And the Journey Begins!

I've made it to Guatemala!  My biggest concern was what would my family be like?  They are great!  And the school is too so far, even though classes do not start until Monday!

I arrived in Guatemala City.  Raquel from Casa Xelaju met me and drove me to the bus station and got my ticket.  She told me the bus ride would be 4 to 5 hours!  whew. . . didn't realize it was that far.  She was so kind though, she had brought me some fruit for a snack.  She made sure I was all set and then left.  The bus station was more of a bus on the side of the road and a counter.  I took pictures, but will have to figure out where to post so you can see what I've done.  Likely my picassa account?  

It was an interesting bus ride.  Long, bumpy and cold.  I still managed to sleep as I was pretty tired from my week of 12 hour days moving and trying to leave the country.  And then I got up today at 4 am.  The time is the same. . . so it is almost midnight as I write this.  And for that it will be short!  The ride was beautiful, but the roads were not.  They are trying to work on them so it was switchback turns to go up to Xela (approximately 7600ft elevation).  The bus driver took them quite fast, which made for an interesting ride or sometimes a wake up call just in case you had nodded off.  And it rattled like the tire irons in the back of my jeep on Easter Island, I had the same immediate thought. . . dirt/gravel roads with bumps or holes all in them and constant rattling.  It was great though.  I was the only gringo on the bus.  I loved watching the countryside.  And since we didn't leave until 3 pm, I got to watch the sunset and it was spectacular.  Then it was dark and you could watch as the valley lit up like the stars had fallen from the sky into the valley.  And we were finally home to Xela.  And at a very similar bus station.

Jaime (pronounced Hi-me) from Casa Xelaju and Lewis met me and brought me to the family where I am staying.  The mother's name is Esperanza (which means Hope--I like that and it is the name of the orphanage in Peru) and the father is Geraldo.  They have 2 sons -- Ronnie (19) and Jason (21).  There are 3 other students here.  One is from South Korea and then a couple from Canada.  We had dinner together and then I joined them very briefly in town to meet one of their teacher's at a local hangout.  I enjoyed their company and they were able to fill me in on the language schools (they are attending a different one) and the family we are staying with.  The house is nice.  It is like a hollow square.  Our rooms are all upstairs.  There is a den with a TV downstairs and the cocina (sp?--Kitchen) where we eat is also downstairs and the bano.  I got a lesson from Esperanza on the hot water which is tricky.  You turn it too far and it is cold.  It is COLD in Xela right now. . . I am bundled up in long johns, my silk sheet and then their sheets and bed linens, and blankets and a comforter.  Tonight the others were all talking about how cold it is in the mornings.  But Graham's teacher said in a week or so it will warm up. . . we'll see.  The last minute packing of long johns is a lifesaver so far!

The couple from Canada is leaving on Sunday, but the other student is staying for a few more weeks.  He has been here a while and seen several other students come and go. The food is good, the family is so kind, but doesn't speak much if any English.   So, it is a pretty good option so far.  I am very pleased.   Another answered prayer that my home would be good and that I would find nice people to be with!

Even as I lie in bed and type this, the part that is out of the covers is getting cold. . . my arms. . . and I am so tired!  So, until later this weekend, Adios!  

Thank you for praying me safely here, for a fabulous family and for all of your prayers!  Keep them coming.

Finally, it is here!

After six months from when I first started this journey to join Peru Mission, I am now ready to go.  The day is finally here!  I leave this Friday, January 30, to travel to Guatemala for language school.  I will be attending Casa Xela (pronounced "shay-loo") in Quetzelatango (my spelling is probably off, sorry).  I have never been to Guatemala and am excited about seeing the country, learning Spanish, and seeing what God has in store for me.  The Lord is sovereign and in control.  Where I am and when is all according to His divine plan.  

