trip to chile

It´s Friday...crazy. I spent this past weekend in Chile. I had to cross and re-enter Peru to renew my tourist visa and I visited some friends who are volunteering in Santiago. It was a long trip to get there, but it was really nice to get away from Cusco and enjoy lots of rest and relaxation. And I saw the coast on the way! ah! I was so excited to see the ocean...I think I scared the guy sitting next to me on the bus. It was such a tease to see the water in passing without stopping to jump in. But I´m guessing the water was pretty cold.

Well, Brian and John are volunteering with the Holy Cross Associates and work at a high school in Santiago, Chile as English teachers. So I spent last Friday sitting in on John´s class and then at night we all helped out at a function the school held for alumni. The event wasn´t the hugest success but it was still a good time and I got to see a little sneak peak of what their volunteer experience has been like. On Saturday we walked around for a bit...it was so nice getting to stroll around in grass! It was refreshing to be in a more open space. I like Cusco, but things can feel very crowded at times. It felt so great to sit in grass and not have anything to do or anywhere I had to be. In the evening we went to mass and afterwards, we headed over to the Candelori´s for a delicious dinner of completos woohoo! The Candelori´s are a family that lives across the street from Brian and John. Sunday was another relaxing day. For lunch, we headed over to the CHACE house for a BBQ. The CHACE house is where a bunch of English teachers from the States live. After scarffing down some chorizo and bread, we headed over to watch the new James Bond movie! Monday the guys had class, so I hung out at the house with Michelle, their lovely roommate. We made some popcorn and watched a few episodes of Friends while my clothes washed. After one more stroll through the park across the street, it was time to head to the bus station where my long journey home awaited me. Thanks so much to Brian, John, and Michelle for the warm welcome and the chill time! I´ll be praying for your time in Santiago and the mission God has for you there.

It felt so good to be back in Cusco and it was so great seeing the girls again! They were suprised and excited to see me when I picked them up from school yesterday. It seemed like so much time had passed since I had seen them. The trip to Chile definitely gave me a chance to catch my breath and re-energize. And next week is Thanksgiving! woohoo! Thanksgiving isn´t that big of a holiday here, but Meghan and I are having a bunch of people over for a big dinner. I´m excited to get all of the random people we know together for some good food and in general a chill time to visit and enjoy eachothers´ company. I´m hoping that our new home will become a place where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves. I´ve been so blessed to have such an amazing example of true community back at home. I hope that during my time here in Cusco, our home can also provide a place for such a community to gather. So I ask that you please keep Meghan and I in your prayers. I feel very open and ready to be used for whatever God has in store for my time here in Cusco. And I am very excited!

Please let me know of any prayer requests that we can pray for over here in Cusco. You are all missed and thought of often! Lots of love from a frizzy tanke creature at a computer in Cusco.