so wave your flag....

ya know what, i don´t even know where to begin....this entry is literally going to come out like word vomit, so i apologize in advance---let me start....

MANY MANY things have been happening here, SO many amazing experiences, life has been incredible. and i´m loving every minute. just recently i had the absolute pleasure of having my college roommate katie come here to visit me, and it was such a blessing! her being here was such a gift because essentially i know i´m going to struggle coming home and trying to explain this year to people. as hard as i try, there really aren´t words for what i´m feeling and experiencing. and now i know at least one person will be able to understand what i´m trying to convey by my stories and reflections. and as always katie is such a calming presence, very comforting, putting all my worries at ease.

from the moment katie got here, i knew we were going to have an amazing time. although almost a year has passed since i´ve seen here, it was like we just picked back up where we left off, and started again. it was so normal! catching up on so much, eating reeses and sour patch kids, and laughing at the most ridiculous things---ahhh such a breath of normalcy. i know that i have so much support here, but having katie here made me realize that i also have support back at home---and that has calmed my nerves a ton! such a great visit, that i know i will always remember! THANKS KTO!!!!

the great thing was too, this past friday, all of our afterschool programs had a huge soccer tournament in honor of the mundial---and it was EXCELLENT!! i mean there was so much intensity and spirit and pride! our kids were awesome. i literally felt like i was at a world cup game, okay maybe not, but i was like a crazy mom at a sporting event! jumping and screaming, singing and running! ha i was a freaking nut, but it was soooo much fun. god help my future children for the embarrassment i will probably cause them! no, but seriously, it was a great event, and fortunately, SEMILLAS WON! they were so proud and ya know, it´s little things like this that really mean the world to them, so i was just so happy that they could have their moment in the spot light. i´m beaming right now as i write this!

so let´s see what else----well i have another retreat group arriving tonight, so i´m going to be crazy busy again for another week. it´s hard because i´ve had two amazing groups so far, and i just pray that this group follows the trend....fingers crossed!

yeah, things have been really great here, but poco a poco, i´m getting ready to go home. as awful as it sounds, i´m really looking forward to life being easier back in the states---just taking a warm shower in the morning, not having to take meds to ward off this zoo i have living in my stomach, checking my email whenever i feel like it! drinking REAL coffee!!!, not having to cook meals for five people--ughh, i know it sounds silly when my neighbors here live this life everyday without complaining, but i´m just really tired.....i can feel myself burning out slowly and it´s hard. i am not sustainable here, and that´s the realization i´m coming to. as difficult as it will be for these new volunteers to come and us to leave, i know that it´s not fair for me to stay here. my creativity is lacking, my energy is dwindling, and i´m just exhausted. i just pray for the endurance and energy source to keep me going these last two months because i´m really going to need it. as my leave date gets closer and closer, i start feeling more and more ready----kind of like, okay, i´m done, get me outta here!!! but not as extreme as that.

anyway, that´s where i´m at. i am just so freaking excited to see everyone back home. with katie here, i was just like okay, i wanna see everyone now, i want to hug all my friends, chat for hours, and catch up on life!! it´s about time right?!?!

alright, semillas time awaits me, oh a little anecdote before i go---so i was working with the chiquititos yesterday and we were pretending to be cooks, making all sorts of food, talking about colors and tastes yadda yadda, so when i yelled out, chiquititos, que color son las uvas!, what color are grapes?, i was ridiculously surprised when little josue (4) screamed out PURPLE!!! in english that is---i was like well yes that´s right but that´s english! (i think he shocked himself too) ha i swear these kids surprise me everyday---- especially because this answer came from the kid who walked behind the playground last week and took a poop in the middle of recess...ha, when i asked him why he didn´t use the bathroom, he told me he had no idea haha--all i could do was laugh!

so on that note i´m out! love you all, sending you so much happiness and positive energy!
jamie