Well, I've finally got my pictures scanned and online. If anyone is still reading this, you can go here to view them. I tried to organize them. The toddler class is first, then it works its way up to the older kids. Most of them are explained through by their picture name. The pictures toward the end are from when the group from my school came the last week, as you can tell by all the extra Americans around. Please excuse my spelling on some, as I spent two hours scanning and naming pictures last night.

It's a little hard to share these pictures because, as I was sharing with Natalie, they are just some more poor children to the majority of you. I know I become de-sensitized to poverty when I see children on television, or in print, and I understand that most of you will view them in the same way, just as I would view someone else's Mexico pictures. I can't explain or use enough words to tell how much I love these kids and how much they mean to me. Even after knowing them for just ten weeks, I felt like such a part of their life, and I felt like I really knew who they were as individuals. Anyway, I just had to state that as you take a look at the kids.

So i've been back in the States for a week and two days. It has been really strange, actually, and it's odd being back in my consumer lifestyle. I have noticed that I have had trouble adjusting to things. For one, I am still struggling to listen to sermons. In Mexico I got very used to trying to listen to sermons in Spanish, getting bored, and then daydreaming. I feel like I've lost a lot of Spanish already, by being back. A lady tried to talk to me yesterday in Spanish and even though I knew what she was saying I got frustrated, embarrassed, and gave up. That's disappointing. When I know I can revert to English and be understood, I am embarassed to use my bad Spanish.

I got back home and said to myself "now what?". I had such a consistency set in my life in Mexico that coming back to a week of running around, visiting people and catching up was out of place and a little awkward.

People keep asking me, upon my return, if I had a good time. Yes, I did. I am so incredibly happy that I took this opportunity, stepped out of my routine and my school schedule, and did this. They also ask if I miss it, and I honestly reply that yes, I miss it a lot. I get to go back in June for a week, but then I know that it will probably be 9 months before I am back again. That is hard to think about.

On the video that Andy made for the college group's trip to Mexico, Melissa talked about how hard it was to befriend the children and the people, and then to pick up your stuff, say goodbye, and walk out of their life. It is hard on a person when they have been there for a week. It is incredibly difficult for someone who has been there ten weeks. It is hard to be another American who has gotten to know these kids (and I must mention the girls that I worked with as well), and then goes back to her normal life, and counts her time in Mexico as another life adventure. I am not quite sure how to accept that.

When I was in Mexico I would go to the internet two times a week, and it would be the only time I could listen to some of my favorite bands, as I did not take my cds down there with me. One of my favorite bands, Copeland, was releasing a new cd, and this song was on their website. It reminds me a lot of the love of Christ and how that should propel us to take action in our world. I'm kind of a strange person, and I take on songs/sayings/quotes for certain periods in my life. "Love is a Fast Song" by Copeland is the song for Mexico. You can hear it here.

You don't have to be ashamed
'Cause you're a miracle through and through
Oh, and you don't have to be ashamed
Of the miracle inside of you

What has love become?
(What has love become?)
It's not like we used to hear in those old songs
And it's not like yours
(And it's not like yours)
What has love become?

Your love is in motion
And it's spinning me around, yeah
My heart is in motion
For the movement that's in you

You should not be angry
If all she wants is your money
Oh, you should not be angry
'Cause all you want is her body

What has love become?
(What has love become?)

It's not like we used to hear in those old songs
And it's not like yours
(And it's not like yours)
What has love become?

Your love is a fast song
And I'm dancing 'cause I'm in love with you
My heart is in motion
For the rhythm inside you
Your love is a slow song
It's resounding through my world again
My heart is in motion
For the song inside of you

I guess this is my last post. I hope you all enjoyed reading.