- "We are such stuff
- As dreams are made on, and our little life
- Is rounded with a sleep."
- -William Shakespeare, The Tempest
- Ahh, William. What a beautiful writer.
- Since I left Mexico, I have had about a dozen dreams about getting back there. One where I went back only to visit, one where I taught school and guitar lessons, one where I lived my life there, many others and one where I had to go through an alligators mouth to get to the orphanage. (Yes, I realize the last one was a little weird, must be from all the Swamp People I watch, but I have had many many many odd dreams in my life. Ask my family...)
- I've been learning Spanish like crazy. I've put up labels throughout my parents house that say all kinds of things. Cuchara-Spoon Cuchillo- Knife Lampara- Lamp Hundirse- Sink They really have helped because I just remembered what all that means! I'm getting to some tough parts in Spanish where you have to flip words around and conjugate and all kinds of crazy stuff. Sometimes I feel like pulling my hair out, but I WILL LEARN SPANISH AND SPEAK IT FLUENTLY! I will! (< . >)
- Anyway, just thought I'd update. I'm paying my loans as quickly as I can! I'm gonna have a yard sale when it cools down and hopefully a dinner.
- If you would like donate to my trip back to Mexico, just hit the Donate button at the top of the page.
- Also, I'm selling scarves at http://www.etsy.com/shop/eeperry86 (I'll have more up soon!)
- Love you all!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
We Are Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made On...
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Back from La Ola Orphanage
When I arrived in Guadalajara, Mexico I was expecting a whole lot more danger than what I ran into. The stories that people had scared me with before I left America had rooted in my mind. I got off the tiny plane and walked into immigration.
"You," said a man, looking at me and pointing to a desk a few feet away. I walked to it quickly as though I would be wasting their time if I walked slowly. The lady at the desk said something in Spanish, and I quickly regretted not spending every minute before I left Tennessee immersed in learning Espanol.
"Hablas Espanol?" she asked. I knew what that meant.
"No, sorry," I said, guilty.
"No problem," she said and stamped a piece of paper. I thanked her and continued through customs where a man in a green uniform, with a machine gun hanging loosed over his arm, searched my guitar and bag.
"Beautiful guitar," he said in English. He chatted with me for a few minutes while he searched for drugs or what-not and then let me pass. When I walked through the door I saw my new friend, Abby immediately and we walked to a rusty red van and rode to the orphanage.
The children greeted me sweetly when I arrived and Abby and I began working on lunch. Tuna with everything on a tostada. The kids lined up and got their food and ate quickly. They started asking questions in spanish and no matter how hard I listened, I just couldn't understand.
"We're going swimming at a friend's house," said Abby. I suddenly wished that I had packed a swimsuit.
"You can ride with me," said a woman, with a personality just like mine. I knew we would be fast friends.
"Great," I said, following her to the car with some of the older Mexican girls. It took no time at all to get to the house because Barbara and I talked the entire way.
"I fit here. I really fit here, and I just arrived," I thought quietly, as I got out of the small car and walked inside the gate. An entire table of wonderful looking people greeted me and beckoned me to sit and talk with them. Some told jokes and other told stories about the military and service experience. They told me about the kids and how loving the Mexican people were towards them. We talked for hours, and I listened to their stories about how they came to be in Mexico and before I knew it, it was time to leave.
The next day after church, one of the girls, Nayeli came up to me as I finished lunch. "You go swimming with me?" She had snagged me. I was a goner. I would most definitely be coming back to stay.
"Yes," I told her, thinking it had been a good idea to bring my thin, brown shorts. I changed and she grabbed my hand, leading me to the rusty red van. We looked like a can of packed tuna as we rode to the park pool. And I looked like one of those sharks that has those little sucker fish all over him when I got in the pool, because six girls clung to me as we swam in the green water. It was amazing how much Spanish I learned in those few hours.
