Just playing around....practicing adding pictures to the blog. This is my brother Eric....he lives in Alaska.

The Final Countdown!

Well, it's the final week for preparing for the trip. We started packing, and what a chore that is! So many donations to fit in, checking and re-checking the packing lists. We all received our shots on Monday....WOW....never had such sore arms! I could barely pull my pants up on Tuesday morning! The kids got Typhoid and Hepatitis A injections. I got Typhoid and Tetanus.

Had a final check-up prior to leaving....passed most of it :-) We also got our scripts filled for "emergency" antibiotics for food poisoning. UGH----just the thought of needing to use them makes me cringe!

Wilder has been working on transport and hotel arrangements on his end. He is getting more excited each day too! We will leave on Friday the 26th for Minneapolis. We'll have a "quick sleep" and off to the airport by 5am on Saturday. We connect in Newark, NJ and then straight to Lima---will arrive at 10:30pm Saturday night.

Will post more as we go along......
Collette

Sign Off

OK--learning how this all works. Thought I could preview then finish the blog, but couldn't figure it out.....so until next time, I am signing off.
Love to all,
Collette

Getting Started

Wow--woke up today and it's February already! Had butterflies in my stomach when I thought about how few days left before we leave for our trip.

Since this is a new blogging experience for me, I thought I would try it out. Many of you know how this trip with my 4 kids has come about, but I will explain to those who may not know.

I first visited Fr. Jack's Mission---Los Amigos de Padre Juan---in Chimbote Peru in August of 2000. I fell in love with the people and the mission itself. My second visit was in February of 2004 with Jason. I returned again in February of 2007 for a 3 week stay. This is Fr. Jack's 50th , or Jubilee year, and so he had the Peruvian parish youth choir on tour in the USA for 2 months. My family and friends hosted the entire choir for 3 nights......many friendships were built and experiences shared. Fr. Jack put a "bug" in my ear that it's about time for me to bring one of my older boys.........that got me to thinking: 1. How could I choose which child would go? 2. How could I ever pay for the trip? 3. When would we go?

I was at mass in Nativity Parish in Fargo ND, just a few days later, when God spoke to me during communion. I was watching Fr. Jack administer communion to his choir and to his friends in the front row.....so many people, so much love!!!

It was then that I had that nudging urge-- familiar to me only when in prayer. "You can go for the LAMA mission in March and stay for Mikey's wedding in April." OK. "God, are you CRAZY?! There's no way I could afford this....no way Jason will allow this....no way I can get off work that long......"

God's answer was, "believe and you will receive...." OK. So now my thought is, "God, if you want me to go and take all the kids, and stay for 2 months, you will need to provide me the finances." And a great peace within overcame me. And I waited for something to happen.

Two months later, I received a legal consulting case for a firm in Chicago. Needless to say, I was able to make the money for the trip......Jason didn't say "no", and the school was willing to fully cooperate to allow this once-in-a-lifetime experience for the kids. No excuses not to go!

Thus begins the preparations for this adventure with the four Mathern Munchkins......

Brookston 13---(will turn 14 while there)---hesitant and complaining about the length of the trip...worried about getting behind in his school work here.

Braeden 12---very excited to go. Has already been emailing friends at the mission and they are "scoping out the chics" already for him!

Brinley 10---very excited to go. She has made friends and will do very well.

Bridger 7---well--not too excited about no Nickelodeon or Disney channel (or TV at all), or his ability to just lay around while everyone else works.

Most of you reading this remeber Wilder Benites, our "hermano peruano" or Peruvian Brother. He has stayed with our family for 5-6 months at a time every year since 2001. He is probably the most excited to have the kids come and see his culture. Wilder "Willy" will be our chaperone, tour guide, and event planner. We have a lot of exciting things planned for the kids.