The longest entry ever...get ready.

So, I've made it to Peru. I'm in Lima until the 28th of October, when I will be shipped with all 30 bags (more on that later) to Arequipa. I've been so blessed to be surrounded by such welcoming people. My teammates on REAPSouth are amazing, and I feel so loved. Praise God for that, and for His Body. 

Here, in no particular order, are random updates, first impressions, fun stories, and whatever else I can think of that might be of some importance...

I left Atlanta on a night with perhaps one of the best sunsets ever. As the plane was taking off, I could see the clouds and the sun rays starting to mix together. We soared through clouds and were eventually suspended above all of them. I got to see the sunset from a different perspective, and it was magnificent. After having left my parents at the gate (yes, they got to go to the gate with me), I started to get emotional, but the Lord comforted me with His natural beauty in the clouds, the colors, and the knowledge that I am following Him.

The plane ride was uneventful. It lasted a lot longer than I thought, but I made it without any bumps or bruises. I think the funniest thing must have been what others saw when I was hauling my luggage through the Lima airport. Here's the deal: I had to repack a lot of stuff at the Atlanta airport so that I would not have to pay 300 dollars; instead, I only ended up paying 200. I, however, did not want to carry as much with me as I ended up taking. I had 3 massive suitcases, a HUGE backpack, a little backpack, and my purse. Oh yes, I looked amazingly touristy. Trying to get all the luggage from baggage claim to the area where they kept the baggage carts was interesting. 

I was greeted by my whole team, which was such a blessing. It's been a privilege to hang out with the Weavers, the Austins, the Stones, Kristen, Melissa, Kathryn, Austen, Jessica, Sandi, and Steve. I've loved being with them. Because it was difficult the first day or so (I cried a lot the first day I was here), I don't know what I would have done without them; the Lord has blessed me indeed. 

First impressions on Lima: Gray and icky. Honestly, sort of depressing. However, after having been here almost a week and feeling like I am getting a bit more acclimated, I think the city is starting to grow on me. I haven't seen too much of it, and I have no clue where I am most of the time, but when the sun comes out and it warms up a little, it's kind of nice. The longer I stay here, the harder it will be for me to leave. I am looking forward to getting to Arequipa and being able to unpack and settle into a place. From what I hear, Arequipa and I are going to be great together: sun, color, and beautiful places. 

Today was the first day I actually did something on my own: I got myself from the Missions office on La Florida to the apartment I'm currently staying in. This might sound like a small thing, but it wasn't for me, for various reasons: 1. I'm still trying to get in the groove of speaking in spanish and remembering so much that I've lost over the years. 2. Like I said, I have no idea where anything is or what anything is called. 3. The driving here is insane, and if you get a taxi driver who doesn't know where he is, that can't be good. Praise the Lord I got a good one who knew where he was going and I was able to tell him where to go (only because Kristen wrote all of it down for me). 

Other observations: 

-Starbucks is pretty good here. I can't wait to find some local coffeeshops, though.

-I've been going to the English classes that REAP does and they are so fun and the people who come are wonderful.

-The first songs I heard in Lima were "Bad Education," "I think I'm turning Japanese," and U2's wonderful anthem "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Wow.

-Milk here is not too bad. It's definitely not the same, but it's not awful.

-People love their money. Merchants are really particular about how the money looks, and if they don't have change, they might not sell you something. Or if they don't like you, they might not sell you something.

-There are some expensive places to live in Lima...I mean, NICE places. 

-I went to an AMAZING church on Sunday called Arco de Noe....it was outside of Lima, but the people there were so wonderful. I also was able to see a very different side of Lima than the nicer district we're in, which is called Miraflores.

-The food here is not agreeing with my stomach. Make your own conclusions. 

-There are a fair amount of American things...we ate at Chili's tonight, and it was actually better than Chili's at home; KFC was also pretty decent (this does not necessarily mean that my tummy is happy).

-I have seen more beautiful golden retrievers here than at home. :) 

-Shopping is so different, por varias razones. 

-Someone actually told me that something about my face didn't look American. This absolutely made my day. Then I said my dad was Spanish, they said "ohh...yes." 

-I have to wear earplugs when I sleep. Y'all know about me and quiet at night....well, imagine sirens and horns and traffic and people. It's tons of fun.

