I miss this kid like crazy!!!!!

Flu, shots, a concussion, sushi, and more!

Well, this week started off with me fighting off flu symptoms. Luckily, I never got really sick. I have good friends who made sure I got my rest and felt better. Tuesday was the third and final round of immunizations!! Whoop! My arm hurt afterwards (and still does!). I was able to throw around the softball with Sara for a little bit. There is nothing better than throwing around the ball on the first day of spring! It was great.

Later on - me, Jamie, Sue, Sarah, Johnny and Maria played Nubball. What is Nubball you may ask? Well, place your hands behind your neck - and there ya go! You are ready. I would say this game is a cross between soccer and rugby. It's great!! You can't use your hands . . . you have to use your elbows (aka: nubs) and your knees. So, here is how it would work: you begin with a jumpball, and if you catch it, you then pass to another team member by batting the ball with your nub. If the ball hits the ground, you must dive on it and pick it up with knees or nubs! We began the game with Jamie, me, and Maria vs. Johnny, Sue and Sarah. Probably 5-10 minutes into the game there was a loose ball and Sue and I were headed full-force for it. As we dove, the side of my head connected with her knee. I was down. But, happy to say I walked away with just a headache. Don't let the danger deter you!! It's an extremely fun game.

I experienced sushi for the first time this week. It was actually not too bad. My friend Justin ordered for me, and he didn't go easy. For my first time, he didn't order the sushi rolls . . . with the rice and other junk and very little raw meat. Nope, he went full force sushi! I ate a large hunk of raw salmon with very little rice. All cameras were pointed on me. I got it down and kept it down. Who knows? Maybe I'll be up for it again soon!

This past week also included Washington D.C. (my group walked almost to Maryland!), dinner out at Red Robin (made me think of home), a Friday night movie, an awesome 2-hour talk with a friend, and my first Mexican meal in almost 2 months!!!!!!

Only a week and a half left here. I'm going to miss the farm. I dread the day I have to say good-bye to some amazing friend for 2 years. God has blessed my heart in my time here.

Voices of the Faithful

So I'm reading Voices of the Faithful. For those of you who don't know, it is a devotional book compiled of stories from M's all over the world, serving with my company. I love it. Beth Moore (author of the book) states this: "Before I clearly knew who Jesus was, I knew there were people willing to go anywhere and do anything to tell people about Him. Jesus must be something, I mused. And He was."

How about you? Does your life make others think He's something special? Do you have the courage, the faith, the fire to tell people about Christ no matter what? Is your devotion so extreme that others can't wait to know your God?

Wow. Those questions got me. I only pray that my life shows others that He is something special. And I pray that in the midst of adapting to a new culture, I have that courage and faith and fire to share - regardless of the language barrier. What about you?
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Things are going well out in Rockville. We go to D.C. this week. Pray that we take advantage of the opportunities God hands us to share the Gospel. It should be an amazing time.

Finally have my testimony translated. It was a goal to have in memorized in Spanish by the end of FPO. I'm down to two weeks! Pray I pick it up quickly.

Low-key week . . .

So, this week was a nice change of pace. There was no tension, there was quite a bit of down-time and there was a lot of good fellowship. Our sessions this week were going over vision, principles and what is going on in the company today. Our VP spoke for a couple of sessions - and he was awesome. He's an Aggie and a Texan . . . so he was great!! He can sure bring the Word. He challenged us to really think about what we are called to do. Gordon said he prayed that this FPO group would be the group that would have a 100% return. I pray the same thing.

Sunday night and Tuesday night I got to spend some good time with my small group from conference. Man, I love those 3! We chilled at Starbucks, made a pit-stop at Wal-Mart and then continued talking at my Quad until midnight. These three girls mean the world to me. I am so blessed to have them in my life. They are the kind of friends whose walks challenge you daily. It's awesome. I don't quite know what I'm going to do without them for two years!!! Can't wait to spend Christmas with them!!!

