wow jess! I can't tell you how many times I have come looking for your blog! I have missed your stories and your commentary on your very exciting life. Thank you for sharing.
I will have to read it several times to get the full impact, but on first reading, all I can say is WOW! I love the look on your face in picutres...you are so content and joyful. In spite of the hardships (compared to your North American lifestyle) that you are living with.
I too was moved by your telling of the medical intervention and the way God has moved in so many of their lives....you are in an exciting time of your life....soak it all up as much as you can!
I won't fill this up with all our news here but will send you a fb message.
love you jess...and give leah a hug from us too!
Hola... Hey there! I was looking up info on "Yagai" and I find you! =D
I love the week I spent there and I'm missing every bit of it!
Thank you (and Leah) for everything. I'll keep onpraying for you so may God keep on blessing you and using you in such an awesome way.
Love in Christ,
Laura
Hey girls Hey Jess and Lee, Its the first time I read your blog and was always wondering what you girls were up to and how you were doing it. I am very happy for you to be able to bring the kind of joy you both bring with your warm smiles and kind hearts to the people your helping and to those you meet along the way.We miss your presence and vocals at church back here at home but know your sharing it with those in greater need. I must say I am proud of you both for taking up such a task and am so very glad to hear your doing great at it. The people of oaxca are very lucky to have you......just let them know .......We want you back!
God bless you both!
Your favorite church buddy Roger
Great entries Jess! Wow! It is so much fun to read your blog, Jess! Dad and I hunched around the computer screen, picturing you telling the stories as we read! We laughed out loud a lot and are so happy that you are enjoying being there. Thanks for putting the time into sharing this amazing journey you're on with us! LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU TONS!
Strings Sounds like you and Leah are having fun; it all sounds so familiar - been there, done it. Just wanted to let you know that we will be bringing guitar strings with us, compliments of Rich S., he has given us two packets for you. See you soon.
I believe in Miracles! Wow! ( am I going to start every email with Wow???) Jess, you have had an exciting week!Does it really matter what anyone says to you before you head off on your adventures? lol! I think we did say something about staying away from seedy city centers, mexican harlem, driving in dangerous cities and oh yes, talking to strangers? (ok...you are going to have to talk to strangers, but really, guns???)
Oh Jess, you really are one for adventure! I can just picture you and Leah trying to get out of that mess! We are so thankful that our most awesome God is taking care of our sweet girls!
You write beautifully by the way! So dramatic and vivid! I feel like I was right there with you...perhaps needed a picture or two of the prostitutes and harlem atmosphere (no I am just kidding...no pictures of those ok? not to sure they would be happy with you "snapping" their photos!)
I am so glad you are talking about your food too...you know how we all love a great meal and how we love new food adventures! Seriously crickets???? what nutritional value could there possibly be in a cricket???
I could see how they might eat them out of frustration...noisy little guys when they are alive! good thing they dont have any guts squishing out when you crunch down on them! AND I love the pictures of your food! Couldnt quite see the little guys though...maybe a close up of them next time. : )
How wonderful for you as you work with these kids to be able to develop relationships with them and build into their lives all the great things your loved ones have helped you with over the years! You are such a warm, compassionate and bubbly person to be around...no wonder the kids love you Jess!
I am sure Leah too brings much sweetness and joy to their lives as she interacts as well.
Not too sure you should be mentioning all the dishwashing and toilet scrubbing in your public blog though.....you might get enscripted for those duties on a regular basis when you get home, since you will be quite the expert! Its funny though, eh ( a little canadianism for you) how God asks us to the mundane, droll things while we are serving Him! You have such a great attitude and spirit of willingness...that will go a long way in giving you contentment, peace and joy.
Uncle Paul and I are still working our way through having GandG here. THe first week was kinda like everyone getting used to everything and building a routine with them. The second week, on monday we had drama. Grandpa called me down during hte day wanting to rush Grandma to the hospital. She was laying in bed moaning and groaning that she just wanted it all "to be over"! Not sure but I think she meant she wanted to have the BIG SLEEP. Well, I refused to call the ambulance. She was weak and dizzy but wasnt even really all that sick, just listless. She probably was a little dehydrated (she gets that way fairly easily because she feels nauseous often so doesn eat or drink that well). So I chatted with her for a bit, told her she would have to drink LOTS that afternoon and then we would see.
