a foretaste of what is to come

I JUST REALIZED THAT I DON'T THINK I HAVE POSTED ANY PICTURES OF COLEGIO CLARETIANO FOR YOU PEOPLE!!!!!

So, I'll do that now.

This is Colegio Claretiano, on Calle Cusco in Vallecito, Arequipa, Peru! This is where I spent approximately 54 hours this semester.

Here's the classroom where I taught!!

This is the outdoor patio in the center of the colegio!!

This is the classroom where I observed English classes!

Here's a statue of Antonio Marie Claret, the namesake of the school. And you can kind of see the hallways and classrooms a bit.

Yesterday was my last day at Claretiano. Indeed, that means that yesterday morning was a bit teary! But, I did manage to hold myself together until I left the building. I'm just glad that I didn't run in to anything as I was walking after leaving Claretiano for the last time until God knows when, because my vision was definitely quite impaired by tears and snot.

It has been such an amazingly awesome semester there and I am SO THANKFUL that I had the opportunity to go there every week and teach and observe and learn and participate in their community. It's a great place! And I am going to miss it so much! How I would love to take the job that they offered me!!! But... I know that God has something even better in store for me. And I pray that I will be able to return to Claretiano someday.

Also, yesterday evening, we had a little farewell program for all of the families and professors at the university. This program included some songs, dances, stories, and flowers. We've been preparing for it for a little while, and it ended up being absolutely lovely! I had the honor of giving the student thanks to the families, friends, and professors in attendance, and there are a LOT of people in the Calvin Crew who have a LOT of musical talent! So, it was super cool to see all of the things that my classmates prepared. Oh man. They are REALLY good.

I have three full days left in Arequipa. This semester has been so unbelievably amazing. Oh man, it hurts so much to think of leaving Arequipa and leaving all of these wonderful friends behind. I don't like it, not one bit!  Indeed, leaving would be so much easier if I hadn't made any friends. But if I had the chance to re-do this semester... I wouldn't change a single thing. The pain of leaving really stinks, but it is completely worth it because the friendships that I have made are amazing.

The verses that come to mind right now are Ephesians 2:6-7:

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 

This semester can be summed up by that bold phrase: incomparable riches of his grace. That is what I have been the recipient of this semester. And, I know that the grace that I have received is a tiny drop in the infinite bucket of grace that is mine for eternity!! Thinking about how awesomely great this semester has been just makes me really excited for the ultimate fiesta that is going to go on for eternity when Jesus returns in glory and when there will be no more mourning or crying or pain!!! If something as wonderful as this semester can happen in our broken world... oh man, I can't even imagine how awesome stuff is going to be when everything is made perfect!!

SYDNEY AND AMY AND FULLER

This post is dedicated to three wonderful women whom I have been blessed by immensely this semester! BUT FIRST.... I just finished my final final of my undergraduate college career. I think that means that I am OFFICIALLY finished with college. Oh man.

Just in case the title of this post wasn't obvious enough, I am talking about Sydney, Amy, and Fuller. To everyone who doesn't know them... you're missing out. Big time!

Amy (affectionately referred to as 'Amycita') is a beautiful bundle of energy and joy. She is such a great person to be around! Amy is a master at making people feel loved and special, and I have been so blessed to get to know her this semester! We have had a great time flying over the Nazca lines (she's a real trooper--she was sitting next to me in that itty-bitty plane while I was throwing up!), baking yummy goodies, playing futbol, and walking miles and miles and miles all over Arequipa together. Amy's joy is contagious, and I just love being around her!!!

Sydney (affectionately referred to as 'Sydneycita') is awesome! The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Sydney is the beautiful encouragement that she has been to me! There have been multiple times this semester when God has given her the EXACT words that I have needed to hear, and she has obediently spoken them. Sydney is pretty quiet, but some of the most wonderful conversations that I've had in months have been with her. Seeing this woman live her faith has been so incredibly encouraging to me!!!

Three words that come to mind when I think of Fuller are: authentic, genuine, and loyal. This lady is super cool! I have sat next to her for hours on busses, and we have had some great conversations. She can always make me smile, and she is a super fun person to be around!! I especially enjoy singing on the soccer field with her. She is a beautifully inviting person--being around her is an invitation to be comfortable and at home, yet challenged to keep fighting the good fight.

It is so hard to believe that I didn't know these three people before this semester! I have loved getting to k now them and I am so very thankful that God put them on this trip and let us become sisters here in Peru.

Lord Jesus, I thank You for Amy and Sydney and Fuller and I pray that You would abundantly dumb blessings on these ladies! Guide them in the months to come as they continue to take classes. Fill them with Your joy and Your love and Your peace and everything that comes from You. And God, draw them deeper into You that they might know You more and more and more, that they might get lost in wonder of Your love and Your goodness day after day! 

23 is a PRIME NUMBER!!!!!!!!

Now, I don't mean to be a downer. I don't want to pop anyone's balloon. HOWEVER... there is NO WAY that ANYONE could EVER have a birthday as awesome as mine was today. I'm sorry, but it's impossible.

Today, I turned 23! And we all know what that means, right???? MY AGE IS FINALLY A PRIME NUMBER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!

Before getting into the details of today, I should say that yesterday I got to learn how to play fronton! Fronton is a Peruvian sport much like racquetball, and it was super-duper fun!!! Anthony taught Scott and I, and we had a great time playing for a few hours in the morning. Thank you, Anthony!!!

And today... my inbox just about exploded with the flood of emails and e-cards that I received from all of you!!! Oh man!!!! It was so fun to read through all of these, and I felt so loved by all of you!!!! Thank you oh-so much!!! The award for the longest and funniest email goes to.... (drum roll, please!) Uncle Scott!!

