Learning Experiences

Throughout the last six months that I have been in Peru, there have been numerous things that I have learned, for example: when the loud bell rings, it is time to take out the trash; when the Peruvians say that something will begin at one time, more than likely it will start about an hour later; don't ask what type of meat it is until after you have eaten it; and many others. Yet, with all of the things that I have learned, there always seems to something that I can learn each day.
Monday, Tessha and I woke up around 5:30 to go running with Jorgeth, an eighteen year old that Tessha has been witnessing to. After meeting up with her and beginning our run (more like a jog) she would stop and tell us to stop as well. This happened numerous times and I first thought that she was tired, but later on I realized the reason for her sudden stops. Peru is a land of wondering dogs who like to claim territory as their own and protect it from anything or any person that happens to get too close to their property line. After slowing down yet another time, the dogs close to us began to bark their warning for us to get off of their property, so we slowly crossed over to the other side of the street. After walking for a bit, we would pick up again with our jog until another unhappy owner would make it clear that we were invading on his territory. Many Peruvians could show you the marks of a prolonged visit with "man's best friend," but I prefer to forego such an adventure, and be glad that I got the lesson beforehand. Truly, each day brings it's new adventures along with it's many learning experiences.

Take my Hand and Lead my On

After walking for years down the road of life alone, what a glorious moment it was when my small, baby-sized hand slid into God’s mighty, guiding hand the day of my salvation. Throughout the years as we traveled, He never left my side and never let go of my hand. Oh, certainly there were times where, as a fascinated child, I tried to wriggle my little hand from His, but His firm grip held fast as the alluring pleasures slipped by ever so quickly. Numerous times His firm hold kept me from the fleeting pleasures of the world and directed me on the right path with eternal rewards in the end. With my reaching for the temporal, He constantly pulled me to Himself reassuring me of His capability to provide me with the best.
At times, I reluctantly followed my all-wise Leader, like a child being pulled away from a pet store window, and at other times, I charged ahead seemingly pulling my Guide to the next bigger and better thing. Yet, through it all, our hands never released their enjoined position. He put up with my fighting with a gentle tug drawing close His side.
Without worries or cares throughout part of our journey through life, our hands hung relaxed at our sides or swung happily in the air, yet those same hands could be seen later on in our journey with white knuckles – the times where allurements that I followed so quickly after did not make the difficult paths any easier.
At times, the path was slippery where I could not get a firm step in of my own and would stumble and fall, but my sure-footed Guide pulled me up those precarious paths with divine strength, and I would cling to Him vowing I would never again wander far from His side.
Yet, further down the road of life, after following my own desires, plans and dreams, I found myself without a foot-hold with a chasm below my dangling feet, and while over such an abyss crying for forgiveness, the strong hand of the Lord, continually with His hand securely holding mine, would again pull me safely to Himself. Throughout all the fascinations, the slippery paths, and the numerous times I stumbled and fell, my God was always there holding my hand and leading me on.
Throughout the path of life, as even now it winds and twists and the next step is not certain, I can walk with confidence with my hand in the mighty hand of my all-knowing Guide, knowing that He will never leave. With Him always by my side, I can face the difficult road with this prayer always on my lips: “Take my hand and lead me on.”

Cusco

Just three short days after getting back to Lima from Chinchil, the group and I were on the road again for other adventures. We took the hour long flight to Cusco instead of opting for the twenty-four hour long bus ride. (It took that long because it was all in the mountains weaving back and forth up the mountains.) We figured we spent enough time on the bus to Huacrachuco. Upon arriving in Cusco, we met up with Rachel Tarvin, a single missionary who lives in the seminary in Urubamba. She acted as our chauffeur and tour guide throughout Cusco, Urubamba, and Arin. With this trip to Cusco, we got to play tourist for six days. It was nice to relax in a different sort of way.
We attended classes at the seminary our first day and visited a famous pottery workshop. The following day we were able to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World: Machupicchu, an ancient Incan settlement nestled in the Andes Mountains. On our way back to the seminary, we crossed paths with Jake, a lone traveler from Michigan who immediately took us for missionaries, since we were young, happy Americans in Peru. We talked with him for a while and soon went our separate ways leaving him to find his cheap room for the night. After getting in the combi, our hearts sank as we realized what an opportunity we had to share the Gospel with him, yet we did not make it a main topic in our conversation. After getting back to the seminary, we decided that we would head out early in the morning to search for him. In a tourist town of about 12,000 people, the chances of finding Jake again were slim to none, but God answered our prayers with a “yes.” After talking with some teenagers about the Gospel, Caleb and I quickly began our way back to the plaza to meet up with the rest of our group. While coming up a hill, Jake was passing by on a cross-street. We quickly went up to him and invited him to see some ruins with our group. He accepted and ended up spending the entire day with us on Saturday. He even went back to the seminary with us and helped us clean out a storage room. We enjoyed our time with him and before he left, Caleb was able to share with him why we had wanted to find him again. Caleb was able to share the gospel message with Jake and exchange e-mail addresses as well. It was amazing to see how God worked everything out in his timing and how He allowed us another chance to talk to Jake again. We were reminded of how we ought always to take the opportunities to talk about God and His Word that we have, because we may not be given a second chance.
Sunday we were able to visit two different churches and participate in their services. Again, it was such a blessing to fellowship with other brothers and sisters in Christ. Monday we got to go whitewater rafting and enjoy being out on the river. We had a great guide who allowed us to play around carefully with the rapids and later on allowed us to jump off a bridge into the deep part of the river. We jumped from some Incan-placed rocks some sixteen feet above the water. It was a beautiful day to be outside, as the sun shone on our rocking raft. That night we were able to walk around the different plazas in Cusco. It was beautiful. The lamps in the plazas gave the sky a golden glow and folk music from the restaurants nearby could be heard. Later on, it began raining lightly, which caused the wet sidewalks to reflect the lamp’s glow. Tuesday we took a tour van to a place to ride horses to see different ruins around Cusco. The horses were not the tame animals that are normally used for tour groups, but now, after-the-fact, we enjoyed the heart-racing times when the horses would break into a gallop.
The trip to Cusco was our last trip together as a team for a while. We left Caleb in Urubamba to help missionary Tim Whattley and his family, while Janae and Rochelle left on Friday for Chimbote to work with Steve and Molly Stillwell. Tessha and I are staying in Lima for this time to work with our Peruvian father, the pastor of our church here in Ate. These next six months will be our time of internship where we will be able to put into practice what we have learned by taking part in teaching Sunday school, doing kids clubs, working with the youth group, having discipleship meetings, working at camp during the summer months of January and February, and independently studying our Spanish. I would appreciate your prayers as November and December are the slower months of our getting into this internship time. Pray that I will use my time wisely and work the hardest that I can in the tasks that God brings before me.

