Transitions (no pics)

I have tons of posts to write, mostly involving language school and my last week there. It was such an amazing experience, and I feel insanely blessed that I got to learn Spanish with such remarkable people in a beautiful city. 

For now, I wanted to take a minute and jot down some things on where I am in this process, and what is to come. 

I am currently on Back2Back's campus. I arrived here Saturday, and have been welcomed, encouraged, and poured into by the staff here. I have gone through some training, made some plans on what is to happen next, and have been helping around campus in whatever ways I can. 

To be honest- I am completely overwhelmed. :) It's hard to explain though, because I do not mean that in a bad way. I think I tried explaining this feeling on here before. My mind feels like it's in overdrive! Processing everything that's happening, all the new information I am learning and the new role I will play. What life will look like and what I can do to ensure I am caring for these girls the very best way I am able. Processing feelings, fears, joys, missing people, seeing old friends, making new friends, and trying to find my place here has been a lot. In a truly wonderful way. 

Both the back2back staff and the staff from the casa hogar have been absolutely remarkable. They have welcomed me and made me included, encouraged, and loved. It's been SUCH an easier transition than I had imagined. I know it will be hard, but I also know that I have support both here and in the states.

It is because of this support that I can do any of this. 

My entire life has changed. Everything that was "normal" has shifted. To be honest, at times I feel inadequate. But I have learned, it is in these times that I consistently run to God. When I feel out of control, I can better understand that i was never in control in the first place. :) God brought me to this point. He has never failed me. His plan has been beyond perfect. How could I ever doubt Him now? 

This Friday I will be moving into the children's home. I will begin to unpack, and start the next stage of this journey. I will be scared, excited, nervous, emotional, overwhelmed, filled with love, and so so so very thankful. 

Those who know me know that this has been my heart for about 10 years now. To see this dream and passion start to unfold has been the most remarkable gift God has ever given me. For him to give me the responsibility of these girls is breathtaking to me. I feel so unworthy, and so very grateful. 

Random pictures

This has been such an amazing experience. The people, the places, the food- holy cow. Sometimes I really don't understand why God continues to bless me the way He does. :) I am sure glad he still does. 

I have a bunch of pictures that I love, but don't really fallin to an entire blog post. 

So I thought I'd make a misfit picture blog post. :)

The ocean here is just gorgeous. I still haven't been on the beach/in the water yet!! Shocking, I know. :/ it's my goal to go at least once this fin de semana. (Weekend)

Who wouldn't come to Zumba if they got to do it with this sunset as their background?!

The other side of the Zumba street. 

One of our day trips took us to this river. I just really liked these flowers. :)

The river visit also brought us to this boat museum. It was HUUUUIGE. 

Random pretty palm trees. 

Sacrifice island 

A tour bus that will take you around Veracruz. 

And some random night shots of boats. 

I might take too many pictures, but with a memory as band as mine... It's important if I actually want to remember the trip. :)

Field trip: Cempoala pt 2 (mucho pics)

Since I took (literally) over 100 pics, I figured I should cut this field trip post into two. :) 

After seeing all of the pyramids, we went to Hernan Cortez's house. It was built in 1523 in Antigua. The house is right near the oldest church in the Americas, which was founded by Cortez. 

His house is now completely covered in vines/trees. It looks really really cool!

First, we had to cross this scary bridge. lol 

This is my "I'm glad I made it to the other side smile." This was NOT the face I had while crossing the bridge. :)

Beautiful river and plenty of picturesque scenery to look at while we ate lunch. 

Pre-lunch selfie!! lol

I have never seen trees this gargantuan!! 

I think I need to get into the tree modeling business! Hahaha

In front of the church Cortez founded. 

His house was made out of local stone and coral. Really cool to see the big hunks of coral in the walls. 

The walls of the house are now overtaken with trees. Makes for a pretty spectacular sight!! 

Peek-a-boo!!

No ceiling- just some huge trees!

I just found it incredible. One of those things where pictures just don't do it justice. 

Tree house selfie!

Again- tree (house) modeling. My new favorite pastime. :)

Dani is crazy, and climbed it!!

I wish I was able to get the whole house in one shot. It's so cool to look at. 

The church Coryez founded was beautiful. 

Really bright and pretty. 

I'm not sure if it's all of them, but out of the four Catholic Churches I've seen in Veracruz, all four have had a glass casket of sorts with a dead Jesus in it. I was told it was to be a reminder of his sacrifice. Its a very powerful sight. 

They also have a not dying Jesus. 

This was our ride (part of the way) home. What you can't see is that there are two more in the passenger seat, plus the driver. 7 people. I know what you're thinking. lol

It was such a fun day. I love feild trip days. We learn a lot, get a break from classroom studying, and get to practice Spanish with people not accustomed to Spanglish. :) 

Field trip!! (Lots of pictures) Cempoala (the pyramids)

Always so excited for feild trip day! Daniel (a teacher) and I on our way to Cempoala on the bus!

Alicia and Margo are ready too!!

Gorgeous flowers, and mango trees!!

Tha mangos hang from these weird cords. The picture doesn't show it very well. :P

One day I would love to take a decent selfie, like all the cool kids. ;) 

We went in a little museum filled with different artifacts. They were so intricate! 

It's a shame I can't remember what they are from. :/ (Hey, my memory is bad enough in ENGLISH!) You can't possibly expect me to understand what they're saying and remember! :)

This was a place that they believed human sacrifices were placed. They found a lot of bones/skulls in the hole. Gross. 

The slab were the sacrifices were made...I think. I should really take notes. lol

And here's some selfie practice

Group selfie success!! First try too!!

Photobombers. ;)

Margo (our other teacher/guide) running the wall of the gladiator ring. 

We also had some fun being gladiators. :)

Check out that form! Hahaha

Two against one?! So not fair. 

We're so tough. ;)

After gladiator-ing selfie. :)

Our fun group of the day, in front of one of the pyramids. (They were huuuuuge)

Because they're cray- Margo and Daniel decided to climb one. :/ lol 

There were the ENOURMOUS gorgeous trees all around. Margo decided I was her photographer for the day. :) We took turns being models. 

Kelli Dunn. Tree model. hahahaha

These trees were gargantuan. Unbelievably huge-mongous. 

Some had these bizarre doo-hickies on them. Never did figure out what they were. 

But you can't eat them. Daniel said no. :( 

To give you some idea of how large these trees were, here is a picture of me next to the trunk. See?! Gigantor. 

Cool shot of the pyramids.

Pyramid selfie! Getting better? No...not yet. :/ lol

This was ONE TREE. Craziness. And Margo loving the photobomb. :) This girl is the best. 

I'm so whiiiiiite!!! I took two pics, and this is the better one! The sun was actually reflecting off of me on the first one!! It's a fact- I'm so white I actually reflect the sun. 

We didn't really know what this was, but it looked cool. So I stepped into the circle and we had some fun taking crazy pictures. 

First Alicia. 

Then Dani wanted to fly. 

They're weirdos. That's why we get along so well. :) 

Then we were off to lunch, then to the house of Cortez. 

Since this post is about as huge as the trees we saw, I'm gonna put those pics in a second post. 

Check em out- they're even cooler than the pyramids!!