Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hmmm, I'm late for New York, just about on time for Chicago, and early for Denver. Unfortunately, I am in Denver and ready to go to bed. Maybe I will, and just bring in the year 2007 with sweet dreams ;-).

What a year. I can't believe that I have been a college graduate for an entire year now. It has been an interesting road. There have been a great many people on different parts of the journey this year. There have been slow parts, some very fast, some bumpy, with the occassional smooth patch. I've been clinging to God's hand the whole time, even when I feel that I can't see Him. When I spent a month in Honduras in 2002, there were some very tough times- but we would usually say "Honduras is an adventure," and it actually made the situation seems more exciting. Well, this year has been quite an adventure ;-).

Let's see, I've been a substitute teacher, a props mistress at my old high school, a translator, an assistant florist, an office secretary, a language student, and an evacuee (sp?), among other things. God has amazed me by showing me the wonderful support of friends and family He has provided. I have also met so many new people and seen many beautiful places. I have seen and experienced a kind of strife I had never seen before. I have walked through barricades, been awaken at night by helicopters, and seen cars in flames. And now being home, I am learning to rely on God in whole new ways.

I have some ideas about what this year might hold, but I'm sure I have no idea what will really happen. I've often said that if I knew what I was going to do beforehand, I'd probably be too afraid to do it anyhow. So, no matter how much I wish to know what the future holds, I rest in the certainty that my plans could never even compare to God's perfect will. And, as much as I want to just stand still and wait for things to happen, I need to keep taking steps in order for God to be able to guide them. So, on we go into the new year - continuing to hold onto God's hand and having an adventure with each step.

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be

In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.

Another year of progress, another year of praise,

Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,

Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;

Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;

Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,

Another year of training for holier work above.

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be

On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

Words: Frances Havergal, 1874. Music: Samuel Wesley, 1864

See you tomorrow?

Does the name Brad Will mean anything to you? I’d wager that if you ask anyone in Oaxaca, they’d be able to identify him - that he was the U.S. journalist who was shot in Oaxaca. That was on October 27, 2006 – the following day President Fox finally sent in federal force to try to bring some peace to Oaxaca. Although there were 3 other deaths that day, many people believe that it was Brad Will’s death that finally caused Fox to intervene. There is also debate as to who shot him and whether or not his death was accidental.

While this makes a good current event, that is not my purpose in writing about it. Why then? Well, that morning, I walked by a young gringo trying to get a taxi. I remember him pretty well because at that time there were hardly any tourists in the city, so spotting one was usually exciting. We both saw each other, but I didn’t smile or say hello, I just walked by (just for point of reference, I actually do tend to greet most people I meet on the street).

That afternoon, news started coming out that a journalist had been shot. The pictures of Brad were kind of gory, but I wondered if that hadn’t been the guy I had seen that morning. A day or two later, I found a picture of what he really looked like, and I became more certain that I saw Brad Will the morning before he was killed. That bothered me a lot, but I couldn’t quite figure out why.

Days later, I finally realized what I was having trouble dealing with. It was the knowledge that I walked by somebody who was going to die later that day, and I didn’t even acknowledge him. I don’t expect that I would have made any life changing remarks or anything like that, but I still wish I had at least smiled. That was an important reality check for me that we are never certain that we will have tomorrow. But, even more than that, we can never be sure that the person we could show Christ’s love to, even just through a simple smile, will be around tomorrow either.

I’ll be home for Christmas

Actually, I am home for Christmas! I’ve been here in Colorado for just over a week. I woke up this morning to find out that there is a blizzard warning here today. So, it’s kind of a winter wonderland… :-). On the news they just mentioned the ’83 blizzard, and that happened just before I was born! Great timing, eh?

Being home is difficult, but good. I find it hard to believe all that has happened in the past 3 months. As I described to someone all I need to do, the person summed it up well by saying I am experiencing a lot of new starts. While new starts provide great opportunities – it is not real easy to keep starting over. But don’t let me fool you, there are great things about being home too :-). Being with my family, especially at the Christmas season, is very nice. In between services on Sunday, I got to see many friendly faces and received encouraging words and hugs.

I definitely would appreciate continued prayer as I make decisions on all the opportunities that I am finding. Please, also continue to pray for Oaxaca. While the barricades are down and the graffiti has been painted over, nothing was really resolved. According to a couple reports, the federal police pulled out of Oaxaca on Saturday (NY Times article), leaving some forces stationed outside the city in case anything happens. I don’t know for sure, but I can imagine that this makes those living in Oaxaca fearful that something new will happen.

A couple nights ago, as I got ready to go to bed in my own comfy bed in a wonderful heated house, I heard a helicopter outside. I still experienced a moment of fear, even though I am not in a place where I need to fear that it is a military helicopter and what that might mean. It is pretty crazy. Well, even though these recent events certainly haven't been what I had "planned" - my plan was, and continues to be, to follow where God leads. So, here I am :-). God is certainly good and faithful.

As I said in the letter I sent out, I will try to continue putting up posts. So, please keep checking on me :-)

Going home

Hopefully by now most of you have received the news that I will be returning home for a year. I am excited to be returning to Colorado and jumping into challenging myself into growing in new ways.

That is honestly how I feel, but there is more to that too. Truthfully, this is not a easy step - in fact it is pretty scary. But, that is exactly why I am also excited, because although I have countless amazing qualities (wink, wink), there are many areas that I can grow, including not being afraid of new challenges. Does that make sense?

I want to explain a few things that I have realized through this process.

Every single person living in Oaxaca during this time has been affected during this time of turmoil. The stress of living in constant uncertainty, danger, and all that jazz takes its toll on a person. I now realize that I, personally, have been in survival mode. I think that I am doing alright. 'How are you doing?' 'I am doing alright.' - and that is really how I feel. But, behind that, and without even realizing it, all I have been doing is surviving. I push important reactions aside to deal with later, because if I don't, who knows how I'll end up. I can't be afraid right now because I need to get to sleep. That kind of thing.

At first, I felt like a wimp, not sticking it out in Oaxaca when so many others have to (by others, I refer mainly to Oaxacans). But now I realize that by going home for a time, I can be in the familiarity of my own culture, while challenging myself into developing new skills. Then, when I return, I can be "healthy" and able to help others more than I could have if I was continuing to just "survive."

And, had I not been in Oaxaca during this tough time, and had just gone there a year from now - I would have no inkling of what the people there had gone through. Now, when I work with people there, I can relate and better identify with what they have been through.

Isn't it great when the light finally dawns and we see what God was up to? It constantly amazes me. And that's just a fraction of how Almighty and Sovereign God is. I NEVER would be able to plan such things, and yet many times I still try to do things my own way. When will I ever learn? Well, why not start with today? I am going into another time when I really have no idea what will happen. But, I will continue to follow as I feel God lead, in faith that He continues to prepare a path before me.

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8

Postcards from Laura - Monterrey

Hello from South of the Border! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 2, 2006
I say south of the border because I certainly can tell we are nearby the States here in Monterrey - so many people speak English! I love the mountains around here. This picture is the view from my room. A couple things I have seen in Monterrey that I have never seen before: maternity parking spaces at the grocery store and a U-turn light (just like a turn signal, only with a U-turn on it). I also am so happy that there are heaters in the house I am in. Almost right after I arrived, I was able to attend the baby shower of Erika Clauson (her baby is due on the 23rd, my birthday!) - at which my team won many of the baby shower games. Hurray! ;-)
In Christ,
Laura :-)