well i am about to head up stairs for bed.... i got to see the pacific ocean a lil while ago, repacked my stuff, i need to unpack myself if you know what i mean lol- our american missionaries here fed us quite possibly the best Thanksgiving feast ever tonight. it was phenomenal. first time i´ve ever like sweet potatoes! strange i know, i come to peru and start likin sweet potatoes...i mean seriously i like a good ol´southern dish like that better in SouthAmerica than i do back home- strange what being abroad does to your appetite! we meet our stateside missionary guide tomorrow morning for a lil debriefing about our specific village...and then we head out! it will probably take our team a couple of days to get where we´re going?! not sure:) i have to come into ´´town´´ biweekly to update my supervisor in lima via email-telephone-blog. so hopefully this will keep you guys back home updated as well. pray for our health and safety as we travel. our bodies will have to acclimate themselves to the high altitudes...i get to see a stretch of ten peaks that are all about 18000ft high tomorrow. i´m psyched. team members are Matthew Pierce and Sarah Mathews. please lift up all the other teams going out to the distant areas of peru as well. this is your corongo team signing out. my love and peace to you all...in His all sufficient Grace- JLR<><

Hola! Estoy in Peru:)

Hello friends and family. I am currently blogging from my hostal (open dorm-room style hotel) in Lima. I spent today in orientation with the REAPsouth team learning all about how to prevent insanity, sickness, conflict, and injury- no worries mom and dad;)

My concerned family should be happy to know that I ate in a TGIFridays tonight- a grilled chicken sandwich and french fries. and i finished it all! lol and then had coffee at a starbucks for dessert. my spanish is well...picking up. i´m pretty rusty after not having a class this semester but the starbucks barista told me i spoke well:) heck yes! much-needed encouragement from the Lord! After stuffing my face, we went to a WONGO. It´s like a Publix and Wal'mart on steroids lol. and then we got lost in the streets of peru looking for an internet cafe...whoops. so i´m back safe and sound in this little hostal. ready to go to sleep on my bed after staying up with my awesome new teammates and getting to know them all better- we have great chemistry. the Lord is so evident in these men and women. by the way- my feet hung off the end of my bed last nite. catch that?! hope that keeps ya laughing! i love you all. press on as my brothers and sisters in my absence. i hope that you all have stories of how YOU have shared the gospel when i return home! que dios bendiga! en el amor de jesu cristo- JLR<><

well, it's 0826-- I'm finishing up the last of my gathering and stuffing before leaving the house for the BHM airport. I fly BHM to Houston at 1305. Due to arrive in Houston at 1455. I then fly Houston- Lima and I'm due to arrive there at 2300. Here's a big thank you in advance for all the love and prayers over the last few months and over the months coming. I love you all in a very special God-invoked way...please continue to be missionaries at home while I am abroad.