10 year old gets a FaceLift!

Most 10 year olds do not get a facelift, but Peru Mission did!  We are just 10 years old, but recognized that our website was a bit dated.  So, we started from scratch and created a new website.  It reflects our work that we are doing here in Trujillo and hopefully will serve you well also.  Check us out and see what we are doing here in Peru and how you too can be a part of furthering the Lord's kingdom.  You can donate online, sign up for a short term team, or review our job openings to be a more permanent part of our mission.  Get to know our missionaries that are here in Peru and the ones that are preparing to join us soon.  Read more about our ministries and how we are changing lives.  Browse around and catch a glimpse of life in Peru.


http://www.perumission.org/

No Arms, No Legs, No Limits

What do you call a man with no arms and no legs?  The old joke says a Matt, but I say a gift from God.  Nick Vujicic from Austraila was in Trujillo Monday night.  I went to see him at the soccer stadium with a group from Church.  We had a great time!  He is indeed an inspiration and it was exciting to see so many Christians gathered together to hear what he had to say. 

I went with a group of friends, including Briggith and Kati pictured below.

It was cold out (notice we are bundled up in our coats), but worth it!  Before Nick spoke a Christian band from Columbia opened for him. 

After the band played for about an hour, Nick came out.  He is from Australia and so he had a translator. . . I knew the guy!  what a small world.  Here are some photos of Nick talking and his translator Dinko.  He uses the table as a stage as he shares the gospel.

Obviously we were way up, but you get the gist.  He has no arms, no legs, but is an amazing testament to what is important, "knowing who you are, why you are here, and where you are going when you leave this earth."  He preached the gospel clearly and distinctly and it was a wonderful night!  I was so glad to be able to share it with my Peruvian friends. 

If you get a chance to hear Nick talk, GO!  He does a great job of telling it straight to you.  One quote that resonated with me as he preached was that he thought that being from a broken home was way worse than being without arms or legs.  The family unit here is under attack and it was great to hear him talk about how God can heal those broken homes, He can heal anything!  It doesn't matter if you have no arms and legs or if you have no father. . . God is there for you.  You are never alone!  He loves us enough to send his only son to die for us on the cross.  A man who knew no sin died for us who are nothing but sin.  Thank you Jesus for coming to save us!  Thank you for sending a man like Nick, with no arms and legs to remind us of what is important. 

What do you call a man with no arms and no legs?  If he loves the Lord Jesus Christ and accepts Him as his savior, I call Him a brother, a Christian and a friend.  And I am thankful to have shared this night with my friends from Trujillo.

Bethel PCA Visit

Summer in the US is winter here.  So, as you all gear up for the beach and pool and holidays, several people are pulling out the long sleeves to come and serve in Peru.  Our first team of the summer was Bethel PCA from Lake Charles, Louisiana.  We enjoyed a week of fellowship with our friends and were able to tile the entire first floor of the medical clinic in Wichanzao. 

Pastor Steven Wright was kind enough to preach on Sunday at Cristo Rey, our new church plant.

Thanks so much to Bethel for your time with us in Peru!  It was a wonderful week for us here in Trujillo.

What has been happening?

Well, sometimes you just have to make a change.  We've had a lot of changes here in Trujillo.  Our Fellows left after 10 months and we have a new group for the months of June and July.  They are doing great!  The Boltons have returned home to pursue opportunities there.  We will miss them, but are so thankful for their faithful service the 3 years they were in Peru!  It has been busy here in Trujillo and Cajamarca with short term teams helping us accomplish many goals and supplementing our work here within our ministries.  And I am changing back to this blog.

I know, a lot of people like the old one, but this is much easier to update and put up photos and will hopefully keep you more informed!  Thank you for your prayers and support and being a part of what the Lord is doing here in Trujillo. 

The Blog is Moving!!!

Due to high demand, I am going back to my old blog.  If you are not familiar with it, please go to http://journals.worldnomads.com/alleen/default.aspx and check it out.  If you cannot get the link to open, just google Lucille's Adventures and you should find it.  Another option is to delete the "default.aspx" from the address and try to type it in.  Please continue to keep in touch.  I always love hearing from my friends and family.  I am so thankful for such a fantastic support group!  

Hasta Pronto!

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!