Day 2: Under a Neon Cross (or the post with too many parentheses)

Today we started bright (well, overcast) and early to help with church set-up. I'm so glad to see the church here allowing us to serve and participate and make some things less of a burden for them (the church here goes so far out of its way to make us feel welcome and comfortable, it's hard to tell who's serving who - gotta love that hospitality). We went to the early service (at 11 (right??)) and got to worship and listen to a sermon in Spanish (we had some of our friends here offer to translate (for those who wanted it)). Pastor Sergio is a great speaker (i love hearing him trill his "rrrr"s and how his voice stirs with passion) and I am sure the sermon today was great, but I wasn't paying any attention.

Now before you all start to judge me (i would be): I was too nervous. Yesterday Adrian asked me if I would do the anuncios at church. Now, if you know me, you know that I am terrified by public speaking (yes, i was a communications major. yes, i understand the irony). Oh yeah, and he asked me to do them en español. Now, if you know me, you know that I am terrified by speaking Spanish to native speakers (yes, i was a spanish minor. yes, I do want to do missions in latin america. yes, i do see the disconnect). So, suffice to say: I was freaking out a lot (or "i was freaking out alot"). After Sergio prayed, I stepped up and began to give the anuncios. I thought about (and started) typing out what happened, but I think a transcript of my dialogue would be more enjoyable:
 

Sam (on the mic): "spanish words spanish words spanish words....

.....

.....

PANIC!

um... i don't remember the next announcement..."

Adrian (from the back): "church next week."

Then I continued while everyone laughed. Yes, in case you were wondering, I did yell "PANIC" while I was standing in front of their church. 

For the second service, we mostly helped in "Sheeper" (the sunday school class). For whatever reason, they let me do the anuncios again (churches and their Grace...), which went much better (i wrote them on my hand). 

After church, we put everything back up, then drove to a restaurant near Santiago (a cute little town near Monterrey) to eat lunch. We had around 40 people packed into this poor restaurant, but órale, those enchiladas were so good! We ate, chilled, watched horses, then went to Santiago. The central part of Santiago is an older Catholic church that is on top of a hill, overlooking a beautiful lake-type body of water. The church is absolutely charming, with it's cobblestone plaza and steeple with real-life bells calling the faithful to the misa. Then at the very top of the steeple is a bright neon-blue electric cross. It is quite the juxtaposition. I guess it was added to draw in some more attention, but I'd say something that beautiful doesn't need it. But maybe I do the same. (oh gosh, he's going to metaphor). Maybe I try to add things onto God to make him cooler that actually detract from the depth of his ancient beauty; maybe I don't let him be himself because I don't think that's what attracts people.

As the evening wore on (that's a nice phrase, isn't it? with your permission, i'll say it again: the evening wore on) and the rain trickled, we packed up and headed back into town. We got back to the hotel and had a dance practice session in the middle of the hotel's central plaza. (what?) Oh, we're going to an orphanage Saturday and playing with kids, so they are teaching us some songs and dances from Sheeper. In case that doesn't conjure up a hilarious mental image for you, let me expound: 15 some-odd Americans (average age 22 years) dancing and singing little kid songs in the middle of a courtyard, while a smattering of bemused guests stand on their balconies and watch and laugh. It was heaps of fun, y'all. 

We took a brief excursion to Soriana (think walmart in spanish (though there is an actual walmart here)), stocked up on snacks, Craig and I sat in the hall because we didn't bring a roomkey, went and got a new roomkey, blablabla, I stayed up late typing. 

Please be praying for our physical health, several of us are sick or injured or just generally under the weather at the moment. colds and necks and knees and feet and backs and heads and hands...

new Spanish phrase: Sacado de onda - dismayed, confused, befuddled.