----monthly recap----

i forgot i was supposed to do this. oops!

tons of pictures - http://picasaweb.google.com/hilary.e.holbrook

september was a month full of great things.

school changed A LOT. we went from lots of writing and reading and not much else to reading, writing, english, science, math, gym, art, and a morning routine! the afternoon class - preschool - is still developing and keeps getting better. we split it into two groups - ruben, pilar, chloe, and sergio for about an hour, and then irene and josue for about half an hour. that split was incredible...chuy and i are able to do so much more with the students this way.
things were a bit rocky with chuy for awhile - he's got a big job to do and at times i think he feels overwhelmed. we are here for different reasons, and that's not a bad thing, but at times it makes it hard to work together. God has been so faithful in working in both of us to make us a good and effective team, but please continue praying for that to keep happening!

we had mexican independence day which included a parade of kids, some in wheelchairs, some walking, and some being pulled in a wagon for the ride of their lives (by sergio, of course) yelling viva mexico! all the way down the street. good times :)

lerma, a woman who works with the boys, invited becky and i to her church. it was an awesome experience to be able to go to church with her and her family. her brother is the pastor and he and his wife also run a drug and alcohol rehab in san carlos. olga, the pastor's wife, made me try tuna, the fruit from a cactus. it was delicious! a lot like honeydew but with lots of seeds and better.

i taught sunday school at church about hebrews 12 - running the race that has been set before us. lots of fun, and thank you lourdes for finding a bilingual sunday school lesson website. the internet, man, i tell ya!

i got to go to pastor cande's church and watch caleb, his 15 year old son, lead worship. i sat with eliseo and rocio and had such a great time. it felt like i was in a place where i truly belonged and was welcomed. i feel that in marta's church too, but this is different.

i got a lot of cards for my birthday which was so fun. i've also been skyping a lot, which is awesome. i really don't feel like i'm that far away when i get to see people's faces all the time! my skype name is hilary.holbrook if you ever want to talk!