Visiting for a week in March!

So I was able to go from march 7th-15th to visit my wonderful 2nd family in Tijuana. :) It was a great time of reconnecting and just hugging the people. I love them so much and it was so good to hold the kids again and talk to the people face to face.

I am planning on going back in May for at least 2 months. I really felt as i was sitting there last week that this was my home and I never wanted to leave. I love serving there and feel so fulfilled. So I am praying to see if God wants me to move there for a long time to serve. :)

My Spanish is getting better and I am growing a lot in the Lord. It is such a sweet time. I do struggle but the Lord is SO faithful. I think this summer will be a great new learning experience. Can't wait!

This trip 3 of my friends came with.. Chelsea, Kellanie, and Atheana. I don't know exactly how the week was for them completely.. sometimes it is hard to process. But it was a good time.

During the Week we were able to live at the orphanage that I did before, City of Angels! I adore and cherish those kids so much. It was so special to walk in and hear them screaming my name and attacking me :) My eyes filled up with tears in that moment realizing that the remembered me. I felt so loved! We were able to visit the Hospice twice. My sweetest moment was seeing my friend David standing and walking! He has a severe case of Epilepsy.. where he has seizures all the time and he can't walk and he talks with a bad stutter. BUT for the first in the year and half that i have know him he was standing and walking! My eyes filled with tears as i noticed he is taller than me! He told me he loved me in spanish and english. it was pretty amazing!

We got visit another orphanage, the old folks home, and some families. I loved seeing my friend Jesus (Chuy) again. He has such a great spirit. He is the one with kidney failure and he is 22 years old. I love him with such a passion... i just want to give him my kidney. We are hoping in the new month for him to get his transplant. He needs so much encouragement right now. So be praying for him. So much happened in that week.. i can hardly remember what happened what days.. haha. I loved spending time with Sergio again. He calls me his daughter from America! We are super close. I can't wait to work with him again this summer.

Well ask me if you want to know more stories. I miss Mexico so much. It has a huge place in my heart and I am just ready to live there full time. :) I guess we will see what the Lord will do!

keep the SON in your eyes,

Tenielle

Im home!

So i got home Nov. 17th and my totally trip was amazing. Everyday i miss all the kids and people i worked with. I can't believe how blessed I was to be able to work with those people.

My hope is to go back in March and probably all summer.

Im sorry i didn't stay all updated on this through my last month. It got crazy haha.

have a great day!

tenielle

hey no internet

SO we dont have internet at the orphanage right now... crazy times. so i go to an internet store every once in awhile. i will be posting my journal soon i hope.

thanks for all the prayers
tenielle

what a wonderful and beautiful God we serve!

September 30, 2009- Wednesday- Day 42

So I have to start out saying that right after I wrote this journal entry my document had an error and it was deleted. I was like what this never happens! I was a little angry but I think it was because this is going to bless someone and Satan doesn’t want it too. So here we go again…

Last night I woke up really sick and was until the morning. I decided it was time to go to the doctor. I had been putting it off all month but I couldn’t handle all the stomachaches and everything. So I talked to my leader Israel and he called the doctor that he and his family goes too. I was excited that the doctor spoke some English and we worked hard to understand each other. He asked me some questions and then he had me lay down. After checking some things he said you have Collidus (sp?) and it is something you are not going to die from but you will have to adjust to it. You are going to have to give up flour, spicy foods, and peppers. Also you have to make sure to eat 3 meals a day, drink lots of water, take some medication, and eat super healthy.

I was excited to know what it was but then it hit that flour is in a lot of things! I paid the $25 for the visit—so cheap—and then we were on our way. Thoughts tore through my mind about how I was going to have to adjust especially being here in Mexico. Israel took me to the beach to see the ocean since it had been awhile and he said Tenielle everything is going to fine... don’t worry. He loves and cares for me so much. I started thinking about how crazy it was… I think this is all Satan trying to get me to be miserable and to leave. But I am not going anywhere and my Lord is still Lord! Satan needs to get away! I believe God has some amazing stuff in store for me and that is why all these thoughts of what I have to give up are coming. I mean I know that I’m not going to be able to have most breads, pizza, pastas, bagels, some crackers, onion rings, friend chicken, peppers, salsa, and much more plus I should give up pop but I can still serve the Lord.

