just.a.reminder.

Hello dear friends!
Today marks the near week and 1/2 mark for me returning to the states. I thought that I would just remind all of you that I would love to hug your neck at the airport when I return on the 11th of December at 2:10 pm.
I am craving a nice BBQ meal when I return, so if you would also like to join me and my family afterwards for that you are more than welcome to come to that also. I can't wait to see you all! Wow! Time flies like fans!! ~Megan

Time for Elections

carboard testimonies

News update: My grandfather who I blogged about last is now in a wonderful nursing home. It's nearly like a hospital except you can get to know the people and he says that the food is better. He is starting to eat again, but his body is so week he does not have the strength to keep his dentures in and so everything he eats is liquefied. It is a miracle that he is doing better and all of this is because of God.

I've been thinking for a while now of what I want to blog about. If you have the time, I promise it's totally worth it. It made me wonder what my cardboard testimony would be, and I'm still thinking about it. I thought that I could upload the videos on my blog, but apparently I can't. (all you need to do it go to www.youtube.com and type in cardboard testimonies.)

a.prayer.request.

Hello again everyone! I just have a quick request for you to please pray for.
My grandfather (my mom's mom) is not doing well at all.
It's not a matter of "if " anymore but "when" for him. He is 91 years old, but the pictures I have of him in my mind are young. Most of all I want God's will to be done in this, but it has been hard because I think of what I want for him. He was put into an assisted living residence the middle of my AIM time. Now, he is declined to live in assisted living and will be submitted to a nursing home. He is rapidly decreasing day by day and refusing to eat, which is making him dehydrated, and is making a decline to do ANYTHING for himself. Since he is not eating or drinking, this is a sign that he is giving up.
Please, please, please keep this situation and my grandpa in your prayers. I would really apprecitate it.

I really like this quote...

In every area of your life,

be generous when you don't have to be.

In relationships,

forgive freely, show kindness, and be gentle.

At work, give your best,

do more than is expected, and live with integrity.

In service to God's people,

give generously, serve willingly,

and lay down your life for the sake of the Lord.

Go the second mile!

The world sees us on the first mile;

they see Christ on the second.

~Dr. Melvin Blackaby

I Think It's Starting To Sink In

I think this is going to be a little bit short, but I thought expressing myself through writing would help.
Lately my emotions have been on a roller coaster ride. Some moments I feel like I'm jumping through a field of daises and sunshine.... and then the next moment I'm depressed. I often catch myself asking "What is wrong with me?!"
I was sitting today in church by what I like to call my "Mexican Mom", Patricia. (She is my small group mom too, as I like to call it. She is so sweet and full of life and I love to talk to her because she has such a Godly perspective on life.)
I was trying so hard to pay attention to the sermon, but really all I could think about was how much time I have left here and how blessed I am to be here in Leon and sitting by Patty, and to have the church family that I do. And about how I feel like I want to just go home at some moments and then at the same time I don't want to leave!
I'm in a glass case of emotions!" as Will Ferrell says on Anchorman.
I kept telling myself how I am not going to cry over and over in my head.
After the service I went over to Annie, because no one was talking to her, and asked her for a hug. I don't know what it was, but my emotions couldn't take it anymore and heaven's flood gates filled my eyes. So to say the least I think it's starting to sink in.
Thank you, all of you, for making me have this opportunity... to make me feel the emotions that I have, and for me to get to meet and grow with my brothers and sisters in Christ here!!

Blessings

So much has been going on lately, but not a good enough excuse for why I haven't blogged in nearly a month.
There has been so much going on I really don't know where to begin. I guess I will start out by how much God has blessed us over-abundantly with our work here in Leon.
I am currently working on a lesson to teach to the girls group next Monday. I am super excited that I get to teach, but I also seem to get the nervous feel when I teach. Please pray that God will deliver his words through me, for what he wants me to teach to the girls.
I am also helping Barb with another side ministry. She really works hard every week on preparing the lessons on Sunday for the teachers. Sometimes it gets overwhelming or she would like a little bit of help or some ideas from another person. She was so thoughtful in asking me, and I am so proud that she did too.

This isn't too much, but hopefully this shows you how much God is working all around us.

Prayers Please

I have several prayer requests if you could please keep them on your heart.

