Dia de los Muertos ~ Day of the Dead

from October 30, 2010

Today, I got on the bus, by myself, in my neighborhood, for the first time, to go downtown to explore the sights and sounds of the cultural experience Day of the Dead. 

Because I wanted to know more about this cultural festival, I talked with several Mexicans, a few missionaries, & did my own research online on like 10 different sites.

According to my research from the past few days, it’s a celebration of the lives of loved ones passed on. A site that had a really detailed explanation was www.dia-de-los-muertos.com
I met up with 2 of my friends downtown in the zocalo (town square) where there was a sand art displayed. 

Then, we went out to lunch.

Then, we walked to the San Miguel Cemetary to see the beginnings of the decorating of tombstones.

Wildflowers in Oaxaca...

from October 27, 2010

Just this week I've noticed these beautiful wildflowers are blooming on the sides of roads. 

 When I noticed them for the first time Friday in Mitla & then again Sunday, I wanted to take a picture, but we were driving past too fast...Then, I noticed on the way to/from school Mon & Tues that there are some on that road too.  So, I thought I'd walk out of school during one of my free periods & take a few pics.  Who was I kiddin?  Anyone who knows me knows that I work straight through every single break I have!  SO ~ today was an especially long, tiring day...when my Wednesday ride picked me up & we were walking to the car in the parking lot, he asked me how my day was.  I replied, "It was ok, but it was long & I'm tired."  I didn't feel like smiling, I didn't feel like chatting...  So, we get in the car & are driving down the first road & the wildflowers caught my eye again.  I said to him, "Those flowers are so pretty."  He smiled & said, "Yes, yes they are."  I added, "I wish I could pick them!"  He said, "Do you want to?"  Before I knew what was happening, he was reversing & parking the car!  We both got out of the car & picked a handful!  He gave his to his 5-year old daughter.  I gave her one of mine & then held them the entire 25 minute ride home, with a huge smile on my face!  It literally made my day ~ maybe even my week?  Suddenly, I was in a better mood & we chatted & laughed the whole way home.  I just couldn't believe it when he suggested actually picking some, & I was even more surprised that he picked some too.  They are just so pretty!  :)

A Quote & A Prayer...

from October 25, 2010
“Wherever you are, be all there. Live life to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”
(a quote of “modern martyr,” Jim Elliot, 1927-1956, not a long life, but a FULL one!)


Dear Lord,
May my only ambition always be to fulfill Your will for my life, Lord. Let my desires & my dreams, my hopes & my plans, be planted & approved by You.
Your Daughter,
Jenn

Encouragment of Monthly MIssions Meeting

from October 24, 2010
I am always really encouraged by my brothers & sisters in Christ at monthly meetings of our mission organization.  
At these meetings, there is typically a time of sharing/reporting the progress of their ministry work.  When I hear of all the wonderful things these families are accomplishing, it renews my sense of purpose for being here & teaching the children of these missionaries. 
Then, we have a time of specific prayer & a time of fellowship... 
This particular month, the fellowship time was a potluck meal of international food & people were encouraged to dress in traditional wear of a country other than their own.

Officially Overwhelmed by Generosity!

from October 23, 2010

I am officially overwhelmed by the generosity & graciousness of my Mexican neighbors!  Tonight, someone got my heart racing when they banged on my metal door.  (Considering there was an attempted robbery at my house less than a week ago, I've been on "high alert")  Here, it was my downstairs neighbor & her sister, with this plate of a homemade tlayuda & guacamole!  They also invited me down to their party, but I'm in the middle of prepping food for tomorrow's Sunday meeting out in Mitla...so...I took pictures, took a bite, & wrapped the rest up for a meal tomorrow.

Have a Nice TRIP, See You Next FALL!

From October 23, 2010
I’m wondering WHY, when I was a teenager, I’d ice my knees often (swollen from sports injuries) & the swelling would go right down, within an hour…BUT, now, 20 years later, I’ve been icing this swollen knee for 3 days & it’s still swollen? Remind me to leave the house earlier on Tuesdays & Thursdays so I can walk more carefully on my 10-minute walk down that super steep hill, without falling!!

Many of the streets here are quite steep!

Thank you, Jesus, that my fall wasn’t worse! A few scrapes & a swollen knee are nothing compared to what COULD have happened!
Thank you, brothers & sisters in Christ, for your prayers of protection over me!

A Kindergartner's Birthday in Oaxaca, Mexico

From October 16, 2010
Today, I spent 3 hours at a birthday party for a 5 year old. 

She is one of the students at OCS.  She is the oldest child of a Mexican family who has been SUCH a blessing to me! 

Even though they live about a 15 minute drive away from my apartment, they have given me rides home from school 2 or 3 days a week since school began. 

They are missionaries with this organization:  http://globalrecordings.net/en/mx

I’m Curious: WHY is it Cheaper for Someone Else to do My Laundry, Than Me?

From October 13th

I am SO thankful that I brought my BIG, hiker’s backpack with me to Oaxaca! I’m using it daily to inconspicuously carry my laptop case, lunch, & purse to and from school. I’m using it to bring groceries home in. And, I’m also using it to transport my clothes to & from the Laundromat.

