One down, A LOT to go

Well, it has started. Last night I attended my first online class through Concordia University in St. Paul Minnesota. You may have read in a previous blog that I was going to be attending school and about my plans. If you need to refresh your memory, just scroll down a few posts and you can get caught up.

The class is called Communication Fundamentals and we meet in a 45 minute "weekly chat" where we can have questions answered about the assignments and talk about the class in general. The meat of the classwork is held in discussion boards. It looks like each week, we do 2-3 posts about our own lives and thoughts, and then we also are encouraged to reply to posts of our other classmates. It looks like there are 13 other students in this class, and all but one of them is older, like me and are changing careers or just looking to finish their education.

I got all my homework done for the week last night, but I was nervous. I am sure if I was a little more patient, I would get it, but I didn't understand something and got worried, because this is supposed to be the easy classes. Luckily my mom and Erin were able to help me figure it out, and the professor even commented that I had a great explanation. (that one I did on my own without any help :).

So, I ask that you continue to pray for me as I continue to follow this path I felt called to, and I will continue to post updates as I go. For now it is just communication fundamentals, and then on March 4th I start college writing as well.

FREE Disneyland/Disneyworld passes

Starting on Friday, YLM will be an official "participating organization" in the "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" program! Give a day of service to YLM, get a voucher for a free pass to a Disney park! For more information click on the link below.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/WhatWillYouCelebrate/index?name=Give-A-Day-Get-A-Disney-Day

I'm going to College

Once again I will quote a movie that I like. Some of you may remember the movie Back To School with Rodney Dangerfield from 1986. Early in the movie, after his life is turned a little upside down, in order to keep his son from dropping out of school, Rodney's character says he will go to school with him. His son says "really" and then Thornton Melon says "I'm going to College."

You may remember in my previous blog, I talked about possibly taking some online classes through Concordia St. Paul. Well, I received word this morning that I was accepted and my cohort for Family Life Education begins in September. I would then do what is called a DCE colloquy program online as well. Prior to beginning the cohort, I need to finish 16 more general education credits through their school of continuing studies. The best part is that all of it is done online so I can still continue to do His work here on the border while studying. I would need to go to campus for just a few days at the beginning of the cohort and that is all.

You may be asking yourself where this came about. I actually felt called by God when we were at the Servant Event Leadership Conference to begin investigating the opportunity for this and all of the things have come together. I learned when He directed me to Ysleta to not question his will but go with it. Here I am, Lord send me. Isaiah 6:8. I am not sure where it will lead me if I am able to complete the program, but I am confident He will show me.

I ask for your prayers that I will be successful in both my studies and my job, and that I will be able to figure out a way to pay for it all. If any of you are aware of places I may be able to apply for a scholarship, please let me know, you may also prayerfully consider a "personal scholarship" and sponsor a credit or two.

Once again, Happy New Year and Blessings on your week.

Happy New Year

Well, here we are in 2010, a new decade. I begin this year filled with joy, yet nervous at the same time. I continue to have a job that I love, a roof over my head and on January 1st, for the first time in the changing of the last 3 decades, I am smoke free. :)

I have many things to look forward to this year, the biggest being a cruise throughout the Mediterranean that will take place in October. I am also looking at taking some online classes through Concordia St. Paul, but a lot of things need to fall into place just right for that to work out, although things are going good with that so far.

I have had the same New Year's resolutions for the last several years (to quit smoking) and usually failed, but since I succeeded (finally) this past year, I had to come up with something new. I always though it would be cool to read the whole bible, and since I have heard of Erin doing it twice, and actually saw her do it this past year, I have resolved to read the bible this year. Each day I will read a little old testament, a little new testament, some psalms and proverbs. It is all laid out in daily readings that should take about 15 minutes. I also have picked up some bible commentaries in hopes to understand the word even more. I have the first 5 of the old testament, 3 gospels, psalm, proverbs and some epistles. I still need to round out the collection though.

I have actually tried to do the bible reading in the past, but I failed because of Chronicles. I just couldn't do it, so hopefully I can muster the will power and discipline to make it through this year, as I think it would be a very cool accomplishment to do that.

We had a group last week that built 3 houses in Juarez, but I didn't take a lot of pictures because I was working. The group leader is going to send me a dvd of pictures soon, so I will get a blog up about that and then maybe add some pics later.

Happy New Year to all, Blessings on your new decade..

Las Posadas

I suppose you may be wondering just exactly what a Posada is. Well let me explain to you the best I can what one is....

A Posada is a tradition of many Hispanic cultures, I think the word literally means Inn, like the place where there was no room for Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem when Jesus was born, but we use it to describe the event being held.

