One week in...

The more I'm hanging around the PanAm games, the more I love it (and miss playing). These last few days we've been at the Village meeting players and coaches. Today I met a girl from the US basketball team that was involved in AIA doing a summer camp in Canada last summer. It was great meeting her because she was really excited about AIA and in God's perfect timing, we're going to the U.S. basketball game tomorrow and I'll know someone that I can cheer for.

These last couple days have been really encouraging because we've been meeting with 3 Cubans that are really excited about what God has done in their lives. One of them, a fencer at the games, has come back to the chapel for refills on DVD's that he's handing out to other athletes and telling them about Jesus. He's handed out hundreds of DVD's and talked to just as many people. The scary part is that he has a lot hidden under his bed to take back to Cuba. Or, better said, smuggle back to Cuba. Is he gets caught trying to bring them back, he could get into alot of trouble. Pray for his safety! His committee leader has told him that they know he's a Christian and if they catch him talking to other people about that, they'll send him back to Cuba before the games finish.

We took a tour of downtown Guadalajara on a double-decker tour bus. It's beautiful down there! I took a bunch of pictures that I'll try and get posted soon. We went to a ridiculously crowded market... it was one of those markets that has hundreds of stands but everyone of them sell the same trinkets. I'm not a big fan of those kind... they're pretty depressing. We were able to try the typical food of Guadalajara which is a torta ahogada. It's basically a sub with pork inside and covered in tomato sauce, onions and radishes. That's the gringo version. The Mexican version is dipped in Chili sauce so it basically burns your insides. Why anyone would actually enjoy swallowing fire is beyond me but power to them.

Last night there was a concert put on by some of the local churches that was called, "La Paz es posible" which means, "Peace is possible." It was in a plaza in front of the Basilica which is a church that was blessed or dedicated by the Pope just 3 or 4 weeks prior. There were about 2,000 people there and about 8 different Christian bands that were all really good! The Gospel was shared throughout the concert with testimonies given in between bands. It was pretty amazing. The grand finale was a rapper named Marto who had an incredible testimony about being brought from a life of drugs and violence but was saved and now spends his life ministering to others through music about how God saved him. It was legit :) At the end there were a handful of people who decided to devote their lives to Christ for the first time!!!!

I've able to go see a couple of different games since I've been here. We've seen rowing (first time I've ever been to rowing), women's soccer (Mexico vs. Chile, Brasil vs. Argentina ) and women's basketball (Canada vs. Brasil, U.S. vs. Argentina). We're going to some more women's basketball tomorrow (U.S. vs. Mexico, which will be ridiculous, and Canada vs. Jamaica). I found out the other day that there's a girl that's playing for Canada's team that played at my college while I was there!! Small world!!!

I'll do better at keeping this bad boy going (and by bad boy, naturally I mean this Blog). There's been not a whole lot of down time since we've been here. Please keep praying for all the athletes here and that we know who to talk to, and for rest for our team because we're having some long days :).... but it's totally worth it! Love you all and hope you're doing great!

And the games continue...

Here we are at the games not knowing what God had in store for us. We show up, all three of us being first-timers to any sort of international games, without any agenda, any credentials to get into any area where the athletes would be, or any idea what we were doing. Day 1 goes by and we get the chance to talk to a couple people we see around town that are wearing gear from another country. We also just got to know Guadalajara a little bit and meet the other members of Athletes in Action (AIA) that are here from other parts of the world to work at the games. These other staff have been to numerous other international events including Olympics, World Cups, University Games, etc.... seasoned veterans. Day 2 we meet a man named Cristobal from Guatemala who is one of these veterans and works with AIA. He had decided, minutes after he got to our room, that we needed to get at least a day pass but eventually we would get our credential.

That morning, we went down to the Acredidation Office where there are TONS of people waiting. Not Cristobal... He went to the front of the line, got us in and we had our credentials within an hour and a half. Here's a little perspective... The Chaplans that we are with have been going through a process of getting their credentials for weeks sending in paperwork and pictures through the mail. Us "Joe Shmoes" just got ours in an hour and a half. Thank you Jesus!! Now, with these passes, we can go into the Villa where all the athletes are staying, eating, and hanging out. The dorms are there with a pool, gym, restaurants and a chapel and it's beautiful!!!!

We talked to a Jamaican shotgun shooter (one of the sports in these games) and his coach yesterday and were able to share with them what we do and talk to them about Jesus. The coach was really interested. We met a lot of people from Columbia and were able to talk to them as well. It's incredible seeing all these different countries being represented in one place. It's like nothing I've ever seen before.

I'm excited to share more and more stories with you guys as the days go on! Please keep praying for our team and for all the athletes here. Another prayer request... we just got news that Sountern Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras have all been getting rain for 10 days straight and are going through some major, dangerous flooding. The rain isn't supposed to stop for another 3 days. Pray that it does sooner and for safety for all the people there.

Pan Am Games!!!!

We made it safe and sound to the Pan America Games in Guadalajara. John, our team leader, Jolita, one of our other Athletes in Action workers drove here and it took 6 hours by car. The countryside and views were awesome! It's really green here and kind of looks like Western Washington in some parts. The city itself is massive and so far, rainy (also like Western WA).

The games will start on Friday so I'll keep you posted on everything that happens. Just wanted you all to know that we made it safely! Pray that God moves here at the games.