Thanks, Jesus, for NOT letting anyone buy this backpack when I listed it for sale this summer!


Last week, I walked to the Laundromat, in the next neighborhood, that was suggested to me by another teacher. The girl who worked there didn’t speak a lick of English. So, after she & I figured out what each other was trying to say, I put my one load of laundry in the washer. She put in a scoop of soap for me & explained to me the temperature settings. When it was time, we discussed what setting I wanted for the dryer & I put the clothes in. Then, I folded them & I paid. It was 68 pesos total (about $5.50 US), for the soap, the wash, & the dry.


Since then, I had decided that the next time I needed to do laundry, I’d try the service they offer where THEY do the laundry for you. But, I needed to know how to ask for what I wanted. So, I went to my friend M.E. for help. She wrote down for me what I should say.


So, today, I came straight home, got my paper of what I needed to say, & walked to the Laundromat with my backpack stuffed. When I asked when to pick them up, & she told me “in the morning” ~ I was really surprised! It hadn’t occurred to me that their service would take longer than an hour or two. In my 2 loads were my kitchen & bath towels & my only bed sheets! I told her, “No, please, I need these tonight, to shower, and to sleep.” Thankfully, she looked at the time & told me I could come back in 2 hours. We weighed it all & it weighed just over 7 kilos (about 15 lbs). So, it would cost 110 pesos (about $9 US). Imagine my surprise when I realized that the cost for THEM to wash, dry, & fold my clothes was actually CHEAPER than me doing all of that myself!


Here are my 2 loads, nicely folded & squeezed into this plastic bag…

I was Alone & I was LOST...

From October 12th
I have never been so glad to be home as I am today!  I was lost, totally lost, in an unfamiliar neighborhood!  After school, I was getting a ride home from the Principal & his wife. We had to go the longer back way, because there was a blockade. So, we got about half-way home, to where they turn left onto their street & I need to keep going right. I got out of the car with my co-teacher, Nancy. We walked about a block to her street.


Before she left me, she told me the best way to get home from there is to first get in a “collectivo”. A collectivo is a taxi that isn't just yours, so the driver can pack as many people in as he wants. She said they could only go to the “bus terminal” ~ so that the driver would let me off there. She said THEN, I would get in a “mototaxi” to take me the rest of the way home. A mototaxi is like a small, 3-wheeled golf-cart. They are open on both sides. There is a small front seat for the driver & a seat in the back where maybe 2 people could sit comfortably. So, as soon as we saw a collectivo, she motioned it to pull over & told the driver where I needed to go. I got in the front seat, since there were already 3 people crammed in the little backseat.


He drove to the top of the hill & the other 3 people got out. I looked around thinking, “This doesn’t look like a bus terminal?” But, the driver graciously motioned for me to get out, that this was the last stop.


I immediately noticed there were no mototaxis in sight. This made me nervous, because I was carrying a purse & a laptop case in plain sight. Normally, every single day I carry both my purse & my laptop case INSIDE my huge hiker’s backpack, so they’re not visible. But, today, I THOUGHT I was getting a ride directly home, so I didn’t bother putting them inside the huge backpack. I knew I would certainly be a target to thieves of opportunity, since I was walking alone with these things visible.


So, I prayerfully got out, hoisted my bags over my head, so they were across my chest & on my shoulders. Then, I began walking. BUT, I walked & walked & the 3 or 4 mototaxis that did go by were all full. So, I kept walking. It was probably about 15 minutes of walking? I was dripping from walking in the sun. The wind was blowing my hair into my face & it was sticking because I was sweating.


Then, I got to a spot where either I had to turn left or go straight. I had only been back that road maybe 3 times? I didn’t remember if I was supposed to turn left or go straight. I was literally lost! I knew I was quite a ways from home, but had no idea which way to keep walking! I stood there for a minute, looking hopefully for a mototaxi to come past. None. So, I called Nancy’s cell phone, thinking she could tell me which way to go. But, no answer. By this time, my mind is crying out, “Jesus! I’m lost, Jesus! You do you see me here, right? Jesus!”


Across the street from where I was standing, there was a little food stand. An older man there was apparently also looking for a mototaxi for an elderly woman, with a cane, who I assumed was his mother? As I was dialing the phone number for Nancy’s house, I saw him whistle loudly & gesture to a mototaxi that had just pulled out of a street up the hill & was driving away from us. Suddenly, the driver turned it around, drove down the hill, & pulled over. Just as Nancy answered the phone, the man helped the elderly woman in & then gestured for me to come across the street & get in. I hesitantly walked across & asked the driver if he would take me to my neighborhood. He nodded & I abruptly got off the phone with Nancy, saying, “Never mind.”


The lady got out a block later, just around the corner.
Fifteen minutes & fifty cents later, I was on my street corner, walking towards my apartment, praising Jesus for picking me up out of a scary situation & getting me home safely!  Aren't you grateful that we are never truly alone?  I'm so thankful for God's continued protection!   
(Sidenote ~ since then, I've found out that it would have been ok to go either left OR straight!  Both ways lead home!!!)

