it is time...

I have been putting off this post because I didn't think the first week was appropriate to post things I miss already... but lo, I have begun my 10th week abroad (double digits... unreal), and feel it is not only appropriate but assumed that there would be things I miss. Granted... with everyday now I am thinking of more things I love, than things I miss, but I want to post some because I want to remember. These posts are both for yall to know what's going on, but also for me to remember later on...

Things I miss... or am missing out on:

• Football Season: I don't like football very much (I don't know if this shocks anyone... sorry if this is news to you). I just like the football season... the climate, the excitement, Sundays with football when I can nap... life is just good in the fall. Enjoy it.
  
• A Normal Schedule: This schedule is able to be adjusted to but it is still radically different from my "normal" schedule. And then, once you are adjusted, it changes to a whole new country... oh my! Oh, and they speak a different language here... that just automatically changes EVERYTHING!
  
• The Bonzai (aka: my house in College Station): I miss that place and those people, both former and current A LOT. Oh the day when I will wake up there once again...
  
• My car: This I miss but not too much. Mainly because I can't imagine my life here with a car... I might just choose to walk if I had to drive here... it's almost unreal how people drive. I just simply miss my car... it's more of a room to me than a car. (does that make sense?)
• Home Group: Tuesday nights at Tim and Tara's. I've been missing this for a while... since before camp started, to be exact. I'm gonna add celebrating Halloween to this one, because these people KNOW how to celebrate Halloween. I'll also throw in Grace Bible Church to this one... thank you iTunes for podcasts...
  
• Call me vain, but my clothes: I am just a bit tired of the same 4 t-shirts I have here and the same clothes I wear over and over again... December 14th will feel like Christmas when I have a whole "new" wardrobe.
  
• Text Messages in my Phone, and Texting Conversations: or my phone in general. (hint: voicemails left on my phone for when I return in December will be much appreciated.)
• Sonic Happy Hour (you know this already if you know me well on a daily basis)... December 14th at 2PM... I'll be at Sonic. You can almost bet thousands of $$ on this one. Diet coke with vanilla, easy ice... mmmmm...
• Homemaker-ish Duties: cleaning, doing the dishes, cooking, baking, mowing (did I just say this), gardening, crafting... all the things I do when I'm bored at school. What I'd give for a Swiffer Wet Jet and that laminate wood floor at the Bonzai... (probably wouldn't give much... but I do miss it)
• Long talks with friends and family LITERALLY face to face... and not computer screen to computer screen.
  

These are random but also a good presentation of some longings in my life... things and places I miss. If I was to write PEOPLE I miss... well, YOU would be on it most definitely. It would take forever... People are what make my life so enjoyable. That is something I've learned so clearly here.

And as I make decisions about my future (meaning, post-graduation)... people and community is one of the big "kickers" if you will for where I end up. It's hard for me to make decisions... I've realized this (ask Kristen about last year). God is good... and He has a plan for my future. If you wouldn't mind praying for me about this "future", I would greatly appreciate it. Perhaps I will go into it all more at some point... but until then, just pray that I would be focused here but also able to make decisions clearly and assuredly about my future.

medias? que significa "medias"...

This face defines how I feel most of the time... kinda like: "do what?" "excuse me" "wait... I have no idea what you're saying to me..." You know... those sort of feelings, when you feel like you are only communicating properly with llamas. Here are some stories to explain what I mean...
This afternoon my Senora called me down for lunch. So I threw on my flip-flops (because it is customary to always have on shoes around the home) and headed downstairs. I walked into the kitchen and she proceeded to tell me somethings, of which, I gathered the words: "medias" and "arriba" and "seco"...

I had no idea what "medias" meant... so I asked confused... "que significa medias." She looked around and then pointed at her socks. I responded, "calcetines?" Because I always learned socks was "calcetines" in Spanish. She shook her head and said, "No, medias"... I assumed it was another word that is different from country to country...

