Because I'll laugh about it anytime anywhere

"'Does he have it?' Is that what' they're singing? (pause) Why have I been singing 'Monkey hatchet'?"

"Is that the biggest popcorn ya got? That bucket?"

"If we were your kids, we'd punish ourselves!"

"Gee Porky, you sure know how to make a sandwich!"
"That's not sand. That's kitty litter."

"I see your drinking 1% milk. Is that 'cause you think you're fat? 'Cause you're not. You could be drinking whole if you wanted."

"Pebble. There's a pebble there. Somebody should put up some orange cones..."

"Awww, she tripped. No, wait. She's running. No, she's slowing down. She stopped. She tripped. Yep, she tripped. You tripped!"

"And the waitress said, 'I have a problem with procrastination too.' And I said, 'Really? Get my sandwich.'"

"So I put my face in my backpack like this, and I just went (screams into backpack)."

"I'm sick of all the haters."

"I can't give you for $30. I give you for $30, tomorrow I close down!"

"Is your hot pocket cold in the middle?"
"It's frozen, but it can be served boiling lava hot."

I am beyond thankful for laughter. It's pretty much my favorite. These are just a few samples my friends and I quote and they always make me laugh. Spread the joy.

Chicago to Cochabamba

Given my current condition as a recent graduate of North Park (BA in biology, minor in chemistry) and heading to Bolivia, many people have asked me, "Leann, how do you feel!?!?" And I figure since everyone keeps asking, maybe you want to know too. So, I feel blessed, thankful, able, trained, anxious, excited, curious, and more all in one. I have had a great college experience, filled with amazing memories and learning experiences. I will miss sitting on my porch soaking up the afternoon sun, talking with anyone who walks by or stops for a chat. I will miss The Babe House (a.k.a. DiverCity), my seven beautiful, hilarious roommates, quoting youtube videos and having spontaneous dance parties. I will miss jumping on the trampoline at the stack and working out at Helwig. I will miss El rides, Kedzie restaurants, and walks in River Park. I will miss downtown, Evanston trips, and the daily life a college student.
However, I have so much to look forward to, including summertime, speaking Spanish, saltenas, trufi ride adventures. I am looking forward to the kids, holding, washing, reading, traveling, feeding, playing, playing and more playing! Oh man, I can't wait for the kids. I am looking forward to projects and hands-on activities. I am looking forward to new relationships and strengthening/rekindling old ones. And believe it or not, I am looking forward to the unknown.
I know, with my type A personality and plan-ahead nature, it doesn't come naturally, but I am still learning and growing. So, I count this excitement as God-driven, for sure. My heavenly Dad is taking this simple girl on a trip and I just can't wait.
For as many blessings as I've been given (just in these past 3.5 years!), I'm trying to give back as much as I can and serve the One who gave it all to me to start with.

Roommates
Nykki, Hannah, Tiffany, me, Laura, Mical, Liza, and Hanna

River ParkApple Orchard
Jami-Leigh, Emily, me, and Lauren

Cafe con leche

As another Chicago winter quickly approaches, I justify my coffee consumption with the fact that it's freezing outside. A more admirable rationalization is that I buy coffee from Bolivia's Best. This coffee business supports the International Orphanage Union in Bolivia by donating 100% of the proceeds to the kids. This coffee is DELICIOUS and it makes for great gifts! To buy coffee and learn more about how this business works, check out Bolivia's Best website.

http://www.boliviasbest.com/home.html

so what's a trufi?

Hola! Welcome to my blog! Honestly, I never thought I'd be able to create one, but here I am, jumping on the bandwagon. Woop, woop! As I'm graduating from NPU and heading to Bolivia, I want to keep you all updated with news and stories. I am very excited for the next adventure in my life and am beyond curious to know what God has in store for me. He has blessed me more than words can express and I am so grateful. He's given me a passion for Bolivian people and culture, and so I will be returning to work there for some time this spring. One of the main reasons I'm so excited (and a little anxious) is that Bolivians function completely opposite of me. They are laid back, polychronic time keepers who truly don't mind if we're three hours late for dinner. Can you see how I might lose my mind? However, being in this environment has taught me I'm not in control. Of anything, really. That's why I've entitled this blog "trufi trekking". A trufi is a Bolivian minibus that takes you anywhere you want to go, no matter if there are bumps in the road or even if there IS a road. As a Christian servant, I have promised to follow God wherever He takes me. For now, He's taking me to Bolivia and from there, anything is possible. From the dry, valley city of Cochabamba to the green, humid jungle of the Chiparri, kids are in need of basic resources, education, and God's love. I'm thankful that God has chosen me to share these with the ever-wonderful people of Bolivia.