September 12, 2006

• Another Day in Paradise

  I had another LONG conversation with Lorena and Stephanie last night.  Little Stephi is growing up fast and renewing acquaintances with her Mexican relatives.  Most of those relationships are wonderful, but a couple of them have been a little trying.  Stephi is a young lady, now, but she most assuredly has a mind of her own, and she will definitely stand her ground and let you know how she feels about something.  She is going through a very tough transition, but she is doing great -- and Lorena is apparently getting a great deal of entertainment out of the whole thing.  Stephi repeatedly describes Lorena laughing in response to some of Steph's trials and tribulations, often in ways that surprise me greatly.

  Stephi has definitely found school to be quite different in Mexico.  She mentions several huge changes from Stephenville.  The students stay in the same room (40 minute periods) all day, with the teachers changing rooms.  Between classes the students go out into the street or up on the roof of the school.  The majority of them apparently smoke, and a shockingly wide range of drugs are openly available to them.  (She is in a private school, so she is with the well-to-do kids.)  She has to wear a uniform, and she is having a very difficult time finding shoes that will fit her.  (Apparently Mexican girls don't have feet quite as "healthy" as hers...)  The idea of her in a school uniform tickles me because for years, Steph has been a blue-jeans-and-Converse gal.  I have a problem visualizing her in a skirt and blouse with knee high socks.  (The problem is that I can't do it without smiling...)

  Her biggest complaint about the school is the size of the desks.  They apparently are the old half desks that she says would be appropriate in our middle school (i.e. her seat doesn't fit her seat.)  Most of the kids were intimidated by her at first, but she is making more friends, and she is becoming VERY popular in English class.  She describes students competing fiercely to get her to sit with them.  I wonder why...  It is wonderful that her cousin Sarah, with whom she has always been very close, is in her classes with her.

  Tepic has been receiving drenching rains nightly, and the weather has been wonderful.  I envy that with all my parched, dry heart...  Apparently, Steph is enjoying the rains as well -- except when she has to catch a taxi to or from school because it is raining so hard.

  Lorena has been spelling more and more, largely, I know, because one of us is there with her to talk to her and to stimulate her.  She sounds stronger every day, and Stephanie describes the fanaticism with which Lorena works on her therapy.  Lorena is determined to overcome this adversity, and that makes my heart rejoice. 

  Hopefully we will be able to work something out with the computer so that I will not have to pay through the nose for hours of international phone calls.  But it is so wonderful to hear their voices, even if Lorena cannot truly talk to me.

  Thanks for thinking of us.  Keep your prayers coming...  We love you...

  • 3:29 pm
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