It's Official

I have two pieces of news which I would like to relinquish. These pieces of news are contradictory so just bear with me. My first announcement is: Thanks to countless amazing contributers I am officially a little ($5) over halfway to my required goal of  $3890. I would really like to thank people who have donated, either with their time or their money. You know who you are, give yourselves a pat on the back or have someone else do it for you. 


My second piece of news: My trip will not be restrained because of financial reasons. When I first decided to go my parents told me that they would pay me up to half of the required amount. I have earned more than half of the required amount, so technically, I am fully funded. Even though I am no longer restrained by finances I am still looking for donations. 


I would like to thank all contributers once more. Your prayers have meant the world to me. This trip wouldn't be possible without you.    


If you wish to donate but you are looking for other options wonderful Grandmother has shipped me a ton (55 bars) of soap that I will start selling soon for $3 a bar. If purchasing merchandise isn't your thing I will soon raffle off a quilt that my other Grandmother has made me. 
God bless you all.

Information Regarding The Purpose of This Blog: And In Other News, Hello!

Hello Readers!
Now that my first order of business has been established (saying hello) I will begin to layout the purpose of this blog. The number one purpose of this blog will be to let people know news regarding my trip to Peru (more news on that as soon as it comes) I will use this blog to release information regarding where I am currently in regards to funding and what I am doing to prepare for the trip. While I am in Peru I will mail letters to my parents (my goal is one per day) who will then post the unabridged contents of the letters to my blog.

The second purpose of the blog is a bit more personal. I just need a place where I can "vent" my thoughts regarding the trip. Most of the posts in between my information releases will be along these lines. At times I may post something unrelated to the trip, but I will try to save those posts for a different blog.

Regarding the name of my blog: As you, the reader, have most likely apprehended,  the name of the blog might be considered, "odd." I am neither Peruvian nor much of an entrepreneur. The name does not exactly "roll off the tip of the tongue" either. The main reason I chose such a name is: I wanted the acronym for the name to be, "APE".

Obligatory Vague Post Regarding Trip Information

I have some news. Some of it good, some of it bad.

                  First of all, recently I decided that I was going to completely turn my life around. Two of the choices involved in that situation were one, the choice to attend PEP and two, the choice to read Do Hard Things. Do Hard Things was a fantastic book and I really learned a lot from it. Thanks to that book I made a choice to do something I never though I would do before: Go on a missions trip.

               This summer, through Teen Missions International, I will be going on a trip (around 6 weeks long including the time spent in boot camp) that will take me to the country of Peru. While there I will most likely be building a dorm for the Jesús Mi Buen Pastor Children’s Home, a few miles outside the Puerto Maldonado.

                  Here's the bad news. The trip will cost me very large amount of money. I am not going to name specifics for various reasons, but the sum is considerable. My generous parents are providing up to half of the amount needed, but I will have to raise the other half. My goal is to raise the entire amount. My first order of business will be collecting donations. Any donation would be fantastically helpful, and if you don't have any money to spare the gift of prayer would help me tremendously. If you want any more information you could either comment here or send me a private message.

Thanks!