Firsts

I am safely in the village now and currently in a nearby village getting some groceries and using the internet. I have experienced a few firsts this time around and wanted to share:

- Desert/coast weather (so much different than mountains)
- Olives as the primary crop
- Wearing sandals without freezing or putting socks on with sandals
- Sweating day and night
- A huge back porch at the place where we are staying (such a blessing to read, journal, and have prayer time with my team)
- Internet nearby
- Warm shower

So much different from some of the places I have been before. I am counting it all as a blessings. What is huge and different in some ways about this place is how open and friendly the people have been with us. I am so looking forward to time with folks we have met including a number of believers. Pray for us as we continue to meet people and allow the Lord to use us. Pray that we can really dive into the work as we only have a few weeks.

Mad Love

OH YEAH... and GO CATS!!! I am cheering them on from here even though I hardly know what`s going on.

Bella Union

Well I wanted to let you guys know that I am heading to the town of Bella Union tomorrow. I have made part of my journey and will finish traveling tomorrow. I am excited to work again with Michelle and we are with a guy named Martin from Peru. We are excited to see what the Lord has in store for us there. A team from the states will be coming down to be with us in a couple of weeks. I have not worked with a states team in their village so I am looking forward to that time as well and talking with them about the work. Pray for us this month that we will be bold and sense the Lord's leading as we get to know the people and share.

MAD LOVE

Reflections on Chupa

Well I am back in Lima now for a short break after spending a month in the village of Chupa in the department of Puno. I have been able to spend some time reflecting on my time there and wanted to share with you guys some of the things that went on while I was there. The Lord has been teaching me lots lately so I wanted to share some of that too.

As you might know I spent my time in Chupa with another girl from the states named Michelle and a peruvian guy names Lidman. Things got off to a pretty slow start. It was hard for me because I think the people were least responsive or interested in talking with us and meeting us than any other place I had ever been. I am use to at least curiosity on the part of the people even if they may not want to talk to us about their beliefs. But curiosity about us didn't really seem to be there either. We continually prayed for God's direction and guidance in showing us where he could use us. We knew of a couple groups of believers that were meeting as the church in a couple of surrounding villages so we went in the first week to see if we could find some these folks and maybe spend some time sharing a encouraging them. We found a group of about 10 in a village called Chocos and in the village of Kututuni we found a pastor and he told us there was 20 meeting in their group. This was such a blessing to us and gave us a sense of purpose. We spent weekends visiting these groups. We told them bible stories and discussed the things we were learning from the stories. We challenged the believers to be obedient to those stories and to try and put them to memory so that they could share with family, friends, and neighbors. The response to the stories and our time with them was most positive. We thank the Lord for their hearts and desires to learn the Word. We will continue to be in prayer for these church groups. In the village of Chupa we were able to spend some time with individual believers and sharing with kids. We were also thankful for that time but we are praying that the Lord will really begin to move there and that the few believers will understand the need to meet with other believers and share the good news with those around them. My friend Lidman will continue to work their and prepare for a medical team that is coming to the states at the end of this month. We are praying for him. That he will find strength in the Lord and always follow after the Lord's guidance for the work.

The Lord was teaching me a lot this month about wisdom. I have been reading in Proverbs and also in 1 Samuel. I am seeing a lot of repetition about seeking wisdom and understanding. And not just the kind that gives you earthly knowledge or knowledge of things. But the knowledge that comes from God. The kind that allows us to truly seek after His own heart. The kind that allows us to show love and sincerity to those around us. I am still working through a lot of it and the repetition of it is really good for me in the scripture cause it is a constant reminder. I was also reading in 1 Samuel about how were are to seek first to the obedient to our God and his Word. To do what he is leading us to do to heed the things that He is teaching us. Obedience comes before all else including sacrifice and Saul had to learn that the hard way. I think that is such a huge lesson. Truly seeking obedience. The same day that I read about this my team and I were reading in Romans and there was a similar message in the passage. It is so cool how God affirms and reiterates in the New Testament ideas that he was using during the Old Testament. And in Romans this whole idea of being obedient to the Lord is taking us through this process that is sanctification. I am so thankful that the Lord is revealing, teaching, and walking with me in the this sanctification process.

Right now as I am here in Lima I am preparing to head out again soon. More than likely I will be on my way to the mountains again sometime this weekend. Pray for my teammate Michelle and I as we discern where the Lord is leading us to go and more than likely a new team member. I will update you all again once I know the location where we are headed and the name of my other team member.

MAD LOVE