Tried to Kill Ants, but Nearly Killed Myself!!!

From October 11

I don’t know the exact definition of RESPIRATORY DISTRESS ~ but, I think I might have been in it????
I couldn’t breathe. My throat was burning. My nose was running. My eyes were watering, The roof of my mouth was swelling. And, I couldn't stop coughing!
IF you’ve read THIS POST about Visitors ~ you know all too well that my apartment has way more ants than I’m comfortable having!

I’ve done everything I could to get rid of them: I have scrubbed the counters with Clorox water. I have swept the floor. I have wiped down window sills. I have even kept certain windows closed. But, they still get in! So, since I’m tired of squashing them with my shoes & I’m tired of seeing them come IN windows that are closed, I decided it was time to spray them! I’d looked at cans of Raid in the store, but didn’t know which one to buy. (mostly because I didn’t know the Spanish word for ant.)


A couple days ago, my friend M.E. volunteered to pick up a couple things for me at the large grocery store on the other side of town. One thing I asked for was a can of spray to kill the never-ending parade of ants! When I went over to her house to pick it up, I asked her to read the directions to me (since the can was in Spanish). It didn't have any directions on it - only warnings about not spraying it in your eyes & other crazy stuff like that. It was all just common sense, so I figured I’d be fine.

Well, I opened every single window & began spraying the cement window sills & the metal window frames. A minute or 2 later, all those symptoms started.
I thought, “Well, when you’re painting, you ventilate the fumes by opening windows & turning on fans.” So, I turned on the fan, but then my eyes started stinging really badly!
So, I went outside, left the door open, & sat there on the steps, guzzling my water bottle. As the water was going down my throat, it felt like my throat was closing up & that the lining of my throat was burning.
I was gasping for breath & it hurt when I tried taking a deep breath.
It got to the point when I was literally scared & I started praying. I couldn’t think straight, so it came out mostly as, “JESUS!! JESUS!!!”

Here is a picture of the results:(Update: It was several days until I could take a deep breath again! But, I believe all is well now! I’ve used the spray since then to kill some roaches. I only had minor symptoms those times, because I didn’t spray as much & I held my breath while spraying, then I’d run into a different room…away from the dying roach!)

On a MUCH ligher note ~ When I was a kid, I'd watch bugs, pick them up, admire them...even gross other kids out with them.  But, the older I've gotten, the less I want bugs crawling on me, on my furniture, near my food, etc...  Here’s a funny video about ants in your pants & spraying ant spray!
CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO

A Delightfully Blessed Sunday!

From October 10th
1. Today I went to an awesome neighborhood church with my landlord (& about 500 other Mexicans). She had invited me this past week & told me it started at 11. When I knocked on her door, her brother told me he’d be driving me there because she had to leave early to set up for communion. It was a short drive (would probably be a 10-15 minute walk). The people of the church were very welcoming. I knew 2 of the songs they sang, so I just sang along in English! The rest of the time, I was just blessed by listening & looking around at hundreds of my brothers & sisters in Christ, worshipping Jesus! I’m so glad that I brought a bi-lingual Bible with me, so I was able to at least follow along with the many Bible passages the pastor used.


2. I read an entire Karen Kingsbury novel, that I had borrowed from the school’s library. Oh, how wonderfully relaxing that was, to just spend several hours reading! For anyone who is not familiar with her writing, she writes great Christian fiction that encourages you, challenges you, makes you laugh, & makes you cry…  Here is a link to the book on her website.


3. M.E. had volunteered to pick up a couple of grocery items for me today, since they were driving down to Sam’s Club & the big Soriana (grocery) store. One of the things was eggs. So, I made eggs for the first time here. I LOVE eggs! They taste so yummy & they’re SO cheap, compared to other proteins! But, I love ketchup on my eggs & I hadn’t bought any ketchup yet. SO ~ I had them with barbeque sauce instead!


4. I officially met a missionary couple who lives on the same street as me. It’s great to know they’re just down the street!


5. I was told today that I’m going to be loaned a tv! WOW! What a blessing!!!


6. All weekend long, I was putting off my lesson planning. When I finally sat down to do it, I was inspired to create a website list for students/parents for this new Science chapter. I spent about 2 hours looking at & downloading video clips of the solar system, seasons, earth’s rotation/revolution, moon’s phases, lunar & solar eclipses… The class LOVED the ones I found for the last 2 Science chapters, so I’m sure this will be well worth the time spent! I just wish I would have started earlier in the weekend, so I wasn’t falling into bed at midnight on Sunday night!

I Was Inspired Today

From October 7
If you scroll down & look at the right hand side of my blog, you’ll see the list of about 2 dozen blogs that I “follow”. This means that whenever I sign on to Blogger, the title & first few lines of the latest from these blogs shows up. Whenever I have some time, I read them & they’re a true blessing to me. One of them is hosted by Operation Mobilization. They’re a wonderful mission organization that I was blessed to take 2 short-term trips with. Here is their site.  The blog I’m talking about though is devoted to quotes about missions. Here is that blog.