The Posada is a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph looking for lodging. What happens is the people are divided into one small group, that sings the part of inside, and everyone else sings the part of outside. To summarize the song that they sing, starts with the outside group asking for lodging, then inside sings there is no room, and this goes back and forth for several places until the doors are finally opened. These are sang at each "site" of the Posada, with traditional Christmas Carols sang in Spanish as the group walks from one place to the other. Some of the Carols sang are: Al Mundo Gozo (Joy To The World), Ve, Dilo en la Montana (Go Tell it on the Mountain), Noche de Paz (Silent Night), Feliz Navidad, and Gloria en las Alturas (Glory in the Highest), all accompanied by the Marachi Band.

After a few stops and the final house says yes to the request, the story of Jesus birth is read from Luke, and refreshments are served. Traditional Posada food is bunuelos (fried tortillas with cinnamon and sugar), champurrada (beverage similar to hot chocolate, thickened with masa (corn flour) which I don't much care for, but others like it), tamales, then a pinata and bollos (bags of nuts, candy and usually an orange.)

Each of the mission sites in Juarez, as well as San Pablo here hosted a Posada. Below you will find pictures from several of them. I didn't get to attend the ones at Sin Paredes or San Lucas in Anapra, so check out Erin's blog for pics of those. There are a couple videos on the bottom of the kids getting involved, enjoy those as well. I hope everyone has a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.

El Pato at Cristo Rey

Cristo Rey kids as Mary, Joseph, and Angels

Singing through the streets near Cristo Rey

Looking at the "outside"group

Looking at the "inside"group that turns them away

At the door asking for shelter

Musicians and actors from Cristo Rey

Had to put this one in, apparently the Rockies donated a whole bunch of shirts that were passed out at their school, but I though they just had them at first and I was super excited. (We built a house for their grandma this past summer and they were around a lot)

San Pedro y San Pablo actors

Pastor Hernandez giving a short message

"Searching for shelter" at San Pedro y San Pablo

San Pedro y San Pablo

El Pato at San Pedro y San Pablo

Ninja and Bear enjoyed the Posada as it passed by their yard. Notice the holiday eye color (green and red)

San Pablo Posada

More from San Pablo here at YLM

Being turned away again :(

YES!!! Abrense las puertas

Mission San Francisco

San Francisco

Santisima Trinidad

The kids really got up to sing along after the Posada was over, and each year a winner is chosen by the Mariachi of the best singing group and this year it went to Santisima.

Santisima Trinidad singing and dancing El Sapo

San Pedro y San Pablo singing and dancing El Sapo

A Mariachi Christmas

Even though I live and work here at the mission, it is not all the time that I get to see Mariachi San Pablo perform. They rehearse every Tuesday, and I am always invited to go watch that, but as far as seeing them perform a concert? I think the last time I actually saw a full concert was at my home church in 2006 or so. Last Saturday, they had their Christmas concert here at San Pablo and to say it was amazing would be an understatement. 2 hours of Christmas songs and Mariachi favorites, followed by a menudo dinner (which I declined).

To our knowledge, Mariachi San Pablo is the only Lutheran Mariachi band in the world and if you have been able to see them, you know how great they are. Each year, they tour all over El Paso and even have Spring Break and Summer tours throughout the United States. I have posted some pictures and videos from the concert. Enjoy them and for more information or to buy their cd's please check out http://www.ylm.org/mariachi.html.

Please say an extra prayer for us as we are holding our annual Christmas distribution today with food, toys, blankets, and jackets for so many of those in need. Please consider helping us out by giving a gift to change a life at http://www.ylm.org/CG/christmasgiving.html.

Blessings on your week and look for blogs about the Posadas and the distribution later in the week.

Mariachi San Pablo Chrismas Concert

Miguel

Lizette

Guitars

Violins

Stephen

Ann's solo

Doesn't the Church look great

Vamos a Alabar Al Rey (We Are Going To Praise the King)

Tu Nombre Levantare (Lord I lift Your Name On High)

El Padrino

Translates to The Godfather. Although it is my favorite movie of all time, it is also now another name I can be called. Jorge and Elvira asked Erin and I if we would be the Godparents for their newest daughter Viviana. Of course I jumped at the opportunity. Ever since she was born, Viviana has always had a smile for me whenever I would see her or pick her up in the office. She even gets fussy when she is not being held, so sometimes I just have to go pick her up to get her to stop whining. You may have seen a few previous pics of her in my blog, but below are a few from the baptism that was held a the Thanksgiving service at San Pablo when both mine and Erin's families were here.

It snowed actual snow for the first time in a long time in El Paso yesterday and today, so I have gotten to work from home the last 2 days because the dogs will eat the house if I leave them alone too long, and there is a big lake in my yard from the rain and snow so I can't really leave them outside too long either. I figured the best way was to just work from my chair at the house where I can keep my eye on them. It is nice because there is no distractions, but kind of lonely because I don't get to see my office mates or Viviana. Hope everyone is planning on a great holiday season, I might go to Advent service with Erin tomorrow night, but I am not sure. Any thoughts?