1. The missionary family in Guanajuato (GTO) had a new baby boy born into their family today..

2. A family friend and my high school German teacher is undergoing chemo soon for treating her breast cancer.

3. Another family friend had a baby this past week that is premature and only weighs 1 lb. Although the 1st 24 hrs. are the most critical it is still holding on. Pray for strength, health, and growth, and peace for the family.

Words in Pictures

Since I haven't blogged in longer than I thought here are some words in pictures.

The first week we celebrated our 4th of July by having a cookout and swim time at a water park right outside of Leon. (sorry, none of us brought our cameras, on accident!)

The second week churches from all over Mexico and Richland Hills hosted a VBS, Avalanche Ranch style, in Guanajuato! It was a blast and we even learned from it.

Starting off the day by singing

Prayer Time

This past week 23 of our youth, adults, and AIMers went to a National Youth Rally in Saltillo (a town outside of Monterrey). It was a fun and refreshing time to spend time together as a youth group, meet new people, and praise God with 1,000 other teens.

Our group

Breakfast and Morning Devotional

Preaching and Learning

And last but not least, you all mean the world to me. Your cards of encouragement, care pkgs., love, prayers, and support are such an encouragement to me! Let us never loose our faith and never loose the passion in working for our Lord.

Lesson Learned and Still Learning

I found this video on my friend, Tana's blog. I got a kick out of it because I could see myself doing the same thing... or maybe I have! It makes me think of all of the things that apply with learning a language and all of the mistakes that I have made. Click on the link below and enjoy a laugh. Enjoy...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yR0lWICH3rY

Meals In The Bible at Wish I Could of Been At

If you know me you would think that I don't eat that much. I don't know how, but it doesn't really look like I like food. Well it's a total lie of my body, I love food.
I was thinking yesterday (I think I was really hungry) about what meals in the Bible where I wish I could of been there.
These meals aren’t necessarily great or interesting because of the food itself, but more because of the particular settings.
-Breakfast on the Beach with Jesus–John 21
-Eating with Elijah when the Ravens delivered meat and bread twice a day–1 Kings 17
-Daniel and the gang when they refused to eat what God didn’t allow–Daniel 1
-Manna and Quail–Numbers 11
-The Last Supper–Matthew 26

What meals do you wish you would of been there?

Prayers and Thank You

I would love you to please keep my entire family in your prayers. My grandparents on both sides are not in good health. Its hard being away from home, when you here things that aren't good to your ears, you want to be there so bad. Pray for my family to come to some conclusions and to resolve somethings with a Godly heart. Please also pray for me to have faith and peace. I want to be content and joyful in all circumstances.
My dad is also experiencing heart problems. He thinks his phone is vibrating in his shirt pocket, when its actually his heart! Weird, I know.
A praise!!! We are officially in our rainy season here, praise God. My allergies are experiencing joyfullness! It has been raining here for several days now, which is good because it really gives us a break from the heat. Although, it is rather strange to be wearing a jacket in the middle of June.

Thank you all for you love. May God give you his peace and abundance of love.

Outside of our old house

A Lot Has Been Going On

Sorry I haven't been faithfull to this blog lately. When you recieve my newsletter in a couple of days and I also give you a run down here, you will see why!
2 weeks ago today my parents left from Leon. They came the 3rd of May and stayed for 9 days. It was refreshing to get to see them and for them to spend time with me in my work down here. They told me they didn't want me to cancel or reschedule any of my studies and normal daily activies because of them. They wanted to live and walk in the foot steps of what I do! In the free time that we didn't have things, we did the fun touristy stuff. Like going downtown, going to Guanajuato, the leather market, and the park. Like I said, I am so glad they came, and that God gave us the opportunity to do so.
The day after my parents left, we moved!! Since our contract on the house expired 3 months before, our landlord was graciously letting us pay by month until we found an apartment to rent! After the long look and work, we found an apartment accross the street and down the block from our old house. I praise God for everything that he did to get us this far. He deserves ALL the glory!
Not only did we move, the boys moved the same day! We both had to move out by a certain time. It happened so quickly and all at once, but it has all been great! If you can imagine moving furniture and items for 2 houses in 1 day... it wears you out!!
I think I just recovered from all the stress and lack of sleep from my parents being here to moving. We all love our new homes. And us girls especially, we feel that its more homey, because we don't have so much wasted space.
Thank you for letting me live in a country that spoils me and lets me share the Gospel. I would not be where I am today, if it wasn't for your prayers, care packages, and support. Love you all.