There are a lot of things that I’m struggling with here in Oaxaca ~ part of it is adjusting to living away from “home”, in a new culture…part of it is adjusting to a new place of employment & the way they do things there…There is just a LOT that is daily tugging my focus away from my ONE reason for being here = I’m here because God opened the door & provided the finances, making it clearly evident that He has a purpose for me being here. I am here to serve the families of missionaries by teaching their children. It’s not about me! It’s not about what’s bothering me! It’s about Jesus & serving others!!!!  BUT, I need to be reminded of that every day, because the enemy is a liar & thoughts come into my mind daily that I need to squash!!!!


So, in light of all of that ~ The quote I read on that blog today REALLY spoke to me! It is from Jim Elliot. He is considered a “modern martyr” as he lived from 1927-1956 & was killed by the people group he was trying to reach for Christ.  Click HERE to read a short biography of his life & ministry.


He said: “Wherever you are, be all there. Live life to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.” Although his life was not a LONG one, it WAS a FULL one!


Dear Lord, may my only ambition always be to fulfill Your will for my life, Lord…Let my desires & my dreams, my hopes & my plans, be planted & approved by you. Your Daughter, Jenn

Three New "Firsts" For Me:

From October 5th
Today, I experienced three more FIRSTS, here in Oaxaca, Mexico:
1. I’ve been living in this apartment for a week & a half & today I ran out of gas. No, I’m not driving here! I mean the gas I need for cooking on my gas-powered stove & for heating the water. So…at least I had a good reason for putting off doing the dishes! A few times a week I hear gas trucks driving down my street. (For those of you who don’t live here, let me quickly explain the word “hear” ~ The gas trucks don’t just drive down the street. They either drive down the street playing one tune extremely loudly OR they drive down the street honking their horn & dragging metal chains.) But, I didn’t know when the next gas truck would be going by. AND, I didn’t know WHAT to buy from him. AND, I didn’t know how to get it up on the roof. So, since I wasn’t sure what to do, I walked down the street to my landlord’s house. She calmly told me she would call the gas man. She walked in the house & came out a minute later to tell me he would deliver gas tomorrow morning. Of course, that presented a problem, because I’d be in school at that time. She offered to let him in, so I gave her the money.
(Update: when I came home from school the next day & turned the knob on the stove, there was gas.)

2. I was invited, by my Mexican landlord, to her church. When I rented this place, I knew she was a Christian believer. (That was ONE of the deciding factors for me to rent this place.) But, it was just so neat to be invited!


3. I cried today. I’ve been here in Oaxaca almost a month & I haven’t cried… Today, the landlord’s brother was asking me questions about my family. I pulled out the big family picture I brought along & was pointing to each one. He asked a few questions & I answered them, with a smile. Then, he asked me if all of them were Christians who loved Jesus. That brought tears to my eyes…for a few reasons... 

Have Internet, Will Communicate!

From October 5th:
After being here in my apartment for 11 days, TONIGHT, the internet was hooked up! My friend M.E. had called the company for me, to get the prices. Once I decided on a package deal, we made an appointment for the cable salesperson to come to my house. I THOUGHT it was all going to happen on that day. But, it was not so. All he did was explain to me the prices that we already knew (or should I say he explained to my landlord’s brother, who was there with me, helping me to understand everything?) Here, we needed to go down to the office to fill out paperwork. Well, the landlord’s brother volunteered to do that for me! What a blessing! I gave him the money & later that day, he returned with the paperwork. The contract said it would be 10 – 12 more days until they installed the internet! I knew that 2 teachers at the school (who are roommates) had been waiting almost a month for someone to come hook up their internet! One day, I asked M.E., “So, do you think 10-12 days means DAYS or business days?” She replied back something like, “Don’t even speak it.” (because, honestly, there was no way of knowing how long it might take.) Well, it has only been a few days & I now have internet! I am so blessed to have gotten it installed much earlier than the 10-12 days stated on my contract!  
These pictures are what the hooked up cable looks like on my roof:

An Attempted Robbery Happened At My House ~ Please Pray...

One of the reasons that I decided to move into this apartment, is because I was told that this is one of the safest neighborhoods.
The front gate & wall are quite high & seemingly un-scalable.
The top of the wall is covered with large pieces of broken glass, to protect from intruders.

The top of the driveway gate has huge spikes on it, again, to protect from intruders.

Well, I want to testify LOUD & CLEAR, that I was protected tonight from an attempted burglary! I had just come home after being gone for 2 hours & my downstairs neighbors & my landlord were standing in front of our house. I was told the downstairs neighbors arrived home just at the moment that one man hoisted the other over the wall in front of our house! He was actually on the other side of the wall, INSIDE the wall, when they said they would call the police. The 2 men said some things, but then they left right away. My neighbor says the burglars were high. They are going to file a police report tomorrow.