I think that's about it for now. As if you needed anymore. I told you it would be long. I have been on the go a lot, so when it's time to sleep, I crash. I've tried to write stuff down to tell everyone (if you know me at all, you know about my recent memory problems :)....

A Dios le bendiga. Praise God for life, wherever it finds me. 

Check out Prov. 16:1-5, 9 and Col. 1:21-23. 

One day to go.

I've been home from Richmond now for almost two weeks. I leave for Peru tomorrow. My head is in Peru, my body in Georgia, and my heart torn between family and friends who are now scattered throughout the world. I can't wait for some stability as I get settled in my new home. 

Being at home has been a bit strange. It's continued this feeling of transition. Praise the Lord, though, for good times spent with family. It is a blessing to have such a family as I have. My friends have also been wonderful during this time--I've felt so loved. My heart is truly full because of the love of Christ that I've seen and felt in the people who surround me. So to all of you, thank you so very much. 

I don't have words to describe what I'm feeling right now. As I sit here trying somehow to avoid finish packing, I keep remembering how this is one moment in time in which the Lord has been preparing me for 22 years. More moments in time will come just like this one, all involving change. Just because I might feel a little nervous about this change, I trust that He has given me everything I need to accomplish the task. And here is the task: To be with Him every day and to make Him known among people who don't know the Truth. I am expecting that God is going to do great things. He will keep me in the palm of His hand. 

Better late than never.

I have been meaning to write again since before time in Virginia ceased to be. Alas, this obviously didn't happen. Instead, time was spent mostly with friends. Potential precious moments accumulated more quickly as time passed increasingly fast. I can only say to friends left behind, about to be scattered: Thank you so very much for blessing my life. Each of you made the last two months wonderfully beautiful. The love of Christ is exemplified in His Church, and my heart is full resting in the knowledge that our love for one another was and is so glorifying to God. I miss you all very much and anticipate when I get to see everyone again. 

As I sit here listening to "Soundtracks of Li(ves)" that various folks gave me, I am reminded of how humbled and awed I am at being able to claim such friendships that span the globe. The most magnificent thing is that we are all working for a common purpose, and our bond is in Christ Himself. We are suspended together in time that was spent in sweet communion with one another and with the Lord Himself. 

Something God has taught me recently: I cannot live by "what ifs." I can't worry about future "what ifs," and I must live in the present. I must be vulnerable to this moment and praise God for where I'm at NOW, and for what He's preparing me to do in ministry in the coming years. 

The theme of leaving is still prevalent in life. My heart aches for those I leave behind, yet I am thrilled to be moving on. People ask me "Am I excited????" I never know what to say, except this: I am excited to know that I am doing what God has called me to do for this season in life. It isn't a jump-off-the-wall-excitement per-say, because I'm not necessarily excited about the hardships I am about to face; however, I go into this season with great expectation that God will move mountains. I know that He is going before me, behind me, and that He will be beside me as I leave the States to make a new home in Peru. 

Here is something from Don Miller's Through Painted Deserts. I copied it in my journal a few months ago because I knew it would continue to speak to me through these months as I prepare to move my life to South America. Praise God that He is allowing me to leave to follow Him. After all, it isn't my life anyway....I go where He goes. 

"I could not have known that everybody, every person, has to leave, has to change like seasons....Everybody has to leave, everybody has to leave their home and come back so they can love it again for all new reasons....It might be time to change, to shine out....I want to repeat one word for you: Leave....Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed."

Then the Lord told me this: 

Just go. I am with you every second of every day. Leave in search of more of me. You will find me, because I'm everywhere. It's that simple. But believe, and put one foot in front of the other in faith that I go before and come behind. This life is about me after all. I just take you along for the ride. 

I'm still alive.

Here is something I wrote in my journal, dated April 5, 2008. I thought I'd share it with y'all. If I remember correctly, it was inspired after reading some in Isaiah and some in Jeremiah, two of my favorite books. 

My heart knows only joy

From the One who conquers love. 

Praise Him.

His love enfolds me, covers me. 

The peace He brings, the love 

He offers coats my lungs, 

fills my veins,

and pours out of my fingertips. 

That He would bring me only 

deeper into True love, True joy, and True peace. 

late nights, bullets, revelations, and other great things.

