I'm so sorry for my lack of postings in the last two weeks. I have been on the go nonstop and have spent more nights on a bus than I care to count. Tonight, I'm on the bus again traveling to Huancayo to meet with the teams serving in Los Angeles and San Jose de Quero.
I can not wait to see them! I excited to hear about what the Lord is doing in the villages, what He is teaching the students, and their vision for the next month.
The purpose of our time is to encourage, rest, take hot showers, call family and friends, update blogs, eat food that they aren't preparing and hopefully catch a movie too.
When I get home at the end of the week I'll post ministry updates on all 5 teams.
Saturday, July 2
Tuesday, June 14
Los Angeles Update
Praise the Lord!! In an area where the work has been very slow and at times very difficult, the Lord is opening doors that Immanuel Community Church and others have been praying for.
The Lord is using the giftings and skills of each student in a unique way to build relationships and share the Gospel. Amy is teaching the ladies to knit twice a week and while they are all gathered together, she shares a Bible story with them. Jillian has created ESL (English as a Second Language) materials and is teaching 3 days a week in the elementary school and may be able to teach two more days a week in the high school. Each lesson focuses on a Bible story and the kids have a verse to go home and learn at night. Frank is volunteering in the local clinic helping the town nurse. The nurse is new to town and was overwhelmed by the amount of work. She is very excited that Frank is able to help her. He is able to interact and build relationships with so many people! Dwight is helping Jillian and teaching some of the ESL classes and has plans to lead a basketball camp for kids. Brad is working away in the fields alongside the men of the village during harvest season.
As the beginning of their time in Los Angeles was shared with me, I was blow away by the ways the Lord is using the giftings of each person in a unique way to build relationships with people, to share the love of Christ and be able to share the Gospel.
They have had at least 1 bible study at night with a group of local believers.
Please continue to lift up this team as they faithfully serve way up in the Andes Mountains.
The Lord is using the giftings and skills of each student in a unique way to build relationships and share the Gospel. Amy is teaching the ladies to knit twice a week and while they are all gathered together, she shares a Bible story with them. Jillian has created ESL (English as a Second Language) materials and is teaching 3 days a week in the elementary school and may be able to teach two more days a week in the high school. Each lesson focuses on a Bible story and the kids have a verse to go home and learn at night. Frank is volunteering in the local clinic helping the town nurse. The nurse is new to town and was overwhelmed by the amount of work. She is very excited that Frank is able to help her. He is able to interact and build relationships with so many people! Dwight is helping Jillian and teaching some of the ESL classes and has plans to lead a basketball camp for kids. Brad is working away in the fields alongside the men of the village during harvest season.
As the beginning of their time in Los Angeles was shared with me, I was blow away by the ways the Lord is using the giftings of each person in a unique way to build relationships with people, to share the love of Christ and be able to share the Gospel.
They have had at least 1 bible study at night with a group of local believers.
Please continue to lift up this team as they faithfully serve way up in the Andes Mountains.
San Jose de Quero Update
The San Jose de Quero team is digging in and getting started in minstry. Today was their first day to teach English in the schools. They've had requests from Sulcan, a neighboring town, to teach the Bible to Lydia and her family. My friend Hector lead Lydia to the Lord a little over a hear ago. She is always eager to sit and study when we go to visit.
Many of the ladies in Quero also want to study the Bible in small groups. Please pray for the summer missionaries as they prepare lessons to teach and build relationships with the ladies of Quero.
This is the beginning of harvest season in Peru. The guys have been out in the fields helping harvest potatoes (by hand). There are no tractors here! It is hard work, but the people are so appreciative of the help and it immediately builds trust and relationships.
When I talked to the team last night, everyone was in good spirits and excited about this week.
Please continue to lift up this awesome team as the Lord continues to open up opportunities to share the Gospel, encourage believers and faithfully serve.
Thursday, June 9
Recuay Update
This is a blog post "borrowed" from Amber, a summer missionary serving in Recuay. She served with REAP North last summer in the same province of Peru, about 2 hours from Recuay. This is such a great testimony to the power of prayer!
What an incredible three days so far in Recuay.
After a seemingly short 8-hour bus ride to Huaraz (thanks to Dramamine and an INCREDIBLE original story by the amazing Andrew Harper), we got settled into our hostel and went out to dinner in a city that is SO different from last summer I can´t even begin to explain it. Last year, Huaraz was a place of darkness and oppression... The spiritual warfare there was so PHYSICALLY evident... And this year - joy. light. peace. I´m constantly amazed at the difference prayer makes.
