Whirlwind Summer

Because I'm that lazy, or that succinct, I will sum up my summer in one blog post. Naw, I can do better than that. In one word: Blessed.

I started off after graduation with no job, no summer plans, no nothing. It was really hard as I am such a planner and want to know what comes next. I'm not one of those anal people who plan out every hour of their day (although during finals week I sometimes do that, as a motivational tool, not that I actually follow it :), but I like to look forward rather than letting it happen. Well, it happened. No, I know that God had it planned out. In a short month I had a job, at a school a mile from my parents' house. I got to go to Story Book for three weeks where I had the best cabins imaginable! Then a week at Turkey Hill which was a really new experience, but very fun and so rewarding... in my cabin two girls professed to get saved and others received assurance of salvation.

Then, I spent a couple of days at home unpacking, washing, repacking before enjoying a stellar family reunion at Leaf Lake! Pontooning, jet skiing, G Else, cousins, aunts, uncles, FOOD (a given at a Ueland reunion), hammock, volleyball, what a fantastic weekend.

My last adventure was probably my greatest: I got to go back to mi querido Peru for a month! It was so wonderful seeing all of my Peruvian family!! I stayed with my dear chanchita (translate that as.....friend :) and we had a blast! The first two weeks I taught English to all my alumnos from last year, as well as some new ones! Most of them remembered me. :) Then they had two weeks of vacation, and during that time I went to Cajamarca, a city in the mountains of Peru, with two friends. We stayed four days and explored so many new things (see facebook for pictures). Two Inca thumbs way up to Cajamarca. After coming back to Ferrenafe, I just had a couple of days before leaving. Goodbyes are so hard, even if you know you have intentions to return. I can't express how much those people have impacted my life and will continue to. I thank God for the ministry He is doing there and for allowing me to be a small part of it. The Lord is good!

I got back to the States on Monday, and that's when summer really ended for me. Tuesday and Wednesday were workshops for my new job, and now I have to get my room ready as well as plan my first unit that I want to do. I have a ton of freedom but it's a little frustrating to figure out what I want to teach first. But at least I have a choice!

So, that's my summer in one post. Whew. I had no idea what would happen, but God did. You can't plan the end and not plan the means... I'm thankful the Lord knew the end and the means for my summer, and that He knows the end and the means for my entire life.