Familia

It's now been 20 days since I landed in Peru, and I am unsure if I feel as though I have just arrived, or have been here forever. 

I was greeted at the airport in Lima by my new teammates

Lauren

Jessi

and Nicchola.

I have shared every day and almost every hour of the last 3 weeks with these people, but it only took a day or so for them to feel like my family. One of my prayers coming here was for my heart to be joined with the people I'd be ministering with and God certainly exceeded my expectations with this one. 

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Lauren is our faithful team leader who is the driving force behind the work we are doing here in Peru. She has been living with and loving on these people for over 3 years now, and her passion and burden for the lost is something that has been an ever-present challenge and encouragement to me since day one. I love her consistent and complete honesty, and that she is not afraid to look like a "nerd." I have yet to have a friend quite like Lauren, but I have no doubt she will be a friend for life. 

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Jessi feels like home. A fearless 19 year old who came to serve in Peru straight out of  high school, she is now basically a local here in Ventanilla after 8 months (and 12 more to come!) of jumping into their culture of interesting cuisine, dirty feet, and colorful pants. She even has a Peruvian son! 

Although she is much more Peruvian-ized than I am at this point, she and I would have definitely been friends in Texas. We love the same music, movies, clothes, and boys... 

(We watch a lot of Criminal Minds)

AND homegirl knows how to make me laugh. Jessi's forever positive attitude and infectious smile make her so much fun to be around. She's heading out next week to spend a few months in the states, and I am missing her already! I can't wait for her to rejoin us in July :)

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Nicchola is our Peruvian dad. He drives us around, makes sure we're always safe, and tells us (or maybe just me) to sit up straight. After befriending Lauren and her previous teammate a few years ago, he got saved and surrendered his life to full-time ministry in his home country. He is an integral part of the work we are doing here and I admire his commitment to serve the Lord. 

Nicchola is also a huge help in my endeavor to learn Castellano (What Peruvians call Spanish.) He knows enough English to help me when I get stuck on a word in Spanish, but not enough for me to be lazy and just speak in English. I am very thankful for him in that regard. 

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These people are my family here in Peru, and just like any family, there are moments already where they drive me nuts and I am at a loss as to why they do and say some of the things they do and say. However, my love and appreciation for them is real and deep, and I have no doubt that these next 6 months would not be nearly as sweet without them.