If there's a Jesus there's got to be a Moses, no?

Sunday started out as a low-energy day. I didn't feel tired, even though the festivities of the previous evening put me in bed at 3:30am Sunday morning. I just felt down. Kind of sad. A little homesick. And very lonely.

I'm surrounded by people here, but there are days here when it doesn't matter. I can still feel alone. It's a scary feeling for me because I'm a people person -- I thrive when I'm around people -- but part of this journey is to understand these emotions and find balance. And honestly, it sucks.

I made us a yummy breakfast of scrambled eggs with queso and tomatoes and pan. Couldn't eat much though. Becca and I then went to Molino to buy sneakers, backpacks, etc. -- items we couldn't fit in our luggage. Becca wasn't interested in spending much time there and while I could've stayed longer on my own, I accompanied her back to the apartment, this sinking feeling of loneliness/depression kind of setting in.

I reheated some leftovers for lunch and turned on the TV. I hardly watch TV back home and I really don't want to get into the habit here, but it was something to do. Becca was taking a nap and I just couldn't pick myself up off the couch...

Eventually, something inside me snapped. I told myself I wouldn't fall into the same kind of depression that happened to me here a few times in February, so I peeled myself off the couch and attempted to make my way to Paddy's bar to watch the soccer game with some friends. Since school was along the way, I stopped in to call home on their land line with my calling card (so much cheaper than those phone booths at the Internet cafes or using my cell). My conversation with Mike was good. He encouraged me to find my strength from within and refused my request to come down over 4th of July. I know he's right, but those moments of weakness can be a little overwhelming.

Jesus was hanging out in the cafe at school watching the game and we sat and talked for a while. I showed him some pictures of Sam and Stella, my apartment at home, and photos of my last visit here. We talked for a long time about the emotions I was feeling and he really began to lift me out of my funk. We walked to the Plaza de Armas together and parted ways so he could go home to nap before work.

Paddy's was empty by the time I got there and that was OK. I wandered back to the Plaza (about 1/2 block from Paddy's) and sat on the steps of the fountain and soaked in the sun. I put on my headphones, turned on some massage music, closed my eyes and meditated. I waited 4 months to be back here and I had to embrace the moment. There was no place else on Earth I wanted to be. I was pulling myself out of the hole and it felt good to do it on my own.

No sooner did I come out of my funk then a man sat down next to me and started talking to me (in Spanish). His name was Moses and he's from Venezuela. The curliest hair ever. We talked until the sun went down and it started getting cold. We walked to Plaza San Francisco and found some yummy anticucho (meat on a stick with a potato at the end), then headed to a cafe to continue our conversation. Later, as Moses was walking me back to the main square, we ran into Jesus. So, I introduced Jesus to Moses, and they seemed to like each other (not biblically speaking, of course).

Made it home by 9ish and in bed by 10:30. I was presenting my mini lesson in front of a group of Peruvian students the next day and didn't want to stay up late (I'll take Moses up on the offer of Reggae music another night).