LESS work and MORE play!

So basically I´ve been having less work and more play. We´ve finished up our term in Arequipa, so please pray the continuous ministry there and for Melissa as she trains new missionaries to teach ESL. It was a blessing that God brought me to Arequipa and my teammates were a blessing to me. I learned so much and got to see people change for God. I am so thankful for God´s love and protection over me.

On our way to end summer debriefing in Lima, Lydia, Stephen and I stopped into Ica. We went to Huacachina, the oasis and tourist trap in Ica. It was a lot of fun, to talk to other people from all over, and even more to ride the doon buggies and go sand boarding.

After a sleepless night there, due to the Peruvian independence, we went to Lima (more specifically Chosica). We went to the same camp as the one in the beginning of the summer. It was a little sad to see a smaller group at the end of the summer, but encouraging to hear about God´s work and how many people planned on coming back.

After a fun couple days in Chosica and may many goodbyes later, I have arrived in Cusco. We haven´t explored too much, but it looks like a really cute city. Tomorrow we are traveling to Machu Picchu and there we´ll stay the night at the bottom of the mountain. I am SOOO excited to finally see this attraction, even though the prices for everything are rediculous. Apparently Machu Picchu has recently become one of the seventh wonders of the world, and as a result the prices for everything have sky rocketed. I wish it wasn´t so, but I´ve made my peace.

Please continue your prayers, especially for safe travel. Thank you for your support. I can´t wait to share all that I´ve learned and seen. God bless.

New Places mean New Fun!

Well, I´ve said goodbye to almost all of my new friends, and we´ve checked off nearly all the things on our ¨Things to do before leaving AQP¨. Tomorrow morning I hope to watch the sunrise at the Mirador, and maybe revisit Parque Selva Alegre.

Tomorrow night, Sunday, we will travel to Ica on our way back to Lima for the end of the summer debriefing. We´ll spend some time in Ica on Monday, sandboarding and riding the dune buggies. Then we´ll travel to Pisco to go to Paracas to see the penguins and sea lions. Finally on Tuesday, we´ll travel to Lima to meet all the REAPSouth summer missionaries.

Last night was our despedido at Martin Luther King Jr Institute. I felt very loved as each student told my how much they would miss me and as I received presents. Then I felt like Mickey Mouse as we took a hundred pictures. I will miss teaching my students and getting to know them. I had a lot of fun even though many times I dreaded class. I hope I taught them well, and taught them useful English, as well as, about my faith. I will definitely continue to pray for each student.

Please pray for everyone´s safety in travel and their work in the many villages and towns.

Muchas Cosas

Well, well, well...I´m feeling quite chipper today. Despite the fact that I just found our Louis Vuitton (my most faithful and fun fish ever) passed away last MONTH. Elishia thought it best to tell me this in person, so she waited until I talked to her through Skype today. Well, at least I finally got to see her again. Technology is really an amazing accomplishment.

Anyway, I forgot to tell you about the earthquake. Never had I felt one before, but July 8th at 4:20am I felt it. I shot up out of bed and immediately heard Jessica in the next room. I stood at the foot of her bed and for the entire minute and half to two minutes that the earthquake was going on she was rambling on. It was really funny looking back on it, because she just kept talking nonstop. It´s a funny memory of my first tremor.

In addition to this new experience, I´m really enjoying our new roommate. Lydia is a huge help with bible studies and her strength in God is very encouraging.

Claudia and the Austins and two new visitors stopped by for a few days in Arequipa. They are coming back from the pastor´s conference. It´s been really fun hanging out with them too.

Jessica leaves tomorrow. She´s had an interesting week dealing with a Peruvian boy´s crush. The Saturday before last a student of mine came over after class for dinner and to teach us how to paint. It was a lot of fun, and I think we´re all very talented. Well, this is the boy that has a crush on Jessica, and since then she´s received flowers and a portrait of herself. With this in mind her departure comes at a good time. We´re gonna miss her though.

Other than that, Lydia and Stephen and I are preparing for our last week of bible studies, and I´m preparing my goodbye to all my new friends. We leave Arequipa a week from today. We´ll be in Chosica for a couple days with the end of summer de briefing and then off to Cusco. These last two weeks are really going to be busy. Please pray for everyone´s safe travel, and happy farewells.

Velcome Wisitors

SO much fun to be had.


Last Sunday Claudia and Lydia came to visit for a few days. Lydia will be with us until end of summer debriefing, but Claudia was just passing through on her way to a pastor´s conference in Chulpa. I´m very excited to spend the rest of my time in Arequipa with Lydia. It is such a blessing for me to hear all the amazing stories of God working through their experiences this summer.

Last week was slow. Slower than ever. But this week is moving very rapidly. I think it´s because I´m realizing that I only have a few more weeks left in Peru. Last week I rejoiced in this fact and couldn´t wait to be home, but this week it saddens me. I knew my two months here would go by fast, but since I´ve gotten comfortable here, I can´t imagine going back to normal school life. It´s weird to think that I´ve only spent two months abroad, when so many people here have spent months and years longer.

