San Miguel de Allende

Whew! I am here in San Miguel and has it been a whirlwind of a week! As most of you know, I am studying Spanish for a month in San Miguel de Allende which is about 8 hours south of Monterrey and just a few hours outside of Mexico City. This next year I am going to continue my work with B2B, but in a slightly different way. The Lord continues to lay the poor on my heart, so this year I will be spending more time in the Rio communities (garbage dump neighborhoods) that B2B works with (and a few days in SMCA as well :) . Because of the increase in the amount of time I am going to be working with Mexicans, I knew that my Spanish had to increase as well... that is why I decided to come to San Miguel to study.

I have been in San Miguel a week! My trip started out with a few hard days of stomach sickness... after I adjusted to the water here however, things have been going well. Every weekday I have classes at a school called Habla Hispana which is about 4 blocks from where I am staying. My class is super small (only one other student) so I get very personalized attention. All the instruction and everything is in Spanish, which is really good for me and sometimes a bit hard. I already feel like I have learned a ton with only being here one week. The funny thing about learning another language, however, is that the more you learn the more you realize how much you don't know! ...that is how I feel almost everyday!

I am staying with a wonderful Mexican couple, Marina and Ernesto. They have lived close to San Miguel's center for most of their lives. They are sooo nice, very hospitable, awesome cooks, and know not a word of English, which is perfect for me! There are also currently 4 other American students staying here as well. I have loved getting to know Marina and Ernesto, and honestly feel like one of their kids!

I will be in San Miguel for another three weeks then I will head back to Monterrey to begin another school year there! Please keep me in your prayers. Pray that God uses this time in San Miguel to help my Spanish develop, but more than that, pray that my eyes and ears are open to what He wants to do in and through me while I am here. Already He has had me share Christ with three people in both Spanish and English and pray for them as well... I am beginning to see that His purposes in me being here are much greater than what I first thought :)... sounds like God, doesn't it?

Thanks for your continued love and support! Below are some pictures of San Miguel! Enjoy!

A scenic view of San Miguel's center! There are TONS of old churches here... for anyone who as been to Europe, the churches are much the same.

San Miguel's famous church lit up at night.

My school!

Flower vendors in one of the many markets that are just blocks from my house.

A typical street in San Miguel... all the streets are cobblestone and all the houses are brightly painted.

My cute orange room in Marina and Ernesto's house! It looks right out onto the street... very noisy!

Marina teaching me and the other students at my school how to make Pozole de Pollo... super fun!