I have arrived!!

Hello everyone!
So I am here! I am sitting at Hogar de Esperanza right now. I will give you a quick recap beginning when I left yesterday. My flight to Houston and then on to Lima was fine- come to think of it, I can’t even remember my flight to Houston. . . : ) On the flight from Houston to Lima, I sat beside a woman named Ana and her daughter Christina who is 2 ½ years old. Ana is from Peru but married a man from Utah 4 years ago. She was really sweet and comforting. She told me what to expect at the airport- which turned out to be false information because the airport was just redone- she also helped me with my Spanish. Her little girl was quite the character and refused to do anything unless I was looking. : )
Throughout this week I have been emailing back and forth with the hotel I stayed at last night. They had asked me if I wanted someone to pick me up and I said yes. So I was kind of expecting them to be there when I got off the plane. . . but they weren’t. : ( But, thanks to my wonderful Aunt Kathy, I knew that there were trustworthy taxi companies just outside customs- so I just did that. I found out as soon as I got in the car that people in Peru drive very similar to people in Guatemala- but a little faster and they don’t stop as much at stop signs, lights, for other cars or people. My driver decided that I had to see the Pacific ocean first thing so we took the scenic route to my hotel- I didn’t tell him but all I could see was a tiny bit of water and a whole lotta black! : ) I finally made it to my hotel in time to sleep for a few hours and get up to go to the bus station. The bus ride was really nice actually- it was a coach so there were movies playing constantly and the “bus attendant” put English subtitles on even though I was the only English speaking person on the bus- wasn’t that nice??!! I got to see quite a bit of the Peruvian countryside during the ride. We went along the coast and then moved inland a bit more. Everywhere you looked there were little shacks. It was really odd to me because there would be miles and miles of sand with nothing else around and then you would see a tiny shack made of leafs, tin, limbs, or a combination of all. We went through a few towns that consisted of more of these homes and some bigger ones that I am guessing were stores. It was really kind of funny because I would be catching myself thinking, “Wow, I could not imagine myself living like that- no doors, no windows, dirt floors, etc. . .” Then I would see a cable television antennae sticking out one of the tin homes! I guess everyone needs a little Friends or Miami Ink once in awhile. : )
After 8 hours on the bus, we arrived in Trujillo- Liz, the Social Worker for the orphanage, was waiting with a sign. We were instant friends- I can speak a little Spanish and she can speak a little English- once I started talking to her, I understood a lot more than I thought I would. She is 27 and so very sweet. The grounds keeper/driver also was there, but sadly, I cannot remember his name. When we got to Hogar de Esperanza, the first resident I met was Be-be- the slightly chubby Basset Hound! He is very cute. Then I got to meet all the children- it was wonderful!!! Most of them just came over and gave me hugs and kissed me on my cheek- I have been looking forward to that moment for so long- I can’t wait to get know the children better- there are so many of them! 21 girls and 20 boys. There is this one little boy- which I can’t remember his name either- because seriously, between the kids and the staff I met 50 people in about 15 minutes!- anyway this little boy has these huge glasses and he did not want me to let him go. He just clung to me and kept saying “mi Tia” – my aunt. : ) It was so cute I almost cried!
They also showed me to my room and I have take picutes, but at this moment I can't figure out how to import pictures from my camera. There would be pictures of kids and the outdoors but by the time I remembered my camera it was dark outside and all the kids were in their casitos. So there will be pictures to come!

I still can’t believe I’m here, but I honestly already feel pretty comfortable. Liz is wonderful and I can tell we will become close. The kids are just ready for anyone to love them and the staff is appreciative of any help. I just hope my Spanish will get better quickly so that I won’t be annoying.

When I was on the bus today I was feeling oh so tired and already a little lonely. But then I opened my Bible and began to read. I started reading in James 1 where it talks about going through trials to produce perseverance and endurance. Not that this is a trial necessarily, but it will be a struggle somedays. It just reminded me that serving the Lord may not always be easy, but it is always rewarding. It always serves a purpose and He is always with me through every step. I may not be at home with my family in Missouri. But as long as I am following Him, I am home in my heart. . .

Well, I am off to a dinner of easy mac (provided by my Mom) and a peanut butter sandwich (provided by my Aunt!)!
Love you all!! I will write more soon!
Janie

Here I go!

