December

I have a LOT to update, but I've been putting it off!
In brief (and hopefully I'll post some more detailed blogs): December 9-16 I went to the coast on a much-needed and wonderful vacation with three friends. We flew into Santa Marta, and stayed in the nearby village of Taganga, where two of our group did a scuba diving licensing course. From there, we went for one night to a national park called Parque Tayrona. It was beautiful and I wish we could've stayed longer. I definitely hope to go back sometime. Then we went back to Santa Marta, got on a bus for five hours (I'm really not patient with bus travel, and am VERY thankful for planes, and that we were able to fly to and from Bogota) to the beautiful city of Cartagena. We stayed there two nights, saw the old city, swam in the ocean a bit, and enjoyed our time together.
Those friends are now in their own countries again. Ingie left on the 19th for Canada, and Luke and Liz left the 20th for England. I miss them badly, and in some ways their departure marks the end of one phase and the beginning of another. Right now, all the staff we have are long-term, and most of the friends I've made over the last year aren't here anymore.
I think I've written before about how every few months since I've been here I need to have a good cry. Well this past week, it seems I was overdue. 1. The departure of three good friends, after a really good week together, 2. The frustration of not having close friendships, especially outside of coworkers, and 3. Being away from family this time of year, proved to be a rough combination. Anyways, I am feeling better, but missing friends and hoping to make more here. I finally understand how difficult it is moving to a new city (and not being in university) and trying to find community. Thankfully with the ministry, I'm automatically plugged in to something, but it's different in a lot of ways.
Last night, Christmas Eve, everyone here at the farm went down to Kiwi House to hang out together. We ate around 9 pm, then the kids decorated gingerbread houses (a very American thing... Thanks to Jess's efforts in the kitchen all day). Little J., who refused to sleep in the afternoon, fell asleep while eating at about 10. I put him in a bed with the promise to wake him up to open presents, but when 11 o'clock rolled around and I got him, he couldn't handle it so we just had Christmas this morning instead.
Here in Colombia, the tradition is to open presents at midnight, but with the kids (and maybe moreso with the adults) we decided not to wait quite so late. Anyways, thanks to a lot of donations and family who had sent presents, there was a mountain of gifts under the tree. We didn't hand them out one by one and wait to see what everyone got, so the Great Unwrapping went pretty quickly... although I missed the way we always did it growing up. Plus, I just like the morning excitement more (and the fact that it means everyone has to go to bed early). Anyways, it was great. We finished off eating pumpkin and pecan pie (that was my culinary contribution), then headed up to our house to sleep.
Little J. slept until about 8:00 this morning, which was in itself a gift! Now I'm waiting to talk with my family. I don't know what we'll end up doing today... resting, I hope, and maybe cleaning up a bit!

Now that we're on vacation from our daily programs, one of my goals is submitting my application for my DTS (school/training with YWAM). I'm currently a bit sad about leaving for 6 months to do that, even though I know it'll be a very special time for me and an important time for spiritual growth. I've been working on the application that the base in Santiago, Chile sent me. I emailed the leaders in Pichilemu, Chile, and it turns out that they're in Bogota right now. Hopefully we'll get together so I can see what they're like and they can give me the application. I also hope to get together with a couple of acquaintances/friends.
Two days ago, I enrolled J. in a pre-school for next year! It seems like a really great program! He'll start Jan. 18th. That's a huge answer to prayer for me.

Merry Christmas, everyone.