not betty crocker

I am a little grumpy.

The other night I went to a fellowship dinner with some ladies from my church. Everyone brought these yummy recipes to swap. So, tonight I decided to try my hand at making a yummy desert that we will just call "little oreo balls of delight"...there are only three ingredients and seven easy steps: grind oreos, mix with cream cheese, roll into balls, chill 1 hour, melt white chocolate, dip balls in the chocolate, cool.

Simple right? Not for Trish....I can't even melt chocolate!!!! I think I might have over melted it (aka burned it)....it never got to the point where I could actually dip something in it.....or maybe it was past that point....I DONT KNOW....i dipped the oreo balls in, and they fell apart as I was trying to cover them in chocolate....all I was left with was "little balls of disaster" and no fun christmas treats for my friends.

I am bummed. I don't like white chocolate anymore. I don't like oreos. And I don't like cooking!

little miss distracted

So, I just opened up my freezer and what did I find? A frozen roma tomato....no I'm serious...a tomato!!! The other day I was making a salad and I thought to myself, "hmmm...I like my tomatoes cold...I should put it in the freezer a few minutes." Somewhere between getting out the lettuce, putting on the cheese, and adding some yummy balsamic vinagrette dressing I forgot about my tomato.

And that brings us to today when I was looking for some chocolate. No chocolate in our freezer, just a bright, red, frozen tomato. In fact, I dropped it on the floor....ya know...just to see what would happen....nothing! Just a ice thunk on the floor. So we played a little frozen tomato soccer and then tried to tempt the cats into playing with us.

The sad thing is that I don't just forget about tomatoes. The same night I left the tomato in the freezer I left chicken in the oven. I was baking some chicken to use for sandwiches later that week. Luckily, my roommate, who came home at 9:30-3 hours later-decided to make some food for a work party. She found the chicken and saved us all from a potentially fire-y death.

And then this morning, I woke up and I realized that I forgot I was supposed to play in a softball game the night before. GRRRRR....How does this happen?!

The sad thing is that I don't just forget about silly things. I forget about important things....like trusting God...and loving my friends and family well.....about knowing who I belong to.

I am grateful that God does not forget.

Lord, help me to remember....who you are....what you have done, that I might learn to trust you and love you more.

Psalm 105

1 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.

2 Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.

3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

4 Look to the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always.

5 Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

6 O descendants of Abraham his servant,
O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones.

7 He is the LORD our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.

8 He remembers his covenant forever,
the word he commanded, for a thousand generations,

thoughts from cs lewis and the bible

It seems to me that we often, almost sulkily,
reject the good that God offers us because,
at the moment, we expected some other good.
- CS Lewis, Letters to Malcolm

LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
- Psalm 15:5-6

softball memories

YAY! I got to play softball tonight. I know it doesn't really sound that exciting, but it has been so long since I last played.... It was a little cold at first, but once you started throwing the ball and moving around, the weather was perfect. It feels so good just to be doing something sporty and active.

It definitely brought back a lot of college memories! We used to organize an intramural team for the Lee Symphonic Band....go LSB Ladies. I can't say that we were amazing, but we had a lot of fun. Eric Eledge, the official intramural organizer and writer of the "Intramural Insider" even gave us an honorable mention....One line of fame was all we had. Ahhh....memories...some of my favorites:

1. Randy Cantrell's chant: "Who plays the best positions? Musicians?
2. Katie Bredamus yelling "3 up, 3 down"
3. Hunting for players at the last minute so we would have enough
4. Choosing softball over studying for very important Dr. Bowdle tests
5. Getting made fun of in during band accidentalism (initiation) for being a little overexcited about softball.
5. Jamie Nichols, Jen Miles, Jen Small, Katie Bredamus, Nikki Gorman, Jessica Porter, and others.

So, here's to softball and college memories!

airplane

Bethany Dillon
Airplane

in an airplane i take the window seat
a thousand feet and all i know shrinks in minutes and when the sky is gray i want to believe that when the sun is hiding it still exists

in an airplane are kings and common men
at the window side my side their view is now the same
some relax and rest their eyes
some sit on the edge
as we all break through the clouds into the light of day

mountain tops peak through
this is where i see you
i've never seen a clearer blue
this is where i see you

leave behind your busy life all you have is who you are s
pace like this is hard to find so breathe it in
someone will say, "where are you headed?"
and it might be the first time you ever thought about it

mountain tops peak through this is where i see you
i've never seen a clearer blue this is where i see you

a baby's talking two rows behind me
the sun just set for the second time today
you seem to use the smallest things around me t
o get me to this place

mountain tops peak through
this is where i see you
i've never seen a clearer blue
this is where i see you

perfect time

I love it! Finally, the fall is officially here! I mean, it was calendarially (if that is a word) official on September 23, but now it is weather-ly official. YAY! A cold front came in yesterday. It was blustery and cool. I had to break out the fleece to keep warm. And this morning, it is cool and grey and appears to be wanting to rain a little.

I don't know what it is. Something about the seasons coming in their time. It is so refreshing and perfect and it reminds me that God is really in control. He is truly good and everything that he does comes at just the right time.....whether it feels late to me or not.

Why I love Peru

This is Paulo leading worship at Centro Iquitos. The first song is about how every knee will bow before Christ. The second is about having faith like a mustard seed.

Pre Race Chicks

Here's Jess and I before the big race. It was all her idea to begin with :) In fact, the first time we ran together was at Oak Island in the beginning of the summer. She kept me running by saying: "Ok, you can make it to the next green house. Just a little more. Now keep running until the pink house." Thanks Jess!

