"You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body." -C.S. Lewis

Hence the name of this blog. Allowing this idea to sink in hits me hard, trying to understand the magnitude that this reality contains. My identity has much less to do with with my physical appearance and structure than it does what truly lies beyond my broad shoulders and my bulky thighs and my flat feet - a completely alive soul! Which then begs the question, for what am I truly living for? When I make decisions and life choices, am I more concerned about the "me" that is walking and moving on this Earth for an average of about 70-80 years? Or the soul that will go on living forever? I'd like to say the latter, but that is not always the case. As important as it is to feed and take care of our bodies, it is infinitely important that we also feed and care for our souls.

I always told myself I wouldn't start a blog until two things were fulfilled: I had something enlightening and/or insightful to share, and in addition, I had the time and the drive to carry it out fairly regularly. Well, let's hope both of those prove to be true! The main reason I am starting this blog at this time, though, is because I am embarking on a two month trip to Peru. I wanted to journal and take pictures, documenting as much as I can of what I experience while I am down there. And I felt like it was something that was worth sharing with family and friends, as it happens and while it's fresh in my mind. I hope to be able to share with everyone the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and every feeling that makes up Peru. Some of the main focuses of this trip include the following:

1) To practice spanish. I will be staying with a host family the first month in Cusco while taking language classes and volunteering with a group called Proyecto Peru. Fully immersing myself in the culture and the language is the only way I believe I'll be able to conquer my stubbornness and be forced to speak Spanish y solamente Español :) 


2) To experience life in a foreign country. In the last 20 years, the longest I have been outside of the U.S. at once is 6 days. I have developed a certain norm of living that I am determined to break. I have been blessed with a loving family that has supported me my entire life, and I truly believe that God has put me in that position to give to those who have less. This seems like a great point to thank my parents, because even this trip itself was primarily funded by my mom and dad, because they want to allow me to experience life in its fullest, and have been put in a position to do so. They have blessed me in ways that I am forever grateful, and they know that of course one day I plan on returning the many loans I have been provided with :) So I want to get a glimpse into life in a developing country, see the other side where the grass doesn't always appear to be greener, and try and help in whatever ways I can lend my services.

3) To travel and experience adventure with loved ones. I get the awesome chance to get to return to my roots, Peru, the country in which my mom was born and raised. And the best part is that I get the opportunity to do it with her as well as my sister, and even my sister's boyfriend Matty for a couple weeks. The more I think about it, the more I realize that this is the opportunity of a lifetime.

I am beginning to understand how much this adventure has the ability to grow me up. This is the most independent thing I have undergone, stretching my comfort zone and allowing me to, in some ways, fend for myself. I understand Peru isn't as safe as the calm, quiet, suburban Salem, OR which I have grown up around. Before giving it to much of pre-judgment, I am ready to experience it and find out for myself. Flight leaves in a few hours, sure hope Peru is ready for me :)