Traveling Prayers

This week is a short week for us here in the mountains. All the schools have a long weekend because Tuesday is a holiday (Dia de los Muertos- Day of the Dead). As a result we will only be teaching on Wednesday at Javier and then on Thursday we are jumping on a bus and heading to Lima. Becca’s church is coming to work with the people groups they have adopted here and I am going to stay in Lima and hang out with the Hands On girls there. Both Becca and I are looking forward to this time away and some time with family and friends. It is becoming harder and harder to leave Recuay, this place we now call home, because time is starting to really move fast. When we get back from Lima we will only have three full weeks left here in Recuay, before going to Lima again and then on to Chile. So as we prepare for a short week, look forward to a trip to Lima and think about how much time we have left I am humbled to the point of prayer and ask you to join me.

-Pray for the kids at both Javier and Utcuyacu that they would remember the things we have taught them up till now and practice their English while we are gone.

-Pray for the ladies in Utcuyacu that we meet with each Friday that they would continue to meet together to encourage and share with one another on the two Fridays we will not be with them.

-Pray for the family of Ocunan that they would begin to utilize the bibles we gave them. Also pray that the rain would continue to come so that their field would be wet enough to plant their crops, because without their crops this family of eleven does not eat.

-Pray for Becca, her family, and her church as they head out to another part of Peru to minister for the week.

-Pray that while we are away both Becca and I will be refreshed and get to spend a significant amount of time in the Word and in prayer reflecting on our time already spent here and the time we have left. Pray that the Lord would continue to reveal to us pieces of His perfect plan in bringing us here.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:17b-19

Necesito más de ti

A couple Sundays ago we attended a small church in Recuay and at one point the pastor lead the congregation in a song that repeated the words, “Necesito más de ti” over and over. These words really stuck with me and as I sat in church meditating on them I realized that over the last eight, almost nine, weeks I have prayed these words many times, in English of course. 

When we show up to Javier and our class is not there and I am quick to get frustrated I pray, “God, I need more of you.” When I lead bible study and the point I want to get across does not get translated correctly I take a deep breath and I pray, “God, I need more of you.” When we show up to lead bible study and all the ladies are in the next town over and I begin to wonder if we are supposed to keep coming I pray, “God, I need more of you.” When we are thirty minutes late for teaching in Utcuyacu and I begin to think we should not even waste the time teaching today I pray, “God, I need more of you.” When I sit at the kitchen table in the morning over my bowl of oatmeal I pray, “God, I need more of you.” I have been blessed with the amount of time I have to spend with the Lord, relearning what His voice sounds like. But the more time I spend listening to the Lord the more I realize how much more I need Him. The more time I spend with Him the more I long for more time with Him. I am learning that I need less of myself everyday and I need more and more of Him. The only way that I am going to make it through the next seven weeks here is through the strength that the Lord provides through the Holy Spirit, His word, and the faithful prayer of  “Dios, yo necesito más de ti”.

“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.”

Psalm 19:7-9

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

 

Fruit

It seems that I always learn things when I am preparing and teaching lessons at Utcuyacu. This past Thursday my English lesson for my class was on fruits, vegetables, and some verbs that go along with food, like to eat; to drink; to grow; to buy. I coordinated this English lesson with the Bible lesson we had been planning for a while. We have been teaching different commands, but this week we decided to teach our students about the fruit of the Spirit. We have been talking about so many commands and laws from the Bible we decided this week it would be a nice switch to talk about things in which there is no law. Instead we got to spend time explaining these fruits and encouraging our students. We got to explain that if they follow the commandments found in the Bible they will begin to produce fruit in their life. We made the clarification that they will not produce things like apples, oranges, mangos, papayas, grapes, or bananas, but they will produce fruit of the Spirit, characteristics of God. What great news it is to know that against such things as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control there is now law.

Fruit is something I have been thinking about a lot lately; because it is something we have not seen a lot of since being here in Recuay. Now, do not misunderstand me, we see lots of bananas, oranges, apples, papayas, and passion fruit, but we have not seen a lot of fruit from our ministry. Fruit is something we have honestly been praying for. We want to see fruit in the lives of the ladies we do Bible study with weekly. We want to see fruit in our own lives as we live life here in Recuay and seek the Lord in everything we do. We want to see fruit from our teaching at Javier, we want to know that it is not just wasted time. (When you walk into a class with no teacher and the kids sit and listen to a whole Bible story then look you in the face and tell you they were not listening you begin to wonder.)