I did it!

I am so excited!!!! I just got home from running the Rock n Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach. It was probably the hardest thing I have ever done!

STATS

Distance: 13.1 miles (I ran the whole thing...yay!)
Finish time: 2:32:28
Place: 10,203 out of 16,170 finishers, 1248 out ot 2045 women aged 25-29, 4949 out of 9128 women finishers
Bib number: 3205
Amazing Race Buddies: Jess Hawk, Dierdre Mumpower, Sharon McGowan, Donna Simons, Gatewood and Penny
Amount of Food eaten at Olive Garden the night before: WAY TOO MUCH! But the Chicken Alfredo was AMAZING!
Cups of water gulped down: 5
Cool people seen:
1. newlyweds - the bride was wearing her veil and the groom's shirt said "just married"
2. a guy running with no shoes because his gave him a blister
3. several men in hula skirts and leis
4. a lady with sequined gold shirts
5. lots of people dressed as pirates cheering on the sidelines....ARRRR!
6. 20,000 people from 50 states and 11 countries
7. the super-fast africans who passed us while they were on mile 8 and we were on mile 2
8. a loving father pushing his son 13.1 miles in a wheelchair (watch inspiring video here-wow- and official website here)
Fastest Man: James Kwambai 1:03:30
Fastest Woman: Edna Kiplagat 1:11:08
Favorite Part: The first 5 miles, across a bridge, under the trees, feeling like I could run forever.
Least Favorite Part: The last 4 miles in the sun, knees hurting, looking for a water stand.
Related Bible Verse: Hebrews 12:1-3> Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Regrets: none!

Photo Gallery

racer number 3205

The Rock n Roll Half Marathon is only 2 days away. Tomorrow morning I will be getting in my friend Jess' car and we will be driving to Virginia Beach. I am just looking at my registration packet.

I am runner number 3205....hmmm...sounds like a good, strong number.

I am in corral number 3 with a predicted time of 1 hour 40 minutes....wait a sec! Did I predict that? I think I will ask them to move me back about 5 corrals, because it will be more like 2 hours and 15 minutes (or longer) before I finish. What was I thinking? (a country song just started playing in my head).

Today I was talking to my friend Rusty about the Country Music Half Marathon that he ran in TN. It made me even more excited about the race. He said it was one of the most rewarding, encouraging things he has ever done. We shall see about that!

That is all for now!

a happy little sound

My microwave has the friendliest little bell. I say bell and not beep because it is a really cheap microwave with a turn timer. I just heated up a cup of coffee to drink with a really yummy cookie. When it was finished, the microwave just sang out: "DING! Come and get it! Warm, Yummy, Goodness for you to Drink." What a happy little sound!

marathon update: delusions of grandeur

It is finally here. The weekend I have been anticipating for 17 weeks! The Virginia Beach Rock n Roll Half Marathon. I confess, I am a little bummed, because the farthest I have run so far is 6 miles. However, it is farther than I was running when I started, and definitely farther than I have ever run in my entire life. Perhaps I had delusions of grandeur. I think I fully understand that phrase now.

Actually, this seems to happen a lot. I say, "I can do it." Sort of like Trish thinking she could snowboard when she have never even skied or done any other winter sport. After falling off the ski lift, not being able to even stand up, and then walking back to the lodge almost in tears, I discovered that I could not, in fact, "just figure it out."

Hmmmmmmmm......oh well. Maybe it was good to set my goal so high. At least I will be able to run half way. Final results to follow on Monday morning! Tally Ho!

longing...

Psalm 38:9
All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.

Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:19
A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul

2 Corinthians 5:2
Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling.

Psalm 37:4-7
4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;


C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probably explanation is that I was made for another world.

sad corn

I think corn is one of the most beautiful plants. There is an intersection near my mom's house, way out in the country, where I love to watch the sun go down behind the corn. It seems so tall and unassuming; Humble and yet majestic at the same time. Today I went by and they had mowed it down. I was sad to see it go.....it was so beautiful....but the truth is, sometimes things have to die to serve their purpose.

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. John 12:24

a morning jog

I went jogging this morning. My path took me to a Greenway that runs near my house. It is a windy trail that took me through a green, foresty area. Nothing special happened, until I came across a family of deer on their early morning stroll. I stopped and stood there in awe. They were beautiful!

Everything else on the trail seemed to take on a new look and sound and personality: I met a granddaddy long legs who, I can only presume, was on his way to buy some new walking shoes, a squirrel eating her morning breakfast, a turtle who I am certain when he gets to his destination will discover that he has, indeed, beaten the hare, and a chorus of crickets practicing for one of their last evening summer concerts. Maybe the butterfly I met will finally find that perfect flower.

the end of a chapter

I started this in August, but for some reason didn't post it.

I have had the feeling these past few days that a chapter has just ended. On Sunday afternoon, I went to a cookout to say goodbye to Scott and Patti Jenkins. As I was on the swing under the big oak at EH and Cindy Cooks house, I looked around at everyone who was there. I thought to myself, we may never be together like this again. Tonight, I had the same feeling as I sat around three tables with some of my old uturn buddies at OCharleys. The group was slightly varied from Sunday, but I had the same thought. We may never be all together like this again.

It was all of us who grew up in youth group together, beginning back when youth was called Power House and later Uturn. We were all there when a single Scott Jenkins came at 23 years old to be our youth pastor. We were a small group. Our favorite Wednesday after youth group hang out was either Carolina Cones or Wendy's and Chilis in the summer. We all went to Camp Courtney together. sigh....memories...

