Yo estoy en los brazos del Buen Pastor.

When sharing on this blog I normally do my best to leave opinion and emotion out. I try to stick to the funny stories and oddities that occur while attending a medical school in Mexico. I know that honestly my success rate at this is no where close to 100%. I just love exclamation points too much!!! However, right now, I want to share with you a different kind of story.

I don't like problems. And especially problems that don't have a defined path to find an answer. I much prefer someone else doing the initial strategizing and then telling me how to fix the problem. Problem solved and easy out. That being said there was definitely no manual on How to attend UAG. Many times it was a laundry list of unknowns sometimes just a few errands, either way with list in hand I learned that by taking a little ingenuity, a bucket of determination, a truck-load of patience, and the willingness to look stupid mixing them all together and adding God to the mix; I can, afterall, survive the unknown.

Then this past semester I hit a road-block. This wasn't just because the path had become overgrown with ruffage and a new path needed to be forged. A door had slammed shut smashing me in the knee for good measure. I couldn't figure this problem out. Sure I tugged, pushed, pounded, even tried prying open the windows, but in the end there was nothing I could do. On my knees before the throne of my Savior I felt something that I've never felt before. Completely powerless and absolutely nothing.

I know that I am where I am today because of nothing that I have done of myself, but the arms of the Good Shephard have carried me here. Furthermore it is because of the prayers of my family, friends, and brothers and sisters-in-Christ that those arms have continually protected me and brought me through. It is because of those prayers that I will be taking the USMLE step 1 this Wednesday, July 28th. Exactly 2 years to the day from when I first sat in an auditorium and was told "Bienvenido a UAG" (Welcome to UAG). I'm probably the only one, but God's timing on that kind of makes me smile.

I'm nervous, probably moreso than I even realize as for almost a week now I've been getting daily headaches something very odd for me. I'm doubtful. Currently I am not at a place where I feel comfortable taking this exam. Based on the progress that I have accumulated over these past months it would take at least another month of this daily studying to reach a point at which I could walk into the testing center confidently. and I'm tired. not physically, but more mentally and emotionally. Daily pep talks to combat the afore mentioned doubt, the vast majority led by myself, with Mom coming in second, have started to take there toll as I'm ping ponged back and forth between "I'm no where near ready!! I could so easily fail!!" and "God has never ever left me before. Trust. Faith."

With whatever happens on Wednesday I know that it will happen, and then it will be Thursday. And through it I will stand by the one truely solid fact that is never changing. As I start each day acknowledging the presence of my awesome God and as I end each day the same way so shall I do on Wednesday. The Lord's name will be praised.

"From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised. " Psalm 113:3

I thank you for and treasure your prayers. God Bless you! I love you.

Yo estoy con pelo corto.

So even though the USA and Mexico are both out of the World Cup it in no means has ceased to be exciting. Yesterday when the Netherlands beat Brazil it's a good thing no one was home because I would have promptly been told to, umm....be less noisy. And this morning, though I must admit it was sad to see Argentina go, you couldn't help but cheer for Germany's beautifully smashing win.

If anyone in the Gridley area would be up for some futbol give me a ring. It's one of a few things that can pause my studying and so much more interesting playing with others than by myself.

My days as to be expected are really rather boring. I study. I have been thankful for the absolutely amazing weather God has provided Illinois this past week. It helps make getting some daily exercise enjoyable. Running the other day an old truck passed me and as I got a mouthful of exhaust it made me smile. I'm getting spoiled with all this clean air and green stuff here. I may have cleaner lungs by the end of my visit just in time to go back to the city and get them filled up again.

Well, another week down. It's actually the month of July finally. the 28th is now so much more closer. ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! pause....breathe.....breathe.......ok, now go study.

Hasta!

Yo estoy a casa.

I'm home. USA lost. I can't decide if I want to run around singing or sit down and cry...so I think I'll just go to bed instead.

Nah, I'm exaggerating. I'm blessed to be home for awhile, and very greatful that travels today went well, although when some scary looking officials carted Issa and Lupita off behind closed doors at customs in Atlanta I wasn't too sure what was going on, but all ended well. And though heartbroken at USA's loss I know I'll find a way to go on...maybe...I hope ;) Arriving at Atlanta airport I felt fairly confident that since the US was in the final 16 the concourse T.Vs for sure would be showing the game. I was sorely, sorely disappointed. Not a single one. So Issa, Lupita and I played Dutch Blitz waiting for our connection instead.

