Photos......

Beautiful architecture of Arequipa

An amazing sunset from our Creator.

My laundry out to dry.

Ashley & my bedroom. My bed is the messy one, go figure.

My awesome closet space!

Garren, Trevor and I at a beautiful vista, but I look really short!

Ashley and I with our 13 soles towels.

The boys and I on a combi.

Festival del Ninos.....

While I'm in Arequipa for training I am attending the Ramiro Church of the Nazarene. On Sunday June 14th, we had a group of short term volunteers joining us at our church. The morning started off with problems when the bus didn’t show up to take us to church. A fellow 40/40, Henrietta, along with Dennis Linnell, head of logistics, were able to contact another bus company and secure the bus for the day. Finally when the new bus arrived, the entire group of volunteers assigned to Ramiro (long and short term) boarded the bus and headed out to Ramiro.

Pastor Raul presented a great message from God about loving each other while short term volunteer Pablo translated the message. Normally there is no translating, so it was a special treat to have the message translated since there were so many North Americans. After fellowship, worship, prayer, and time in The Word, our group headed outside and ate lunch together. Long term volunteers Jared and Elisabeth discussed the plans Pastor Raul had for us, unknown to all of our group, Pastor Raul had planned to hold a Festival del Ninos. So our group did not have any of the festival supplies and we were completley unprepared for this outreach event. But we were flexible enough to go back and get the supplies needed and return to meet Pastor Raul and begin the festival.

When we reached the park where we were to hold the festival, many of the short term volunteers seemed confused and disappointed as the park was vacant. Some people from out group started setting up while others went into the neighborhood to invite children to join the fun. After a few minutes there were many children in the park. Some playing football, others getting their face painted, and yet others playing jump rope. All the volunteers were involved with the children and their parents.

When the theater team was ready, we group gathered all the children around the puppeteers and presented The Message of Christ through puppets in a way the children could understand. After the puppet show Pastor Raul spoke to the children and explained all us volunteers are missionary’s who loved God and have Christ in their heart. He gave an invitation for children to come up and say a prayer to ask for forgiveness and accept Christ’s salvation. There were 11 children standing with Pastor Raul speaking the words or repentance and acceptance. I was incredibly moved by the presence of God in these children, The Spirit’s presence in the words coming from their mouth. I did not need to know the language to understand God was moving in that park, His Spirit was surrounding the 11 children. The day at Ramiro encouraged me to remember that when plans change, when you are flexible, when you find yourself unprepared, God can use any situation to Expand His Kingdom!

Our LORD is great, with limitless strength; we'll never comprehend what He knows and does. Psalm 147:5 (msg)

Differences.....

* Wear you backpack on your chest in sketchy areas and in combi's.
* Commute in the morning includes walking over a river of sewage water
* You get around by using a combi - a bus/van used for "public" transportation - the other night I'm sure there were 70 people on one combi!
* My perspective of a "warm" shower has changed.
* You must put used toilet paper in a trash can next to the toilet, do NOT flush the toilet paper. I have gone fishing a couple times for toilet paper because I forgot! idiotk
* Don't drink the water, use only pure water.
* No constant internet access.
* The trash trucks play music, why....I have no idea.
* None of the vehicles here would pass emissions. You get used to smelling the fumes.
* Almost getting hit by a vehicle while walking seems to be a daily occurence.
* I actually make my bed here!
* I actually do the dishes (by hand) here! (Would someone please scrape my family off the floor??? I'm sure they are in shock!)
* Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (Desayuno, Almuerzo, y la Cena) are eaten at the kitchen table.
* The dryer is up on the roof and its called a clothes line.
* People are wearing winter jackets when its 65 degrees outside.
* Your feet are always dirty, just get used to it.
* Everything seems really expensive because if it's S./30, that seems like a lot but its really only $10.
* Clean is relative.
* Your clothes are wrinkled and your hair is a mess, get over it.
One of our families favorite quotes.....It's All Part of The Experience!!!

Travel....