Chinchil

After getting to Josue’s house, we were all too excited to crawl into bed that night after hiking for the majority of the daylight hours. I stayed on the second floor of the mud house where all I had to worry about was making it safely up the ladder and not walking on the weak spots on the floor. The ones who slept on the main floor had other worries, like that of having the piglets trying to get into your room in the morning. There were three main buildings on Josue’s land: the building with all of the rooms (the two-story building), the building with the kitchen, storeroom, and dining room, and the little shack behind the hill (the outhouse). There was a faucet in the center of the area where all the water came from. There was no other running water besides that. After waking up in the morning and cautiously making it down the rickety ladder, I made my way through the mud, the chickens, piglets, and dogs to get ready for the morning with the ice cold water. I was thankful for the presence of water as opposed to having to haul the water from a stream.
The kitchen was a tiny room, big enough only for the stone stove, a little table, and a few people. The meals that came from the kitchen were delicious as we were able to have the meat right from their livestock. Mutton and pork were the staples. It was interesting to see them slaughter one of their sheep, since I had never seen the slaughtering and cleaning of an animal before. The dining room was another small room with three short tables in the shape of a “U.” We could fit about eight people in the room at a time, but whenever one person wanted to get out, everyone else, it seemed, had to leave the room. It was a time of close fellowship and we enjoyed our times around the tables.
Since the people live off of their land and their animals, animal noises could be heard throughout the day and the night. Donkey brays were heard around three in the morning, the rooster (I believe it must have been blind) would crow in about five minute intervals making it difficult to fall back asleep during the wee hours of the morning while pigs squealing and sheep bleating could be heard at any hour. It was quite a hilarious time listening to all the sounds of the night in the mountains. One night in particular as Tessha and I were about asleep, the donkey went off with the loudest brays I had ever heard. We both erupted into laughter as soon the rooster joined in to add the harmony to the lullaby.
It was a great experience in the mountains. The sights were unbelievable as looking through our window in the morning the clouds covered the nearest mountains, but as the day progressed, the clouds lifted showing the splendor of God’s creation. The mountains were speckled with herds of sheep and goats while the colorful clothes of the shepherds stood out against the green background. The majesty of the mountains is something impossible to describe, likewise the majesty of the Creator and our all-powerful God is something that no words can even come close to explain.

Ministry in Chinchil

While in Chinchil, we were able to have kids clubs for three days. Throughout those days, we covered the entire Gospel message starting with the first sin and finishing with the provision of eternal life for those who believe in Christ’s work on the cross. We had a great time with the children, but found some things to be more difficult in Chinchil than in Lima. For example, it was the first time that a pig had interrupted our kids club, and that it rained so hard on the tin roof that we could not be heard, but also a huge difference was that the children speak Quechua in their houses and learn Spanish in school, so the younger ones were at a disadvantage. Often times, the older siblings would be translating as we were teaching and talking with them. There were no decisions of salvation during that week, but we thank God for the opportunity we had to share the gospel with the people there.
Each night we had services in the small little mountain church. The first night, the village people were all standing outside the church with their flashlights waiting for the pastor to unlock the door. Once we were inside, we sat down on little benches about a foot off of the ground. Due to the loss of electricity, we used our flashlights through the whole service. It was a unique experience taking part in the services there, but a sweet time of fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Along with planning the lessons for the kids club, we also were in charge of getting the church ready for a wedding. Josue, the missionary in Chinchil was to be married while we were there, so we had the privilege of getting the church ready for the special day. Thankfully, the electricity came back on in time for the wedding after being off for about three days. We had an enjoyable time getting the church decorated and later on participating in the service. It was a unique situation as all five of us ARRIBA students took part in the ceremony without knowing the bride or the groom. It was a blessing to see the hearts of Josue and his wife ready to minister to the people of Chinchil together. It was a great week to see the work of Josue and to see the needs of the people in Chinchil.

