To me, it is joy :)

My friend N and I after studying the Bible at the university :)

The whole university group after singing and studying outside of an OXXO (its like a 711)

Colonia M

So, Sunday was a great day. I thought about what to write this month and I couldn't get Sunday out of my mind. So here goes...

Context: We now have a Bible study in Colonia M that meets Sunday mornings. We have been meeting in the house of a new believer but yesterday her family couldn't meet. We thought about just canceling the study for that week but then we asked one of our other friends if she still wanted to meet on Sunday, she said yes and that we could come to her house. So! Sunday we went to her house to study the bible.

I had been to her house countless times but she had never before invited me in. I could tell from the outside that it was small but I didn't know how small until Sunday. When we arrived at her house at 11 they weren't quite ready for us so we sat outside on some rocks and talked with her son who is about 11 or 12. My friend Janna leaned against the side of the house and then quickly sat up as she realized that the outside wall moved. I am not sure what the wall is made out of but yea it definitely moves. So then we went inside. My first thought upon entering was "how cool." No sarcasm intended.

The house has approximately 2 rooms. We walked in to the front room and it was about the size of my bedroom - but instead of having 1 bed, like mine, it had 3 and they were all touching. There was enough space to walk to the beds and no more. So we sat on the beds and I got out my guitar and we worshipped together and studied. At one point, one of the ladies who came said, "I can't see." yea...there was no light or windows. But at her request, Gordo (which means fat) stood up and connected two open wires and on came the light bulb that hung from the ceiling. safe. I didn't see the other room but I am seriously hoping it is some kind of kitchen...but then where would the bathroom be? :/

The rest of my day, like that hour of studying, was a testament to why God called me here. I went to a party and heard a mariachi band, I played volleyball with friends (including Gordo) and at the end of the day I invited those who I had played volleyball with to study the Bible and their response :) - "well yea, we need to come." HOW COOL! They still haven't come but that is how the ministry goes here...they tell us yes 1000 times and don't come and then one day they do. Amen :)

Sunday was full of things I love...singing, guitar, the Bible, friends, volleyball, Mexican culture...and being in a house with 2 rooms. The last one confused me at the end of the day. I was thanking God for everything that had happened...all the victories I had witnessed and when I thanked him for getting to study in that house I hesitated. Why did I like that??? Shouldn't that totally break my heart and make me want to weep? Shouldn't I be thanking him for getting to study only and not because we had been in that particular house? But instead I couldn't shake the feeling of thankfulness. I loved it. What did that mean???

Well, maybe I am wrong, but I think God put a love for that in my heart. As I prayed I thought...there are some people who wouldn't be able to handle that. People who aren't able to walk into a house like that without breaking into tears. Some people who would walk into a house like that and only think about the germs (which trust me there are ALOT of). But to me, it is joy. Of course I would want to better their situation if I could, but the truth is that they are fine where they are. They don't need a big house to live a happier life - they need Jesus. And yes, it is probably weird that I would rather study in that little dark room sitting on those beds than in a church or on comfy couches, but maybe that is why God sent me here. Because to me it is joy.

So there is my rant :) I also want to share that we are expecting a volunteer team from the states on April 25th. Please be in prayer for the week that they will be here. We have several events planned in different parts of the city. We will be hosting 3 parties for child's day and for mother's day and using it as a way to grow our ministry in Colonia M and start our ministry in Colonia Comfort. Please keep praying for colonia M and the work we are continuing there. We currently have 5 studies during the week, a kids club, and an afternoon of volleyball each week. God has really been opening doors like crazy!

I know that this update is super long - but it is really hard for me to decide what to share and what not to share because God has been opening so many doors :) Our work in the university is in some senses floundering and in some senses growing. We have one study that meets Tues at 1pm and this study has exactly one student - please pray for wisdom in how to continue so that it grows and also to really pour into this student. We also have a study that meets tues at 9 pm and we recently lost the house we were meeting in, so this week we met outside of an OXXO (the pictures shown above) - it was actually super cool because the students still showed up and we were able to be in a very visible spot for other students to notice what we were doing. Pray that the eyes and ears of these students will be open that they might understand and accept Christ.

Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement! I feel so blessed :)

Here is a video of what worship looks like with University students outside of a convenience store :)