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[	Tags	|	trujillo	]
[	Current Location	|	peru	]
[	mood	|	content	]
[	music	|	shawn mcdonald	]

2 months, 1 week remain until my time here in Peru has finished and I will be once again upon US turf. The whole idea seems surreal, after living somewhere for so long, but really not that long at all.

These last 2 months I have been working through a lot of thoughts and questions that have weighed upon me, and actually dragging me down with them somewhat. I think it’s fair to say that living here, in a 2^nd culture and foreign country, has become wearing – I’m ready for a break that going home will give me. Although even though I said “home” I do not think of it as my permanent residence. “Home” in the sense of a base, where I was raised and where exists a group of my friends, family and supporters in life. However, I have not yet found “home” and I am beginning to think that perhaps in this life I may never find it, that is, one permanent spot. They say that ‘home is wherever your heart is’ and that could be my life, the life of one who finds transient residence in various places, as the Lord leads and puts me where He wants me to serve. I am okay with the coming and going and moving because in general I adapt well and quickly. But, it’s not always so easy to form friendships and relationships and have to leave them behind, never to be quite the same again. Yet He teaches me through every person, every place just a little bit more about myself, about life, about Him. And actually it may be a good thing to feel somewhat displaced in this world because it really isn't our home - heaven is!

I have come and fulfilled the purpose for which I came: to provide teaching support in the English department at the Eliot Christian School and to encourage the English teachers who had been working hard alone the year previous. However, for the following year, I do not feel led to come back. Although I enjoy working with children and in languages, I do not necessarily want to be a teacher any longer, at least in this type of environment (i.e. Peruvian style school system). The Lord has graciously answered our prayers and brought another English teacher into our midst this week. Her name is Emily, 24, from New Hampshire, and she has just finished her master’s in teaching foreign languages. It's seems like a good fit for her and she's excited about being here! She plans to stay for at least one complete year. I can leave with added peace knowing she can pick up where I leave off. The thought has crossed my mind, so if I leave the ministry at the school but were to stay in Peru, what would I do? I have the worship/music ministry, women’s meetings, and youth ministries at church. But, something more consistent and substantial…?? Several have asked me, “So, what are your future plans? Will you be returning to Peru?” While I do not want to confirm anything for sure at this point, currently I do not feel led back to Peru for the immediate future. I have considered my options back in the US, and if I’m to remain there for the present, I will look into job shadowing some areas that interest me and see if further education (pursuing my master’s) would be needed. Depending on how that goes, and the time needed for readjustment to living in the US and processing my year here in Peru, I’ll either stay in Minnesota or possibly consider other options in another state or abroad. Please pray for sensitivity to the Spirit's leading and guidance for my following steps in life.

In current news, last week I had two neat opportunities. On Wednesday, I gave a workshop at our women’s meeting at CBT on taking photos. I shared 2 powerpoints, one of photos I’d taken to give ideas and the other of tips and ideas for taking good photos. Afterwards the ladies were given art supplies to make their own notecard with photos. The most exciting part of it for me was the realization of how far my Spanish has come – I spoke the whole time without looking once at my notes!! It felt fairly natural. I’m very thankful for this advancement! Then, on Friday, the 3^rd grade teacher asked me to share about my missionary experience with her class. So I gave a brief testimony of my salvation and the places that God has lead me and most specifically how God led me to Peru. Being 3^rd graders, their questions consisted of things like: “Did you see a snake in the Ecuadorian jungle?,” “Did you get bit by a spider?,” “Where were people most open to the gospel?,” “Did you meet Jim Elliot?,” etc.  And they literally hugged me to death at the end such that they wouldn’t let me leave their classroom! I've also been able to  ask questions regarding salvation to various students and it's interesting to find out where they're at.  Please pray that the Lord would continue working in the lives and hearts of these young students. Some of the students in a couple of the primary grades have been acting up alot more lately, negatively. It's hard to deal with and know the right thing to do in each situation. Some of it is beyond us, things that may be happening at home. Please pray for wisdom in dealing with the troubled students.

