Mexico Week # 2/3: Nathaniel's POV 🇲🇽

If I had to use one word to summarize my Mexico experience so far it would be: WOW! The food is amazing, the people are so friendly and hospitable, and the cities themselves are fascinating! Everyone always thinks of Mexico as white sand beaches and resorts or drug cartel-ruled streets, but there is so much more to the place! No one ever talks about how amazing the people here are, we have visited so many families who have not hesitated to give us a full meal (always amazing) and even offered for us to stay at their houses. With that being said, I'm going to tell you all about our fantastic first weeks in Mexico.

We started by passing the border with (almost) no incident and heading into a nice town called Guaymas where we had the BEST tacos ever! At that restaurant my mom even started striking up a conversation with one of the waiters through google translate ( which was mortifying for me and my brothers). As we walked home completely satisfied we wondered and hoped that the culture and food would be the same as that first night... and Mexico did not disappoint.

The next day after a quick lineup (haircut) by my dad we where on our way to a wonderful place called Chacala, where we were promised beautiful beaches and BIG waves! The moment we got there we realized, it was the real deal. The waves where 5 feet above water level and the sand looked like fine flour! I was so exited that the moment we got out of the truck I ran to the back of the camper, threw on my swim shorts and ran into the waves... only to be pummeled five minutes later by a wave me and my brothers later referred to as a "Megalodon".

Those days on that beach majorly boosted my spirits because this was actually the first tropical place that I had been too. I was also very sick of being cooped up in the truck listening to "Against the odds"(a great podcast actually) and Jim Gaffigan. In Chacala I loved how the neighborhood was so friendly and inviting to new people! For example: I actually got "attacked" by a couple of 6 year old's with nerf guns and then after playing with them, they invited me over to their house to play! This was an amazing feeling for me, knowing that everyone was so open to strangers and making new friends, having being raised in a city known for cliques and icy neighborhoods.

After 3 days and plenty of sunburns we finally left for a destination that my Mom in particular really wanted to visit: the Matthew Training Center. As we pulled up I immediately felt overwhelmed by excitement after sighting a pool, basketball court and soccer field and that excitement only grew as we took a tour around the campus. In the campus was: a wide field with soccer nets, a big garden, a cozy little casita that we got to stay in, a big dining area with a large table and kitchen attached, some basketball hoops on a pickle ball court, some beautiful big dorms for the students and an ultra-hyper Belgian shepherd named Thor. "Phew". I know. That's exactly how I felt before sitting down with the rest of the students for a 4 pm lunch (every meal is around 3 hours later than back home). I won’t explain every detail of every day at the training center but I will explain the schedule so that you get an idea of how the week went: 8:00 - Breakfast/Prayer and sharing time. 9:30 - Worship/Singing time. 10:00 - The students do their course but we did school and helped prepare some food. 12:00 - Snack time with fruit. 3:00 - Lunch. 4:00 - Work time/Chores. 5:00 - Reading time. 6:30 - 30 minute Tabata 7:00 - Soccer time!!! (everyone young and old played an "ultra" competitive game of pickup football (soccer) that ended up with scores like 19 - 23). 8:30 - Dinner. 9:00 - Me and my mom did a workout (shoutout to Alison for the workout videos!!!) 10:00 - Lights out.

After about two days, the Matthew Training Center begun to feel like home. We hung out with the students and talked over meals with everyone and there was always someone around to help out with something and Thor, the dog, was so fun to play catch with and race against. Leaving the training center was so hard after building so many great memories and friends and everyone was having lots of emotions, including me.

I think it is safe to say that the first half of Mexico was a total success on everyone's part: Padre: Great planning and driving. Mom: Helped with planning and gave us some good education about the culture (and plenty of driving). Me and the boys: Minimal fighting, going along with everything and comedic relief. Hope all of you guys back at home are having fun in the snow haha!!! (I know, this post is a bit late) Like always, feedback is encouraged!

Hasta la vista!!!

- Nathaniel Fast