Yesterday me and 2 friends had a scare. We were planning on taking their prayer card pictures out by the creek. Well . . . while crossing the rocks, friend #1 slipped and fell . . . and on the way down, slammed her head against a rock - all while friend #2 and I were watching. It was definitely one of those slow-motion times of life. Needless to say, we were scared to death. On the way back home, the three of us made a stop at the clinic and they said things looked good and no ER trip was needed. PTL! Things are good. Friend #1 is just a little stiff today. Could have been so much worse. So, next time we go out to take pictures, it will be on dry land!

God and I had some good time this week. He continues to show me that I can't do this on my own . . . and I'm thankful for that. There have been times recently that I think I was smoking something when I made the decision to live in the jungle for two years. But no matter how hard it may be, I am encouraged by 2 Corinthians 12:9 - "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." I'm going in His power and in His power only. I can ask for nothing more and I need nothing more.

Finally able to relax . . .

After a stressful and intense week, I was finally able to relax Thursday, Friday & Saturday. Thursday night I went to step-aerobics (don't laugh) and it wore me out! So what do most people do after having a great work-out? You guessed it . . . gather 10 good friends, pile into a van and head to Cheesecake Factory!! It was so much fun. Friday night I ran some errands with S & M and then we crocheted and watched White Christmas. It was great. We had started the movie while babysitting on Valentine's . . . so it was fun to finally finish it! These two friends are such a blessing to my life. Saturday we had to get up and go to class (bah!). However, it was class with Deen . . . so it turned out to be quite entertaining. We were going over our MBTI results. According the the test, I am an ESFP (extrovert, sensing, feeling, perceiving). The test nailed me. The results stirred up some interesting conversations throughout the day.

Following lunch, about 15 of us Journeymen packed up and headed out to S's house for the rest of the day. Her parents hosted us and grilled burgers and just let us chill. It was awesome and much needed. We rowed around the pond in the backyard and some of them got in the sailboat. It was quality time with each other, away from MLC. And a trip just isn't a trip without a little bit of a dance party!!

I hate the spring. I hate it solely because we do the whole "spring forward" business. I am so not a fan of losing an hour of sleep. But it happens. Peru doesn't observe Daylight Savings . . . PTL! Where I'm going, they probably don't really observe a clock! Things just happen when they happen. Awesome.

Well, I think that's about it. I'll throw some pictures up soon.

What a week!

Since the last time I posted, a lot has happened.

Last Saturday, I babysat 3 kids, since the parents had an ESL class all day. Me and a friend that was also babysitting decided to take the kids to the Science Museum of Virginia. Tons of fun. Although, it was probably funnier to see us carting around all the children! We had 5 kids, 3 strollers, and 3 adults! I have a new respect for moms in regards to getting everyone in and out of carseats! After the museum, we took the kids to McDonald's. Holy moly! We were a sight to behold! We were all zapped when we got back. It was good times. We took lots of pictures.

This week has been crazy stressful. Monday through Wednesday my half of FPO participated in safety training. Wow. It was amazing preparation. I feel fully prepared if some sort of crisis occurred overseas. It was probably the best "worst 3-days" ever. During the training you don't like it, but afterwards you realize just how beneficial it really was. So all that to say: don't worry about me!! Oh, one thing I learned this week: I love Bob . . . A LOT!

Today started an intro into Chronological Bible Storying. It was some good info . . . a lot . . . but good. This is what I will be using when I travel to the different communities in the jungle.

Last night I had a hilarious discussion w/ two of my good friends here. You will never guess what is was about . . . . completely blind-siding or form-tackling someone and the fact that it is so stinking hilarious! That makes us sound terrible - but really, it is funny. Just think about it. Some unsuspecting person . . . straggling behind the group . . . all the sudden taken out by a good friend of theirs. It's funny. Just admit it.

Well, I'm off to eat more cafeteria food. Yeehaw!

Finally . . . some pictures!

This is where I live:
My room
The Great Room

Some Friends:
Birthday Party
Goofing off!
Journeyman night on the town - in Richmond @ Buffalo Wild Wings!
The South America Journeymen!!
My buddy Easton
Me & Lily
Graham & Easton


The Trek to the Journeyman Room:


A view of the room
This is posted on the door, as you enter
We made it!!
I left my mark in the room
Just hanging out in the ceiling
On our way back down
This is me before I lept out of the ceiling!!