As far as changes in the near future, Pablo and Sarah Cenepo and their family are leaving to go back to the US for a year’s furlough. They leave Trujillo for Lima on the 11^th and go to Maryland thereafter. I will definitely miss them in so many ways! Right after their departure, a couple from church – Victor and Damariz Solar – will be moving in upstairs with their 6 mo. old daughter, Grace. Pray for all the transitions occurring here: for the Cenepos moving back to the US, for the Solares moving into this house, and for my adjustment to the departure of one family and arrival of another! I’ve been so blessed with the Cenepos because it was a fairly minimal adjustment for me to come to Peru at the beginning because we share much in common – faith, language, culture, manner of living, etc. In a week some of this will change, but thankfully for having been here over 10 months now it won’t be too dramatic of a transition. Nevertheless, pray for the Lord’s help in the transitions.

[	Tags	|	trujillo	]
[	Current Location	|	peru	]
[	mood	|	content	]
[	music	|	Hillsongs	]

The school year has officially begun! So long wondrous summer vacations, hello many young faces and an early rise each morning. Yesterday we had the opening ceremony for all grades, age 3 years to seniors. As typical of Latin schools, all students and staff wear uniforms every day. If all the other teachers didn’t wear it also, I would feel completely ridiculous – think flight attendant, at least that’s what my friends keep teasing me with. But, the good thing about wearing a uniform is it gives us a professional appearance allowing me, even though I’m younger, to gain more respect and authority in the classroom. That is something definitely needed, particularly in my case, as I was placed in secondary for the 2^nd time. I had been thinking all summer, and planning for such, that I would be with primary students. However, at a meeting with the English department and directors on Friday, we teachers discovered the decision had been made to change our anticipated working arrangements. The director explained that after discussing it and praying about it, they felt peace with the way they had placed of the teachers in their respective positions. Liana, who was the teacher I’d worked alongside last year, is now free to supervise both sides of English classes since we have one Peruvian teacher on each side and one native speaking assistant (Moses and I). Because of the intensity of building the foundation for English in the primary levels (they use 3 separate programs), it would be ideal to hire one more teacher.

Today was the first day of classes, y gracias a Dios (and thanks to God), it went well. Liana had been in a separate room attached to ours, silently observing how things went. At the end of the day, she gave Keila (the Peruvian teacher I work with) and I praises for doing many things well, such as nice teamwork, good examples given to the students, keeping the classes managed well (i.e. noise level), etc. Keila and I had been unsure how we would pull things off as neither of us have too much experience with high schoolers nor is it our preferred age to work with. Two reasons I hesitate working with this age group is their display of attitudes (i.e. lack of respect, constantly testing us) and I have some friends from church that are in the high school grades (e.g. I have to maintain a ‘teacher front’ in class even though we’re friends outside). So, with all the things I’ve mentioned up to this point, I have been praying especially for wisdom and boldness. Although I’m a volunteer, this year the school has changed their approach to volunteers and they desire us to appear and participate exactly as the official teachers. I go to the teachers’ devotions at 6:50 am, attend the staff meetings, dress in the teacher uniform, am present for the same work hours, etc. In addition, my role this year, with Liana stepping into her supervisor position, is closer to actual teacher than simply an assistant.

Before my vacations completely ended, I enjoyed an all day youth retreat on Saturday. The two short term missions teams from the US arrived safe and sound on Friday and started their time in Peru by joining in on the retreat. We had an awesome day together, with over 60 young people in attendance. We started the day with a devotional in small groups and the rest of day we competed in various games among 4 teams. My team – the red team – won!!  We ended the night in a campfire, singing, and a talk about our desires as young people from Micah Tuttle. I was able to translate some during our games, and on Sunday at my small group bible study, Moses had the devotional and I helped translate with another girl.      

The Lord has been touching my heart lately regarding being more disciplined and learning to desire Him more in my daily life. Getting away from relaxed vacations and back into a routine will be helpful for the area of living more disciplined. The team brought down a book I ordered that I read part of on my backpack trip and was convicted by. It’s called “Renovation of the Heart” and it is about being transformed spiritually.

I continually have people asking me to teach them English individually. Also, I’ve been asked to teach someone piano. Besides working full time and devoting time to the music ministry and youth group activities, I need to figure out what is the wisest use of my time. I could be booked nonstop if I just said YES to everything, but I also value some downtime to stay sane and get some rest.

