Jumping In, Otra Vez

I've been in Guadalajara for one week now.

So much has happened so far and I'm not sure where to begin.

I could tell you about my all-around frustrating experience in getting to this country--thankfully only frustrating and not completely disastrous, as were most of my experiences traveling to and from Bolivia. I could tell you about the eleven children at the orphanage, full of personality, and the four-year old, Angel, constantly making me laugh. I could tell you about the other intern, Shea, and all the celebrations we had for her birthday, including salsa and bachata dancing at Mambocafe. I could tell you about volleyball in the park and Bible studies and English classes at the cultural center. I could tell you about the food I've eaten and the gorgeous weather and biking around my neighborhood. I could tell you about the similarities and differences between here and the U.S. and here and Bolivia. I could tell you about common hand gestures I've learned, beautiful people I've met, and how to get to the closest Starbucks from my house. 

During this past week, I've soaked in a lot. 

Sometimes I feel completely overwhelmed, overstimulated, uncomfortable, reserved, not ready at all to open up, to jump in to new relationships, to teach English in a different way and in such different contexts. 

Over the years I've stepped out numerous times into new places, new communities, new situations. No matter how many times I've done it, it doesn't seem to get much easier for me. It's scary. It means trusting people with your stories, messing up, putting down your pride, and trusting you have strength in you that you can't see. 

But time and time again, I see it's worth it. I see myself thrive. I see myself come alive. I see love and a whole lot of grace and I see the expansiveness of the kingdom of God.

We sang this Rich Mullins song Sunday morning and it evoked nostalgia for this 90's kid. I'll leave you with these beautiful words:

"So if I stand, let me stand on the promise that You will pull me through
And if I can't, let me fall on the grace that first brought me to You
And if I sing, let me sing for the joy that has born in me these songs
And if I weep, let it be as a man who is longing for his home"

-Rich Mullins