On Tuesday we took a combi (think 15-passenger bus with at least 22 crammed in) to Recuay - only about 30 minutes away - and as we were moving into our home for the summer, three little girls and two boys came up and said HOLA! and we introduced ourselves and said we were here for the summer to teach English and tell stories about Jesus. I asked if they wanted to hear a story right then, and they enthusiastically said YES! So, we plopped down on the curb and started telling the story of how Jesus told His disciples to let the little children come to Him. It was beautiful. They were spellbound. and I KNOW it wasn´t me and my broken Spanish. Praise the Lord for His Holy Spirit who gives us the words to say when we need it! We sang songs and danced and played a game with their volleyball (which we accidentally lost in the stream a couple of times) - that´s what ministry in Peru is all about. Just meeting people where they are and sharing stories of God´s love.
Our team dynamics are incredible. These girls have become some of my best friends already. We compliment each other and build each other up constantly. Each night we meet together for prayer and singing praise songs and debriefing the day. We have a Post-It note calendar on one wall of our living room area (and by the way - when I say living room, I mean, blank room with a blanket on the floor as our ¨sitting¨ area. Couches are noticably absent here.) and each day we take down the Post-It note for the day and write words that describe the day as a reminder of the SHORT amount of time we are here - to make the most of every moment.
And speaking of making the most of every moment, please pray that physical sickness and homesickness would NOT distract us from the work God has us here for. Several on the team have already been struggling with stomach problems and with sinus infections - it´s HOT during the day and FREEZING at night - and that makes focusing on the mission at hand pretty difficult. So pray! God has been so faithful already! Today we are ALL feeling so much better than yesterday thanks to PRAYER. So keep it up!
Also pray for our willingness to be uncomfortable. Peru is very different from the United States - in some beautifully refreshing ways and in some potentially distracting ways. It´s great to have such a laid-back atmosphere to serve in, but that also poses a challenge in being intentional and feeling like we´re not doing anything of importance some days. The sun is gorgeous here and the skies are almost always blue - but that also brings with it some pretty annoying sunburn. The food is delicious... but I´m sure you can imagine that it is pretty different from American food and therefore sometimes wreaks havoc on our systems. So pray that as we are uncomfortable we will remember that we are NOT called to comfort. The life of a disciple of Christ is not meant to be easy or painless. So pray we will DAILY deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him - whatever that means.
And pray for FOCUS. For the countless opportunities to serve here not to overwhelm us. That we would have discernment to SEE where God is working and JOIN Him wholeheartedly in that work. That we would not waste our time on vain pursuits but would run passionately after the Lord, desiring Him alone.
And this is my prayer for the summer - for us in Peru as well as for all of you... That we would sing as David did,
Oh God, YOU are MY GOD. Earnestly I seek You.
My soul thirsts for You.
My flesh faints for You as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary, beholding Your power and glory.
Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You.
So I will bless You as long as I live. In Your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise You with joyful lips,
When I remember You upon my bed, and meditate on You in the watches of the night.
For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to You. Your right hand upholds me.
Psalm 63:1-8
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| Amber (Recuay), Kiersten (San Jose de Quero) and Mary (Recuay) |
What an incredible three days so far in Recuay.
After a seemingly short 8-hour bus ride to Huaraz (thanks to Dramamine and an INCREDIBLE original story by the amazing Andrew Harper), we got settled into our hostel and went out to dinner in a city that is SO different from last summer I can´t even begin to explain it. Last year, Huaraz was a place of darkness and oppression... The spiritual warfare there was so PHYSICALLY evident... And this year - joy. light. peace. I´m constantly amazed at the difference prayer makes.
On Tuesday we took a combi (think 15-passenger bus with at least 22 crammed in) to Recuay - only about 30 minutes away - and as we were moving into our home for the summer, three little girls and two boys came up and said HOLA! and we introduced ourselves and said we were here for the summer to teach English and tell stories about Jesus. I asked if they wanted to hear a story right then, and they enthusiastically said YES! So, we plopped down on the curb and started telling the story of how Jesus told His disciples to let the little children come to Him. It was beautiful. They were spellbound. and I KNOW it wasn´t me and my broken Spanish. Praise the Lord for His Holy Spirit who gives us the words to say when we need it! We sang songs and danced and played a game with their volleyball (which we accidentally lost in the stream a couple of times) - that´s what ministry in Peru is all about. Just meeting people where they are and sharing stories of God´s love.
Our team dynamics are incredible. These girls have become some of my best friends already. We compliment each other and build each other up constantly. Each night we meet together for prayer and singing praise songs and debriefing the day. We have a Post-It note calendar on one wall of our living room area (and by the way - when I say living room, I mean, blank room with a blanket on the floor as our ¨sitting¨ area. Couches are noticably absent here.) and each day we take down the Post-It note for the day and write words that describe the day as a reminder of the SHORT amount of time we are here - to make the most of every moment.
