On Thursday and Friday, we visited another home for teenage girls. This home was different than the others we’ve visited in the past because most of the girls didn’t have babies. They seemed younger and more carefree, even though most of them had been living on the streets, involved with prostitution or sexual exploitation, drugs, gangs, etc.
They are the sweetest, most loving, friendliest girls I have ever met. They literally clung to us from the first moment we arrived, soaking up our attention. Working with them was literally a privilege and a blessing. It wasn’t even work. They have been through so much, and yet they seemed so small and young to me. I felt like I gained 50 little sisters over the past two days. Even though we are officially done working there, I hope to go back for a short visit sometime before we leave Peru!
I wasn’t able to spend much time with this girl, but her quiet, peaceful smile captured my attention. She didn’t say much, and she didn’t vie for our attention as much as the other girls did, but I could tell she still wanted it. She was so gracious and sweet.
Last night we had a farewell dinner with the short-term missions team we worked with earlier this week. They had gone to Cuzco for the past few days and they came back to Lima for the dinner and to fly out. We also said goodbye to my roommate, Katy. It was a sad evening! Thankfully we didn’t have to say goodbye to our six college-aged translators whom we’ve made friends with. We’re going to have dinner with them when we come back to Lima after Cuzco.
(That’s a picture of us with the girls at the home we visited Thursday and Friday.) Since two of our interns have left now, the organization sent another intern to stay with Klista and me for the last two weeks of our trip - her name is Katie, too, so we called her “the new Katie.” She arrived late last night.
Today is our packing day, although I haven’t started packing yet. We leave for Cuzco bright and early tomorrow morning! I’m really excited. I’m a little nervous about the altitude, but it’ll be fine, I’m sure. We’re meeting another short-term team there, and I can’t wait to get to know them. Later in the week we get to go to Machu Picchu! How exciting is that?
I’ll be updating again soon. I only have 13 more days here, including today! It seems so short and yet so long at the same time. I’ll be making the most of each one. 
Anna
P.S. If you have Facebook and want to see more pictures, check my profile. I’ve uploaded a lot of my trip pictures there.
July 22, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Mrs. Phillips told me today that she’s been keeping up with your blog and praying for you, but she couldn’t figure out how to comment. I thought you’d appreciate knowing.