Miss Rita, Miss Ratita...

So yesterday I started the whole House Mom around noon. It was a long day of playing outside with the kids for 3 hours in the sun! I am SO tan, it's lovely. That was just a sidenote. ha ha!
The kids I was watching/playing with age-ranged 4-8 years old. Around 10 of them. Fun stuff.
We did other things, I helped with cleaning, laundry, serving food, changing clothes, making sure the kids behaved.
It was great, hard, tiring, and difficult with the language barrier. I think it would make a world of a difference if I were able to just say what I needed to say to them in spanish but I don't know enough spanish to do that. So yeah. Plus, the house I was in were younger kids and then 12-15 year olds and they are all very self -sufficient. They in face take care of the little ones, I mean, besides the house mothers! They are very helpful. I felt like I was not much help but I hope I was more help than I thought I was. It was good though to watch and observe and see how things are done.
I hope I get to be in the other house before I leave just to see how it is with the different ages. There are more older ones in the other house than younger. And I feel like I am more equipped to communicate to them than I am the younger one's that do not know any english whatsoever.
We shall see how it all turns out.
Tonight was Azucena's quincinera or however it is spelled, and that was an interesting experience. I felt like I was running around like a little kid. Well, I was for a while because the kids thought it would be funny to steal my bracelet and run around outside in the cold for me to follow them. But yeah, ha ha!
Tomorrow we are going camping with some of the youth from the church. I am sleeping in the van. They only sleep on a tarp and last time I went to that place, they had ants hardcore. I'm not messing with ants. No me gusta! And then we'll return Saturday before or around lunch.
And that's when I have to finish up my books hardcore because Sunday night or Monday I will be starting in the other house for the week! Yikes!
I think that's all I have to say right now. I know it's not much of my feelings but right now that's all because I am tired and my cough is persistent and I need to go to sleep!
Oh yeah, I straightened my hair, pictures to come, and most of the kids were all like "No bueno your hair" and just like that, ha ha ha! The older ladies and girls said it was pretty so yeah.
I like my curls better too.
Much love sent to you =]

It's the start of something new...

Today marks the start of something new in my life.
This day will most likely determine what I am going to be doing here in the future after I graduate. At least for a while until God calls me to something else.
This is terrifying and absolutely exciting all jumbled together.
To be a House Mother would be a great honor, to be a part of these kids lives, to share with them, love them, encourage them, challenge them, disciple them, to be a parent to them.
Such a major responsibility and I would be so extremely blessed to share in this opportunity.
I know that it will most likely be the most challenging thing I have ever experienced, helping take care of at least 20 kids on a day-to-day basis, of all different ages.
But if it is what God has called me to, then I know He will bring me through it (Thanks Aimeeta)! He is faithful like that and He does not abandon His children.
I know that God is going to do the impossible in and through me as long as I stay willing and teachable. So as I am praying for myself and for these kids, please be praying for me.
Because I know that it is not me, that I can do nothing without Christ. He makes me able.
I just want to be obedient to His call and to be willing to do what He asks, no matter how difficult some circumstances may be. I want to take the things I have learned, and learn from the people of this culture, and be a good House Mother to these kids. Because it is about these kids.
It is about loving them, nurturing them, encouraging them, challenging them, praying for them, raising them up to be men and women of God who will go out and serve Him in all things.
To God be all the glory, forever and ever.

You want a Happy Panda?

So I talked a lot with Wendy today and it was really good to hear things from her perspective, to get advice on situations, and to just talk with someone about things with the orphanage, the kids, and such. They asked me if I wanted to do a trial run with being a House Mother tomorrow.
So I am going to be at one of the houses tomorrow overnight, until the next evening, learning the ropes. I am super excited but extremely nervous at the same time.
I don't want to be a burden, you know?
I am a bit nervous about the language barrier but God provides so I know it will work out. I will bring my dictionary like I did in the earlier days and we will work it all out accordingly.
It will be such a good experience.
I guess it will confirm whether or not I really feel call led to be a House Mother or not?!
Next week I will probably be doing it again for the whole week, rather than just the one night. So please be praying that I am sensitive to the Spirit and that I am able to give to the kids accordingly.
I will definitely have stories to tell from this experience but yay for it all! God is lining things up!