And speaking of making the most of every moment, please pray that physical sickness and homesickness would NOT distract us from the work God has us here for. Several on the team have already been struggling with stomach problems and with sinus infections - it´s HOT during the day and FREEZING at night - and that makes focusing on the mission at hand pretty difficult. So pray! God has been so faithful already! Today we are ALL feeling so much better than yesterday thanks to PRAYER. So keep it up!
Also pray for our willingness to be uncomfortable. Peru is very different from the United States - in some beautifully refreshing ways and in some potentially distracting ways. It´s great to have such a laid-back atmosphere to serve in, but that also poses a challenge in being intentional and feeling like we´re not doing anything of importance some days. The sun is gorgeous here and the skies are almost always blue - but that also brings with it some pretty annoying sunburn. The food is delicious... but I´m sure you can imagine that it is pretty different from American food and therefore sometimes wreaks havoc on our systems. So pray that as we are uncomfortable we will remember that we are NOT called to comfort. The life of a disciple of Christ is not meant to be easy or painless. So pray we will DAILY deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him - whatever that means.
And pray for FOCUS. For the countless opportunities to serve here not to overwhelm us. That we would have discernment to SEE where God is working and JOIN Him wholeheartedly in that work. That we would not waste our time on vain pursuits but would run passionately after the Lord, desiring Him alone.
And this is my prayer for the summer - for us in Peru as well as for all of you... That we would sing as David did,
Oh God, YOU are MY GOD. Earnestly I seek You.
My soul thirsts for You.
My flesh faints for You as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary, beholding Your power and glory.
Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You.
So I will bless You as long as I live. In Your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise You with joyful lips,
When I remember You upon my bed, and meditate on You in the watches of the night.
For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to You. Your right hand upholds me.
Psalm 63:1-8
Tuesday, June 7
Orientation Recap
All of the students have either arrived at their final destination, or should be there within the hour. We had an incredible four days of orientation. It included teaching on Bible Storying, world view, mountain culture, spiritual preparedness, discipleship, evangelism, cooking from scratch and many more. We really packed in a lot and tried not to overwhelm anybody!
It was so fun for me to watch the students bond. Not just with their teammates but with other students they won't see again until the end of the summer. It seemed like a group was always playing Banana-grams during the breaks. Other sat and laughed, played guitar and sang, took mini naps when they could.
As the village teams departed on Sunday and Monday, there was a sense of peace that they are where the Lord wants them this summer. I was brought to tears as the last group departed Lima yesterday thinking about all they are going to experience and learn, how the Lord is going to shape them, what and impact this summer will have on their lives and the light that they are going to be to the people around them. I am humbled to have the opportunity to be a small part of what the Lord is doing with these 25 amazing students.
It was so fun for me to watch the students bond. Not just with their teammates but with other students they won't see again until the end of the summer. It seemed like a group was always playing Banana-grams during the breaks. Other sat and laughed, played guitar and sang, took mini naps when they could.
As the village teams departed on Sunday and Monday, there was a sense of peace that they are where the Lord wants them this summer. I was brought to tears as the last group departed Lima yesterday thinking about all they are going to experience and learn, how the Lord is going to shape them, what and impact this summer will have on their lives and the light that they are going to be to the people around them. I am humbled to have the opportunity to be a small part of what the Lord is doing with these 25 amazing students.
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| Not pictured: Javier (translator) and Aracelli (translator) |
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| Not pictured: Vladimir (translator) |
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| Not pictured: Noime (translator) and Humberta (translator) |
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| Not pictured: Gladys aka Mama G (translator) |
Monday, June 6
And they were sent out
Today is the day the students have been looking forward to since they landed in Lima. It's travel day to their ministry site and time to start getting settled in for the summer.
Yesterday afternoon the Chancay River Valley Team departed with a Strategy Coordinator Church from Somerset, Kentucky.
Today the rest of the teams depart. The Iquitos girls should be sitting on their plane right now preparing for take-off to Iquitos. It was an early morning, but that didn't cramp their style. They drove off with huge smiles on their faces, brimming with excitement.
In about 2 hours I'll take Recuay to the bus station and at noon it will be San Jose de Quero and Los Angeles teams turn.
The Lord has gone before these students preparing the way and I can not wait to see what HE does in their ministry sites and in the lives of the students.
As updates and prayer requests come in, I'll update the blog.
Yesterday afternoon the Chancay River Valley Team departed with a Strategy Coordinator Church from Somerset, Kentucky.
Today the rest of the teams depart. The Iquitos girls should be sitting on their plane right now preparing for take-off to Iquitos. It was an early morning, but that didn't cramp their style. They drove off with huge smiles on their faces, brimming with excitement.
In about 2 hours I'll take Recuay to the bus station and at noon it will be San Jose de Quero and Los Angeles teams turn.
The Lord has gone before these students preparing the way and I can not wait to see what HE does in their ministry sites and in the lives of the students.
As updates and prayer requests come in, I'll update the blog.
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