I titled this post, “First Day On My Own,” but I guess I should say… it’s the first day on my own without Carter. I did go to some open markets with another couple here and had a good day, so I wasn’t all alone. I got a lot done. I did 2 loads of laundry.  I made some chicken soup…. first thing I’ve cooked, besides eggs in the morning, since I’ve been here.

Carter flew to Columbia this morning to accompany a sick missionary back to Lima. It’s just a day trip. He left at 7:30 and should land in Lima tonight at 8:30. I just got a text that they’ve landed. It’s 8:15. Woohoo! (He walked in the door at about 10:20.)

After he left this morning, I knelt down and prayed for him. He was nervous and I was nervous for him. It’s his first official trip to accompany a missionary. There will be more trips like this, and if it’s a female missionary, I will go with him.

For some reason, a song came into my mind after my prayer…..one I learned when I was a child in Primary.

“When I’m home or far away

Heavenly Father hear me pray,

Keep me safely in thy sight

Help me choose and do what’s right

Thanks for home and family too

Many things to love and do

Thou art very good to me

Heavenly Father, thanks to thee”

That song has a been going through my head all day. It’s a comfort and it makes me smile. It has a sweet little melody. I know Heavenly Father hears my prayers wherever I am, but in this foreign land where I don’t speak the language very well….YET….Carter is my stabilizer and I felt a little off without him here.

It’s starting to feel like home a bit. I bought a white board and markers to put up in my kitchen. My brain works better with one of those. I now have an apron. I found one today at the Inca market. I’ve figured out how the washing machine works. I usually use the “rapido” cycle because it only takes an hour to wash on that cycle.  The “algodon” cycle takes one hour and 20 minutes! I know where to shop for things that I need. I can get there and buy them by myself if I need to. It will really feel like home when Carter gets back. Home, for me, is wherever he is, whether we are in St. David, Arizona or Lima, Peru.

The friend I was with today told me she would never go anywhere without her husband for the first 2 or 3 months they were here. Now she can go out on her own with no problem. There’s hope for me! We’ve been here for 2 weeks today.

Thanks, Heavenly Father for hearing my prayers and for keeping me, and Carter, safe today. “Thou art” so very good to me.

Written by Faye