3 weeks down.... 151 days to go!

It’s happened. I’ve fallen in love with Peru. It may not be for long. And it may change once I really start to hit culture shock. But I really do love the people here. The kids here are the reason I have worked for 4 years to study missions. The kids here are the reason I left my home, my family, my love for 6 months. I love these kids. They brighten my day with every hug, smile, kiss and laugh. I can’t imagine being here for any other reason but them. I don’t know if I could live here yet. But the thought of possibly moving here, doing ministry, working with the team… it’s all becoming more attractive and more possible with every passing day. I want to serve God and I want to serve His people. Peru is my field right now. And maybe one day it’ll be my field for life. I love it here. I truly, honestly, deeply love it here.

Other than falling in love with Peru finally, it's been quite a long week. The team leaves tonight in about an hour. And then I plan to go to bed for a week. Just kidding. I get to work right away and then maybe have a day off. Which is fine. I just wish I wasn't so tired at the moment. But it'll be good to finish the work from the teams and then get started with shadowing Dani and learning how to do the day-to-day training, discipleship and ministry at the Project.

This week we did a lot of different things. Alot like the last group did. Lots of kids stuff, construction, kindergarten visits and clowning around (with real clowns). It was a good week and lots of lives were touched I think. Lives of gringos and Peruanas. It was a busy week. We were split into 3 small groups (the team had 29 gringos) and went to almost all of the barrios that the Project works in. It was pretty cool for me because I got to go to some barrios I hadn't been to yet and return to one that I really love. It was great.

Saturday was an amazing day. I had an awesome time and can’t even find words to describe it. We went to Huanchaquito (pronounced *juan-cha-key-toh) which is one of the beaches leading to Huanchaco (pronounced *juan-cha-koe). We took the American team along with nearly 1500 of our church members from all of our churches in the city and the barrios. It was awesome! We rented the cancha (soccer court) and set up for the day. We had an inflatable slide, a huge trampoline, volleyball, soccer, ginkana’s and food. It was pretty awesome. Before we let the day’s activities begin we had a service. Complete with music (always sung off-key), a sermon, Santa Cena (the Holy Supper), offering and about 15 to 20 baptisms in the ocean. It was awesome. I just sat there with Dani in awe of how real and alive the Church is here in Peru. To look around and see nearly 1500 people from all corners of Trujillo, many who have never realized how their barrio isn’t the only barrio with a church, worshipping and taking part in fellowship together. It was awesome. I was amazed beyond a doubt.

I am missing home a lot this week. Mostly because I was so busy I wasn't able to call home and I missed being home for my dad's birthday. But also because the team that was here was made up of quite a few married couples or people who are married and came without their spouses (there were 9 that weren't married) or they all knew each other from their church. With all of that, I just felt very lonely and noticed more than ever how far away I am from my family and my boyfriend. It's tough. And I wish they were here to share everything with me. But I know that this is what God has called me to do. And I am 3 weeks in with 151 days to go.