The tide is changing

Once they find a new house mother, I will be working as a house mother 4 days out of the week, to help during the days off that each house mom has per week. I am going to be helping Avis with the volunteers that are coming from other countries, to stay organized and on top of that. And then there is still the possibility of me teaching English classes come March when school starts. If I am not doing that full-time I will be helping part-time.
I am also going to be helping at Wendy and Auden’s Mexican style restaurant they have in town this weekend. They are open lunch time and evenings. On my days off from being a house mom I will probably help with that. Just something else to do and to help out with. We’ll see how that goes.
Wendy and Auden are branching out and listening to the call God has placed on their hearts and going to be starting their own ministry in Trujillo. I am excited for them. Wendy is also pregnant so please keep her in your prayers, with her almost two year old child running around. The new pastor and his wife arrive this weekend and will take over after this weekend.
Lots of changes around but all glory to God that He is putting the pieces together just how He wants them for this specific time. And they are going to move the houses to all boys and all girls just because some of the kids are getting older and at that age where they are liking the opposite sex so they are taking away the temptation and that is wise and I believe necessary.
The kids LOVED their letters from you Aimee and Emily. And they asked when you were going to be returning.
I got up and sent emails out to the possible volunteers this coming year. I went and played with the girls. We played outside for a bit but it was just so hot so we went inside and played Go Fish. Then after eating lunch, I played Spoons with some of the boys. Then I played Spoons with some of the boys and girls. All the kids call me Ratita now. Not just the older kids, even the littlest kids do. It is so precious, I love it! Today Yhonson brought up the fact that he started that, it was too cute.
Then I played cards in the other house with Gerson and some of the younger kids. I showed them all pictures too and they were excited to see them. And then I had a meeting with Maribel about my schedule with being a House Mom. And it went well. I understood everything she told me but when I needed to tell her some information we had to get Kevin to translate so I really need to step up on that.
It was Missionary Night with Tom and Marianne and that went well. I saw Wendy and her and I talked for several hours together and it was good to catch up.
Gabi and I finally finished watching Kissed The Girls and now I am going to head out.
Oh wait, I think I may have said this but for the first time ever, I don’t mind taking a somewhat cold shower. Because it is so hot here. Ha ha. Crazy right? I thought so ;)

Avis and Gabi

I spent a lot of time with Avis and Gabi today, as well as with Kevin. It was good to catch up and build on the foundations that have already been established. I went into town with Kevin twice, got some groceries and ate by myself today. Tomorrow I hope to eat with the kids. I did not see them as much as I would have liked to today but I tried to get everything unpacked and ready to go from here on out. I got pictures up and quotes, scriptures, etc. Last time I was here I felt awkward at first going and seeing the kids but then I got over that and I was good to go. I feel the same way again since there are two house mothers.
I love it. Joel still has the watch that I sent him in the mail. That’s a big deal. Ha ha. He is so precious, he still clings near me but I think he is a little hesitant because they are all growing up so much! I think Yhonson’s voice is changing. He’s in the stage where his voice is cracking.
I still have not seen Lurdes yet and I want that to change! Ha ha! I am excited to see all of them and give them great big hugs and just hangout, before I have to take on the responsibilities of house mother. That is a big responsibility that I am stepping into and I am a bit nervous.
I look at my pictures on the wall and think…I won’t see these people for a year. Wow.

Lima

Gabi and I walked around Lima, in the district she is from and she showed me different things, we took taxis, buses, and mototaxi’s throughout the city and made it to our bus just in time. The bus ride was interesting. I slept off and on during the beginning but then I could not get comfortable for the life of me. We arrived in Pacasmayo around 6:45 a.m. and spent some time talking to Avis. My bags still sitting at the entrance to the orphanage.
I then hear “Miss Ratita” being yelled outside and see Gerson outside. It made me smile because he didn’t even see me, he just knew I was here so he called out my name! After I carried my bags to my room, the same room as last time, I started unloading things and Estrella passed by. I gave her a hug and she told some of the others I was here. Joel and Betzabe came running, along with Sintia, Maricielo, Gerson, Davies, Angel, Nelson, Sibila, Alexander, and then Yhonson comes. Gerson asked me to go watch them play soccer at their soccer camp but first he wanted me to come play soccer with him on the basketball court. So Joel and I were goal keepers and Yhonson and Gerson were trying to get it into the goal. At the same time, some of the girls were hugging on me and wanting attention from me. So maybe I will learn how to be a goal keeper and play soccer some this year! How’s that sound soccer buddies? But after breakfast I went with Kevin to watch Yhonson, Gerson, Joel, and Paul play soccer.
We went and got them shoes afterwards and they are like knock off converse and I have my black ones and they were all getting white ones and I couldn’t help but notice that one of them decided to get black ones. It made me smile.
I just finished unpacking all my food, clothes, and accessories and let me just tell you it is very hot here. It is very similar to Louisiana weather but I think it is even hotter. Aimee and Emily, you will be sad to hear this but Jose and Anabela are no longer at the orphanage. They just left a couple weeks ago to live with their father. Marianela also left to live with her mother.
I should be starting to be a House Mother on Friday. I am so tired and want to sleep but I want to spend time with the kids while I am free from specific responsibilities.

