Food Plus

 Last week I asked you to pray as I am teaching Katrina's classes and mine for a bit.  The first two days went well, and I just finished most of my lesson plans for next week.  I am grateful for your prayers.  They are important; I feel them.  

One gal in the Cross Cultural Training program could work in a restaurant as a professional chef!  Most weeks we have a special dinner on Wednesday nights.  This week she took over and cooked an American meal.  She made the best pulled pork sandwich I have ever had!  I am serious!  She made the buns from scratch, the pork was tender and juicy, and the homemade coleslaw she put on each sandwich was amazing.  She also made lightly seasoned potato wedges and a tossed salad with fresh apples and dried cranberries.  Unfortunately I forgot to take a pic of the little apple pies (from scratch) that topped off the meal.  After it was all over, I realized that she went through all the work to honor the Americans living here (actually especially me).  It was such a loving thing to do; my heart melts.  I know El Monte is a Christian ministry, but I am so impressed with the warmth of the Mexican people.

The next night a few of the guys decided to cook for us again!  They made Pambazos.  As you can see it is a large sandwich. (I took a bite out of mine before I remembered to take a pic.)  The bun was actually dipped in a broth for a bit before the bright red spicy sausage and cooked, diced potatoes were added.  Then we got to top it off with a cream, shredded cheese, and lettuce.  I just wanted to sample the sauces, so those are the "dots" you see on my plate.  Yikes!  The sauces were blazing, but I did really enjoy the sandwich.  I was proud of myself that I could eat the spicy sausage.

Then last night one of my students brought two hot drinks to my apartment to try--atole de galleta (I think it has a rice base--almost a vanilla flavor) and champurrado (almost like hot chocolate).  We had been talking about these drinks in class earlier in the week.  After she left I tried both and sent her a thank you text.  She responded, "It was with great love so that you could taste something typical of Mexico."  I was so touched.  I am explaining this because I want you to share in as many experiences as I can possibly relate.  I do not mean to brag; this is all God's blessings.  It is important to me that you understand that the Mexicans surrounding me are so caring, loving, and thoughtful.

At first I thought I had a pickle in my soup one day at lunch.  The soup was very tasty with a tomato base and lots of vegetables.  Turns out it was a thin slice of zucchini. We also had flautas--fried, rolled tortillas filled with chicken and topped with cheese and lettuce.

One day as I was walking from lunch back to my apartment, I noticed some cows on the other side of the fence.  (A fence surrounds all of El Monte.)  Evidently they just wandered over from someplace.  🤣 As I got closer to get a better pic, they took off.  Notice the ears that seem to stick straight out from the sides of the head.  They sure aren't Wisconsin cows!  

I have to include this pic that I took out the window of the car as we were driving home from church last Sunday.  I don't know what that man had inside that basket on his head.  Also on the drive home I saw two oxen in the middle of the opposite traffic lane. (I couldn't get a pic.) The man walking behind them was urging them on with a long pole; the pair even had a huge wooden yoke.  I don't think National Geographic gets any better!

                                   Here's another peek at El Monte--the view out my apartment door.

Praise and Prayer Requests 

• I am grateful for the materials I have to work with in planning lessons.  God's timing was perfect (as usual) in that I was ready to teach the extra classes. 
• I am grateful for all the students who demonstrate Jesus's love without even thinking about it.
• I will never have a longer summer!  I am grateful for all the beautiful days.
• Please continue to pray for the needs of this ministry, its hard-working staff, the students and their futures.
• Please pray for my stamina, energy, flexibility, and wisdom as I will be teaching all the classes this week.  God continues to be at my side.

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid or discouraged.                                                                  Deuteronomy 31:8