Hey everyone!
So today is the day! This will be my last post from the United States for 3 1/2 months. :) I can't believe that I will be in Peru when i go to sleep tonight. It seems unreal- I've thought about and planned this for so long, I can't believe I am actually going today!
Thank you again for praying for me and supporting me- I feel so blessed to have friends and family like you.
As I go, I ask you to pray specifically for the language barrier and my safety. God is bigger than both items and I know that He will protect me. I'm sorry that this is such a short post, but my mom and I are about to leave for the airport!!
Love you all-
Janie
ps- my next post will hopefully have pictures and stories of my first few days there!! :) woo-hoo!

Typhoid, hair and culture

Hey everyone!! So this week I really worked on getting things done and getting ready for my trip. On Wednesday I got two vaccinations- one for Typhoid Fever and one for Yellow Fever. On this coming Wednesday I have an appointment with my doctor to get the preventive medication that you take once a day to make sure you don't get Malaria. It is kind of weird to be getting all these shots- I mean, you here about these illnesses all the time but they seem so far away! I also learned this week that I will be in the same time zone as Missouri! Crazy! :) Vickie answered a lot of questions for me this week- I didn't write about all of them last time because I was feeling overwhelmed- thank you to everyone who left comments or sent emails- that was such an encouragement!! She told me that I needed to bring nicer clothes- I can't run around in jeans and a t-shirt everyday like I do here. She suggested kind of a step above my everyday clothes but a step below church clothes. So get ready for me to dress spiffy everyday! :) I also learned that I won't be drying or curling my hair at all while I am there- unless I decide to buy all new hair equipment there- which I won't, by the way! :) I am prepared to be all natural. :) There are a lot of cultural things that I will be learning when I get down there. I know that the first two weeks will be the hardest out of the whole trip- I will be having trouble understanding Spanish and be trying to find my place. But I know that through the whole experience God will be with me and He will be leading me. Someone asked me this week what was the thing I am looking forward to the most- without a shadow of a doubt it is hugging those kids. I just cannot wait to show them love, compassion, and caring. I want so much to be a blessing to them as I know they will be to me. Well, I am off to find some travel health insurance and to try to book a hotel room for my first night in Lima! Wish me luck!
love you all- janie

Overwhelmed

Hi everyone! :) I leave two weeks from today- can you believe it? I can hardly believe it... I think it hit me yesterday that I am actually going- actually leaving. I met with Vickie Miller, the woman who runs the orphanage with her husband, yesterday. They live in Liberty and just got back from 6 weeks in Peru. She showed me pictures from all different views of the orphanage. She also showed me soo many pictures of the kids. Just looking at the pictures of those faces, I was already losing my heart to them. I am not even there yet and i am already dreading leaving them- it will be so hard. She also told me a little bit about what it will be like. At the orphanage they have 5 volunteer apartments. Most of them have a room or two and a bathroom- I was really excited about that- I didn't know I would get my own bathroom! :) But, sad news, she doesn't recommend flushing the toilet paper. She said it used to be fine, but they have started to have sewage problems. I am doomed to always visit countries where you always have to throw toilet paper into the trash can!! She also said that the main food staples are rice, potatoes and beans- so guess who will be learning to like beans??
My main responsibilities at the orphanage will be helping the Madre's- those are the 4 women that are the main care-takers of the children. I will be babysitting and helping with the sick ones, and doing the girls hair, and just about anything else you can think of. In addition to that I am going to help set up a library system for the orphanage, take lots of pictures for the website, cut the girls hair, and complete the volunteer manual so that other volunteers don't have to wing it! :)
I am still excited about going and I know without a doubt that I will love it, but it hit me yesterday and today that I am really, really, going to miss my family and friends so much. I keep thinking about the days that I will just want my mom to hug me or I will just want to go get coffee with my friend. I will miss my sister and Lucas' homecoming and the celebration to follow. I will miss my dad's birthday and many others. I won't be here for fall to watch the leaves change color. I will miss my first holiday(thanksgiving), and I will miss all the everyday things I take for granted right now. I know that I will be blessed by this experience, but today I am just feeling overwhelmed and a little sad. I know that I am closing the Curves chapter of my life and that is harder than I realized. Those ladies have come to mean so much to me and I know that I won't get to see them on a regular basis anymore. I don't like big changes and I am not good at goodbyes, and it is all happening at once.
Like I said, I still am going and have a huge desire to go, and don't for a second regret my decision, but today it is just really real. :) I know that 3 1/2 months is nothing and it will fly by, but I have never been away for that long.
Love you all
janie

I have tickets!!!