I finally have internet on my computer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Flying was a long journey.
By the grace of God I made my flight at 6:10 a.m. and reached Chicago where I had to walk forever and a million miles just to get to my connecting flight. Then my flight to New Jersey was good. I slept on both flights. I was completely asleep because I never went to sleep the night before I left for Peru.
During my layover in New Jersey I took care of some business things on the phone and ate nasty McDonald’s for the last time in a long time, which I am okay with because I don’t really eat it in the US anyway.
My flight to Lima was 8 hours and I watched Fame (sorry Joanna but I was thinking of you the whole time I watched it and you definitely need to watch it). I also watched Love Happens and an episode of Cold Case. I played a game and talked some with the lady next to me. I think I slept for 30 minutes too, ha ha. I tried staying awake.
Gabi was their waiting for me in the airport. There was this dude who was on my flight from Chicago to New Jersey and then from New Jersey to Lima and he just graduated college and is going to Cuzco for an Internship for some Humanitarian work. He helped me with my bags once and we talked for a few minutes.
I am enjoying my time with Gabi. She is so precious. She is a translator at the school. I know her from last time I was in Peru. Her and I started watching Kiss the Girls on my computer around midnight and then I slept until 2 p.m. Gabi woke me up otherwise I would have continued to sleep. Our bus does not leave until this evening at 7:30 p.m. and it should be a 10-12 hour bus ride. It is good to not be on the bus right away but I am ready to be in Pacasmayo already.
I cannot believe I am going to be gone for a year. That I said goodbye to my loved one’s and the only way we will really see each other is if we get to talk on skype, otherwise it is all through the internet and sometimes telephone.
I am so blessed and grateful for this opportunity and I am excited for the adventure ahead. I think I figured out how I am going to take showers if the water is too cold. So that makes me happy. Ha ha.
I really do not know how anything will be going until I know exactly the job I will be taking, whether it be a House Mom or not I mean. We shall see.
And when I know my normal routine, I will let you know when I am best available to talk with.
Sending my love from Peru to you =]

Gracias

I have so much to say but it is already typed up on my computer so I am waiting until I have internet to post it. It is entirely too long to type again so sometime this weekend when Kevin gets my Mac Address entered in, I will copy and paste and you'll have my detailed report of everything thus far.
I will tell you this though...
Until they find a replacement house mother, I Will be assisting in one House from 8-noon and 3-7 Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. Wednesday-Thursday I will be a house mother all day and Sunday will be my day off.
Once they find a house mom, I will assist 4 days a week when the house moms go on their day off.
I will also be helping Avis with the incoming volunteers for the year and other such things and there is still the possibility of me being a teacher in March if they do not find all 3 by March! So if you are interested in being a teacher from March-December, let me know. It is volunteer based but they will pay for your ticket and free housing and everything if you commit to the whole time! Let me know!
Anyway,I am going to help Wendy and Auden,the pastors, at their Mexican Style restaurant this weekend! SO I shall update soon!

I'm HERE!

I am safely here.
My internet should be up tomorrow I hope!
I will post ASAP!
Sending my love to each of you!

Tomorrow I will be in Peru!

I leave for Lima, Peru at 6:10 a.m. and arrive in Lima, Peru around 10:30 p.m.
I have two layovers totaling about 5 hours.
A friend will be picking me up at the airport and I will be staying with her and her mom for the evening.
The following morning we will take a 10-12 hour bus ride to Pacasmayo.