Everyone is headed in different directions. A season has ended. A new one has started.

the answer to the impossible question

You know those questions that are so hard to answer? Those ones that you think you should know the answer to, but you just can't seem to come up with one.

"What is your favorite food? "

Ahhhhh! There it is! The unanswerable question. What do you mean? Am I supposed to pick out of all the millions of different kinds of foods just ONE that I love best? Favorite is a pretty strong word. Sort of like calling someone your BEST friend or saying I LOVE cats. The word favorite connotes some kind of faithfulness to the word it is applied to.

I would like to announce that today I have found that food that merits all of the above words. BEST. LOVE. FAVORITE. My favorite food is the SANDWICH!

mmmm! The one I am eating right now: Toasted rosemary bread, provalone cheese, real chicken, lettuce, and mayo! yum! That's what I'm talkin' about!

Other notable sandwiches
1. BLT from Quiznos
2. Chicken Salad Sandwich on 9 grain bread at Atlanta Bread company
3. Chicken Salad Wrap from Arby's
4. Tuna, provalone, and lettuce on toasted wheat bread from Subways (don't wrinkle your nose...you know tuna is super-yum!)

Check out this article at wikipedia on sandwiches wiki

bang, crash, kazam

I went to Lowe's Motor Speedway last night! Not only did I meet "Lugnut", but I got to see lots of little, teeny, but really loud, cars go round and round and round and round and....There were a few crashes, one tire flying through the air, a girl driver with a sweet car with PINK numbers, some little 12 year olds with more driving guts than I have, and lots of old guys with beer bellies.
It was fun though =) It brought back of memories of "back in the day" when my mom was into racing. She would successfully commandeer the television almost every Sunday, to the protests of my sister and I, and later we would all find ourselves taking an involuntary Sunday nap to the sound of something like buzzing bees flying in circles. Then we would wake up in time to see the checkered flag - hopefully with Awesome Bill from Dawsonville in the front of the pack.

Some other fun NASCAR memories:
** Funnel cakes
** My super cool NASCAR t-shirt that I wore forever or atleast until I was old enough to realize its uncoolness
** Getting sunscreen in my eyes
** Falling asleep actually AT the Coca-Cola 600
** My mommy =)

zoom zoom zoom...

Wierd Cat Lady!

No! I am not talking about myself. Ok, so I have this neighbor. I drive down the road and she is watching her cat taking a potty break.....I get closer and the cat is on a LEASH....ummmm....who does that?

Mario Bros.

Check out my friend Clay's blog for some fun reminiscing!!!! Click Here

Got Milk?

Got Milk? Aaron Burr

Ok, I am taking this online class, and someone in the class brought up this old GOT MILK? commercial...Enjoy! And don't forget the MILK!

coffee + cat = ?????

So, my cat Louie officially likes coffee. At first I thought that she would just stick her nose in, get a taste, and run away.....NO! She keeps coming back for more! I put her on the floor, and she jumps up again.

Ok, I just put a book over the coffee to keep her out and now she is trying to knock it off. Not only has Starbucks taken over the human world, but next thing you know, they will be marketing to our pets.

Gross! I think she has coffee breath.

Why isn't life like an Indian Movie?

I just finished watching "Bride and Prejudice"...and I just have a question..."Why isn't life like an Indian movie?" Or maybe the better question is....Why isnt MY life like an Indian movie?
SIGH.....
http://www.miramax.com/bride/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bollywood

Che Bello, Italia!

Yay for Italy! Yesterday's World Cup Final was pretty intense. I went with my friend Christine to watch it at the house of some of her friends from church. It was a fun crowd! This one guy kept inventing a script for the replays. The players were saying things like "Croissant!" and "You'll be getting a visit from the mafia after the game" and for Zidane's now infamous headbutt to Matterazzi, "What'd you say about my momma??!!!"

So, here is the question....why doesn't anyone in the US watch soccer? In fact, why is it called football every where else but here? It seems like to be interested in soccer, you had to have travelled out of the country or just have an interest other countries.

Operation 2010 South Africa, go on a US wide soccer promo tour! It is too fun to miss!


FUN LINKS: http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/index.html (Offical Site)
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/07/10/sports/wccolor.php (re: so what did Materazzi say to Zidane?)

Oops...name change!

So, Louie is actually a girl! How does that always happen? We have decided to leave her name as Louie, but we are calling her Lu Lu. She sure is cute!

Louie Louie, oh baby...

Here is my new kitty Louie!!! He was my birthday present from my roomie, Rhonda. Named in honor of our favorite Mexican city =)

i love schtarbucks (especially in peru)

Iquitos Pics

Our transportation up the river Nanay on our way to the schools. We did get to see a little bit of the Amazon river, but just where it connects with the Nanay.

We did a mini-VBS for the kids at the river schools. Scripture Union is going to begin working in these schools very soon. They are looking for volunteers who will be willing to go once a week to work with the kids.

Butterflies weren't the only things at the butterfly farm! We also saw a Jaguar (and heard him crunch on some meat) and a Tapir, which is an interesting pig-cow-small elephant looking creature.

Playing BINGO at the boys home in Puerto Alegria (on the River Itaya). Rodrigo kept the boys entertained with his funny game show host voice.

A piranha caught in the river....lunch anyone?

Juan and I at Centro Iquitos.

Coming to the End...