We got back to the orphanage and I was kind of down but I decided that this was the best time to have some great God time. I started to practice some worship songs in Spanish when I remembered that Alex from the Hospice gave me a verse yesterday to look up. And it was perfect… exactly what I needed. “God is not unjust; he will NOT forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”- Hebrews 6:10. Our God is still God and I know he loves me so much. Satan tries to get us down by having thoughts go through our mind that life is horrible but I know that hey its just food! I think about my amazing friends at the hospice suffering and I realize how great I have it… all the blessings God has showered on me.

After awhile Israel and his wife took me to find my medication and some things for my friend Jesus (Chewy). We had to go to like five different pharmacies but we finally found the medication and it is almost $1 per pill and I have to take 2 a day. The doctor said I should take them for 1-2 months. Wow $60 a month… I can’t even imagine how much they would be in the US. Israel bought me his favorite ice cream after that and talked to me. (The ice cream is SO amazing) he kept saying remember everything is going to be ok and you will make it through all this.

We headed to a different orphanage… one that Sergio started a long time ago called City of Refuge. It was huge… they had 70 kids! They invited me to come out for a day. I am excited to see what that one is like. What an interesting day but hey you never know what to expect when you wake up… my plan is to live out each day to the full here! I am not going to let sickness tear me down… I want to give each day to God’s hands and let Him mold me into what He wants.

October 1, 2009- Thursday- Day 43

I woke up this morning feeling better about life and trying to trust God in all he had for me. I said good morning to the kids and then hung out with them until school time. I was planning on spending the day at the hospice but God had something different planned. Sergio showed up and took me around with him. We went to Jesus’ house and dropped off some stuff… we visited a family where it was a mom who had lost her job. She has five kids and a baby granddaughter living with her and their fridge is completely empty. They were so sweet and we talked to the mom about how to trust God through hard times and that God will provide. I gave her the money from my pocket and Sergio gave her some… it wasn’t much but it was enough to buy some food for a while.

My heart broke seeing her cry… they were hitting rock bottom and needed help. Sergio said he had this feeling he needed to go visit her today and he was right. J We left there and he took me to see the other orphanage that he built and a women’s shelter that his daughter runs. It was pretty neat to meet one of his daughters and to see where a lot of his vision had started. He also showed me where he started Baja Vision ministries and their first church. The people invited me to come back and spend the day with them… playing some music and other things.

We went to Sergio’s sisters house next for her birthday and so I met some more of his family. They were very nice people. After that we headed back to the orphanage and a group was there… one of my favorite people is there leader! His name is Ken and he is from the San Francisco area. He has come down three times since I have been here and he blesses me so much every time. I hung out with the kids and the group and then we went to get tacos. Right when we were heading out Ken invited one of my favorite boys from the area to go. His name is David and he is such a sweetie…. Always smiling and he loves Jesus a lot. I sat with David most of the time at the taco stand talking about his schooling and everything. After a while someone from the group came to talk to me. His name is David to and he is originally from Mexico. We got to talk about my dreams of missions and what God is doing in my heart and everything. It was a good talk. I almost cried telling him some of the things that have happened to me so far. Christ is truly working!

Tomorrow I get to work with the group in building a new orphanage that Ken is starting. They seem like nice people and it will be good to see Ken’s project that the Lord put on his heart.

3 of my days... i will write about the days before soon.. sorry im behind!

September 27, 2009- Saturday- Day 39

I woke up good time and got ready for church. The night before I had a horrible bloody nose that lasted for like 30 minutes. I hadn’t had one in years… it was gross but I prayed that God would heal me and I did good today.

It seemed that no one was ready on time and completely running late for everything. I waited and talked some of the older boys about the bike ride they did yesterday. Finally we headed to church and were like 20 minutes late… we got there for there last song in worship. But I knew the song! I was so excited… it was worthy is the Lamb. I sang with all of my heart and the teen girls looked at me but I didn’t care. Church was good… I only understand bits and pieces so I struggle through it. I notice that I get distracted cause I cant understand then I look over and some of the people i'm with are laughing at me struggling to understand. At the end we sang mighty to save and then headed to the van.

I was so tired when we got back I started to fall asleep on the bench outside so I told Emily that I would take a nap and she could wake me up when lunch was ready. She came but I slept through lunch then she came again to ask if I wanted to go to the Hospice. Then I finally got up… I don’t know why but I was so tired.

