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!

Pretty. Awesome.

From August 9th-18th, a group of thirteen people from Bethany Baptist Church (my family's home Church in the U.S.) came to Autlan, Mexico, for a week of missions work. It had been a long time since I had seen my friends and family that were coming on the trip and I couldn't wait to be with them once again. I had more excitement running through me waiting for them at the airport than any teenage girl should ever be able to have. (Not to mention trying to figure out what to do with all of my excitement) I couldn't wait to laugh, hug, smile, take pictures and hang out with my friends from Salem once again.
The nine days that they were here were incredible. I saw God work in many different ways. I saw how much passion my friends have to serve and honor God with their lives and that encouraged me a lot. We had a great week of ministry and were able to serve the people here in Autlan in many ways. Some of the things the group did while they were here included: Leading a Vacation Bible School each morning at the Church that my family attends here in Autlan. Going to an Indian camp one evening and sharing the gospel with the children. Going to La Roca coffee house, doing both a music night and two English conversation clubs. We also did some work around the center and went to Andy and Jessie Clark's (some of our ministry partners) house, helping them paint, clean bathrooms, wash windows etc. We had a very busy week, but I know that the group's work brought glory to God in many ways.
It was cool to see how much the relationships between my buddies and I that came on the trip grew throughout the week. We all became a lot closer and got to know each other better. It was cool to see how each of my friends has different passions, gifts and ways they want to serve. I am very thankful that the group from Bethany got to come down this summer, and for all the work that was done while they were here. We had an awesome week of ministry and I know that God was very pleased with the work that was done for Him.

Spanish Finished!

Today I took my last two tests for Spanish. It was a long, but yet at the same time short nine months of studying Spanish. I look back and see how much Spanish I knew in January, and how much I know now and I am amazed. I still have lots of practice until I am able to speak as good as I would like to, but I will get there. When you live in a country where everyone you come in contact with speaks Spanish, you will learn it. :) I am very thankful for all of my teachers at Harvest. They are all great teachers and are passionate about us being able to learn and speak Spanish well. I have learned so much the past nine months, God strengthened me in so many ways. I don't think I would have been able to make it without God helping me endure until the end. I was learning Spanish to make a difference for Him, and He was at my side helping me learn it all the way through.
Most of you probably know that I am homeschooled. I decided to take a break on my normal school studies as I was going to language school so I could completely focus on Spanish. I will begin right away catching up on my Sophomore year in highschool and then start my Junior year as soon as I can. I would appreciate your prayers as I do so. It is going to take a lot of effort and disipline to catch up. I look back and do not regret my decision at all. Yes, it will be difficult to catch up in my studies, but I have learned a heck of a lot of Spanish in the past nine months, and I will be able to use what I have learned to serve my King; and I am willing to do anything to serve my King.
Thank you all for your love and support as my dad and I went through language school at Harvest Language Center. It was an amazing experience and I learned more Spanish than I could have ever imagned. Now I get to take what I have learned, and make a difference for my Savior.

Cousins Reunited

Jarren, Justin Jordan and Jackson Baker have always been like brothers to me. We have grown up seeing each other every week of our lives. Some of my favorite childhood memories have been with the Baker boys, and I will always remember our time together over the years.
From June 30th to July 25th, Justin, Jordan and Jackson came and visited us in Guadalajara. I was able to to spend a little bit of time with them when I went to Salem for a visit in March, but it had been a long time since we had spent quality time together. We had a great time hanging out together, just like "old times". Even though we had been apart for six months, we picked up right where we left off. We had some good times over the three weeks they were here. Jarren and my Uncle Tim are coming with the mission team from Bethany Baptist Church on August 8th, I am super excited to see them too. (Only two more weeks!)
One thing I have realized by moving to Mexico is that even though I live 3,000 miles away from my friends and family, my relationship with them can still grow. Between the phone, Facebook, e-mail and AIM, I am always talking to my buddies from the States. I thought that when I moved here to Mexico, as much as I didn't want it to happen, I would slowly lose all my friends and not be as close with my family. To my surprise, I have been proved wrong. I have become more close than ever with many of my friends in the past 9 months. And seeing that the Baker boys and I are just as close as ever was really encouraging too. Yes, I do wish that I could still spend time with my friends and family in Salem every week, but I can't. I still know though, that I can be close with them, and our relationship can still grow. Being a Missionary takes a lot of sacrifices, but I am willing to make the sacrifices so I can serve my Savior.
Thank you all for showing me that you still love and care about my family and I even though we live so far away. I can live here not having that many close friends and not being able to see you guys very often because I know that God will always be with both of us. No matter how far away we might be from each other, and no matter how long it might be before we see each other again, we can still be close and our relationship can still grow because God's love is in both of our lives and He ties us together. That is a connection that we will always have, and no one can break that relationship.
I love you guys!

Mi Primer Blog en Español

¡Hola Todos!
Hace unas semanas estaba hablando con una vecina y dijo que debo hacer un blog en Español. Mi Español todavía no es perfecto. Entonces no se pueden reir si entiendes Español y ve todos mis errores. He estado aprendiendo Español desde Enero de este año. He estado estudiando mucho, y he aprendido mucho en los meses pasados. Mi familia y yo cambiamos a México en Diciembre de 2007. Cuando cambiamos aquí, no sabia ninguna frase o palabra en Español menos frases como "donde esta el baño" y "taco" etc. Mirando que sabia de Español en Enero y que se ahora, no puedo creer tanto he aprendido. Pero, todavía tengo mucho trabajo y practico hasta mi Español es perfecto. Creo que hablando en Español es el clavo para aprender Español bien. Cada noche voy afuera de mi casa y jugar fútbol o algo asi con los chicos que viven cerca de nosotros. Ese tiempo cada noche es donde practico mi Español normalmente. Es muy chido por que puedo mejorar mi Español mucho platicando con mis amigos aquí en nuestra colonia.
En tres semanas mas o menos un grupo de joveness de mi iglesia en los estados unidos van a venir aquí a Guadalajara. Se van a quedar con nosotros por nueve dias. Mi primo Jarren y una de mis mejores amigas, Hannah se van a quedar una extra semana conmigo. No han visto mis amigos en Oregon desde Marzo, y les extraño mucho. Estoy muy emocionada verles pronto. Ahorrita tres de mis primos, Justin, Jordan y Jackson estan aquí en Guadalajara quedandose con nosotros. Ha estado muy bien que mis primos estan con nosotros otra vez. Para mi, son como hermanos y cuando mi familia no estan con su familia, les extrañamos mucho.
Okie-dokie, allí esta mi primer blog en Español. No es nada muy especial pero yo lo hice. =)