One thing I am learning and reminded of everyday is that the Lord does not promise that I will see the fruit of my ministry here on this earth. But He does give me some great promises.

  

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Isaiah 58:9b-11

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11

So, even though I may not see the fruit of our ministry here in Recuay here on this earth I will find my delight in the law of the LORD. On his law I will meditate day and night that I might be like a tree that is planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. How sweet is the promised fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Fruit that comes when we live a life surrendered to Christ. Fruit against which there is no law.

Exactly What I Need

This past weekend Becca, Carmen, and I went with Tommy on a hiking adventure. We went to a place called Laguna Llaca, which is only an hour outside of Huaraz. It was absolutely beautiful and a pretty easy hike, exactly what I needed. We stood on a glacier, went in an ice cave, and heard an avalanche.

When we planned and set out on this adventure I did not know how much I would need it. Pretty early into the trip, however, I discovered that it was just what I needed. I needed some fresh air, and some new scenery. I need to spend the night away from Recuay. I needed to see and explore some of the beauty of Peru. I needed a fresh perspective. I needed to feel small next to the mountains. I needed some good laughs and some good conversation. I needed a reminder that I serve a sovereign God. I needed a reminder that I am exactly where God wants me. I am thankful that I serve a God who knows exactly what I need even when I do not.

The LORD is gracious and righteous;

our God is full of compassion.

The LORD protects the simplehearted;

when I was in great need, he saved me.

Be at rest once more, O my soul.

for the LORD has been good to you.

Psalm 116:5-7

Learning to Love

The last two weeks at Utcuyacu Becca and I have been teaching the kids commandments from the Bible on Mondays and stories from the Bible that demonstrate those commands on Thursdays. We decided that the only place to start was with the greatest commandment, and then move on to the second greatest commandment, for Jesus tells us that “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” These lessons have got me thinking about the word “love” a lot. Becca and I are teaching these kids at Utcuyacu how the Bible tells us to love, but often I wonder if I am loving in the same capacity Jesus did and commands us to.

Since being in Peru I have had many people ask me variations of the same question, “Do you just love it there?” My response has often taken me a little longer than one might think, and lately I have been responding with, “I am learning to love it.” It has not been a “love at first sight” experience for me, but I am learning to love Peru. I see God’s grace everyday as He pours out more love on me. As a result of His love and grace I am learning to love Him, His people, this place, this season, and His plan.

I do not love waking up at 4am only to walk outside to go to the bathroom.

I do not love taking a warmish shower only sometimes twice a week.

I do not love spiders in my bedroom.

I do not love washing my clothes by hand.

I do not love when dogs pee on my feet.

I do not love being whistled at while walking down the street.

I do not love teaching English to rowdy first graders.

I do not love not being able to communicate with anyone I see.

I do not love consistently being late for things.

I do not love how long it takes for water to boil at 11,000ft.

I do not love living out of a suitcase.

I do not love the smell as I walk through the meat market in Huaraz.

I do not love when class is cancelled without any notice.

I do not love stepping in cow manure on the way to school.

But I am learning to love….

I am learning to love eating rice and potatoes three times a day.

I am learning to love a lot of extra free time.

I am learning to love the twelve animals that live in my backyard.

I am learning to love walking everywhere I go.

I am learning to love going to the market almost everyday.

I am learning to love riding the komby.

I am learning to love the hats and skirts all the women here wear.  

I am learning to love that Peruvians greet everyone they see.

I am learning to love washing all our produce.

I am learning to love being called a griega.

I am learning to love just sitting outside and starring at the mountains.

I am learning to love only getting online twice a week.

I am learning to love the little neighbor girls that randomly knock on our door.

I am learning to love Dina who own the store down the road.

I am learning to love Humberta’s adventurous spirit.

I am learning to love the construction workers that eat at Humberta’s everyday.

I am learning to love random festivals in town.

I am learning to love Gloria who serves us lunch everyday.

I am learning to love the families in Utcuyacu.

I am learning to love my eleven third through sixth graders at Utcuyacu.

I am learning to love all the students at Javier.

Thank you Lord for teaching more about your love each day. Lord thank You for first loving me. Let all my love for You and for others only be an overflow of the love You are pouring out on me. Lord thank you for a love that never fails, overwhelms yet satisfies; a love that is stronger and higher, a love that is patient, kind, and humble. Father thank you for a love that set me free, keeps no record of wrongs, and works all things together for my good.

