Wedneday, Sept 27th 2007

Well, so much for my tummy getting better! I missed most of our morning sessions because I was in our room either laying down or mostly in the bathroom! I eventually was able to get out of the room and come to the end of the sessions. What a yucky morning. But it did feel good enough that I as able to eat lunch. And we ate it near the pool it was so cool! Then Joe and I went back to our room and got ready to go swim in the pool! So I decided to take a pepcid AC to see if it would work. And surprisingly for a long time it worked, it wasn't aching any more! But then during our evening session I had to literally run to the bathroom because I thought that I was going to yack! But surprisingly I sat and sat and sat in the bathroom and nothing! And then it went away so Joe and I headed to dinner and as we sat down with 4 other missionaries all of a sudden the nausea started again, and this time it was bad! And the hard thing was is now i'm with other people so I couldn't just get up and leave! So I began eating a roil and thought if I head to the bathroom and throw this up then that's it. I quit! No more food or swimming or fun. But praise the Lord the food seemed to be what I needed! I felt great with food now in my tummy. There was a couple times in the night that I woke up with much nausea but hopefully it will get better & better.

Tuesday, Sept 26th 2007

Tummy ache, Tummy ache, Tummy ache... Ahhhh! It won't stop! Praise the Lord that I am still able to go to the sessions and eat meals. It begins to feel better so I think it is going away and then... boom! It comes on strong! But the sessions are wonderful and I am learning so much! After our morning sessions all the ladies had lunch together and had a devotion from JoBeth Loftis. During our time together our regional directors wife got up and began sharing how she wants to get close to us and develop a good relationship. So she had us all share struggles or challenges we are going through we were only supposed to take 15-20mins but ended up being an hour and a half. Of Course :-) There were many needed tears and it was refreshing! Joe and I went to the beach again and as he slept on the shore , I went into the Ocean and let myself be guided by the wonderful waves. IT helped my stomach calm for a little while. We had another session at night and it was such a blessing to hear another great message! After we went to another great restaurant and have a Mediterranean meal. It was absolutely beautiful and my stomach felt great! It started to ache a little as I went to be. But not to bad!

Joe and I on the beach...

Monday, Sept 25th 2007

Well unfortunately my stomach ache did not go away. I was able to sleep well but when I woke up in the morning... ugh! It ached and ached! I really didn't want to eat anything, but I did have yogurt and beans and it seemed to help. Joe and I were able to go on the beach today! It was so much fun. We stood on the beach trying to find good shells and we kept getting knocked over by the waves! Oh it was so funny to watch. We were out there with Antonio & Diana and at one point I was trying to help Diana get up and the waves kept pushing me down and pushed me right on top of Diana. We lost it and could not stop laughing about it for the rest of the day! For lunch we are at the Restaurant that over looked the beach. It was beautiful! Then for this night we headed to the theater room and watched the Mexican show! It was so incredible watching them dance, sing, and play instruments! Besides the tummy ache... what a great day!


Here are some pics of the show...

Sunday, Sept. 23 2007

The first day of our conference was a wonderful start. We had a wonderful time of Praise & worship to begin our morning! Each day we are here one couple/single from the Mexico City team has a theme for that day. Today’s day was one of our singles, Darlene. She is hilarious. She gave everyone a cute native Mexican box with lots of candy! Her theme was taking care of your heart. She had a small piece of paper with a heart on it, and she hid it in the lobby of our hotel and whoever found it got a big prize! We had a devotion form Dr. Drullinger. He is a great speaker. He currently teaches at Carville University but will soon stop working there because he is on his way to South Africa as an ABWE missionary! All day we had wonderful sessions from sharing the Gospel to learning about Roman Catholicism. They are all great! lunch was great too, a huge buffet of everything you can imagine! After lunch we had another session and then to the hot tube we went! it was so nice to relax…until I got a stomach ache and it lasted all the rest of the night. Joe went with the Navarretes to dinner and I went to the room to relax and sleep! But it wasn’t so relaxing as the pain kept getting worse and worse. Hopefully it will be gone by tomorrow!

