Ministry Update!

Hello supporters!!

It is nearly december we are almost halfway done with our year! Here is an update for you:

Costura: Things at the costura are going very well. I am there two if not three days a week. Last week we had a sale for an IFM group that said they would be coming two weeks a year. Unfortunately most of their groups have cancelled until march because of the violence in Juarez. So what we thought would be an amazing blessing didn't pan out. But we did get to do this sale so thats a blessing. It was fun to be there and see all the women, hoping and praying that the group buys things. One woman came and had met Manuela three years ago when she was still pregnant with Caleb. We finally found Manuela and made her come to the sale.. she had been at the school still. She brought caleb, a sweet beautiful 3 year old, and their hug was something I couldn't have missed. Beautiful!!

Jenni's Comedor: Last week was stressful but a lot of fun for ME. There was a big group there from IFM (same one that I brought to the sale). It gave us some extra hands in the kitchen and children's ministry so I got to just spend time talking with community members. Thats really my favorite part of all of this. I've been thinking a lot about it and I think I am a lazy minister. All I want to do is sit and talk with people. I don't like doing children's curriculum, and I don't like being tied to certain schedules. If I could just be a wanderer and spend time with family and friends all day long I would do it. I guess its part of why I want to be here this year. I love working too, but how often do you get to just spend time with people. Presence ministry is what they call it and it has always been something I love.

Saturday Comedor: Que Frio! It has been cold here and most of the time we spend at the comedor is outside. It has been a blast though. I have really connected with some of the kids and helpers there. I thoroughly enjoy it and know that a good attitude goes a long way. I showed up a few weeks ago impatient and tired and realized that in order to be a good vessel for Christ I need to be well rested and take care of myself or I am cheating God out of a servant. Tough Lesson!

Studying: This has been a HUGE struggle for me. Trying to do this on top of everything else. I committed my Fridays to studying in order to get my work done for my school and it has been a frustration for sure. Late October I submitted my first question in hopes of writing my first paper by Christmas. My professor didn't approve it until two weeks ago. So my Fridays were a bit lax on the studying. Then it was thanksgiving and I spent that in the community.
This week will be my first full saturday studying since the beginning of November. Yikes!

Team stuff: Our team has interesting dynamics. We all connect but we have barely seen each other in recent weeks between hanging out with friends and family, to ministry schedules etc. It has been hard to connect and meet. Hopefully that will change in coming weeks. Otherwise though things are great. Our team is full of deep thinkers and when we ARE together we have incredible conversations about social justice. It has been a good experience for me in "question posing". That was a learning goal for me connected to school stuff.

Tons.

I can't describe the craziness that has occurred in the past few weeks. All I can say is that God is moving mightily, shaking up my life, teaching me how to love and live again. A fresh breeze has blown through my heart on a wave of hope. It has been adventure to dig deep to see that light in the midst of darkness. Sometimes Juarez feels like a parallel to my own heart some days. This veil of pessimism where light breaks through the cracks, and life exists when you look real hard. Not that my life is a catastrophe, thats not the case. But I have become a cynic, a pessimist and only see the problems. A good friend of mine has been teaching me to change my view, to reach for the good, to fight for the best and to soak up the sunlight as often as possible. What a relief.

Praise God for transformation of heart

Crazy life of an intern in Juarez.

What a wild ride so far. We have been living in El Paso instead of Juarez for a few weeks now and man has it sucked up my time! we spend at least two hours in the border line trying to get back 'home' after our ministry days, we don't have internet at the church which means another twenty minutes driving to the cafe with free wifi.. we love Kinley's House in El Paso. I promise this isn't me whining about it. The fact that I sound entitled to free internet and an easy life is not intended. That's not the intention, merely to point out that my posts will be less often until we can love on the church secretary a bit and acquire the network code :)

Ministry stuff has been going great! I am loving my work and the blessing of seeing the same group of women day after day. I am building some great deep frienships with women in the area. This weekend we are going to a Quincenera for one of the girls at the church Becky and I go to and we will be staying at Vero's house after. The next morning we work at the children's comedor so it will be a busy morning!! I can't believe it is already this far into November!

We had an amazing Halloween experience as a team. I suggested to the others that we do can-drive trick or treating, so we all dressed up nice and hilarious and went out in our neighborhood. We collected about a box and a half of canned food to bring over to some of the families we know in Juarez. What a blessing to give the food directly to families we know NEED the can of beans, salsa, or soup. And the smiles on their faces mean so much! Its a lot different giving it to a soup kitchen, or a food bank, you don't always know who's getting it on a personal level.

This week I went to the orthopedic doctor. I needed to get my shoulder checked out. I disclocated it really bad this summer and haven't had it checked out since I was in Oklahoma. They are making me get an MRI and the doc says surgery is probable. Pray for me that this will be an easy surgery and recovery. Its hard to not use an entire limb! I am grateful for relief though, I have been hurting a good amount recently.

Blessings!!

If you are interested in supporting me.. please email me at phyllischill@gmail.com! I am no where near my goal! I have about $250 pledged and need close to $4000. I would love to hear from you and share more about my experiences here in Juarez/El Paso with Greaterworks!!