Stop the Presses!

Presenting my niece...Clara Jeanne Baikie, Baby extraordinaire
(Ok, you can shower the family with congratulations now)

O day of rest and gladness...

One of my favorite parts of Sundays has always been the music (go figure), and I have a very special place in my heart for hymns. Rich lyrics, rich music...you can't go wrong! Actually, it's one of the reasons I got to have some pretty close ties with the Presbyterians which led me to living in Peru.

Growing up in a traditional Lutheran church and attending a fundamental Baptist school helped me to successfully (albeit unknowingly) evade the majority of Christian contemporary music, and instead become quite familiar with traditional hymns.

When I first went away to college and was trying out the different university ministries, I generally liked the teaching time, but I hated the worship time. I didn't know any of the songs which were all contemporary! But then one fateful Tuesday, I went to Reformed University Fellowship (RUF). And it was only in RUF that I felt right at home during the worship time, where hymns are not only sung, but esteemed. Older hymns are often sung to more modern tunes, and a good chunk of the hymns I grew up singing appeared before my very eyes on the projector screen.

To make a very long rabbit trail a little shorter, I stayed with RUF for four years, and went on two missions trips to Trujillo, Peru which, of course, led me to this very moment sitting in Peru typing this very blog entry.

Anyway, the whole point of this post is to pass along one of my favorite hymns of all times and to wish you a very happy week. Enjoy!

Modern Invention I'm happy I don't live without...

oh, Skype.

How you touch my life.

what would I do without you?

I certainly wouldn't make international phone calls for scandalously low prices.

People from the United States most definitely wouldn't call me while I'm in Peru.

I clearly couldn't telephonically introduce Jamesson to my family's antics while on a conference call to my mom, dad, and brother, sister-in-law and the baby who doesn't want to make a debut until next week apparently.

And I certainly could not set up phone interviews with potential employers.

Skype. You, sir, are fantastic.

A dream is a wish your heart makes?

If Cinderella isn't full of it, then my heart wishes that Hawaii would establish a Peruvian inspired transportation system.

I don't know what the deal was, but last night I had about 5 crazy dreams. Lots of odd mashed together bits. I don't remember them all well, but I definitely vividly recall that in one of them, I was in a micro (click here if you need a crash course in Peruvian transportation) that was traveling all up the coast of Oahu.

The only reason I knew it was Oahu was because of the wooden sign we passed on the way that said "Welcome to Oahu"

I need to stop eating Pollo Broaster before I go to bed.

I've been here before...

Same feelings, same attitude, different environment.

I'm in that "moving but not really going anywhere yet" stage.

The first giant uphill climb of the roller coaster before the big drop. It's almost as if I hear the clinking of the chains and the track right now.

Nope, that's just the sound of the construction workers next door.

I'm less than one month away from completely uprooting my life as I've known it for the past 3 years. Part of me feels like I should write about what I'm thinking about all this, and just have that cathartic experience. Then other part of me says "eh, why? You wrote about this when you left Colorado for South Carolina, and then when you left South Carolina for Peru?"

Am I nervous? YES! Am I worried? YES! Am I excited? YES!

Is this a Quarter-life crisis?
Come now, let's not be dramatic.

It's just that same old familiar unfamiliarity. This time with a little bit of Spanish thrown in the mix.

When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way.
Psalm 142:3

Did I forget to mention?

Well...I thought this was common knowledge, but since 5 or 6 jaws of people I know pretty well have dropped in the last week when they heard this, I figured maybe it's not so commonly known, sooo, here's what you should know.

My time in Peru is coming to end. And it's sooner rather than later.

More specifically, it's April 7th.

Ok let me explain. I know that alot of people thought I would never leave Peru because I love it so much (which I still do); but alas, the trifecta of reasons are pulling me away.

First- My brother and his wife are having a baby in oh, a week. The baptism is April 11th, and since I am about to be the world's best aunt, I of course, would not and can not miss this for the world (even the Peruvian world). I'm so excited to be seeing my family again and for such a momentous occasion too!

Second, my brother is also finishing seminary which means he will be getting his pastoral call soon. I will of course be present for this momentous occasion, along with a few other momentous familial occasions that I want to be present for.

Third, (and this is the kicker) those vexing student loans are shrieking at me, demanding payment; almost like the sounds of a shrill alarm clock ripping you away from a blissful dream. The thing is, while non-profit work in a third world country has been amazing, it hasn't allowed me to make payments on my students loans, and I can't put them off any longer.

The next month will most likely be filled with posts related to thoughts of leaving, possibilities for the future, pleas for a job, and alot of nostalgia while, bittersweetly, I will be bidding adieu to my dear Peru on April 7th. Sad to be Leaving, Happy to have all the memories.

Just thought you should know...