I do not know the status of the internet access or how often I will be on so I will post as soon as I can.

Just want you to know what is going on!

Official News!

I committed a year to Go Ye Ministries as of today.
God has faithfully provided for me to remain.
I am still raising financial support and am in need of that.
As well as prayers. But God has made a way where it seemed there was no way!
Praise God =]

My return to Peru is SOON!

So I have been asked by Maribel to be a House Mother until they find a replacement. Senndy is leaving the orphanage so they need someone to step into her position.

Gaby is going to meet me at the airport and we are going to stay at her mother's house for the evening and head to the orphanage the following morning.

My friend Heather may be coming to Peru in March for a while. Pray God leads her accordingly.

Financially I still need a lot of support but God is the faithful provider and I trust in Him.

The day is quickly approaching when I will be able to embrace all of the beautiful children of Casa de Paz.

RETURN DATE!

I return to Peru Monday, January 11, 2010 =]

I bought a one-way ticket.

Only God knows the return date!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight." -Proverbs 3:5-6

The final goodbye

After getting off the internet on Friday night around 1:30 a.m. I laid down on the floor to sleep until around 3. It was restless sleep but it was better than nothing. At 4 a.m. I went and stood in line to get my bags checked so I could go into the other part of the airport. Those chairs were much more comfortable. ha ha.
We took off at 7 a.m. I sat next to a man who was from Lima but lived in the US for 14 years now. He had his Bible on his lap and we talked quite a bit. The flight was 3-ish hours. Then we had the 3 1/2 hour layover in Panama City, Panama and I called my family from the payphone and ate some pizza.
Then we had the 4 hour flight to Houston, which was fine.
Then I had about an hour layover in Houston, where I had to go through customs, have my bags rechecked, and then run to my gate to board the flight, literally.
I landed safely in OKC at 8:45 and by the time I got my bags, my sisters Emma and Joanna were there to pick me up at the airport. It worked out perfectly.
They brought me oreos, which I gladly ate. We talked some but I was really tired. They stopped at Wal-mart to get lice shampoo to really make sure I did not have lice.
We got home at 11 p.m. and I shampooed and went to bed, around midnight.
We were up at 9 in the morning to go to my sisters house to paint all day. I went non-stop, painting, meeting up with friends, hanging out with my sisters, church, baptism, tennis, more helping at my sisters house, watching a movie, starting school, coloring and cutting my hair, going to the women's soccer game, getting a new phone, spending time with my best guy friends new wife, and a little in between, which brings me to right now.

It has been a weird transition. It has been fairly easy, which is what is weird to me. But I think it is because I have not had a chance to breathe. I really never felt the whole welcome home, tell the stories, show the pictures vibe. I was just thrown into the routine of things and haven't come up for air yet. Lots of logistical things being taken care of and my sister Joanna came in to see me and she has helped tremendously.
I miss the kids at the orphanage a lot. I wish I was there with them. But I am happy to see my family and friends and to get into this routine. It is just so different.
Thank you for the prayers, the support. I hope to be returning to Peru shortly =]

