La Vida Diaria - Daily Life

Over the past couple of weeks I've been making a list of things that I think would be interesting to tell people about.  I just realized that it's a pretty long list... consider yourself warned.  :)

Some of the smaller moments are what I think makes life so interesting.  This probably has something to do with the fact that my primary love language is quality time (take the quiz and find out what yours is, you know you want to). Take a haricut, for example.  Everyone gets them, but not always at 11p.m. in the middle of a kitchen.  Well that's what Kyle decided to do a couple weeks ago.  We've started watching Survivor (my new favorite show haha), so one night after it was over Kyle came into the living room with the clippers and got Wes to cut his hair while Taylor and I laughed the whole time.  I'm sure you can see why:




Another one of those small moments is watching a movie.  And here I mean a kids' movie: animated, Disney, usually about 15 years old.  Something as simple as sitting on the couch or the floor with Sofia and Maddox and watching a movie is so fun and makes me feel like a little kid again.  I love it.  Something else I love: competition, which is great since I'm surrounded by boys who have to name a winner for whatever situation may arise.  Recently, after acting like the grown up 30 somethings that they are at a team meeting, the team guys decided to have an impromptu arm wrestling tournament.  And after the next meeting, there were races on the beach.  I was included in these (and obviously lost haha) and it was great to just have fun with the people I work with everyday.

Some of the small things have a stronger impact in the moment.  I feel like we mention the sunsets here in almost every post, but they really are great.  And we see them way more than I ever did in Texas.  Each time I'm reminded of the power and greatness of God.  It amazes me that He made something so beautiful and unique for our enjoyment.



One of the most recent sunsets over the Pacific

Last week a group of us went to a praise night at a local church.  I've been to lots of events like that before, but I was really touched by this one.  I have to pay so much more attention to the words of the songs, prayers, and messages.  So I am more invested in the words God is speaking to me in those times.  Also, the church was started years ago by missionaries and it has grown into a huge group of believers.  It was so encouraging to me to know that the work of missionaries is impactful here in Lima.

That saying is so true: you learn something new every day.  A lot of what I learn is about the culture including the Catholic wedding I got to go to, complete with traditional little kid Peruvian dancers, and that there are people everywhere trying to sell you things.  In fact, last time we had a beach day I had the option to buy scarves, swimsuit cover-ups, sunglasses, jewelry, ice cream, sandwiches, and even books.  And that was just at the beach!  All of these vendors (and hailing taxis) has taught me about bargaining skills that I never thought I would know.  I've also learned so much about how a team of people works together.  It's a longer process than I first thought and it involves more meetings than I expected.  Through a couple of our most recent team meetings (one at the beach and one with our mentor David) I've realized that the meetings help me to know more about the people I work with and about myself.  I'd like to ask you to pray for our continued patience and that we would come to find out even more.

I love making connections with people here.  Last week Kyle, Taylor, and I got to meet and have dinner with our good friend Carolina's family.  Carolina was so helpful in our preparation, we asked her so many questions about Lima before we left since she grew up here and now lives in College Station.  We had a great time and are so thankful for our friends everywhere.


The interns before we went to eat with Carolina's sister (and nephew) and parents

We've almost always got something to celebrate here Just yesterday it was Maddox's 4th birthday.  The interns and the Fletchers went to Cieneguilla to play at the pool, let the kids ride horses, and enjoy the sun.  For dinner the whole team got together at Pizza Hut (which is considerably nicer here than any I've been to in the states). We had a great time and everyone enjoyed the blue cake!