On the Way to Chinchil

The ARRIBA team and I were able to take a trip to a beautiful mountain village along with eight other Peruvians from local churches in Lima. After traveling about twenty-four hours by bus, we stopped in Huacrachuco, a large city in the mountains. From Huacrachuco, the plan was to take a combi (a mini bus) for about two hours to meet up with some men from Chinchil with horses and mules. While in our combi ride, it began to rain and hail. The hail did not last very long, but a light rain continued as we were dropped off. The dirt roads quickly turned to mud and the realization that he horses and mules were not there made us quickly decide to begin walking with our luggage. The sun came out which made things a bit better, but the heavy burdens on our backs made us question the necessity of some of the items we had packed for our week-long trip. After about two hours of walking with our luggage, the welcome sight of horses was in the distance. After strapping our duffle bags to their backs, we were able to cover more ground more quickly. I followed after three Peruvians from the Carlton’s church that had come with us from Manchay. We were the lead group and arrived at our destination around seven that night about a half of an hour after nightfall, having walked about eight hours through the mountains. With the help of passersby, we made it safely to the missionary’s house. Slowly, the others straggled in with the horses and mules, but tow never came that night. Groups of men from Chinchil and other villages went out searching only to resume their search in the morning. The two were found and made it safely to Chinchil. We thank God for his protection during our time on and off the trail and the wondrous sights we saw on our way.

Winding Down and Revving Up

Tomorrow, it is hard to believe, is our last Spanish tutoring session. Time has gone by so quickly. I have learned so much in the last five months, yet there is so much still to learn. I thank God for our language helpers. Not only were they there to always correct us and encourage us in speaking Spanish, but they were there to encourage us spiritually. Hardly a session went by without some type of spiritual application or some conversation about the church or the work of the Lord. What a blessing to have such wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ who through their patience and love helped us through the first few months in being in Peru. The family of God is a wonderful thing. Upon finishing our language sessions, we will be taking our Spanish final exam this Thursday and Friday. Please keep all five of us in prayer as this will test us over all that we have gone over.
Finishing up with our classes, we will be leaving for Chinchil, a small mountain village, this Saturday. While there, we will be doing a kids club and helping a missionary there. We will be coming back to Lima after about a week, and then leaving again two days later for Cusco. Caleb will be staying there to help some missionaries until April, but the other girls and I will come back to Lima. Rochelle and Janae, a few days later will leave for Chimbote to minister until April, and Tessha and I will remain in Lima working with our pastor in our local church.
Many new experiences and opportunities lie before us. Please be in prayer as we will be transitioning into our internship part of the trip. Pray for new ministry opportunities and strength on our parts to continue ministering even when things get very busy. Throughout this whole time, God has been good and will continue to be faithful. Praise Him for His daily strength and grace that He richly gives to each one of His children!

The Guidance of the Lord

Following our time in Trujillo, we began our last class, Personal Evangelism. Each morning we traveled out to the Whipple's house (a Baptist Mid-Missions couple that has served in Peru for twenty-five years). We had our normal two hours in Spanish with our tutors, but then continued the day in Spanish. Mr. WHipple taught in Spanish to better acquint us with vocabulary and to prepare us for the afternoon. The afternoons were spent sharing the Gospel with people in different areas around their house. To be honest I dreaded the first couple of days having to go out and talk to people because I didn't feel confident and it was much easier just to hand out tracts, but God got my attention one day that sparked an excitement to tell others of the Good News. Wednesday of the first week, I was having a rough time. I did not feel like talking to popele, but Ana (a language helper) was with me and she made me have to say something.
We talked with two teenege girls for a time, and after they had gone, Ana and I sat down on a bench to talk over some things. As we were talking, a teenage guy crouched down in front of us and aksed, "So, what are you talking about." We were shocked, what an open door to share the Gospel!" At first, we were a little hesitant to talk to him, because we normally only talk with ladies, but his questions persisted. "You have Bibles, what does it say? Do you believe in the Bible? What do you believe?" At that moment we opened our Bible and with God's help I was able to share with him the Gospel. After Ana explained some things more in depth and asked him some questions. Jorge Luis said that he knew he was a sinner, blieved that Jesus took his place on the cross and wanted to accept the gift of salvation. After he prayed, we realized how God had been working. Jorge Luis works at a mechanic shop as an intern on Monday, Wednesday and Friay and studies th other days. He had seen us talking to the girls and since there was not work, he crossed the main highway and the railroad tracks and came over to the bench where we were sitting. God works in wonerous ways. He had everything planned out. With Mr. Whipple and Caleb checking up on him for discipleship, Jorge Luis was so excited to be reading the Bible and learned from it. God opened a door for us to share the Gospel and also enabled me to share it even if at first I did not have a desire to do it. Please keep Jorge Luis in your prayers as Mr. Whipple continues to meet with him, along with other people that made decisions during those two weeks. Also, remember the ARRIBA team as now with more understanding and practicing in Spanihs, we have more of a responsibility to share the Good News with the Peruvians we come in contact with each day. As Luke 12:48b says, "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required."

