Manipulating Not The World I Live In, But The Way I Live, So That The World Will Change.

I heard a rumor that people (or mothers) we're under the impression that I am not doing well. Actually my sister just told me. I'm doing great. The second week passed more quickly than the first. We finished the class on Nehemiah, and it was a very insightful class. It was a nice addition to the year of leadership class I had at elliot. Unlike Nehemiah, which was a 2 week block class, I have a missions class every thursday. What I really want to say is that during that missions class I had a realization. I never want to be settled in my comfort zone, or rather, I never want to have a comfortable life. I guess that would probably considered an ignorant statement. I am young compared to most and still have that youthful drive. Maybe it seems ridiculous to you (Mr. or Mrs. Reader), or maybe it seems like exactly the right thing that should be done. There is change between the generations and there are similarities as well. No? I guess my problem is determining the difference between the two. Also, just because something is widely accepted in a certain generation and culture does not mean it is right (i.e. slavery, same sex marriage, materialism, debt) Which leaves me many options. But I don't know what to do. I assume that will come with time. It's been said, "In order for God to lead you, you must be moving". So I intend to move. Where? Good question. For 4 months I will be in Peru. I know this for sure. 

I went surfing today. Very unsuccessfully. It took a while to get the wet suit and board, then when we got to the beach, I discovered that my wet suit had no zipper in the back. I paddled out one million miles, and the first wave I took, it unstrapped my leash and took my board all of the one million miles back onto shore. I had to swim back, and walk up the rocks to get my board. Honestly, these rocks caused more problems and pain than my wet suit without a zipper. They were all about the size of basket balls, watermelons and tennis balls. It was so lame. But there will be more adventures on the peruvian ocean. 

on and off the shore. 

The party and I.

There was a party. Friday night. The entire bible college (30 or so) was invited to a quinceañera, which, for those of you who don't know, is a big party that a girl's parents throw for her when she turns 15. It is a big deal. Friends, family, and bible colleges are all invited. The night came and we were all very excited to dance and eat and dance. We ate dinner (spaghetti) and Benny and I had kitchen duty that night. This meant that my new German friend and I had to wash all the dishes and sweep and mop, all the while listening to german techno/house music. We deemed it the party before the party. (Benny is pictured right, on the far left with the hat). We finished our duties and hastily got ready. Most of the school went, but some stayed behind. In groups of five or six we taxied over to the party. Our taxi smelled of marijuana and our driver did little to discredit the smell. We listened to 80's electro-pop. The driver wasn't sure what he wanted to charge us so we gave him 5 soles (about $1.75). 

We arrived at the house and made our way through the house meeting and greeting (but not yet eating). Notables of the house: a green triangular room (pictured), narrow stairway to the roof that had steps of different sizes through-out the 'case, a beautiful drum set on the roof inside of a room the size of the drum set, balloons inside the triangular room that provided entertainment, always. 

(side note)

Really some of my favorite things here in Perú are the colors. Which sounds like im weird or unobservant, but honestly, the colors are beautiful. For some reason, be it because Lima is a costal city or a latin city, I don't know, but people paint their houses, their walls, their doors great colors. And not only colors, but there are some of the coolest houses and buildings here as well. Im sure I will continue to expel my passion for the colors here throughout my stay. 

(back to the party)

There was a big commotion and the girl came down the stairs in her dress accompanied by her father and with everyone watching. I could tell it was very special even though I didn't know her or half the people there. Her father and other notable figures in her life said special things about her and then came the music. The girl danced first with her father then other boys. I was thrown into the circle and danced with her for a bit. Everyone was doing it. The song was over so everyone started to dance and the real fun began. The music was all salsa and it was very fun. We danced for maybe 2 or 3 hours with breaks every once in a while to eat or cool off. There was a break dancing competition too. Which really just turned out to be ridiculous. All I have to say is that some people can break dance and some people can't. This party was a bonding time for the whole group, which we needed. Manolo (pictured dancing with Benny the German) got us home around 11:30. We were all tired and happy, which was a good place to be after our first week of school. 

Saturday was a much needed day of rest for me. I had laundry duty, which means I sit around for 4 hours basically. It was the first real day of sunshine, but don't mind overcast (yet). Some people went to their ministry sites, some people went shopping. I went no where. But I did get some homework done. I believe that is a complete account of all the notable events in the past few days. This week seemed like it took a month to go by. 

Banjo mi amor.

So my banjo has become a good friend to me, as I suppose most banjos do. It is in no way taking the place of any other instrument, but rather fitting nicely into its own place of distinction. My school mates have been rather accepting of my new friend, seeing as how some banjos have a bad reputation. So anyways, my first class has started up, and it on the life of nehemiah. Its an incredible class. Incredibly long, but not really. But its a good class and already it has given me great insights on how to plan for the future. Although I'm going to be honest, making friends here has been more difficult than I had imagined. I was thrown off by all the returning students who already had close ties to some students and the staff. Really, I don't blame them for it, I would be the same way. It's way different when instead of 2 weeks you're with a group of people for 4 months. Less than 40 people. But it gets better each day. It has been an adventure, and I've done so much in only 4 days. I have so much more to do. So. This is it for now. 

