A Much-Anticipated Arrival

The long wait is finally over and I have arrived in one of my favorite places...Peru! It is so good to be back..the sights and Spanish are music to my ears! We got here late Friday with only a few minor bumps (on our flight to Miami, they told us to get off b/c it was out of order! and we lost one bag) but all of us made it, which is the most important thing. My team is WONDERFUL! Let me introduce you:

From left to right: Jennifer, McKenzie, me, Krista, Brittany, and Mary Emily

Giuli and Jennifer

We had orientation with Giuli (our in-country staff and friend) yesterday, walked to to the beach, and ate a lot. Today, we went to a Spanish-speaking church (so fun!) and had a day of rest. We are so excited (and a little overwhelmed) for the week..we will be working at a home with 700 children! However, we will only be working w/ the 4-6 year-olds and the teenage girls. We have a VBS-type program we will do every day with the girls. I would ask that you pray Isaiah 61 over them this week...that is my prayer. Also, please pray that we will LOVE above all else. Keep checking back for more pictures and updates!

-Kelli

The Journey Has Begun!

Well, the packing has begun..which means Peru is all the more closer! I leave for Dallas Wed, and we depart for Peru on Friday. Woohoo!

My room is chaos...and no, all that stuff isn't mine! We have to bring all our VBS supplies and toys with us.

This is 130 boxes for the girls to decorate..yep, 130. The cool thing is that when I bought them at Hobby Lobby yesterday, the manager gave me 50% off...AND I had a gift card that was just enough to cover the total. God is good!


I am so very excited to return to this place I love, and to see the children, moms, and my dear friend Giuli. PERU, HERE I COME!!!

My Favorite Inventions

So there are some pretty smart people in the world who thought up some of my favorite things...here is a short list. What are yours??

1) The eyelash curler...this is my number one makeup tool. Mascara is a very close second.

2) The airplane..because traveling by boat just wouldn't be as much fun..or quick...and much more nausea-inducing. 3) The Ipod....when I got one for my birthday, I had no idea how much I would use it. I love it! Yay Apple.

4) The printing press....because I love devouring magazines, books and even newspapers. How annoying would it be if someone had to read everything to you??

5) Chocolate..I mean who thought a little bean could taste so good? My dream is to live in a house like the one the rich king builds on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

6) Skype...because I can SEE the people I love...and it's absolutely free!!

7) Diet Coke. Need I say more? caffeine and yummyness.

8) Body butter...smells so good and feels so soft. (Sweet Pea from Bath and Body Works is the best).

9) Scrapbooks...such a fun way to remember.

10) Babies. God really outdid himself on this one. What's not to love about their sweet smell, coos, laughs and toothy grins??

Just Say No

I have a problem: I can't say no. My concept of time is skewed. Sure, no problem, I can be at eight places in one day! I have a confessioin: I even VOLUNTEER myself for things without someone asking me! But there is only so much one can do in a 24 hr. period! The hard thing is that most of the things I do are things I love. However, when you have too much to do, they become more of a chore than pleasure. I think that I often feel that I need to "do" for God-though a wise person once said, "we are human "beings," not human doings." God doesn't love me for the things I do for Him, but who I am. And if I don't spend time with Him, my efforts are fruitless (John 15 "I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in Him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing.") Oh, if I could just remember that. And learn to say no.

Do You Think I'm Beautiful?

I just finished reading a fabulous book by Angela Thomas called "Do You Think I'm Beautiful?" I was kind of embarrassed to admit I was reading it (my luggage got lost recently by the airline and the only "identifying" object I could think of was the book) but I think it is a question every woman really asks. One of my favorite parts of the book is her comparison to our pursuit of God like hungry people after food. She compares us to starving people, waiting in line for a truck with food. These people don't wait patiently in line or wait their turn. They all-out go after the truck, in desperate pursuit of food. In the same way, we should be starving for Christ.

My other favorite part is her affirmation of God's promise to us:

"You are beautiful.

You are desired.

You are known.

You are held.

You are protected.

You are rescued.

You are forgiven.

You are pursued.

You are seen.

You are precious.

You are My princess.

You are My beautiful bride." (pg. 200)

Allow God to speak those words over you today...

So I was really excited when my dermatologist suggested a facial for my acne..I had one in China for like $5, and it was really more of a hour long massage. So I was excited to have a "reason" for this luxury. I arrived at the "aesthetician's" (anyone know how pronounce that?) office and there was soft music playing, feeding into my thought that this would be a relaxing experience. I was very mistaken. She began rubbing this cream on my face, which didn't feel too good. I began hoping I wasn't paying her for nothing. But it got better. She proceeds to tell me that she was going to do chemical extractions: i.e. she takes some kind of pencil object and digs it into every blemish on my face. Then she adds some more cream that stings. This was not what I imagined..or would even have nightmares about. Then she tells me that she is going to put something else on and it's going to sting a bit. "Oh well," I thought, "everything else hasn't felt good." That was an understatement. This stuff was so hot that tears ran down my face and I wanted to run for a bucket of water to submerge my steaming face. To top it all off, when I looked in the mirror later after going out in public, my face looked like a lobster. Lovely. Hopefully, this will serve as a warning: if your doctor recommends this kind of "therapy," RUN!

A New Journey

So I have finally caved and am a proud new owner of a blog. I have long loved to read others' blogs (i.e. snoop around the lives of people I don't know in real life :) I hope this will be a fun way to chronicle the journey of this year, as I embark on two adventures-first to Peru, and then to Baylor. So welcome, world!