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The Whites spent this past week with us here in Lima. They live in San Marcos, near Huaraz. They come to Lima every 6 months or so for doctors appointments, paperwork, etc.

The Whites are some of our best friends. We met them at MLC, where we lived in the same quad. Now, we’re about 8 hours apart here in Peru.

They’re heading back up the mountain today.

Here’s a picture of all of us at the zoo last week.

After our visa adventure we turned our sites towards home. Karen Price got us new plane tickets for 11:30 Thursday morning. The Worthys were leaving at 10:30 from the same airport. So we worked together packing and such. We left MLC at around 8:15. We got to Richmond Int’l and checked in.

This was the sad part. We waited at their gate for boarding. We got to give the kiddos a few more hugs. We gave Charlie and Shannon hugs and told them bye. Sniffle.

Then to our flight. An hour to Cinncinatti. A quick sprint to our connecting flight. An hour and half to Little Rock.

Everybody started getting excited about the end of FPO. And why not? We’re finally about to get to go where we feel God is sending us. Everyone finished up their final reports, met with their coaches on last time, and filled out all the required evaluations. We started to think about packing. Families started showing up. On Monday, we all met in the KGC to end how we began, with a mapping ceremony. Each unit shared a prayer request and took their picture off the map. A lot of people cried.

At eleven we had a walkthrough of the commissioning service. It was lighthearted. Everyone was enjoying each other’s company and being free of responsibility. The ceremony was at 2:00. It was awesome. The best parts where the video and the worship. I will remember it for a long time. During the worship, we sang in each language that we had sung in over the past seven weeks and ended with He Reigns by Newsboys. I could barely sing because of the lump in my throat.

Then to the reception. The cafeteria was packed. A lot of hugs and pictures. My stomach was in knots. I hate this feeling. We said goodbye to some folks. I gave Ken P. some Kentucky Pencils. Gave the Xtremers hugs goodbye.

We spent the evening in Quad 21 making the most of the last hours together. We ordered pizza for a late snack. We sat around telling stories and talking about the future. We said goodbye to the Whites. They were leaving early the next morning. We got up at about 8:00 and hugged the Pirkle family goodbye.

This is the hardest thing. Saying goodbye.

Today begins our last weekend here at MLC. I can already feel a lump in my throat! It is amazing how attached I have gotten to people here over the past seven weeks. Ryan and I both have grown very close to the people in our small group: Brad and Cassie (who also live in our quad) John, Tina, Rebecca, Katie, and Joshua (John is our group leader. They served in Portugal and are now going to Brazil.) Jayson, Christie, Arwen (the Xtreme Teamers) Arwen and I graduated together from Ouachita. She is a native Texan. I also have grown very close to the Fore’s-Michael, Cynthia, Christopher, Joseph, Carilee, and Jennilyn. (The Fore’s are going to Brazil, and they are the family that had to leave because Cynthia’s dad is in the hospital.) Of course I have also grown very close to those in our quad: Brad and Cassie, the Pirkle’s-Vance, Susan, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Sarah, Caleb, and Phillip (Zimbabwe) and the Worthy’s-Charlie, Shannon, Micah, and Emma Grace (Italy). I have also grown to love Bob and Lourdes. They are in the Masters program (which means that at least one spouse is over 50). They call Ryan and me their adopted kids! (Don’t be jealous Mom-they mean well!)

Of all the relationships I have made here at MLC, I have become closest to Shannon Worthy. I only have a few very close friends, but I have made a new close friend here at training. Shannon and I have been able to spend a lot of time together, and lately we have become very comfortable with each other, become real with each other. I have really connected with Shannon. She is such a good mother. I have learned a lot from her by watching her with her girls. I hope and pray that Shannon and I will be lifelong friends. I am planning a trip to visit them in Italy!

Before we came to MLC, I told Ryan that I wasn’t going to make any real friends here. I thought we were going to be here too short of a time to get attached to people and then have to leave. I am so glad that didn’t happen. I am so thankful I opened myself up to meeting people and making true friends. I thank God for relationships!

It’s the last week and we’re scrambling to make the most of it. We spent Saturday with the Worthy’s at Potomac Mills (apparently the original of the Mills outlet malls). Monday night we went out with Bob and Lourdes. We ate at the Cheesecake Factory. Tuesday night we ate dinner with David and Janene, our regional associates. We went to Casa Grande, fittingly Mexican. Then last night we had a quad outting to Cheeburger Cheeburger (hold the s). I (Ryan) didn’t go, I was sick in bed. Tonite, cafeteria. But who knows what tomorrow holds!!!

Well, it has been a busy week, so I have a lot of catch up to do! I need to first give an update of last weekend, which involves a praise. I asked everyone to pray for us because Ryan and I were going shopping together last Saturday. I think I was part of a miracle last Saturday. Ryan and I shopped ALL DAY, and we did not fight once! (We had a few “discussions” but no fighting!) That is a first for us! We both got some clothes and things we need for Peru. We really had a fun day together.

Time is FLYING here!! We have one more full week after this one. Then back to LR, then to Lima. It seems unreal, but is slowly becoming more and more real each day. It’s hard to imagine stepping off the plane and standing in the somewhat overwhelming Lima airport and thinking . . . “Home sweet home.” For the next two years at least . . .

We ate lunch at David and Janene F. house yesterday. They are the Richmond Associates for SAM. The food was great! Especially after eating in the cafeteria for four weeks straight. Dickey and Dee N., the SAM regional leaders, are here in Richmond as well. They live in Santiago, Chile, but were in town for SAM evaluation and have been spending RLT time with us.

We just ate and visited. We heard some great stories. We have met so many people here and I feel like we are gaining family members here. We have grown really close to some folks. It will be sad to leave.

This week is RLT week here at MLC. Regional Leadership Time (I think . . . too many abbreviations!). Basically we are spending our day just with our region and the Richmond Associate for our region. This is really exciting because now we are learning specifically about OUR region.

Some things I learned today:

350 million people live in South America.

315 million don’t know Christ.

There are 428 unique languages spoken in South America.

There are 650 people groups in South America.

500 of these people groups are less than 2% evangelized.

300+ of these are unengaged by any evangelical group.

To put it in perspective: For every 100 people who die in South America today, 92 will spend eternity separated from God.

There is a lake here at MLC, and Ryan and I walked down to it Saturday afternoon. It was a really sunny and beautiful day here, and we sat by the lake and talked a lot. I feel that I am growing a lot in my walk with the Lord, but I had a few questions for Ryan. He is such an example to me and such a source of encouragement. When I feel down about myself, I just tell myself that I can’t be too bad because Ryan picked me! Oh how he lvoes Jesus!

Today we had church with our small group. I have really grown to love that time. Ryan leads worship and we have the family that plays the violin. Last week, we began meeting with our small group every morning, and we will continue to meet everyday until training is over. On Friday, our small group leader made us pancakes. It was a lot of fun!

Tonight we had our ethnic worship service–it was African and boy was it exciting. All the women wore long, colorful skirts. There was a lot of dancing and bongo playing. Afterwards, everybody went over to the auditorium to watch the SuperBowl. Ryan and I just came from there. It is amazing how you can bond with a group of people in such a short time.