Peru- The Before

So I've been preparing for the last few months/ weeks for Peru.. and it's finally here... we leave tonight at 9 for the airport... and fly out at 215am...

What I know- Our church has been going to Peru for the last 10 years on Mission trips to a city called Pachacamac (which will hereto be referred to as p-chac... haha.) We're going to be doing Vacation Bible School for the kids, as well as building some stuff.. not really sure what yet.. (I think fixing stuff in the kitchen?) We're also meeting some other missionaries that are hosting a group from Texas.

What I don't know- I'm not really sure how much Spanish I actually remember, if any but I'm hoping that my 6 years of Spanish in school will come in handy. I'm also not really sure how I'm going to deal with not being connected. I mean I know that I can do it because it's just a cell phone and internet, but it is going to be hard not knowing what's going on with everyone. I know that being away from my daughter is going to be hard.. I know she's with her dad right now so even if I WAS home she wouldn't be here.. but it's going to be hard being THAT far away from her. I mean if something happens I'm nearly 8 hours away rather than 2 (1 1/2 if I drive fast!) It's also gonna be hard to be away from Andrew. For the last (almost) 10 months we've been inseparable. This will be the longest we've gone without talking or seeing each other. Not to mention our 10 "monthiversary" will be while I'm gone.. (haha)

All in all I'm excited. It's a new experience and the things I'm "worried" about will all be worth the love I've been hearing about from the people of p-chac and the families we stay with in Lima. I've never been out of the country before (well.. I've been to Ensenda and Canada... but I hardly count THAT!) and this will be my first mission trip. I'm nervous about communicating and being surrounded by an unfamiliar language. I'm also really excited about that because I'm really looking forward to seeing how much Spanish I actually know and really disconnecting... :)

I'll have to debrief when I get back and let you know what happens. For now I'm signing off for my hiatus. I've got lots to do before 9pm.

~outtie <3

Bouillon de Culture

These ten (10) questions originally came from a French series, "Bouillon de Culture" hosted by Bernard Pivot. They're better known as the questions that James Lipton asks every guest at the end of "Inside the Actor's Studio."

1. What is your favorite word?
Amazing

2. What is your least favorite word?
N****r

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
creatively- The Arts (in the broad sense of the word)
Spiritually- Life experience.
Emotionally- My Kid.

4. What turns you off?
Fakes.

5. What is your favorite curse word?
F Bomb.

6. What sound or noise do you love?
Waves crashing

7. What sound or noise do you hate (dislike)?
screeching tires.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Broadway.

9. What profession would you not like to do?
Butcher.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? I've been waiting for you.

<3

**shuffle**

Once you've been tagged... (1) Turn on your MP3 player. (2) Go to SHUFFLE songs mode. (3) Write down the first 15 songs that come up--song title and artist--NO editing/cheating, please. (4) Choose 25 (or so) people to be tagged. It is generally considered to be in good taste to tag the person who tagged you.

If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about your musical tastes, or at least a random sampling thereof.

(To do this, go to "NOTES" under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, enter your 15 Shuffle Songs, Click 'Preview' below to tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click Publish, the little blue box at the bottom of your screen)....

1. Alabama- Tenessee River

2. Avenue Q- There is Life Outside Your Apartment

3. Timbaland ft. Justin Timberlake- Release

4. Jimmy Eat World- Cautioners

5. Bee Gees- Children of the World

6. Fiddler on the Roof- Do you Love Me?

7. Headwig and the Angry Inch- Freaks

8. Third Day- Nothing At All

9. John Mayer- Something's Missing

10. Ragtime- His Name was Coalhouse Walker

11. Frank Sinatra- The Girl From Impanema

12. Eagles- Tequila Sunrise

13. Once (soundtrack)- The Hill

14. Metallica- St. Anger

15. 3 Doors Down- The Better Life

Crossroads

I'm home today for stupid reasons. My work decided that my opinion and anger was too much for them and they "suspended" me for the rest of yesterday (about an hour and a half) and today. I was angry and I was upset but I'm actually enjoying time at home relaxing and feeling MUCH better than I was (sickness wise) yesterday. I got to sleep in, gave the dog a ridiculous haircut (*giggle*) and I'm about to upload pictures and get some things together.. as angry as I still am I'm realizing I'm at a crossroads in my life and I need to decide what to do with it. I can't work at this job forever and I want to wake up in the morning and love what I do. I want to make some money, but more importantly I want to be able to spend time with my family and my daughter. I want to be able to see her grow into the beautiful girl/ woman I know she's going to be.. So I'm going to sit here and discover what it is that makes me happy.. Lisa and I had dinner last night and it was great! I got to really talk to her in a way I haven't been able to before. I knew she was amazing but I never realized how much until we were sitting on the couch and I was listening to her talk about her time in Africa and Peru. She was sharing stories with me and I realized just how much she's done and how amazing she is. She's so well traveled and wise beyond her years, and she told me it's because nobody ever thought she could do it. She's got a masters degree and has traveled to FOUR continents. She's worked with Children in Africa and Peru and is also an amazing musician, singer and (now) actress (*Grin*) She's got this fire about her and you can't help but be on fire when you're around her. She's lit this fire within me and I can't say that it's going to be easy or fast, but I'm going to take this crossroad and make something of myself.

~outtie <3