towers is such a home to me and a place filled with incredible people. It makes my heart smile. :)

I am currently in Wichita Falls until tomorrow when I head to Dallas. I will get to hang out with some of my best friends in the world this weekend as well as my family before I fly out on Monday.

4ish days until I live in Latin America. wowzas.

Me gusta Panama.

Well I just got back from Panama two days ago. It was a very learning experience. Though I have been there 2 years prior, every year is different. Different things, different teammmates, different lessons learned. I think that in general, the Lord is teaching me what it means to be faithful. To be obedient.

Obedience.

Goodness gracious. That is a hard concept for me according to the way I was in Panama. Generally speaking, it is hard for me to wake up every day completely assured that whatever that day brings is exactly the moments the Lord has ordained me to live out. I think I wonder sometimes why things are hard or why I am in situations that I don't understand. In the big realm of sanctification, my focus should not be on the fruit of the ministry I see but rather on who God is and that He alone is being worshiped in my actions and in my heart.

I have so many funny stories and so many pictures... I'll post a few.

This is a picture of the man in one of the cabin's at Chiriquita. Yes, there was a squirrel in our cabin and yes we could hold it in our hands. Literally, we were holding and petting this quasi-tame squirrel. This was not the case with all of the squirrels, just this one.

This is me with our team leader Lori. She has been with me every year and has become a dear friend to me over those long hard weeks in Panama. Many a laugh has been shared with her. We are at a public park in Panama City for this picture.

This is four of my teammates and myself with one of the Panamanian leaders, Alvaro. One morning we were scouting out where to play some camp games for later when we ended up on an adventure. I like to describe it as having gone to Narnia. We crossed over this river into another world and then had to cross back at another point in order to return to camp. On the other side of the river was people who lived in villages, similar to the ones in Malawi (last summer) except in a tropical setting. The people were using a 100 year old machine to turn sugar cane into sugar water to sell for profit. Another woman we met lived in a hut and was present when the first missionary brought the Gospel to Panama... she was incredible and prayed over us before we left her house. That was definitely a highlight of my trip.

Panama was an adventure... and a hard, teachable time for me. Reminding me of my love for Latin America as well as teaching me to live everyday for that day and not to worry about the future.

This week is the final week at Pine Cove, perhaps forever. And then to Wichita Falls for a few days before leaving on the 25th. Only 16 more days left in America. Wowzas! And I just returned.

Oh the life I live.