if someone would like to explain to me the mystery of why it is so hard to write emails and blogs, i'd be all ears. it doesn't even take that long. but hey, here i am again, after a month's absence, with a little update...

i've been obsessed lately with chips and salsa. corn tortilla chips are hard to come across here (torin and i often need to negotiate about who takes how many of the 1-3 small bags there are in the grocery store in sincelejo) but i've been making salsa every chance i get to buy chips. why don't i live in mexico where they eat tortillas and spicy food?

i have two months left before my home leave. there's not much to say about that other than i am REALLY EXCITED to be home for awhile and hang out with ya'll.

we've started doing interviews for seed round 2. my internet is never very consistent and skype often kicks me off at an average of 3 times per interview. its a bit disturbing, but exciting to be advancing on stuff for next year. alejo and i have also done some traveling, looking at possible placements. lots of stuff to think about and work on, but i'm enjoying it...

working on seed 2 (as i'm calling it) is fun, but it also makes life insanely busy, because i already have work for right now, for this year. i'm gonna have to work my tail off to get the workshops done before i leave in december, and beginning this project in zambrano, right at the time of me leaving and wrapping things up, is really difficult and crazy busy. but since i LOVE being busy (and since i wasn't at all busy for so long) i'm not complaining. i'm really enjoying it. things in the work world are looking good.

i am challenged to reflect on my loyalties in the us mennonite world as i have lately been thinking about starting seminary classes online/distance in these years so that i'm ahead when i get home. i realize that i'm totally prejudice against emu/ems and all my life thought i'd go to ambs, however, i'm finding that the dual degree in peace studies and m.div from emu/ems is really calling my attention. five years in colombia, to return to live in harrisonburg??? not convinced yet, but its interesting to see how deeply our loyalties run. we call ourselves a peace church, and yet i so often see this competition between the mennonite schools/institutions/regions. and i'm clearly part of it.

willian and i spring cleaned my house this week. no doubt it never would have been done if he wasn't there - i don't just get up the ganas to clean my house, but its much better now, and i do enjoy living in a clean house. :) you're supposed to pick up responsibility when you get older, right? seems like it hasn't quite clicked in yet...

we also started running this week...at unreasonable hours in the morning. but its just so hot, i never get it done when i wait till the afternoon. (i would never get it done if i were doing it alone, either, but this week i had company so i was awaken and dragged out of my bed early in the morning.) i'm in probably the worst shape i've ever been in my life because i exercise so little. i love the feeling of being sore again and physically tired. its a serious high. fall also always makes me miss volleyball like crazy. i keep up with goshen and bethany girls and when i watch the 2 minute youtube clips on goleafs.net my i can feel my heart physically hurting inside my chest. i love sport.

did a workshop on violence/nonviolence today. really good stuff. i love the conversations we get into...for example, we talked about systemic/structural violence - something which most of them had never heard of or considered and its so interesting to hear their thought processes, questions, and reflections. also talked a lot about passive nonviolence and active nonviolence. i think the mennonite church has a lot of work to do to remember that being a peace church does not mean standing by and watching. active nonviolence actually calls for a TON of work and action. its about time we get our act in gear, i'd say.

well these are the thoughts coming to my head at the time...things are always spinning around up there. i miss you all. its so wonderful to get mail from any of you. we'll be seeing you soon.

ps. sorry im terrible at taking pictures. get on facebook...other people are better at taking pictures of me and posting them for me. haha.