Then I thought... wait, what about my socks? I looked down at my feet, concerned that she wanted me to go put on socks. I was afraid I was being rude or something. So I said, "arriba" and she repeated this phrase of which I gathered... socks, upstairs, "seco" which means dry. I thought... my room is upstairs, does she want my socks? Wait, what about my socks? We kept going back and forth about socks being upstairs and not wet anymore until I realized... the socks I put in the wash yesterday were drying alone, not with my other clothes which I received clean early today. It was the most confusing conversation...
Another funny story which will make some of you laugh is the conversation I was a part of yesterday at the end of my Art & Culture class. Basically, we had a few minutes left and my professor asked us who was going to vote in the presidential election. He then asked who was going to vote for Obama. 10 of the 12 raised their hands. Then he asked about McCain, me and one other raised our hands (2 out of 12)... I'm gonna take a leap and say that is quite the minority in this class. That in itself, made me chuckle a little.

Then my professor thought it wise to look directly and me and ask why I was voting for McCain. I thought to myself for a second and said, "salud"... (that is a word I know and it means health, and I support McCain's health care). I was hoping that'd be a sufficient answer, but no. He asked me why I like McCain's health care policy and I thought to myself... goodness gracious, I have no idea what words to use in Spanish. So I asked if I could speak in English and he agreed. So I went into health care and then moved to the war and then proceeded to talk about the energy crisis and drilling for oil...

I remember looking around at the other 10 faces who disagreed and thought, "should I run after class is over so I don't get beat up?" I couldn't help but laugh to myself that I just gave my political opinions in Peru and was in the definite minority...

After class I realized, that would not be the case if I was in College Station this fall... Oh the days of my life.
An explanation for this photo... So in all the towns we went to this past weekend there were girls walking around with bags full of things they were selling for 1 sol (=$0.33). I mean a sol isn't that much and so I'm always tempted to look in their bags. They were selling finger puppets! I don't know about you, but finger puppets are awesome! I first bought 2 chickens (for obvious reasons...) and then a lamb and thought, "no more finger puppets" and headed to the van.

As we were sitting in the van a girl came to the door and someone in my group laughed and said, "haha, she has a Santa Claus." There was no way I could pass THAT up... So I handed out another sol and bought Santa for my dedo (finger). Later that night, in Cusco, I got suckered in and bought an elephant. It was just so cute and the kids just give you big puppy eyes.

So if I come home with bags of finger puppets don't be too surprised.

MACHU PICCHU.

Last Friday we went to Machu Picchu, probably the biggest trip/excursion on this trip. Machu Picchu is currently one of the new 7 wonders of the world... for good reason. I am going to venture and say that Machu Picchu is the most incredible place I've ever seen in my life. The Andes surrounding and Machu Picchu itself, are breathtaking.

(This post is so inadequate for the trip I took these past few days... as are the vain attempts at photographing something so beautiful.)

It is when you stand in the immensity of mountains or when you stand at the edge of the ocean or you fly above a broad scope of land that you realize how small you are. Looking at Machu Picchu you realize the length of time and how intricately and enduringly people worked to create such an incredible place. It makes you feel so small... and yet makes you realize how great the ineffable God is. Beauty often causes me to worship and acknowledge my Savior... and I teared up many times this past weekend at how small and seemingly unimportant I feel sometimes, but in contrast, how much the Lord loves me and cares for me... and you.

I am so grateful for this experience... sometimes I forget how blessed I am. Blessed to be living in a place I love so much. Blessed to have family and friends who love me and who I love. Blessed to be able to know the Savior of this world and to be known by Him.



Machu Picchu is incredible... I highly recommend it to everyone. Though such a magnificent and beautiful place can only point to the Creator of it all... and how incredible He is.

family...

We lost a dear family member, Paul, this past weekend and the tears have fallen without hesitation since I found out late last night. I wish I could be with my family during times like this. It is not easy being away from home, much less when we lose someone. I am learning how prayer is the only form of comfort in my life right now, as well as the only form of comfort I can give. I would ask whoever reads this to pray for my family right now and for myself as I am unable to be with them. I am so grateful for every moment and holiday we spent with Paul. Family: I love yall so much and miss yall a lot right now.

Paul, we will miss you dearly...

God is faithful and I've been reminded time and time again of His comfort, just last night and today. My last post about life being hard is really surreal, for I wrote that before life got harder last night.

