Esta es mi vida.

I have been in South America for over two months now, and this coming week will mark two months in Peru and Recuay. I have decided that it is time for just a plain ole update on life, ministry, and current happenings here in Recuay. This is my life…

We teach every (and by every I mean most) Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at Javier. I say most because we are supposed to teach every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, but we have yet to teach two weeks without our schedule being interrupted by random things like a festival; a medical clinic; or a volleyball tournament; or our latest favorite, students washing their hands in the plaza. Currently at Javier we just finished up a lesson with all six grades on numbers and the story of Jesus’ birth. Next week we will begin to teach the alphabet and one of the miracles Jesus performed. We also just found out on Friday that the principal wants us to start teaching three hours (four classes) every time we come, instead of just one hour (two classes). This is truly an answer to prayer.

Fifth grade A

We teach Mondays and Thursday at Utcuyacu. Our teaching schedule here has been much more consistent and we have only missed one or two days for a festival and a strike blocking the road lead by the agriculturalists of the town. We are still teaching commands from the bible for our bible lesson each week and our English lessons are still going really well. In my class of third through sixth graders we are beginning to learn new vocabulary (up to this point we have mostly reviewed the stuff they already knew), and I am beginning to slowly teach them some verbs. 

My wonderful class of 3rd-6th graders

We walk across the river to the town of Ocunan every Tuesday afternoon to hang out with a family and lead the mom and the oldest daughter of the family in a study of scripture. This family is really fun to hang out with. There are nine kids in the family, five girls and four boys, all under the age of eighteen. The dad is pretty much a bum, I have yet to see him, and we are told that he is always off drinking. What is interesting about this family is that most days they make less than a dollar a day, but all of the kids under the age of twelve are sponsored by World Vision. Becca and I are really enjoying the opportunity we have to hang out with and encourage this family each week. Each week we are studying different Psalms together, so far we have done Psalm 139, 23, and 1. 

Every Friday afternoon we travel to Utcuyacu to lead the ladies of that community in bible study as well. Currently Becca and I are switching off leading the bible study and playing with the kids. I really love leading these ladies in studying the Word because most of them are so hungry for it. Having another opportunity to hang out with these kids is also a great thing because we have most of them in class on Mondays and Thursdays as well. Together we have studied the first two chapters of Romans, Psalm 1, Psalm 23, and Ephesians 1 and 2. 

On top of all of this we have found many other ways to fill our free time. We spend a lot of time at Humberta’s hanging out in her kitchen, watching her cook, chatting about ministry and life in Recuay, and learning new recipes. We also do a lot of reading, journaling, and listening to podcasts from the states. Lately we have been doing things such as watching the Peru vs. Chile soccer game with the family we live with, walking up big hills in Recuay just to get a better view of the town, watching movies on our homemade couch (extra mattress and blankets), and going on hiking adventures with Tommy on the weekends. 

Waiting for lunch at Humberta's

Hanging out watching Humberta cook.

Life here is anything just consistent, but I am beginning to find the beauty of God’s plan is not just in this season or semester of my life, but it is in every minute of everyday.

Turn my heart toward your statutes

and not toward selfish gain.

Turn my eyes away from worthless things;

Preserve my life according to your word.

Psalm 119:36-37