Pros and Cons

The pros to ministry are that I am in another country with amazing people, learning and doing wonderful and challenging things.
The cons of ministry is that I miss out on things with my family and friends that I hate missing.
Like I missed my best friend Andrew's wedding.
And I missed my best friend Nate moving back to Ohio. So I never got to say goodbye.
I missed birthdays and stuff of that nature. Bittersweet.
Saturday we woke up and cooked pancakes for the girls who had slept over in our house. Then we went into town for a couple hours and did souvenir shopping and buying groceries and looking into birthday gifts. We had some real good lemonade and just enjoyed each others company. Then that evening we had the youth service at church. We gave the kids their blankets and pillows back too. And then we watched Gilmore Girls.
Sunday we had church in the morning and then we had the baptisms. We rode in a big van with 19 people to the irrigation canal to do them. It was a real Peruvian experience. The other van had like 27 people in it, crazy! ha ha ha! It was really cool to watch the baptisms in the canal. Some of the girls got baptized. Then we came back and hungout with the kids. Aimeeta and I had this thing going on with Yhonson, keep the ball away from him because otherwise he would kick it really far away to where we'd have to go and get it. (yes that reminded me of you Emily) And then he found a grasshopper and thought it would be funny to put it on us so he was chasing us around trying to put it on us and at one point he swished it on my hand, disgusting.
And then we had the evening service and that was good. We came back and watched Princess Protection and then Gilmore Girls before heading to bed.
Today I have been working on my books for class. This book I am reading is SO good. I am actually reading every page and not wanting to put the book down. I wish I would have read it right before I came on the trip. It has so much challenge in it to live more like a servant.
I really have done nothing other than that pretty much for today.
I want to talk about more but it will have to wait because I really need to get my book stuff taken care of this week so I have time with the kids the last two weeks of my trip!
Sending my love your way! Keep me in your prayers please. I am starting to get a cough again.
Thanks for everything!

Girl's Night =]

Okay so first the happy news, lastly the sad news.

First off, we had a sleep over today with the older girls here at the orphanage.
Lastly, all of my pictures from since I have been here were deleted off my camera =[

And everything in between:
I got up and hungout a bit before we went into town to prepare for our sleep over. Then I played with some of the littler kids. Oh and I had lunch with the kids, which hasn't happened in a while so it was good. We sprayed the kids with vinegar water and combed their hair out. That went well, we only found like 5 bugs total, so that is really good. And then we went into town again to finish up our preparations for the evening.
We got ice cream and candy and we played Spoons and made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and had coca cola and watched Fireproof, You've Got Mail, and High School Musical (spanish edition). And the girls made bracelets. And we all did our hair crazy and took pictures.
It was really a great time, I think the girls really enjoyed it. I sure did. Even though it is super late. The only sad thing that came out of it all is that all of my pictures are no more and that really makes me sad. I lost several videos as well that I won't ever get back. Boo!
Otherwise, things are great and we have a busy weekend ahead of us, plus I need to get two books done, woo-hoo! The joys of life.
P.S. We counted how many whistles, howls, yells, honks of the horn, we got when we went into town yesterday...17 total. Doesn't even phase us anymore. It's quite crazy really. ha ha.