Well, we have just finished the last day of ministry that we will have here in Peru. It has been hard to get pictures uploaded at the internet cafe, so I will have to put them up when I get home. Here is a recap of the last few days (it will be quick because I dont have a lot of time)

Tuesday Afternoon and Evening: After the schools, we went to a butterfly farm where we saws lots of....you guessed it.....butterflies! We also got to see a monster of a jaguar and a tapir and some crazy monkeys that kept chasing us!

We did a training time for the Scripture Union volunteers who go to work in the public schools. It was a sweet time of fellowship. Christy Robb did an amazing lesson on how to teach to change hearts. They also surprised with some really yummy birthday cake and a little princess crown =) following by lots of Peruvian birthday songs. My heart was full when we left that night.

Wednesday: In the morning, we went back to Centro Iquitos to do our dramas for the boys there. Then we ate lunch with them and just spent some time hanging out.

In the evening, we did teacher training for public schools teachers. Misty, Jess and I got to teach our lesson on "How to tell Stories." It went really well! The whole training took about 3 and a half hours, but all of the participants were grateful.

Thursday: Around 9, we left our hotel and boarded a boat to go to Puerto Alegria on the Itaya river. It is on of Scripture Union´s homes for abandoned boys. The trip up the river was AMAZING! We spent the day with the boys just hanging out. Later in the afternoon, we went walking....through the JUNGLE....to go invite other people to come to a program we would do the next morning.

In the evening, we sat with the other team that was there from Alabama and the boys and shared music, and dancing, and a lot of laughing.

Friday: We did a mini-VBS similar to the one we did in Kusi. There were several kids that we had invited, in addition to the boys who already lived there!

Afterwards, we all ate lunch together and then head back down the river to Iquitos.

Sorry this is sooooo brief and not very detail-y, but there will be more to come when I get back....with pictures too! We are going back to Lima in the morning and then home on Sunday (YEAH!) So I wont be able to write again until then! Chau for Now.

River Schools

Finally!! The rest of our team arrived Tuesday morning. Elizabeth, Susan, Linda and I went early to meet them at the airport. The had about an 30 minutes to unload their things and change, and then we were off to a port on the river Nanay. We walked down to a boat that would take us to our day´s destination: 2 schools on the river Nanay. We got to see where the Amazon and the Nanay come together. There water was very turbelent there!

We drove about 20 minutes until we came to a little inlet. The driver ran the boat ashore, and then we all got out to walk up the hill to our first school. There were houses, but they were sort of run down. EVERYTHING was muddy. When we arrived to the school, all of the students came out to the central ¨cancha¨ and sat in the bleacher. Elizabeth did a brief lesson about how God has created each one of us uniquely, while I translated. All of the kids were really reserved, especially when we tried to teach them a song. Rodrigo wrapped up the presentation by sharing how Christ had worked in his life. It was hard to read if they understood or if they accepted what was being said, but I know that we are just the seed planters....it is God who makes things grow.

As we arrived, by boat again, at the second town, we saw a bunch of older boys taking baths by the river (in their shorts...don´t worry). It was funny to see them all lathered up in soap. The kids at this school were younger, and were ready to sing and dance. We shared with them the same message as before. Once, again, we were just the seed planters.

Very soon, Scripture Union will begin working in these schools. The Peruvian government allows them to go into the schools to teach ¨morals.¨ Later on, all of the students will be invited to summer camp, where they will have an opportunity to make a decision about the Gospel.

Centro Iquitos

Early this morning we learned why it is, in fact, called the RAINforest. About 3am, we were awakened by a downpour that would rival any of our southern summer storms (minus the thunder and lightening). Our breakfast included a thick juice made of papaya, banana, and grapefruit....I was a little wary (not a fan of papaya).....but it was way excelente!

Following breakfast, we all hopped in some MOTOCARROs and wound our way through the busy streets to the Centro Iquitos, but only after Elizabeth and I had to change drivers due to a flat tire.

Centro Iquitos is run by Scripture Union and seeks to help boys in poverty so that they do not end up in the streets. We were greeted with lots of hugs and kisses and kids that all seemed to be named Jhon, Juan, or Jony. One of the John´s and a cute little kid named Jony stole my heart (pictures coming soon).

As we set up our puppet stage, Paolo, a volunteer for Scripture Union got our his guitar and started to sing with the kids.....they sang SOOOOO LOUD and with really good tone =) They sang 2 or 3 songs (including Montaña and Abre los ojos) and then did 2 choreographies for us, with lots of dancing and more loud singing. Little Jony had a dance solo in the middle of the second song.

We did a little Bible club for the kid when they were finished. We talked about how God created the whole earth (and they acted out each part of creation)......we talked about how God made man special (and sang a song with more dancing)...and we talked about how God wants to make us His and give a new, clean heart. We also did a cute puppet show about the Sheep and the Goats (from Matthew 25).

The kids were so open and responsive....and VERY intelligent. A lot of them knew the answers to questions about the Bible. After that we learneda verse and made a craft.

I wish I could communicate better about these kids. They´re not just cute....there´s more....a depth..... a whole other life that in the US we know nothing about. Their eyes light up when they see you, but behind those same eyes it seems there is a searching for hope. It is so exciting to be a part of what God is doing in their lives. They are hungry for the life that Christ offers, and we get to parnter with SU in bringing that message. And yet there is s0 much more to be done.

The city of Iquitos is infamous for child prostitution...there are signs every where that say ¨say no to sexual tourism¨. They told us that a lot of Europeans come here just for that. One of the SU workers had a lady walk up to him with her daughter and offer her to him.

Please pray for the work here.....what we are doing is only a part.....there is so much more to be done.

