so many great things!!

1. This has been a great week!! But, I just realized that I haven't really posted very much this week, so I should probably tell you WHY it has been wonderful!

2. Yesterday, I got to learn another Peruvian dance!! It was super fun!! But... I need some practice. A lot of practice, actually. In theory, I learned the dance. But, executing it is a bit more difficult.

3. Dahil, one of my friends from Didactica de las Matematicas, and I are working on a presentation for Tuesday. I've worked with her on a few different partner projects in that class, and she has been a wonderful classmate!! She has helped me so much and been so patient with explaining things to me! Ah, man, I'm so grateful for her!!!

4. Speaking of being grateful, Thanksgiving is on Thursday! Our Calvin group is going to have a feast, which will surely be quite fun!! Thanksgiving is not celebrated here, which is why we are going to do our own thing.

5. OH!!! And this week I signed up to climb El Misti! Nine of us are going to climb the volcano this coming weekend. The elevation of Misti is over 19,000 feet!! Granted, we won't be climbing 19,000 feet because Arequipa is not at sea level, but we're still going to climb a lot!! The last time El Misti erupted was in 1985. We've talked to a lot of people who have climbed. Some tell us that it is hard, but do-able. Other's just look at us and tell us they hope that we've been training. We're pretty excited about this.

6. Tis the season to be jolly! And to write papers!! This week, I have to have two papers written, and I'm giving three presentations. And then there's another paper due the week after. A lot of my classmates are... quite stressed. But I'm really enjoying these projects, actually. I'm learning a lot about the education system in Peru as I research for one of my papers and presentations. That topic should make up a whole post on its own. I'm also aware that my time in Arequipa is decreasing. My purpose in coming here (believe it or not) was NOT to lock myself in my room and do homework. So, even though there's a lot to do, I'm not exactly prioritizing all of these projects. I'm spending time with people, and to me that is more important than making these projects a work of art.

7. Speaking of spending time with people... oh man, there are so many great people here in Arequipa!!! I had a great time in conversation groups this week, I got to spend some time with my friend Ana at dance yesterday, and last night I got to walk around el centro with another friend, Jorge. These people are all wonderful. I wish you could meet them!!!

8. I spend some time few evenings a week watching television with mi familia. There are... all sorts of things on the television. A lot of programs are actually in English with Spanish subtitles. I've watched a lot of game shows and talk programs from Spain, and those are all in Spanish.

9. Until December 10, when we leave Arequipa and go to Lima, my desire is to make the most of my time in Arequipa. Which is why I'm going to go play some soccer now!!

Oh... Abba, thank You so much. I cannot thank You enough. God, I give You the days and weeks ahead. There is so much that I want to do before I leave... but Jesus, I pray that You would use these days for Your purposes, that they would be used to glorify Your Holy Name!