Meaningful Simplicity

Sometimes I feel like I won't ever shake certain things. But then I am reminded that Christ is bigger than anything and everything that exists in this world and it puts a smile on my face =]
Why is it that we are so foolish? So self-consumed? That we miss out on God's plan, His purpose, His calling. Why do we get so mixed up in the ways of the world that we deny Christ rather than denying ourselves? Why do we think we know what's best? That we know it all?
Why do we think that we can take care of ourselves and make all the right decisions without Christ in the picture? Why do we get so confused about what we believe and who we serve?
Why is it that we ask God to be our all, our number one, and then when something compromising comes around, we change our minds and give into the world rather than holding our ground like Jesus did when He walked on this earth?
What seems to be the problem?
Why do we let our eyes stray from the One who Created us? The one who carefully knit us into the very being that we are today? Why do we let our eyes stray from the One who forgave us? The one who gave His grace so willingly, time after time, and who sees us as whiter than snow? Why do we let our eyes stray from our Jesus who died a brutal death so that we could have a chance to live. He knew some would not choose Him and yet He still died for everyone.
He loved us that much and yet we think we have the right to please ourselves rather than serve Him?!?!
Jesus lived to serve God. We should live to serve Jesus. In everything.
It's not an easy path to walk down, but it is totally worth it.
Today wasn't much of an eventful day for me. But I watched as I allowed myself to respond selfishly in small tendencies. I was shocked at myself for how easy it was to let others do things for myself when I could easily take care of them if I would just get up off my behind.
But I am glad that I saw that through my eyes, experienced that because it reminded me of how imperfect I really am and how important it really is for me to keep my eyes on Christ.
When I allow myself to get away from Him, I fall so quickly. And that is because I am nothing without Christ. My reliance must be completely on Him. He is my strength.
In my weakness He is made perfect. I love that. Love love love it. He is so good to me.
"Servanthood is revealed in simple, everyday events. But it's complex because servanthood is culturally defined--that is, serving must be sensitive to the cultural landscape while remaining true to the Scripture. That is both the challenge and burden of servanthood."
Today we worked some on laundry, I finally have clothes to wear. We returned the mattresses to the children and got them some of their sheets back. yay! And we had missionary night.
Lots of delicious food today, which was such a blessing! It felt good to eat real yummy things! And we talked more of me returning more long term to be a house mother and it was exciting and scary all at once. And I was hit with all the responsibilities that are waiting for me to return and to face when I go back for school. It was all a bit overwhelming but the peace of God that surpasses all understanding swept all over me because I truly know that God will call me, I will follow and He will provide. So I am not going to concern myself with the matters. I will just do what I believe I can do to take care of it when I return and I will trust that God will take care of the rest. I serve a good God =]
I watched some Gilmore Girls and now I am off to bed, to start a new wonderful day in the Lord tomorrow! And as my dearest Emily Delivered says...

"The Lord has transformed my life. He has taken my ashes and turned them into gold. He has taken my dirt and filth and turned it into diamonds. He has taken this peasant girl and adopted her into His family. I am a daughter of the King of kings."
For that, I am thankful and truly blessed =]

House Mom material?

It is funny how Satan tries to tempt us with the same things over and over again.
What is sad is that so often we fail and fall into the same exact thing.
I am so glad for the somewhat tiny tests that I am having to face because it is good preparation for future possibilities of failure if I do not keep my eyes on Christ. He is so faithful.
I also think it is interesting how we sometimes go through the same things because we did not learn what we were supposed to learn previously. And I am glad I am handling situations differently and with the strength of the Lord, the attitude of Christ, and the mind of the Redeemer. I am not perfect but it is exciting to make good choices, for the right reasons, and to be obedient to the Lord's calling. He is so beautiful.
So last night I went to bed by like 11, I was so exhausted. And then I woke up at 9:45 when Aimee was getting up and I asked her to wake me up at 10. She attempted to wake me up but I didn't budge, so she left me there. I woke up at 10:45 and was like, why didn't you wake me up! She laughed and told me what happened and I was so surprised because I am normally a very light sleeper! But I was totally out, my body needed that sleep hardcore!
We cleaned up some and finished up some things that we needed to around the house. It was really good to talk to the family today and to catch up with some of them.
Then we went into town for groceries and I also got some dvds. They are SUPER cheap here!
At 6 we began our babysitting. I loved every moment of it. Minus the part when they did not want to go to bed because we don't get the same respect as the house mother's since they want to push the rules with us. But seriously, we colored forever! And Twilight was playing in the background but then we changed it to 3:10 to Yuma. Then they went to bed at 10 but Yhonson had taken a nap for like 3 hours so he was not tired and he and Cristofer woke up two of the 4 year olds so we made them come out in the kitchen and sit quietly. We ended up playing Spoons, but very quietly. Then we sent them back but Yhonson still couldn't sleep so we brought him out into the kitchen and made Cristofer go to sleep. Then the house mom's came back and they let us stay and play cards and me and Aimee were cracking up the whole time! It was hilarious!
It obviously wasn't like an everyday typical evening but I really enjoyed it a whole heck of a lot!
I am so not ready to leave this place. It breaks my heart to think of the day when I have to say goodbye to these kids. Yikes! No bueno! I don't even like to think of it! They are always like, when do you leave and when I tell them they are always like, no and they double it or even triple the time I have left. They each have a special place in my heart and if I could take some of them home with me, I would in a hearbeat! I hope to be back no later than March, and I truly believe that God will make it happen somehow, someway. I trust in Him. He's a BIG God =]
Now I am really tired and need my sleep so take care, God bless, stay strong in the Lord!