That night before bed, Esme, a seven year old bundle of responsibility asked me if I would sing and play them a song on the guitar. "Canter, Canter," she said, pleading. I pulled out my sunburst guitar and strummed lightly as the girls climbed in bed. Esme looked over the top of her bunk (my bunk was below hers) and watched as I picked out "Wonderful Tonight," by Eric Clapton. I climbed into my small bunk when I finished playing and all I could hear was soft crying coming from the bed above me.
A few days later a four year old girl, Jessie, fell asleep on my lap on the porch. She started shivering, even though it was 70 plus degrees outside, and I grabbed a small blanket to cover her. While she slept, I helped fix dinner and get plates out for the kids when they got home from school. I saw Jessie stir, get up and head to her room. I gave some plates to the children who had just walked through the door and went to check on Jessie. She said something in Spanish but I only caught a few words. Ropa=Clothes Pee pee=Pee pee. I helped her clean up and put her in the shower. I washed her hair and went to get a towel while she finished. When she was dressed, she asked if she could eat and I lead her to the kitchen to get her a plate of food.
"Gracias, Mommie," she said taking her plate. I stood in shock as she ran happily outside to eat, tears filling my eyes. "This is what it's all about," I thought. "Letting these children feel safe and loved. And I want to spend my life doing it."
***
Sadly, I don't have time to write every single story on here today. I'll probably write more later though. But I had the most wonderful time. Thanks for keeping me in your prayers! :)
Now roll the pictures!
"You," said a man, looking at me and pointing to a desk a few feet away. I walked to it quickly as though I would be wasting their time if I walked slowly. The lady at the desk said something in Spanish, and I quickly regretted not spending every minute before I left Tennessee immersed in learning Espanol.
"Hablas Espanol?" she asked. I knew what that meant.
"No, sorry," I said, guilty.
"No problem," she said and stamped a piece of paper. I thanked her and continued through customs where a man in a green uniform, with a machine gun hanging loosed over his arm, searched my guitar and bag.
"Beautiful guitar," he said in English. He chatted with me for a few minutes while he searched for drugs or what-not and then let me pass. When I walked through the door I saw my new friend, Abby immediately and we walked to a rusty red van and rode to the orphanage.
The children greeted me sweetly when I arrived and Abby and I began working on lunch. Tuna with everything on a tostada. The kids lined up and got their food and ate quickly. They started asking questions in spanish and no matter how hard I listened, I just couldn't understand.
"We're going swimming at a friend's house," said Abby. I suddenly wished that I had packed a swimsuit.
"You can ride with me," said a woman, with a personality just like mine. I knew we would be fast friends.
"Great," I said, following her to the car with some of the older Mexican girls. It took no time at all to get to the house because Barbara and I talked the entire way.
"I fit here. I really fit here, and I just arrived," I thought quietly, as I got out of the small car and walked inside the gate. An entire table of wonderful looking people greeted me and beckoned me to sit and talk with them. Some told jokes and other told stories about the military and service experience. They told me about the kids and how loving the Mexican people were towards them. We talked for hours, and I listened to their stories about how they came to be in Mexico and before I knew it, it was time to leave.
The next day after church, one of the girls, Nayeli came up to me as I finished lunch. "You go swimming with me?" She had snagged me. I was a goner. I would most definitely be coming back to stay.
"Yes," I told her, thinking it had been a good idea to bring my thin, brown shorts. I changed and she grabbed my hand, leading me to the rusty red van. We looked like a can of packed tuna as we rode to the park pool. And I looked like one of those sharks that has those little sucker fish all over him when I got in the pool, because six girls clung to me as we swam in the green water. It was amazing how much Spanish I learned in those few hours.
That night before bed, Esme, a seven year old bundle of responsibility asked me if I would sing and play them a song on the guitar. "Canter, Canter," she said, pleading. I pulled out my sunburst guitar and strummed lightly as the girls climbed in bed. Esme looked over the top of her bunk (my bunk was below hers) and watched as I picked out "Wonderful Tonight," by Eric Clapton. I climbed into my small bunk when I finished playing and all I could hear was soft crying coming from the bed above me.