The downstairs neighbors are not believers, but my landlord is. After talking with the neighbors, I came upstairs & was saying, "JESUS, JESUS, JESUS!" as I checked every room, every closet, & under every bed...My landlord came in & we talked about the fact that it was definitely an answer to prayer that the neighbors arrived at the exact moment the burglary was taking place! She said she prays every day for protection over her house & this house. I told her I have a prayer team at home praying for my protection too. We both praised Jesus together for His protection!

To hear about this does rattle me a bit. But, honestly, I am not fearful tonight. The only explanation I can think of is that I am experiencing that “peace that passes all understanding!” So, I’m holding onto Philippians 4:6-8 & hoping that you’ll remember to pray for my protection, for wisdom as I walk through the neighborhood, & for peace of mind despite the circumstances of tonight!!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Phil. 4:6-8)

"Greek Tea?"

Are You Curious What "Greek Tea" Has to do With Mexico?  Read on...
When I was in Oaxaca for 7 weeks, this past Spring, I was renting a room in a missionary couple’s home. I didn’t have “free roam” of the fridge & stove. So, I bought barely any fruits or veggies & only cooked twice. But, now that I have my own apartment, I’m cooking nearly every day. When I cook, my favorite flavor combination is sautéed onions, bell peppers, & mushrooms. I make so many different dishes from that base trio of veggies!

Living back in the States, I would buy produce weekly & just stick it in the fridge. Well, now that I’m living in Mexico, there is a protocol I need to follow before eating fruits or vegetables. This is because soil, microbes, & bacteria are found on the skins of fruits & vegetables. In countries where sanitary practices are not always followed, from the time produce is grown and harvested, until it is delivered to the store, there are many opportunities for contamination: unclean hands, waste water runoff, animal wastes, fertilizing with fresh manure, irrigating with unclean water… The sanitizing process really is tedious & time consuming, but is SO worth killing all those nasty, little micro-organisms! I had E-coli for about a month, when I was here last Spring, & I do NOT want any other parasites or infections from food!

Come along with me, through the process!!!!  :)
Step One = buy a large plastic container & a bottle of the cleaner (the active ingredient is ionized silver & it’s designed to kill the bacteria on the food)

Step Two = figure out the correct percentage of water to the blue bottle of cleaner & how long to leave the fruits & veggies submerged in the soak

Step Three = buy your favorite fruits & veggies from local corner store (I haven’t gotten to an actual grocery store yet to do grocery shopping, only these little ones…)

Step Four = create a bunch of the water & disinfecting solution in your new plastic bowl

Step Five = place your fruits & veggies in the bowl of solution & figure out how to keep them from floating up OUT of the solution (I’ve done this by applying heavy stuff ~ like ceramic dishes & even my oversized bottle of dishwashing liquid!)

Step Six = remember to set the timer for between 10 – 20 minutes

Step Seven = remember to pay attention, so when the timer goes off, you remember WHY you had set it in the first place! (true story!) Remove fruits & veggies from the solution & place in your dish drainer to air dry.

Step Eight = remember to go back into the kitchen later that night, to put your fruits & veggies away so they are not still there in the morning, when you stumble in for breakfast & they’re just there staring at you, saying, “Why’d you leave us here all night, Jenn? There were ants crawling on the counters!” (again, true story!) EEEWWWW!

Step Nine = put in a bowl on the counter, OR put in a clean bag in the fridge, OR peel, dice, slice, & enjoy!

So, you’re probably wondering why I titled this blog post “Greek Tea?” Well, here it is.
It was on Step Two that I got awfully confused & then had a good laugh at myself!
I was sitting with my friend in a government office, waiting for my name to be called. Random thoughts were running through my head, as I mentally made a list of all the things I needed to find out. I asked my friend, who has been living here for 10 years, “How do I know how much of the stuff in the blue bottle to use in the water to soak my fruits & veggies?” My ears heard her response, “It’s supposed to cover them & look like Greek Tea.” In just a few split seconds, my brain said, “Uh-oh. I’ve never had Greek Tea! How am I supposed to know what it looks like if I’ve never had it?” So, I hesitantly asked, “Ummm…what’s Greek Tea look like?” She said, “What? Greek Tea?” I said, “Isn’t that what you said? That the solution needs to look like Greek Tea?” We both got a good laugh as she said, “No, Jenn ~ WEAK TEA!” OOOOOHHHHHH!!!!

So, dear friends & family ~ please, pray with me, that God would spare me for any nasty sickness I could possibly get from the food here! That month of my digestive system screaming at me was NOT fun! Meanwhile, I’m trying to do my part, soaking the fruits & veggies in “Greek Tea” & dipping my washed dishes in the same solution too.

Visitors…Not As I Had Imagined…

When I was moving into this apartment, I thought it would be a nice place to have visitors. My thinking was, “As soon as I’m settled, I’ll start inviting people over! I’ve got a kitchen table & chairs to eat around. I’ve got living room furniture to sit & visit. I’ve even got a spare bed, in case someone wanted to stay the night.” I was glad to have my own space. But I was also excited to catch up with the people I had met during my time here last spring. On my moving day, I told a few of the ladies that they were welcome to stop by anytime. I was also looking forward to getting to know the other new missionaries at OCS & having them over.

