There has been a lot of rain this week, so the streets in our colonia are pretty much flooded.  Somehow the people here still manage to get around.  We walk down the street struggling to stay clean and on our feet in rain boots, while the locals walk around in high heels or white tennis shoes without a problem.  It's crazy!

I'm still in the process of adjusting to everything - life here, my "new language", and my new family/friends.  The people and the culture are amazing.  In its own way, Matamoros is so beautiful.  It doesn't look like New York and there aren't any tall buildings, but to me it feels good.  I feel at home here - the same way I've always felt in Latin America.  Even though I'm still getting used to actually living here, I feel like I fit in.  I love Spanish and I love the way of life.  I'm looking forward to building relationships with people from church and in this area. 

But it is really difficult, too.  For the first time in my life, I don't know anyone (well, now I do, but when we started I didn't know anyone).  In a way I'm struggling because I want to know and be known intimately.  I hate superficial relationships.  I want to be free to be real and to be open and honest.  I feel like that is starting to happen, but I'm not totally there yet.  I'm looking forward to that point, though.  Our team is amazing and there are so many great people here, but in so many ways I am longing to understand and to be understood.