A Lot of Things

I have been extremely busy lately and its why I haven't posted in a while! Things have been crazy here in Leon, and God is growing and blessing the work.
Here are a few things...
1. Tomorrow my parents are coming! I am super excited as well as they are too. I am getting to the point of counting down by the hour now. As of now... 16 more hours to go!
Please pray as they are traveling tomorrow. They are going to be worn out puppies when they get here, I just know it.

2. This past Monday we had a girls group that we have been doing for about a month and this past one I taught it. We had the biggest turnout of mostly everyone coming and I was extremely nervous, but could tell as much trouble as I had in saying things, God was saying it through me. I taught on the purpose of our individual lives. It was interesting and challenging for me to study and we had a lot of responses from the girls. Please pray for the girls and there hearts to be softened and for them to want to know God more.

3. Us girls are moving! Our contract on our house expired 3 months ago and our landlord has been nice enough for us to live for now monthly until we found a cheaper house or apartment. We are moving across the street and down the block. It has been a stressful, but overall a good process that we are excited about. Please pray for this situation also.

I know this is kind of short, but this is the shortest run down. Thank you all for your love and prayers. I think of all of you and keep you in my prayers. God Bless you all as He may fill your cup to overflowing!

Dirty and Clean

(I don't know what I actually just did on the post before this, but there's nothing there. haha. That's me for ya'!)

Just wanted to tell you a quick thought that I think that we can apply to our lives at one point or another.
I was sweeping and cleaning our house yesterday. I couldn't believe how our house was so dusty and dirty, just without going 4 days without sweeping and mopping it!
My point is that this is like our spiritual lives. Especially like mine lately, which is hard to admit. When we don't saturate ourselves in His word daily and surround ourselves with spiritual things and take Christ out of the picture, things get dirty. Real dirty.
While our outside physical appearance we fix everyday and make things look perfect, the inside(spiritually) is rotting away.
I am so thankful that Christ washes us whiter than snow. You see, He is like the broom and mop, He cleans us up, polishes us, and makes us smell good with the aroma of Christ.

"First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."

~ Matthew 23:26

My mom, my twin, my best friend <3

7 Things

There are a lot of things about being a missionary and living in a foreign country. There are some things that you miss a whole lot and somethings that you love that you can't get anywhere you go. So here are my TOP 7 THINGS I LOVE AND MISS. (These are in no particular order.) In spite of all of the things that I miss, God is good and marvelous! He makes up for the negative.

THINGS I LOVE (about Leon):
1. Palm trees
2. GOOD food ANYWHERE you go
3. The people
4. My church family
5. My Spanish is improving!.... I think.
6. Mountains
7. Markets! Its like a mini mall!


THINGS I MISS:
1. Carpet
2. Recess Pieces
3. The look of home
4. Clean feet
5. My best friend, my mom
6. My family
7. Driving

For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. ~Psalm 86:10

Break

For the past couple of days I have been thinking of what to blog about. I still really can't think of anything. Maybe it will come later.
This past 2 weeks has been really layed back here. I have really never really experienced a spring break so relaxing to the point its almost bordem. Spring break and the Easter holiday is a huge thing here. Everyone usually goes to take a vacation and take off from work. So this past week has been quite relaxing. Of course my schedule is not normal but I have enjoyed spending time with J'Lae, since Annie and the boys went to the states. We took a little vacation and got to spend some nice quality girl time.
I hope that you have been enjoying yourself and taking a step back to see how God is working in you.

Times Like These

Last night Annie and I were in a real movie mood. I was personally exhausted from a busy day but wanted to spend time with one of my friends that I cherish most. I know I won't have these moments forever. We have been really busy lately with our ministries and trips. I think sometimes we forget to take time for ourselves here.

I love it when I just get to relax and take it easy somedays. I used to have the mindset when I first got here that if I took time or did anything for myself I felt a scence of guilt almost like it was a sin to do anything for myself. I do not really have that mindset anymore even though I like to do things for others more than myself.