Turns out by the next day she was the best she has been in weeks! and they sat up ALL day (usually they nap after breakfast, before lunch, after lunch, late afternoon, and go to bed at 7.30!) watching the funeral for hte police officer who was mowed down by a guy who stole a snowplow last week.
They quite enjoyed that....the funeral and processions etc.
oh well!
Otherwise we are doing good. Uncle Paul is off to work every day so is doing as much as he can. He of course will never be what he was healthwise, but he has decided just to keep going!
We pray for you every day Jess....we love you so much. I loved your slipper socks btw...and immediatley wanted to make a pair like them!
love you tons.
xoxoxoxoox
God provides Well that story had so much in it - fun, interesting facts, intrigue and more and yet Leah's simple statement, just wanting to see someone familiar was something that God provided after I'm sure was a scary few moments of meeting some very interesting people and feeling lost and not sure of which way to turn. Isn't it amazing how He provides, so amazing that Chave ended up taking the same cab, and on her way even to the foundation. WOW!!! I agree with Mel, Jessica you really need to keep blogging and turn this in to a book or something. You have such a great way of expressing yourself, I feel as though I am right there in the middle of your adventure.
Well until your next blog I will wait patiently to hear and see what new and exciting event God has planned in your time in Oaxacan. praying He keeps you safe and uses you and leah both so mightily for Him.
XOXO Just wanted you to know Jess that we are thinking about you and praying for you. Uncle Jeff wants to know what kind of guitar strings do you need? He'd love to send you some.
Keep up the great work. We love you!!!
Oaxaca I enjoyed reading your journaling, could all most smell and feel the warmth of the people and the weather. This past weekend was real winter Look forward to hear about your time spent with the children. Glad to hear about the guitar, God knows all the plans he has for you, just keep you eyes and heart focused on Him. God is faithful and with 24/7 LAPA Colleen
love you! oh Jess!
What an adventure you have had so far!I can sitll hear the last words uncle paul said to you...DON"T DRIVE IN MEXICO! HA%$#!!
little did he know that was exactly what God had planned for YOU! Well for a girl that will jump out of planes and off bridges and fly to Ghana all by herself, driving in Mexico should be a breeze!
Love having the pictures with your blog. Herre is a great idea! A really good friend of mine (kim and mike petersen....reg petersen's daughter in law) blogged their 5 year sailing journey around the world and turned it into a book that even won some awards. That would be fantastic for you to do too! You have such a great writing skill!
Get Leah to add some stuff to from her perspective!
I can't wait to read more!
Today we had our first real snowfall of the year in Cambridge. It is beautiful and Dolly and Donaghue love it! They run and dig their heads into the snow then throw it over their shoulders!
Do you have acess to your photos from home so that you can show the "muchachos" what snow looks like?
We have grandma and grandpa saunders here too, one week down one to go! It is going fine and I do believe they love it here! They are certainly getting well fed in any case!
I miss you Jess, but getting your blog makes it so fun. Take care honey and know we pray every day for you and Leah!
xoxoxoxoxo
Love it!!! Jess, what an excellent read! Can't tell you how proud of you we all are. Who knew way back in Morelia, how one day you'd get to spend time like this with Estella, such a young lady now. A huge part of our hearts are there with you!
Wow! Sounds like you are doing great, Jess! We knew you'd adapt well and "hit the ground running!" Your dad and I couldn't be prouder of you! Your blogs are terrific and when we read them, we feel a little bit like we're there with you :O) Keep up the good work! We miss you like crazy and love you tons!
What an adventure Hey Jess,
It is awesome to be able to read your blog and to hear of your adventures - but also to know specifically how to pray for you, Leah and the home. What an adventure already and you've only been there - how many days?? But so glad to hear you got your luggage. 4.5 hours for a church service?? I am sure I would be one of the ones sound asleep in someone's lap, but I am sure it was an amazing time to be able to sing along with the songs, even though it was in english, your spanish will come. Cereal for $2.50?? Now that is a Sam's Club I want to visit? and of course those shops, they would be great to see as well, and maybe shop in. Lookig forward to your next blog, with more adventures.
