I forgot to mention in the last post that we have some really, really, really good news. Teresa’s (who I wrote about a couple of weeks back) daughter Paola may have been found. A couple of weeks ago Martin’s dad, who used to be a police officer talked to someone he knew who is quite high up the ranks in the force and the other day he called to say that he has found her. Teresa (or no one she knows) has seen her yet so I guess I have to wait until then to confirm it but it is looking pretty good. Seems pretty crazy that Teresa can spend 5 months searching all over the country and begging the police and anyone to help her and gets nowhere and then someone else can make a phone call and a month later there she is but I guess that’s how it works. Anyway enough of that I am just so grateful that she may be back with her mum soon. Thanks to everyone who prayed.

Martin got home today. I went to the airport at 9 to get him but he didn’t walk out until about 10:10 so I was very excited by then. We came home and had breakfast with David and Ryan and then we spent the rest of the day just hanging out at home, it was nice. Lots of talks about Peru and more talks about life and what we are going to for the next stage of it. No real answers yet but certainly some ideas are coming to the front more than others. And hey I am enjoying the process. In the late afternoon we finally managed to get out of the house and we went to the fish market, bought some fish and made ceviche. Ceviche is my favourite Peruvian dish so I am looking forward to it. It is just soaking now and we will eat it later. Martin is also having a nap. About half an hour ago he just crashed but I am hoping I will be able to get him up in an hour or so for dinner.

33 hours until Martin gerts home. I am really excited about seeing him.

I too did the personality test that James and Ryan did. I like personality tests. Unlike many people I know I am happy to be boxed.

Your personality type is ENFJ.

Extraverted (E) 82% Introverted (I) 18%
Intuitive (N) 52% Sensing (S) 48%
Feeling (F) 90% Thinking (T) 10%
Judging (J) 77% Perceiving (P) 23%

Here a description that I got here of an ENFJ. It’s very focused on the good things but I guess that’s okay.

ENFJs are the benevolent ‘pedagogues’ of humanity. They have tremendous charisma by which many are drawn into their nurturant tutelage and/or grand schemes. Many ENFJs have tremendous power to manipulate others with their phenomenal interpersonal skills and unique salesmanship. But it’s usually not meant as manipulation — ENFJs generally believe in their dreams, and see themselves as helpers and enablers, which they usually are.

ENFJs are global learners. They see the big picture. The ENFJs focus is expansive. Some can juggle an amazing number of responsibilities or projects simultaneously. Many ENFJs have tremendous entrepreneurial ability.

ENFJs are, by definition, Js, with whom we associate organization and decisiveness. But they don’t resemble the SJs or even the NTJs in organization of the environment nor occasional recalcitrance. ENFJs are organized in the arena of interpersonal affairs. Their offices may or may not be cluttered, but their conclusions (reached through feelings) about people and motives are drawn much more quickly and are more resilient than those of their NFP counterparts.

ENFJs know and appreciate people. Like most NFs, (and Feelers in general), they are apt to neglect themselves and their own needs for the needs of others. They have thinner psychological boundaries than most, and are at risk for being hurt or even abused by less sensitive people. ENFJs often take on more of the burdens of others than they can bear.

TRADEMARK: “The first shall be last”
This refers to the open-door policy of ENFJs. One ENFJ colleague always welcomes me into his office regardless of his own circumstances. If another person comes to the door, he allows them to interrupt our conversation with their need. While discussing that need, the phone rings and he stops to answer it. Others drop in with a ‘quick question.’ I finally get up, go to my office and use the call waiting feature on the telephone. When he hangs up, I have his undivided attention!

I have been back at work for just over two weeks today and I finally feel like things are back under my control. It’s a nice feeling I tell you what. I have been feeling a little bit stressed about it all. Although don’t get me wrong still much prefer to be busy than have nothing to do.

Anyway this my celebratory post. Yay.

Last week I was really disappointed as after numerous emails and phone calls I found out that I would not be able to my prac teaching in Alice. I was pretty cranky too as I had emailed my teacher last year saying I wanted to do it and I know I was the first person to do it and then she obviously forgot about me and so others got in. So after I got over it, I decided to try and search other avenues and today there was some hopeful news. My mum and Keith have become friends with one of their neighbours who teaches literacy at Charles Darwin Uni in Alice and he reckons that he or someone else there may be able to take me. I guess I’ll look into that over the next ouple of days and truly find out but if you feel inclined please pray for me.

My last weekend before the onslaught of uni starts. I better make sure I do plenty of relaxing.

I have been back in Australia for 5 days now but haven’t really had the energy to blog.