This is now.

It has begun, I am now home. Peru. This is the story of my trip here.

It starts thursday morning, on the fourteenth day in August. I woke up at 10 A.M. and started my last day in North America, more importantly, Lodi. I will let you know, this whole last week, I have been dying, slowly. I had moved to Peru last week, in my heart (and I write that half sarcastically and half earnestly). And I hope none of my friends take this the wrong way, but my last days in lodi were emotionally difficult because I felt like my life in Lodi started to fade out before my life in Peru even came. BUT thats over. My last day in California was great. I had lunch with a friend I hadn't seen in forever, I had a delicious dinner with my family and friends, and got to chill all night with my close friends. Anyways, I stayed up late with my friends, took a shower and left for the airport at 3am. I arrived at sacramento at 4, and waited till 6 to take-off. I slept on the plane to Houston, and wondered around the airport in Texas for another 4 hours. Good news though, I finished a good book with all this time (The Giver, by Lowery). I feel asleep on the plane again, and woke up not knowing where I was, I soon found out. I finally got to Peru, got through customs and got my bags. Now to find my ride. There was a room that was not very big, but still big (it was as tall as it was long). I knew exactly who I was looking for, but I couldn't find them. Literally, I scooted around with my baggage cart for about 30 minutes. Nothing. Finally I saw a group of people that I saw in Houston, who I suspected were students, standing with a man. I approached them and found myself with the right group. The suspects and I joined John, the man, and drove back to campus. I was showed to my room, and found a sleeping person in there (it was midnight). I awoke and quickly met one of my room mates, chris. Breakfast was accompanied by new people. It took half the day to really get to know some people. But I am very excited(still) about this next semester. There are roughly 25 students here and a few staff. My new home is beautiful. 

"No I'm not in Peru yet..."

No, not yet.. But soon enough. 

My brother got married, as some of you know. Truly, it was a great weekend. I have never been to a wedding that I have been really interested in. I would suggest it to anyone and everyone who has never experienced it. My lovely sister and I thoroughly enjoyed the day together and we're both happy for our brother. 10 years ago we would have never thought that Danny, our annoying, home-schooled, geeky, football loving, weird brother, would be married the first out of all of us. But honestly, he was the most ready to be married out of all of us. Ashley and Danny are fit for each other, and there is nothing left to say. 

I'm down to my last week in North America. This post will probably seem bland compared to the stories that will be told in the near future. But, for some reason, I think I need to write something. I'll write a note to my friends from high school. Really it has been great. I am so honored to have such great brothers and sisters all these years. It has only gotten better and I am excited to see where we all will go. I hope I'm not the only one who knows that it will never be the same as it is now, or was. But disregarding the future for now, the past was good, our memories are some of my best. I hope we take all the lessons we learned with us. Servant-hood, leadership, righteousness. Our Alma maters name sake gave the wise advice "where ever you are, be all there" I will take this to heart and I earnestly hope you all do as well. I'll see you in December. 

I'll be back in December, but I don't know if I'll ever really be back... 

"...stuck in Lodi again"

Pre-Launch

well naturally.. this is the first post of this blog. if you are eager to learn of my current condition, you have come to probably the best and most reliable source. 

If you noticed the post date you may have realized that as I wrote this, I am not in Peru in fact I am 4193 miles away from Peru. I have less that two weeks before I leave and I couldn't be more excited. I love all my friends and I will miss them dearly but there comes a time when it's better to leave all the things you know and start a new life among the unknown, even if only for a while. I don't mean to say that I believe we should all have many different identities with many different people. I feel as if the people and the city I live in today have fit me into a form that I probably was at one point in my life but I think I've grown out of that and am now conflicting with the mold set for me. I got a taste of freedom last summer when I went to China. There was no mold. I could be me (and me is a good person to be, at least if you're me) I got back, and yes, the mold did shift, but not enough maybe. I am living in a city full of families trying to settle down in a nice suburbia. I feel like this is the exact opposite of myself at this time in my life. So it is safe to say, yes, I am excited to leave. 

I am excited to leave a state of being that I described to a friend as being like pubescent facial hair. The kind that is there, but not enough to be considered a mustache. The hair is just confused  but more frustrated because he can see other facial hairs being rich and full, but he still cannot be them, not yet. There is nothing he can do, but grow. I have graduated high school, so I am clearly not one of those (nothing against them, im just over it). But I am not in or at college yet. I believe it's a very frustrating time. But soon I will be mustache, or sideburns, or a neck beard (hopefully not). 

Well I just wanted to give a small preface to my blog. (and I would prefer if you would say preface as if the face was fis, prefis, is sounds more proper)

I leave August 15 (3 am)