Well, I have been in this apartment for 9 days now ~ & let me just say ~ My “Visitors” have not been what I had imagined… Here is the story of my landlord & her brother, a student in need, & some unwelcome visitors:

1. My landlord and/or her brother have stopped by several times.

Once, he was here to help me with the cable salesman. Later that day, he went to the cable office for me, & signed me up so that I could get internet. He returned to explain the paperwork to me. (They say they’ll come install it in 10-12 days.)

Once, he brought me the gift of 2 trash cans. I didn’t have a place to put my trash bags, so there were 2 tied up, outside my door. Apparently, there is a free trash truck that comes through the neighborhood twice a week. But, it is during the time that I’m in school. Then, there is a “private” trash truck that comes both when I’m in school & once on Saturdays. Yesterday, I heard their bell & took them the trashcan that my visitor had given me, with the 2 bags stuffed inside. It was 5 pesos (less than 50 cents) for them to dump it in the back of their pick-up truck & stomp it down.

Once, they brought me a 30-year old tv & a stand & hooked it up for me.

After they had left, I discovered that even though I paid for 38 channels, the tv only gets like 5. A few days later, when he brought the trash cans over, he asked what I was doing & I told him I was reading another book. He said, “You always reading, Jennifer. You teach & read & is all?” I laughed & said that when the internet comes, I will not read so much because I will be on the internet. He then asked me about watching tv. I had been dreading that question! Since it had been a gift, I was embarrassed to tell him that I thought it wasn’t able to get the cable channels. He flipped the channels to find shows (in Spanish) from the Discovery Channel, the History Channel, & the Food Network. So, he sat on the arm of the chair & I sat on the loveseat & we watched 10 minutes of Bobby Flay on the Iron Chef as I explained to him what the show was about & he told me about the many uses for corn, here in Oaxaca. Then, he left.

2. Last night, I was reading my evening away, when I got a call from the father of one of my students. She had been absent for 2 days & had missed several math lessons. Since we have a test scheduled for Tuesday & she was so far behind, I had given the parents my cell phone number, in case they wanted me to help over the weekend. So, he asked if I was available & after giving him my address, he said he’d bring her right over. While I waited, I did the day’s dishes. Then, my visitor arrived & for the next hour & a half, I taught her everything she had missed. I still don’t have the internet, so I couldn’t use all the cool video clips & games that I used to teach it to the other 3rd grade boy in our class ~ but, God gave me the words to say & the illustrations to draw for her to get it. While we were working, I gave her a yummy, chewy granola bar that I’d brought from the states & a cup of lemonade. By the time her daddy picked her up, she was all smiles, saying that she understood everything now! Her dad asked if I was available Monday after school too, just to make sure she was ready for the test. So, I just might have the privilege of that visitor once again!

3. THEN, there are my VERY UNWELCOME visitors = THE ANTS!!! I have been squashing about a dozen of these big guys a day. YES, I said “squashing” ~ I have no qualms whatsoever killing them ~ they skeeve me out!! They are in my kitchen, while I’m doing dishes. They are in my bathroom, while I’m… They are in my bedroom, while I’m trying to fall asleep. One morning this week, I woke up with 3 really big red areas on my leg. I don’t know what bit me, but my leg had a bad reaction to it. I haven’t been sleeping well in this apartment yet & I think part of it is because I fall asleep each night after killing a few ants ~ I think they invade my dreams!

In the states, I am a big fan of air conditioning! So, all summer long, both in my bedroom & in the car, my windows don’t open one bit. But, here, with no air conditioning available, I am a person who prefers to have the windows wide open ~ to let out the stuffiness, to see the curtains rippling, to feel the refreshing breeze coming through! As soon as I walk into the apartment from school, I open several windows. It was pure delight, until the other day when I realized that my unwelcome visitors, the ANTS, are coming in through my open windows!


Here’s what happened: I heard some loud, disturbing noises, so I looked out my open bedroom window, down into the washroom area of the apartment below me, & saw that the noise was from their washing machine. As I was pulling my head back IN the window, movement caught my eye…there were like 10 of these big ants crawling towards me! I QUICKLY closed the window & grabbed my camera. Here are some pictures.

So, now, for the past couple days, I’m not opening the windows in the bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom! Even though it got up to 78 degrees in my bedroom last night, I didn’t want to invite those critters in! I don’t think I need to elaborate any more, other than to say, Please, Brothers & Sisters in Christ, pray that I can figure out the right spray to buy & where to spray it, so that I can once again feel free to open my windows.

“What Subject Do You Teach?”

This seems to be the question most asked of me lately. I’ve attempted to answer it a dozen times already. The most recent was just yesterday. It was my landlord’s brother who asked me this time. After my jumbled up answer, I think he went away still not knowing what in the world I’m teaching here?!?


In the States, when someone asked me what I teach, a quick answer of, “Second Grade”, would be explanation enough. But, like was said in the awesomely awesome movie, The Wizard of Oz, “We’re not in Kansas anymore!” Besides the fact that I’m trying to communicate in a land where Spanish is spoken, I’ve found out that the levels of schooling are different here also.