I wasn't exaggerating about the going to bed part.

Hasta!

Yo estoy con pelo largo.

I lost my rubber band while running last night. This was the third time it had happened and it finally succeeded in frustrating me. It happens when my hair is braided. I'm joggin' along not paying attention to my hair until I realize that the rhythmic bouncing of my braid on my back has disappeared and in its place is a whole lot of mess. I guess why it upset me so last night was because it happened at the beginning of my run instead of the end as it has in the past. I retraced my path for a bit then ran the whole block again with no luck in finding the lost rubber band. I gave up and pressed on holding my hair in my hand. I normally run with my elbows in and my hands up so I surmised that people glancing from their cars wouldn't really notice anything. But of course a man whom I don't recall ever seeing before was walking his dog and I ended up passing him 5 times. He will forever remember the dork who runs while holding her hair.

To the Future Wearer of my Hair:
I thought of you as I ran last night. You even made me smile as I held my hair like a dork. I know that because of this hair you will one day actually have the option to either hold your hair as I've done or to remember to tighten the rubber band. I love you.

Signed: The Grower of your Hair

Yo estoy BiEn EmOcIaNaDa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my Word! Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool!!!! That was so exciting and I wasn't even watching live, just tuned into the Matchcast on fifa.com. I feel like i'm hoarse and I wasn't even cheering out loud. USA USA USA. Wow! I wish there was someone here with me that I could be excited with instead of limiting myself to jumping around my apartment. Studying will go well for awhile now as I'm wide awake and my blood sure is pumpin!

I was going to blog this yesterday, but though 3 posts in one day would be a new record for me I figured it was a bit overkill.
- A census taker buzzed at my door yesterday. It was fast as he basically just asked me the questions and filled out the form for me. I was thankful for that as it was obvious he didn't ask me everything, just what was necessary making it go really fast. So for the next 10 years I've increased Mexico's population by 1. Oh Yeah Baby!
- I took the following picture on my way home from Ixtlan this past monday. When i got into the city I saw this car with a message on it's back window that I thought was cute. Had the brillant idea to take a picture of it, but by the time I got my camera out it was too far ahead of me. So I just raced to catch up with it :)

Papi: Eres el mejor papá del mundo. Mi papá es mi HEROE.

Hasta!

Yo estoy aliviada.

Games are over. Mexico lost to Uruguay, but thankfully France was able to keep South Africa to just two goals and therefore Mexico is still the one to advance, in addition to Uruguay, on account of their total goals made.
USA doesn't have this cushion that Mexico had....oh dear, I'm hoping for some magic footwork.


This past weekend in Ixtlan many of the kids that hadn't come on a while showed their faces again. It was great to see them. Going to school is just an option not normally taken by many of these kids leaving some of them illiterate. They are the kids that no one expects anything from them, but Jesus still desperately loves them. Though Satan tries to tell us it's pointless to try to help them, nothing could be farther from the truth.

Bev and I at Las Papas.

I'm going to set up camp at the library on the main campus this afternoon. Away from my computer. I just dread the fact that I may be mistaken for a summer foreign exchange student. They have popped up all over the city it seems. They stand out like sore thumbs from what they wear to what they carry to where they look when they walk. I saw them at the bus station when i picked up Bev. Saw them at the centro when I was walkin around with Bev. I can just imagine how I was laughed at three summers ago, it's my turn to chuckle. It's as if someone taped a sign to their backs 'Kick me, I'm here for the summer!' and everyone sees it but them.

Hasta!

Yo estoy mirando Mexico vs. Uruguay!

I had planned to be studying this morning, but then I found a live stream of the Mexico - Uruguay game. Plans can change.

I probably shouldn't have tempted myself by even looking for a live feed, because this is torture. Vamos Mexico! Si se puede!

I at least know that I should not go looking for the USA - Algeria game because USA doesn't have the cushion that Mexico does. I'd probably watch that one with my eyes closed! Gah!