Perseverance is key!

Today we woke up at 8 a.m. and began the brutal lice extermination process! ha!
We took all the rest of the beds, sheets, blankets, dirty clothes, brushes, barretts, combs, pillows, stuffed animals, you name it, we tooke it. We also took the chairs in the kitchen that had cloth on them. And then between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. we began the process of shampooing and combing each child individually. We were in house 2 for almost 8 hours going through hair! Not one of them walked away without having had bugs in their hair. Except the one house mom! The least amount of bugs was like 5 and the most was like hundreds! No exaggeration, that's probably an understatement! It was insane and extremely time consuming.
Each kid would pick out their one outfit of clothing that had been quarantined for 72 hours and their towel that we had boiled in hot water, and we shampooed, combed, and then they gave us their dirty clothes and towels that were most likely infested.
The cookies were a success so that was exciting =]
There are really no words to express how ridiculous crazy the lice infestation was in the one house. They just didn't catch it fast enough or eliminate it quick enough and it spread like wildfire! But we are taking care of it, that's for sure! No mas!
The other house took maybe two hours, with the same amount of kids, more boys though so less hair, but they probably had 5 lice total out of the entire group of kids and house mom's! So that made us really happy. We finally were finished some time between 7-8 p.m. and then we shampooed ourselves and made sure that we had not gotten any lice from the kids!
We persevered and with pretty good attitudes. I think we all had our moments when we wanted to crash and burn rather than face another lice. But we pressed on, with the strength of the Lord and we accomplished our goal.
We intend on spraying the kids with vinegar water every day until their 7 days are up and combing their hair for more live lice that survived the shampooing process. We really want to eliminate them so that we can think and concentrate on something other than lice.
Anyways, I am so tired I am like falling asleep sitting here. It is time for rest.
Please pray for continued perseverance and elimination of lice. Thanks.
Hope all is going wonderful for you and that you are staying blessed! Sending my love!

No agua!