For example, I found out the other day there are 3 years of Kindergarten here.  Essentially, it’s like preschool, pre-kindergarten, & kindergarten in the States…but still…it’s just different and requires an explanation to be understood by me, an American, now living in Oaxaca, Mexico!

So, when someone asks me the question, “What subject do you teach?” I need to carefully ponder my answer. I stand there, thinking of how to explain that

I am co-teaching in a 3rd & 4th grade classroom

where the students are children of missionaries,

where I am teaching 5 different subjects,

and the students in my class are between 7 to 10 years old…

Of course, it takes me much longer to think of how to explain it if I’m trying to say it in Spanish! So, meanwhile, I must look completely ridiculous to the person asking ~ they MUST be thinking ~ “Seriously, you don’t know what subject you teach?”

When the landlord’s brother asked me yesterday, I first thought, “Ok, this should work…he understands most of my English & I understand most of his English & what we don’t understand, then we try in simplified Spanish & hand motions & usually get each other to understand…” So, I tried explaining it to him in a few short, choppy sentences…but, he didn’t understand. I ended up saying that the kids are about 9 years old & I teach many subjects. He asked a few more specific questions & I answered them more quickly. I think he understood?

For anyone out there who is reading this & is interested ~ My name is Jennifer Noll. I am teaching the children of missionaries at Oaxaca Christian School. I am in a 3rd & 4th grade classroom with a seasoned teacher of missionary children. I am teaching the 3rd grade math class, the 4th grade reading class, the 3rd grade spelling class, Science for 3rd & 4th grade together, & writing for 3rd & 4th grade together. There are 7 students in our class. One is the age of a 2nd grader. Another is the age of a 5th grader & has multiple learning disabilities. Another has dyslexia. ALL of them are blessings!

Here are a couple pictures of the children that have captured my heart:

I am thrilled that God is using me here & I’m not ashamed to say that these kids have already captured my heart. But, we do need your prayers for wisdom on how to meet the needs of each individual student in our class.

Moving In Day: Saturday, Sept. 25th

(The following post was written as an email to my Prayer & Financial Support Team, close to midnight, Saturday, September 25th ~ IF you’d like more details, I’d be HAPPY to share = just ask!)


ALL of my suitcases & ALL of the things I purchased today at Sam's Club & Soriana are IN the apartment that I'll now call home. Of course, NOW, it all needs to be unpacked! Maybe I'll work on it for an hour or so ~ but, the sheets are already on the bed, so...I might as well try it out! :) I am SO VERY Grateful for... all the Christian friends who came to my assistance today! Some went shopping with me, some carried things up to the second floor for me, one is loaning me a ton of kitchen stuff, one is loaning me a set of dishes/plates, one is loaning me several other things, & one turned on the gas & lit the pilot light & showed me how & lifted that super heavy water bottle up on the garafun ~ I am SO overwhelmingly blessed!

At one point today, I had tears in my eyes because I was overwhelmed by the stress of it all...but, at 2 different times today, I had tears in my eyes because I was overwhelmed by how God's people were His hands & feet! What an emotional day!!

Here are a couple pictures of my new home in Oaxaca, Mexico.  (This is the way it looked Saturday night, when I went to bed after 1am...Sunday morning, I unpacked & organized everything.)

The Process of Making a BIG Decision is Now OVER!

Throughout the summer, I had been hearing of housing options from my friend M.E. (she’s a teacher at Oaxaca Christian School & has lived here for 10 years). There were a wide variety of options, in a wide variety of places, all in about the same price range. She assured me she was keeping her eyes open & that she’d help me look at places, once I arrived.


I was praying & many others were praying for me to find the right place. It didn’t need to be fancy, it didn’t need to be big ~ my preference was that it be an apartment in walking distance from school AND be fully furnished. But, since school had already begun a few weeks earlier, I hoped to find a place right away & jump into teaching

M.E.’s family picked me up from the airport & told me I was welcome to stay with them until I found a place. They had a nice guest room & a bathroom with a nice shower…it was a very warm welcome & I felt so blessed!

The very next day, Thursday, September 16, was Mexico’s Independence Day. Since it was a holiday & there was no school, M.E. was available to take me house hunting. That morning we looked at 2 places in the city of Oaxaca. Then, after lunch, we drove nearly an hour out to Mitla & looked at 3 places there.

While we drove out to Mitla, I made a comparison chart, so I could remember the rent, the utilities included, the number of bedrooms & bathrooms, & whether appliances like a stove & refrigerator were included or not… Despite my organized chart, by the end of the day, I was already SO confused ~ but, I knew there were lots of people praying!

Then… The waiting began… We waited for several people to get back to us about housing options ~ there was a very nice lady who’d helped others find a place, so we waited for her call. Also, there were 2 homes “available” on the street where 2 other teachers lived. BUT, we didn’t have numbers for the owners, & the lady who was able to contact them was rarely home herself. On Saturday afternoon, M.E. drove me to the restaurant that this lady owned, to talk to her in person. She assured us that she would talk to the 2 owners, but that they were away for the weekend holiday. Later in the afternoon, we heard from the OTHER lady & she showed us 2 places. She also told us of another place available, in walking distance of the school, but said she wouldn’t know if it was available or not for rent until Monday.

