Hard goodbyes

As my time in Cusco comes to a close, I have been able to see and spend time with dear friends have started having to say some sad goodbyes. Yesterday I went to visit and say goodbye to the kids at La Casa Josefina.  I was glad to see all the kids after being away for so long.  It was so sweet to get hugged and tackled by them and just enjoy being around them and playing with them. 

My time with the kids at La Casa Josefina has been one of my favorite things in Cusco and I will dearly miss spending time with all of them.  As I think about Jesus’ love for orphans, I am so thankful for the people involved in this ministry and how they love all the children.  As I have witnessed a few children come into the home, they are sometimes in shock and are a bit withdrawn.  Its been neat to watch as they gradually become more open and thrive on being loved by the people who care for them. 

I feel privileged to have had a glimpse of what God is doing through his people in this ministry and am thankful to have met all of the kids.  This was one place I will dearly miss after I go back to the States, but am encouraged by everyone who cares for and have a special love for the kids.  And, I’m thankful for the time I was given to love on each and every sweet kid, it’s been great!

some of the funnest and silliest kids I've ever known 

Change

Well, it’s been a wild ride these past three years, but change is coming.  In the next couple of weeks I will be transitioning out of life in Cusco and back into the States.

As I prepare to make this transition out of Cusco, I am happy to be around dear friends, others I have met in my time here, adventures I have gone on, the breath taking mountains around me, spring weather, great food, speaking in Spanish, sweet kids at La Casa Josefina, and so much more. I am sad to leave many things here in Cusco, but am thankful that God has made it clear to me that it’s time to come back to life in the States.  I am excited to be closer to family, friends and my home church, to renew precious relationships and be involved in my church in the States.

In a little under a week, I’ll be traveling back to the States into the dreadful cold, but on the upside, I’m looking forward to being around friends and family, for new beginnings, and...........to seeing what's next.

Paseo!!

This week seems to be flying by as Friday (the day I leave for Baltimore) is right around the corner.  Yesterday I got to spend some time with some of my favorite peeps here. It was so good to spend time with all the kiddos at the Josephine before I’m away for a while.  After the 40 min walk there, I can’t help but smile when I’m greeted by all the kids.

Yesterday we went on a little paseo (“field-trip”).  It was just down the road to a little store to get some Gatorade as a special treat for all the kids to share, but I was amazed at how excited the kids were about it and how much they enjoyed it.  It was fun to see them so interested in different things on the way, like trees they haven’t seen, flowers, and of course, the chanchos(pigs). I did end up carrying one of then kids on the way back, but it was well worth it.    

I’m glad to have had the chance to spend some time with all the kids(and 4 infants) before leaving Cusco for a bit.  It will be good to see them when I get back.

the long road back....

Snack time after the long walk

one of the newest additions to the JH, cute little Samuel at 3wks

nail polish is an amazing thing...

painting rocks with the boys!

sweet Adriano!

Rain!

I think rainy season has finally arrived. A couple of weeks I got a new raincoat in preparation for rainy season.  Sadly, I haven't worn it all that much, but have managed to get caught in the rain unprepared a few times.  Typically here, the day starts out beautiful and sunny with almost no clouds in the sky and then by 2-5ish anything goes as far as rain  is concerned.  It can last anywhere from 10 minutes of light to hours of heavy rain(sometimes hail) with flood like conditions.  I guess I still haven't learned my lesson yet, but it just feels silly to be wearing a heavy rain coat when I leave the house in the morning with the sun shining brightly.


The foto below is a shot from beautiful rain shower the other day.  It was one of the coolest rain storms I've ever seen.  My apartment is on the 4th floor, so I got a sweet view of it all.

Home for Christmas

I’ve never been a huge fan of decorating the tree and playing Christmas music right after Thanksgiving, but it seems like this year I don’t have much choice in the matter since I’ll be in Cusco only til the 16^th of this month.  I’m super excited to go to the States for Christmas, see family and friends ,but also a bit sad to miss all the Christmas fun here.  I guess you can’t have everything….  At least for now my house is all decorated, the tree is up, the Christmas is on, and I have plenty of Christmas cookies in my house.

I’m hoping for a white Christmas or at least snow at some point during my visit (and hopefully my body won’t go into shock from the cold). 

the tree is up!! hopefully the cat won't bring it down...

the makeshift tree topper

Christmas is coming!!

I’m so excited that the Christmas season has officially arrived for me.  Christmas in Cusco always seems a bit strange for me, mainly because it doesn’t feel like Christmas at all.  Since our weather is opposite the weather in the States (we’re in the middle of spring and coming up on summer, which the kids here are getting excited about) it doesn’t feel like the right time of year to be having Christmas.

This past week I was tasked with making a few dozen cookies for a Christmas cookie exchange. AAACK!!  I’m a huge fan of baking, but I’ve had a bit of bakers anxiety since moving to Cusco at an altitude of 11,000 feet.  Over the past year I’ve been able to get a handle on breads and cakes, but for some reason, cookies haven’t ever worked out for me.  But, I went ahead and attempted one of my favorite Christmas cookies.  To my surprise, they turned out great!  I was so excited, especially since some valuable imports from the States were used to make the cookies.

It’s a really good thing they turned out well since they ended up making more than 5 dozen.  Otherwise, I would have had a lot of cookies to get rid of…..  yay!! Christmas is coming!!

yay for peanut blossems!!