real missionary training.

this last weekend was an intense one. i keep using that word to describe this DTS experience, but it's the most accurate word i can think of. friday afternoon the fifteen of us students and three staff left for the Cumiai Comunidad of the Neji people. they are an indigenous tribe who are displaced from their homes and now live in whatever they can put together in this area about an hour away from Tecate. part of the purpose of this trip, besides ministering to the people and doing construction work, was to practice leadership. we were split into three groups and each day one of the groups would be leading and making the decisions. we all did pretty well, but i definitely think we need more practice with the whole teamwork leadership thing. we were camping out the whole weekend, however, there was an outhouse we could use (PTL!). it was horribly freezing at night though. the second night i think i slept a total of about an hour. but other than that it was a pretty great weekend. we spent friday night having worship and sharing a message with the people there. i helped out with the children's ministry. the kids were so precious. it was getting really cold so i had children all over me trying to use my body heat to keep warm. it was special, and they still enjoyed themselves. later we had a bonfire, which was a good time of getting to know each other even better and sing some more.

saturday was our big work day. we collected the sand, rocks, and crete to mix together and pour for the foundation of one house. it was a lot of work, but it was good. the floor turned out great. we ended up having another bonfire that night too because it was so cold. this time though we played a game where each girl picks one of the guys and then the guys have to go one at a time and formally ask out whichever girl he thinks picked him. she's supposed to lead him on, and then if she did pick him accept (giving the boys a point), and if she didn't, turn him down (giving the girls a point.  then you reverse roles. it was HILARIOUS! really, these mexicanos are nuts!

following that was a sleepless night, of which i got up extra early to go hang with the guys that kept guard overnight (from animals and such, which there were a lot of) and help out with making breakfast. then we had more worship and i gave the sunday message.

(oh, btw i led musical worship for the first time ever on friday morning. even though it was just my class and the staff, i was really nervous, because i'm not known to be a very good singer. but it felt good to lead. i'm probably going to be doing more of that in the future.)

after breakfast we had to wait for some people to get supplies, and while the rest of us cleaned around our campground, one of the Neji men came over with his horses and we got to do some horseback riding which was a wonderfully random morning activity. shortly thereafter we went to go start the foundation on another house, but on the way to walk over there (after about five steps) i hardcore wiped-out and twisted my ankle. i'm pretty sure it isn't anything serious, but it still hurts, and so i was out for the rest of the work day resting my foot. later in the afternoon we packed up and headed back to Tecate for dinner and showers and more packing. we were all very in desperate need of some limpiar.

now tomorrow morning we're leaving once again for Tijuana. we're going to be there for a whole week this time, so it'll be good to spend some time getting to know the people at that base better. i'm just glad we don't have to sleep on the freezing ground again.