Another pic...

Saturday, Sept. 22 2007

Our flight went very well. We went with Aero Mexico and we very much enjoy this airline. The flight was only an hour and 20 mins, but still not only did we get a drink but we got breakfast! We had fresh fruit, a chocolate muffin and coffee! The view was also amazing! We got to see the two highest volcanoes in Mexico City. They had snow on them and were absolutely beautiful. The gulf of Mexico is huge! I didn’t realize how big it is! We landed in Cancun and it was raining. We were sad when we stepped off the plane but when we got to the resort we were amazed. It was so cool when we got into the entrance of the resort, we were asked to leave our bags in the van and they would talk them out and take them to our room for us! Then we were immediately greeted, by an employee that gave us all of our information, along with another employee serving us a drink right away! Although it rained all day we were able to walk around the resort and enjoy its beauty! I have never seen an ocean so blue. The waves are strong and beautifully white. I was so excited to see a massage area until I found out that it costs $45 for 30mins and $70 for 1 hour… oye vay! Joe and I were able to help greet Missionaries coming in and tour them around! It was so much fun, I felt like an official tour guide! After touring we were able to walk on the beach and visit the pools! Then we grabbed the Navarrete family and headed to one of the best dinners I have ever had! We had to wear pants and no T-shirts or shorts were allowed, or they would not let you in! It was beautiful. Lanterns on the tables and silver plates! It was Italian night… my favorite. And I ordered something like Manicotti. It was absolutely gorgeous and then I got dessert and coffee, and it was so hard no to eat the dessert because it was like a piece of art! More tomorrow!

Pics of Cancun...

Friday, Sept 21st 2007

Another early morning started today’s day. We got up around 7am to go over to the Missionaries home, the Allens. To meet with our Regional Director. It was a wonderful time of expressing concerns and talking about what we will be doing when we get to Mexico City. It was a really good time of fellowship! Praise the Lord for them. Then we were able to go down town and look at the 2nd largest Catholic church. La Basilica is what they call it. We were able to go inside and get a tour from Antonio about the church and how it began with one man who came to the priest showing him the flowers the virgin mary gave to him and when he dropped them from his cloak there was her face in his cloack so the priest let him start the huge catholic church in that area. From there we were able to go to the Market. There was such beautiful things there at the market. Beautiful pottery, and jewlrey, and etc. I wanted to buy all of it. Then we were able to go the the House of Tiles it is a restaurant that apparently Denzel Wahington ate at in Man of Fire. The food was so great! Then we got to see the town square of Mexico City! IT was so beautiful. The lights from independence day there was red, green and white colors everywhere! It was a great day!

Thursday, Sept. 20th 2007

Today began with sleep, yes sleep! Joe and I were able to sleep in and it felt so good! We checked the phone when we woke and it was 9:00am, so we quickly got up thinking that our host family would think we are lazy. We got into the shower and got all ready. I went down stairs to find no one there and realized that none of them were up yet. So I made coffee and did my devotions. They didn’t wake up until 10:30am! I could have been in bed so much longer. Then we were able to go to the Tiangis Market. It was incredible. It was an open market that sold EVERYTHING. Fresh fruit, fish, Animals and their parts that I don’t really want to know about. Clothes, home things. My sister would love it, because it was like a HUGE garage sale! Here is a photo of some of the “interesting” food that we saw there.

Then we headed to the Allens house and was able to chill for a little bit, eat a wonderful chicken salad and potato soup, and then had our team meeting. Today was nice compared to the other days of go go go. And then I was able to walk to a tiny corner store with Joe and TJ and look at all the little small stores around. It was great!

Tomorrow we get to go DOWNTOWN!

