I'm a branch!!

God is really really big!!!!! MUY GRANDE!! He is with me here in Arequipa just as He is with you in America and with people in other places that really far away, too! And to Him, these huge volcanoes that I look at everyday are litte bumps! Today, Jesus has been reminding me that He is the vine and I'm a branch, and that I can do nothing apart from Him. (Branches are really... unimpressive on their own. There isn't anything special about them unless they are connected to a cool tree! No one says, "Now that is a beautiful branch! Let me take a picture of it!" No. People say, "Woah!!! Look at that awesome tree!!!") I'm learning to depend on Him more and more and more. In America, there's stuff I know how to do. I don't think about depending on God when I have to go to the grocery store. But here, I need to depend on Him in order to walk into a supermarket and purchase water! And over and over and over again, God is showing Himself to be dependable! I see evidence of His grace everywhere!!! A conversation with a classmate, a peaceful morning at the park, a warm greeting from Julita, a helpful professor who pronounces her words very well.

After class today, a handful of us (seven, to be exact) went to a cute little creparia. That's a place that sells crepes. Wow, they were delicioso! Really, all the food that I've had here has been delicioso! Thank You, God for yummy food! You could have made food be tasteless and only for nutrition, but instead You created flavor for us to enjoy and be amazed at Your creativity!! Oh man, thank You!

Ahhh... back to the creparia. Yes, it was yummy. And the couple who was working there (I think it was connected to their house) was wonderful!!! They taught us a whole bunch about fruits and Arequipa. They encouraged us in our Spanish and told us what we should do in Arequipa. We had a great conversation with them, and we'll definitely be going back there!!

Also, I just want to say that I'm having a great time getting to know people. Every night, around... 7:30-ish, I eat dinner and talk with Tita. Tonight we talked about a flower convention that she is involved in planning. I really like this part of the day and talking with her.

And... here are some pictures of the university! It's a lovely place.

I want to climb that tree.

This is the backyard at the university! There are always lots of students out here, playing volleyball or sitting in the shade with friends.