Bienvenidos to my blog! My apologies for not posting sooner as I know that several of you have already been checking. Some of you may be curious as to what this year is all about. Put in a few words: faith, challenge, growth, service, perspective.
The image for the title of my page I felt was rather appropriate for what I anticipate this next year being like. The picture is of a souvenier given to me by a good friend from a trip he took to some of the pyrimads in Mexico around the holidays (forgive me Hector for not remembering precisely where they were :-). He framed its significance as a metaphor for my experiences here: it will be a tough climb with moments in which I will probably want to quit, but with each challenge or step becoming a bit smaller, yet with its own tint and unique lessons. In the end I will emerge at the top with a completely new perspective and a beautiful view. The gift was wrapped (guy-fashion) in a Mexican newspaper and a black plastic bag which in self-admitted BS was supposed to symbolize the darkness of being in a foreign country and the language barrier.
I will post more details about my experiences here mostly likely tomorrow or Thursday, but I am truly enjoying myself. As I write this I am rather distracted by a magnificent storm that has been going on for more than an hour and a half. It is probably the best storm I have ever witnessed! It started as the sun was setting with each electric white flash lighting up an orange-pink sky. Most of the storm was initially on the other side of the dorm building so all I saw was flash after flash followed by rumbles and cracks so close together that I couldn't tell which thunder clap corresponded with which strike of lightning. It has now seemed to move around to just in front of my window to where I can see the jagged lightning bolts etch their way across the sky or down to the earth. I am enthralled. Storms like this remind me of the enormity of God's power and might; no other time do I seem to feel this close to Him. It has stormed, though not to this degree, every night I've been here. Perhaps God is letting me know that He is here with me, even in Mexico while I am far away from everything else familiar.
With that, I must be off to bed. My day starts at 8:30 tomorrow morning with an activity led by some of the students here.
Thank you all for your emails and prayers! They are much appreciated. Buenas noches de Querétaro, México.
* for those of you Spanish-speakers, constructive criticism of any Spanish I may post is appreciated. :-)
