Moving Mountains

I've been in Puebla a week and still no job.  I thought I'd have one before I even arrived here.  It's tough.  I did meet the nuns that were at my parish, Mt Carmel, in February.  (Back when I first found out about Puebla, and then some nuns from here show up at my church!)  Well, actually I met their order.  Those nuns who were at Mt. Carmel live in Gilbert and have a ministry at St. Ann's!!  I have no idea why they didn't tell me that when I met them.  It's pretty funny.  Anyways, I tracked down the nuns here--they're Carmelite Missionary nuns, called them, and they went to their house to visit.  I explained who I was and what I was doing there and they decided that I am either very brave or mostly crazy :)  I assured them it's both!  They are looking for ways to help me--a job, a place to live, or a community--but haven't found anything yet.  So I am still at a loss.  And there's the trouble that I only have enough money to stay here another week.

It's now no longer possible to get a job with a school, since the semester starts on Monday.  And I've had no leads with private companies. I've contacted the ones I could find, but haven't had any positive responses.  Mainly because I don't have a work visa.  Getting a work visa is tricky and it requires going back to the US (or any other country, just out of Mexico) and getting the visa from the Mexican consulate.  I didn't know this before I came.  Actually I was told that most places don't care whether you have a visa or not, but even if you need to get one you can start working and go through the process while here in Mexico.  It turns out that is not true.  Imagine!  They make it s hard for foreigners to get a job!  ;)  So I'm considering going home.  (Don't get too excited, Mom)  I've made lots of contacts and have had interviews with schools and companies that are very interested in hiring me but since I'm already here without a work visa and the semester starts now the timing is bad.  From home I could keep looking, get the visa, and come back in January.  

But then there's the idea that God has something else planned and of course nothing is impossible through Him.  He is fully aware of my circumstances and He alone knows why I'm here.  So I guess I'll stay here another week.  I will keep trying to make contacts, hopefully find some Church events to attend and maybe an orphanage or homeless shelter to visit.  And I'll see where God leads me.  Maybe I'll buy a hat and a tambourine and starting singing on a corner ;)  I want to live with the poor, after all! :)

Please keep praying for me my friends!  I think I have never done anything that requires so much faith.  I'm constantly attacked by thoughts that I am doing the wrong thing and in the wrong place.  I've been praying to have just faith the size of a mustard seed.  And I realized that I am the mountain that needs moving.  Isn't that the case for all of us?  How can we expect to change anything before we change ourselves?  Before we move beyond our comfortable lives and go where we are capable of very little.  Where our only Hope is to Trust God.  Completely.   

Statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Cathedral, Puebla, Mexico