I went to Colegio Claretiano this morning and taught about triangles and and areas and side lengths and many other things! And after that, I headed to the university to take my OPI exam. The Oral Proficiency Exam is an oral exam taken over the computer that I have to pass at a level of Advanced Low in order to be certified to teach Spanish. So, I got to talk in Spanish to a computer for about 40 minutes this morning!! And, I should add that all morning my phone would NOT stop ringing! A bunch of friends called to wish me a happy day!

I went home for lunch and had to get back to the university pretty quickly after lunch in order to practice for our farewell program, but Tita sent me with two DELICIOUS cakes to share with everyone! So, we ate cake!!! And, in the evening, a bunch of my friends from Calvin and from San Pablo met at Pura Fruta to play games for a few hours! We had a super super great time! Oh man!!!

Today, the refrain that re-played in my head over and over and over went something like this: "OH MAN! I am so incredibly blessed!!! Thank You God!!! This is crazy!! OH MAN! I am so incredibly blessed!!! Thank You God!!! This is crazy!! OH MAN! I am so incredibly blessed!!! Thank You God!!! This is crazy!!" It was unbelievably humbling to receive so much love from so many people in one day. From the emails from all of you to the phone calls from my Peruvian friends to seeing so many people show up at Pura Fruta in the middle of exam week to celebrate with me... I just feel so amazingly blessed right now!!!

God, today You showed me so much love through so many people!! Thank You! All I can say is thank You, thank You, thank You!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD!!!!!!!

First things first!! I am wishing a super duper Happy Birthday to my Dad! I know you're celebrating today in the States... and I'm celebrating in Peru with you by eating a churro (a delicious thing sold at the cafe in the university). I am so thankful for you, Dad! I love you!! Birthday greetings are being sent to you from Peru, Dad! From mis amigos y yo!!

After teaching about circles this morning at el Colegio Claretiano, I made my way to the university for my final exam in Algebra Lineal y Geometria Analitica. The battle was fierce and vicious, but I do believe that I won.

After pounding my exam to a pulp, I casually walked home and ate lunch with mi familia. The plan for the rest of the day includes pulverizing another exam. Other than that... anything could happen!! The possibilities are really quite limitless!

 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

God, I thank You for being God and for knowing EVERYTHING. You know I'm not terribly thrilled about leaving Arequipa and not knowing when or if I will ever be back. But I take comfort in knowing that Your ways are much higher than mine. Thank You that Your ways are higher than mine, God. I'm so glad that You don't function the same way I do! None of the events of my life surprise You, God. You are not bewildered by my emotions. Oh sweet Jesus, I acknowledge that Your ways are much higher than mine, and though I don't know what is around the corner, I trust You! I trust that You have a plan that is better than anything that I could come up with, so I am excited to press on.

Monday Morning

It is December 3 and it is so sunny and warm outside!!! Getting off a plane in Grand Rapids is going to be a bit of a shocker!! Mom and Dad, please bring my winter coat!!! 

Those of you who have lived with me (and some other people, too... Lauren) know that tears come relatively easy for me. You'll be surprised to learn that I have hardly cried at all here in Peru! Seriously!! But, don't worry... I made up for a bit of that last night. As I wrote my blog last night about the great times that I've had here and how I'm not terribly excited about saying "goodbye", the tears started to flow. Yeah, I cried for a little while. I thought I was being quiet, but Tita somehow heard me and we had a bit of sob-fest together. In the end, she showed me this youtube video. She said it's her favorite song, and that every time I'm sad, I should listen to it and think of her. Oh man, my host  mother is wonderful. God, all I can say is thank You and that seems sooooo very inadequate! But I'll say it anyway!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

And now, I have a final exam in two and a half hours. I suppose I'll read through my notes a few times so that I have a vague idea of what's going to be on this test. But not until after I shower and clean my room a bit! Happy Monday!

Thank You, God!!

Today is Sunday! That means, that at 4:00 we played futbol at Magnopata! Because that is what we do on Sundays! Oh man, it was such a fun time. Sydney, Fuller, Jorge, Samir, Anthony, Lauren, and I played futbol for a few hours this evening, until it was too dark to continue. And we also played volleyball for a bit. Another group showed up and wanted to use our field to play volleyball, so we played against them for a bit. And sang a bunch of Christmas songs while we were at it! Ahhhh - it was super super fun and we laughed a whole lot. Conclusion: we play better when we are singing than when we aren't. It was such a fun evening and I am so thankful for these friends that I have met and the friendships that we have built!! They are awesome wonderful people, and it is going to be so hard to leave this place!

Tomorrow begins a week of final exams. And... I have never felt so unmotivated to study for a test in my life!! Here's the deal... I'm in Arequipa for 8 more days. And... I sort of graduated in May. Hence, I am NOT going to spend my last 8 days in Arequipa studying!

God, O God... my emotions are going a bit crazy! Thank You so much for all of these great friendships that have built recently. It makes me so sad to think that I only have 8 days left in Arequipa with these people and with mi familia. God, I need You to guide me. Show me how to spend these days. I put these friendships in Your hands and I pray that they would glorify You, O Lord. Help me to end this semester well, Jesus. I am not looking forward to saying "goodbye". Please help me and prepare me and thank You for promising to be with me. God, this semester has been amazing. Thank You!

Rudolph!

Last night, I had a lovely time with some very very lovely people: Amy and Sydney!! We spent the evening making Christmas goodies (brownies and our own version of gluten free rice-krispies). We ate a good deal of what we made, and... it was delicious.

We plopped ourselves on the couch with our freshly baked desserts and watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It was great!

Happy Saturday!!