Wednesday, Sept. 19th 2007

Joe and I went to a prayer meeting this morning. It took everything in me not to fall asleep while we were praying. The missionaries here say it takes 2 – 3 days to hit a wall of major tiredness. I guess it took me 5. Yeay me! From there we went to a very nice restaurant. I am continually being surprised about how nice this City is. I had what is called a Huchara solo. It is a thick corn tortilla open faced with beans and cheese in a green salsa sauce! Then I was able to go to Costco! It was just like a Sam’s club, but the Target type brand. It was wonderful to walk through and see the similarities and differences. From there we went to one of the poorest spots in the city to see a kids club that Darlene is working at. Dirt roads and concrete ugly gray brick walls were everywhere. Where the church was there was mold growing in the outside of the walls, but it was hard to see it through the people’s smiles! What a wonderful work! This past Sunday they had 45 people come to Sunday service! Praise the Lord! Joe and I sent with the Allens to pick up there children from school. They go to a MK Christian school in Mexico City! Yes, I was so excited to go and get a tour. I was very impressed and it was quite large for what you can get in Mexico City… mmm we will see. Being so tired it was hard to get going the rest of the day. But it was exciting, we ate at a Popeyes fast food, which Joe LOVED because of there moist chicken. All I can say is … yuck. J From there I was able to go to a Walmart. Again, I was so amazed at how I felt like I was in the States, but at the same time there were definitely differences. Then we went to Waldo’s which is just like the Dollar store in the States, it was great! FINALLY, I was able to go home and eat my wonderful Dark Chocolate which I Have been craving since we left! :-)

Fifth Day in Mexico City...

Tuesday, Sept. 18^th 2007

Today began with a Bible study that Antonio led at the first church they planted. Most of it was Women, which is typical in the Mexican culture. After Bible study the church put on lunch for us, which again was wonderful. The funny this about lunch was that when we were in Bible study for some reason I was craving Lasagna, and wouldn’t you know that for lunch part of it was Lasagna. We enjoyed fellowship and then, headed back to the Navarretes home. Diana and Antonio needed to go to a funeral, so there kids, TJ & Alyssa and Joe and I stayed home for a while and then we all headed to a Mexican market with our Administrators. I got to take a “Mexican bus” for the first time. I was nervous but it really was a great adventure, although it did seem like chickens packed into a truck…he he. Walking through the market was very interesting, there were whole chickens being cut up along with many other animals. But they did have wonderful looking fruit! We then were able to go to the other teammate’s house, the Allen’s, and had pizza! But get this… they don’t put pepperoni on pizza! Then Ron Allen took us to … SAM’S CLUB. That’s right they have Sam’s club and it only took 15 minutes to get there. I was expecting to see a major difference but it looks just like home! I was so excited. We then headed back to the Allen’s home and celebrate Darlene’s birthday, one of the single ladies on our team. It was very exciting to see her so happy and us laughing all together. Tomorrow… brings lots more fun!

Monday, Sept. 17, 2007

Today Joe and I got to sleep in a little. It was very nice, since we have been going since we got here. We were able to enjoy a nice breakfast while we did our devotions, waiting for Diana and Antonio to get home. Once they got home, we all packed into the car and headed to McDonalds, yes that’s right McDonalds. We all ate there and then Joe, Antonio, and TJ (Navarretes son) went to the church to walk around the area and have a prayer time for the church. Diana, myself, and Alyssa (Navarretes daughter) talked for a while and then walked around the area looking at different Mexican stores. I was surprised how similar it is to the United States but different at the same time. From there I had my first Taxi ride in Mexico City. I was nervous hoping that taking a Taxi was ok, but Diana assured me that it is good and normal. From there I went with our administrators, Bethany, and the singles director, Carol to the English class Bethany taught. It was a wonderful time, the students had to interview us in English and then we sat in front of them and they asked us questions like a panel. There was 5 of us, and I felt so special as most of them always wanted to ask ME a question! It was such a great time. We shared snack with them, and then got to chat. From there we headed to the Allen’s home for dinner, and the single girls started scaring me with all the rodent stories about Mexico… yey fun. Then our whole entire Mexico City team called into our prayer call with Joe and I and they all got to pray with us! Finally as we were heading home, the Navarretes received a call that someone in the church here in Mexico had died. So we headed home fast and Antonio, Diana, and Alyssa changed and went right over to the wife’s home, ready to attend a funeral at 10pm! Ministry is tough… but wonderful!

