Why Peru?

“Wherever God has put you, that is your vocation.  It is not what we do, but how much love we put into it”- Mother Teresa

The real question is how one packs for 3 months.  As a perpetual over-packer, I seem to still always forget something important.  After all, how much shampoo does one need? And how many juice boxes is too many juice boxes (I usually use juice boxes to treat low blood sugars, but for the sake of packing light, I will be ditching my beloved juice boxes for powdered gatorade).

Am I terrified? Absolutely! In a short 15 days my parents will be dropping me off at the airport where I will be boarding a plane bound for Peru.  So yes, terrified is accurate, but also I have never been more excited to see what God has planned for me.  I just finished my first year of college at Saint Norbert.  Because I was able to take college classes in high school, I would be able to start my nursing program half a year early.  This would give me the opportunity to study abroad, however I have always had a strong desire to do mission work, and decided that this was a better fit for me.

About four years ago, I went to mass at the Cathedral in La Crosse.  I strongly believe that God wanted me there, as it wasn’t the mass that our family usually goes to.  Father Joe Hirsch was there speaking about the orphanage that he currently was the priest for in Peru, called Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II.  He told about the children and the story of how they were working towards the beatification of Father Joe Walijewski, the founder of Casa.  We got a prayer card after mass, and to this day the card is still hanging on a cupboard in my house.  While searching for the right place to go, my mom suggested I look into going to Casa.  A few months later, and here we are!

Casa currently houses 64 children ages 4-17.  It was founded in 1986 by  Father Joseph Walijewski, a priest from the La Crosse Diocese.  The children are placed in family groups where they are cared for, valued, and most importantly loved.  I will be traveling to Casa for three months where I will live on site and help with the children, assist the nurse, and help with anything else that is needed of me.  As excited as I am to travel to a new place and experience a new culture, I am most excited to meet the people, especially the children.

I am so incredibly blessed to have such wonderful and supporting family and friends.  My mom and Dad have always been there for long phone calls and prayers.  Sarah, the volunteer coordinator from Casa, has been incredibly helpful, and I was blessed to have gotten to meet both her and Father Hirsch this May when they were back in La Crosse.  I was blessed to have an amazing roommate who practiced Spanish with me despite my poor grammar skills and has always reminded me that I can do anything.  I love you all very much and I am incredibly thankful for you.