My new favorite place in the world.

Two weekends ago, it was Holy Week...or as my people call it "Semana Santa" It's very common for people to travel during the long weekend, as everyone gets Thursday and Friday off from work.

Well being in Peru, the 4 other girls I currently live with (who, by the way, are awesome) and I decided to follow suit and skip town. We decided that a beach trip was in order, and since I've been dying to go to a beach close to Ecuador for a while now, I suggested Mancora, which turns out is a magical beach full of nothing but happiness and relaxation. Fountain of youth my foot. Live in Mancora and you'll stay young forever....and Happy!

Guys, it was the best trip! It was soooo relaxing. Essentially, we just spent 4 days on the beach, getting tan, and doing fun activities for a very low Peruvian cost like Riding horses for 5 dollars, getting a massage ON THE BEACH for 3 dollars, and other assorted funness. The waves in the ocean were MASSIVE so we didn't brave boogie boarding too much (although I think I found my spiritual gift the first time I rented a boogie board in Trujillo). But even just getting knee deep in the ocean was good enough for me! I loved every second of it! Now, granted, because the town is pretty touristy, the food was a little more expensive. On the other hand because there are so many foreigners, the town has many restaurants to cater to the diversity of the tourists.

Ohhhh the food. Let me take a minute just to make you hungry. We had Mexican food, and giant Margaritas, Thai food, and a lot of just good old Gringo food from the states, one of my favoites was a TBG sandwich- Turkey Bacon Guacamole and the other girls ate some Fish tacos. My easter breakfast was a giant plate of French toast, coffee, Pineapple juice and a big bowl of fresh fruit with yogurt...all for 4 dollars (believe it or not, that is fairly pricey for a breakfast in Peru..even of those unbelievable proportions.) And quite possibly my favorite part of the gastronomy in Mancora was Papa Mo's Milk Bar...strange name, but world's best milkshakes and brownie sundaes! Seriously, a giant milkshake for 2 dollars!?! and a homemade brownie Sundae for 2 dollars?! honestly...I know the Biblical way of handling conflict..."If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over." -- Matthew 18:15, But I really think that you can make your brother listen to you more if you take him to Mancora and buy him a Papa Mo's Milkshake!

Oh my word. I wanted to stay in Mancora forever. But I am now back to reality and all I have left is my sweet memories and the pictures, some of which are in this blog. I hope you all had a great Easter! And come to Mancora! We'll get some shakes!

Again?!

Oh man guys....I don't even know where to begin! So clearly, it's been awhile since I've posted anything, and that means that you'll be receiving the nutshell version that focuses heavily on more recent events...mostly because that's the only part I can remember.

Part of the reason why I haven't posted very much is because of the numerous changes in my life...well, actually just one or two big changes that are super big so they count more than once. I'll post a little bit more about some of those later, but one of the bigger ones has been my change in jobs here in Peru.

At the beginning of March, I was asked by the director of the SALI language institute where I teach to step into a more administrative role. So rather than teaching classes, I am now the academic director of SALI. I work alongside Fabian Moreno (our awesome director of the institute) and work with our academic staff to help make sure that things are running smoothly for our teachers, making the class schedules, handling problems the students might have, throwing drunk guys off the doorstep of SALI (technically it only happened once, but I'm ready to make sure it doesn't happen again), etc.

It's been great, I've spent March and April settling into the position, and it's going well. A big part of the job which I like is the problem solving aspect of it. SALI began a few years back as a very small institute and no one really knew to expect it to grow so much. Alot of the past few years has just been the administration trying to keep up with ourselves without a solid plan, so Fabian and I are now trying to go back and fix some problems we may have had in the past as well as to create a really good structure for SALI so that it can continue to function well in the future and so that we can be good stewards of this blessing that God has given us.

Like I said, it's been a great fit for me so far, and I look forward to the work that lies ahead.
Soooo....maybe you're wondering how I plan to do all this work when I scheduled to be back in the states in July. Hmm...well about that.

Ok look, I know it's not a big shock to anybody that I've extended my time again, but honestly...this time it was a big shock to me. I'm not lying! I really really really thought that I was going home in July and was already preparing myself and looking for jobs and everything, and then bam. All of sudden, God changes directions on me, and I'm not going to lie...I felt like the rug was pulled out from under me. I spent a good chunk of February fighting God on that one too, not because I hated Peru and wanted to go home, but mostly because I was lacking in the trust department. especially because I really thought that July seemed like the obvious time for me to go home for a few different reasons- I didn't think that God could possibly be calling me to stay any longer. But apparently it had been awhile since God demonstrated Proverbs 19:21...well slapped me in the face with it anyway, and so here I am. a week away from my 24th birthday, humbled once more by the infinite wisdom of God's workings, and apparently staying longer in Peru.

I don't know how long I'm staying now. At least until the end of this year I think...maybe longer. We shall see. But anyway, the truth is, that I am content with it. I'm at peace, and even though it's not my plan, it's good that way. It's not my plan..nor should it be.

So there you go, I guess I won't see you in July, but if you want to come visit Peru, you can count on me to be here if you'd like a tourguide and translator!

Sooooo...I haven't posted in over a month...

And tonight's not the night either. Sorry.

Just to let you guys know, I'm still alive.

AND...I'm on my way to Mancora, a beach town close to Ecuador to celebrate Semana Santa...or as my people call it...Easter!

So Blessed Easter to You all, and I'll send you pictures later!