Prayer requests:

• Wisdom and boldness in teaching
• To grow deeper in my walk with Christ and let Him transform me
• Hiring another English teacher
• Wisdom about how to divide my time beyond my set commitments (school, worship, and youth group)

[	Tags	|	south america	]
[	Current Location	|	Santiago	]
[	mood	|	grateful	]

And, thus, comes to an end my trip. It's a bittersweet moment, which life seems to full of. I've enjoyed the parts about getting to know new people of various ages, backgrounds, ethnicities.... seeing amazing places in God's creation.... being bold and trying new things like volcano climbing and whitewater rafting... tasting local foods and browsing through local artensania markets. What an awesome privilege it's been to take a trip like this! For that I wish it would continue. But, at the same time, there come wearisome things for the traveller: a different bed each night.... roommates who wake up or walk in at random hours.... uncooperative weather.... long trips on buses.... going through the same 'get to know' greetings with everyone new you meet. Three weeks was a good amount of time to see many things. And, it's given me a feel and a taste for more travels yet to be had. :) Quite possibly next time I may even travel solo!

To catch you up on the last week, we'll start with the volcano. People in Pucon had been anxiously waiting for days for the weather to clear to have a decent hike up Volcan Villarrica. Alas, Monday was the big day! We woke up at 6am to hear that it was clear enough to give it a go. Most of our hostel went, which was about 12 people. We were given jackets, pants, snow boots with ice grips, helmet, ice pick, backpack for other clothing accessories and to bring water and snacks. Nobody really had any idea what to expect as far as weather conditions to expect on the journey up nor how we were going to go about it (we did not have much of a pre-orientation). Our first decision was whether to take the ski lift to cut off one hour of the 5 hour hike. I took it, probably the best 10 bucks spent ever! The next 4 hours was crunch crunch crunch zigging and zagging up the snowy, cloud covered volcano with ice pick in hand. I kept telling myself to keep going when all I wanted to do was stop and rest... I had to will myself to take each step up and up. With all the clouds we were hiking through, we were afraid we wouldn't have a good view from the top. We were required to wear sunglasses the whole way (so as to not burn our eyes out from the snow glare), but they kept fogging up which made it difficult to see your next step. The closer we reached the top, the colder and windier it got. The last 10 minutes of our hike was on small rocks. After an all clear, we were able to walk a narrow ridge on the edge of the volcano crater, battling the toxic sulphur fumes and the strong winds (I seriously thought I was going to be blown into the volcano!!). We spent a few minutes sitting there, relishing in a successful climb and reaching the top. However, it was too cloudy to see the valley below or into the crater. Heading back down the mountain was fun - we slid down on our bottoms with our ice picks as the brake!! There were a couple momentary breaks in the clouds with awesome views of the valley! Probably my favorite part of the whole experience was sliding down while seeing the glorious valley view in front. Priceless. That day will go down as one of the most spectacular in my life. I had such a burst of energy afterwards but at the same time I felt completely drained. We spent the evening enjoying hot springs, a great way to finish the day.

The very next day, I had no energy to take a bike ride, as had been planned, and my legs were sore from wearing the snow boots. So I went with a British friend from the hostel to the beach. It was a perfect lazy day after the full full day before. The time on the beach passed by so fast. And although I had the idea that the South American sun is more intense, I personally understood that after that afternoon.... I was seriously burned on my back and legs, probably the worst I ever had. The 10 hour bus ride up to Santiago that night wasn't easy with a sore back and legs, but it was one of the most comfortable buses we'd taken. Jen and I had several good days spent here in Santiago with Jean and George Even, relatives of my brother's wife. We went to the two closest beaches in Valparaiso and Vina del Mar, visited Pablo Neruda's house, ate out at a Mexican and a Chilean restuarant, saw a local vineyard, walked through the downtown, tried a 'completo' (hot dog with avocado, tomatoes, mayo and a sauce), went to the international English speaking church that the Evens work with, had Starbucks two days in a row, and many other great experiences. Today I was able to visit a girl's orphanage and shopped for EFL textbooks for the coming teaching year in Peru. Tomorrow I fly back to Peru, spending 10 hours in the Lima airport before finally arriving in Trujillo at night. 

More to write later! :)