Hi Jess! Your blogging is great! Sounds like you have been thrown right into the thick of things! Shana will be glad to know what an expert on cleaning bathrooms you have become!!!
I can still hear Uncle Paul's words echoing in my ears the last time you were here....NO DRIVING IN MEXICO! Ah well...I guess God has other plans for you. : ) We will increase the praying power...especially for those driving trips.
All is well here. I did get skype set up so it would be great to chat with you live sometime. Let me know what is a good time for you and we will try to co-ordinate that.
We brought Grandma and Grandpa Saunders here on sunday for a two week stay. They had been sitting in their apt not doing ANYTHING for over a week. Ever since the all nighter at the hospital a week ago, Mom decided that life wasnt worth living and just wanted to "go". That's what she told Paul when he went down last saturday to see them. She was sittting on the sofa moaning and groaning and rocking.
They wouldnt watch tv, listen to music, read, knit or go down to the dining hall for dinner. Mom hadn't eaten a meal in over a week.
So we packed them up and brought them here. They are doing great so far. She keeps saying she is going to throw up every time she eats and wants the bucket beside her, but wonders of wonders, she has eaten every full meal so far and NOT thrown up!
Shana did remind me its where the "drama queen" genes come from in our family!
So we have them all set up downstairs (they stay down there as we had to get Grandma down there on her bum) and I have NO idea how we are going to get her back up!
I take them their meals and check on them, but otherwise go about my own daily routine as if they weren't there. It does mean it will be alittle more crowded whenever someone else comes to stay, but oh well! We are all family right?
I looked at flights already to Mexico City and the cheapest I could find were over $500....for June.....I already have a trip planned down east for the end of May with Aunt Kath to go and see Uncle Kevin. Maybe in September! I would love to bring Shana with me too!
I am going to be doing a lot of praying in the meantime as God will have to work all this out if it is going to happen...in the meantime thank goodness we live in a day and age where communication is so "instant"!
keep the blog coming..it is so much fun to read! I have printed it off too for Grandma and Grandpa to enjoy!
love you honey...give a hug to Leah.
oh honey! what a comedy of errors already! good thing you can handle anything!!! maybe God was just testing your stamina????
anyways glad it all worked out and worse case scenario? if you don't get your luggage....hmmm?
it is -8 here today and feels like -40! Even the puppies had a hard time out there....28 sounds sooooooooooo much better!
did your camera come with you or is it in your luggage? can't wait to see pictures.
tell Leah I will have a nice supply of corks for her by the time she comes home...every time I open a bottle of wine now and put the cork away I think of her and will send up a prayer (good baptist that I am! DRINKING AND PRAYING AT THE SAME TIME!) LOVE YOU JESS!
Phew! Hi Jess (and Leah!)
I'm so happy to hear that you made it safe and sound. I'm sorry it wasn't a very smooth start. At least you know your bags are in Mexico, and hopefully they'll show up soon. If not, I'll send you some pyjamas!
Looking forward to hearing about more of your adventures...
~Marnie
Phew! What a long night and day!! We are so glad that you and Leah are there safe! We miss you like crazy already but are super excited about what you'll be doing! We're also thrilled to hear that you have the internet so accessible- YAY! Love you tons!
Originally from Ottawa, Canada, I'll be living/working in Oaxaca, Mexico for the next year. I'm excited to embark on this adventure, and am looking forward to keeping people at home updated with pictures and stories! ... full info
aunt mel
non-member comment
wow jess! I can't tell you how many times I have come looking for your blog! I have missed your stories and your commentary on your very exciting life. Thank you for sharing. I will have to read it several times to get the full impact, but on first reading, all I can say is WOW! I love the look on your face in picutres...you are so content and joyful. In spite of the hardships (compared to your North American lifestyle) that you are living with. I too was moved by your telling of the medical intervention and the way God has moved in so many of their lives....you are in an exciting time of your life....soak it all up as much as you can! I won't fill this up with all our news here but will send you a fb message. love you jess...and give leah a hug from us too!