Cancun

     Cancun, Mexico. It is the tourist destination, with warm weather all year (although the locals think that the water is too chilly to swim in this time of year... Trust me, it's not!) And beautiful white beaches. The ocean is almost unnaturally blue.
     But just a forty minute drive from the ocean, you find slum villages that just go on and on. Some houses are made from pallets, others from leftover metal. The homes in these areas are built entirely from the debris left over from the hotel construction.
     We arrived in Cancun last Saturday afternoon. Stepping off the plane, we were immediately stifled by the heat and humidity... quite a change from the snow we had awoken to in Wisconsin that morning!
     While in Cancun, our one free day a week will be Mondays. Last week, we went to the beach, where Jeremie saw the ocean for the first time, and the guys had a lot of fun getting thrown around by the waves. I don't really see the fun in that, but each to their own, I suppose! Keisha built a sand turtle, and I collected the seashells she used to make the shell. Apparently finding shells is a strength of mine. I found a whole sand dollar pretty early on, as well as a large conch shell. Among many many other shells.
     Anyway, our free day was quite lovely, and none of us got burnt, which was a blessing!
     Tuesday we really began our outreach. In the morning, we had orientation with Darius, Jamie, Damaris, Zaida (Jamie's wife), and Swindi (Darius's wife), who are the staff and founders of Tree of Life Ministry, the ministry that we are working with and staying at during our time in Cancun.
     On Tuesday evening, we had our first ministry time here in Cancun. We traveled along very bumpy roads until we reached a slum village which had even bumper roads, if you want to call them roads- in reality, those were just wide paths. When we arrived, we walked around telling the kids that we were having a program in 15 minutes. Our program began with face painting and balloon animals. Then we had a couple skits and testimonies. At the end, Jamie asked the kids if any of them wanted to pray to give their life to Jesus, and 23 children came forward. Then we had a pinata, and the people from the house we were in front of provided rice milk pudding stuff to everyone (mmmmm, yummy.... not!). It was really challenging trying to communicate with the people, since they knew little to no English, and my Spanish is mucho.... bad.
     The rest of the week was a mixture of painting at the Kingdom School, a sort of community center that Tree of Life runs in Cuna Maya, one of these villages, and more ministry times. Our ministry times always consist of two or three skits, and one or two testimonies.
     Yesterday, after church (which is conveniently held in the downstairs of our house), our team had the rest of the day for team things- we don't do ministry on Sundays. So we had talked about wanting to prayer walk around Cancun, and previously we had decided on Sunday. So at about 4:30, we headed out. But we were all quiet and tired and honestly weren't very into it. We stopped at a karaoke place, where we have seen prostitutes outside. And there we prayed, and decided to fight off the heaviness that we were all feeling. Keisha felt like we needed to do something joyful on that spot, where there is not much real joy. So 4 of us did a children's song with incredibly ridiculous actions. We were all laughing so much, and then we all talked about one of our most joyous moments. After this, we all felt so much lighter. We had fought a spiritual battle and won. We then continued to just walk around, praying over the city and buildings and streets and parks and people.
     It is impossible to really sum up everything that we have done here, but those are a couple things.
     Oh, and one last story, this one just funny. The other night, the boys all went to the coffee shop to use the internet; I chose to stay behind. Then Michele and Keisha had planning and things to do, so they also left, leaving me alone in the house. It was SO nice! I grabbed a guitar and some music, and I went to my room to worship God. But I felt Him tell me to go do it outside in our little gated courtyard, so I did. And I had the most wonderful time worshipping God!
     So yeah, that is obviously not the funny part. Eventually the guys got back, and we all went to bed. Keisha and Michele were still out. However, I guess Jeff, a pastor in Nashville who stayed with us last week, didn't realize that they were still out, so he locked up the house.
     At 11:30, I awoke to banging on my second story window. I looked and saw Keisha staring at me (I took a picture; I'll post it!). Her and Michele were locked out of the house. I had to go get the keys and unlock the door and 2 gates. And I literally was still giggling about it the next morning :P
     Anyway, I shall try to post this tonight, because I am assuming that the guys will want to go use the wifi.  They go basically every night, so there is a pretty good chance.
     Thank you for your prayers!
     Blessings,
          Katie
     Oh, and p.s. (this is latet; I'm actually sitting on the beach now, sun beating down, ocean roaring just in front of me, salty water drying on my skin). We got to the beach and Aaron realized that since actually becoming a Chiristian, he hadn't been baptized. So Jeremie baptized him here in the waves on the beach in Cancun, Mecico.

Mexico

     We have been here in Mexico for a week now. Already God has done sugh cool things!
     Last night, we went to a non-Christian rehab center with people ranging from 13 or so to their 50s. We started our time playing a quick game, then we did some worship songs. At this NON-Christian place. Then we did a couple skits and had a couple testimonies, and then shared the gospel. Of the 25 or so people there, 13 came up when we asked if any wanted prayer or to give their life to Jesus. It was so amazing, and God was so clearly at work! While we stood and prayed with these people, in the hallway, someone was shrieking. I watched as Damaris, one of the Mexican staff here, walked over and just looked down the hall. She didn't go there, just looked in that direction. She put her hand out and I watched her pray a quick prayer. Immediately, the screaming stopped.
     This is just one quick story about what has happened here so far. We don't have Internet at our house, so we have to go to a coffee shop, but tomorrow is our free day. I have to write a post for the Madison blog newsletter thing, so I shall try to write  more tomorrow. But I also think that we are going to the beach, sooooooo I make no promises!
     Hope y'all are having fun in the cold! ;)
     And please keep us all in your prayers! Gracias!
     Blessings,
          Katie

One. More. Day.

     Wow, I honestly don't remember the last time I wrote on here! My apologies. And this one will be short... it is almost one in the morning and I am tired.
     Christmas break, being home, was amazing!!! I loved seeing every one of y'all. And it is also good to be back here in Madison with my YWAM family!
     But that won't be lasting long. Since the technically it is now Friday, we leave for outreach TOMORROW!! I leave for 7 weeks in Mexico with my awesome team -Aaron, Jack, Jeremie and I lead by Keisha and Michele- tomorrow!! We are leaving the TC at 5:45 am on Saturday morning.
     I am excited!!!
     Blessings,
          Katie

 Team Mexico! Jack doesn't like doing weird faces. He actually legit has been walking around with a paper bag over his head :P

This is our nice team photo. Replacing our first one since Aaron joined the team later (and we are very glad he did!)