Saturday, May 31, 2008

Matthew 6

It is very clear in the Bible that God will take care of our every need. In fact, I think this is a central theme in Jesus' life and ministry. Take, for example, these words that Jesus spoke in his Sermon on the Mount:

25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

And if this doesn't catch our attention, the Gospel is FULL of examples of why and when we shouldn't worry.
Hungry multitudes after a long sermon? Just make 5 fish and 2 loaves feel tens of thousands of people!
Need some money to pay your taxes? Just tell one of your buddies to open up a fish's mouth and there it will be!
Going on a long journey? Don't take food, money, or extra clothes! God will provide what you need along the way!

I kind of feel this way here in Mexico. I have never wanted for anything... in fact, I have more than I need! I make a fraction of what I would be making in the states, and yet it is so much more than what so many Mexicans earn.
And, something particularly wonderful about living in this community, when I don't have anything to eat for dinner, I can round up my wonderful friends and create a feast! I just love it when 6 or 7 hungry girls can pitch in things like cheese, tomatoes, flour, yeast, and vegetables and create wonderful, made-from-scratch pizzas!
The night we made pizza I was really reminded of God's promise to provide for our every need.

I am a worrier... Although not always on display, my fears and worries are always there. I hope I can always be able to step back and see God's hand... see the 20/20 hindsight that I so often forget about... and be thankful!

Check out some of the pictures of our recent events, including a few of the pizza-making fun, spirit week, and Charla's wonderful homemade pesto and pasta. (This year could certainly be called the Year of Food for our house!!)
Springtime



Saturday, May 10, 2008

Mallory Came to Visit!


I was so fortunate to have my best friend and sister come hang out with me for a week! She just finished her spring semester at UF and came down for a break. We started out fast, leaving early the morning after her arrival for San Miguel de Allende... a huge ex-pat colonial city. It was beautiful and artsy, but I was a little turned-off by the number of foreigners.
We spent about a day in all (we left early, not staying the second night as we had planned). We explored a local art university, drank coffee overlooking the plaza, and spent a morning at the hot springs.
While in Guadalajara, I tried to show Mallory the sights--some of them Mexican, others not (like the Indian restaurant).
We were invited to dinner at the house of the Cardenas family, the family of my student, Zuriel (the one responsible for the Pandas Praying Club). She made delicious Pozole (a soup with hominy) and taquitos. After discovering that Mallory's name in high school Spanish class was Chela they whipped out, and gave her, a mug engraved with that name (who knows why they had it..?).

The Cardenas Family!! I love them so much.


Mallory shopping in the Artisan Market.






The cathedral in San Miguel. It's pink color is the natural color of the sandstone in the area.



Cross-cultured bus ride. :)