This process of raising funds, making plans to leave my home of over two years and live in another country for a couple of years requires a lot of planning, timing, etc.  And the Lord has provided abundantly for me.  What a faith builder to watch as He directs my path.  I was able to look at apartments while in Peru just a few weeks ago.  I found 2 that I loved and made an offer on one.  Everyone kept asking what would I do with my home here?  I had turned it over to the Lord.  He would show me what I needed to do.  I had a few ideas, but wasn't sure what it was I was supposed to do.  Less than 48 hours from arriving home, my apartment was rented for 18 months minimum to a great family.  Truly an aswered prayer!

I still need to find a home for my dog, Maggie (pictured above), and hopefully sell my car.  And yes, there are a thousand other minor details to do before the plane leaves Friday at 6:30 am!  But the Lord has brought me thus far and He will bring me home!  What a peace to know He is in control.  

Please be in prayer that the Lord will provide Maggie a home.  And that he will provide a buyer for my car.  And of course, that my transition to Guatemala will be easy in order for me to begin language school.  I pray that I am a quick student and that the Lord will give me an aptitude for learning a new language.

I am excited about this calling and honored to go and serve the Lord in Peru!  He is doing amazing things and I am excited about the opportunity to be a part of it.  Thank you for your support and prayers!

Please Come Back

When the buses rolled into camp one had a sign taped to the side: “Thank you very much Twin Lakes…Please Come Back.”  How many times did we hear this throughout the week? A team of 26 went from Jackson, MS to Trujillo, Peru to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the children of Peru and enjoy a week of Christian camping.  The result?  Request after request to please come back!

Our group arrived into Trujillo and began the work of preparing for camp.  We met at the Arevelo Church with the Peruvian church members from three churches:  Arevelo, Winchanzao and Larco.  Many of us had been here just a year before, but it was so encouraging to see how the Lord is working in this community.  The church is almost completed, including the fourth floor, and the neighboring clinic has begun construction.  Last year, the roads leading to Arevelo were all dirt.  This year several were paved.  The mayor of that community was so impressed with the church and clinic and what Peru Mission is doing there that he made sure the road was paved to allow easier access to these buildings.

We spent the day before camp meeting with the Peruvian church members—renewing old relationships and creating new ones.  It was a wonderful day of worship and preparation as we learned camp songs (the fifth and sixth catechism set to music) and reviewed the camp schedule and rules.  The ladies of the church treated us to a delicious lunch of lomo saltado, a Peruvian dish that is quite tasty!  In the afternoon, we traveled to Hogar de Esperanza (Home of Hope), the orphanage in Trujillo.  The children were so excited as we played and passed out treats.  One young lady, Juliana, was very excited to see us, but immediately shared how disappointed she was that she would be unable to come to camp due to her age.  She was one year older than our camp limit.  Juliana sang songs we taught them last year and hugged us and told of her desire to come to camp.  We could not turn one child away—so we spoke to the orphanage director and all 41 orphans were invited to camp!  What a blessing to reach out to these precious children who will devour any little bit of love and attention shown to them.

Camp was a huge success as we enjoyed four full days of sharing the gospel through each activity--whether it be the evangelism tent, crafts, sports, archery, horses, superfun games, the pool, or assembly time where we sang songs and listened as Paul Nasekos told of God’s creation. 

By our last day, we were sad to leave.  These people loved camp and asked several times if we were coming back. I am not sure of a day when I have been hugged by more people…even the staff that worked at the facility we rented gave hugs, took pictures and said thanks…everyone we came into contact with was impacted by what God had done that week. One of the Peruvian staff members was heard saying, "You people are changing our lives. Thank you."

Every day as the children arrived we would make a tunnel for them to run through…on Friday, as we got on the bus to leave, they made a tunnel for us to run through. I was asked so many times, "Are you coming back?”  We hope so. We hope some of you reading this will join us next year.  Peru Mission and the Peruvian churches would like us to expand this camp ministry to another city in the Andes Mountains of Peru as well as continue to run the camp in the desert. God has blessed this ministry in so many ways and we praise Him for what He has done.

Thank you, LORD, for allowing us to be part of this great work that you are doing in Peru.