Adios, Minnesota.
Hola, Texas!
Snow or no snow, God bathes me with BLESSINGS, unnecessarily! When I open my eyes to them, my joy is complete! I have seen them so clearly since leaving my cozy basement bedroom (I hope you’re enjoying it, Rachel’s cousin!), and beautiful roomies in Columbia Heights, MN. Here are a few I would like to mention.
Blessing #1: Los Ocampos Restaurante. For my adios dinner, Christine, Anna Leisa, Danni and Mindy let me buy my own sopes (thanks, gals!) at a lovely ‘Burger King meets Mexico’ joint on Lake & Chicago. It was all I could have asked for. Really.
Blessing #2: Danni and Becky, my travel buddies. Danni (who I met at theology school in England 5 years ago) flew in from California to accompany me on the three-day-long trip through Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Becky, also teaching in the Rio Grande Valley, caravanned with us from Minneapolis. With her atlas, she kept my little Honda on track.
Blessing #3: We finally reached Texas!
Blessing #4: Hospitality. In Matthew 25.35, Jesus thanks the saints for giving Him food when he was hungry, giving Him drink when he was thirsty, and taking Him in when he was a stranger. I read that yesterday, and was struck with deep gratitude toward all the people who provided for us during the trip. Day one: My high school Spanish teacher, Carrie, and her husband (actually, my high school biology teacher!) fed and housed us in Fremont, Nebraska. Day two: Jenny, a childhood friend, took us into her home in Longview, Texas, and introduced us to Taco Bueno, a 5-star version of Taco Bell. Finally, day three: as we pulled into Weslaco, TX, a few miles from Edcouch (where I will be teaching), Tina and Deb were fixing beds and cooking enchiladas for us. They are 2nd-year teachers here in the Valley who had a wealth of experience to share. Thanks to all of you!
Blessing #5: Disparity. The first night in Weslaco, Tina and Deb took us to the frontera. Crossing, on foot, into Mexico from a “poor” town in Texas, the economic inequities and asymmetry between the two countries were apparent. It seems insensitive to be thankful for disparity, but God has so much to show us through it. That sounds empty and cliché, but my own interactions with people who experience this “gap” first-hand have profoundly changed my life. SO valuable are the qualities – lightheartedness, simplicity, thankfulness, among others – that endure and strengthen the souls of those who are affected by the economic disparity that infects our world. It is one of those ugly consequences of human free will through which God has chosen to bring beauty and meaning.
Blessing #6: Melly, Miss Diaz, Bob, and the others at David Ybarra Middle School. On Tuesday, nine of us new teachers drove to Edcouch to meet our principle, Mr. Garza, who gave us our official assignments (mine is 6th grade English), showed us our classrooms, and expressed his excitement to have us join the David Ybarra team. I am very much at ease, having met a few people in my new support network: the cafeteria manager (Melly), the copy-room lady (Miss Diaz, or Miss Days, as the gringos call her), and Bob Martinez, the tech guy. I also met the Baker, the Cusodian, and the former English teacher, who moves to England tomorrow. Nevertheless, she left me some nifty posters and lesson plans.
Blessing #7: Moonbeans Coffee Shop. The only place in the area, besides Burger King, with free WI-FI, this place has great coffee and a comforting, bohemian style. It’s like being at Dunn Bros – oh, how I will miss Minneapolis! Except for the fact that the 5-year old owner’s son took my coffee order, it’s a pretty ordinary and chill. That’s what I like, because that’s who I (like to think) I am!
There are certainly more to mention:
- The Bible & Oswald’s Utmost, working together to keep my heart abiding in the Lord
- My support network in Minneapolis (the Fam, the Church, the Roomies, etc…), who keep it ‘real’
- My induction roomie, Maureen, from Houston, who is SO easy and enjoyable to be around
- Air Conditioning, which brings sanity the HOT Texas days
- Teach for America, who provided me this opportunity to LEARN, LIVE, and LOVE this community
- Muchas más…
Great post, Sarah! Very encouraging to read. That place on Chicago and Lake is a good place to eat, actually. Nice pick roommates!
Moonbeams Coffee! With free wi-fi!
Honestly it’s kind of an answer to prayer…
I miss you already!!!
Sarah Anne,
You’re gone! I really FEEL (and deeply hate) it.
Amor,
AL