Lima airport

So yesterday I finally got some time with the kids. After spending some great one on one time with Wendy, pastors wife, I played some basketball with the kids, one last time and then I let them eat and worked on some letters. Then I went and spent some time with the girls in house 2 for a little while and they began the idea of writing all over my hands and arms, Te amo mucho, etc. And then I went to the Bible study for an hour before returning to the kids house around 8:30. I remained there until 10:40 p.m. and it was soooo good. Just watching the end of their favorite show Al Fondo Hay Sitio, not my favorite show, ha ha. And then we played cards. It was so good to just love on them, hug them, and to take them all in one last time before saying goodbye. Then I stayed up SUPER late working on finishing up packing, writing letters, cleaning, etc. It was a good thing I asked Kevin to wake me up since my phone broke, because I would not have gotten up, lol.
He woke me up and I immediately went to give the last cards to House 1 and said goodbye to them. Then I went to House 2 to say goodbye and they each individually hugged me and some were saying, no, not today. And why? And then Maribel hugged me and handed me a wrapped gift. The last thing I was expecting and I got all teary-eyed. So I was walking back to my room and the kids are hollering at me, saying bye from afar and I get to my room and unwrap the present and as I see what it is, I just begin balling my eyes out. It makes me emotional just thinking about it right now. As I opened it, it was the shirt that the Casa de Paz orphanage workers wear! They had gotten one for me. And in that there was a page full of little notes from most of the kids at the orphanage! My goodness did I lose it or what!
To realize how much you love so many people and how much they return that love, an amazing beautiful thing. It was so hard to leave. So so so so so hard.
And now that I have left, like my dearest Aimeeta once said, If I cannot be in Pacasmayo with the kids, then I just want to be at home.
Kevin, Peggy, and Fred took me to the bus station. It took almost 10 hours to get here and I slept basically 7 hours. I watched some of Batman Returns. And then at the bus station I felt a little overwhelmed. I was like, how in the world am I going to get my bags up these stairs, there is no way. And then a man offered to help and I was like, thank You Jesus! And then a luggage carrier dude helped me get my bags out the door and there was a man standing there with his tags hanging from his neck and he took me to the airport.
I was freaking out a little when I got to the airport, on the inside at least. But there was so much going on and I felt so confused. Then I talked to a lady and she basically made me think that I had to wait out in the lobby to check in until at least 2 a.m. (it being like 10 p.m.) and I was like, there is no way. So then I talked to someone else and she told me I could go up where the food is and all and that is where I am at now. I also called Kevin and at first could not figure out to get his number right. I was getting frustrated because I was like, if I cannot get ahold of the one number I have then that is not cool. But it all worked out.
I ate food and walked around a bit but I am so tired that I came here to the internet thing to keep myself awake. ha ha.
Anyways, thanks for the prayers, please keep on praying!

The end is near...

I am sad to say that the end is in sight. Tomorrow morning I leave Pacasmayo, Peru for Lima.
These 10 weeks have been some of the greatest weeks of my entire life. Some very challenging. But I loved every minute of it. Surprisingly it was not hard to adjust and two weeks in, I felt like this was home. It was never hard for me and I did not miss home very often. It's not because I don't love the people at home, because I very much do, it's just that I think God has prepared me for this my entire life and I finally felt like I was doing something that could be a forever thing in my future. I felt at peace and not necessarily comfortable but at home.
I had enough inconveniences for it to still be a challenge and to still have to deny the selfish tendencies that I could allow to come out but coming here was never about me. It was always about those kids. Always for them. I did not come here to find a man. I did not come here to find myself. I did not come here to escape from anything.
I came here for God. I came here to serve the people of this country. I came here to love these kids. And I did and I do. I love these kids with every breath within myself. I want so desperately to take them with me. To adopt some as my own. I want to wipe away all their tears, to give them all the hugs and attention they need to last a lifetime. I want to instill truths into their lives and be a part of their everyday living.
I have been blessed for 10 weeks to share in that, to experience that. They opened their arms to me and welcomed me as their own and I will forever be grateful and indebted to them.
I would be lieing if I said I had not learned anything while being here. Because even though I did not come here for myself, I learned so much about myself, about life, living, about my future, past, and about people and culture. I would not trade this experience for anything.
If I could stay longer, I would but I must return to my friends and family and go to school. God has things for me in the States that I must take care of before I start my journey of the after college experience. I feel as though I shall return within the next year but I trust that God will lead me accordingly. For now I must clean, pack, spend time with the kids, say my goodbyes, and prepare for the next journey that is ahead, knocking at my door. School. Yikes. ha ha!

I leave tomorrow for Lima on the bus at 9:30. I should around sometime around 8 p.m. Then I will take a 45 minute cab ride to the airport. I will remain in the airport until 7 a.m. the following morning when my flight takes off and lands in Panama City, Panama. I have a 3 1/2 hour layover and will depart at 1:59 p.m. for Houston, Texas. In Houston I have an 1 1/2 hour layover before flying to OKC at 7:20 p.m. My sisters Emma and Joanna will be waiting for me at the airport around 8:45 p.m. Friday night and then we will take the 1 1/2 hour drive back to Tulsa!
Please keep me in your prayers as my journey will be long! I am starting to take some medicine today, please pray that it works so that I am not sick on my travels! I thank you all for your support and your love and prayers, it has meant the world to me =]
Sending my love from Peru to the States!

House Mommin' It

Bubbles with the kids =]

Me, Aimeeta, and Karen
We took the girls out to lunch!

Aimeeta y Ratita, straightened hair =]

The kids give stickers to the house mom's...

