Mi Querido Peru

Finally, after 5 1/2 months, I've made it back to one of my favorite places...Peru!! I've been anticipating this trip since December when I arrived home to cold, snowy Indiana. Of course I love my family and my few friends that are left there, but I also very much enjoy life here. This is my fourth trip to Peru, and my first trip with no plans except to hang out with people and have fun. So far, I've been able to do just that, and I'm excited for the days to come!

After a very long day of travel on Saturday (plus being sick from Malaria pills), my plane finally landed in Peru at 12:08 a.m. Sunday morning. I made it quickly through the Immigration line, waited over a half hour to finally collect my luggage, and then got stopped by a red light at the customs scanner. Here you have to push a button, if the light turns green you pass, but if it turns red, you are one of the lucky ones to have to put your baggage on a belt to go through an x-ray scanner. Needless to say, my bags filled with crayons, markers, notebooks, and other school supplies for Kids Alive seemed a bit suspicious. I had to explain what was in my bags and why I was bringing them into the country. The lady kept me for about 5 minutes asking me why I was here, had I been here before, what was the purpose for the things I was bringing. I was quite annoyed, but tried my best to respond as kindly as possible knowing that she was only doing her job. Finally around 2:00 a.m. (3:00 Indiana time), I arrived to my final destination, quickly put on my pajamas and went to bed.

I forgot how paper-thin the walls are and how loud the "city" is (although the noise level where I'm currently staying is much quieter than where I stayed while I was teaching here). I woke up at 7:15 and was wide awake. I tried to sleep, but instead I lay listening to the noises around me, absorbing it all until about 8:45 when I decided I should organize my belongings, settle myself, and get ready for church. 

I was able to meet up with a few friends at church and we spent the afternoon together hanging out, praising the Lord, and eating pollo a la brasa (kind of like Nelson's chicken if you've had that). I found great comfort in the fact that I was able to pick up right where I left off with these guys. It didn't even feel like I've been gone which is such a great feeling and something I was worried about. I've heard it said before that a friendship built on the foundation of Christ can outlast many of the casual friendships we build out of duty or small talk. I believe this to be very true. I have never met people so on fire for God and so open about sharing it with others. Every conversation, every thought, and every plan comes back to "Solo Dios sabe" "Gracias a Dios" o "Si Dios me permite" (Only God knows, thanks to God, If God allows me).

Today I spent my day helping with the 1-2 year olds at the Oasis (a Family Center which provides childcare for children not old enough for school, homework club for kids in school, and a mom's program to teach single mothers a usable trade). I wasn't able to make it up there while I was here August-December because it's only open during my school hours. However, upon returning today, I was amazed and thrilled that a few of the kids still remembered me by name from my mission trip last June. Hanging out with the little ones today I learned that in Spanish dogs say "wow" but pigs still say "oink". I learned that "yum" and "uh oh" are the same in both languages. I learned a few jump rope songs, and I was reminded of how amazed people are with my height. I'm certain I'll be spending at least a few more days up there with the kids, and I'm looking forward to going to the children's home to see those kids as well.

I met up with a few of the teachers I worked with tonight for dinner and ice cream. Again, I felt like I picked up right where I left off. One of my friends even commented "It feels like we were just together yesterday."

I love this culture, I love these people, and I love this city. It feels so great to be back!!

Reality vs Dreams

We all know that in most cases the life we see in our dreams differs greatly from the life we live day to day. There are very few, rare people who envision life one way in their thoughts and live it day to day calling it reality. I try to be as realistic as possible, but I still hold dreams that I doubt will ever come true. (Does that mean I lack faith? Another topic, for another night.)

About a month ago, I was challenged through a sermon series I had been following to sit for 20 minutes in complete solitude and create a list of dreams...no cellphone, no computer, no human or pet...nothing but yourself and God. The guest pastor (whom at this time I cannot recall his name) encouraged the congregation and online listeners to write down any dream that came to mind no matter how great or small how Godly or how worldly. He demanded that the audience write down EVERYTHING! He said nothing more, the congregation began to sing, and the podcast of the sermon ended.

