A new season.

I have been home for nearly 2 weeks.  I have annoyed my family as much as possible with endless stories and spanish lessons.  I have somewhat begun to feel normal behind the wheel of a car.  I don't stress out about the tap water, and THERE IS ICE IN MY WATER.  

Being home is good.

But, being home is hard.  

Sometimes it's hard to explain the way I feel, and it's hard for anyone to understand.  I have cried and mourned.  That season is over.  

But God is good.  A new season is about to begin.  Soon I will start law school, and I look forward to seeing how God will use this Peru experience in my future.  I look forward to returning to Arequipa one day and visiting my Peruvian family.  Until then I am enjoying showers with hot water and pressure and giving thanks for all of the things I took for granted before.

So this is it for now.  My final blog post.  As I type that I breath a sigh of relief.  I want to say thanks for joining me in this journey.  Thanks for following my blog and faithfully lifting up this mission with prayers.  

On an ending note, I was asked, "If you had to describe your time in Peru in just 2 words, what would they be."

"Potatoes and Jesus," I said.  

I ate a whole bunch of potatoes.  And I spent a whole lot of time sharing Jesus, praising Jesus, learning more about Jesus, and leaning on Jesus.

So, I made a video and titled it "Potatoes and Jesus."  Cheesy - just like me.  Pictures are able to express everything so much better than my feeble attempt at blog posts.  So, if you have some time I hope you check out it out.  I do apologize because it is a bit lengthy, but heck, I'd say a 15 minute video to summarize 9 months isn't too shabby. 

So, goodbye….thanks... & enjoy.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yixqx-H2wIg

Despedidas & Cake

The congregation after my last service with San Lucas Church

What in the world is a despedida?

Madison, you should know better than to use Spanish words.  Come on now, use English please.  You are back in the USA.

Despedida is a going away party, a goodbye party, a farewell party.  I think you've got the idea.  Pretty much any sort of get together can suffice as a despedida, and I had 5. 

Despedida #3 at the school

1. Bible study group:  Cake and prayers at the ladies' Bible study I joined and attended.
2. Children's Home: Cake and sodas, hugs and pictures, and a giant card made from all my kiddos.
3. School: Cake and sodas, dancing and a homemade card (in English) from one of my high school classes. This one was a surprise that they planned all on their own.  
4. Youth Group: Snacks, cookies, and sodas.  Games and prayers. Oh and dancing. 
5. Church: 4 CAKES, sodas, prayers.

Despedida #5 with all the CAKESSS

Despedida #4 

On Tuesday, Padre Ricardo told me he would give me a ride to the airport and would be by to pick me up.  When I heard the honk and looked out the window I expected to see his little car.  Instead he was driving the big van and all of the kids from Casa Hogar were with him to take me to catch my flight.  Once at the airport 5 of the youth leaders showed up along with my Peruvian Mom - Naty.  30+ Peruvians all saying goodbye to the Gringa.  See picture below...

Coming to an end.

With everyone who went to the airport to say goodbye.  Pretty special. 

I'm in Lima right now having just finished my first leg of my return trip to the States.  I'm coming home.  July 15 is here.  My 9 months in Peru is over.

Where did the time go?! How is that possible?

This was meant to posted some weeks ago, but every time I sat down to write it I couldn't come up with the words.  

I am filled with all sorts of emotions right now.  First I'll start with the emotion of gratitude.  I am incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity.  I am so grateful that I had so many incredible supporters who made this possible through financial donations and PRAYERS.  I am so grateful to have enjoyed 99.9% of the last 9 months.  (The time I went to get a haircut, didn't know how to explain what I wanted due to language barrier issues, and walked out with the craziest, thickest, BIGGEST bangs wasn't exactly enjoyable.  That is the .1% I refer to.)

So as I have established, I am grateful.

But I'm also sad, really really sad.

My wise sister in law wrote me a couple of weeks back, and she put into writing the words exactly what has been going through my mind.

"What ways you have been broken, changed forever! Oh HOW you have been made full! Emptied! And made full again! I can only imagine the tears that bubble up into your eyes as your heart bursts forth due to a lack of words. As Beth Moore once said, "Tears take us somewhere words cannot.  Tears are the liquid language set to the tune of the Holy Spirit's groanings." (romans 8:26)."

Boy have I cried these last several weeks.  But then again I'm a cryer.  I cry when I'm happy, when I'm sad, when I really want some ice-cream, and when I can't seem to fix these dang bangs that the Peruvian hairdresser so kindly gave me.  

Ok, back to my sister in laws wise words.  She said the following…

"I intercede two things for you today.  Grief & Hope.

She wrote to me about grieving because she knew how so terribly difficult it is for me to leave this place, these people, this mission.

I know you are grieving this season ending.  The things you've seen, the streets you've walked, the people you have come to love.  Will you ever see them again? Did you make a difference?  

She talked about hope because I've had many a conversation with her regarding where to go from here, what's changed in my heart, and where I feel He is leading me now.  

Your future, Madi, is not dependent on you.  God wants you at your destination more than you do! You have such a bright future For HE IS YOUR ANCHOR. "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure..." (Heb. 6:19)

So grieve and hope she says.

Y'all, something is going on in my heart.  The plans I was so sure of before, I'm not sure about anymore.  As I start a period of reflection and discernment on what to do next I ask once again for PRAYERS.  

So all in all the point of this post is to say I'm coming home.  My time in Arequipa has come to an end.  I'll be back on American soil eating all of the Chick-fil-A and Tex-Mex food I can get my hands on.  I can't wait to visit with everyone in person, share my stories, and talk incessantly about my experiences.  Stay tuned to here too, because I have a couple more posts coming (the question is when it will get done ha). 

Santiago Apóstol

 Villa Ecologica - the district of the city where the church is located

Back in May we had a mission team here and working at Santiago Apóstol, a small humble mission that the diocese has on the outskirts of Arequipa.  On my days off from teaching I went out with the the team to help with the work – mainly dealing with the walls and improving some of the aesthetics inside the church.  Ok, I admit maybe I even took off a day from teaching my classes to go and help.

Pictures taken during the week working in the church

Then this Sunday, the leaders of the youth group that I am a part of had the idea to take hot chocolate and bread to share with the congregation after the Sunday afternoon service.  I was excited to get back out there and spend more time with this community in worship and fellowship.

Serving hot chocolate

Some new friends

Please pray for Padre Alejandro, the priest of this mission, and for the families and children of the community.