Trujillo- Land of Eternal Spring

Time has gone by all to quickly and here I am trying to play catch up. Forgive me for not keeping you all better informed. September found the group and I in Trujillo, a city about eight hours north of Lima, for ten days. While there, we stayed in the dorms of the Baptist Seminary. We were able to attend classes each day which proved to be a stretching experience since it was all in Spanish. We were able to get to know the students there and be encouraged by their testimonies. Having only two programs to study, theology and music, many of the students were studying to be able to go back to their peple to be better prepared to minister. It was a wonderful, encouraging time that refreshed us all and motivated us to take the spirit from the seminary to our churches to encourage the young people to delight in our great God. In talkign with poeple at the seminary or at the churches we visited in Trujillo, the people demonstrated the joy of the Lord and were ready to talk about Him whenever there was a chance. I remember specifically one young man working at the camp who always had some example or illustration from the Bible that applied to our topics of conversation. I thank God for the time at the seminary where I was rejuvenated with a desire to take the joy of the Lord to the people at my church in Lima.

Camp Kimo

We arrived at Camp Kimo about five o’clock in the afternoon. The sun was still shining, but it was getting closer to the tops of the mountains as time progressed. It was a beautiful sight: the green-covered mountains in the background and a raging river directly in front of us. The question that came to my mind, at first, was how we were going to get all of our bags and the owners of the bags across the river, and then I looked up. Above us were tightly strung cables stretching the entire length of the river. After calling José, the director of the camp, we saw two men board a metal, cage-like cable car and pull their way over to us. They loaded all of our luggage into the car and zipped off to the camp. After transferring our belongings to their camp jeep, they came back to our side of the river and in two groups, the ten of us visitors made it safely to the other side. To be honest, I was a bit nervous as we swung on the tight cables over the roaring river, but after going to and from the camp on numerous occasions, my anxiety subsided, and I later looked forward to the time when we would zip over the treacherous waters.
Having such a particular way of entry, the camp seemed more secluded and almost storybook-like. We hiked up the unpaved, rock-strewn path to the camp where, when we reached the clearing, it was almost impossible not to just hold our breath to try to take in the whole scene. The sky was getting a bit darker by the time we made it to the clearing, but looking straight ahead lay the Andes Mountains of the jungle beautifully covered in a lush, emerald green framed by an indescribable, rich blue sky with crisp, bright white clouds hanging high above us. Coming from Ate, a dusty city with a gray, brown sky surrounded by dust-like “mountains,” the colors in the jungle seemed so much more intense and brilliant than with what I was accustomed. Off to the right of the trail, a small pond was nestled serenely amongst palm trees as the reflections of the trees and the surrounding mountains were almost perfectly portrayed on the still water. A little island with three palms and a bird feeder seemed to pop and float magically on the peaceful water. Looking past the pond, we were able to see the palm leaf-roofed cabins, reminding me a bit of what I would imagine some tropical island to be like. Everything was so still and quiet. It was as if I were peering at an illustration in a book, until a loud cry was heard. Taking my attention off of the distant cabins and focusing my gaze about ten feet in front of me, half of a dozen peacocks were strutting around the camp property. What a sight that was! The bright royal blue mixed with jade green on the male peacocks further captivated me as we made our way to our cabin.
The cabin was constructed of a thin, ply-wood like wood with wall-length windows covered only with screens on three sides of the cabin. The cabin was divided into two floors with wooden slat stairs leading to the top room. After reaching the top of the stairs and turning to walk into the room, a quick “¡Cuidado!” was heard. I stopped immediately and realized that the door that I was about to pass through was only about five feet high. I was thankful for the young man’s warning that evening, but I wish I could have heard it other times throughout our stay.
As time progressed that first night in the high jungle, hundreds of stars began showing themselves against the deep blue sky. The entire group of us just stared in wonder at how many stars could be seen. In Ate, I can normally count on one hand the number of stars that are visible on any given night. What a wonderful time we all had remembering what a true starry night looked like. As I was considering the words of the familiar hymn, “How Great Thou Art,” I felt a small warm body right next to mine. I quickly looked down not knowing what type of creature was practically on my lap, but to my surprise, I only encountered a loppy-like Bassett hound who wanted to be petted. That night, as I lay on my thin mattress, I could not believe that I was actually sleeping in the jungle, now, mind you, the camp was very nice and not at all of what the jungle could really be like, but it was the whole principle of actually being in the jungle. As I drifted off to sleep, I never dreamed of what I would find in the morning as the light of day slowly showed itself on the peaceful camp in the high jungle of La Merced.
With the peacocks sounding the break of day, I opened my eyes, rolled over, and stared out the window at the end of the cabin. The sky could hardly be seen as steam came billowing down the mountain side. The river could be heard roaring in the background, soft pan-flute music was playing in the dining room, and the calls of many different birds could be heard. It is hard to explain what that moment was like, only that to me, it seemed almost unreal. It was beyond beautiful. It was so amazing to know that God created everything there, from the towering mountains to the small termites that liked to burrow in the side of our cabin. God had made it all, and it was very good.

