A couple of days.

Today was spent doing some tourist-like stuff, such as shopping at the Inca Market in town. The day started late for most of the crew. I did wake up on my own at 8AM...I did a few personal things to get the day rolling. It was good to have some alone time set aside, in my mind (even though I was in the room with two other girls). As I reflect upon the time I get to have 'alone', I think about camp mornings in the metal building. I find myself surrounded by a small group of folks, yet it is quiet (except for when Sam is chopping up the sausage for the gravy) and it is my favorite part of the day- very sweet time. When the Bible speaks of the morning with such high regard, like there is a treasure hidden in it, I totally agree...something really neat about the morning time.

I bought a couple of bracelets and a change purse at the Market. I am not too big on buying trinkets and such for folks back home just to prove they were thought of...please don't hate me because of it. I am pretty sure gift giving in that manner is not my love language. The market was neat, I suppose. I am not a big shopper- not typically...there were a lot of booths with the same stuff. It seemed to be a matter of simply finding the booth with the lower priced item and then haggling the price down. For instance, the change purse I bought was offered at 10 soles (a little over 3 bucks) and then 30 minutes later I found another one for 4 soles (about a dollar and a quarter). I held out on the first one, thankfully. It is also important for me to remember I am here for 4 months, so I don't really need to buy stuff up now. Kate and Iesha bought me bracelets (one I made into an anklet that they also have matching ones of) for my birthday!! That was cool.

(Some of you would absolutely lose it in laughter if you knew where I was while I was typing this...and others of you would be absolutely disgusted.)

We went to Larcomar, which is basically a plaza of shops and restaurants that overlook the ocean. It is sweet...I hope to go back again because it was beautiful. I shared a couple of neat moments with a couple of my girls. We cannot believe we're here- it is really neat.

This was written Friday night- the 15th.

Today is the 16th. I am having an incredbly hard time right now. I need someone to please be in prayer for me because I know I am supposed to be here but I don't know what God is doing with me. My mind knows this- that I am here and God has a purpose...but my emotions, my insecurities, my whatever are really struggling personally in trusting in this and resting in it, especially as the team leader. Hearts knit together in love; walk worthy of the Lord; life a life of love...Words from scripture that resonate in my mind right now, but the struggle to accept these or know how to live those out in spite of my failed heart- man. I just want to cry. I feel helpless in a way. I write this on here so you know how to pray a little more than just writing, "I am struggling personally; please pray. Thanks." I have been in the Word the past two days and I have really experienced a different type of frustration/heartache more evidently these past two days than when I wasn't studying. Spiritual attack...I should be living a life led by the Spirit considering I have been praying and studying- being intentional, but it seems the opposite 'effect' is happening...the fight is more evident around me and it is tough. I need some prayer warriors to fight alongside me. I tell you that so you don't think I am belly-aching and not fighting on my end...I just need help. Thank you.

We did the Amazing Race in Lima today. We had a good time- broken into smaller groups of 3. We did not win, but we did run a lot and complete all of the tasks in the designated time. Therefore, we were successful. Lima is a neat place. The first taxi had "Dios es amor" on the mirror of the car- good reminder.

Tomorrow I turn 25...in Lima. Wow...