Hello All,

Whew! I just sat down and read through all of your blogs. We've got a pretty dynamic team heading down to Peru and I'm excited about that. My name is Benjamin Veale and most people call me Benny V. You can call me just about whatever you want. I'm going to be Co-leading the team with Scottie and I actually haven't even met her yet or talked to her yet. Scottie, if you're reading this, how about I get on that and give you a call soon! Anyway one week ago today was my first day back in the United States since the middle of January. I was out in India and Nepal with a small group of guys and I can fill you in on all of that later. Regardless, I came back a week ago and was planning on heading back up to Northern Michigan (so I do actually know where Phillips, WI is) to work for the summer. However, God had some different options for me and has lead me here. I look forward to seeing what God does in each of our lives and I look forward to meeting you all in a few weeks! Here's some tidbits about me for now to hold you over:

-My parents moved up to Alberta, Canada for 6 years with my 4 older brothers to work at a missionary college...That's where I was born.

- I turned 27 this past March which I guess makes me the old man on the trip :)

-Sports. I'm pretty stoked that so many people going are into sports. I've been addicted to sports in a mostly healthy way since I came out of the womb! I look forward to playing anything and everything with you all this summer.

-I've got a degree in Elem. Education with minors in Math, Science, History and an extra certification in Social Studies.

-Coming into college I had never been out of the country...actually, I had never been south of Chicago.

-In the past five years I've stepped foot in like 40 states and 30 countries.

-I'm in the process of drinking a gallon of chocolate milk...The rest of the world just doesn't understand dairy and I love it!!

-I grew up in a musical family even though I don't quite have the skill of many of my relatives. Regardless, I enjoy music and I used to play the trumpet but it's been YEARS...now I dabble with the guitar, piano and djembe.

-I've been kinda kicked out of a couple countries as well...

-I taught, coached and managed a radio station on an island in the Bering Sea where there were more Reindeer than people...and yes, they clubbed seals there.

-I've "marked my territory" in a number of places that I shouldn't write about in a public blog.

-I sometimes rely on my personality instead of discipline.

-I have a huge heart for people and I was born to be a lover...yet, I'm still learning what it means to be loved and to love.

-A couple weeks ago I saw a tiger in the wild while I was on foot.

-I've never been to a Christian school or really had any formal training but God keeps drawing me into His romance and away from the religiosity of living by the written law.

-I've come from a family full of strengths and our "strength" has been one of our biggest weaknesses. Likewise, pride and lust have been huge battles in my life.

-For most of my life I was affected by a scar of believing I was inadequate. I later grew to realize that the root of it was that I wanted to believe that there were parts of me that were adequate without Him. I'm still trying to live a life that reflects the truth that I was completely inadequate without Him and am completely adequate with Him.

-I'm a detriot fan all the way so seeing my Red Wings lose game seven the other day was crushing...but for once my Lions look promising...that is if there ends up being a football season!

Well...there's a start anyway. Now I'm going to try to look you guys up on Facebook and become "real friends" :)

I look forward to meeting you all soon.