Finally!!!

I'm here!!! Three planes, two drug sniffing dogs in the lovely country of Columbia, and a great time in customs, I'm through traveling for a while. Yay!!! I've been in Arequipa for almost four days. It's beautiful here!! Actually, I'm just a fan of the mountains, lovely flowers, and warm sun (not all the business of the city).

Once I got here I started off running. Classes started the morning after I arrived, so there's already lots of learning going on here(I think...). I'm pretty much fluent in Spanish at this point, so I'll be moving to Cusco next week(just kidding). I'm still a beginner and probably sound like a 2 year old learning to talk at this point. So far, it's been a good experience.

The host family I'm be living with for the next six months is lovely. They are so warm and welcoming(great cooking too!) They don't speak much English, so we have fun conversations with English/Spanish, pantomime, and plenty of laughing. It's great!!

I'm sure there are plenty of adventures to come. God has been faithful in bringing me here and I'm looking forward to what He has in store for me in the next six months and beyond!!

Thank y'all for continuing to pray for me!!

Adios!!

It’s hard to believe it, but the time has finally come….. Just one week from today I will be starting my adventure to Peru. Time has been flying by. Amazingly, most of the last minute things on my to do list have been taken care of and I’m starting to see straight again. I’m starting to feel kind of organized. Praise God!! The bags are getting packed and hopefully they will contain everything I thought I packed… Any suggestions for strange stuff I might not have thought of to pack yet would be greatly appreciated.

As I go through this next week, please pray for me as I tie up loose ends, make final preparations, and say goodbye to dear family and friends. I head out this coming Monday (March 22). I’ll be flying out of New York and making a couple of stops before I get to my final destination. You can pray that I arrive in Arequipa in one piece with all of my bags. I’m praying for a green light as I go through customs (if I get the red light they’ll go through my bags). It’s just more of a nuisance to go through all of that

I’ll be staying with a host family while I’m in school. I’m looking forward to the experience of living with a Peruvian family and being immersed into their culture and the Spanish language as well. It should be great!!

There are so many things to look forward to and lots of exciting things right around the corner. It is my prayer that throughout all of this I keep my eyes on Christ, that I don’t lose sight of what He has called me to as I step into the mission field.

See y’all on the other side!!

7 days….

Baby steps....

This past month has been filled with new possibilities and surprises. It looks like circumstances in Cusco have changed and I am now revisiting the possibility of serving there. The work I’d be involved in would be a bit different than I had previously expected, but there is still a great need for the gospel in this hard to reach people group in Cusco . There is also an opportunity for me to serve in another city in Peru and I am exploring it as a possible place that God might be calling me to.

My current plan is to attend language school in Arequipa, Peru to learn Spanish. I can make a decision about the final destination while I’m in school. Regardless of where I end up, I can rest in the fact that God will use me for His purposes wherever I go. I’m not exactly sure what my end destination is at this point, but I’m trusting that God will show me in His perfect timing. I’ll start with learning Spanish and we’ll see what the next step is.

My new departure date is March 22nd. I’m looking forward to what God has in store for me and where that might be. God has taught me so much this past month and in the end, I am thankful for His love and care for me as I go through this time of uncertainty. Thank you all for continuing to pray with me as I walk through this adventure.

21 days...