Other times, you actually do get to see results. You get to see people change and grow and find something they are passionate about and go on to the next stage in life and not lose sight of what is most important to them and really the only thing that matters when all is said and done.
Since the new year hit, it has been wedding central here in Puebla, with the first two weekends being filled with friends from El Pozo getting married. These two weddings were beautiful, but not because there was good food, or because the band made dancing fun, but because the four people who committed their lives to each other really love each other, and really love God. Both of these couples are going to serve God with their marriages and with their lives. I am confident that their families, friends, jobs, neighbors and whoever else they interact with daily will be better because of them.
Male (maa lay it is pronounced) and Jerry got married on the 7th. I got the honor of being one of 11 bridesmaids...I tried to talk my way out of it when I found out there were 11, but Male wouldn't let me. I had never been a bridesmaid for a Mexican wedding so it was interesting trying to figure out the dress and what I was supposed to do as a bridesmaid before the wedding and then the day of the wedding. I got my hair done professionally for the first time that I can remember in my life...($15 dollars is all it cost...another reason I love Mexico). Got my toes done, the dress made and ironed correctly, some friends helped with my make-up...so I was feeling good.
We get to the place of the wedding early for pictures then they have the civil part of the wedding where just the family, wedding party and a few friends attend. So we are all standing around watching the bride, groom, parents, and witnesses sign lots of papers, when I noticed everyone was starting at me. I had been quietly talking with the pastor next to me, so I was really not paying much attention to what was going on. As it turned out, my friend Male had put me down as one of the witnesses without letting me know and they had called my name to sign the papers. So I hurried over there, signed some papers and the wedding continued. That was a close one.
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| Angeles (another friend from flag football), Male, Me |
So anyways, back to why the wedding was so beautiful...I met Male playing flag football 5 years ago. She started coming to El Pozo, then we started reading the bible together and going to church. Several years ago I got the opportunity and honor of baptizing her, and since then she has not stopped growing and loving and serving Jesus.
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| Male, Me, and Jerry...I really love these two |
Male met Jerry at the church we both go to. As she was getting more and more involved, had graduated from the university and making that church her new community instead of El Pozo, they met, started going out, fell in love and now are married. It was beautiful because I got to see fruits, results, an outcome to five years of friendship. Their stories together have just begun and they will go on to change the world around them, but for a few minutes during the wedding, when they were singing praise songs and exchanging vows, I just thanked God for El Pozo, for entrusting us with his work and for letting us see that our work is not done in vain. We only had a small part in it all, and there is still greater things that will happen in the lives of these two God-loving people, but I am thankful for that small part and for all those who send money so that El Pozo can exist, and for all of those who find us worthy of their prayers and time spent encouraging us. I am thankful for a God that believes in us all and loves us all and made a way for us to be with him.
The weddings were beautiful because God was there, alive and working.