As for our work in Arequipa. Our bible studies are continuing to have good attendance, and even more of a blessing our students are asking good topical questions. All of us are so busy that it is hard to meet and plan for bible study, but somehow it´s working out ok.
My 4:00 classes are really a pain, but I´m starting to get the hang of a regular class schedule. It´s actually a blessing to be able to keep so busy, although I may not believe that all the time. It makes it a lot easier not to think about other things that are happening, like friends´ difficulties and going home soon.

Please continue to pray for Greg´s family and friends, and Lydia, Claudia, Kristen, and the REAPSuth team as they deal with his death. Also, pray for our classes and students. When I think about all the opportunities I might have not taken advantage of talking with them, it disappoints me. Now, I´m struggling to make a full imprint in their minds with the truth that God has blessed me with. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. God bless.

Emo Coaster

Today is Monday. Yesterday was Sunday.
On Sunday we went to Alianza Church as usual, and then went out for lunch. We had decided upon a restraunt in the plaza that sold adobo and cuy, traditional dishes. We ordered and then Stephen told us the news. He´d told us about the accident the day before. Claudia, Lydia, and Greg were on a bus, when it ran into the side of the mountain. Claudia and Lydia are shaken up, but Greg had serious head trauma. He is now with the Lord. He passed away quickly after the accodident; there was nothing that could be done. Please pray for Greg´s family and friends, and his reasearch team members Lydia, Kristen and Claudia, and for all of us in Peru. There was an article written about Greg at this website, http://ibsa.org/

That was Sunday.
On Saturday morning, Melissa, Jessica, and I went out to the poverty pueblo part of town and played with the children. We brought bubbles and played soccer. At 4 o´clock we had our VBS at Alianza church. We taught our three children colors, and sang Jesus Loves Me. Our purpose is to teach the children english, this song in english, and a bible verse in english (Psalm 84:12). After VBS, we were hungry, but Melissa wanted to quickly call Mike and talk to him about her going home. She was going to leave with Jessica on July 22nd, but after she talked to Mike, he´d suggested that she leave immediately to get her health figured out. For the past week her hands have been numb. We sent Melissa off to Lima last night. We´re hoping the problem is resolved quickly and premanently, so that she is able to return to Peru and finish up the year. Now our Arequipa family of four is only three. Please pray for the healing of Melissa hands.

That was Saturday.
The night before was the Fourth of July. On Friday, we threw a huge US Independence Day party. We invited everyone we knew, and some how squeezed 38 people into our little apartment. We served BBQ chicken, potato salad, greenbean casserole, and apple snicker salad for dinner, and no bake cookies and the US flag jello for dessert. We even made sweet tea. The food was delicious, props to Jessica, and everyone enjoyed themselves. We also had a watermelon seed spitting contest. Even though there were no fireworks, we had a lot of fun, and our Peruvian guests got to experience a real American 4th of July party.

That was Friday.
The Tuesday through Thursday before that was hectic. I´d added my new hour and half english class to my schedule. Now I have a class at 4:00 Monday through Friday, a class at 5:30 on Thursday and Friday, and bible studies at 7:00 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. I wasn´t exactly sure about how to teach this new class, because unlike my others, I have a teaxtbook to go by. Some were good and some were bad, and I was stressed, but enjoying the responsobility. Now I have a good idea of what I am doing, and how I am teaching, so this week should run a lot smoother. Please pray for my students. Pray that they are bold with their questions and that God is able to use us in all of our classes. Also, pray for opportunities for serious conversation.

That was last week.
The weekend before that, Saturday through Monday, we were in Nasca. Everyone from REAPSouth met in Nasca this weekend for a midsummer debriefing. This was such a high. It was great getting to see Nasca, and even more encouraging to hear about everyone´s ministries in their villages. It was also great getting to spend time with all the friends I´d made in the beginning of the summer in Chosica. We were unable to see the Nasca lines, but I´m content with that. Please pray for all the summer missionaries in Peru. Some are in villages, without hot water, or even a bed to sleep on. Pray that God is contiually blessing them and encouraging them.

And that´s the rollercoaster I´ve been on this past 10 days. Emotional highs and emotional lows. God has blessed me with an awesome team in Arequipa, and a positive outlook on everything. I´m thankful I got to know Greg, and am praying without ceasing for his family, Lydia, Claudia, and Kristen. I am learning to praise God through every event and every situation.

Praise God for His Almighty plan.

Neglect

Sorry about neglecting you all.