So much to think about, pray about and reflect on from the trip. I am still pretty sure that Peru is the place I am called to but have no idea what I am supposed to do there. Right now I am feeling most convicted by the idea of just living there (in community of course), and being friends with people rather than doing anything in particular if that makes sense. I am also convicted by the idea of not being busy, living simply, being connected with family, prayer, supporting relationships and connecting people across social divides. Again not fully knowing what that actually means.

However about week ago in my time of reflection and prayer I was reading Job. In a place of much pain and suffering I felt that was quite appropriate. I read this and I found it really spoke to me and made me feel at peace about the uncertanity.

“Give into God and come to terms with Him
and everything will turn out fine.
Let him tell you what to do;
take his words to heart.
Come back to God Almighty
and he’ll rebuild your life.
Clean house of everything evil.
Relax your grip on your money
and abandon your gold plated luxury.
God Almighty will be your treasure,
more wealth than you can imagine.

You’ll delight in God, the Mighty One,
and look to Him joyfully, boldly.
You’ll pray to Him and he’ll listen,
he’ll help you do what you’ve promised.
You’ll decide what you want and it will happen,
your life will be bathed in light.
To those who’ll feel low you’ll say “Be brave”
and God will save them.
Yes, even the guilty will escape,
escape through God’s grace in you.”

This won´t be a long one as I am at Buenas Aires airport and paying unbelievable amounts of money to be here but I wanted to write and ask people if they would be able to pray for my friend Teresa. Teresa´s 15 year old daughter Paola disappeared almost 5 months ago and she hasn´t heard anything. She has searched most of the north of Peru and Ecuador but nothing and has receieved no help from the police at all. In fact most of her meetings with them have been very negative. It seems quite possible she has been sold into prostitution or somthing. As you can imagine Teresa is compeltely distraught as she does not know what else to do but pray to God and hope for a miracle. I also can´t do anything else but that either and if you would all too that would be great.

Sorry I have been so slack on the blog front but we have made it to our final destination Chulucanas. I can´t say how happy I am to be here and rest finally. Lida is looking after us very nicely and yesterday I slept pretty much all day, it was wonderful.

Apart from that though the last week has been pretty busy. After our day in Arequipa we decided to take a tour to the Valle del Colcon which is about five hours out of Arequipa and you can see Condors. I don´t usually do tours but we had Lida with us so we thought it would be easier that way and it was pretty fun really. We stopped at a few touristy places along the way, met a really cool girl from New Zealand and the Condors were amazing. They are so big and they flew around for about an hour. They were actually looking for food but to me it was like they were putting on a show just for us.

That went for two days and then we moved on to Lima. I am not a huge fan of Lima but it was good to be there and catch up with some of Martin´s family. We saw his dad and some cousins and I finally met his nephew, Diego. He is absolutely gorgeous and kept calling me tia (aunt) I loved it. We also watched the soccer game between Peru and Argentina. Unortunately Peru didn´t win but it was exciting. Peru played four games in the Copa America before getting knocked out in the second round and they won two and lost two but I saw the two they lost. I hope I am not bad luck. We also went the stadium of Martin´s soccer team “La U” and watched a game. They tied. It was fun and I am pleased to finally have seen up close the other love of Martin´s life.

After two days in Lima we took the overnight bus to Piura and arrived at about 8.30 in the morning. We have visited many places in South America now which are far more beautiful than Piura and have talked a lot about where we may live but nothing feels like home quite like Piura does. It has changed a lot though and thankfully seems to be doing a lot better and much cleaner. I don´t know if that is true but it does seem that way. We visited Martin´s brother and his new baby. She is so cute although being around babies makes me so clucky. We also visited Martin´s other niece and Koky, Cesar and Arturo. Again they all seem to be doing really well which makes so happy. It was strange been there and made me feel very nostalgic. It is a good thing that things change and people grow but I guess part of us wants things to stay the same.

Then finally at about 8.30 in the evening we took the bus to Chulucanas. Lida has painted, reorganised and cleaned the whole house for us. It looks great actually and feels homely. She has been a wonderful host. I think she enjoyed the trip but really she is much more content having us in her home and I too am content. It was nice to unpack the bags fully knowing I don´t have to pack them up for another ten days. I have slipped in to the very slow paced life of the town. I have slept, ate, read, gone for some short walks around the place but pretty nothing else for two days. After the last couple of months I have so needed that. Tommorrow we go back to Piura to visit some of the families that I was friends with through Ayni. I am feeling a little anxious about it, there is a lot going on for them and me really, so am glad I have taken these two days to just relax. I haven´t made up my mind if I am going to go out to the school yet. I don´t think it would be at all helpful but people keep telling me I should. They think they´d be offended if I didn´t and I have to say Peruvians are kind of like that. I guess we´ll see.

Martin has been a lot more active, visiting people, playing basketball and catching up with everyone. He is so happy. Lots of memories here too for us. It is kind of like falling in love all over again.