Peru

Wow. I cannot believe that this is my last official blog. The trip has come to an end. We fly out tonight to Lima and early tomorrow morning to Ft Lauderdale, then to our final destination....TEXAS!!!!!! I am very excited to get home and see all my family and friends, but sad to leave this LIFESTYLE behind. I am so content with this crazy, hectic, sometimes insane lifestyle. I love it!!

Peru is a great example of that. We are in the middle of the Amazon, living at a camp. The water is dirty, there are a bazillion mosquitoes, its hot and I cannot speak the languaget...BUT I have never been happier!!! I have loved every minute of our time in Peru.

One day that has stood out to me over the past week was Saturday. We went with Drew (the American here who runs the camp) to a church to meet up with a bunch of Peruvian young adults. We headed down to a park and paired up with a few Peruvians to go around the neighborhood to get kids to come play with us. They were intrigued by the Gringos (white people). A ton of kids came and we played all kinds of games. We got together in groups and shared the gospel! It was a fun afternoon.

Another great moment was on Sunday night we went to church. I sat by an older woman (who couldn´t speak any English). We talked a little (my 5 Spanish words that I know). We laughed and smiled at eachother, but during one of the prayers I grabbed her hand and she started crying. She was really lonely. God put me there to comfort her, even if it was only for a few hours!! I love when God works like that.

There have been a lot of moments like that on this trip. I have discovered that God uses me to comfort the lonely. I cannot wait to see how I can put that gift into use in America.

I have been praying a lot about what to do when I return to the states. That is always a good question after a trip like this. I do not want to live an ordinary life...who does?? The challenge is on. The next chapter of life is about to begin (in about 24 hours). The goal for me is to not get lost in the routine or business or comforts of America. I want to wake up every morning (like I have in Peru) excited to see what the day holds and with a thankful heart!!!

Prayer Request: Safe travel home and for all of us to adjust back to life in the states!!!

Love, Kim

Pictures from Peru

My buddy in the market
CONAJITOS (rabbits) my team at camp
My friends down the street from camp
SO CUTE
Decorate the counselor!!

Sunset at Camp Amazon
Motorcart ride. TEAM CHACO
Crazy night!!
She looks real happy...it was soooo hot! My new favorite food...or NOT!!!

Happy Birthday Heather

Heather turned 20 in Brazil!!! Pedicures and cake (twice). It was a good day!!!

Hello from Brazil

Hello!! I am in Sunny Brazil. We arrived safetly after the longest journey of our trip! We had a 5 hour car ride, a 7 hour flight, a 14 hour flight, a 3 hour flight and a 5 hour car ride!! We made it and were welcomed by one of my friends (a Brazilian) who lived in Texas last summer, Ellen. Her and her family greeted us and drove us to the town of Sorriso, Brazil. It has been wonderful to catch up with Ellen and see her life in Brazil.

We started the week by speaking to a church about our trip. We got to share the stories and lessons that God has taught us. God sure planned our trip well..they are having a missions week. Funny huh??

The next day we handed out flyers/invitations to a rally in the city center. That was entertaining because NO ONE...i repeat...NO ONE speaks English in this town. We had translators that did not even speak English! We attempted to tell people to meet us in the city center at 7:30. We had a stage where we did a drama, a band played and Sean preached. It was a really fun night. Once again, missions was the focus and God really placed the call to GO on a lot of people´s hearts.

On Friday, we visited a drug rehab. This visit was hard for me. The guys there were so happy and so free of thier addiction. I just wish (SO MUCH) this freedom for everyone that is struggling with this problem. The guys were really concerned for me because I was a little emotional (understatement of the year). I got to talk to some of them and tell them how important it is for them to recover because there are people (family) that love them and want them to be healthy and happy. Their choices do not only affect them! Overall it was a great time. Really eye opening to me!

On Saturday, we visited two youth groups. The first one, was a goup of young kids. We played games and had a bible study. There were 6 kids and 6 of us, so we had the opportunity to pray for a kid individually. The next youth group was more like a retreat. They had been camping for a few days at a ranch. We told them about our trip and I talked to them about how it was at a retreat just like that one, that I was challenged to go on the mission field. That was cool to share that story! We did our drama and then ate dinner with them. We sat by this one guy who said Jesus Christ A LOT. That was the only thing he knew how to say in English. We laughed a lot.

We have had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with Ellen and her family and friends. I have really enjoyed their stories, wisdom and jokes!! We have laughed so much!! This leg of the trip has been very unusual for a trip like this. Ellen´s parents are spoiling us!! We are eating SO WELL, sleeping on mattresses in a house, even taking warm showers!!! God is so GOOD!!!

