Where Blessings Lie

These past three weeks have been incredibly different. Going from almost fifty kids running around causing trouble and needing attention and giving so much love to four girls who are rather calm and quiet? Well. It's been quite the change. 

The days on campus have been quiet. The days have mainly consisted of sleeping in, cooking, doing random jobs around campus, going to town every now and then, and a whole lot of

Wow that's a lot of bugs. 

Andrew I swear you have Walmart in your room. 

And

I miss my boys.

As for exciting news? I got sick for a couple of days. When it first hit me I laid in my tent bed the entire day. I literally did not leave my tent except to go to the bathroom. I felt awful and it was probably one of the least exciting days of my life. But hey, life is great!

There's a rat that made its home in the kitchen. Along with all the darling adorable cute friendly sweet SO INCREDIBLY DISGUSTING OH MY WORD GET OUT cockroaches. 

We have eaten so many pancakes I think I just might become one. But sinceAndrew is sharing his American peanut butter and syrup (I told you he's Walmart) I'm sure I'll taste GREAT. 

My hair is getting longer and apparently my lice are loving it. Like they are refusing to leave. And I'm becoming less and less hospitable. 

I have a foot fungus. Cute I know. Thanks guys. 

Is it embarrassing to post that? Probably. Whoops.

Koda, our guard dog, stole my favorite blue tennis shoe this morning. Maybe he will learn his lesson when his mouth gets my foot fungus. Also I hope I find my shoe because those tennies are cute and make me feel athletic. 

Oh! Yesterday Andrew and I made a pool. Which more consisted of him pushing me in a laundry bucket full of water. But I went from ANDREW NO to oh my word this is the greatest thing ever. Like we even had the pump continuously putting in clean water so it was like a beautiful fountain and im thinking about moving in. Also I haven't seen myself through water in months. I'm really white. 

Speaking of laundry... 

Some pipe thing is having some probs down under and so our water comes out of everything trickling. Like imagine the smallest stream of water you've ever seen. Less than that. All to say, washing dishes is a process and a half. And doing laundry? If you only knew what we have gone through to fill that laundry machine with water. I'm talking carrying buckets of water that we filled up at the pump at the Frijole's house back and forth…several times. And of course most of the water just got on us. GOOD GRACIOUS. THAT WAS A PROCESS. A REALLY BIG ONE.

The other day I was eating some food that wasn't crunchy and I felt something crunchy in my mouth and was like whoa what's that? But then I decided I'd rather swallow it than know what it was.

Ultimate low. 

I found a buna in my bed the other night. Which for those of you who don't know, a buna happens to be a giant ant that bites you and causes extreme pain and sadness. Don't worry I killed the buna. Before it could kill me. Then I was terrified and couldn't fall asleep until 5:30 am. (Also due to my genious decision to drink a ton of coffee right before I went to bed. Sometimes I irritate myself.)

Every time I walk though town random men from every direction whistle at me. So that's pretty interesting. Also kind of creepy. 

Courtney and I have had a lot of bonding time and chocolate and talks and she's great and I love her. 

Dani and I bathed in the river last night. Which I have never done. And I plan on doing again. Um bathroom showers are overrated. 

Also it beat splashing a freezing bucket over myself because our shower is broken. 

So there's an update of my life. YOU ARE WELCOME. I HOPE IT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING. 

If not, sorry Charlie.  (If your name is actually Charlie the irony astounds me.)

Being here without the kids has made me realize how blessed I have been. Two of our boys, Juanca and Jose, live in town. Since we have been going there often I've been able to see them a few times and every time I do I think

How in the world did I get to spend every day with you for the past four months. I'm so lucky. 

It's so hard leaving them behind at their house. I want to take them back with me. 

The other night I walked out of the bathroom and there, in the house, stood Belsa. She just appeared out of nowhere, randomly deciding to spend the night with us. Oh my goodness my heart. I screamed and hugged her and she held onto me for ten minutes. 

I was thinking the other day about how, as a student missionary, you're asked to "give up a year of your life." You lose a year of school, a year in America, a year of normalcy. 

But my goodness I don't feel I've lost anything at all. 

I've gained so many precious stories and memories. 

I've gained friendship. 

I've gained perspective. There's a lot of people in this world and they all have wants and needs and dreams just as much as you and I.

I've received the hugs and kisses and adoration of children who I love more than I dare attempt put into words. 

I've received moments of knowing, truly, that this right here right now is exactly where I want and need to be. 

I've been able to be a mom to eight little boys who I swear are mine. Words fail. 

I've been the teacher of kids who do a whole lot better job of teaching me. 

I've had moments when I am truly so in awe of God that I can't help but cry. 

In giving up comfort, I've received the best year of my life. 

And it makes me wonder if blessings always await me in places where I give of myself and lose nothing at all.

Dani and I with our precious boys. I miss them every day.