Jesus le dijo: “Amaras al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazon, y con toda tu alma, y con toda tu mente. Este es el grande y el primero mandamiento. Y el segundo es semejante: Amaras a tu projimo como a ti mismo.”

Mateo 22:37-39

Hot chocolate thoughts.

It has been a while since I have posted, but things south of the equator are still going well. This weekend will mark being in South America for one month, and Tuesday will mark three weeks living in Recuay. You would think this might be the part where I say something like, “Time is flying by, I can’t believe I have already been here a month!”, but that statement is not true. Honestly the last three weeks here in Recuay have gone by at an incredibly slow pace. We are just now beginning to see things pick up. It has taken quite a while to fall into a routine here, but I think we are beginning to find one.

Things are always subject to change, but this is what we are finding ourselves busy doing. We are teaching English and Bible five days a week. We teach at a school in town, called Javier, every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Over the next several weeks we will rotate each day we go seeing first through sixth graders.  We visit two classes each day for twenty-five minutes each. (Ex. Tuesday: 1^st grade A and 1^st grade B, Wednesday: 2^nd grade A and 2^nd grade B, etc) This means that we will only get to see each class at Javier five to six times the whole twelve weeks we are here. We are also teaching in a town twenty minutes away, called Utcuyacu, every Monday and Thursday. This school is very small and Becca and I each have our own class for an hour each day. Becca teaches a class of about six first and second graders and I teach a class of about eleven third through sixth graders. In addition to our daily teaching schedule we cross the river, behind our house, every Tuesday afternoon to visit and have bible study with a couple families in the town of Ocunan.  Also on Friday afternoons we travel back to Utcuyacu to spend time with the families of the community doing bible study and playing with the children.

When reading this you might think this is a packed full schedule, however, we have come to realize that it is really not that packed. Even with lunch every day at Humberta’s, trips to the market and internet café, walking several miles every place we go, and doing random daily tasks like cooking and washing clothes by hand we still seem to have a lot of time on our hands. A lot of time to do things such as read, journal, memorize scripture, think, talk, drink hot chocolate, and play the occasional Spanish card game. *Hints the reason for the title “Hot chocolate thoughts”. 

Hot chocolate has quickly become one of our favorite things here in Recuay.  There are many reasons for this. One is that on a cold night as we huddle in the kitchen after dinner hot chocolate is one thing that keeps us warm. Two the way you make hot chocolate here is extremely fun, and very tasty. (They use this special chocolate bar that is very rich and full of spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Melted in sugar water with evaporated milk, you just cannot go wrong.) Three sitting around the kitchen table drinking hot chocolate brings lots of great conversation, Spanish card games, and lessons from the Lord.

A recent lesson the Lord has been teaching me through many cups of hot chocolate and many intent looks into His perfect law is concerning all this free/down time we have had the last couple of weeks.  I few days ago I found myself using the word “bored” a lot, like several times a day. This was all due to the fact that I spend hours a day reading and journaling and just sitting around. This lack of a schedule was becoming monotonous and I found myself not knowing what to do with all this extra time. A few days after I made this discovery about the word “bored”. It dawned on me that this word and feeling is totally not from the Lord. I have become convinced that at the beginning of time when the Lord created and ordained everything in creation the word “bored” was not on his mind. So instead of sitting around thinking about how bored I am and what things I have not done since being here in South America I began to think and recount what I have been able to do.

-I have been able to spend more time in the Word listening to the Lord’s voice than I ever have.

-I have been able to catch-up and continue my goal of reading the Bible through this year.

-I have begun another season of memorizing a significant amount of scripture.

-I have spent time reading books and listening to sermons by people who are wiser than me.

-I have greatly increased the vitality my prayer life.

-I have learned apart from TV, internet, friends, and family, to rely on the Lord in every circumstance.

- I have learned to be content in this new place, for this new season, trusting the Lord’s plan is bigger than my eyes can see.

So I am counting these past few weeks of “boredom” as a gift from the Lord. A free gift He did not have to give me, but one He chose to give me solely out of His grace and love for me. These moments have been a great opportunity to dive into God’s Word and discover great and marvelous things about Him. Despite the work and ministry I have the opportunity to do here in Recuay over the next three months I am looking forward to taking every moment, the Lord gives me, captive. Being transformed by the renewing my mind, so that I will be able to discern what God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will is.