One of my favorite things about Brazil has been the night times!!! Every night after dinner (we eat late) I go and get my sheet and spread it out on the grass outside of our house. All of us go lay on it and look at the stars. The moon has been full and so bright!! The stars are so bright and beautiful. We have all really gotten to know eachother and have laughed SO MUCH!! I look forward to that time every night! It is one of those things that I just take for granted in America...not anymore!!

We have less than two weeks until we hit American soil. We go to Peru on Tuesday (that will be a long journey too..even though it is close). I am excited to experience a new country!!

Thank you for your prayers and support!!

Love, Kim

Brazil Pictures

sleeping in the Brazil airport
Ellen talking in church
playing games with a youth group
still playing games
Saturday night youth group

DUBAI

Here are some pictures of our adventure. They aren~t the greatest. Levi and Heather have much better ones!!!

Levi in the Arabian Sea
Me in the Arabian Sea
7 Star Hotel

Levi, Heather and I went on an adventure in Dubai. We had a lay over for 8ish hours. We arrived in Dubai at midnight and left the next morning. The three of us wanted to see Dubai...so we did. We hired a taxi (a ladies taxi at that) and off we went. We spent 2 hours gallivanting around Dubai. We saw everything Dubai has to offer. We even got to put our feet in the Arabian Sea. We ate Shwarmas and saw the world tallest building. It was a great time. We were fortunate enought to get back into the airport to get a few hours of sleep before getting on another long flight!!!

Pictures from Uganda

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!

we hiked to the top of a waterfall
me with ivan...my personal guide/friend
shakira shakira shakira...my little buddy

there was a turkey in our van..funniest moment of the trip so farmy RAFIKI!!! i miss her so much
my friends
our team at Lulwanda Childrens Home
Tall girl club

Levi being attacked by a chick
we were singing happy birthday to dillon
kim...the artist
we were a little messy
Ja Ja..the granny at our house

we fed baboons one day holding hands during church
this granny was so funny
holding baby john
i love sam, grace and abigail.

miss you girls soooooooo much!!!!!

Hello from Uganda!!!

Hi. I am very excited to be writing this blog from Uganda, for a few reasons. It is a miracle that we have internet at all here and because I absolutely love Africa and feel so blessed to be here. I have never been to Uganda, but have to a bunch of countries in Africa and have always enjoyed my time there. Uganda is everything I had hoped it would be and MORE!!! This country is beautiful. Green and nice weather!!

We are living with an amazing family (I am still not sure who all lives in the house…there are so many people). Everyone has been so welcoming and kind. Heather and I are in the shack in the back (a little apartment). We have a bed and a bathroom with HOT showers. I repeat…HOT showers!! I never would have imagined that Africa is where we would be the cleanest… for the most part anyways.

We have all become senior painters!! That is what our Boss, Sam, calls us anyways. This whole week we have been serving at Lulwanda Children’s Home in Mbale, Uganda. We have been painting in the morning and playing with the kids in the afternoon! I am the messiest painter Africa has ever seen.

The kids/staff here are absolutely amazing. They are the friendliest, most beautiful people I have ever met. Each one has had an impact on my life.

I’d like to tell you the story of Marium. When she was born, her mother put her in the field and left her. A nice lady found her and cared for her as much as possible, but it came to a point where she could no longer afford to take care of her. The Uganda equivalent of CPS found out of Marium and placed her at this Children’s home. Marium is very healthy and so happy. She is full of joy and makes everyone she meets smile!! She is a little delayed in her learning, which has been challenging for me (special ed teacher). I have had the opportunity to work with her for a little while each afternoon!! I was sad to leave her today, but know that she is taken care of and super happy where she is!!

I would love to tell you each child’s story, but I do not have much time left on the internet.

I am so thankful to have spent the past week in Uganda and would love to return.

I am excited about going to South America next. We will be leaving Uganda on Sunday and getting to Brazil on Tuesday. LONG TRAVEL!!! Please continue to pray for our team. Everyone is healthy and learning a lot. Feel free to email me at kimmykim7@gmail.com. I love hearing from everyone!! I will write again as soon as possible.

Love, Kim

Pictures of India

Hanging out with girls
Nap time

Indian Dog Yellow Team playing during the Olympics
Yellow Team
Me with all my friends at Pizza Hut
Our team at the Taj Mahal

Typical Tourist

Crazy Kim

Where are the Americans??? HERE we are!!