Today we woke up with the impression that we would be shampooing the kids for lice only to find out that the pump to the well at the orphanage had broken. So we had no water, to flush the toilet, to use in the sinks or showers, nada! They thought it might be days until they got it working again but they got it done before dark! Thank God for that. He sure is bigger than the small things. He probably knew that we needed to leave those clothes and beds in quarantine a little longer, ha ha.
So instead we made a Christmas list and asked all the kids what they wanted for Christmas this year. I really want to try and raise money to send for them to buy Christmas presents with. 40 kids to buy for is a lot and Christmas presents are important for the ages of these kids. I know it would be more than appreciated since they are tight on finances and all right now.
After lunch (mac and cheese), still not as good as yours momma, we went into town from like 2:30 til almost 5. I took them on the scenic route, which Aimee and Karen had not seen. I felt like I was a native of the land, showing them around and everything. It was a good feeling.
We went to the beach and they took pictures of the view and the cemetery and we all bought souvenirs and then we walked Karen back so she could catch a moto! Then Aimee and I went to the open market.
I haven't told you about the open market. They have it every Monday, all day long, even during the usual siesta hours (2-5). They sell everything under these little tents and everyone has their own little spot. But they have fruit, vegetables, rice, cooking supplies, utensils, clothes, shoes, movies, jewelry, you name it, they sell it. I mean it is not like in a store, it is all very different and I have never experienced anything quite like it. There are always people constantly walking through and it is really long and goes several blocks and people are constantly yelling things out. It was a real Peruvian experience.
Aimee and I then went to Estacion and got ice cream =] We made a friend with a little old man who wanted our ice cream. We shared with him some of it. We went to the store but it was still closed and we bought Peru flags because this month is like their Independence month I believe.
Then we hungout with the kids some more before eating peanut butter sandwiches for dinner.
Kevin asked us to watch the kids in the two houses so the house mothers could have a meeting with the director of the orphanage. So we did that. We started watching 17 Again in the house I was at.
Then we came back and we are baking cookies right now for the kids for tomorrow since we feel so bad for taking everything away from them and all. Ha ha! They taste really good, we sampled them.
I love it how you learn how to survive on what you have. I mean, they don't sell chocolate chips here, so we cut up chocolate bars into tiny pieces. We don't have dryers so we boiled tuns of water to have heat for the towels with lice. Just so many different things like that which have really taught us how to appreciate the things in life that we have, or that we take for granted, or don't even realize how thankful we should be for having those things.
It is so frustrating that it is so hard to get your hands on things here. I mean they sell things in town but they don't even sell peanut butter. They are lacking on a lot of the things we would consider necessities. You have to go 2 hours to get those things. And you usually ride in a bus because most people don't have cars, so it's not like you can get huge things. The best place to go is 10 hours away and you ride a bus for that too. And it is so extremely hard to ship anything here from the states, it's ridiculous!! 30 bucks for a shoe box. crazy! The best way is to send things with people who travel here. Just pay the money for the extra suitcase and send 50 pounds worth of stuff.
But anyways, I am just really thankful for all that I have and all those in my life. God has really blessed me and I am so grateful for all He is doing right now.
I will be so glad though when all this lice drama is behind me! Please God let our process be successful and give us perseverance in all things.
Thanks for the love and support from each of you. Sending my love from Peru to each of you =]

Ratita...ha ha

The skit on Saturday went well. The kids had fun and we enjoyed ourselves at the other church. We had to get back for our church youth service but we ended up not going because we needed to buy supplies for the lice treatment and we had to take away some of the beds, sheets, blankets, and pillows. We felt so bad taking from the kids but in the long run, it will be good for them to be free of lice.
And then Aimee, Karen, and I watched Griffin and Phoenix! That movie makes me cry!
Then today we had church, we made amazing pancakes!
I hungout with Jan, Cherry, and the guys for a while. They played volleyball and I worked on laundry, kids towels, and then we played Spoons for a little while. I quit playing after a while because I got annoyed and didn't want to be rude, so I just left.
Then we all had chicken, french fries, and coke and we picked up our cake at the dessert shop! Then we went to church and afterwards we ate the cake and watched most of Pirates of the Caribbean 2.
Then Aimee and I have been brainstorming this whole lice process because we think we have some holes in our master plan so we are trying to figure out how to really get rid of the lice as easy as possible. It's quite stressful really.
Today was a day I missed home. I miss the simple things. Clothes that are not lice infested, a bed with sheets and a pillow, my family and friends from home.
Please don't think that I am being deprived here, because I am not. We have just quarantined a lot of stuff so that we can get rid of all the lice for good, at least so that there is not mass quantities of kids having it at the same time and passing it on to everyone.
Tomorrow is going to be a long, stressful day. Please, prayers are appreciated.