A few days later a four year old girl, Jessie, fell asleep on my lap on the porch. She started shivering, even though it was 70 plus degrees outside, and I grabbed a small blanket to cover her. While she slept, I helped fix dinner and get plates out for the kids when they got home from school. I saw Jessie stir, get up and head to her room. I gave some plates to the children who had just walked through the door and went to check on Jessie. She said something in Spanish but I only caught a few words. Ropa=Clothes Pee pee=Pee pee. I helped her clean up and put her in the shower. I washed her hair and went to get a towel while she finished. When she was dressed, she asked if she could eat and I lead her to the kitchen to get her a plate of food.
"Gracias, Mommie," she said taking her plate. I stood in shock as she ran happily outside to eat, tears filling my eyes. "This is what it's all about," I thought. "Letting these children feel safe and loved. And I want to spend my life doing it."
***
Sadly, I don't have time to write every single story on here today. I'll probably write more later though. But I had the most wonderful time. Thanks for keeping me in your prayers! :)
Now roll the pictures!
 |
| Esme, Millie, Rahina & Ana Karen |
 |
| Campfire Songs before it rained |
 |
| View from the orphanage |
 |
| Me and Rahina |
 |
| Nayeli |
 |
| Carlos, Roderigo, Maria & Marla |
 |
| Esme, Rahina, Noelia & Nayeli |
 |
| Millie & Jessie |
Friday, May 27, 2011
Tomorrow is the day!
Hi all!
Just thought I would write a short note to let you all know that I'm leaving tomorrow! I'm really excited! I've been praying for a LONG time for a mission trip and it's finally right around the corner. Please continue to pray for me:
• That I will have a safe trip.
• That I will stay healthy.
• That I get through the airports, immigration and customs easily.
Thank you all for your support and prayers. It means so much to me, you have no idea. :)
Love you all!
Erin.
Just thought I would write a short note to let you all know that I'm leaving tomorrow! I'm really excited! I've been praying for a LONG time for a mission trip and it's finally right around the corner. Please continue to pray for me:
• That I will have a safe trip.
• That I will stay healthy.
• That I get through the airports, immigration and customs easily.
Thank you all for your support and prayers. It means so much to me, you have no idea. :)
Love you all!
Erin.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Mexico is just around the corner!
I can't believe I'm going to Mexico in only a few weeks! I made sure that my passport was still in my sock drawer, where it has been since my last trip in 2007. It was there safe and sound, snug against the white socks.
I'm making sure I have plenty of medicine to take with me too (I don't want to run out!)
My church took up a love offering at the end of church last Sunday and they are taking up another one this Sunday! YAY! I am so blessed to be loved by such a wonderful church.
I'm not sure what else to tell ya'll except that I'm super duper excited to get down there and see what the orphanage is doing and to meet all of those kids and teens! It doesn't feel like I'm really going, and I know it won't sink in until I actually get on that plane.
Anyway, short and sweet.
See ya'll in the Mexican funny papers!
Erin.
I'm making sure I have plenty of medicine to take with me too (I don't want to run out!)
My church took up a love offering at the end of church last Sunday and they are taking up another one this Sunday! YAY! I am so blessed to be loved by such a wonderful church.
I'm not sure what else to tell ya'll except that I'm super duper excited to get down there and see what the orphanage is doing and to meet all of those kids and teens! It doesn't feel like I'm really going, and I know it won't sink in until I actually get on that plane.
Anyway, short and sweet.
See ya'll in the Mexican funny papers!
Erin.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Guadalajara is a Go!
"This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose"
-Switchfoot
Hola amigos! (or/and amigas? idk)
The waiting period is nearly over for me. Hallelujah! (For missions, that is)
I am in the process of looking for plane tickets for the end of May, and I'm super stoked! Woot Woot! I will be heading to a little place called Guadalajara, Mexico where I will be working with an orphanage for a little over a week. As most of you know, I want to pursue full-time missions, and I have been praying for a long time about where, when and how long I should serve. After years of waiting and learning to be extremely patient, I believe that things are coming together. I am going to this orphanage to help out, but also to see if it is where God wants me to stay for a longer period of time to serve (1-2 or more years).