I thought I would tell you all a little about our journey to get here! We started out on Saturday, we left the Bible College we were staying at about 2pm in Hobe Sound Florida and rode on a bus for an hour to get to the Ft Lauderdale aiport. We hung out and waited in the airport for a while then finally got on a plane to Houston. In Houston we arrived about 8 pm at night and waited for quite a while for a shuttle to the hotel, went to the hotel and slept. Then Sunday morning we all got up, showered and packed up yet again, had communion and Bible study together in the hotel and headed out to the Houston airport. We hung out at the airport (this was our theme for the weekend!) and waited for our departure. Finally we got onto our flight to Lima! We left Houston at about 3:45 pm and got to Lima about 10:15 pm (same time zone). In Lima it was too early to check our bags for our 6 am flight to Arequipa so we found a hallway and sat with all our luggage. Some people were able to fall asleep and rest and some of us were not. Trevor, Micha and I played cards for a while. Then while playing cards, the airport staff requested we move everyone and their stuff to the other side of the hall because they needed to clean our side. So we had to wake everyone up and move everything. Finally after that I tried to rest but the tile floor was mucho frio and I probably slept for about 45 minutes. We got up at 4 am to check our bags and head to the gate. I had a few minutes of internet availablity before we got on the plane so I emailed my parents and Brooke since I had tried to call them on Saturday from the hotel and they didn't answer! We got on our plane to Arequipa at 6 am and got to Arequipa at about 7:30 am. Phew, quite the journey to get here! But I'm finally here!
Love you all!

Florida.....

I made it to Florida! It was hard saying goodbye to everyone but I'm learning to take each day one moment at a time. We are having fun in Florida getting to know each other and of course, going to the beach practically every day! I hope the photos to make you jealous!

Everyone is really awesome and I have had a chance to get to know everyone on a somewhat personal level already through hanging out and team building exercises. God is already stretching me and moving me. Thanks so much to everyone for your love, support, encouragement, financial support, prayers and more! This chapter of my journey has finally begun, but know you are a part of my story and a part of my journey. I couldn't do this without the love and support of those I love. I couldn't do this without your financial hep. I couldn't do this without your encouragement on days satan is making me doubt. I couldn't do this without your prayers. I couldn't do this without knowing I have an awesome family of people from church, work, relatives, etc., back home cheering me on to Expand His Kingdom. I thank God for your incredible support! As I take this one day, one moment at a time....I encourage you to do the same. Live in the moment here and now.

You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Psalm 118:28

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Packing....

All my stuff packed!

Stuff I'm not bringing. ; (

One of the most common questions people ask me when they hear I am going to Peru is, "How do you pack for 27 months?" I couldn't really answer that question until now. If any of you ever decide to move to another country for 27 months here is step by step instructions on How to Pack:

Step 1: Auction off all your purses so you are not tempted to bring them and so you know they are at a good home now.

Step 2: Email the girls already in Peru for advice on packing.

Step 3: Dig through the enourmous pile of clothes you never hang up and decide which clothes to bring.

Step 4: Buy toiletries at WalMart, Big Lots, and the Dollar Store.

Step 5: Get tired of shopping for miscellaneous items.

Step 6: Downsize enourmous amounts of medical supplies by taking everything out of the boxes and cramming everything into ziplock bags.

Step 7: Pray that everything fits.

Step 8: Pack everything.

Step 9: Realize you should have prayed everything comes in under 50 lbs a bag.

Step 10: Unpack everything and eliminate as much as possible.

Step 11: Repack everything minus the eliminated items.

Step 12: Weigh bags again.

Step 13: Repeat Steps 10 - 12 until you are throughly frustrated and have given up on bringing 15+ pounds of stuff.

Step 14: Praise the Lord your material life fits into two checked bags, a carry on suitcase and a backpack!

Dadditta.....

My Daddy, or Daditta as Brooke and I call him, took me on a mini road trip this weekend! Dad and I drove out to Grand Junction on Sunday afternoon and stayed the night at our friends, Vic & Linda's house. Monday morning Dad bought me Starbucks because he lost a bet! After Dad made good on our bet, we went to the National Monument. We did some hiking and walking around in God's amazing creation. I love being in the middle of the beauty He created for us! Daditta and I enjoyed the atmosphere and time together while taking photographs. Above are a few photos from our time in National Monument and I will post more on Facebook.

It was an awesome short trip: being able to see the Pawley's one last time, spending time with my Daddy, going through the mountains, seeing snow, taking pictures, hanging out in the sunshine all day, creating an adventure, and duh....Dad bought Starbucks! But seriously, I am grateful to have such a wonderful Dad and such a wonderful relationship with him. I'm also incredibly grateful to have had the chance to spend so much time with him these past few years. Love you Dadditta!