Tuesday morning-Monday morning I was being a house mom in House 2 with Sendy while hermana Gina was on vacation with her family. Friday-Saturday around 5 I was by myself while Sendy got to go home to see her family. I had lots of fun. I really truly loved it. It was a bit stressful at times, that's for sure, but I wouldn't have traded the experience for anything. Taking care of and loving on 21 kids is amazing, challenging, difficult, wonderful, and such a God opportunity. I am truly honored for the responsibility, the chance to be a part of these kids lives. I love them all so much, they are like family to me and it will be terribly hard to say goodbye.
I don't know what the future holds. God-willing I will return around February to possibly be a house mother but that's if God wants me. In my heart of hearts, I want to say YES, I am SO coming back ASAP but I don't know the plans God has in store for me and I told Him I would be willing to go wherever HE wanted me to go, not just where I want to go. I really believe I am not done with this place, that I shall return, God knows the time. He knows what needs to be done before I return. I am just along for the ride.
A typical day in house mommin' it is wake up at 7 (school days 6), get breakfast ready while the kids are cleaning up their rooms and changing their clothes. Breakfast usually consists of some sort of milk substance and two pieces of bread with some sort of jam or butter on it. After breakfast the kids have specific chores, the older ones at least. Someone sweeps and mops the kitchen and another cleans the kitchen. All the kids clean their own individual dishes, minus the really little ones. Then the kids usually go outside to play or have to work on homework. Lunch is around 1:30. That is chicken and rice with usually a different seasoning. After lunch, the chores resume and then it's usually a resting time for about 2 hours where the kids stay in their rooms. Then they come out again and they either go outside, watch tv or a movie, or have to do homework. At 5-5:30 is dinner. Dinner is leftovers from lunch. Or a soup of some sort. After dinner chores resume and that's when they usually watch tv or a movie. If they still have not completed their homework for the day, then they finish that first. And they take showers after dinner as well. They are in bed usually at 10 p.m. and then the day starts again the next day. Saturday and Sundays are a little different because of church activities and visitation days. And I was being a house mom during their break so they did not have as much homework as they usually do. Classes resumed today. We watched lots of movies at night and played cards in the day time. I had to run around after little 4 year olds, change some yucky diapers, shower off some poop from kids who pooped their pants, tell kids no, stop, don't do that, over and over and over again. But that's a normal thing. It's like a daycare or a school or something everyday because there are so many kids. In this house there are 3 kids under the age of 3. Two kids that are 4. Two kids that are 6, one 7 year old. Then there are like 11 kids that range from 8-12 and then a 13 and 16 year old! And there are two house mom's and each house mom is usually alone for about two whole days while the other house mom is at their home with their families.
I definitely feel like I could do it. The hardest thing for me was wanting other food than what they had. And the showers were freezing cold. And the fact that I got some sort of bug and was on the toilet a whole heck of a lot during the entire time, which was very inconvenient. But it was a real experience, I'm not going to lie, ha ha ha!
I don't know what God is telling me. I just know that I am going to return to school in a few days and I am sad to say goodbye to all of these people that I have come to love and come to call family (aside from the family I already have)! I am grateful for every minute of my time in Peru and will forever cherish every minute. These last days consist of me taking care of school stuff and spending as much time with the kids as possible. So that's all for now. If you want more details on specific things, feel free to ask and I will answer those questions!
Please continue to keep me in your prayers, I appreciate each of you so much!
Sending my love to you from here in Peru!

Saying Goodbye's are no bueno!