There had been 2 different organizations I had looked to go with on mission trips, but in the end God led me to a small orphanage, owned and operated by a couple from Cookeville, TN. A wonderful women at my church helped to start the orphanage and it has been up and running for a year now.
I'm so excited to be a part of this amazing ministry and can't wait to tell you more about it!
See ya'll in the funny papers!
Erin.
This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose"
-Switchfoot
Hola amigos! (or/and amigas? idk)
The waiting period is nearly over for me. Hallelujah! (For missions, that is)
I am in the process of looking for plane tickets for the end of May, and I'm super stoked! Woot Woot! I will be heading to a little place called Guadalajara, Mexico where I will be working with an orphanage for a little over a week. As most of you know, I want to pursue full-time missions, and I have been praying for a long time about where, when and how long I should serve. After years of waiting and learning to be extremely patient, I believe that things are coming together. I am going to this orphanage to help out, but also to see if it is where God wants me to stay for a longer period of time to serve (1-2 or more years).
There had been 2 different organizations I had looked to go with on mission trips, but in the end God led me to a small orphanage, owned and operated by a couple from Cookeville, TN. A wonderful women at my church helped to start the orphanage and it has been up and running for a year now.
I'm so excited to be a part of this amazing ministry and can't wait to tell you more about it!
See ya'll in the funny papers!
Erin.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Missions/Travel Blog
Howdy family and friends!
A beautiful and very wonderful friend of mine (ahem, Emily, ahem) gave me this grand idea. I'm sorry, I'm a copycat, I know. But I'm just so excited about missions that I had to go ahead and start this blog! So anything pertaining to mission work or traveling will be in this new blog that I have conveniently named, "Nomad Memoirs."
So what is in store for me right now? Well, I'll tell you. I'm learning patience. I've actually been learning patience for a long time now. From helping my grandmother full-time when she went through breast cancer (for about 5 months before she died) to waiting and waiting for God to give me the "go ahead" on a place to serve as a missionary to being diagnosed with Addison's Disease and Schmidt's Syndrome and having to deal with taking medicine daily (and the doctor's getting my dosage just right.) Like I said, I have definitely been learning patience over the past few years.
Galatians 6:9 says: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Now I am in the process of going on a mission trip to Guadalajara, Mexico. A wonderful lady in my church, Patty, is helping me along in this process. If all goes well, I will be on my there in May or June to visit for a week. I'm really excited about this! I'm trying not to plan too much and just let God do his thing.
I guess that's all for now.
See ya'll in the funny papers.
Erin.
Current Location: Tennessee
A beautiful and very wonderful friend of mine (ahem, Emily, ahem) gave me this grand idea. I'm sorry, I'm a copycat, I know. But I'm just so excited about missions that I had to go ahead and start this blog! So anything pertaining to mission work or traveling will be in this new blog that I have conveniently named, "Nomad Memoirs."
So what is in store for me right now? Well, I'll tell you. I'm learning patience. I've actually been learning patience for a long time now. From helping my grandmother full-time when she went through breast cancer (for about 5 months before she died) to waiting and waiting for God to give me the "go ahead" on a place to serve as a missionary to being diagnosed with Addison's Disease and Schmidt's Syndrome and having to deal with taking medicine daily (and the doctor's getting my dosage just right.) Like I said, I have definitely been learning patience over the past few years.
Galatians 6:9 says: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Now I am in the process of going on a mission trip to Guadalajara, Mexico. A wonderful lady in my church, Patty, is helping me along in this process. If all goes well, I will be on my there in May or June to visit for a week. I'm really excited about this! I'm trying not to plan too much and just let God do his thing.
I guess that's all for now.
See ya'll in the funny papers.
Erin.
Current Location: Tennessee
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