starting to see the end....

Well, my time left here has become short enough that there isn´t enough of it to do all the things I want to do and see all the people I want to see. Realizing that it was not long ago that my time here seemed to stretch out before me like an eternal rainy Saturday, I know that God has been good. Tomorrow I leave Lili and Melvin´s house to spend 2 days with Anita and Adrian (Anita is a Peruvian missionary who works at Capilla, and they live about 30 minutes away.), and Thursday I will move in with Katia and Victor Hugo, my last family. I will miss Lili, Melvin, and Yaritza. I will not miss my mousy friends.

The three days I spent at the beach were great - I came back relaxed and with new perspective on the things I have been seeing and experiencing in my houses, in church, in the streets, etc. I went with a good friend from abroad who is here working with Young Life, as well as the two other Americans she works with. They have shared some similar experiences, so it was great to be able to talk about those and process a bit of what we´re learning.

Funniest part of the week: talent show at the church. So. Hilarious. Just try to imagine a wonderful, 5-hour mixture of interpretive dance, miming, flag twirling, and prophetic singing.

Sad to report that I did not go to Harry Potter. I found out that it was in English, which of course made me want to go more, but realized I would have to sneak out of Tirrases at night by myself (not the wisest of night activities) in order to see it, because a lot of people here are not bug HP fans, to say the least. New viewing date: earliest showing August 13th (that is an open invitation.)

Please pray...
-for Joana and José and their children Francela, Emerson, and Josua, one of the families that is new to the church in Concepcion. They are out of work and don´t have much food, which has driven Joana and the kids to God, but José away from Him. Due to the stress, the parents are on the brink of separating, and the kids are suffering a lot as a result.
-that the service day that we are having in Concepsion this Sunday (cleaning up trash, planting trees) will be received well by the community.
-that I will begin to be able to process what I am learning while still being present and available here.

Hope all is well with everyone... much love from down south!