I took the challenge; however, I may have cheated a bit because rather than a notebook and pen, I did use my computer, but I made sure to turn off the wireless key cutting off any incling to want to connect to the outside world. As I sat, I quickly wrote down one item after another. Some were connected and others were totally out there. I was surprised by some things that came to mind, and others were not surprising at all. Some dreams seemed very attainable, and others seemed a bit far fetched. However, I know that with God all things are possible, and if I trust in Him he may just choose to grant me some of my dreams.

Every since this night in which I spent those 20 minutes in solitude there have been a few things I have not been able to clear from my mind. Let me share just a few of the dreams that made the list and have haunted me every since:

• Adopt 1-2 children from Latin America
• Open and run an orphanage in Latin America
• Climb a mountain and scream at the top of my lungs
• Mentor parents so that they will know how to best support and encourage their children to succeed (Maybe I should try parenting for myself first though.)
• Have enough money to live comfortably and debt free while also giving much to the poor
• Serve God every moment, not missing one beat

This is just a small glimpse at the 50+ things that made the list in those 20 minutes. My heart breaks right now between what is realistic for my life at this time (or what I find to be realistic), and what dreams I hold for the future. I pray that God will bridge the gap between my dreams and my reality so that I may be living my dreams in my reality.

Cuan Hermoso

Recently I have fallen in love with this song by Danilo Montero.

Cuan hermoso ~ Estar en tu presencia ~ Rodeado por tu amor ~Y tu belleza.
Seguro estoy en ti ~ Entre tus brazos ~ Confio en ti mi tesoro ~ Mi Amor ~ Mi esperanza.

In English it translates as follows:
How beautiful to be in your presence, surrounded by your love and your beauty.
I am secure in you, in your arms. I trust in you my treasure, my love, my hope.
This song is a source of comfort. It's a great reminder of just how wonderful it is to be a follower of the one and only Almighty God. Only by of his love and grace am I the person I am today.

Thank you Jesus for your forgiveness, for your love, and your healing. Guide my paths each day as I seek to follow your ways. Te amo, mi Dios, con todo mi corazon!

Blessings

I have been blessed more than I deserve. In fact, I am a firm believer that we deserve nothing. God blesses us because he chooses to not because he has to. What a mighty God we serve.

Before I left Peru I made a list of things I was looking forward to coming home to and things I was sad to be leaving behind. In my last post, I mentioned that recently I had been dwelling in the past way more than I should be, and I've made a point to do my best to change that. I do miss Peru greatly...the ministry, the kids, my friends, etc. However, since making the mental decision to focus on the here and now, I've been able to see that I am abundantly blessed here in the United States, also. My friends are different, my ministry is different, and the kids I work with are definitely not orphans, but I still have a very important role here. God is so good, and I'm enjoying being a part of his ultimate plan. Each day is a new opportunity to serve him, and I am making the point to find the blessings in each day.

Just a few things I'm blessed with here in the states.

1. Family: My brother is finally home from college, the noise level has risen in the house, and I'm realizing just how amazing and supportive each member is. My parents are wonderful and my brother is quite the young man.

2. Friends: While spread out across the U.S. it's great to know that a listening ear is just a phone call away. At first it was hard to be back in my hometown (basically all of my friends have moved away), but I've been able to make new friends and see old friends grow in their ministries in their various locations around the world.

3. Job: I never imagined myself teaching Special Education, but I LOVE IT!! It has also made me more aware of things to do or not to do as a regular classroom teacher when working with these unique students. Aside from my students, I work with an amazing, Godly staff, and our PTO deserve an award for going above and beyond the call of duty.

4. Green trees, grass, and rain: I'm not a fan of rain, but the flowers, trees, and bright green grass that result are very beautiful. The dust mountains in Lima were pretty at first, but nothing compares to the fresh flowers and spring air in northern Indiana.

I could go on and on. We serve an almighty God who loves us more than any other creation. It's time we turn to him and begin serving him the way he deserves. Run to him, his arms are open wide, and he's waiting to pour out his blessings on your life as well.