Sacrifice
Sacrifice. It’s a word I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. Ten months ago, when I left home and moved to Peru, I didn’t think I was sacrificing that much. I knew I would be leaving my home. My family and friends. My church. Leaving a way of life that I knew and that was comfortable. I was giving up working in a hospital, pursuing my love of the ER. I was postponing going to grad school. But I saw the next two years of my life as a grand adventure, a reckless pursuit of God’s plan for my life. To say I was excited to move to another country, to live in the jungle, to experience something… Read more >>The Canvas of His Beauty
It was 10 degrees. The bitter cold wind blustered against my face. Every breath required effort. One step. Another. Right foot. Left foot. Don’t look up. Breathe. These were the only thoughts going through my mind as the summit of Misti slowly grew closer. The neon green flag, blowing straight west, was right there. It was so close. And just beyond that the last ridge leading to the wooden cross marking the summit. But I had no energy left. Every step was a struggle that brought me only a few inches closer to accomplishing the hardest thing I have ever done. Our journey started early Saturday… Read more >>City Sounds
For most of my life I have lived outside of the city limits. I loved coming home late at night, stepping out of my car, gazing up at the starts illuminating the dark night sky, and listening to the sounds of the breeze as it ruffled the leaves and the frogs croaking in the background. There were nights I would stand there, close my eyes, and just listen. To the silence. Taking it all in. It was peaceful. It was a place I could think. A place without distractions. And I loved that. Here in Arequipa, Peru, I would venture to say that silence does not exist. There is almost always noise. You can… Read more >>
La Ciudad Blanca
I am officially three weeks into language school and I absolutely love it! Arequipa is a gorgeous city full of history, colonial architecture, and beauty everywhere you look. It has been so fun exploring the city, learning about its history, and beginning to experience everything it has to offer. I am currently living just two blocks away from the main plaza (pictured above) which means I’m surrounded by good food, cafes, ice cream, museums, artisanal markets, and so much more. Being able to walk just 5 minutes up the street and be in the center of this beautiful plaza is something I… Read more >>