Sunday, Sept. 16th 2007

Today is the day that went to see the ministries that we will possibly be doing someday. We headed to the church to begin prayer time at 10am. Antonio took prayer requests and the new prayed. Next followed announcements and Joe introducing us. He told the church where we are from and that we are planning on coming to Mexico to minister and that we have no children. Well, one child spoke up and tell everyone on know in the church that “we are planning on it”. We all lost it, because Joe and I had not even met this child yet. Then Antonio preached and I could understand most of it! I was very excited. We stayed at the church for a while and met people and talked. I have gotten to make friends with a girl named Barbie. From there we went back to the Navarretes house where we are staying, and had a wonderful chicken meal with our administrators, Bethany, and the Navarretes. I was able to help her decorate the dining room for the dinner; this is typical to decorate a lot when you have company over. After eating we went to a large mountain where they built a HUGE mall on top of it and got to see the whole city from the mall. It was AMAZING! It was really nice to see the city all lit up at night. It is such a big city. From there we headed back to the Navarretes house where I was able to stay up talking with Diana about ministry. It was wonderful!

Saturday, Sept. 15th 2007

What a Wonderful night’s sleep! Today is the day Mexico celebrates their independence. We enjoyed most of the morning talking with the Navarretes and eating pancakes! I received a call at about 10:30am saying that my sister was being driven to the hospital to have here baby! We waited and waited for our luggage but it did not come before we had to leave for the church Independence Day service. So Diana Navarrete stayed home for us and waited for the luggage to arrive, while we headed out to the future church we will be ministering in. We arrived at the church and just as I expected the area was poor. Their church building was 3 very small rooms together and a very small side yard, in which we played volleyball with the Mexican people. We ate authentic Mexican food with them & colored the Mexican flag. Joe then shared his testimony in Spanish and we set off fireworks! Joe was able to make a small friend named, Santiago. He is an adorable little boy. From there I was able to go to a fellow teammates home to call my mother. Heather had Annabelle Rose Dowling at 4:02pm weighing 6lbs and 13oz. She is 19 inches long! I’m an Aunt! At this time it was about 10:20pm and we were heading out…AGAIN! J We headed to the town square for the annual... grita. This is when the whole town gets together at 11pm and shouts…VIVE MEXICO 3 times. We watched as hundreds just in one of the many tiny towns in Mexico City shouted VIVE MEXICO and fireworks then followed! By the time we got home it was after midnight and I was exhausted! Bed never felt so good. J

A Word from Mexico City...

Friday, Sept. 14^th 2007

Well, Joe and I got to the airport from Joe’s Dad! We arrived at 5:50am all ready and excited! For your first flight, getting our tickets, going through customs, and getting on the plane was a breeze! Praise the Lord! We arrived in Philadelphia without any difficulties. Our second flight, we assumed would board shortly after we got off our first plane, unfortunately it took of 1 hour later than it was supposed to. So, because our flight came in so late we almost missed our flight to Mexico City! But as I write we are in the air headed to Mexico City! Praise the Lord! Our airline… Aero Mexico is amazing! We were able to watch a movie and they gave us a complementary meal! Sandwich, salad, cake, & coffee! The flight was so relaxing. We arrived into Mexico City on time and tired. As we waited, and waited for our baggage to come… surprise, surprise… it was not there. Joe went and spoke to the baggage claim personal, they gave us a number to call later that night to see if our luggage came and they would then send it to the house we were staying at. Seeing our regional director and our team leader at the airport was so encouraging! We had to leave quickly because it could take up to 3 hours to get to the place we were staying! The Lord knew we were coming, because it only took us an hour and a half! Phone calls were made home, houses we looked at and we headed to our host family’s house… the Navarrettes. Which hopefully we will be working with someday! I was amazed at how nice the homes that our teammates lived in! The phone call was attempted to the airline but the number was not in service…shocking! Mr. Navarrete, Antonio was finally able to get through and, praise the Lord our luggage was at the airport. They said that they would bring it he next day! Finally we were able to head to bed.