woo hoo! school was awesome today, gracias a Dios! i got up early this morning to spend extra time reading my bible and praying because i really wasn't feeling the way i wanted to feel about school. it's safe to say i was dreading it...but God really worked on my heart and showed me how dumb i can be sometimes hahaha. the verse i had written down the last time i journaled was - trust in the lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight - and right then i knew i needed to ask for forgiveness and get excited for school. and it was a great day! i know not every day will be great...but i just have to take it step by step.

i went with jose luis to pick up some kids from a different school and we had an awesome conversation on the way there. we were talking about life in mexico and the states, and how certain cities are really dangerous. i said it's so sad when people live addicted to drugs or alcohol and have no happiness in their lives. he said he didn't understand how God could let that happen, and i was like oh dang, i really don't feel like i know enough spanish to say what i want to say. but i think i got my point across - that God gave us a choice to be who we want to be and do what we want to do, and he's really sad when he looks at his children doing these destructive things, because he wants us to live for and glorify him. he was asking about how i got to be at gabriel house - he thought i was getting paid - and i explained that i had to pay to come here. i'm not sure i said that right because he really couldn't believe what i was saying. then i explained that i was a missionary and he said how great it was that i was serving God. i told him that i'm really happy to be here and while some days are hard, i know this is where God wants me to be. he asked me how i knew that...and i told him because of lots of prayer from me and other people and a strong feeling in my heart, stronger than i've ever felt before. it was really cool to talk to him. he's living an incredibly hard life and he and his family have very little, even by the standards of the area i'm in.
it just amazes me how God uses the lives of his children to bless others. i always wish i could give more, because i feel like people here are giving me so much.