Random Updates

So in case I haven't reassured you all of this lately, I really do love it here. I can't get over how quickly Peru has become a new home for me. Don't get me wrong.. there is plenty that I miss from home. I really miss being able to actually hug my family and not just skype them. I miss sitting in the living room of my Nicholas Towers apartment with all my old roomies eating funfetti cake while watching Friends. I miss going for a run through Doylestown. I miss Jules pizza and Rita's water ice. I miss playing Wii (especially cow racing) in Erin's apartment, practically dying laughing while watching my mom play. I miss the changing leaves this fall. Now that it is less than 2 months until I come home for Christmas, I am getting anxious for the things that I miss and can't wait to do once I am home. But at the same time, I am so comfortable here. I am so thankful for how my roommates and friends here have so quickly become my family away from home.

With Thanksgiving coming up in just a few weeks, about 10 of us teachers have made plans to get away for 3 or 4 days (not far, just to another part of the city) and rent a house to have Thanksgiving together. We are planning to cook a nice big dinner.. well, I should say Rachel will probably be cooking most of it. Rachel is our business manager's wife, and they have 2 twin baby girls who are about 7 months (close in age to Ella). I am just so excited to be able to be in a family environment during the holiday even though I'm away from family. It's amazing really how God provides for exactly what we need. 

I also am getting excited about some new possible ministry opportunities, but I want to share them so that you can be praying for God's direction. While I was at the orphanage on Saturday, I saw so many different possibilities for taking some of my students there to serve and I got SO excited. There are ways to integrate a service project into my science classes for a field trip, or into Eden's art classes to paint a mural there, or to just take students down for an outreach trip. But since Saturday I haven't been able to stop thinking about getting my students down there. Please be praying for God's guidance and direction because I am so afraid of being led by my own motives, and not by the Spirit's leading. It is just so exciting seeing how God could possibly want to use the connection between ICSL and Dave at the orphanage to do His will.

It was really fun taking Eden, Amanda, and Jared there this past weekend. Here are some pictures of our trip. We dug all day and almost finished that hole I'm so fond of that I started digging in January with several PSU chicas. It's almost ready for the septic system.. finally! :)

Dave and Jared racing...

still racing... I think they pretty much tied.

Little Carlita from Hogar, the orphanage across the street