The older kids wanted to go with us to the Hospice… some had been they’re before but they wanted to see what we were going to everyday. We brought 4 girls and Bulmaro… I could tell by some of their faces that this was definitely tough for them to see. I noticed that I was super happy to be there! These people are not patients to me but they are my friends. They call me Tonya cause Tenielle is to tough for them… and they always talk about me playing guitar and singing. If I don’t have my guitar that is all they will talk about. I promised them that when I come back this week that I will bring it. Bulmaro seemed to take it kind of hard… it was to tough for him to see all of it. Personally most of the people where doing great today and seemed really smiling. One guy was outside that hadn’t been in along time and one guy was walking better. I was super happy and smiling today… I just felt so filled being there.

There is this older guy who is super sweet and he was sleeping in one of the rooms. I peeked my head in and he opened his eyes… he was so excited to see me. He kept going on and on… he had me come over and hug him. He loves when you just sit by him and let him put his arm around you. His is like a great grandpa! When I left he gave me the biggest hug and kissed my neck. He blessed me a lot. Oh how I love it there and long to go everyday! I’m so glad that God put them in my life.

September 28, 2009- Monday- Day 40

Today was a good day and kind of relaxing. This was the first day in awhile that I had time to myself to take a nap, read, think and catch up on some things. It was nice. Emily left today which I am going to miss her. She is such a sweetie and I’m so glad that we have become friends.

I played with the kids a lot today and talked to different people. I really didn’t leave the orphanage until Roberto asked me to go see his house and stuff. He is the brother of our cook Teresa. He has two boys around 16 that I am friends with and his wife is sweet. I checked out there basically one bedroom house that they are renting this month so that it is not as far for the boys to go to school. They are switching schools so they can actually live in there home. Roberto has a sweet spirit about him and he is very outgoing. We get along very well and it was good just spending time with their family. They invited me to go to there small church and to see there home sometime. I think I will go this weekend. There oldest boy David and I talk a lot… well we try but the language barrier is tough and he talks so fast. Haha but we try.

I got back to the orphanage kind of late and they had to unlock the gate for me. I’m glad some were still up. I watched wrestling with some of the boys and got a kick out of there impression of the moves. Today was a good day and I feel so blessed to have such wonderful new friends.

September 29, 2009- Tuesday- Day 41

Today I woke up and spent the morning with the kids. I helped them with homework, watched cartoons, and then ate lunch with them. Then Israel drove me over to the Hospice Center. I was so exited! These people have become some of my great friends. I went through saying my hellos and then helped one of the guys Alex make some lemonade. We were talking about some different things and he said you know who used to sing to God every morning? Satan… and he is so jealous that you are singing to God everyday with your great voice. I had never thought about it that way. I brought my guitar today and sang until they were ready for lunch.

I walked in to talk to some of the other people and noticed one of my favorite guys Matez was sleeping and didn’t seem like himself. Alex told me that we needed to check his blood sugar. So I was the one who had to poke his finger and check everything… it was super low and his eyes were like Jell-O. Alex got the stuff and we injected this sugar thing into his veins. Matez kept saying i'm finished and he was in a lot of pain… Alex said he was dying and if we hadn’t caught this when we did he wouldn’t have him with us anymore. I was holding a mans hand while he was near death… it hit me hard.

Finally after a little while he started coming back into him old self and stopped talking out of his mind. He did say ‘have that young girl sing to me’… so I started to sing him songs and we starting talking to him. He looked over at me as I said Hola and finally it clicked who I was. His eyes lit up and he started to smile. He said ‘Oh beautiful girl… and kept going on and on about how beautiful I was and how he loved my smile and that I was the girl who sang to them and played guitar and said if he wasn’t such an old man he would kiss me.’ We were all laughing. He is like a great old grandpa. He held my hand for a long time and then we got him to eat.

I left the room promising him I would come back soon with my guitar and thinking how blessed I am to know this man. I then went upstairs and sang to the men who mostly just stay in bed… then went back to Matez he smiled as I came in and he was trying to say my name but couldn’t understand it. All the people at the Hospice call me Tonya cause it’s just easier. It makes me laugh. I sang him and another guy some songs and then just talked with them Matez kept kissing my hand and telling me how wonderful my singing was and how he thought I was beautiful. They are so funny here… they say anything that comes to mind. They truly treasure you for who you are. Its great! After awhile Alex helped me translate some of my songs to Spanish and then I talked with the director Armando about his time in Bible College. It was a great day!

