CTT

This past week we went through Community Transformation Training (CTT). Basically, this involves training nationals in basic, preventative healthcare lessons in order to improve the health of a community and establish relationships in order to tell God's story. This is a great way to model Christ's approach of making disciples by meeting needs and teaching truth. The purpose of this strategy is to function as part of an overall, comprehensive church planting plan.  

We learned how to incorporate health lessons into stories so that we teach applicable health prevention in a way that the listeners can easily understand and relate to. After telling the health story, we can then segue into sharing a story from the Word of God. 

I'm very excited about getting started using CTT this week. We will be holding a CTT event this coming Saturday in one of the nearby villages. We hope to gain some interest from nationals that can partner with us in reaching these communities and the results of this event will likely impact the rest of the work we do over the next few months. Please be praying for us as we prepare for this event, for interest among the locals, and for hearts to be won over to Christ.

We did get to do some touristy things as well this week. On Monday we went out for breakfast and several of us got our first cup of leche de chocolate (Mexican hot chocolate). It was absolutely amazing!

Then, we went out to Monte Alban which are some ancient Zapotec ruins in Oaxaca.

My roomate, Jasmine, and me

Natasha, Hannah A., Hannah B., Shelley, Jasmine, and Kat

We went to La Churreria for my first ever Churro one evening and made a new friend! Please be praying that we will continue to have opportunities to meet locals and build relationships.

Words cannot express how happy I was when I found a Paleteria (Popsicle Store) in the Zocolo (main plaza). These are real Steel City Pops! Although it didn't taste exactly the same as a strawberry cream pop from Steel City, it was delicious! It was like finding a little piece of Birmingham right in the center of Oaxaca. Culture shock is real you guys...and I'm so grateful for little glimmers of home!

We also had the opportunity to act as tour guide and hang out with a short term team from a church in South Carolina. These guys were great and it was a blessing to get to know them and learn from them. We were thrilled to realize we are familiar enough with the city to show others around!

Dinner on the Zocolo with the South Carolina Team