Hillsong's 'Desert Song':

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

This is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame

I will bring praise, I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I’ll stand

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favour and providence flow
I know I’m filled to be emptied again
The seed I’ve received I will sow.

First full weekend in Lima.

7 weeks down. 9 weeks to go. Next weekend at Machu Picchu marks half-way. So incredible that I've been out of America for 7 weeks. It is just so surreal with everyday.

This weekend we visited Callao on Saturday. It is a port town north of Lima. It has been integral in the shipping industry for Peru. We went on an interesting bus tour. The people were going crazy... they were oddly over-excited about our tour bus. Someone threw a banana peel at the bus and it hit me in the head. I died laughing...After our bus tour we went and ate seafood. First we had clams with pico de gallo. This is me holding it before putting all the food in the shell in your mouth at once. It was so good. I think it might have been the pico, but I love pico so there's that.
This is a picture of ceviche/cebiche. It is raw fish cooked in lemon juice. It's like raw but not... I don't really know. It looks raw for sure. It was really good as well. It is THE thing you HAVE TO HAVE in Lima... so I had it of course.

Yesterday I got to skype with the Suel's (the family I love dearly in College Station who are in my home group). Melissa and Brady were visiting them. First, can I say how cool it is that I am able to have the same close friends as Melissa and Brady. I just love that... we're family but yet close friends as well. If you know my life in C-Stat well, you know how much I love this family and their children(!)... when I left C-Stat in May they had one child, now they have 2, Harrison and Lockett. I decided to add this photo because I just love my life back in C-Stat... soon enough it will be my daily life again. This is my dear friend Harrison.
So... I'm gonna end with this. I am learning so much on this trip. SO much. I don't know how I'll ever be able to relay it... though I am a firm believer in maintaining friendships along the way, that said, if you want more in depth versions of what I'm learning, I'd be more than happy to share with you.

I've been reading through the Psalms the past few days. There are so many I could share but I'm just gonna pick one that has meant a lot to me.

"Praise be to the Lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song. The Lord is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever." (Ps. 28)

Something that I'm learning... life is hard. Straight up. There are days where it doesn't feel hard, there are days it definitely does. I'm in Peru... That's awesome. But there are days that it doesn't feel awesome. I idealize what life here or there could be like. That "if only I was in C-Stat" or "if only I was resting in Wichita Falls" or "if only I was at camp... because camp is always fun." Camp is hard as well, very hard in fact. All of those things and places are great... but people are there (yall, the people reading this) and life is still hard. I struggle at school for time, at camp for rest and at home for something to do (haha). I am constantly idealizing other places. This summer it was, "I can't wait to be abroad." Now abroad I wish I was back at camp. How ridiculous that I find myself wishing away my days when my life "is but a mere handbreadth" and my "days are like grass"... One life.

We get ONE life. There is only ONE today. I have only 62 more days away... that's nothing. What am I am so hot and bothered about. Be reminded of God's goodness and faithfulness for your "today", whatever that might bring for you.

You are all dear to me... keep me updated on your "today's"...

Exercising my rights as an American, in Peru

Today I exercised my freedoms as an American citizen by mailing in my ballot for the November election. I remember my first opportunity to vote in the 2004 election. It was exciting but this was so much more exciting for many reasons.

One, I feel like I actually have political opinions these days. In 2004, I don't know what I was thinking necessarily but I know I didn't have as much of an opinion and desire to exercise my right to vote as I do now.

Two, I am in Peru. Have you received that memo? I had to work hard to get to vote. My grandfather got my absentee ballot request form for me in August in Wichita Falls. I filled that out to be sent to Lima in October. My mother had to mail the request to College Station for me. Then I got it the first day I was here (last Saturday). I voted Wednesday night on my bed (while watching Tuesday night's debate) and then had to get directions yesterday to the post office. Simple things like finding a post office are big accomplishments in another country (p.s.).

So today after class I went to the "Serpost" as the post office is called. It cost me 17 soles (around $6 USD) to send my ballot in "certificado". When I left the post office, I just felt so "proud to be an American" (thank you Lee Greenwood). I've already decided... I plan on listening to that song on my ipod as I walk into the Houston airport in December, in between Christmas music of course.

