I cannot believe it’s May! May is the craziest month of the year for us, with finals, projects, parties, meetings, graduation, etc. It’s a month of goodbyes and endings. Missionary kids have a bit of a different view on the end of a school year because it also means that their country of residence may change and their friends may move across the world. That’s what it meant for me. The day of my High School graduation was such a sad day. My friends and I all sat together and cried. You see, 2/4 of us were moving to the States (but to two different States) and 1/4 of us were moving to Europe and the other to do missions trips all over the world. We wouldn’t get to see each other at Christmastime, either, because some of their families were moving out of Oaxaca to do ministry elsewhere. I was lucky; my family would stay here, so I would have a home to return to for visits, but not everyone has that chance. Some MKs never return to their childhood “home” (including culture and worldview) after leaving. So our graduations have a more somber tone. That being said, it is still a month of excitement and new beginnings. We’ve been working with the Jr/Sr class all year, prepping them for cultural adaptation, college, jobs, taxes, etc. And now they will begin to put those skills into practice.This month I will be accompanying the Jr/Sr class on their annual beach trip (a privilege they work towards all year, and a fun experience that replaces Homecoming, Prom, and other social activities they do not have). They are such awesome kiddos, and I am glad to spend time with them and celebrate with them. My AP students are taking their AP Tests now, and I’m so proud of how hard they worked in preparation. The other English classes are finishing up their Shakespeare reading and analysis. They had fun playing games and dramatically reenacting the plays. As this school year comes to an end, we look toward next year. Oaxaca Christian School is still looking for some teachers for our next year, so if you know of anyone who might be interested, please let me know.
As far as Youth Group goes, we are also coming to an end. We’ve been looking at famous Bible stories and re-analyzing their lessons. Who are these amazing characters we learned about during our childhood? Are they darker or more complex than we originally thought? Are they more relatable through their flaws and struggles? It was so fun. We will finish off the year with an awesome concert performed by Justin Gambino, a Christian artist that is coming all the way to Oaxaca to put on this concert!
Church had Youth Camp this past month. We had a speaker come from Pennsylvania to talk about how God knows the story of our lives. Games were played. Pranks were played. Hearts were touched. One of my favorite parts of camp is called “Vas o No Vas.” The kids get a number, and when their number is called, they pick from different boxes and bag. Those contain either an awesome gift or a prank gift. They get really into it. It’s a fun way to give jackets and tools and basketballs away. It’s also hilarious to watch them receive a roll of toilet paper or a pickle (quick side note: Oaxacans hate pickles. During the camp “gross food” challenge, I always sign up to eat the pickle because I like them and everyone else can barely smell them without feeling sick. It is so funny to me, and a fun cultural fact for you). I helped out with a breakout session this year. Overall, camp was a huge success! Church also marked a happy Easter with baptisms. Thirteen people were baptized, and we had a huge celebration. These weeks have been full of rejoicing at Lluvias de Gracia (which means Rains of Grace).
At Women’s Project we’ve been seeing some awesome growth! Every time we go downtown, we see groups of 4-9 girls at our place. We paint nails, do crafts, eat, and chat with them. Last week we threw a Baby Shower for one of the girls. She invited her friends, but none of them showed up. That didn’t stop us from having a blast. The Sunflower Team showed up with gifts, games, and snacks. We laughed so hard during the silly games. Many ladies from Lluvias Church sent extra gifts for the girl, so she received a stroller, a tub, tons of clothes and such, and sweet words of encouragement. It was such a blessing to shower her with love and kindness. She was so thankful that we showed up for her, something that is often lacking in her life. In June we plan on hiring one of the girls downtown to give Zumba classes. In addition, we will have a doctor and dentist visit downtown to do free consultations. It’s all very exciting!
So that was April and May. Baby showers, blessings, goodbyes and new growth, Sunflower ministry, and much more. April showers and May flowers.
Thank you for your prayers, support, and encouragement. This is the last bit before summer begins. This summer I will spend some time preparing for the next school year, prepping for more activities for Women’s Project, and resting. Then, in July, I’m vising Arizona! I will be in Tucson for a couple of weeks and in Prescott for a couple of weeks. Hopefully I will visit with supporters and answer questions for those who want to get involved, get to know about the ministries, etc. I will bring goodies to the States from Oaxaca. If you would like a specific thing (chocolate, vanilla, embroidered blouses, tshirts, etc.), please let me know so I can get that stuff ahead of time. See you in July!
-Ruth