Week 1 :)

I think I've officially acclimated to the elevation. It took a couple of headaches, going running a couple times, a LOT of water and some whining but it worked!

It's hard to believe that a week has already passed. I went to watch a basketball game on Friday between 2 of the teams that I've been working with. It was a blow-out unfortunately. Luckily, I was too preocupied by the mosquitos DOMINATING me to worry about the score. It's the only gym that I've been in where you have to bathe in bug repellent before you go. I think I'm up to about 40 bites now... try not to be jealous. I watch all the people around me not even phased by them, apparently because they're not being attacked. Then there's the gringa looking like she's going crazy. I've learned it's a great ice breaker to be completely shameless and look like an idiot.... nothing has changed. I was able to talk to both of the basketball coaches before and after the game and I'm praying that it's only a matter of time before I get to play with their teams. One of them wants to meet soon to talk, so please keep praying that those doors open sooner rather than later.

I've gotten to know a lot more of the players, especially on the basketball team, so I really enjoy going to practices and watching their games. The awkward stage of being the new kid has pretty much passed (except for with the soccer team). Pray that those girls will warm up a little bit and that I know how to talk to them. I know nothing about soccer so I can't even fake a conversation about that. :)

Yesterday we went downtown to explore and it was amazing!! The cathedrals there are incredible. It's the second time that I've seen them but they still boggle my mind. We went to an antique market that I will be frequenting as soon as I move into my new apartment (which I found thank you Jesus!!!). It's in the same building as my co-workers. The only tenants in the whole building will be my roommates, my co-workers, my landlords, and myself. It's going to get crazy :)

There are 3 of us that are leaving for Guadalajara this Wednesday for the Pan America games. If you don't know anything about the PanAm games here's where you can read about it... They sound like a blast! http://www.guadalajara2011.org.mx/eng/02_juegos/gdl2011.asp. We're going to try and meet with some of the athletes while we're there for 3 weeks. Pray that we get to talk to some of the athletes about Jesus! I'll be taking pictures, don't worry.

Love you guys!

The city of Topes...

I learned that speedbumps are called 'topes' and they are EVERYWHERE. I'm still trying to figure out why. One would think that the incredible amount of pot holes would be enough to slow a car down but apparently the combination of the two make the roads a safer place.
Even with the roads, I went on a bus adventure the other day and didn't even get lost :) I was very proud. I'm loving this country! The people are amazing, there's chaos everywhere, there are bright colors all over the place... it has been so much fun!
These last 3 days have been whirlwinds! My days went from 9:30am-10/11pm. I was able to go to 3 of the universities that I played at last time I was here and it brought back some great memories. I even recognize some of the girls and was able to reconnect with them after not seeing them for a long time.
I've been observing some of my co-workers give team talks from a book called, "17 Essential
Qualities of Being a Team Player." On most of these campuses, you can't share anything about spirituality during practices because of the seperation of church and state. These talks give us a chance to meet with the girls and talk about things that they can really apply to their sports. I've been working with the soccer team at UDLAP and the basketball team at UMAD. Tonight we had a group meeting with the basketball team where they were able to get to know each other better because they've been struggling with issues internally as a team. I've been pairing up with one of my co-workers who is awesome. She's been working with these teams before I got here so I'm just joining the party already in progress.
At first it's definitely awkward to show up at practices and have everyone wonder why you're
there, but it's getting easier as I get to know some of the girls. Please pray that the coach at UMAD will let me practice with them as a way to get to know the girls better. He's pretty hard to read but we've seemed to have hit it off pretty well so far.
This is such a unique and obscure job all at the same time. So much of it is just showing up, being available and willing to do whatever and searching for doors that God opens. It's also an amazing job!!! Meeting people, praying for them, watching God move, playing basketball, speaking Spanish, eating legit Mexican food whenever I want... what's not to love?
I haven't taken any pictures yet... mostly because I can't remember anything so my camera gets left behind. I PROMISE I WILL DO BETTER AT PICTURES AND SEND THEM OUT FOR PEOPLE TO SEE. Hold me to it, please.
I feel like there's so much more to tell you guys. I'll do better at posting more often so I don't
forget as many things! Thank you for all your prayers and support! Love you!

I have arrived!!

I flew in last night at about 8:30 after a super long day of travel but no complications, thank you Jesus! I made the brilliant choice of not going to sleep the night before since I had to get up at 3:30 the next morning anyway. Plus, I'm 24 and 24 year olds are invincible, right? Wrong. I paid for it by falling asleep over and over in the plane only to wake up jerking my entire body as if I was falling asleep in class (which I've never done... ever.) I felt bad for the two gentlemen on either side of me who probably thought I was having seizures.

I was warmly welcomed by the staff down here and brought to my new, temporary house. My host family is amazing! There are 2 girls that are from Mexico that I live with and are going to be lots of fun. I'll be here for the next 2 weeks after which, we'll be going to Guadalajara for the PanAmerica games (kind of like the Olympics only just for Central America). We'll be there for almost 3 weeks. My teammates should be joining me by November 1. Once they get here, we'll get an apartment together.

We went to church this morning but for the most part, today is pretty relaxed. I have to say that I'm REALLY excited for this next year. I'm surrounded by amazing people and lots of culture. I'll still be sending out monthly newsletters but this is for a little bit more play by play :)

Just wanted to let you know I made it safely and the journey is beginning! Love you all!!