Trujillo

We woke up yesterday morning and went to Trujillo with some of the ladies.
It was really sort of like a day in America type feeling because we were in a shopping center and it was like an outlet mall but a lot more nice. And it reminded us that not everyone here in Peru is dirt poor. And it gave us a feel of home, whether that's a good stereotype or not.
We went shopping for a few and this man in the Adidas store asked me to leave my bad outside, ha ha, so Aimee stood outside with my bag while I looked.
We didn't want to buy anything that we could get in America so I ended up buying a Peruvian brand jacket. So that was exciting.
We then had PAPA JOHN'S PIZZA! So exciting. It was actually better than in the states because it was not as greasy or maybe it was just so amazing because I had not had anything like that in 6 weeks. Either way, it was perfect. I had breakdsticks too =]
And then we went and saw the Harry Potter movie in the theater. It was so funny. The ticket lady, in spanish, was like, you know it will be in Spanish, right? Ha ha!
Of course we knew that but we wanted to try it out anyway!
Then we rode the bus back to town, two hours and that was interesting. First in the bust station this guy, probably around the age of 18 was staring at us like ridiculous crazy. We were laughing because we were so uncomfortable. It was way awkward, he just wouldn't stop staring even if we looked directly at him, ha ha.
The bus itself was not so bad, minus it being SO hot that I thought I was going to get major sick. But I slept part of the way so that helped. They played the newest Mummy movie on the bus. I watched some of it but not a whole lot.
Anyways, we got back and worked on our towels some more and then we went and practiced our skit and hungout with the kids afterwards. We watched some comedy show and then part of Never Back Down and part of some cheetah movie.
So at the movie theater and on the bus, I was so aware of the possibilty of getting lice. This whole de-licing process has really gotten me paranoid and so much more aware of things. I hope that it fades by the time I go back to the States. I would never have thought of those things in the States even though it is possible there as well. It's not just here.
Today we are working on more towels, taking inventory of things, probably taking away half of the beds, sheets and blankets, to bag and quarantine until Monday night when all the kids have been shampooed. Then we will swap out the bedding stuff. Then we have our skit at 4 and youth at 6:30 and more towels to do, ha ha ha!
Lots to do! Have a wonderful day =]
Today Andrew is getting married. I hope it is wonderful. And I desperately wish I was there.

"Sin traps man in a prison that separates him from God. Then deceives him into believing there is no escape. Salvation sets men free from that prison reuniting them with God. Not all choose salvation..."

"El pecado atrapa al hombre en una prisión que lo separa de Dios. El pecado entonces engana al hombre en creer que no hay ninguna salida. La salvacion pone al hombres en libertad de aquella prision que los reune con Dios. No todos eligen la savacion..."

Joshua 24:15 "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve."

Josue 24:15 "Y si mal os parece servir a Jehova, escogeos hoy a quien sirvais."

Saturday we are doing a skit with some of the kids from the orphanage, at one of the Go Ye Ministry churches in another town. We are doing the "Sin Chair" if you have ever heard of it. If not, you can look at the example that we used to go off of:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGs5FT5PIEM

In the background we are going to play Slow Fade by Casting Crowns and we are going to have the lyrics in spanish in case they do not know the song!
We are going to Trujillo in the morning to go shopping for the day and then we will ride the bus back to town so that we can work on boiling the water for the towels that we are cleaning from all the children. We did some tonight and I totally burnt my hand pretty bad. It is no bueno!

Tonight was missionary night and we had omelettes and they turned out really good. Crazy way of cooking it. We put our eggs and our ingredients into a plastic bag and then put the bag into boiling water and they cooked in like 10 minutes. Weird. But efficient. It was good food and good fellowship, just the right mix, right?

So much has been going on that I have neglected my book reading. Pray for some motivation to set aside time in all the busyness to get it done please. Much appreciated.

Did I tell you we are getting rid of all the lice here? And Aimee, Karen, and I are in charge? We took two pairs of clothing per child today to bag up for 72 hours. And we are going to begin shampooing everyone on Monday. We are going to spray all the mattresses and take away all the sheets and blankets and stuffed animals and everything cloth for up to 72 hours and bag it all and we are going to vinegar everyone's hair and then 7 days later we are going to shampoo again. We are getting rid of the lice! Woot! A long process though. Please pray for the perseverance and that God really clears the lice out!!

Anyways, I hope that everyone is doing absolutely wonderful. I think I have exactly 4 weeks until I return home! Joel and many other kids would beg to differ. Joel's birthday is a few days after I leave for the States and he was telling me I should wait and go after his birthday, if only it were that easy, I would totally wait. And then he told me I didn't have to finish school so there was no need for me to go back. And then I told him I could come back as soon as January-March if God provides for me to return then, and he said I should come in January because it is the soonest. It is so adorable but it breaks my heart at the same time because I really don't want to say goodbye to these kids.
But no worrying about that right now. I need to head to bed so that I can get the rest I need.
Much love sent to each of you. Stay blessed and rest in the Lord.

