McKenzie Strickland

Home isn't a place where you grew up. Home isn't where you lay your head to rest every night. Home is where you feel your purpose in the world, where your heart feels so fulfilled that it could come right out of your chest, where you can't seem to wipe that stupid smile off your face. For me, home is Lima, Peru, approximately 3200 miles from where I currently live today. I've only been to Peru once in my life, on a mission trip in July 2017, but as soon as I stepped onto the dusty ground of that crazy city, I knew I was addicted. That week, I was inspired by the joy of the people who had almost nothing to their names. I was mesmerized by the towering cliffs and rocky beaches that line the coast. I was captivated by the go-with-the-flow culture. Despite the awful mattresses, dirty water, and near death experiences, I felt I was living my best life every moment that I spent in Peru. The faces I met and the stories I heard there are what keep me motivated every day. My goal is to be fluent in Spanish by the time I graduate from college and immediately hop on a plane back to my favorite place as soon as I possible can. Once I get back to my home, I believe I'll feel whole once again, and my physical body will reunite with my heart, which will forever reside in Lima.