Lambrama and Alis

During the early parts of May I spent a week in a village called Lambrama and later in the month a week in the village of Alis. I dealt with some sickness in the middle of these trips which made the time spent in each place a little shorter than I had hoped. But I the Lord was moving.

It was in Lambrama that I saw some of the most amazing things I have yet seen in Peru. Set between and surrounded by enormous mountains this place reminded me of the beauty of His creation and we were in awe of his majesty each and every day just by opening our door to see outside. After only a short time there we recognized God working. A young woman named Celia came to the Lord... Praise God for using us to share the gospel with her and to begin the process of discipleship. We made a solid relationship with a man named Dino and encouraged him in his walk with the Lord, we recognized in him a potential for a leader and strong christian male presence which is key to seeing the Church rise up. Through him we met a lady named Josefa who was over 100 years old. We helped in giving her a bath, cleaning the blankets that she slept on, and tidying the small room she inhabits. It was life-giving for me to have the chance to help Josefa in such a tangible way. She truly needs our prayers because she sometimes goes without food or care for days when Dino is not in town. He is the only person who is committed in aiding her and making meals to take to her home. Josefa is so desperate and in a given day mostly thinks about her desire for death to come quickly. We told her of the gospel and that there is a hope for the hopeless. We shared out of obedience not knowing if she would understand. For we trust that the Word does not return void. For all that happened there I am so very thankful. Please say a pray for these people and this village.

My time in Alis was also a blessing in several ways and I'd like to share a couple of those ways. The first is a blessing that reoccurs in most any place I go but I long to never take it for granted. The Lord's creation is in a word, marvelous. I have never seen a place as beautiful as this place in my entire existence. Yet again I was overwhelmed with the beauty I saw in the mountains, trees, rivers, birds, flowers. Thank you Creator. The second is the beauty that I saw in His people. The believers who lead a group in the town are named Juan and Delia. These people are the most solid believers I have met in Peru. Individuals earnestly seeking the will of the Lord. Looking to scripture to receive wisdom and understanding on what the life a follower should look like. These folks challenge and encourage me in my own walk. And though we are from starkly different backgrounds I found myself talking to them about the same issues that I often deal with in my own life. Again, I can only be thankful for a chance to have spent time in places like this with people like that.

Mad love

On the road again soon

Well my dear friends. Since the last time I updated you much has happened. I served for a month in the village of Bella Union. Some wonderful things happened there including quality time and bible study with some believers there. The Lord used us to get them to start coming together as the church again before we left. It was one of the first time that I have seen some really tangible things that the Lord did in a village. It was hard to leave the people that we had been spending our time with but it was also really neat and comforting to know that even if we never saw them again we would be in Heaven together.

The time in Bella Union also brought on some adversity. We had some folks we were staying with who came up against our work and discouraged us. We tried to be a light to this family but it wasn't easy. From this situation I am learning even more about what it is to love people and to love them unconditionally. Even if they are coming up against you or if they are hard to love. The Lord was speaking to me a lot with 1 John 4. It talks a lot about what it truly means to love others and what it looks like. I still have so much to be taught and I am looking forward to the Lord sharpening me and molding me even more. I am praying for a humble Spirit and one that does not resist changes that He wants to make with me.

This break brought about another amazing experience as I got to take a trip with some dear friends up north to the beach. We were able to relax and enjoy the beach and the breeze. God's creation is unbelievably amazing and we were thankful to enjoy it and rest in Him. Part of this trip was to celebrate a last few days with a friends who headed to Haiti just this morning. I am so thankful for his life and I am praying for him as he enters a whole new environment where he will serve for at least 6 months. I am now prepping to head back out again, most likely tomorrow afternoon. God is so good in continuing to bless me with opportunities and ways to serve here. Pray for us as we learn about the work that the Lord has for us in this new village in the department of Cusco. Pray that we will dive into the work. Update coming again as soon as possible.

MAD LOVE

I was reminded of this passage as I wrote today:

"I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind."

-Luke 6:35-36 (The Message)

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

Rapìdo

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to give you a quick update. We are headed to Chupa this afternoon for our last week or so there. I ask that you would pray for us because tomorrow (Sunday) we will be meeting with some believers in a village outside of the one where we live to encourage and train them. Pray also that we would be able to encourage and share with those in Chupa. It has been a sort of slow with ministry but we are praising God for this opportunity and planting seeds. I will be in touch again soon.

Mad Love

Back to the Mountains at Last

It's been quite a while since I updated everyone. I have spent the last few months in Lima and also took a short trip to the states to spend some time with my family in Florida. It has been a wonderful time or reflection over the past year and enjoying time with my teammates. It was so life giving to vacation in Florida for the holidays. I got to see a couple of college friends who came down as well. The Lord knew that I needed that time to get filled up on my love tank and get lots of hugs from people that mean so much to me.

During January we spent a couple of weeks training a new group of semester volunteers that will be serving with us through May. I am not actually serving with any of them but it was great to pour into them about the work in the mountains and where we have seen the Lord working. I am excited to hear about their experiences in the coming months. As for me, I am heading out early in the morning to serve for a few weeks in the department of Puno in a town called Chupa.

I have a few prayer requests for you guys as I head out. One of the things that I have become apprehensive about some during my time here is team dynamic. I know how important it is to have team members with the same heart and common goals so that the Lord can use us in the most effective way. I have been on teams where that hasn't always come naturally or some issues have surfaced. I ask you to pray that the Lord would knit us together in such a way that we compliment each other a uphold one another. We want the people not to just hear about Christ with our words but to see it in the ways that we love one another.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

-John 13:34-35

I will be back in Lima for a brief time in early March and will look forward to updating you guys about this trip and what will be coming up for me. Mad love you all!