Family Fin

I am approaching my final days with my host family here in Tlaxiaco. It is weird that in two days I will be saying goodbye to the people I have lived with and seen non-stop for 2 weeks. It has been such a learning, growing, stretching expirience. I grew really close to my host mom and sister through this time and will really miss them when I leave. The guys of the family have been great too, they remind me a lot of the guys in my real family back home. I am supprised at how much we opened up to each other and shared with each other. They have truly been a generous, loving family and I am blessed to have had these past two weeks with them.
Luckily, my apartment in the city is only a few blocks away from their house so I will be able to visit when I have free time in the next 6 weeks.

My past week has been spent being sick and building relationships. I am feeling better everyday but the food is definately at war with my stomach, which wont stop my host mom from stuffing food down my throat. :-) During the days I spend time with my family, do whatever they do and observe a lot. I have learned a lot of the language from them as they are the most patient with me and helpful. Sometimes it does get hard speaking Spanish ALL the time (nobody speaks Spanish here). Its funny when they ask me how to say something in English and I cant remember cause my mind is in Spanish. haha.
I usually hit the streets around 3 to make my rounds to my friends in town. I have several friends who own or work for small shops or food vendors. We chat for a while & bordar (i dont know how to say this is English but its a sowing thing that all the women do here) and so far I have gotten pretty close to a few of them.
Today I met one of my friends father. Their family owns two clothing stores in the city square and seem like a great, hardworking family. Me and the father talked for about 20 minutes about God, cathocism, faith, and the people here in this area. It was interesting to see his view as a local who atends the catholic church but is really seeking the Lord. He wants to see people here catch a glimpse of the love of God too and is trying to be a light here but he told me its hard and usually he is called crazy. I explained to him how our ministry is trying to disciple christians here in the city who can minister to others until all the areas around here in Oaxaca are hearing the Word of God. There are actually people groups right around this city that dont have a church or any connection to Jesus. GFM uses the same method Paul did in the Bible, enabling locals to reach others they have contact with and spread the Word.

So until Sunday evening I will be spending the rest of my bonding time with my family and friends in town and then on to the next part of my time here. Thanks for the prayers!