16 - finals time

ryan is taking a final at this very moment. then tomorrow he will take his last final, and be done with this semester. it was a very busy, challenging semester for him. 4 4-hour classes, each with its own lab. besides being in classes all day long, his time was bogged with various projects such as writing computer programs, physics quizes, designing maps, surveying the Texas A&M CC campus, and creating original maps with that survey information.

i think i got to spend a total of 14 hours with him this entire semester. we're glad for it to be over. next semester will be less frantic, but must begin with ryan going on a pre-semester field camp for 5 days. his absense will be over and done with quickly instead of spanning the entire semester.

I WENT TO MEXICO again on saturday. it was a one day trip, leaving at 7am and returning at 9pm. we went to the orphanage to throw a Christmas party for the children and workers there. the children made gingerbread houses, which they promptly ate upon completion. some of the older girls sat around with me and taught me "Silent Night" in spanish. we also sang Feliz Navidad and We Wish you a Merry Christmas. it was a lot of fun. before we left, a college aged girl named Edith told me i need to learn more songs in spanish before i come back. we all agreed.

next we went to a village that is in the city dump. about 200 people live there. we distributed a grocery bag with bags of beans, rice, sugar, and bottles of cooking oil, as well as clothes, shoes, and candy. many people asked to receive prayer, and were very moved by the Lord. we were in and out in about 45 minutes, as we needed to hit the road for the return trip. but the plan for the next trip will be to stay there for a few hours, bring more food and clothes, give a teaching, and pray for everyone who asks.

i was awefully sick the days before the trip, and right after it. but by grace, i was perfectly fine on saturday for the entire day. and grace was abundant over me, because yet again, someone sponsered my way for the trip. i am very thankful to the Lord, who is showing me his faithfulness, and teaching me to excercise my own extent of faithfulness.