Tomorrow we go up the river to schools to do a little Bible club. Then in the night we are going to be doing teacher training to help equip the teachers who go into the Peruvian schools.

Pictures to follow soon.....

Arrival In Iquitos

¡Hola from Iquitos Perú!

Yesterday, we flew from Lima to Iquitos, which is Perú´s Amazon Port. The view from the plane was amazing. At first everything was just gray clouds. But then we began to see rolling mountains, and then sharp, snow covered peaks. After that, we saw a carpet of trees...green in every direction....And then I saw it...that snakey shaped river, looking just like it does in all of the text books I have ever seen....The Amazon.

We landed in Iquitos, which is a city only accessable by boat or plane, and were greeted by the smell of green....a welcome smell after the gray pollution and exhaust of Lima. The air was very humid and warm, but there was an evening breeze that made it feel like they had fixed the weather just for us.

After we gathered all of our bags, we walked to the parking lot where there was a very colorful, open bus awaiting us. As we got closer, I could hear something like Caribbean music comig from it. We loaded all of our bags....through the windows.....and then headed out.
As we were driving through the city, I noticed that there weren´t really any cars, just a vehicle that they call a MOTOCARRO (or MOTOTAXI). There are so many of them!!!! I even saw the family of 4 vehicle: A motorcycle with baby,dad, baby, mom seated in that order.

Our hotel is right on the Amazon river. We took a walk after unloaded all of our things. There is a festival happening for the patron saint of the region: San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist). They told that at this time of year you can order a meal representing the head of John the Baptist. It is rice, molded like a head with eggs and other items....yum?

There was a lot happening to celebrate the festival: clowns, fireworks, a girl dancing around some snakes, a parade, and a large statue of the Virgin Mary.

We ate dinner at a place called Ari´s burger....I had a super-delicious-cheese burger!!! My stomach was definitely happy.

Peru: June 18-19, 2006

Saturday: We arrived at Centro Girasoles at around 3am after a LOOOOOONNNGGGG bus ride back through the mountains. We ate breakfast with the boys at the Lima center, and then went for a city tour. After our tour, the boys did their choreography for us, and then we were off for some shopping in the Indian Market. Nick and Daniel bought some crazy fur hats that make them look like they have just done a time warp from the 70´s. (pictures to be added later for viewing enjoyment).

Following the shopping we went to eat dinner at an Italian restaurant (YUM). Then our group was separated....most of the people went to the airport, while Susan, Buzz, Elizabeth, Marsha and I went to the La Molina Hotel to await the rest of our team.

Sunday: OK, so last night I officially had the warmest and longest shower I have ever had in Peru. I feel so clean =) We are still waiting for the rest of our team. They are stuck in Houston because of storms last night. We are hoping that they will arrive tonight (they are on standby, so please pray that they make it today). Either way, the rest of us have to go on without them, and they will catch up with us in Iquitos.

I am going to eat some breakfast now! Our flight to Iquitos leaves at 5. We are off for another adventure! I think that this week will be harder than the last one. Iquitos is said to be very impoverished. Please pray for us and the work that God would have us do. Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iquitos

Peru: June 17, 2006

Friday: This day probably the best day so far! Elizabeth did an amazing job of explaining to the kids how Jesus cleans our hearts when we believe in Him. She used the illustration of a clean and dirty shirt. Then our students presented the story of the sheep and the goats (and a very cute chipmunk) with puppets. Elizabeth then showed the kids how once Jesus has changed our hearts, our actions, thoughts, and desires will also be changed. She did a great job of explaining this and she had the kids sit close to us on the floor. You could tell that a lot of them were listening very carefully and that the message touched their hearts. Please continue to pray for the kids at the KUSI school, that God would keep all of these little seeds safe and water them and help them to grow.

After our craft, it was time to say goodbye to the teachers and the kids. So many hugs and kisses were given! After saying goodbye, we took a mile hike down to Yungay, accompanied by two teachers, Erik and Carmen, to see where a mudslide had wiped out an entire town in 1970. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970_Ancash_earthquake

The sweetness of this people has captured my heart. Especially those who are believers. It was hard to leave today.

Peru: June 15, 2006

Thursday: This morning began with the ¨Joy Stealer¨puppet skit, which is about a young girl who learns that she can only find true joy in Jesus. Then Marsha did a lesson on David and Goliath. IT WAS SO CUTE!! We had some helpers to act it out: Timothy was David, Buck was Goliath, and then we borrowed three little girls from the school to be the sheep that David tended and three little boys to be David´s three brothers who went off to war (These three boys also acted out the part of the scared Israelite army...they were so cute!!!!). After the lesson, we taught them a really fun song about David.

The craft for the day was a set of lunch bag puppets of David and Goliath. Some of the kids in the classroom that I was in were so concientious in their coloring! sooooo cute!!!!!

After wrapping up the VBS, we went out to work! Some of the boys, excuse me, men, carried the 50 pound adobes up to where they were completing a wall and others continued digging the foundation. Us girls spent the afternoon shoveling mud, carrying mud in a wheel barrow, and making mud into adobe bricks......yeah mud!!! Sarah and I also discovered and inventive way of using shovels as seats =) We will be back tomorrow mud!

Peru: June 14, 2006

Wednesday: We started out the day with a trek through the Indian Market in Yungay where Lauren chose a guinea pig to share with everyone for breakfast (called cuy in Peru). A lot of people watched this poor little one meet his fate. A lot of people on the team tried it, but in the end, the biggest portion was given to a dog outside, who was the only one brave enough to really eat it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea_pig#Guinea_pigs_as_food

After breakfast, we began our ascent up to Portachuelo, the Continental divide. I actually was left at Lake Chinancocha, which the rest went up to the top (I have already been up twice before, and the crazy winding roads make freak me out...just a little). Everyone said that it was beautiful, not too scary, and they had a snowball fight, which is a rare thing these days in NC. Afterwards, once everyone got back to the lake, we had a picnic and then headed back down the mountain.