A Journey Unlike Any Other

After twisting and turning for about eight hours on the roads through Peru’s coastal and mountainous regions, the ARRIBA team, the Carlton’s and the Coss’ all made it safely to the high jungle of La Merced, Peru. As part of the three credit hour biology class, I was able to spend four days at a camp nestled amoungst the green-covered Andes Mountains of Peru. The sights on the way to La Merced were quite different than what I was used to in Lima. We began our journey on the coast of Peru. As we packed our bags in the back of the Carlton’s van, our breath could be seen as the vapor slowly disappeared in the gray, cloud-covered sky. After traveling for about two hours, the clouds began to lift, the sky got brighter as the sun could be seen and felt by the eight of us seated in the van. The “mountains” that we were used to in Lima suddenly became in our minds piles of dust in comparison to the beautiful snow-covered Andes in the mountainous region of Peru. Upon reaching 16,000 feet above sea level, four hours into our trip, we were able to get out of the van and take some photos at Ticlio, a tourist stop. With the wind chill there being about twenty degrees Fahrenheit, we were very thankful for the warmth of the van as we piled back in and continued our journey. Within another two hours or so, we were seeing the sunlight breaking through once again as we crossed over into the high jungle region of Peru. Rather than the seemingly dust mounds on the coast and the towering snow-covered Andes in the mountainous region, the Andes of the high jungle were beautiful densely foliage-covered mountains reflecting the abundant rainfall in the area. In just eight quick hours, we were able to cover the three main geographical regions of Peru.

Regressing toward Childhood

My time in Peru thus far has been such a good reminder of how much I do not know. There have been many times where I put my life in the hands of thirteen year olds to get me to where I need to be. It has been a challenge to swallow my pride time and time again when I have to ask a six year old to repeat himself, because I am unable to understand. Of course, he does not know why I don't speak his language and gets frustrated or shy. As the weeks have gone by, I have felt at a loss with my limited vocabulary in Spanish. There have been many things that I have wanted to say, but by the time I have an idea of what it would be like in Spanish, the opportunity has come and gone. Mostly, this happens with the teenagers in the church. There have been many times where I have wanted to talk to them more about their walk with our Savior, but by the time I figure out the words in Spanish, they are usually gone. It has been frustrating, to be honest, but as always, God's Word has proved to be a comfort. A dear woman in my church and language helper, Ana pointed out some verses to me the other day when I was trying to explain how things have been going. Ana went to Jeremiah 1:5-9 where God reminds Jeremiah of his ordination as a prophet. Verse six characterizes my attitude so often, "Ah. Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child." Too often, I choose to hold my tongue and not speak when I really should try. Verse seven, then has been a huge encouragement to me, knowing that I am unable to do anything without God's help. "But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak." When there have been times of doubt or discouragement, I am reminded that I am, right now, doing God's will. He has led me to Peru at this specific time. He knows the difficulties that I have faced and will face, yet He has promised to be with me all the way- never leaving nor forsaking. Though often I feel as a child, God's constant help and presence has been a huge blessing. Please be in prayer for me as daily I seek to communicate God's truth of His Word to the people that I come in contact with each day.

A Different Pace

This week has been a little different than most weeks. We have had our two hours of Spanish in the morning, but no other class follows, as would normally be the case. Also, this week, there is a work group from South Carolina that is helping the Carlton’s build their new church building in Manchay and is hosting Bible clubs in the afternoon. After finishing our Spanish in the morning, it has been great to help in Manchay. The other ARRIBA girls and I have helped serve lunch to the workers, gather children for the club, and taking part in the club by singing, helping with crafts, and translating a bit. All in all, it has been nice to fellowship with other brothers and sisters in Christ and to take part in my first Bible club here in Peru.

When Pigs go to School

Students around Lima have been rejoicing since this last weekend. It was announced late last week that all classes would be suspended until August 3rd. This took affect July 15th. This suspension occurred because of the presence of “AH1N1” (the swine flu here in Peru) in the schools. The government is trying to control the spreading of this flu. There have been a few people who have contracted this flu and died, but had health problems previous to their contracting “AH1N1.” Though people are nervous about the spreading of this influenza, the students are enjoying their time off. Normally, their summer break begins in December, so this is a short winter break for them. This suspension is only for the kindergarten through the high school, so yes, I still am going to classes each day.

Making Melody in Your Hearts

After rolling out of my warm bed two Sundays ago, I was greeted by the familiar sound of Pastor Antenor (my host father) singing. He was singing and whistling familiar hymns as he woke up his daughters and called them to breakfast. While we were sitting at the table half-awake, Pastor came in with a wide, bright smile on his face as he greeted us all enthusiastically, “¡Buenos días, Chicas!” After a somewhat mumbled response, he explained how enjoyable it is to sing praises to God in the morning. I let the comment pass by until this last Sunday. The night before I didn’t get to bed until after two in the morning, but as I helped María in the kitchen before breakfast, I couldn’t help but sing. Let me tell you, that singing and joyfulness stayed with me the rest of the day. Though in the morning you feel as though you just want to sleep, let me encourage you to sing praise to your God. It will brighten your day as you think about all He’s done for you and of what praise He is worthy.

