"It's a Peruvian thing..."

Wow, I haven't posted at all this year!

I went on a mission trip to Peru over Spring Break (March 8-18).  The trip is probably one of the top highlights of my life.  I seriously will never be the same...

We left for Tulsa early Thursday morning and arrived in Lima very late that night and stayed at a hotel until morning.   It was a nice hotel in the Miraflores neighborhood of Lima with a breakfast of rolls, yogurt & fruit.  After shopping for necessities, such as snacks and toilet paper, we had an almost nine hour bus ride to San Pedro de Pilas.   One of the guys in the group got his backpack stolen, but thankfully still had his passport with him!  We arrived in Pilas late Friday night.   When I woke up in the morning, I went to the window to see what the weather was like and was surprised with and AMAZING view of the mountains in the fog.  (I'm sure you've seen the pictures on Facebook). 

Foods we ate there were good.  A standard breakfast consisted of eggs and rice or sometimes rolls with jam.  Lunch was soup with a main course of meat, potatoes (of some sort: mashed, boiled, fried, etc), and rice.  Dinner was usually a rice stir-fry or something with potatoes again.  They eat mainly starches.

While we were there, we started up a Bible study in the house of one of the local townsmen.  It is currently a very small group that will be led by Lolo (a Peruvian man from Tamara).   Hopefully it will end up being a home church soon and continue growing.  We also visited the schools and presented the Gospel through dramas, testimonies, and games.   Some of the children became quite attached to me (and I to them!) by the week's end.  It was very hard to leave after being there only one week.

We also did A LOT of hiking, which I really enjoyed.  There were no cars, so we walked everywhere.  We saw some "Inca ruins" and hiked to Tamara (about 30-45 minute hike up the mountain) a few times to see Lolo.  That was an adventure.  Since it is the rainy season, the river was flowing over part of the road, so we had to cut across the river on a "bridge" of a few logs.  They weren't tied together, so we basically had to choose a log and walk across.  I really don't like heights, so it was kinda scary…but I made it! J

We had a shopping day in Lima the last day we were in Peru.  That was fun.   I didn't really get much, just a few gifts for family and friends and a purse for myself.  The currency there is called a "sol,"   (3 soles = about $1).  We also bought some snacks for the flight back.  One of the snacks I really like are called Choko Soda, which chocolate covered soda crackers.  They sound weird, but are amazing.  Also, a very popular drink there is Inca Cola, which is yellow and tastes a little bit like bubble gum.  I don't really drink pop, so I didn't care for it too much.  It was interesting to try though.  I also bought some "mate de coca," which is tea made from coca leaves.

Our trip back was quite an adventure and definitely taught me to follow our trip motto "Somos flexibles" ("We are flexible") and to trust God completely.   We had an 11 hour lay-over in Atlanta, so we took the MARTA (public subway system) to each lunch at Hard Rock Café (my first one ever!) and visit Centennial Olympic Park.  After returning and waiting for our flight to Tulsa a few hours we discovered that it was cancelled, so we had to wait for another flight the next morning.  We had to split the group into 2 different flights: 1 at 8:35 and the other at 11.  Thanks to security, the first 4 missed that first flight and ended up having to get on another flight to Springfield at 11:25.  I was originally on the 11am flight, but as team leader I couldn't leave before everyone was on a plane.  So, I had to give my seat on that flight, book the next flight available (4:05pm), and be placed on stand-by for the 11:25 flight.  I ended up having to wait for the later one—by myself—which was very boring.   We all finally made it home (Joplin) Monday evening, after missing a day of classes.  Thankfully, my professors were understanding and I was able to make up all of my missed homework assignments!

2006 Surveys... because I'm bored!

01. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?  Studied in  Mexico for 5 weeks

02. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?  I don't think I made any... I usually try to my goals.  I probably will make some for 2007... like raising enough money to support myself!