Tomorrow I will have been in Lima a week. What!? This time last week I was packing up to leave Mexico. My head hurts from one of a few things I've decided: the stop and go traffic, the pollution, exhaustion, thinking in two languages, walking around an anthropology museum for 3 hours today, or moving and changing countries so much. You tell me.

It's Friday night and I'm planning on watching a movie alone in my room and going to bed early. I'm just plain pooped. :)

Feliz Cumpleanos Laurita! y otras cosas

I am definitely getting to that point where I think in Spanish and it is hard to switch back and forth between languages. Today I was buying warmer clothes at the mall and there was a lot of confusion. They brought over an employee who knew English and I kept speaking to him in Spanish because it was just too hard to explain in English. Oh the language barrier...

But anyways. This is a photo of Bethany (ISA roommate), Ketty (my Peruvian "sister"), and me from Sunday mornings drive to an overlook in Lima. This family is amazing. Yesterday my "house mom" Nancy took us to Mercado de Indio (which ironic enough, the sign said in English "Indian Market") to buy alpaca sweaters. I got one for less than $15 USD. Learning a new currency is so weird. Today shopping I would look at something and then have to do math for a good minute... The rate is something like 3 soles: 1 USD. I'm back in 3rd grade with simple division. Oh the memories.
Happy 23rd Birthday to the beautiful Lauren Lenae Muirhead! This first photo was taken at Beach Camp in 2004... a good 4+ years ago. Crazy that is has been that long... Lauren is such a dear friend to me and I am so proud of here as she is now at DTS getting a masters in Christian counseling. What is even cooler is that she lives in the same apartment complex and is now in the same Bible study as Kristen.... my best friends from high school and college are now friends in the "real world" (if that is what you call it).
This picture is from the night before my departure. She came to my going away dinner... oh the memories. Those are what will hold me over until December 14th when I return (60 something days from now). Love you Laurita and miss you... hope all is well in the BIG D!
Time really does fly. Ya know, there are days it couldn't go any slower but now I look back on Mexico and think how long ago that was (less than a week). And today we received our itineraries for Buenos Aires (we leave for there 4 weeks from Friday). I'm in a whirlwind... if I throw up when I return it is because of how dizzy this semester has made me.

first day of class + a tremor

Happy First Day of School in PERU everyone! Here is another first day of school picture with me sitting on my bed. Today I had Art and Culture of Peru. We meet a few times a week for 4 hours. Today was 4 hours of slides about Pre-Hispanic and Colonial Peruvian art slides in Spanish. Thank goodness for the 20 min. coffee break in the middle of class.

So, random... but as I was sitting here about to type my post, there was a small tremor (like a mini-earthquake). That was my first experience with the ground shaking. It lasted maybe 2 seconds and just kinda shook. I thought it was a big car driving by at first. Then I remembered my room is in the back of the house... it'd have to be a HUGE car.

Tomorrow is our first day of Business Spanish which is everyday from 9:30-12.

Big things from today: learning how to use the public transportation. At one point, on the way home with our Senora who came to school to show us how to get home, my roommate and I were dying laughing at how chaotic the entrance and exits to the bus seem. It costs about$0.33 to ride the bus to school. Tomorrow is the test to see if we know exactly how to get there. It all comes down to if we get our phrases down correct, thank goodness we wrote it all down!

Bienvenidos a Lima!

Wow... I already feel behind in posting and the last one was two days ago. Since Friday morning: I have been in three different countries and slept the past 3 nights in different places; met a new family for this month, become quasi-acquainted with a city I've only dreamed of visiting... the list could only go on.

I am currently sitting in my bedroom in Lima, Peru. Even when I came to my blog tonight to post and saw the main picture as one of Guanajuato, I realized how much my life has changed in the last few days, all of which is very visibly obvious to me through a photo. Things here in Lima are just so different already. I am personally so blessed by that, I enjoy change. It keeps things moving... which boy have they been moving. Even tonight, I realize how busy we've been since we got here, with the future looking just as busy.