On the way back down the mountain, the team left Elizabeth, Susan, Sherry, and I at the Kusi school to do a ¨capacitacion¨ for the teachers of that school and the surrounding ones. We felt a little out of place when we arrived. First of all, we were late, because the bus driver had taken us on a detour, and then we were VERY underdressed. The area teachers had come dressed in ties and dresses, while we were just in jeans and t-shirts from having come from a long day of sightseeing. YIKES and que verguenza! The room was all set up with several tables in fronts with a funny little spot light (which plugged in by directly sticking the wires into the wall!) and the teachers were all waiting when we got there.

Johnson, the director of the school, introduced us to the teachers in his formal manner, and then an area director did another official welcome before the program began. Susan and Elizabeth began with a workshop on discipline similar to the one that Susan had done with the parents on Monday. I then followed with a workshop on how to tell good stories, which began with an interactive telling of the Tortoise and the Hare and the teachers pretending that they were in 1st grade. =) Afterwards, Susan finished with a discussion of how to ask good questions, while Elizabeth demonstrated the process by acting as a chef, complete with funky glasses and a great chef´s hat.

The training went so well! The teachers were sweet and receptive and asked us some great questions. Praise God for a great day!

Angel, one of the Scripture Union´s house parents, took us home after the training. As I was talking to him, he began to tell me about how he and his wife have started a Bible study in their home. It began with just his family and their cook, but now it has grown to 30 people!!! They have also started a Saturday morning Bible Club for the children in the surrounding area. I was so excited to hear this, because when we had been to Kusi before, and even while we were planning this trip with the teacher training and parent workshops, I was thinking about the fact that, yes, we are doing this now, but who is going to stay to train and disciple this people after we leave since there is no church. Yes, there is a school with some christian teachers, and Scripture Union is building this to get boys off the street and teach them about the Bible, but there was no actual church. God is so faithful and it is so evident that He is at work in what is happening in the Kusi-Ongo-Yungay area of Peru! Please pray for the work that Angel and Rosa and their children, Jusephi and Alexia, are doing!

Here is a link to the state we are staying in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancash

Peru: June 13, 2006

Tuesday´s VBS lesson was about the Potter and the Clay. It was such a fun lesson!!!! We began with the Frog Prince puppet skit, which tells the story of a frog who wants to be a prince because he doesnt like being green. But then he learns that God made him special and that he needs to change his insides, not his outsides, if he wants to be happy. I must say that Charliann showed off some pretty sweet skills with her frog puppet!

Afterwards, Elizabeth explained how God made us out of the dust of the ground and then we sang a song we had made up to go with the Bible verse. The song included a lot of dancing and at one point the kids made a blowing noise to show how God breathed into Adam to make him a living creature.

After the song we had a visit from a very special guest: Jeremiah, or rather, Susan dressed up in a really comical old prophet costume. She explained the passage out of Jeremiah 18 about God comparing his people to clay and He is the potter, and he has formed each one of us as He decided. Then, the kids were given a piece of clay and separated into their classrooms to make something. My class was great! The teacher, Erik, was very creative, and he showed the kids how to make lots of neat things with their clay. Some of the inventions included: a miniature cooking pot with lid, a basket with woven handles, a teapot, and a cup.

Peru: June 12, 2006

This was our very first day doing VBS and construction at KUSI (a quechua word that means happiness). The VBS at the school was very fun! We taught the children some songs, and then 3 ladies, Pat, Ann, and Beth taught the lesson about salvation. The children were very attentive and at the end we were able to pray with them. Afterwards, we helped the children make a bracelet that explains the life of Jesus and what he has done for us. It was great doing the craft because we were able to split up with the kids in their classrooms and get more one on one time with them.

God is so faithful! The three ladies that taught were a little nervous about teaching because they are not teachers, but God used them to communicate their message so clearly because they were humbly depending on Him and they were committed to making His message known!

Just after VBS, Susan and I talked with Johnson, Scripture Union´s director at the KUSI school about a parents meeting we were going to have in the late afternoon. It was a little comical. He had sent out an ¨official¨ notice to the parents to make them come to the meeting.... it turns out that in Peru, all you need to make something official is a stamp! Susan and I laughed to ourselves.

NOW TO WORK! Monday´s work consisted of peeling bamboo that they are going to use to make the roofs, digging the foundations of some of the buildings in the village, and making adobe bricks. My wheelbarrowing skills have not improved too much, but it was exciting to be a part of the process!

At 130, Angel took Susan and I back to the Hostal Oasis to pick up our puppet materials to share with the parents and to check on a team member who had stayed back with an upset stomach. As we drove down the mountain, we passed some of the students who were leaving the school. Angel, knowing they had a long way to walk, invited them in!!!!!! I think 5 students crammed into the front passenger seat, 1 was in the back seat with susan and I, and 5 more in the hatchback trunk!

About 3pm, Susan and I went to meet with parents. To keep the officialness of the meeting, Johnson had all of the parents sign in. He said that if some of them did not come, they would have to come and do work at the school.

