La Primera Semana: The First Week

I cannot believe that only one week ago I was in Wisconsin. It is such a blessing and excitement to get your emails and updates. Thank you, thank you! My first week in Fresnillo was busy with meeting new people, eating so much Mexican food and seeing what a typical week will look like here. There is so much to take in when learning a new language, culture, job and city. I am excited to be changed by the people here and all that they have to offer in the many examples they set for me.

There is so much that I want to share, but I am first going to stick to the basics to hopefully give you all a picture into my world here. One transition here that I have quickly learned this week is that we (CFCI) along with some national workers are the church here and many of the responsibilities are administrative and physical labor. Example, if you don't mop the floor, make communion bread, etc.... it doesn't get done! There is so much purpose and explanation that goes into each day that I hope and pray to somehow communicate effectively throughout this year. However, to start I will give you a basic run down the ministry that CFCI does in Fresnillo and as time goes on explain how it is effective with the Mexican culture. Everything that is done has to be seen with the lens of the Mexican culture and through the eyes of the Lord.

A typical week from what I can tell so far:

(One thing to note is that all the Mexicans here do not speak English at all; therefore, the English I speak is with the 8 other Americans here and is not very frequent:) Which makes me excited, so I am going to throw some Spanish words in here and there. Chido? Cool? Perfecto!)

Mondays: Dia libre (Free Day)






Tuesdays:

• Chores: This may not seem like a big deal or at least to me it didn't at first. However, it is dusty and dirty here as Fresnillo is located in a semi-desert area. Also, living both indoors and outdoors with rain, sun and wind can really mess things up a bit. We are responsible for cleaning the church, la escuela (school) and the patio.
  
• Team Meeting: Planning for the week of all that needs to get done along with a time of prayer.


• Cell Group: Bible Study with Mexicans

Wednesdays:

• Club Meeting: Preparing lessons/activities for Club (200 kids)



• Club: Includes inviting kids for 1 hour (if you saw the neighborhood it is easier to understand:), club, taking kids home and visiting with kids at their homes individually after club.

Thursdays:

• Morning Club



• Afternoon Club



• Visiting with kids individually (playing, reading a story from the Bible, practicing Bible verses, more playing and building relationships with the families

Fridays:

• A mix of doing other jobs including: bills, money items, visiting kids, etc.

Saturdays:

• La Torta (sandwich): Buying, preparing, and serving 300 sandwiches to give out in the neighborhood to children and families. This also includes preparing a short devotional to share before distributing the food and cleaning up. This takes the whole day!!
  

Sundays:

• Church: Including set up, serving during the church service, clean up (I should communicate that clean up here always means sweeping and mopping along with hand washing all dishes including the communion cups with grape juice that we throw away in the states in order to re-use them)



• Prayer Walks in the neighborhood

It is my prayer that I will effectively communicate and bless each of you with the things that God is doing here in Mexico as He hears and answers our prayers. I hope that this gives you a better pictures into my days here and to soon show you the hearts, culture and lives of the Mexicans leaving here along with opening our eyes to an eternal perspective which is seen so much clearer to me here.