Three Strikes...You're Out!

Peruvians depend very heavily on the bus system, because most Peruvians do not own their own vehicles. Since the buses are very necessary, it is a problem when there are days that the buses do not run. For example, two weeks ago there was a paro (a strike) where the buses did not run for an entire day. Taxis were available, but the ladies that I normally go with each morning and I walked for about a half an hour before we even found a taxi that was willing to take us to our desired location. In other places in Lima, people destroyed parked buses with stones and fists. When we found out the next week that the strike was going to run for two consecutive days and was supposed to be worse than the last one, we knew that something needed to be done. The strike was going to be held part way through the week, so how were we supposed to make it to Fetzer Memorial Christian School (were we have a special ARRIBA building for our classes) each morning? Because the school year had ended at Fetzer early this month, and the teachers were moved out from their apartments on campus, the three other ARRIBA girls and I got to stay on campus for two nights. The language helpers (that we normally have) had a day off, while some other tutors who lived nearby were able to come. The Morrells, the professor and his wife, had the apartment behind the classroom, so they had no problem getting in in the morning. We all made it through the strikes and were thankful for the place available for us to stay. With the three strikes, we were out of our Peruvian homes. It felt so good to get back to them just after the two days we were gone.

A Stranger

With my time in Peru, thus far, I have come to realize just how much of an outsider I am. A tall, blonde American girl walking down a Peruvian street is quite a contrast to the shorter, darker population of Peru. There have been many times when I wished I could just blend in and not be the object of so many people's stares and comments, but it is in those times when I cannot help but think of my position on this earth. I am a stranger, not just in Peru, but in the world. My true home is in heaven, and I am only on this earth for a time. Just as I feel like a stranger in Peru, I ought to feel like a stranger on this earth. I ought stand out in a dark world, because I have the light of the world within me. Though being a practicing Christian in the world is not always easy, so being an American in a different culture is not always easy. The language is different, the customs are different, and the people look different. Yet, reflecting on all of these things, comes a good reminder to seek those things which are above rather than the things that are in the world. Heaven is where my true citizenship is, and my passport (or the way to enter heaven) is only through the precious blood of God's only begotten Son.

A Taste of Peru

As was already mentioned, Hermana Maria is a wonderful cook. She works so efficiently around the kitchen without having a refrigerator or an oven. It amazes me at how quickly a meal from scratch is put together. To a Peruvian, a meal is not a meal unless there is rice, therefore, with dinner at home, the rice is piled high with normally chicken on top and a vegetable sauce on the side. Besides rice, limones (limes) are a favorite. Limes are normally on the table or nearby to put in your soup, your drink, or over your rice. Some of my favorite things with lime are the fresh-squeezed limeade and raw red onions with lime and salt. During the week, the other ARRIBA students and I are responsible for making our own lunches, so each Monday, we get to go shopping in a three-story supermarket. Some of the things that I have enjoyed experiencing are drinkable yogurt (found in a half-gallon sized milk container), the seemingly endless supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the breads that are still hot when you stick it in your paper sack. After disinfecting the fruits, fresh fruit salad has been one of my favorite dishes. Of course, there are some things that are not my favorites, but are still good, like: drinkable oatmeal, large, strong black olives, and pica (a very hot pepper). I have been so thankful for God´s provision in helping me adjust to odd hours of mealtimes as well. During the week, supper is normally around 7:00-7:30 pm, but on the weekend, it is rare to eat before 10:00 pm. Eating at that time, though, makes you grateful for the amount of rice on your plate. After talking about all of this food, I hope your mouth isn´t watering too much :)

A Feel of Peru

Each morning as I roll out of my nice, warm bed, I thank God that the house has hot water, granted, I have to wake up an hour earlier to actually turn it on, but it is hot nonetheless. After going through my normal morning routine, the bus ride to the ARRIBA center quickly jostles me awake an gears my mind for another day. Let me put it this way, the members of the road crew do not fear their job security. The bus driver, with incredible skill, winds amongst the largest holes and hits all the ¨little¨ ones in between. My favorite section on my bus route is the road between tow of the districts of Lima separating Ate (where I live) and Santa Anita (another district). In this particular section, each governing part of each of the districts claims that it is the other´s responsibilityñ therefore, for a couple hundred feet, the bus bounces, bumps, and creaks along the rock-strewn ¨road.¨Along with the bumping of the buses comes the crowdedness fo the buses as well. The Peruvians have a philosophy of, ¨There´s always room for one more.¨ This philosophy, I´m sure had to originate on the bus routes. At times, there will be people jammed into a bus meant only for half the number of people actually on the bus. People are pressed so closely to each other, at times, that it is almost impossible to move, let alone to get off the bus at your desired location when you are in the back of the bus. Numerous times in getting off the bus, the pain in my head reminds me that I am not Peruvian. I think though, the greatest feeling is the saludar (a slight kiss on the cheek upon meeting someone) given to sisters in Christ. How wonderful it has been to fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ. What a great reminder of the omnipresence of God.

