After four days of traveling on a bus through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru we finally made it to Lima. It wasn't an easy trip but God helped us through it all and we had fun. But the bus rides weren't over yet. We still had to make it to Machu Picchu. From Lima we went on another bus for 24 hours to reach cusco and from cusco we took another bus for 7 hours and then had to hike for two and a half hours to make it to Aguascalientes. From there it's another two hour hike up Machu Picchu. But we made it! And it was fantastic. We've definitely learned to make the best of our time no matter where we are and no matter what happens. When we got to Lima Sam's bag went missing and never came up. He spent the last two weeks of the trip with the same clothes and of course some of Nicholas' clothes that fit him. Spending four days in a bus and losing your bag can easily get frustrating and extremely tiresome but I didn't hear Nicholas or Sam complain once. On the contrary we had a wonderful time. And made the best of every situation. 

  I can't express or write how excited we were when we made it up Machu Picchu. God is so faithful and so full of adventure! He's the best Father and friend we could ever have. It was fantastic! 

    Although reaching Machu Picchu was amazing I know that the greatest memories I'll have from this trip won't be when we got there but our journey to get there. The places that God took us and the people He brought us to. The friendships wee built and the amount we've grown. The different ways God showed Himself to us and the ways He challenged us. I keep falling more and more in love with God everyday!

  So the journey home has begun. We went back to Lima and spent a few days there. We met and prayed for a variety of different people. From a monk to street evangelists to a blind beggar to teenage girls to Chilean backpackers. It's amazing the different kinds of people you can meet in jut a few days. 

  Sam left on the 24th. Nicholas and I spent the night at the airport with him and sent him off at 3 am. It wasn't easy letting him go. We miss him a lot.

     It's just me a Nicholas now and to make it back to Colombia we had to go through all those bus rides again. We talked with the Ulloa family here in Colombia and after praying and talking about it we decided to go back to Santa Marta. They've been doing some construction and farming up there and said we could come and join. It's been a long trip but thanks to God border crossing was easy and nothing went wrong. We even made friends with the bus drivers and were invited to have meals with them. 

    We finally made it to Santa Marta and It feels so good to be back in Colombia. It's become very familiar. And It feels even better to be with the Ulloa family once again. They have become family to us. It's like another home. :) we will most likely be in Santa Marta for about three weeks and then head back to Bogota where the rest of the Ulloa family are. Nicholas and I still don't have our tickets back to Costa Rica but from the way things are going it looks as if we won't be heading back till the mid/end of November. 

  God is amazing! It's not difficult to see that. His greatness is shown in all creation! And His love for each one of us is so great! If only others could see it. If only the world could open their eyes and see how great Gods love is for them. 

         Love you all and thank you so much for all your prayers and support. Your the best!!

                             Chrystel :)