Dear Phillies' Fans (living in Philly),

I dearly love your passion for your team and congratulations on the win. *ahem* However, when it is 2:30 in the morning on a weekday...it would then be time to CHILL OUT after 2 1/2 hours of partying in (aka destroying) your own dear city. Remember...you're paying for the tickets to the game, paying for the alcohol to get you so drunk you don't even remember it, paying for the HUNDREDS of police men working overtime, paying for the damage that you do to the city, paying for the extra clean up men working overtime, and yes, probably for some of you...will pay by losing your job from all of the stupidity you took part in during the wee-hours of the morning effecting your ability to perform in the real world during the day. So let's try to reign in the extreme levels you take to have a "good time"...because you certainly pay enough for it in the long run.

All of that to say...it was a long night of hearing 2 1/2 hours of solid screaming, yelling, honking, and glass breaking in the middle of the night last night.

Your soon-to-be fellow city dweller,
Jennifer

I leave this wonderful country on Saturday.

Wow...Anna, Andrew, and Mrs. Haas were certainly right when they told me that it was going to FLY by.

I apologize for not writing about my time down here during the actual stay. It isn't because of a lack of inspiration or topics to write about...it's the lack of words that can accurately describe and capture what I've witnessed and experienced. Every time I start to write...I'm at a loss for words...

As I wrote in an email a few weeks ago:

"Things in El Salvador are going wonderfully. I love the culture, the people, the ministry and the U.S. people serving down here. I have been trying to post something and every single time I come up empty of words that could somehow do justice to all that I'm witnessing and experiencing. It's been a pretty...emotional experience and I don't think that there was anything that could have prepared me for some of the things here. Nothing (that I know of...) in the States at least...I've been praying that He would give me the words and give me the wisdom about how and what to write to those back home in the States because the majority of the people that would be the recipients have no frame of reference for what I'd be saying. Most (of my 'audience') haven't been outside the States to see extreme poverty, malnournished babies, children, and whole families, and daily gang voilence. They are familiar with calling themselves poor by meaning under $50,000 income a year, there is rampant obesity in the average family, and the main source of violence being on the television. Because of this...I know that the words that I choose are very important on casting a light to try and open their eyes..."


Open our eyes Lord, open the eyes of the church to Your calling for them to be Your hands and feet!

We're under 100 days until I am MARRIED to ANDREW HAAS! 98 in fact. Thank you to all who have offered to help in so many ways! When I return I'll most probably be contacting you :D

I am used to the 'getting married' bit. That isn't the most overwhelming part...but it's when I connect it to the man I'm marrying that I just loose it and (still) get overwhelmed and begin to cry from extreme levels of joy. Lord, please maintain, guard and expand this joy that both Andrew and I have for You and for the love You've given us for each other.

I lovelovelove being able to tell him that I love him and I love just as much hearing that he loves me!

No more of this "I like you!" business when we really actually meant "I LOVE YOU!"

"I love the brilliant daylights out of you" has become a favorite phrase...

and to let you in on a little insider info....I have one VERY impatient and VERY ready to be married fiance on my hands here.