Israel and his family came to pick me up around six and then we headed back to the orphanage. It started to rain and became pretty cold… I ate some supper and hung out with the kids. After saying goodnight and giving them hugs I heard some loud bangs. I thought ok either that is gunshots or fireworks… but I doubt it was fireworks. Sitting my room a lot more went off and I heard some other noise. They sounded so close… I don’t know if I could ever really get used to the sound of a gunshot knowing that it was directed at a person.

hey sorry.

hey so life has been kind of crazy and i know i am behind but i hope to catch up soon and tell you all what is going on.

i have been sick but God is faithful and i have been truly blessed by Him. thanks for everything i will update you soon

tenielle

sorry... been sick BUT here are some days! saw a miracle!

September 12, 2009- Saturday- Day 24

I woke up early this morning to go to work with a group from California. It was awkward for a little bit when I walked up to the area where they were staying but I got used to them after a little bit. I introduced them to some of the kids and then Sergio came to show us the way to the building site. I love when Sergio comes, he is such a great spirit and always excited to see people. We always greet each other with a hand shake and a kiss on the cheek. I was able to ride with him to the site and we had some great talks. We talked a lot about what God is doing in our lives right now and how he is changing us. I can’t believe that he is 70 years old… he is like a rock! As we were driving we turned to head up to the hospital and he said “hey see that pile of glass in the street?” I said yes… he said “that is where the car was stolen.. so whenever you see that.. that is what it is… they broke out the window and stole the car.”

Interesting to think about… how different places are. We got to the hospital and started our work. I helped tape off rooms for painting and I mudded over nails in other rooms. After awhile one of the girls named Jordan and I went to take a break. We were talking about the first impression she had seeing Mexico for the first time… I noticed the trash everywhere and the dogs running in the streets. As we were talking these three guys walk through the site to the other side of the plot. I looked at them and one of them looked like my friend Jesus. But I thought that cant be Jesus he is sick...

--Jesus is 22 years and we met two years ago when I first came to Mexico. We became good friends and would talk every once in awhile through email and stuff. The second year I came back I found out that he was dying from kidney failure. He was really bad and they didn’t know if he was going to make it. Later I found out that things had gotten worse. It hit me really hard. –

Thinking through it I thought I was crazy. There is no way that is Jesus… I haven’t seen him in over a year and Sergio had said he was still struggling but doing better. It bothered me so bad so I decided that when I saw one of the guys again that I would ask him who that guy was. Well just a couple minutes later one of the guys walks over and I asked him who that guy was and he said Chewy ( a nickname for Jesus) and I said what!?! The Chewy that has kidney failure and he said yes that is him. He took me over to where he was and called him over. I was in shock! He looked so good! I said “hey Jesus! Do you remember me?” he said “of course I do!” we hugged and talked for awhile. It was so sweet! I said “you are walking around!!” He said “yah and I can run and I play guitar at church and everything… I am feeling better and I hope to get a transplant in 3-4 months.” I was so excited. I couldn’t believe it! We hugged again and said goodbye so we could get back to work.

I started crying as I walked back to the site… Jesus is a miracle! I couldn’t believe that I had seen a miracle of God right in front of me! I was crying and praising God for awhile. The group kind of looked at me and trying to figure out what is wrong with me. I told them its joy not sadness. I explained the whole thing to them and they were amazed too! God is SOOOOOOO good!

Later Sergio took me to see Jesus’ new house that they had built for him, his sisters, and mom. It was cool meeting his family and just talking with him again. He is so sweet and he has such a great spirit about him. We left there and then finished up at the new hospital. We got back to the orphanage and the group made dinner for the kids. They also brought them presents like bubbles! Which the kids freak out over. What a wonderfully amazing day! God is so awesome.

September 13, 2009- Sunday- Day 25

I was able to go to the big church with thousands of people in the congregation today! I really love the music. It is always so amazing and gives me chills. The worship leaders are great and the band is very professnial. We sang Here I am to Worship in Spanish… it made me smile.

Today wasn’t really a busy day at all… I just played with the kids and hung out around the orphanage. I have to say that I think I will miss these days the most… where I can just watch the kids do crazy things… or watch cartoons with them… or get tons of hugs and kisses. They feel like family and I can’t imagine my life without them.