Soccer is fun! But really really hard!

This is what I have been up to for the last 36 hours:

1. Saturday morning was time to get a bit of homework done. I spent a good deal of the morning reading Como se ensenan y se aprendan las matematicas (it's about teaching and learning math--two of my favorite things to do!!).

2. I had a wonderful lunch, and in the afternoon, I went to the meeting for voluntariado at the university. This involved reading a text by Dietrich von Hildebrand in Spanish, talking about it, and planning some activities to do with the students the next day.

3. This is the first Saturday night that I've had free, so I wanted to go to the youth group gathering at a church that I've been going to. There wasn't a time online, but a group of us were under the impression that it started at 7:30. Unfortunately... we misunderstood something somewhere, because I arrived at 7:27, and the gathering was definitely already in progress. It turns out that it starts at 6:30. Oh well! Next week... I'll go at 6:30.

4. Seven of us then met up at Starbucks and played cards for a few hours. We played some fun games and had a nice time relaxing and laughing and talking and... playing cards.

5. I got up this morning and got to the university at 7 to go to voluntariado. Mary and Maria, some friends from Calvin, also came this time. And my friend from conversation groups, Anthony, was also there. We loaded on the bus and arrived at the church. We went to church with all the children, and then walked a short distance to their school. Once there, we sang a bunch of songs with the kids (all of these songs come with some wonderful moves), and after that we all divided into four groups for some relay races. It was great fun, and I love talking to the kids and spending time with them.

6. Once I got back home after voluntariado, I ate lunch. It was yummy.

7. And I had a super fun afternoon! I went to play soccer with some wonderful people! Two great people from the university, Anthony and his friend Diego, joined a group of us from Calvin--Amy, Sydney, Scott, Becca, Alex, Sarah, and I. It was quite fun! I enjoy playing sports, and usually I can hold my own. But... soccer is really hard for me. The problem is kicking. I frequently miss the ball when I try to kick. My eye foot coordination is... very low. Also, I really like to use my hands. This is generally not acceptable in soccer unless you're the goaly. But I wasn't. Needless to say, I wasn't very helpful to my team. I did a lot of running back and forth and back and forth, but things were just better in general when I wasn't by the ball. Perhaps while I'm here I'll get to play more and improve my kicking abilities. Either way, it was fun.

Father, thank You for a fun weekend. Thank You for always being with me. Thank You for new friends and for all of the people that you have put in my life here in Arequipa. I am so grateful for my family here--God, they are so wonderful--and all the people in the Calvin group and my friends from the university. In the coming week, guide me, Jesus. At every moment, help me to listen for Your voice and follow Your leading. Whatever comes, teach me to trust You more. I praise You, Jesus!