Saturday night, I was blessed with a lovely time of fellowship with 2 OCS teachers & a homemade supper. Afterwards, we went for a walk. When we returned, we saw their neighbor, who is the landlord of another property for rent. He & his wife drove us to see that place.

I had now seen 8 places & only ruled out one. We waited through Sunday & Monday & Tuesday. Finally, on Tuesday, we heard back from one lady, saying the other place near school was not available. Then, we waited to hear about the 2 places on the same street as my 2 teacher friends.

How Long Do You Wait?

I had already been staying in someone else’s home, eating their food, using their internet, riding in their car, for more than a week now. I was struggling with living out of suitcases. BUT ~ I still had no idea where I would move. I figured I needed to make a decision.

So, I asked M.E. if she’d be available to go look at one place again with me. It was the one just a couple streets over from where they live, a 20-minute drive to school. While we were looking at it the first time, I kept thinking, “This 3 bedroom place is too big for me!” But, it was the cheapest furnished place. I decided IF I could arrange for rides to & from school, I would take the place.

I made several phone calls from school that day. For the first week, I’d need to take a taxi 4 days to school & 1 day back. Then, hopefully, after that, I’d have rides both mornings & afternoons.

So, after school, on Thursday, M.E. & I went to look at it for the 2nd time. I felt at peace about it & even started getting excited about living there. I nodded a “YES!” So we walked down the street, to the landlord’s house, to discuss the details of moving in! They told me that there was an issue with the toilet & they would have it fixed Friday, so I could move in Saturday. (Ironically enough, the only concern I had about this place was the toilet! Every other place we looked at had more than one bathroom. This place only had one. Before we came to look at it the 2nd time, I had said, “I hope everything works in the bathroom!” So, I just had to giggle inside when they said it didn’t work…the good news is that NOW, it works perfectly!)  Oh, yeah, I should also mention, there are Bible verses hanging all over my landlord's walls!  :) 

Thank you all, for your prayers about this big decision! I am so glad it is finally made!

Dear Child, Don’t Depend On Yourself! With Sincere Love, God

The events of today (Thursday, Sept. 23rd) could be summarized as being a love note, to me, from God. Today, He reminded me that He has a plan, no matter what the circumstances, & that He will use both children & others to reveal that plan to me!

I got back from school last night at about 7pm, after 3 & 1/2 hours of lesson planning in preparation for today & this coming week. I was feeling so accomplished & was happy that I was so ready for all 6 of the subjects I'd be teaching today! Then, 5 minutes later, I got a phone call from Nancy (my co-teacher of this class) saying that she had a fever & was staying home. So, last night, I asked for prayer for a quick & complete healing for HER, as well as praying for strength & grace for me today as I attempted to teach 3 different grade levels all by myself in one classroom...
LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT GOD HAD A BETTER PLAN!!!! :)

My day didn't start too well, as I had a tough time waking up (because I stayed up too late reading a novel!) I had to skip breakfast & didn't have time to pack a lunch. THEN, the taxi driver wanted to charge me 70 pesos to get me to school, instead of the 60 the last driver charged me. (That's about $5.75 to ride one way.) THEN, when he got me to the school & I handed him a 100 peso bill, he acted like he didn't have any change except for a 50 bill, so he wanted to keep the entire 100! UGH!

THEN, ALONG CAME 2 LITTLE ANGELS >>> One of my students & his older sister were walking into school at the same time I was attempting to get out of the taxi. They were able to loan me enough pesos that he could give me the 50 in change! I sure don't know WHAT I would've done if they hadn't been there, I would have just lost 30 pesos, I guess! As I got out of the taxi & hoisted my ridiculously heavy backpack onto my shoulder, my student said to me, "Are you having a rough morning, Miss Noll?" I put my arm around his shoulder as we walked and I said, "Yes, Jack, there have been some rough parts to this morning, but I am glad I made it here!" He stopped to hug me & said, "I'm glad you are here, Miss Noll." Even just typing this is bringing a tear to my eye ~ it's so neat how God works, isn't it? :)

I got into the class & just as I was gathering things to begin class, the father of one of my students walked up to me & shook my hand. He said that he was here to help me with math class. What an UNEXPECTED surprise! So, he covered the 4th grade math lesson in a different room ALSO, one of the high school students was here to help my student who is in remedial math for about half of the math period. So, I was able to teach my 3rd grade math class, as I had planned after all!!!

NEXT was reading class & I was surprised when a parent of a high schooler showed up to help me with the remedial student! Also, the art teacher gave up 45 minutes of her prep time to help as well! She taught the 3rd Grade reading class, so, I was able to teach the 4th Grade reading class, as I had originally planned!


I have been amazed by God’s provision today ~ really & truly amazed! So, I just thought I’d share this testimony as a word of encouragement to you! I hope that whatever you are going through, that God would reveal Himself to you in a NEW & unexpected way!

Meet Jack!  He was my "angel" today!