Sunday we had church and Karen and Aimee got up to say goodbye to the church body! Then Avis, Karen, Aimee, and I went with all the girls, minus the 5 youngest, to Chepen to eat at a restaurant! We had a really good time, playing with the kids on the playground, taking pictures, eating yummy food, and having ice cream afterwards! It was a real treat.
Then we hungout with the kids after we ate dinner. We watched King Kong with them and it was funny because they kept saying that I was the girl in the movie and so the kids kept asking me, Ratita, what are you doing? all energetically. It was funny. And then there was this huge beetle bug flying around and everyone started freaking out. I was ducking down but I didn't freak out, ha ha. Then it landed on me and the boys were pointing and laughing and Sintia saved the day. She grabbed it off SO fast, it was great!
Then we stayed up working on cleaning the house some and working on letters for the kids and things of that nature since Karen and Aimee leave in a few hours.
Today we woke up and Aimee is sick! No bueno! Please keep her in your prayers because she is really not feeling well and she has to ride in a bus for 10 hours and then she has to take an airplane back to America! So yeah. Thanks for the prayers.
We really didn't do much of anything today since Aimee is sick. I mean, I took care of my loans and my classes and my car and got the rest of the stuff for the house mothers and took care of Aimee and now we are just hanging out until they have to leave. Sad day.
Tomorrow morning I start being a House Mother in the other house until Sunday night. So I probably will not have the internet for the entire time. Monday (August 10th) I will work on my paper. Tuesday and Wednesday I will spend time with the kids. Thursday I will go to Lima and Friday (August 14th), I will leave Peru for the United States of America! Bittersweet goodbyes.
But no thinking about that for now! I will make sure I journal a whole heck of a lot so that I can write a really good blog about my experiences of house mommin' it! I am excited but scared at the same time. The first time was more practice, now this is more of the real deal. Yikes!
Please keep me in your prayers and know that I am praying for you =]

Three major events in one post...

Azucena's birthday was wonderful. She looked beautiful. She cried when Pastor Auden and Avis spoke to her and it just touched my heart. They had a real authentic band that played (I have some on video) and she danced with Jesus, the drummer dude from church. He was her escort. And then she took pictures with each individual table and we ate lots of food. We had a good time. There was lots of preparation beforehand that I was involved in.
I was doing the whole House Mothering thing. But me and the older girls went down and cleaned the room. Some of the boys were already sweeping it out. I assisted and then we filled the room with water, cement floors, and cleaned the floors. Then we cleaned the chairs and tables. Then it was time for lunch. Afterwards the kids had to shower and stay inside so they wouldn't get dirty for the festivities. That was interesting. It was really fun watching the girls get all ready. The jewelry that Aimee, Karen, and I got Azucena for her birthday, she ended up wearing for the night. It was really neat how that worked out. Karen straightened my hair, with the assistance of Aimee's straightener ;) It was much appreciated. Although the kids thought it was no bueno, I still enjoyed the change for a day, even though I love my curls and I am completely sold out to them.
Okay, so the whole house mothering experience. It was great. It was hard. It was a challenge. But it was easier than I expected. I can see how it is draining and how I would have difficulties with certain things but I can also see that if God wanted me to do it, I could. With His grace alone, His strength alone, His wisdom alone. You know? It was difficult with so many little kids and having the language barrier. I think it would be a lot less difficult if I could communicate directly to them. The older girls do a lot. I felt like I wasn’t even much of a help and it was a different schedule than the norm because of Azucena’s party. It was really physically draining having to play with the kids and watch them for 3 hours in the sun. I wasn’t a huge fan of that.
I am really interested in doing it in the other house to see the difference, see if I can handle the older kids better. Because I really feel my calling is more towards the older ones, that God gave me a gifting in the 9-teen years. I really enjoyed the experience though, minus a few things here and there.We’ll talk more details later.
I still need to discuss the lovely camping trip. I'll just give some highlights.
1. Sitting on Aimee's lap for 45 minutes on a bumpy bump road makes for an interesting ride.
2. Using the bathroom in a make-shift see-through bathroom makes for some good laughs.
3. Playing Phase 10, Uno, and Skip Bo makes for some real good trash talking, ha ha!
4. Sitting anywhere makes for some ants in your pants, lol.
5. Going for a walk makes for some sand surfing down steep mountain hills ;)
6. Being a city girl makes for some warmer sleeping arrangements in the van!
7. Being a white girl makes for baking in the sun without sun protection!
8. Being a non-fluent Spanish speaker makes for a personal interpreter!
9. Not knowing the language makes for long repetitve instructions on games!
10. Youth camping trips makes for some really good messages!
Pastor Auden really talked on some good points about being aware of the choices you make and how it will affect the rest of your life. How if one is going to say they are a Christian, they should live the lifestyle and seek God daily. He talked on wisdom and the need for it. It was all really good!
Afterwards us girls went out for pizza and watched My Sisters Keeper.
I cried my eyes out. And now I miss my sisters like craziness!

“He comes where He commands us to leave. If when God said “Go,” you stayed because you were so concerned about your people at home, you robbed them of the teaching and preaching of Jesus Christ Himself.” --Oswald Chambers

Sending my love to each of you at home =]

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!