Estoy Aquí!

Hola Amigos!

I am now here in Leon Guanajuato, Mexico! Thank you all so much for your prayers during this time of transition, I have really needed them and felt them. It has been difficult leaving all of my friends and my host family from Guatemala but I know that God has new things in store for me here in Leon. I have met my team and they are wonderful! My team here consists of two families with children and 3 single ladies (including me). I am living alone which has been interesting as I have never lived alone before - it is a little lonely at times but I am trusting that God will provide friends for me soon.

My ministry goals here are still a little unclear but my main job right now is just to get out and learn the city and try to meet people. I have decided to join an ice skating class - which may sound a little strange for Mexico but for some reason it is pretty popular here. I am hoping to meet people through this class so please pray that lots of people would sign up and that I would be able to befriend them while I am falling on the ice. I went by the skating rink the other day just to observe a class and see if it would be a good way to meet people but there was absolutely no one there. As I was getting ready to leave I happened to see a man working on the ice and we chatted for about an hour - the length of time that I was just going to observe! God is pretty creative :) This man, M, invited me to his church with his wife and kids and wants to introduce me to some girls my age in the church so please pray for him also and for Sunday when I go to this church. Because I was interested in the class they also offered me a free one to see if I like it! Exciting!

Also, I am trying to meet my neighbors which has been a little difficult as their schedules are so different from ours in the states. They eat lunch at about 2:00 p.m. everyday and dinner is at about 9:00 p.m. or later. I am trying to adjust but I find myself hungry everyday at 12:00p.m. I met a woman in my neighborhood the other day, Senora M, and I am planning on taking her some cookies very soon (I may have taken them to her already by the time I get this posted). But please pray for her - that I would have a chance to get to know her and share Christ with her. Also please pray for my next door neighbor, C, she has 2 kids and her husband works everyday until 10 or 11 p.m. Please pray that I would be able to share with her and get to know her better and even get to play with her kids. One of my jobs while I am here is to get bible studies started within my neighborhood and eventually a church. This is a very difficult task because each little cluster of houses is guarded by a gate which is great for security but terrible for sharing the gospel. I have found out about 2 people that I can hopefully go to visit in other house clusters but this requires prayer as well. Please pray that the doors would be opened (literally) to these little neighborhoods.

Another aspect of my job (I know there are lots!) is to work with university students. Many of the Universities though also are gated which means I need friends first before I can get onto the campuses. Please pray over this. I have made a contact with a girl who wants to learn English so that she can apply to one of the nicest Universities in town. We are going to try to meet each Saturday. Please pray over her. Pray that I can become friends with her and that I can share the hope that I have in Christ with her. I think the main thing here is that these people don’t know the hope of Christ. We as believers have an incredible opportunity to speak with God everyday and to know the unbelievable comfort and love of his presence. Pray that these people would see that in us - my team - and that these people would want it for themselves. Pray that we as a team would be people of prayer and people of compassion.

I am so grateful for each and every prayer that you all lift up for me and for these people. God really is listening and working! Praise Him!

Love you all,

Raquelita