Lima is incredible. Granted, the sun doesn't shine bright and there is a haze that sits over the city. There is a stark contrast of modern/urban booming metropolis and impoverished/run-down city... it's lovely in my world. I love contrast, keeps you in perspective of the state of the world. I feel like we are speaking more Spanish here... which is different even for everyday interaction with my family. I had gotten used to the typical questions asked of me and now they are different.

So many things...

• yesterday we sat in the El Salvador airport for 5ish hours. I began How Now Shall We Live. It is gonna be a wonderful book for me... I only hope I have time to read it.
  
• A bat sat next to me in the airport for a while... haha
• Last night I skyped with some of my dearest college friends in three different countries: Me (Peru) & Noel/Cassidy/Errinne/Virginia (USA) & Princess Paige (Greece). It was so comforting and encouraging. I love each of you so much and miss yall! ... and Errinne, you are married, that is still weird. :)
• Today I had a Sunday lunch with my Peruvian family that reminded me of a Sunday lunch with family in the U.S. : roast, corn, potatoes, soup, strawberries and cream for dessert. Yet this was GIANT corn kernals, and potatoes that were large and had a different texture. It was so good. They make all their food from scratch. They also told jokes and laughed like I would if I was with my family.
  
• My host sister is a painter... and an awesome one at that! I love it!
• We went on a multiple hour bus tour tonight on one of those double decker open air buses. It was awesome... that thought that hits you every once in a while: "I am in Peru... Lima stinking PERU!!"
• I have internet in my house and my own bedroom and bathroom. This house is so nice and homey... reminds me so much more of a home in the U.S. than my last home.
  

I will post pictures soon. But until then... remember, Lima is awesome!

Birthdays Galore... and a lil something more!

Today is a BIG DAY! It is a day of celebration! October 3rd marks the birth of my father, Mr. Marke Douglas Ginnings, as well as the birth of one of my best friends, Miss Anna Kristen Segulja... and the day I leave Mexico. WOWZAS!!

Marke Douglas Ginnings, "the father" (said as it is on Home Alone 2) has a birthday today! And what a father he is... I have the greatest dad in the world. And I don't say that near enough. :) I love you Dad, Dadd-O, mi padre... I love talking with you about everything from politics to current events to "what do I do in this situation"... I love going on bike rides with you or drinking coffee with you or trying to have a book club with you. I am eagerly awaiting the day I return and can give you a big hug! But until then, Happy Birthday!

Anna Kristen Segulja, known to her true followers as "K-Dawg"... ok, maybe that is just me. But hey, I'd follow her. Kristen and I became "friends" at Pine Cove (what do ya know) in 2005. We then solidified our friendship sophomore year through Youth Impact and early morning (as well as late night) Sweet Eugene's. I have more memories with Kristen than I can count and we shared a room last year... haha... just saying that makes me think of all the billions of times we laughed. I want so badly to tell a thousand stories right now, but no one else would laugh. Kristen has been dubbed "my daily friend" by yours truly because she is the friend who I can and have spent the entire day with, from waking up to putting my head on the pillow, and never really need a break apart. Even now... we communicate nearly every day. Crazy! I wish I could be with you today on your 23rd birthday, but I can't... I have a bus to catch tonight to Mexico City...
So I leave Guanajuato tonight, October 3rd at 10:30 PM. We travel on a private charter bus (very safe) to Mexico City to catch our flight at 6ish in the morning on Saturday. We then fly to San Salvador, El Salvador and have a 6 hour layover. We leave San Salvador around 1:30 PM on Saturday, to arrive in Lima, Peru around 7 PM. It'll be a crazy day of traveling but that's what it takes to go to another hemisphere...

til we meet in Peru... :) hugs all around.

mi abuela... Grandmommy!

Happy Birthday Grandmommy! I hope your day is wonderful! This picture is from Christmas 2006 when Melissa and I were given tea cups from my great-grandmother's collection. A dear present... Grandmommy, thank you for being a wonderful grandmother and for really instilling in us the importance of family. I love you!
I have one more night to sleep in my bed here in Guanajuato. The time has gone so fast and yet incredibly slow at times. Some days you find yourself wishing time to pass quicker, and on the other hand their are days you just want to bask in the moment. I have been making a list of things I love, and things I don't as much love here in Mexico... here is a glimpse:

The great and glorious things of Mexico:

• that most of the homes have terraces or balcony like places... I love reading on my roof/balcony/terrace. I wish we all had patios on our roofs.
• Cobblestone streets. All the streets and sidewalks are cobblestone... It'll take you back.
  
