Last night, I did the unthinkable, the unprecedented, the unbelievable. Last night, I left our after-homegroup hangout early to go to bed. *gasp* Boundaries. Weird.
Woke up at 5 this morning, got a quick shower and headed to the Choffice (Church Office*). Got some last-minute things printed, posted, planned, etc., took a quick COVID test, and waited for the homies to show up.
They did.
We had a surprisingly big crew come to pray for us as we left. I felt very loved (thanks!). Everyone tested negative for COVID, everything fit inside of Carmen (my lovely jeep), everyone grouped up and prayed for us, and everyone that was supposed to piled into my car.
As we drove to Houston, I very deliberately decided to drive very gently since I don't really know this team very well and I want to make a good impression. So I did, mostly. There was a slow build. I did a little bit of wiggle-woggle in Houston. My resolve waned slowly and I didn't notice. Anyway. Savannah very gently (and skillfully) communicated with me and we were back on smooth-driving track.
We saw a helicopter take off from the other side of the highway, which was cool. But, it was because they had shut down the highway due to a wreck and were life-flighting someone out, so that's not good. We prayed.
We arrived at the airport without incident, and then found out that 2 of the airport terminals were shut down for construction and all of the spring break traffic was being funneled through the remaining 60% of the airport. It was a madhouse (different than the m.a.a.d. house, that's good).
But, as you already know, we go through and ended up in Monterrey! The flight was a little bumpy.
Immigration? No problema. Customs? No problema. Pick up bags before customs? No pro- no bags. Wait. But we need bags. Bags are where our stuff lives. We packed our stuff on purpose because we imagined we'd need it.
The nice baggage man told us to go to the corner and talk to the nice baggage desk lady. The nice baggage desk lady told us our bags (except 1) weren't on this plane. They'd probably come in later that day. Maybe the next. She got our numbers and gave us a piece of paper with some illegible numbers on it. Should be ok.
Customs is really easy when you have no baggage. I imagine most of life is really easy when you have no baggage.
Adrian and Ismael were waiting for us. I love and respect these men a lot. They serve the Lord and their church and their families so faithfully. They herded us into a van and took us to the Airbnb to get us settled in.
Y'all. This Airbnb is so nice. I can't even. It's amazing. What a kitchen. What a living room. What an outdoor patio area. I have my own little room back in the corner on the ground floor and the girls have the whole upstairs. I feel really spoiled, tbh.
We dropped off our stuff and headed to grab lunch and then some supplies. About halfway to tacos (Halfway to Tacos, band name), I realized something. I left my hoodie in the house. I left my mask in the hoodie. I LEFT MY MASK IN THE HOUSE. *sigh* they kinda specifically asked us to wear masks (because it's required) and told us it was a way to express respect to the people around you (0% mask connection to politics here, PTL). So, the gringo shows his falta de respeto right off the bat. But they were very gracious (as is their wont). So now I have two masks.
Tacos. Comimos tacos hoy. I knew it would happen, but it was still beautiful.
Despues de comer, we went to the Soriana for supplies. We could have gone to one of the 20 HEBs here in Monterrey, but it seems to defeat some of the purpose, ya know? We got breakfast and sandwich and snack supplies (and some toiletries, against the possibility of not getting our bags).
On the drive back to the Airbnb, we drove through the UNI campus and prayed over it. I'll have some updates on what we're actually doing tomorrow, but I already feel overwhelmed by how much I'm writing today. I can't really imagine how YOU must feel. I'll be honest, I wouldn't read my blog posts if I was you. I'd read the title, look at the pictures, take comfort that I was alive, and skip to the prayer requests.
Got home. Unpacked. Rested a bit. Decided to skip the evening seminar at the church (we needed to be here, you see, because...surely.....surely they'd get us our bags tonight). Sat and talked with Henry and Ismael (Henry is so cool y'all. I love this guy a lot).
Henry, Savannah, and I talked plans and stuff for the week (am excited! but you will wait until tomorrow).
THE BAGS CAME. Thank you Jesus for getting us our clothes and stuff today.
We ate dinner. Boy, did we eat dinner. They're really pulling out the stops for us. We went to Los Generales, which is a fancy buffet place.
Henry and Savannah and I talked about the unexpected heartbreak of ministry.*
We came home. Now, everyone is upstairs, getting ready for or going to bed. I've never felt so much like a dad.
*Choffice. Is it CH(urch)OFFICE, or (chur)CHOFFICE? Most people land on the first one, but I am a strong proponent of the second. It flows off the tongue better, and if it was the first, it would be Ch'office.
*Even if you know it's coming, you don't really expect it. I'm sure that most rational, sober-minded people who want to use any part of their life or energy advancing the Kingdom of God would tell you that you have Wins and Losses. Everyone knows mistakes will be made and conflict will happen and people will get hurt.
But you don't often look around your homegroup and think, "Some people in this room will walk away from God. Some people in this room will die young. Some people in this room will have failed marriages. Some people in this room will be hurt by me and not want to speak to me some day."
And even if you do, it hurts when it happens. Yes, there are joy-filled, taste-of-heaven moments of growth, breakthrough, freedom, salvation. But sometimes it feels like you lose. But God is victorious. I don't know what that means or looks like always, but I believe it is true.
Despite the tone of the end of this email (lol, sorry), I feel very cheerful and excited! We spent some time in prayer tonight as a team (thank you Rachel!) and it was really sweet.
Ok, Prayer and then Pictures (thanks to Katie for the pics).
PRAYER PLEASE!
-for our team to connect well to the church
-for our team to connect well to the church
-for our last member (Alexis) to get in tomorrow without any trouble
-for us to be faithful to pray
-for the work we'll be doing this week (details tomorrow, remember)
Our whole team!
(Alexis, Savannah, me, Rachel, Eliana, Rose)
Praying before we leave!
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