I hate bugs..

Oh the joys of ministry....
It is so easy to allow one circumstance, one feeling, one truth, one substance, hold us back from living for Christ. It is so easy to fall into traps, to believe lies, to care what other's think, to let emotions get the best of oneself. But God is teaching me His joy in it all.
Some of the littlest things tend to affect how a person goes about the rest of their day.
We choose to be affected by the things of this world, the people in it, just like we choose to not be affected. For so long I have allowed how people treat me, what they think of me, to dictate how I would respond to them or to my day.
Not anymore. Serving God is enough for me. Living in joy even when everyone expects you to be angry, frustrated, disappointed, sad, confused, etc., is so much more rewarding than letting the smallest things affect us.
God is so much bigger than those little things.
He cares so much more than the people of the world do.
And being His child, living in the center of His will, is the safest place to be in.
So why worry what others think or say when God's truth reigns in your own heart?
There are so many fears that I could have or worry about but I don't and I won't.
There are so many things people say that I could allow to put me in a sad or angry mood, but I won't.
There are so many things people do that could change my attitude in a minute, but I won't.
Because God is bigger than all turmoil and He is my strength.
In my weakness, He is strong. I am relying on Him and not myself.
I choose Christ, the way of selfless abandonment, not myself and the way of selfishness.

"Lord forgive us when we get consumed by the things of this world, That fight for our love, and our passion, As our eyes are open wide and on you. Grant us the privilege of your world view, And may your kingdom be, what wakes us up, and lays us down.." --Lose My Soul by TobyMac

Late night

I have definitely been afraid to return to Oklahoma, to school in particular, afraid to face things that I just want to get past and not have to concern myself with and so I have ignored it. But God is funny, He makes you face things. He will just keep on bringing it up until you do.
Today in church the speaker spoke on 1 Samuel 17, David and Goliath and how David was a man after God's own heart. He did not listen to the negativity that Goliath and others threw his way. He did not look at the surface value of the situation and run in fear. He faced it with courage and faith in God for his triumph and protection in the process. David had faith that God could do the impossible and he walked in that confidence. He did not cower down and run away and he did not believe the lies of the enemy. God is bigger than the giants in our lives. He wants us to leave those giants at His cross, follow Him with devotion, and trust that He has it all under control. And I trust that He has my situation all under control as well. So I am not going to get worked up about it. I am just going to go back to school and finish off the semester, graduate, and get on with my life.
I have found the place where I feel like I shall return to shortly after graduation. I think it is the starting point, the preparation ground for all that is to come in my future. I know that God will provide the sponsor for me to be able to financially take care of my loans for school. God calls, we just answer, and He will provide for me. I know that.
God has blessed me with tremendous support and people who love and pray for me and I am so blessed. This place has taught me so much appreciation for all that I have.
I love every minute here and I find that it will be extremely difficult to say goodbye to these kids when the time comes. But God knows what He is doing and I must graduate =]

Emily and I each have one!

3rd graders!
Yhonson thought it was funny to say Emily was tall and I was short!
Sixth graders!
7th graders!
2nd graders!

Yhonson also likes to point at rat and say Rita. ha ha!

The night she left!

Enough said!

4-5th graders!

1st graders!

1st graders!

No need for words.

Kids from the second house!

I love these kids!

Joel insisted on having the same words and colors on his bracelet as I did.

Making bracelets at the 1st house!

Making bracelets at the 2nd house!

Video of us walking on the pier...dun dun dun..

Beloved Redimir

Teacher Appreciation gifts (fake roses)
Us being silly girls =]

Our matching bracelets!!!