Hello again. I am up late again, as usual. My night owl tendencies have evolved from 11 pm to sometimes 2 or 3 am. It's been rough. It's not that I'm not tired; in fact, I'm usually pretty exhausted. I lay down to sleep and sleep won't come. It's so frustrating to lie in bed, bone-tired, and not be able to sleep. So, I get up and read or listen to music or sit at the computer. Basically, I'm really tired. I slept well the other day for the first time in a long time, and I think it was because we had security training. 

I can't tell you too much about it, but it is very intense. I slept well these past few nights because it is so draining, emotionally and mentally. I ache at the end of every day even though I've been sitting for hours. It is stressful hearing what might happen, and it is a lot of information to take in on how to handle various situations. Let's just say that the company did very well at creating mock interrogation sessions, as well as "takedowns," real bullets and all. Everything was pretty realistic, ie, I was scared out of my mind when my name got called to go to the "playroom," as they so lovingly called it. The good news is that I made it out alive, and my session wasn't even a real interrogation. In all of this, I was certainly taken to the throne of God so much. God gave me John 15, as He has done many times in the past: I must simply abide in Him. 

My time here is beginning to wrap up, and I hate it. I am happy to go, and I'm so ready, but I'm finally getting into a groove here. Isn't that how life is? You get "comfortable," and then God removes you from that situation as fast as you got there. This has been a great experience, and I am so blessed to have made friends and memories here. Even throughout the stressful week, I was able to hang out and de-stress with some friends. Last night and tonight have been so fun and refreshing. I can truly say that I've made some lifelong friends here and can't wait to see what God has in store for them. While I will be sad to leave them, I know that God's purposes for all of us involves scattering us around the world; the beautiful thing is that we are all bonded by a common purpose of the Gospel and it's going forth. 

So yeah. That's all for now. I can't wait to see Athens friends. My family is anxiously awaiting my return, and I am so excited to see them, too. I miss everyone, but I miss my mommy the most. It is certainly true that home is wherever the people are who love you the most. 

Here's to sweet dreams and the promise of rest. Peace out. :)

here's to learning how to live.

here's to

waking up to the rain. early morning coffee, caramel and vanilla and cinnamon swirling together. good talks. old memories and new memories.

here's to 

splashing in puddles. laughing until your stomach hurts. healthy ambition and making plans. dancing. 

here's to 

cheesy movies. the sun poking through the clouds. emergence into nature. flying kites. 

here's to 

family, even when my blood isn't near me. loving on children, little hands holding mine. surprises. new music. 

here's to 

invitations to party. being a kid again, singing and twirling. reading someone's mind and knowing they can read yours. late nights. 

here's to 

games that make no sense. peanut butter and ritz crackers at 1 am. coming home to community. journaling. 

here's to

hysterically awkward situations. cuddling. disney songs at the top of my lungs. the promise of changing leaves, coolness in the air. 

here's to people, to love, to time alone, to reflection, to answered prayer. to the song that He gives me when we're alone. 

it's best to write at night, i find that honesty comes quicker. would that God give me a mindset so transparent that Truth flows from within to all i encounter. that streams of living water would flow from within me, that He would speak, not me. 

what a blessed day. to God, may i always say "i am Yours, may you accomplish in me Your work and purpose." i'm about to jump, will you let me go? the adventure i seek is Him, there is nothing more exciting than following Jesus. you should go too. 

much love and rest. 

Coffee shop musings.

Coffee shops get in my bones. This probably does not make sense to some people, but it makes perfect sense to me. Here are my thoughts: 

Local coffee shops are best. I remember a fondness for European shops, but it's been six years since I've graced the cobbled steps of Old Madrid and Barcelona. As for the Stateside establishments, I'm all for Starbucks and their overpriced coffee simply because it tastes decent and it's convenient, but there's something about discovering a smaller business that only the locals know about. It's exciting to me, the idea that one can make friends with the people who come to a coffee shop on a daily basis for the same reasons. Community in this particular environment is essential; I love being enveloped by the low-din of strangers whispering their conversations, and I love the soft music that plays, followed by the jingle of the change being dropped in the drawer, or the blender whirring to process something cold and icy. These musings make me miss my college hot-spots, as well as the two a.m. excursions to taste churros y chocolate in the cafes in Spain, but I'm thrilled to explore Arequipa in a couple months and encounter all it has to offer in the way of my favorite beverage and hang-out locales. Until then, I will endeavor to enjoy the time I have in America as I scope out the locals' go-to places. 

Much love and coffee....