03. Did someone close to you give birth?  My friend, Emma

04. Did anyone close to you die?  Yes, my grandma

05. What countries did you visit?  Mexico

06. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?  Time to relax... lol

07. What date(s) from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?  March 11th (Dan & I became "official"), June 11th (Dan broke up with me), December 11th (Single for 6 months and the end to my No Dating commitment)

08. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?  Surviving...

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Yes, I've been sick alot

11. What was the best thing you bought?  I don't know....

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?  Ramsey, for saying things I couldn't

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?  Several people, myself included....

14. Where did most of your money go?  Travel, food, rent, school, etc.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?  Going to concert, specifically Cool Hand Luke

16. What songs will always remind you of 2006?  See the list I posted earlier

17. Compared to this time last year, are you ...
i. happier or sadder? About the same
ii. thinner or fatter? About the same
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?  Seeking God

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Crying

20. How will you be spending Christmas?  It's over... I was with my family and sick

21. What are you most looking forward to in 2007?  Graduating college

22. Did you fall in love in 2006?  I believe so

23. How many one-night stands?  Uh, none

24. What was your favorite TV program?  I don't have the time or desire to watch TV

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?  Hate is a very strong word and I don't like it

26. What was the best book you read?  I just finished Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?  I don't know...

28. What did you want and get? Several things

29. What did you want and not get?  Several other things

30. Favorite films of this year?  I really have no clue....

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?  I went to lunch with my family, hung out with Todd, went out to dinner with Ramsey and came home to a surprise party.  I crimped Clayton's hair and it was funny.  I was 1/4 of a century old.

32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?  Not having so much heartache

34. What kept you sane?  God, a supportive family, trustworthy friends....and SNOW DAYS!

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?  None that I can think of...

36. What political issue stirred you the most?  Politics are annoying

37. Who/what do you miss?  People

38. Who was the best new person you met?  Mindy

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:  Unconditional love and forgiveness bring the most joy, but often cause the most pain when trying to achieve them....

*

1) DRINKING BUDDIES OF THE YEAR: Students on the Mexico trip (for my ONE Pina Colada that I couldn't get w/o alcohol!)

2) LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD - LONGEST FRIEND(s):  Shelby

3) NEWCOMER AWARD - NEWEST FRIEND: Brek

4) HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR?  Traveling to Mexico

5) LOW POINT OF THE YEAR?  Ex-boyfriend, losing my Grandma

6) BEST HOLIDAY?  Thanksgiving, I guess

7) ANTHEM FOR 2006?  I have an entire list, but if I could only pick one:  Never Alone by BarlowGirl

8) ANY REGRETS?  Things that were left unsaid....

9) BEST NIGHT OUT?  The Spanish Club dance was pretty fun

10) WORST NIGHT OUT?  Ixtapa, Mexico

11) WHO DID YOU SPEND VALENTINES WITH?  Alot of people @ the BSU

12) BEST RELATIONSHIP?  Ramsey and I got pretty close this year...  I love her alot!  (Not romantically, of course! )

13) WORST RELATIONSHIP?  Dan

14) BEST DECISION MADE THIS YEAR?  To forgive, even though it has been extremely difficult and I haven't succeeded alot of the time...

15) WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR?  To GRADUATE and serve as a missionary.

16) G0TTEN SICK THIS YEAR?  Pretty much all Fall semester...

17) MOST LOYAL FRIEND?  Shelby... She has stuck with me the longest!

18) BIGGEST CHANGE?  My appearance (I dyed my bangs red) and my views on love.

My Life Soundtrack (2006)

Music is a important part of my life.  I seriously believe that I would go crazy if I couldn't hear....  I was completely bored today and thought I would put together a list of songs that I listened to alot or that really impacted me this year.  I'm sure I've probably forgotten some, but I guess these are the most important because they are the ones I remember.  Enjoy! 

