Week 1...Preparation

Week 1 is officially over and week 2 has started in this 6 week journey. We spent the majority of the week preparing: spiritually and physically. We did lots of odd jobs around the mission and spent quite a bit of time in classes learning about what's in store for us over the next weeks and about what God is doing in our lives. I'm pretty excited to see what's going to happen. We've got teams coming this week and next week, so we'll be going into Mexico quite a bit to work with an orphanage and in the dump, where many people in Mexico live. It's going to be really humbling and eye-opening, but I'm really excited to work with the Mexicans and the teams.

The week after our last team, we're going to be heading to Missouri! I know, random, right? Due to the swine flu and the problems with the drug cartel, several teams have canceled their mission trips down here, so we have several weeks free. Since we have so much free time, a church in Missouri invited us to come up there and do some street ministry with them. The people that started UTRI are originally from Missouri so they have quite a few connections up there. I'm pretty excited about that, too. I love road trips, so it's going to be a blast!

This week I'll be going to Mexico three times with the team, and I've already been recruited to do some translating tomorrow. I'm nervous, but I know that's one of the big reasons that I'm down here, so I know I need to do it, lol. I'm sure it will go fine, but we'll see.

Big things are happening down here. It's going to be an awesome summer for UTRI and all the interns. I feel like I've known these people for years already. We just clicked. It's been pretty amazing. I don't know how I'm going to say good-bye to them when I leave in the middle of the summer. The majority of everyone else is staying for the whole summer, so it's going to be really sad to leave while they continue to live here. I know there's a reason for everything, though, and I know there are reasons that I need to be back in TN for a while. I'm already planning a pretty awesome road trip in August...Route 66 from St. Louis to Los Angeles!! More details later...

Hope everyone is doing well. I'll try to update again next weekend after our first team leaves. Hopefully I'll have some awesome stories from Mexico!

Paz afuera (Peace out),
Amelia

Orientation @ UTRI

Hola a todos!  The first couple of days of my internship here at UTRI have been completed, and it's been pretty cool thus far.  We haven't gotten into any of the intense stuff yet, but this week will prove difficult.  I got here on Friday and spent yesterday and most of today just kind of chilling.  I'm thankful for the downtime, though, because I know that I'll need it to get me through this next week.  Our days will start at 7:30 and end around 7 pm for the most part.  We have a team coming in next Sunday and another team the next week.  After that, all of UTRI is going to be taking a road trip to Missouri!  That was quite a surprise but exciting nonetheless.  The founders of UTRI have deep roots in Missouri, so we're going to work with a church up there for a week.  It should be pretty cool...I'm always up for a road trip!

We haven't gone over to Mexico, yet...we'll go over a lot more when we have a team here.  I did have the chance to go to a Spanish-speaking church this morning, which I enjoyed immensely.  I understood pretty much everything that was said, and it was nice to be immersed in the language.  I love being able to communicate in another language even if I'm not 100% correct all of the time.  Hopefully I'll improve while I'm here, though!

I'll try to update again soon.  We might have a free day next weekend, so I'll let everyone know what's going on.  Hope all is well!!

Paz,

Amelia

Oh, Mexico...

Hello to everyone! Yes, it's been a while since I've posted. I've been enjoying the pleasantries of doing relatively nothing! :-) School has been over now for about 2 weeks, and I couldn't be more ecstatic! I ended the semester pretty well...passed everything...what more can you ask for, right, lol? The gig went pretty well and received a pretty good response. More to come in the future, I'm sure. Other than the end of school and the gig, I've just been working at the coffee shop and chilling! It's been pretty amazing...

In two days, however, craziness begins again! I'll be leaving Nashville on Friday morning to spend 6 weeks in Alamo, TX/Reynosa, MX. I'm pretty excited to see what's in store but a little nervous at the same time, I'll admit. This is a completely different experience than studying abroad, and although I will be using Spanish quite a bit, I'll also be doing a lot of other jobs like cooking, cleaning, construction, etc., etc....actually, I'm not 100% sure what I'll be doing, yet, but I know it's going to be awesome. I'm going into this with an open mind and an open heart, and I'm ready to be used for God's work. Viva Mexico!

I'll try to update this as often as I can, just so you guys know that I don't have the swine flu and that I wasn't kidnapped by the drug cartel...I'm going to be fine, lol. Hope everyone is having an amazing summer!

Mucho amor,
Amelia