There were probably about 40 people at the parent meeting. It was very obvious that there were many more mothers than fathers. Susan talked to them about discipline and I translated for her. It was exciting to be able to share her message with these parents, because it was a message about why we discipline and the foundation of disicpline. Discipline is to change hearts, and the only one who can truly change our hearts is Christ. The parents listened, and asked questions, and really seemed to be engaged in what Susan was saying.

During team time later that night, Buzz talked about Romans 12, about being a living sacrifice and about using our gifts that God has given us. I know that today the body of Christ was working as it should...everyone was using their gifts together, and because if that, God was glorified!

Some Peruvian Photos

Making Bracelets in VBS

Puppet Show for VBS

Miranda and I before the puppet show

Kids after making a craft out of clay. We taught them about how God is the potter and we are the clay.

The two ¨strongest men¨on the team trying to cut out a very big rock on the worksite.

World Cup: Some Girly Thoughts

Ok, so I just saw Mexico beat Iran in the first round
of the World Cup. GO MEXICO!!! Now, the dilemma is that I dont know who I want to win. So here are my favorites in now particular order.

1. Brazil: So, they are the best team ever (they have already won 5 World Cups, including the last one). Plus, I did my internship in Brazil. Plus, I picked them to win last time, and I was right.

2. Italy: I want to go there....enough said.

3. Mexico: My other homeland.

4. Spain: I just went there in October and I love the country and the people. And their uniforms are cute?

Ok.....so all my reasons are girly: I like the people, I like the country....what´s a girl to do?

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/

VIVA FUTBOL!!!

Peru: June 9-11

So, here we are in Peru again! There is not much to tell as we have mostly just been traveling so far. Our plane ride was pretty uneventful....that is until we hit some crazy turbelence...I must confess...I thought it was the end =) I was probably over reacting (as usual). We arrived in Lima about 10 and then went to Centro Girasoles (Sunflower Center) and slept on the floor in the auditorium.
After a quick breakfast the next morning, we began our 8 hour trip to the town of Caraz. I saw my first Peruvian lightening and heard my first Peruvian thunder. Hmmmm....looks and sounds just like it does at home...just more....what´s the word? Pervuian? ha ha..Actually, it does not rain much in Lima and the weather was a little unusual for this time of year.
Once we arrived at the lovely Hostal Oasis, and we assigned our rooms, we all went for a walk in the plaza. We met a little boy named Miguel who wanted us to buy something from him. He was only 12, but he was the size of a 7 year old. He challenged some of our boys to a race....of course, he won by cutting across the plaza =)
This morning, we went to an Assembly of God church for service. It was such a blessing to share in a time of worship with the people here!!!!!! Right now we have just finished lunch and we have an afternoon of rest before beginning work here.
I am looking forward to my next two weeks here in Peru. I want to be used by God, and I want to be pleasing to Him in my service. Please pray for us tomorrow as we begin VBS and construction.

glow bug, glow

I saw them tonight....it has been a while. At first I thought it was just moths flying in front of my headlights. I looked to the right and left trying to discover whether it was only a figment of my imagination or not. But I had not imagined it...in the field to my right, I saw one, and then several others, flashing their lights to let me know that it really was summer time!

For a while I thought they had disappeared altogether....I hadn't seen them in a while, but then I realized that I had just grown up, and I didn't know when or where to look for them. They may have been just in front of me and I missed them....too old to notice.

I am turning 26 in a few days....I hope that one more year does not keep me from my glowy friends. I have missed them!

more photos from peru

Cusi: Quechua for Happiness

It is a village built by Scripture Union that includes a school,

a home for abandoned boys, and a camp.

Caitlin and Laura enjoying the beauty of Huascaran, the second highest peak in the Andes.

At the Continental Divide: 16,200 feet

(did anyone bring some 02?)

Our morning wake-up call (aka: the devil bird)

Peru: Days 7-9

Thursday: Back to work! In the morning, we did the HEART DRAMA. Afterwards, the students were split up into groups and each group sent to be with a different grade level. It was exciting seeing the students being responsible for the ministry that was happening. They were teaching the songs, leading the activities, and speaking their Spanish without any help!

While the students were teaching the kids and playing with them, I had the opportunity to spend time with Mrs. Smith and the teachers from the Cusi school. Of the 8 teachers, only one of them was receiving money for his work. The others will continue to work until their one year of service for the Peruvian Government is finished. Even after that, they will get paid very little. Mrs. Smith shared teaching ideas and encouraged them. I had the joy of translating! What a joy it is to help someone else communicate what God has put on their heart! The teachers were so hungry for any ideas to help them reach their children. We will take even more ideas with us when we return in June.

After this, the all of the kids returned to their classrooms from playing with our students and we passed out bookbags to each one. They were very happy and very thankful for the bags they received, and our students to got to learn the joy of giving to others!

The number of bricks grew to over 150 due to the amazing adobe skills of several of the girls and the shoveling/wheelbarrowing skills of Pastor Malloy, Mr. Horton and Mrs. Smith. The boys and some other girls continued the building of the side walk by bringing in more rock from the river.




Around 3:30, we stopped work and took a beautiful mile and a half trek down to the village of Yungay, which was wiped out by a mudslide in 1970. After an earthquake, a piece of the mountain broke off and while sliding down brought mud, rock and water, covering the entire town in less that 3 minutes. The only ones who survived were visiting the cemetery which is raised off the ground (it is the circle shaped area in the left of the before and after photos at wikipedia). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970_Ancash_earthquake

Friday: Our last day in Cusi! When we got to the school this morning, the children at the school did their Friday routine of marching in and singing their national anthem. They asked us to sing our national anthem to them...OH SAY CAN YOU SEEEEEEEE!