A Scent of Peru

The next scent on my list is the sense of smell. This one is going to be a bit more difficult, but I´ll try my best to recreate it for you. Peru definitely has it´s own smell, but it combines many familiar smells to make it Peru. First, the buses have a dusty, musty smell coupled with the scent of hard working people. The streets also have a mixture of scents all brought together. While out on the streets, the air is filled with the smell of exhaust, oil, and gasoline from all of the vehicles. The smell of this type of transportation is one that I have been enjoying quite a lot. Little street kitchens pop up as the sky quickly turns to black, and the smell of cooked meat and bread fills the air. After a long day of classes and school work, one particular kitchen is extra-inviting. Hermana Maria is an amazing cook who works rapidly around the kitchen producing the most mouth-watering smells that I have smelled in Peru. Whether the ever-present smell of rice and onions or other foods fills the air in the kitchen, the tasty smells quickly permeate throughout the entire house. One other of my favorite scents is the smell of clean laundry after being hung out ont he roof to dry. Along with the pleasant smells comes the not-so-pleasant scents of burning trash or the fish section in the market. Each smell,however, has its place in order to make the smell of Peru unique.

The Voice of Peru

In this post, I want to focus on some of the sounds of Peru. After turning of the constant beeping of my alarm clock, the roosters from the nearby houses can be heard welcoming the new day. As I go through my usual routine in the morning, the soft hum of the hot water heater can be heard, until the girls start getting ready for the day. There is much comotion in the house for about an hour, until the last child is off to catch her bus for school. Taking a deep breath, I enter the kitchen where Maria can be heard softly singing over the clangs of the metal pots and pans. Soon, it is off to the busy street to catch my bus. Horns can be heard, brakes screech, motors rumble, and old vehicles clank along. Castellano (the Spanish spoken in Peru) is everywhere as people try to catch the right bus. The cobrador on the bus yells out where his bus is going, and whistles to those who are on their way to get aboard. On the bus, music is turned up extra loud in order to be heard over the clanging of the bus and the squeals of the brakes. Normally, a conversation is impossible due to the extra noises from the street. Upon arriving at Fetzer Christian Academy, it is so quiet, that studying there is much easier than at home. After class finishes at 3:30, it is back to the craziness on the street. Another bus is taken on Monday to take us grocery shopping for our lunches during the week. The 3-story market is filled with people all trying to decide what all they want. With our purchases made and our minds filled with Castellano, my roommate, Tessha, and I head back to our house. Roaming dogs bark at passing birds and cats and loud music from a passing mototaxi welcomes our arrival. I think my favorite words in Castellano are spoken by Maria or Pastor Antenor when they say "Vamos a cenar" (We are going to eat dinner). :) The busy day ends by hearing the family read the Bible and pray together. Tessha and I have been so blessed to have such a great family who takes time each night to have us in their family devotions. Though Tessha and I still have such a long way to go in our Spanish study, the family has been so gracious in being so patient. With the final words of "Hasta mañana" the house is again quiet for a time. As I drift off to sleep, fireworks and pistol shots can be heard from the nearby streets from those who enjoy the loud noises that each makes. With a sigh, I close my eyes and await the annoying beeping of my alarm to start yet another noisy day in Peru.

A View from Peru

Since my time in Peru, there have been many different things that I have experienced. I thought that the best way to try to describe them all would be by dividing them up into the five senses: sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings. The first one that I will try to describe is the sights. This is going to be quite difficult, because you just have to be here to understand it all.
From my waking up in the morning, people are all around. I live with a pastor with his wife and four girls above a church, so there are always people around. Just as prevalent as the people are the buses. It is hard to find a street that does not have a bus on it. Not only are their buses to transport the many people, but there are also a large amount of ticotaxis (a small, compact car) and mototaxis (a sort of three-wheeled covered motorcycle). The buses, ticotaxis and mototaxis each have their place on the road (and dogs at times), or so they think. They quickly zip in and out of crowded areas, avoiding the speed bumps as much as possible, meanwhile, the people in the vehicles are jostled around in their seats. Many times the buses are so full of people that many people end up standing in the aisles while haning on to the bars connected to the ceiling of the bus.
Besides the number of people and vehicles, there are geographical sights to see as well in Peru, and especially Lima, where I am now. Lima is amongst the Andes Mountains, so on a clear day, the tops can be seen. Now that I have made the comment of having a clear day, mostly, the tops of the mountains cannot be seen due to the amount of smog and low clouds hovering over the tops. The mountains that I see daily are very different from the mountains that I saw in West Virginia each day. The Andes, in this part of Peru, are monstrous mounds of loose rock and dirt. Later on in my travels, we will be seeing more of the Andes Mountains in a more up-close view.
Traveling around Lima, houses are lined up very near to each other with walls surrounding the owner´s property. Rarely are you able to see the entire house due to the high walls and foliage creeping up the entry gates. The doors to the property are very different. In a poorer part of the city, metal doors with no design take up a large part of the walls. In the more wealthy part of the city, beautiful wood doors can be seen with intricately carved designs on the front. What I have been fascinated by is the openness in houses. There are opening in the roofs of the houses with no covering, because Lima averages about 1 in. of rain a year. Windows rarely have screens and staircases are normally uncovered. There is dust everywhere, so people are constantly sweeping their houses. Those are just a few things that I have noticed in Peru so far. I hope that you have been able to visualize these few things to get a sense of what Peru is like.

