Friday, August 26, 2011

I'm home!

Thank you for your prayers for traveling mercies. I had a pretty uneventful trip. My first plane was delayed about 1 1/2 hours, so I only had about 20 minutes to catch my other plane in Orlando. By the grace of God I made it and there were about 7 of us in the same position, so they held the plane. My luggage also came through fine, much to my surprise! I must say, I am jealous of people who are able to sleep in airplanes and uncomfortable airport seats. I laid on top of my luggage and got maybe a half an hour of sleep that way, but that's pretty much it.

I got home to find that my entire house is torn apart. The owner of the house is a carpenter and installed wood flooring while I was gone. However, he didn't get to fimish varnishing it before I arrived. So I'm going to go stay with some friends for about 2 days, try to clean my house on Sunday afternoon and at some point in the weekend, plan for next week. It's going to be a CRAZY first week back. But I am back home and seeing a few people again. Welcome to Peru where nothing happens quite like you think it should. :) God's grace is great.

I think that's it for now. I'll write more later, after I sleep and get my feet underneath me again.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Leaving Home, Heading Home...

4 days.
Wow, the summer went fast! I just got here and now I'm going to leave again in 4 days.
When I came to the States, I wasn't sure what to expect. Would I feel like I was dropped off on an alien planet? Would it all feel familiar? Would I go into shock when stepping into Wal-Mart? Would you remember me or would I be a face from the past, covered up on your refrigerator door by grocery lists and school permission forms?
I got off the plane and found home. I found you with your arms wide open. I found God. He still provides. He's still the same. I found memories from my past. I found food that I didn't know I loved so much till I didn't have it for 3 years. :) I found people I've loved for years. I found new faces that I've loved building relationships with. I have received from you. I've tried to give back a little portion of that. Yes, I wanted to escape from Wal-Mart and the grocery store at times. But I found a whole lot more that made me want to stay than that made me want to turn tail and run.
I'm able to be a bit more honest than I used to be, I think. And I found that you are more honest as well. And you know what? Down under all the labels we wear - missionary, stay-at-home mom, working young adult, grandparent - we all look a lot the same. I've heard my story and my struggles echoing off your lips and out of your heart. The sin nature I've been struggling with is the same one you've struggled with as well. The things God's been trying to teach me are some of the same things you've been trying to learn as well.
My worlds feel like two totally different places. Yet, they intersect each other. I've been keeping up with what's going on in Peru while I've been here. I keep up more or less with what's going on here while I'm there.
4 days.
4 days and I will again be in my other world. I will again sleep in my bed under 3 blankets and wear 4 layers of clothing on a regular basis. I'll go back to shoes all the time. I'll be back to eating potatoes and speaking Quechua. I will once again hug familiar arms I haven't seen for 3 months. I'll hear stories and share stories. I'm excited.
I brought Peru in my heart with me. I still carry it. I took the US in my heart to Peru. I still carry that too. I carry Peru and I carry PA in my heart at the same time - the people, the food, the places. I call myself Peruvican sometimes. Too American to be Peruvian, but too Peruvian to be totally American.
I left home to head home in May. I found home here again. Now I'm leaving home to head home again. I'm refreshed. I've loved spending my summer with you. You have blessed my life tremendously in the last 3 months.
Thank you.