"When summer's beginning to give up her fight..."

Welcome one and all!! For any of you who don't know, I will be spending next year (beginning August 31) in Lima, Peru, serving as a Young Adult Volunteer for the PCUSA. I will be working with an organization called the Fraternidad Cristiana Vida, a group of 10-12 churches that are part of the Peru Joining Hands Network. I will be working with two churches in particular with their Sunday School and youth programs as well as compassion programs and humanitarian aid. I'm living with Eduardo Arborccó, the president of the Fraternidad, and his family. As I find out more about my placement and what I will be doing, I will let you know!

This blog is here partly to keep you all updated as to my adventures and partly for my own sake, to make me intentional about writing down my thoughts and experiences in a regular and coherent manner. I've been reading the book ¡Gracias! by Henri Nouwen, a journal that he kept for the six months that he spent in Bolivia and Peru. While I may not agree with all of his theology, I love the way he records his thoughts, however disparate and random they may seem, into a book that as a whole makes many important points and lasting impressions. So consider this blog my own humble attempt at my own important points and lasting impressions. If I ever publish it, I promise to give it a less cliché name than "gracias."

By the way, ¡Gracias! was one of two books recommended to me by a fellow YAV (I don't remember who...maybe Sara or Anna? Whoever recommended these books, thank you so much!) before coming to Peru. While it's certainly an interesting read, I'd recommend Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder if you're looking for one book to read this summer. Kidder writes of his first-hand experience with Dr. Paul Farmer, a daring and unconventional doctor who dedicates his life to helping the poorest of the poor, particularly in Haiti, but also in Peru, Russia, Cuba, and many other places. It is a truly inspiring, moving, and challenging book about modern-day heroes that wrestles with many important questions and challenges our modern Western idea that serving the poorest of the poor is not cost-efficient. Check it out, I promise, you won't regret it.

I leave for YAV orientation a month from this Friday (the 24th) and am spending most of my time babysitting and preparing for this great adventure. Each YAV is asked to raise $9,000 to help fund his/her time of service, and I am blessed and astonished to say that, thanks to the immense generosity of family, friends, and several churches, I have exceeded this fundraising goal! Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart! Should you wish to contribute more (or if you had planned on giving to me but have not yet done so), I encourage you to give to my boyfriend, Andy Bair. Check out his blog here. You can also still give money to me, and any money over the $9,000 will go into the general account to support all 60 national and international YAVs.

Well, I believe that's all for now -- I should be getting to bed before I babysit at 8 tomorrow morning. I don't know exactly how often I'll be updating, but check back in every week or so and see! I'll try to also send a message out to the facebook group every time I update!

Paz de Cristo, mis amigos,
Ginna