JANUARY
Your Grace is Enough—Chris Tomlin
Praise You in the Storm—Casting Crowns
Prodigal—Casting Crowns
Need You Now—Addison Road

FEBRUARY
Feels Like Today—Rascal Flatts
Indescribable—Chris Tomlin
Blessed Be Your Name—Matt Redman

MARCH
Broken Road—Rascal Flatts
Yearn—Shane & Shane
Some Hearts—Carrie Underwood

APRIL
Every Little Thing—Hawk Nelson
You and Me—Lifehouse
We’re Young & Beautiful—Carrie Underwood
Blue Eyes—Carey Brothers

MAY
Hanging by a Moment—Lifehouse
This is Love—Cool Hand Luke
One Time—Cool Hand Luke
Stranger in this Land—Waterdeep

JUNE
My Happy Ending—Avril Lavigne
Fall to Pieces—Avril Lavigne
Slipped Away—Avril Lavigne
Psalm 18—Waterdeep
Rest in You—Waterdeep

JULY
Unwanted—Avril Lavigne
Why?—Avril Lavigne
Yesterday—The Beatles
I Will Survive—Aretha Franklin
Let Your Troubles Roll By—Carbon Leaf

AUGUST
Before He Cheats—Carrie Underwood
Never Expected—Jennifer Perkins
Average Girl—BarlowGirl
Never Alone—BarlowGirl

SEPTEMBER
Still—Hillsongs
Beauty From Pain—Superchick
Porcelain Heart—BarlowGirl
Enough—BarlowGirl
Psalm 73 (My God’s Enough)—BarlowGirl

OCTOBER
Do You Want a Revolution?—Sixpence None the Richer
You Have Redeemed My Soul—Waterdeep
Goodbye to You—Michelle Branch
You Don’t See Me—Josie and the Pussycats
Joy in Sorrow—Jennifer Perkins

NOVEMBER
Vienna—Billy Joel
I’m Sensitive—Jewel
Stop Crying Your Heart Out—Oasis
Louder than Words—Jennifer Perkins
Unbreakable—Jennifer Perkins
Everything—Lifehouse

DECEMBER
Happy Birthdy—Unknown
Let it Snow—Various
Since You’ve Been Gone—Kelly Clarkson
My Girl’s Ex-boyfriend—Relient K
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun—Cyndi Lauper
You Led Me—BarlowGirl

Currently Listening Christmas Eve and Other Stories By Trans-Siberian Orchestra see related

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

So, we got out of classes on Thursday and Friday because of the wonderful icy and snowy weather conditions.  I think it was pretty much my first opportunity to have a "snow day."  As a homeschooler, I didn't really get out of school when we had bad weather.   

For those of you who don't have a Facebook.... enjoy some *Snow Daze* photos!

I haven't posted in forever.... Life is getting too busy! 

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I was so happy to spend some time with my family.  Because of my schedule, I've only been home to actually visit 2 times this semester.  The holidy was good, but hard with the death of my grandma only a few months past.  Thankfully, my grandpa was able to make it down, so I got to see him.  Please pray for him.  He's starting chemo on Tuesday.  It's not a cure, but something to (hopefully) keep the cancer from spreading as quickly...

What else?  Umm....good news! I got an early birthday present: new clothes from my parents.  I'm pretty excited about them.  lol  I have something to wear to the formal now, which makes me happy. 

My step-sister-but-not-really-my-sister, Angela, is due in May and just found out that she's having a boy.  Dad's really excited, I think.  I am happy for her, but (to be completely honest) a tiny bit jealous.  When I first found out, I was relieved to have the pressure taken off (not that I was pressured, but the feeling was still there), but now it's just another thing to add to my list of things I'm not content about.  Oh well, I'll get over it soon enough!

Two weeks from today my "no dating" commitment ends!  I'm trying to figure out what to do to celebrate.  I'll probably have a girls' night or something.  Fun, fun....  But, in all seriousness, taking the time to focus on God and heal was probably the best thing I could have done.  Life has thrown me quite a few curves in the past 6 months and I've probably cried more than all the previous years put together.  However, God is faithful.  He has proven this to me time after time.  Sometimes it doesn't make things easier, but it is a comfort.

So, what am I thankful for this year: God's unconditional love, everlasting grace, and faithfulness.  My amazingly supportive family that has been with me through everything.  My caring and comforting friends that have stood by me.... and for YOU!