A New Way of Thinking...

The Lord has led me safely to Peru. Presently, I am able to check my Email and do updates from a local cabina (a room with about 12 computers for the public to use). He has been so good. When I first arrived, I was not quite sure what I had gotten myself into, but God supplied the needed stregth and grace to handle all that has come my way thus far (whether it be eating different foods, riding on very crowded buses, or ¨talking¨with people at church). God is good all the time and all the time He is good.
As my first class has started, the professor, Glenn Kerr, has instructed, that it is not merely a time to learn a new language, but it is a time to learn a new way of thinking. The time that I have spent in Peru thus far, has proved to be a stretching time and to be sure there will be many more of those times to come.
Let me tell you a little bit about my time so far. I am living with the Guallardos, a pastor and wife with four daughters. They have been a real blessing and have been an encouragement to my roommate, Tessha, and I. We have enjoyed getting to know them and allowing them to get to know us better as well. Tessha and I take buses to get to the ARRIBA center located on the campus of the school for missionary children. The buses are normally quite crowded with much noise and clamor, but it has been an interesting experience. I have begun my tutoring sessions in Spanish and have enjoyed the helpers very much. Some of them speak English, so they help out during some difficult moments in our conversations. Also, I have begun my course in lingustics. It has been very interesting so far, and I am eager to learn more about it. Each day, I become a bit more accustomed to Peru and her people. I am reminded daily of God´s strength and thank Him for His continual presence.

Unchanging

With five exams finished and only one left to go, I find myself a bit relieved with knowing that classes are almost finished; yet I also think back on how quickly this school year has gone. The months have flown by, but the times have been sweet. Commencement is this Saturday and along with that comes a long drive home. I look forward to seeing my family again, but that time, just like the school year, will go by all too quickly. I will only have nine days to spend with them before I leave for Peru for eleven months. I am so thankful that God is not limited to the United States, but that He is everywhere at the same time. I am glad that He is the one who holds the future, not for me only but for my family and my friends as well. Though I may be away for a time, God is there and He will not change. I thank God for His promise in the book of Hebrews, chapter 13 verse 8: "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." What a comfort to know that though circumstances and situations will change many times a day, my God does not change. He will never leave nor forsake us and He shows us the way that we ought to go. Praise God today for who He is!

Oh, the Weather Outside is... Beautiful?

For the past couple of days, it has been in the 60's here in West Virginia. I want to describe to you what it has been like. It is nearly impossible to remain indoors when the sun is shining and a cool, sweet breeze keeps wafting in through my dormroom window. Looking out the window, the hills have been calling for me to walk and explore them. Of course, I obey and leave school work behind. Upon getting into the woods, the air gets a little cooler, the extra noises disappears, and my imagination takes flight. While walking down the road to the lake, the blue-green water ripples as the remnants of ice melt from off of the surface. Birds fly peacefully and chirp happily as I make my way closer to the edge of the lake. Walking around the lake, I walk past the cabin and around to the hidden chapel, a sort of outdoor amphitheatre. From sitting on one of the benches, I feel so small in comparison to the tall trees overhead. Completely surrounded by the beautiful hills and tall trees, I am reminded of God's all surrounding love- it engulfs me. With nothing but a bird or small animal to distract me, I enjoy the moment by sitting ever so quietly and taking in the most beautiful scene. Even with dead leaves on the ground and bare trees above, the sight is indescribable- I can't imagine what it would be like in the summer or fall. God's design is so amazing. As I read in Colossians 1 this morning in verses 16-17 is says, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." I love the ending of verse 16 where is says that though all things were created by Him, all things were also created for Him. As one of His creations, am I living for Him as I ought? Without Christ I am nothing- He is the reason for my being. Praise Him who is my Creator and my Father as it says earlier in the chapter in verse 12 "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." I am able to be a partaker in His inheritance- how undeserving I am, yet how great His love and grace. Isn't God's creation and His love for His creation amazing? Join with me in praising God for His love today.

Changing Times

Well, time has flown by, things have changed, and my God is still good. As I write this, I find myself finishing my third week at Appalachian Bible College. Upon arriving, things were a bit overwhelming, but throughout just my short time here, friendships have developed and relationships have deepened. Though there are not many people who read this blog, in fact, I'm not for sure of anyone in particular at all, but I am making myself keep up with posting since this will be a way of communication while I am in Peru.
I have received my final acceptance into the ARRIBA program and am scheduled to leave the country on May 21st. Time will seem to go by quickly and there are many things to do in the mean time, but God has provided strength and grace in the past and He will remain faithful even during the most difficult times. Please keep this coming trip in your prayers as I will be gone for eleven months.