?Como se dice, "Life is Beautiful"?

Word on the street is that people would like some more frequent updates from Peru. Alas, I don't often get time on the computer, and then, it's usually a short amount of time. More updates (including some photos... one of me with styrofoam bits in my hair) can be found at the bottom of this page: http://www.acf-psu.org/peru.html

I haven't had time to process enough to have much in the way of overarching themes or lessons at this point. All I've got so far is: I want more of this. I'd like to live in another country, and not just temporarily, but really dig in. It would be awesome to be going to churches to figure out if I'd like to keep going there instead of just to visit. I'd like to be seriously studying spanish instead of just practicing my speaking and listening skills (as awesome as that might be). I'd like to be getting involved in a community without knowing I'll be saying goodbye soon.

In other news... it's now week two, and the first group has left. There were about 40 of them from the Kansas City area, and they were pretty spectacular. Tons of fun. Super encouraging. And lots of stuff got done.

Now it's me, Dave, Amy, and Tony Kay here for a week, awaiting the arrival of my parents, Kathleen, and about 45 others.

Highlights so far include:

Hanging out in Pucusana, checking out this incredible spot where the ocean breaks in underneath cliffs to a little pool... and then climbing up the hill to see the Pacific on the other side.

Getting to use the concrete nail gun... but more so, getting to teach Dakota (a kid on the trip) how to use the concrete nail gun.

Working with and learning from and talking to and laughing with some of the men on the trip. Swapping stories with others.

Our first morning of just me, Dave, and Amy putting together scaffolding. Well, trying. Mostly being frustrated at the crazy Peruvian scaffolding with different size posts that only fit together one way. And laughing hysterically at each other while we hung onto the scaffolding, trying to not shake it all too hard, and attempting to catch nails we tossed to each other.

Laying on the roof by myself, looking up at the Peruvian sky, listening to the birds, praying for my friends and family at home and around the world, and thinking about how the the roof we were building would be keeping the rain off of orphans' heads for years.

Finishing the first section of roof.

Cutting styrofoam with a circular saw and laughing as the room filled up with plastic snow.

Practicing my spanish. My listening comprehension has been getting better and better... and I can talk more easily and respond without having to think nearly as much. That being said, it's still pretty terrible. But I'm glad to at least have some ability to talk to people. I even followed the sermon on Sunday most of the way.

Hanging out with the ninos at Hogar (the orphanage that's already up and running across the street from the one we're building). They are wonderful. And beautiful. Learning some Peruvian kids games (they have a sweet variation of hide and seek). Catching kids jumping out of trees. Trying to talk with them. Laughing as they try to talk to us. Getting chased around by kids with facepaint (only one shirt possibly ruined). And, perhaps best, hanging out while the first group was saying goodbye to them, and having Jesus come up to say goodbye and saying "no, acqui para dos mas semanas" (that's 'no, here for two more weeks' in my broken spanish). And then having his whole face light up and having him run to grab some more kids to tell them!