I was definitely freaking out. Me and heights, no bueno. Me and heights on a bridge with water underneath, no bueno times 10! ha ha! It was fun though!
Baked a lot these past couple of days, desserts. I think it is a comfort.
Aimee and Karen arrived so two new roommates. We had a good day today. Very sunny, I think I got a little sun. And then I went into town a lot, got a whole heck of a lot of exercise. And anyway, not a lot to say as of yet but I think I will have more stories after these days with no school and lots of play time with the kids.
It was cool though. I baked cookies for the individual houses and today the house mom, Aracely, asked me if I made them and I said yes and she said she wanted more, ha ha. And she wanted to know if I had the recipe and I of course did so I went and got it and helped translate it into spanish because she wants to make it at her house with her husband and kids =]

On that note, much love sent your way! Enjoy your weekend. Never take a moment for granted!

Emily's Gone =[

Monday we had no school. Yay. It was a fun relaxing day.
We had our Bible Study.
Tuesday-Thursday I taught school and then we had lunch with the kids. Wednesday night was Bible Study again. And I helped some of the kids with english homework. Thursday night was missionary night and Emily and I cooked mashed potatoes and cookie cake. Oh my gosh, we had maggot problems with the potatoes and it was no bueno, quite disgusting actually. Kevin cooked meat loaf. We made bracelets with the kids on Wednesday night before Bible Study =]
Thursday night was Emily's last night, sad day. We had 3 weeks of amazing time and now I have a new family member. She has a special place in my heart and has taught me so much! We are kindred spirits and I know God has great things in store for her!
Today we had school and Gabby was not here so we watched Cheaper by the Dozen in english, with spanish subtitles. Classes were cancelled for the next three weeks on account of the swine flu. I don't know how serious it is here but I guess I need to look into the news around here.
Don't worry about me though, God's got my back. I trust in Him.
Two new girls tomorrow and Cherry is back. I don't know what is to come for these next few weeks but I am excited for the time I will get with the kids to play!
I feel like I have more to say but I don't know what to say so I will end it with this.
Much love sent to everyone!

A Typical Sunday...

Lots and lots of pictures these days, thankfully I am finally getting them uploaded and up to date! Today we got up early and watched the Marathon that was put on by Stephen, the Peace Corp guy! People came all over Peru to race and there were a tun of people from the United States to race. It was so weird to see so many people speaking english. I wanted to go up and talk to them but I didn't, ha ha. The pastor, Yhonson, and Fred were all in the race and then we went to church. Avis preached about the love of God. It was great. And then I went into town with the guys to hangout and then we had lunch. Emily met up with us and we went to the beach and on the pier to take pictures and then we met up with everyone else for the awards ceremony for the marathon. Then we all went out for drinks and Emily and I had ice cream =]

Now Jan, Emily, and I are watching Gilmore Girls. We are on the 4th disc of season 1! Nothing like a little bit of home, ha ha. Oh my gosh, I do not like Sparky, the dog here. He was messing with Jan outside when she was doing laundry tonight and so I went out to distract him, but then he started messing with me and he jumped on me, big dog, wrapped his front two legs around my waist, and i got away and he did it two more times when I was trying to get away and freaking out. I have scratches on my sides, through my shirts. And I started to cry. Freaking out, no lie. No bueno. But anyways, we are having a great time, no school tomorrow, YAY =]

Jan and Emma!

Me and the amazing Emily!
Yhonson and I! He ran the 5k!
That thing is really heavy!

We look so goofy trying to lift these..

Bryan and Frank on the pier!

The coast!

Emily and I on the gaping scary pier!!!!

Emily, Jorge, Martin, me, Frank, and Pauolo at the beach!!

Jellyfish..

Bryan and I!

Frank and I!

The gang on the beach!

Pauolo and I!

My feet imprint =]

Picture Update!!!

Betzy and I playing outside!

Cristofer and I, being all tough!
I love this girl!

Ruth and I! She's great!

Brother-sister!

Joel is so adorable!

I'm not too sure which one of the twins this one is...ha ha!

Jose! He is like attached to Emily's hip!

The beautiful Emily and I =]

Maricielo and I!

Gabby and I! The best interpreter ever! Joel and I!

The cutie, Sibila =]

Betzabe!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cristoferrrrrrrrrrr!