Excerpts from a letter to my mommy and daddy :-)

I finally have a somewhat regular job as of about a couple of weeks ago. He knows about my trip to the states and everything, and I should be able to work for him substantially in March as well as working part-time (which I've already started doing) now. I don't get paid well by American standards... about minimum wage... but I've never made much more than that, and I've never worked much more than 20 hours a week either... So it seems like a normal amount of money to me. And compared to my peers, I'm living like a queen. I really like my job. My boss is in charge of receiving students that want all kinds of teachers, tutors, and classes. Every time someone needs an English class, I come ready and prepared. I'm not always super-well informed about the needs of my client before I show up at their house or office, so I'm always having to think on the fly and respond to the needs in front of me. It reminds me of social work. I take notes about what they already know and what they want to learn etc, and then I plan lessons. It's really fun.

I have two Korean kids as students in the 2nd and 4th grades. Whenever I enter the apartment, I have to take off my shoes and put on slippers. On the other hand, whenever I enter the business building down town I have to put my most professional attire on and speak with the most proper Spanish I can muster to arrange things with the receptionist to teach an employee there. My clients make more than all of my friends and I combined... ok I'm exaggerating. But it's interesting to see the difference. Someone the other day from church about my age said to me, "I make really good money at my new job: about 17 pesos an hour." This is a little more than U$S4 an hour, but my clients that I teach English to, each have cars. The disparity is really incredible...

Church has been fun. I got to show 2 ladies from Harpeth Hills around town the past two weeks, and now we're looking at wrapping up the Lets Start Talking (teaching English using the bible) season and trying to put various and different English students with mentors etc. It's exciting to be a part of this. I mostly just organize data and help it to pass hands, but I know this is a big help to everyone... and it's not boring to me either. (I kind of like it).

I'm still studying about the church of Christ and baptism and whatnot. As tedious as all of this is, it will be so helpful in the long-run if I will ever participate in or serve in or with a church. I'm so glad I'm in such a good position to learn how things work here even though it's hard at times.

I have lots of good friends, and I love spending time with them. Pray for my friends. Also pray for Lets Start Talking (the English program at church) and for the unity of the church.

We have a Tuesday group that is exploding with new people... and all from different faith backgrounds... several looking for a church community. Pray that we all grow up in the Lord together and don't exchange Spirit for truth or exchange truth for Spirit... as if they could be separate. I don't know... really I don't know what God wants to do with the group, but it seems significant to me the way that growth has exploded over the past month and a half. So may God be praised. Amen.