Casi nos vamos...

Good morning to you -- and thanks for checking back! Since my last post, our orientation has continued at a good clip. We've focused heavily on cultural awareness and went away to a retreat center north of Austin for a restful weekend that was guided by Sr. Carmelita from Mexico City. Other topics of presentations have included the religious culture of Latin America, Christology, anthropology and family systems, living as a public figure and representative of the Incarnate Word Sisters, staying healthy in mission, scriptural study, and awareness of our own cultural tendencies. Particularly helpful this week was an analysis of Low Contextual and High Contextual cultures and a project for us missionaries to identify strengths that make our US culture unique.

Today we have free to accomplish tasks (such as packing) and errands before a final set of meetings tomorrow and our flight to Peru on Sunday. We leave 5:45 am from San Antonio and arrive in Lima, Peru at 9 pm (eastern time zone, I believe) by way of Houston and Miami. I feel mostly excited with dash of nervousness -- something I've wanted to do for a few years is finally happening. These past three and a half weeks have felt a little like a parallel universe -- an in-between time in which the rest of the world continues to go to school, work, etc. I do feel more prepared to embark on the journey than when I arrived, but I also feel ready to jump in, to stop talking about it and actually see what life will be like in Peru. Upon our arrival in Peru, however, we won't go directly to Chimbote but will instead stay for "a few days" in Lima with the IW sisters there while we take care of some visa paperwork.

Finally, you may have noticed the new link at the upper right where you will be directed to a collection of my photos posted on Shutterfly. No password is needed to view the photos. I have also included a link to a map of Peru.

Have a blessed day, and I'll write you next from south of the equator!