Jazz

Shortly after we moved to Autlan in August, my sister Morgan joined a ballet class at a dance studio here. I saw that there was classes offered for my age, so in October I thought I would give one a try and see how I liked it. I went into the class for the first time not really knowing what to expect, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It was totally hip-hop, high school musical type dancing. When my mom picked me up and asked me how it was, I told her what it was like, she just laughed. Everyone else I told about it that knows me really well laughed too. It is totally not something I would normally do, but for some reason I still really enjoyed it. I decided I would try it out for a month, and if I didn't like it I would be done after that. Even though I wasn't very good at it, I still enjoyed it for the most part.
I soon heard that we would be having a performance in December, and didn't know what to do. A performance? Are you kidding me? I didn't want to just quit, so I decided to do it even though I was pretty sure I was going to do mess everything up, just by doing the one song I knew.
On December 6th, was the first performance. I decided I was going to have fun even if I did mess up. I did almost all of the songs in the routine, and only messed up one time, well that was really noticeable anyway... :)That night was the funnest night I have had so far in Autlan. Even if I wasn't the best one in our group, it didn't matter. I got to know the girls on my dance team much better that night, and we laughed and had lots of fun together. It wasn't awkward to hang out with them, it all seemed so natural. It reminded me of all the fun times I had with my friends back in Salem.I am excited to develop a better friendship with the girls in my dance class. I hope that I can share the love of Christ with them and make a difference in their lives.
We have another performance on December 18th on the stage downtown, I'm excited. :)
Enjoy the pictures. I will post more after our performance on the 18th.

Thankful for the Stars

Almost every night I find myself staring up at the never ending beautiful sky above me. Being captivated more and more every time I take a minute to look up at the stars.
We have a big open courtyard at our house, at night it seems like you can see every star in the entire sky by standing out there. It continually reminds me how small I am compared to God. Each star is a gift, to show both how powerful the creator of the universe is, and how much he loves me. I think I as well as most other people in the world, forget to look at the small things God blesses us with each day.
The other day I was doing my Bible study on my bed. I keep a list in my devotional book of people and things I want to remember to pray for. When it became time for me to spend some time in prayer with God, I realized that almost every single one of the things on my list was asking God for something. I pray for those things every day, and I didn't even realize that there were barely any things on that list I could thank God for until then. That doesn't make them bad things to pray for, but I was forgetting to thank God for the things he already has done for me also.
When you are in a big city, if you look up into the sky, the stars are much harder to see. Why? Because of all the city lights. However, if you are out in the country and you look up at the stars, it is like looking up at a completely different sky. There isn't all the city lights, all the distractions, blocking the view of what is really out there. We get so caught up in life asking God to give us more and more that we forget to thank him for all the things, big and small, that he gives us every day. Don't let the city lights block your view of the beautiful gifts God blesses you with. Next time you look up into the sky, thank God for the things he has given you and be reminded how powerful our Heavenly Father is.

Packages Wanted

Hello all my dear friends! Just thought I would let you know, my grandma just sent my mom a birthday present and it only cost $3.00 to mail here to Mexico. Hint, hint....we would love to receive a package from you! :) Our address here is:
Monte Alban 107
Colinas Del Sur
Autlan, Jalisco 48900
MEXICO

Twilight

I am sure you have heard the buzz going around about the book series "Twilight". Pretty much all teenage girls are reading them, and that is all their conversations seem to be about anymore. I have to confess, I am addicted to these books too. I just finished the second book, and I am super excited to get the third and fourth ones. I can't buy them in English in Mexico, so I am a bit behind, but they should be arriving in the mail soon.:D When I first heard about the books, and then heard what they were about, I thought all my friends were going crazy. I mean, come on, vampires?! But after I started reading them, I couldn't stop! After a while they become more than just a story you read when you are bored. Stephenie Meyer has done an outstanding job writing these novels. They aren't like most books you would find on the shelves at Barnes and Noble these days. They are different, unique. I think people really enjoy them for that.
A movie is coming out on November 21st based off of the first book. I can't wait to see it!
If you haven't read the Twilight series yet, you need to read them! They are amazing. Especially if you are a teenage girl, you will love them. :)

La Roca

La Roca is my new second home here in Autlan. I love hanging out there, and I am there at least three nights a week. La Roca Casa De Cafe is a coffee house owned by Tecate Mission, ran by John and Elizabeth Rodgers, some of our ministry partners here. La Roca has a warm, welcoming feel to everyone who comes in, and at the same time a safe, christian atmosphere too. People come to La Roca to drink a cup of coffee and visit with friends, play games while listening to the christian music playing in the background, to do homework, or just to relax. In the back room is also where we teach our English classes. I see many of my students at La Roca throughout the week, which gives me a chance to have more of a one-on-one relationship with them. The coffee at La Roca is the best coffee ever by the way. It even beats starbucks! :) Audie and Lulis are the two full time employees at La Roca. We have become good buddies and they are tons of fun to hang out with. I love them both. Audie has two kids, Daniel and Dinora. They are attending one of my English classes, and I love them to pieces too. I am beginning to get to know and become friends with more and more people here. From my English classes, hanging out at La Roca, and from my gym class. We have only lived here for two months and I can't even go into town anymore without seeing a few people I know. Whether in La Roca, driving in the car, or walking around, I am stopping to say "hola" to people more and more. The other day in the car, for about the third time that day, we passed by some people and I was like "hey, I know them." My mom said, "Wow Jess, you sure are getting to where you know more people here." Just think of what it will be like in a year! I am glad that I am making new friends here. I hope that our friendship can lead to them beginning an everlasting relationship with Christ. Autlan is a great city, with very kind, friendly people, but they lack the love of Christ in their lives. This city needs to be shining with the bright light of Christ. Please remember the people of Autlan, Mexico in your prayers. That they would find the light of Christ and not continue to live in the darkness. Please also pray for my family as we shine the light of Christ to the people here, and show them what love is all about. Dios Le Bendiga!