Hey everyone!
So I got my plane tickets this week- it was so exciting and a tiny bit scary at the same time. :) I leave at 12:53 on the 30th of August and get back at 10am on December 12th (happy birthday to you Heather S!) Getting the plane tickets made it so real- I am still amazed that I am blessed enough to be given this experience. It has been a dream for so long, I can not believe it is happening!! :) I was kind of freaked out last week about doing support raising- aka- asking people to contribute both by praying and financially. But my dad had a conversation with Jim and Alma Taylor, to wonderful, amazing friends of the family and Jim said something that has really stuck with me. He said that God is wanting to minister to the kids in Peru and He is forming a team to do so. i just happen to be the one that actually gets to go. So the whole team is contributing by either praying for my journey and for the kids or by giving financially to help pay for my travels and my time there. It made me feel so much better knowing that the money wasn't just to cover something that i felt like doing- it is for a ministry that God has set up and I am blessed enough to be a part of. :)
On Wednesday my wonderful Bible study had me share about my upcoming trip and also spent time praying over me. It was so encouraging and made me feel so very loved! (I'm so okay with sounding corny)
I talked with the woman who co-founded the orphanage, along with her husband, this week. They were still in Peru, but they have an internet based phone with a Liberty number so I was able to call locally. It was so amazing to talk to her on the phone- I could hear people talking in the background in Spanish and I just could not believe that i will be there in less than 3 weeks! I am going to meet with her at the beginning of next week to go over what i will be doing while I am there and also to answer the millions of questions that I have.
My father went down to Guatemala this week to meet his grandson- the pictures are amazing of Dad and Luke together- both look so happy! :) I talked to my mom on the phone tonight and everyone sounded really cheerful. Check out my nephew's blog to see more adorable pictures of Lukie! :)
Right now I am in Hannibal, MO for a girl's weekend with my girls from college- Heather, Steph, Shannon and Katie and I are hanging out this weekend and being crazy! (By the way- those are the girls that are in my picture at the top) We are watching movies and doing manicures right now- so I better get back to it!
Love you all,
janie
ps- I LOVE comments so please please please leave me one!! You would totally make my day! :) *wink* :)

Preparations. . .

Hi everyone!! I am getting so excited about my trip! I can hardly wait to meet the kids and hug them. :) I need to start making all of my preparations- i have to get medicine and 1 more shot and I also still need to do the minor thing of buying my plane tickets!! It looks like my departure date will be August 30. I was going to wait until my sister and nephew got home, but it looks like they won't be home for a few more months. I told my sister that I didn't know what to do and she said "Do what God says"- so I am! These last few days have been very overwhelming- when we found out that Lucas' adoption had been delayed again- I was devastated for Heather and Shane. To be so far apart for so long is unimaginable, yet that is what is happening. But I know that Lucas is worth every day. Heather and Shane are amazing parents and are already putting what is best for Luke over their own struggles. Please pray that they are each given the patience and perseverance to endure this last stage of the adoption.
My dad has been so wonderful for me- he has been encouraging and supportive. We have had the best conversations and he has helped me make decisions. thanks dad!
I have been telling all the ladies at Curves that I will be leaving in a few weeks and that has been really hard. They have all become my close friends and there are many that I love dearly! But they are also excited for me and this new adventure I get to go on. Isn't it amazing that when I started working at Curves I thought I would only be here a few months until I decided where to go or what to do- but the more I worked here and got to know the ladies the more I felt at home and like I was serving a purpose here. I have laughed with them, cried with them and even prayed with them. We dance, sing, and play games- really this job has turned into such a blessing. When I had surgery earlier this year they sent me cards and presents, and when I went to Guatemala many of them emailed me and they held a baby shower for my sister- who they have never met!!! They are so generous and sweet- I know that they will support me as I leave also. . . that is just how they are! I will always treasure the friendships I have made here-
That's all for now!!
Love you all- janie