Poco a Poco

This is a phrase that i learned out of necessity this week. It means bit by bit or little by little.  When someone asks me how my Spanish is doing, i say in Spanish,"poco a poco." When someone asks if my stomach is feeling better i say, "poco a poco." And now that i am off my medication and reintroducing everyday Mexican food into my diet, when someone asks how much spice i am adding, i say, "poco a poco."

Everyone that knows me, knows that i am a go-getter! I like to get things done and move on to the next thing! At first that was what i was trying to do with my sickness. I was trying to push past it and do stuff even though it had me running to the bathroom about every hour and a half. However, my family here and at home became concerned, and by day 8 i found out both my mom in the states, and my mom here had talked to Brian Overcast about taking me to the doctor behind my back. Day 10 i finally gave in and went. The doctor was wonderful, spoke English, and had a sense of humor.  He told me that what i had was a severe case of travelers sickness, and prescribed the same medication i took when i got sick in Nepal. However, i was on a very strict diet that made it almost impossible to eat here.  Thank God my family was kind enough to make special food for me.

The last five days (the extent of the medication) have been quite a growing experience.  It is a MAJOR test for self control, integrity, and the breaking of my will. I hate going out with the NOE kids and having to watch them eat their tacos while i slowly chew a piece of pineapple that they didn't want.  Or drinking out of my warm water bottle while watching them sip an ice cold soda.  The worst however, is smelling the spice in the food my family cooks for themselves, and knowing i can't have it.

God helped me through the whole thing though.  He showed me that he can push me really far in the food department without making me crack. That will definitely come in handy by my 100th street taco!!!! God also taught me a big lesson about myself though, that sometimes i need to take things slowly, or poco a poco. It is going to be hard, but i realized that is a BIG part of being flexible, which is a necessity as an intern at NOE. I pray that God will continue to help me learn to take life poco a poco, and also that he will be merciful on my stomach today and the days that follow as i reintroduce it to the food here.



***I also have another prayer request. Juan has asked me to teach the Bible study at NOE next Monday.  I have chose to teach on strength, and where our strength really comes from. As you read in my last blog it is something that i have struggled with for a long time, but now have a LOT of insight in.  I ask that you pray that God will give me ways to get through to these kids and that the whole thing will go really well :)