Let me show you around....

So to catch you up on everything going on here

There’s been a refinement process and sorry if I haven’t been around to tell you about things.

First off, the team is coming together quite nicely. We all have our strengths and weaknesses but where someone lacks another one can encourage. I will say this past month has been a roller coaster for me. I am so thankful to be on this trip even if you heard or read other wise. I've never been somewhere where I've been so out of control and yet so in control. Thanks for the prayers.

We started our ministries yesterday and it was awesome. I will be working at a place called Josiah’s house. Teaching ESL and helping out wherever we can. Josiah’s house is a place where boys from rough homes (They have to be recommended) live and they are helped with their schooling. (English and Spanish) I will be helping them learn English and I will be practicing my Spanish in return. Here are a few pictures from Josiah's house.

Other than that I went to the Beach Sunday for around 3 hours and reapplied sunscreen twice. However, I am still the color of bacon and it’s crazy. I tried so hard not to be that way but it happened. Our movie nights at Casa de Carters are the highlight of each week. We have watched a few movies and had game nights there. It has been so fun and I have found out that I am a lover of a game called banana grams. Yes, it's awesome.

Other news, our apartment is really coming together. We have colored pictures, hung them up, we even bought a shower curtain that ended up being the thickness of tissue paper. Yep. So, we got this bright idea or rather Renee had an awesome idea to drape it over our bathroom door. A good idea turned into something that’s still there. Another thing you'll see is that we color. Yes, when we didn't have much to do- we colored because there's not much to be done here. Some have asked for pictures... here are a few.

Our Bathroom entrance:

 Apartment breakfast:

 Our Kitchen:

 Our living room:

Speaking of our apartment… we lost someone this past week and it’s taken me forever to really think about it. We had an apartment breakfast and she wasn’t there and I really didn’t realize how to process it. Quite honestly, I was ready to come home and her going home made it a lot tougher on me. The enemy really used that to his advantage and made it so much crazier for me. I even packed a bag ready to fly home. However, I am past the leaving part but I wake up everyday wishing I were home able to have the freedoms I once had. This has truly been hard for me. I know that being a missionary is not for me. However, I will finish what I started and finish well.

I will say that the refinement has still been going on. I am no longer in my strength but in God’s. If I were in my own strength I would be home, but I know I am here for a reason.

Things I'm loving.... 

getting to know these girls ~ getting out and seeing the world around me ~ speaking and understanding a little bit of Spanish ~ starting these ministries ~helping lead worship with Jess, Shannon, and Renee.

Things I'm not loving...
Netflix is limited here ~ The same meal most days~ not being able to go out alone.

Things I'm looking forward to...

learning the books of the bible in Spanish ~ being able to speak spanish fluently ~ getting to know all these girls and Clay in a more intimate way.

Oh, forgot to mention about the creatures. We have a many salamanders, creepy crawly things, and shadowy creatures here. Just so you know what we are dealing with... tarantula's. Yes, I have posted these on Instagram but there's one that a Gap member took the other one. These are becoming a weekly thing, but hey it comes with the territory. Don't worry, we have guards to kill them. :) I kinda enjoy them because it keeps you on your toes and let's face it... God made them - for what reason I do not know.

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal" 2 Corinthians 4:16-18


Till next time.