Videos!

Hey everyone!

Nicole came down to Ixtapaluca a few months ago to take video for CAM International... well, actually, Camino Global! (Remember, they are changing their name sooooon!)

Here is the video about our area:

Community Transformation in Mexico from Nicole Greiner on Vimeo.


And a video about the different Ministries that Camino Global has... this one also highlights our area here in Ixtapaluca!


Camino Global Ministries Teaser from Nicole Greiner on Vimeo.

Happy Valentines Day!

Um.... I am almost afraid to actually say it but... whispers... happy valentines day. I am only afraid to say it because I have seen about 100 facebook statuses that say something like "I hate valentines day" or "thanks for the reminder I don't have a boyfriend" or "this day makes me feel miserable". These statuses make me sad. (on the other side of things my facebook status made fun of everyone who said... " I have the best boyfriend in the world, i am the luckiest girl, no one compares... blah blah blah... i saw about 100 of those as well... they were almost all identical!.")


I totally understand how much it kinda sicks not to have someone in your life to give you a cheesy card or flowers. Some days I wonder, just like many other, if you will ever get married, or have a Valentine. 


But, Valentines day isn't all there is to life... it shouldn't control your moods or your worth. You are worth FAR more then any relationship status on February 14th!


Anyways, my point is that although it may seem like Valentine's day is nothing but a day to remind all the singles around the world that they don't have someone special, it doesn't have to be. In fact, there are tons of things you can do on Valentines that don't require a date. 


Things I like about Valentines Day..
1. You don't have to share any of the Valentines candy with anyone! Unless you want to!
2.You can just hang out and watch a good movie or write or read... while all of your friend that are dating or married are out fighting the crowds in the restaurants
3. It is a day to remember all the people who LOVE me and who i love!
4. It is a day to remember to shower everyone you love... with extra love, encouragement and cheesy cards!
5. OR its a day you can do something extra special for someone you know that is going through a rough time.
6. It is also a great day to remember God's unending love for us.


1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Valentines Parents Appreciation Dinner

Today we held a appreciation dinner for the parents of our youth group! We actually gave a lot of the responsibility TO the youth this time. We bought the stuff and they decorated, they helped cook the meal, they helped clean, they came up with what they wanted to say to their parents!
They did a really good job!

I think we had 34 parents and then all of the youth in the house. Kinda crowded but it worked!

It was good to see the youth tell their parents how much they appreciate them. They read things, sang songs, served them dinner and wrote them little letters!

This was a well deserved treat for the parents!

We went to the Circus!

Fabian, Tiffany and I went to the circus tonight. I think we were the only ones without kids, but i felt like one!! =0)

It was a good time! If your in the area...  its the final days... hurry hurry!!

There wasn't any cameras allowed.... so the pictures aren't very good. But, here are some illegal ones taken from my phone (don't tell!)

Trust

I was about 14 years old.... not comfortable in my own skin and looking for a way to fit in. So, when a group of 15 teens stood in front of an 8 foot wall trying to figure how to conquer this obstacle in front of us, I (of course) went with the plan. We could build a human ladder... or maybe one person can run and fling themselves over the wall... or maybe one of the stronger guys could hoist one of the smaller girls up and over, no big deal. 

Everyone seemed to nod and go along with the plan. I sat there gnawing on my fingernails... scared. Methodically, they lifted each of us up and over the wall without any problem. But, that didn't seem to help my nerves. Then there were just three of us left. 

They looked at me, I looked at them, they looked at me, I wanted to run away. The others who have already survived this trust exercise were cheering us on 'you can do it!!!' The two older guys stepped close to me and my heart was in my throat. 

"So, we are just going to, kinda like, throw you over the top, ok"

"throw me?"

"ya, you will make it, and the people at the top will catch you"

I looked up at the people who were suppose to catch me. One was leaning over the edge dangling his arms, two girls were talking... eeek.

"Catch me?"

"Yes, just do it" The boy was losing patience. 

He took a step toward me and i was trembling. 

"ok" i finally said.

"Good" the other boy said " this is about trusting your team"

I nodded and the boys hoisted me up over their shoulders and counted to three

I felt my body fly up and over the top of the wall and I watched the "catchers" part like the red sea! The wall seemed to just float by as i scrambled the grab on to something, anything. Then it was all over, I stared at my fingers desperately gripping the only thing from keeping me from falling eight feet to the other side... the safety rail.

"huh" one of the boys said "we thought you would be heavier then that'

I was pulled back up and i glared at the people on my "team". I remember thinking... do not trust people when you hear the words "toss you over the edge" or "we will catch you" again.

Isn't it interesting that one bad experience can shape the way you trust people. I have never been very good at trusting people (not just because of the wall experience, although i am sure that didn't help!). 

I have come to the realization (a few years ago) that I can't completely trust others, until I trust and understand that God is really the thing holding my life in his hands. Sure people will hurt me or give me reasons to not trust them and that is part of life. But, God... He will never leave... He will never hurt me... He knows exactly what I need, when I need it. He LOVES me, unconditionally, and that will never, ever change.... even when people do.

Then there is forgiveness... but i am not going to even get started on that now ;)

Ya i know, this isn't a  new thought. Just something I was thinking about this morning!

P.S for the record, I have done one of those walls again, several times!

who wouldn't want to live here?!?!

Lately its been chilly and rainy here in good 'ol Ixtapaluca! Which means when its chilly and rainy here at 7000+ feet above sea level it SNOWS on the volcanoes at 1700+ feet!!
Normally the clouds are covering part or all of the volcanoes but yesterday afternoon and this morning they were almost clear!!!

Almost everyday when i look at these beautiful volcanoes these verses comes to mind...
Psalm 121:1-2
I lift my eyes up to the mountains(insert volcano :0) )
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD
the maker of heaven and earth

It really is a tough place to live... having to look at these majestic volcanoes everyday ;)

God is Awesome!

I just want to say it again.... God.is.awesome.

I was laying in bed today thinking about this. You do a lot of thinking when your laying in bed sick!

anyways...

I am in awe of Him. It seems like every time I turn around I am looking at evidence of God at work, not only in my life, but of the lives of everyone around me. Not simply the "oh, that's nice" sort of thing, but the "that couldn't be anything but god" sort of thing. It almost leaves me speechless!

God is working all around us, but how often are we too wrapped up in our own lives to recognize the hand of our creator? But, every moment could bring something simply amazing... one more reason to praise Him.

The thing I find even more amazing is that He chooses to use me in what He is doing. He certainly doesn't need me to get anything done. I am pretty confident that the God of the Universe could accomplish His purpose without me. What an incredible privilege it is to be a part of the work He is doing in people's lives.