Los Angeles

Today has been a tiring and wonderful all at the same time.

Sra. de la Rosa and I hosted a slumber party last night-- Elena and her little sister Jesabel spent the night with us. We had a wonderful time grocery shopping together, preparing dinner, and getting ready for bed. The girls woke up with us at 4:45 this morning to pick more strawberries for the Latino community. We pulled up to the church at 5:30 in the morning and I was shocked to see a group of 10-12 people waiting for us. That's one thing that has really impressed me and really stuck with me about the community here-- they are ready and willing to help Sra. de la Rosa with anything she needs; they are eager to be involved, even if it means rising before the sun to spend hours in the fields picking fresas. Seeing such dedicated, hard-working people has caused me to reflect a lot about my own work-ethic, my own willingness to jump in and volunteer especially for tasks that are less than appealing to me.

Anyways, the strawberry picking was tiring but rewarding. The best part is retunrning home and driving through the Latino community, asking anyone and everyone, "?Le gustarian fresas?" There is much to be said about providing food for people who struggle to put it on the table. Sra. de la Rosa is constantly sending bread/pastries/fruits/drinks home with people. We walked into church the other morning to find boxes and boxes of bread/cakes/doughnuts.

I asked her, "Pastora Martha, where did all this come from?"

She replied, "We have many angels, Nicole."

And being here, it really does seem like there are angels in our midst. Food comes from nowhere and we are able to send it home with people who truly need it, people whose faces show their gratitude and the relief they feel to hold a bag of food or a box of produce in their hands that they can bring home to their families. I have learned much by being here, by watching, by listening, by serving.

I am so grateful to live in community with everyone here. I am even beginning to feel part of the community. The more I'm here, the more I understand the things going on around me, the more I can communicate with and relate to the families I'm in contact with, and the more the children around me open up to me and trust me with their thoughts and worries, their joys and their fears.

Thank you for your thoughts, your prayers, and your comments on my blog. You have no idea how wonderful it is to receiving such encouraging words, and to see messages from familiar names.

Tomorrow we leave for annual conference in Roanoke, VA. I'm not sure if I'll have internet access or not, but I'll get you up to date eventually.

As always, Paz y Amor. -Nicole