Los Pantanos de Villa

Add this to your list of things to do in Lima, Peru!

Today's lovely photos are a throwback from my recent trip to Los Pantanos de Villa (The Swamps of Villa), located in Lima, Peru in the district of Chorrillos! It is home to over 200 species of birds, many from Peru. However, Los Pantanos de Villa also welcomes birds from up all the way up North ('ello 'Merica!) Because we are now in the winter months here, there weren't hundreds of birds chillaxin' in the swamplands. As I ate my 33 cent ice cream and walked through the tall grass filled swamplands, I felt a bit like Simba from Lion King when he was crawling through tall grass. It was a such a lovely experience that I think I want to go again. When are nature reserves not awesome? Advice: If you are ever in Lima (especially during their summer months), I definitely suggest visiting here! It is a great 2-3 hour day trip in a non touristy area of Lima.

Now for updates from today. Today went great, because I love what I do, every day is pretty wonderful. The first few hours of my day were spent translating a United Nations grant application for one of the organizations I work with. Thereafter, I stopped by my new favorite market which is filled with much friendlier vendors and then went home for a quick lunch. Following lunch I headed back to work where my co-workers and I grabbed the stilts, flags, and juggling balls (for the different classes to be taught). After a 15 minutes wait for the taxi and 8 minute ride in the taxi we arrived. However, when we arrived to the high school there was no electricity, which I suppose is an important part of my contemporary class because all of my 15 teenage students decided they wanted to learn hip-hop outside instead. I feel a bit split on this because I was sad that they didn't want to attend, but I kind of wanted to attend hip-hop with them. Anyhow, I ended up teaching ballet to 8 year olds which became more like a creative movement class. It was very cute because we danced around like butterflies for about 10 minutes.  Every day here is packaged with something exciting and new. However, everywhere I go I try to see exciting things in the mundane. Now I get to experience exciting things daily under a new cultural setting.

I also recently did a great Bible study with my friend over the vine and the vinedresser. I feel like this is one of those classic Bible stories that everyone knows. However, when I looked in my Bible, chapter 15 of John didn't have any markings in it which means I hadn't studied it in the last two years. Interesting! It was really great to go over this and be reminded on how importance our dependence on God is in our personal lives. Yes, we can succeed in this world, but when we are succeeding is it only in the eyes of this world? Are we winning prizes, promotions, friends, but losing God? We must rely and keep God in us for God to reciprocate that back... that's what Jesus tells us! Also, it was super interesting to be able to talk to my friend about this and to talk about how we can apply this to our daily lives. My friend being form Peru, it was also very interesting to talk about the different cultural implications we have in keeping God with us during our daily lives. 


“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit 
He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit 
He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
You are already clean because of the
word which I have spoken to you.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot
bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine,
neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
John 15:1-4



Working on Tolerance this Week,
Christine


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