• Public guitar players. When they approach me, I can't help but giggle. I like them a lot though... I don't think we have near as many in the U.S... at least not in College Station or Wichita Falls. Someone should get on that...
• Panadarias or bakeries... they are very consistent around town and have the cheapest baked goods. It is also fun to grab your little silver tray and tongs and walk around choosing what baked goods you want.
  
• Parks and that people go to them. In the States, people go to parks once every few weeks. Here, they go all the time. Every single day there are tons of people just sitting and chatting and eating random food. I think it helps that they eat dinner late because prime-park time is 5-7 pm. That is dinner in the U.S. We should think of changing that.
  
• Photo-ops. Granted I am in a picturesque city in Mexico... but the colors and different buildings allow for some beautiful photo opportunities.
  
• That when you finish at a restaurant, they don't assume you are done and bring the check. In America, you take that last bite and they're pushing you out the door. You feel awkward staying for another 30 minutes after the food is gone. Here, I always have to ask for the check... and sitting around chatting is assumed.
  

Things that require adjusting. They aren't bad, just different:

• Spanish. It's just hard to live in a place where the whole basis of communication is one you aren't great at... I realized a few days ago I have been in a Spanish-speaking world for over 5 weeks and won't leave it for another 10... I wake up in the middle of the night thinking in Spanish. It can get exhausting.
• Not flushing toilet paper. You can't flush toilet paper here and I have the hardest time remembering to throw it in the trash can. (I feel like I may have written this already).
• Not having a car... granted I don't miss my Honda too much yet. Mainly because these streets are crazy, but just the solitude that a car brings... that requires adjustment on my part.
  
• Traveling Radio Ads... basically, there are cars with big speakers strapped to the top that drive around town advertising upcoming events and what not. They are loud and crazy...
  
• Caged Animals for show. This isn't just for Mexico... There is a zoo here right now and I don't mind if animals are rescued and then given a better life in a zoo or what not, but when an animal (say for instance a monkey) is put in a cage (a small cage) on the back of a truck that sits on the side of the street with people gawking at it... I just think, surely that monkey is not living a better life. Surely. I just do not like it.
  
• Not being able to call or communicate with friends and family at the drop of a hat. It is hard learning to communicate primarily through typed words and digital photos. I miss people and things... though I've realized, it makes you appreciate friends and family and simple things so much more.
  

Simplicity is sometimes hard to come by in America. After work to just sit for hours and talk with people. Or to walk slow and breathe deep (though I may not breathe as deeply in Lima). When I think about returning home, I dream of sitting for hours sipping coffee with friends and family. Then I realize, that isn't reality there. I have to "get away" to have time to rest and be still. You have to "plan" times of sitting and chatting. Differences are what they are, I challenge us all to learn to slow down a bit and love the time and people in our lives. Granted, I have a few months to do that... There's no rush. :)

School's Out for the Summer! (or until Monday)

So I finished classes today in Mexico. We will start up again on Monday but until then, it's a mini-summer vacation! We ended on a good note, I did a presentation in Spanish on Pine Cove! We got our grades back from our grammar test yesterday and I made an A. I was very pleased. For lunch today we had a "going away" meal of lasagna and salad at the ISA office. It was a great Italian closing to my Mexican adventure.

Due to the first day of school picture I posted, the first photo is my "last day of school picture." Bangs and all. This is me leaving the house I call home: Alhondiga 85, Guanajuato, Mexico.

I have so many things to talk about but I decided I would show pictures of the hair cutting. The first is the before photo... followed by the after and the dear friend Megan who did the cutting.

The final photo is of me and Bethany (my future Peruvian roommate) at our going away lunch.

I know I have talked about Divine Conspiracy and how much I love that book. I wanted to just put up a quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer that was mentioned in the book. I thought it does a great job of summing up what Dallas Willard is saying:

“The only proper response to this word which Jesus brings with him from eternity is simply to do it” –Dietrich Bonhoeffer