Divine December

"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for ALL the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:10-11

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! 

December was a FULL month! It passed me by in the blink of an eye. Here are a few of the many things we did here in La Misión this past month. 

The kids have come to love being at my house. They come regularly or stay after church to play, ask me for things or just to be with me. We play jump rope and tag in the park, play uno until everyone has had a chance to win, watch youtube videos and even made a piñata for a school project. This new year I have set time aside for them twice a week in hopes to keep pouring into their lives. 

 Lucy, a new believer and mom to two of the kiddos at church asked me to come to school with her and the kids one morning so that each kid could have an adult with them at the school wide game day (dad was working). Little Jenny offered to lend me her shirt so I could be on her team, hahaha. This was a fun morning interacting with the kids from all over the community. After school we went back to their home and had a very yummy breakfast and Jenny read to me. 

Around mid November we started practicing for the Christmas play. These kids came each Tuesday afternoon to memorize lines, learn songs and actions. It was so encouraging to see them excited to learn and share the story of the birth of Christ. 

One of my favorite things about serving here are the youth group girls. They love spending time together. In December we took a trip to the boardwalk in Vallarta together and soaked up the sun. Then the Saturday before Christmas they came over and we made crapes to eat and slime to play with. There are always many laughs and memories made. 

One of my biggest blessings in Mexico has been working with Sarah. She was my right hand for 6 months. At the beginning of December she went back to her home in Washington. We all miss her and life is different here now. She was such a HUGE help to me and joy to be around. I will miss our adventures every Thursday and her love for Jesus and the kids. 

As a missionary Christmas can be one of the hardest times because you can't be with your family. This Christmas however I had the chance to spend it with America (a church friend) and her family on their farm. We ate and ate and ate. If we were not eating we were making food for the next meal. I tried all sorts of new foods and had so much fun with this family. 

For New Year's I spent the night with the Arellanes at their home. We had a fancy dinner, played games and did some small fireworks. The next day we took a day trip to a small mountain town and walked around the lake. It was a great start to the year. 

2018 was a great year of ministry and seeing God work and use me here in Mexico. 2019 is already off to a great start and I am looking forward to seeing all that will happen this year. I will be continuing with bible studies and working with the kids at church. One of my new projects will be to teach one of the little girls from church to read, if you think of me please pray for both of us. God is good and with Him all things are possible. 

Thank you so much for your continued support and love this past year. I could not do it without you! 

God bless you all in the new year. 

Alicia 

Fellowship International Mission 

555 S 24th St 

Allentown, PA 18104