There are two sides to every coin...at least, I'm trying to convince myself of that.

My head keeps flashing the remaining number of days I have left here, and with that comes flashbacks of beloved moments spent in and outside of the orphanage. I took down all my cards and one wall of pictures in my room the other day as a physical sign to help my mind believe it. I can't believe I'm leaving. In January when I first got here, I remember thinking that staying a whole year felt like forever! Now that the time is almost upon us, it seems like forever is not long enough. There is SO MUCH that I'm going to miss. It's impossible to list it all, but I will highlight a few major things. As a weaning attempt, I will also list things that I am not going to miss.

-I will miss helping Cristina learn to ride her bike because her father is not present to do it himself.



- I will NOT miss the need to wipe coal dust off of EVERYTHING due to living right next to a carbon factory.

-I will miss miss my "therapy" time with Jessica and getting to see her grow, develop, and make this insanely cute face.



-I will not miss Peru destroying all my clothes.



Check out my butt. Don't be shy, go on. This happened as a result of being hurriedly rushed out of the micro at my stop- they almost pushed me out the door, but my pants were still caught on the door handle!

-I will miss living in community with other volunteers on fire for God. They truly have led me, encouraged me, inspired me, and brought me deeper into prayer and relationship with God, and for that I'm truly grateful.


This was after our icing fight. David, this is what you get for not participating-you are not in the picture.

-I will NOTTTTTT miss the smells of living next to both a slaughterhouse and a chicken coop.

-I will miss the ridiculous randomness of Peru: clowns and people on stilts everywhere, old ladies at the post office and church asking you to their house for dinner, programs or events starting TWO HOURS LATE because they are still practicing, and TONSSSSSSS of home-made decorations!!!!!!












-I will not miss waiting for the micro in the middle of freaking nowhere for 20-30 minutes and then riding it at least 35 minutes to get into town to civilization! I can't wait to see my car again!

-I will miss eating a delicious meal for as cheap as sixty cents!! And delectable treats like churros!!!!



- I will NOT miss the carb triple threat: eating bread, rice, and potatoes almost every single day!

- I will miss teaching English to the madres, staff, and kids who are failing English in school. I will especially miss snickering when they mispronunciate "teeth" as "teet".

-I will not miss eating organs of animals. Enough said. I don't want to puke...
again.

-I will truly, madly, deeply miss these children who I have come to think of as my own. I will miss the tangible feeling of God working through me in such a real, powerful way that results in these children learning how to smile (when before all some of them knew was abuse) and come to life again. I'm so thankful that God allowed me to take part in blessing and enriching these little lives when He himself is more than capable of it. And now, I feel a good cry coming on...