I am so filled with God's joy that He put me here for a purpose with my team.

Annie and I did watch Ice Age 2 and laughed ourselves almost to sleep until 1 in the morning. Love you girl.

An Invitation

Well I am exhausted right now, but still have quite the list that I want to accomplish before I go to bed, and I have a bad headache. Sad.
Anyways, us girls got invited by a lovely young couple in the church on Sunday for dinner tonight. They are such a sweet family and I didn't know them well until tonight. It's hard to get to know everyone so well in the church and the way you want to, especially with a large congregation.
She fixed us one of my favorite meals, enchiladas! It was amazing and I ate four. Sounds like a lot, but it's not that much because the tortillas are small. But it still filled me up. We also played Chinese Checkers, which I have never played in my life, nor just the normal kind of checkers. It was a lot of fun and we even got to play with a lady that is living with them, since her husband died not too long ago, and she has been coming to church.
I pray that I can be a blessing to people and that God uses me as a tool in my ministry, the way people are a blessing to me here.

My Birthday

Well, today is my birthday! Yay!
I got to sleep in a little bit and then talked to my parents on web cam. That was a real treat because they don't have Skype because their computer has problems. The girls want to take me out for lunch. But I can't really decide where. So I guess we will see.
Today is also the Ladies' Day at the church. I don't really have a whole lot planned as far as I know, but it wouldn't surprise me if the girls are up to something for me.
I do wish I could be home and do things with my family, but I know that this a chance of a lifetime and its also (not the easiest experience) a good experience.
Thanks for all your love and support through your letters and the care packages you all pamper me with!

Good Times

Well... I think a lot has happened since I last blogged.

First of all we just got back on the 13th of Feb. from Mexico City. My team went down to visit the AIM class from this year for about a week. It was so good to see some of my close friends and my assistants. And also making new friendships and memories with them.

Also while we were there Donovan's family came down to see him and Annie's mom decided to surprise Annie by not telling her she was coming on the trip. It was quite exciting and they headed back with us to Leon to spend time with them and see our work here.

I am so excited for our new Leon team that is coming in May. They seem to be a great group and I can't wait to see what God is already planning for them. Even though I can see a lot of differences from our team and theirs, I can see that we are going to be a strong working family for the Lord. Please continue to keep them in your prayers and also the other teams that will be spread out into the world in just a few short months.

This weekend we hosted a Marriage Seminar for 2 days. It went really well and we had a positive turn out. The guest speaker was from Toluca, a city in Mexico City. It is the Rubio's supporting congregation, so a lot of people came from there and enjoyed seeing them.

The AIMers on the other hand babysat the kids and we had about 30 kids including us. I voluntered for cooking supper for them. I have to say it didn't turn out to what I expected, which is what God does anyways. He flips it around and makes it better.

The 1st night I decided that I would cook hot dogs. I started preparing them and getting everything ready before all the kids showed up. Turns out their was no gas! haha. So praise God that there was a microwave that the Johnson family left when they moved. It was quite interesting and took a long time to cook 40 hotdogs, but in the end it was worth it.

New Sister in Christ

Just this past Monday we have a new sister in Christ! Praise God!

Donovan has been studying with her since the first of December. The last Bible study I filled in for Annie, who usually goes with Donovan to the study, because she was sick. I am so grateful that I went. I got to share my testimony about how I came to be a Christian and answer and give advice that she had. She is such a beautiful girl inside and out.

Please keep her in your prayers and she is facing the everyday challenges of being a young christian woman.

Sharing Memories

Thanks for keeping me in your prayers as I went home for Christmas. My stay was better than I expected. I really enjoyed the times that I spent with my brother and my family. It was one of the best Christmas's. Thank you all so much.

On a different note...
Last night I went to the fair with Evelyn. All of us girls planned on going, but Annie and J'Lae could not go at the last minute because they were sick. But I decided to go anyways.
We were planning on going to see an Ice Skating show. But, when we got to the doors, they said that they were already packed and their was no more room. Evelyn and I were a little bummed, but that didn't stop us from wanting to have fun. We decided to go see a dolphin show. It was a lot of fun and I know that we enjoyed seeing it together.
Evelyn and her family are so special. I enjoyed sharing and spending these memories with her and I know I won't forget it.