Afterwards, we shared the MISSION IMPOSSIBLE drama with them. This was an especially exciting point of the day! At the last minute, one student, who played a main part in the drama, was not able to go on the Peru trip. However, Ron E. stepped up and learned this part in a matter of probably only 3 hours, and he did an AMAZING job!!!! In fact, he even added some of this own style to it to make it extra good! It was neat to see God take care of the details and Ron provide some skills, especially the Ron-sneak..."get your sneak on" (quote by Lizzie)

Today we played with the kids and then said goodbye. While the students were playing, I talked with some of the teachers. It was such a sweet time of fellowship! We talked about teaching, we talked about the Gospel (some of them are not yet believers), and we talked about Peru. They even taught me some Quechua, which is the language of the Ancient Incans and still one of the three main languages in Peru (Spanish and Aymara are the other two. The only words that I can remember off the top of my head are imanota (hello), ancash (blue) and mishi (cat). The last word stuck because 1) I LOVE CATS and 2) there was this super cute kitten at the school and his name just happened to be MISHI and it also somehow ended up hanging out with me for about 2o minutes....I enjoyed the purring.....I missed my kitty at home! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quechua

Friday night was the beginning of the end of our marathon. We drove all night (from 6pm until 3 am the next morning) back to Lima.

Saturday: After breakfast, we took a city tour of Lima, which included the San Francisco Church and its winding and somewhat creepy catacombs. As we came back to Centro Girasoles, we passed the Presidential Palace as they were changing the gaurd, which included a band, some high stepping, and of course, some guards to be changed. We also met up with a rather unusual dog and his not very nice owner. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lima,_Peru

Upon our return, we all went upstairs in Girasoles for the presentation of a drama put together by the street boys. It is a three part choreography that tells the story of their lives and how God has rescued them and given them new life! Afterwards, we were able to share our dramas with the boys, which was very exciting for us. All week, the students had looked forward to sharing with the boys!

After that, a whirlwind shopping trip through the indian market, some Italian food in the Miraflores district of Lima, rushing to the airport in Callao, and an all night flight to Houston.....everyone cheered when we hit US soil: flushable toilet paper, drinkable water, and hot showers tonight!

Thank you SOOOO much to everyone who was praying! God kept us safe and lives were changed....both theirs and ours....

Peru: Days 5-6

Hola!!!

Wow, what an amazing two days! Yesterday we began our work in Kusi at the foot of Huascaran, the second highest peak in the Andes, and the highest in Peru!

We were warmly welcomed to the school in Kusi with a special ceremony. The kids marched out, all military like, and filed into ranks. Then they raised the Peruvian flag and sang their national anthem followed by their town´s anthem. The kids were so cute as they marched out! Afterwards, each grade came and sang a song or did a choreography. Some students recited poems. And now for the best part: They taught us all how to dance a-la-Peru....starting with all of our boys! It was so much fun!



Next we shared our dramas, The Champion and the Chair and taught them two songs. Then, out to play! We went over to a small little soccer field. The boys wore themselves out carrying the children around on their backs like horses, while the girls played duck duck goose. We all played with the kids for over an hour.

While the students were sharing their drama, a little boy, probably only 4, came over to me. He stood a few feet away and just looked at me...I invited him over to sit in my lap....he hestitated, but then came over. HE WAS SOOOOO CUTE!! He didn´t say anything. He just sat in my there and stole my heart.

Following lunch: TIME FOR WORK! The boys carried rocks to build a pathway for Kusi, while the girls began making adobe! Some mixed the mud and straw with their feet, others carried the mud in wheelbarrows, and others made the bricks under the supervision of an expert adobe maker, Filipe. Our first few bricks didn´t quite make the grade, but after that, we were practically ready to build our own houses out of adobe. Score for the day: 5 bad bricks and 50 good ones. Laura E. was especially adept a making bricks and gets the MVP award for the day.

Today was amazing! We began our day with a walk through the Yungay market, where the people from the mountains bring down their things to sell on Wednesdays and Sundays. There were blankets, fruits and vegetables, a meat market, and lots of interesting sights and smells. The end of our tour through the market was a little sad, as Laura E. and Chris picked out two, super cute, squeaky guinea pigs to eat with breakfast. They named the unfortunate pair Carlos and Guillermo.

After breakfast in a little restaurant, we began our ascent up to the Continental Divide. Two hours later, we were standing looking at snow capped mountains and the crazily windy road that we had come up on. God´s creation is so amazing....there are no words to describe it. On the way down, we stopped at Llanganuco, a glacier lake, and had a picnic lunch. Some of us took a boat out into the icy water....brrrrr.....

Tonight, we had a great time of worship lead by Dave F. and Jeffery Davis. Then Billy Clark shared with us about what it is that we are doing here and about the street boys who´s lives we are participating in. It is such a blessing to a part of what God is doing! There is nothing else more satisfying.

QUOTES OF THEY DAY
-Is anyone else singing circle of life right now? (Sidney, while driving through the mountains)
-Look at the lake! How did they do that? (Remick, referring to Lake Llanganuco and its very green color)
- I´ve gotta give that man a hug...and my tuna sandwich. (David B., referring to the bus driver after making it safely to the top of the Continental Divide)
- My toilet paper is blowing away. (Rach; due to the fact there were no toilets at 16,200 feet)


I still have to download pics from today, but they are coming.

photos from peru

Halfway through our 9 hour trip through the Andes

The old grandpa sea lion

Me in the boat!

Laura and Rachel with two of the boys at Kawai

more pictures to follow