Starting at the aftermath from my move out of my apartment, I have the daunting task of continuing to go through my belongings and simplify my life. I am glad to have this opportunity to unburden myself of many material things. It is an emotional time and an exciting one. As I prepare for my departure I thought I would answer a few FAQ’s.



1. Why am I doing this?

Well, blessed are those who believe but cannot see. It is a leap of faith. I am going into an unknown but due to the beauty of the Internet I have seen a few photos, journal entries and emails to have a general idea of what I am getting into. I also know several have gone before me and have lived to tell about it.
Travel is not a foreign concept to my family (no pun intended). I have been blessed to have traveled to Canada, Mexico, Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, France, Japan, Taiwan and New Zealand. The longest I have been away was 1 month. My sister studied a year in France in college and my father has lived in Taiwan for over 20 years now.
I am seeking professional, spiritual and personal growth. You could consider it an affordable alternative to grad school. After 12 years of working in a hospital, I am ready to explore nursing in a different arena. I haven’t ruled out grad school entirely when I return but I am taking an opportunity to explore community health nursing, serve in a faith community and to finally get the immersion experience in a foreign language that has been eluding me since college.



2. When did I start considering this?


As I mentioned, I have been seeking an immersion experience since college. I had two semesters of Spanish in college (3 years of Classical Latin in high school) but I never did the Spanish language justice because my focus was primarily my music and nursing courses. In 2000 I researched and communicated with about 4 language schools in Spain and Mexico but after meeting with a financial advisor my dreams were squashed. In 2006 I traveled with the UTA nursing school to Cuernavaca for 1 week of medical Spanish and in 2008 I went to Honduras on a medical mission with the St. Rita parish which was also for 1 week. Both were good experiences but both left me frustrated with my lack of fluency in the language.

In January of 2009 I found myself asking if I would have any regrets in life and I revisited my 2000 decision not to study abroad in a language school. I wrote to Sr. Teresa Grabber CCVI to see if she knew of any opportunities at UIW. Sr. Teresa was quick to point out it was not an endorsement but she was aware of the lay missionary program that would provide such an opportunity. I researched the program and after hearing such things as “the best thing I have ever done” and “an experience of a lifetime” and “they are so organized and supportive” from my interviews of past and present missionaries, I decided to go through with the application process and put the rest in God's hands.

For those of you who might take the plunge: there is a modest stipend and health insurance. Travel, room and board and a yearly retreat are covered. The application, aka discernment process, involves a 10 page application, 5 page autobiography, college transcripts, 3 letters of recommendation from a co-worker, manager, and spiritual guide (thanks, Lloyd, Martha & Sr. Teresa) a personality test (like the Meyers-Briggs) and a phone interview & Spanish assessment. When I was told that my level of Spanish would not hold me back and they were confident I would learn, I knew I was golden.


3. Will I have a job when I come back?

I will be away for 2 years so I did have to resign from my job. I am in good standing and would be considered for rehire but I am also staying open to life and will consider all career opportunities as they evolve.



4. Will I work in a hospital while I am down there?

I hope not. From what I understand there are out-patient clinics, a hospice health care team, a maternity ward and a TB clinic (yikes).

I anticipate inheriting the regime of a former missionary who said her day went from 8 AM to 1 PM with a huge lunch/siesta break in the middle of the day and starting again 4PM to 6 PM Monday through Thursday with ½ days on Friday and Saturday.
I get 2 weeks’ vacation after one year of service at my expense and there is a retreat that is covered by IWM in a nice location once a year.

Some random stuff:

Chimbote is a town of 300,000. It is on the coast north of Lima in an area referred to as the Northern Desert Terrain. The word “dusty” prevails in many of the missionary journals. 55% of the population lives in poverty. 75% of Peru’s fishing industry is in Chimbote.

What I am looking forward to:

The culture, the people, fresh fish & vegetables, learning the language and dancing! I am told they dance all the time – even after business meetings. I am also looking forward to having time for spiritual reflection, learning Peruvian music and community health nursing.

What I will miss:

The proximity of family and friends (please come see me- or remember to email, phone or Skype), my dog and all the creature comforts of home.

Best advice for the trip: stay flexible and have a sense of humor.
There is a lot to do still. So far I have given my notice at work, completed all my medical visits, moved out of my apartment and put my belongings in storage. I am living in a guest room at my mother’s where my dog, who is 14, will remain. I have to finalize legal & financial matters, work about 2 more weeks, get vaccines, pack for Chimbote, study Spanish and savor the days I have left with family and friends. I leave for San Antonio August 2nd and fly to Peru on August 25th. Happy 4th of July!