The Dog Park

I love hanging out with my cousins. We always have fun together, no matter where we are. Nothing is ever boring if we are together. It has been awesome getting to spend some good, quality time with them since I got here; it had been a long time.
This afternoon we took the Baker's dog, Dixon, to the "dog park". It was a perfect warm, sunny afternoon. The sun was shining, the slight breeze was just perfect, and we were all together. Can you get any better than that? When we first got there, we decided to jump from rock to rock and see if we could make it across all the rocks without falling. I felt like a little kid again! But heck, it was fun! After that we played frisbee with the dog, and chased many other dogs, trying to get our frisbee back when they stole it from Dixon. Dean (one of the exchange students that is living wiht the Bakers) took some awesome pictures as well. We left just as the sun was setting and had a fun car ride back talking about fun memories we had in the Baker's "old house" growing up.
I love my cousins, I don't know what I would do without them. You guys are the best!!

Adventures of Week Two

This was my second week and Salem, and another great week, just like the first one. :) My mom and brothers left on Friday morning to return to Mexico, and my mom called me last night and told me that they had all arrived safely. I know they really enjoyed seeing everyone while they were here.
Some of my highlights from this past week were seeing my grandparents from Washington, gong to crosswalk, exploring Minto Brown Park, paintballing (there was eleven boys and me that went...it was sooo much fun!!), movie night at Jack's house, Olive Garden with Catherine and Jarren (lol, we have way to much fun when the three of us are together....especially when the phone rings), spending the night at Hannah's, having the "Hannah/Jess day", watching The Office (yes, I'm addicted now), shooting glow sticks 100 yards into the air and catching them at midnight with Cameron and Jarren, and church. :) It was an awesome week with many new memories, inside jokes and pictures that I will remember forever.
I have all these memories, and have had all these awesome times with my friends and family already, and my trip is only half over! I love it.
Enjoying Salem, Jess

Spring Break!

This week has been a crazy week, but it has been completely amazing. I have got to see and hang out with many of my friends that I hadn't seen in a long time, which is great. Hanging out with them and catching up on life is so much fun.
It has been pretty cold and rainy the past week, but we haven't let that get in our way too much. I will admit though, I am a bit of a pansy when it comes to the cold weather. I have adapted to the Mexico climate quite a bit in the last year and a half. :)
Going to Bethany (our home church here in Salem) on Sunday was so awesome. The feeling of being back there was indescribable. I love that church. We had such a warm welcome home too, it was nice. The worship time, and the message, the atmosphere, Sunday school....everything was just incredible.
It seems like almost every night a group of people are going to someones house for a movie night. Usually we hang out and play games, eat food, etc. and then watch a movie. lol. Then following the movie is usually the same thing, with all of the guys tackling each other added in there. :)
We've done random, fun stuff all week. I love it. It doesn't really matter to me what it is that we do, it matters more that I am getting to spend time hanging out with my friends.
Another update and some pics will be coming soon. Jess

Heading Out

The group from Texas just left. I am sad that they all had to leave. It was an AWESOME week. It was a blast to hang out and get to know the teenagers, especially. I had sooo much fun with them... and now I keep wanting to say "ya'll". :) We slept on the roof one night, and the other nights we stayed up into the early hours of the morning looking at the stars, talking and just hanging out. We also had a great time handing out gospels of John, praying for people, hanging out at La Roca, hiking up the mountain, playing with the kids at the Indian camp....I could go on and on. :) I could see God using them in many ways every day they were here. Their attitudes and passion to serve were so inspiring. I am looking forward to keeping in touch with them, and I am already excited for when they come next year. :)

In thirteen hours I will be leaving home and heading to Guadalajara! Woo-hoo! I am very sad to be leaving Morgan, Christian, my Dad, and Mackenzie for a whole month...But on the other hand, I am so unbelievably excited to see my friends in Salem. It still hasn't hit me that tomorrow night I will be in Salem with my friends and family. Crazy. I've barely started packing though, so I should probably get a move on that.

First Group of the Year

This evening the first group of the year arrived at the RTC (regional training center). They are from Texas and will be working with one of our sister Churches here in Autlan. There is five adults and four teenagers on the trip. We are excited to get to know them throughout the week. They have been coming to Autlan for several years now, but this is our first time meeting them since we have only been running the RTC since August. Please pray for this group as they reach into the hearts of the people here in Autlan this week. They are all incredibly nice people, and I know God can use them in many ways during their time here.

This summer is going to be one of many joys and new experiences for me. I will be meeting people from all over the United States as they come here to stay at the RTC and work in Autlan this summer. I am excited to see all the things that God does both in the peoples lives that come on the trip, and in the lives of the people that the groups reach out to in their time here. I am excited to meet and develop friendships with the people that come here and have a passion for sharing the love of Christ with the people in Mexico like I do.

Please pray for our upcoming busy, eventful, God-serving filled summer ahead of us. I know that God will do great things through the people that come here with their hearts open and ready to serve their Savior. I can't wait to see what He has in store for us this year, and the years to come as we continue to tell the world about His love.

God Bless, Jessica