So its been a very long time since i've written, and as far as I can tell, most of you have stopped writing as well. so, just a little up-date even though I see most of you at least once a week. 1) I am no longer the kennel lead, in fact, I dont work in the kennel at all anymore. I cant tell you how much happier I am. There were so many reasons that I stepped down and so many people have asked me why and I honestly cant condense it into one word or all encompassing reason. I dont know, maybe later it will all make sense. I just know that I needed to do it. So...now I work in the reception area at our other hospital in Dana Point and I am really enjoying it. I was a little bit nervous about being in reception because I wasnt sure how well I would do. But everything is going very well. I am so thankful. 3)I just got another laptop! woohoo! My first one wasnt very good; it had an external battery, go figure. So, no more messin' around. This ones a dell. Its beautiful! It was getting annoying going to my parents house to check my email and so I am so stoked to have my own laptop. I start to feel out of the loop without the internet, anyone else? I know, thats really lame. So, can I tell you a little bit about my day? On Friday, apparently the staff goes out to lunch together and its kind of a tradition. Sounds nice right? (except to those people who hate their job and everyone they work with and would prefer to stay away as much as possible.) Well, it sounded nice to me. So four of us had our lunch break at the same time and so we went. I quickly got a sense that it was turning into a gossip session and all I did was sit there and wish that I wasnt there. There is a girl that works with me up in reception and I like her but apperently everyone else doesnt. That made me sad. But what made me sadder was that the kind of catholic that she was offended others because she would try to push her point of view on everyone else, and she thought that she was so much more holy than everyone. She was selfish and stubborn and refused to listen to others. In other words, she did more harm than good and pushed more people away from Christ then bringing them closer. Why cant we be better witnesses to the world? why cant we be like the disciples in the new testament? Why is it that we push more people away than lead them to Christ? why is it that so many people make our job so much harder because they confess Him with their mouth but do not lead a life of self-sacrifice? Its saddens me because I know that this is not how its supposed to be. I know that now I have to really watch myself in order to fix the harm done. Now the question is, how do I do that? Do I go next Friday even though I want no part in the gossip that goes on? We'll see. 1 Peter 2:12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Does that mean that we will always be accused of doing wrong? All I know is that our behaivior should always be above reproach. I guess the harm is done and I should move forward but it was really hard to hear because I felt really alone. What are you supposed to say to them to make it all better? Oh, when I was searching for this passage I read through all of 1 Peter. You should do it! Its an awesome book. I am so blessed to know all of you, people who try to live their lives for and like Christ. I am encouraged by all of you. -Marcela | 