I would say that I am now settled in. I´ve got the schedules memorized and and everyone´s names. We´ve had a Barnabas (encouragement) team come and go, and even a few unexpected visitors these past couple days. And tomorrow the Creative Ministry team will arrive bright and early tomorrow morning. If it sounds like we´re having a lot of fun, it´s true we are, but we are definitely working and seeing growth as well.
In addition to our 3 storying bible studies, and our many english classes, we are beginning our first VBS at Alianza Baptist Church. It will be four Saturdays, and we´re excited to be able to help the youth and the people of the church, through this endeavor.
We´ve also had our first women´s bible study today. The guy to girl ratio in all of our classes and bible studies average a lot of guys to one girl....if that. So, we though it would be a good idea to give the women a chance to speak freely and about more personal subjects. Today we had two ladies, and we all really enjoyed it. I´m excited to see how it will evolve, and to learn more about each of them, and their struggles.

Please pray for the many searching students in our classes, and opportunities for serious and indepth discussions about God. I´ve only been here two weeks, but I´ve already seen growth in several students. I pray that God will be our strength and nothing else.

New Respects

What´s today? Saturday? I´ve almost been in Arequipa one whole week. I was wondering what´s been going on back at home, but seeing as how what feels like a month has only been a few days, I´m guessing not much.

I believe I left off from the beginning of my time in Arequipa, but I don´t really remember the day to day, so I´ll tell you what I´m most excited about.

Thursday night I taught my first English class. It´s a conversation class, because I don´t speak spanish, but it went well. Melissa went with me, because I was nervous (it was my first time teaching). We got to know each other. Which mainly means my class of 6ish questioned me. Then I thought it would be a good idea to play the adjective name game, for me to get to know their names.
The game goes like this (I´m sure most of you will recognize it): You think of an adjective to describe you that starts with the same letter as your first name. I used Dandy Dominique. "Hi, everyone. I am dandy Dominique." Well, that was the only word I could think of that started with D, so they got to learn what dandy means.
Everyone went once. Then Ramses (rigid Ramses), was sad to hear he didn´t get to go again, so everyone went again. Except, the second time we wrote several adjectives starting with their letter on the board. I´d say my first class was successful.

Well, last night was my first time teaching ALL BY MYSELF. We talked about everyone´s day, and then we played a new form of charades. I went first so I acted out Doctor. Ramses guessed it, and then we wrote descriptions and word associations of a doctor on the board. After that, (this is my favorite part), we built a story about the doctor. Everyone added a sentence in sequence. I started, "There once was a doctor who lived in Peru." Then Willy said, "There once was a doctor who lived in Peru. He went to school for 10 years, and now worked in a hospital." It was a good story. Then, since Ramses guessed doctor, he went next. He had to act out cow. That was a better story, because at the end Willy the wolf ate the happy cow. I think everyone enjoyed this class too.

Class went about half hour late until 7:00, which just so happens to be the time of our bible study. I´m very excited about our bible study sequence that we kicked off last night. We´re storying through the bible. Last night, of course, we went over creation, Genesis 1 and 2. Next, on Tuesday, we´ll do the fall of man, and so on and so on, hitting the major stories, until we reach Christ´s death. Then we´ll end the sequence going over the church. The whole thing will last until we leave, at the end of July. But at the end of June and July we´ll host a Jeopardy game over what we´ve storied up until then, and the winner will win a Spanish/English bible. I´m very excited about this, because most of our students are unsaved.

Well, I´ve titled this post "New Respects", because I now have new respect for people trying to learn english, and for teachers of all types. By teaching english I am a lot more aware of it´s difficulty and a lot more thankful that it is my first language. Also, teachers really do work hard. Not saying I work all THAT hard, because I only have two classes, but a teacher that works 9-5...that´s a lot of lesson plans. I already tread being creative for lesson plans. Hopefully, my creative God will just put those new ides in my head...that´s my prayer anyway. The good thing is classes will always be fun, because we´ll be learning about each other.

ok Toodles! I´m off to Cusco Café. It´s just as good, if not better than Starbucks. This is our preferred place to prepare for our classes and bible studies.

Also, next week I will start my spanish class, to improve my spanish. Hopefully, by next month I´ll be able to take on a little bit lower level english class. Wish me luck! Pray for me to learn fast.

Oh also, today we walked to Caymo (a different district of Arequipa). There´s a nice park and spot to over look the city. It was very pretty and I got to see more of Arequipa, like the Chili River. I´m still trying to force myself to take more pictures, but I think the more comfortable I get in this city the more I´ll just wander around with my camera. Adios por ahora. (this is my makeshift spanish)

Week of Wonders

Hola mi amigos! Buenos Tardes!

And that´s about all the spanish I know...so far.

So much has happened in the last week, I feel like I´ve been here a month already. I´ve yet to actually begin my routine and classes, but I did spend my first day in Arequipa. Oh yea did I mention I´ll be in Arequipa this summer, not Lima. There is greater need in Arequipa, and I am more than willing to visit another city. Arequipa is the second largest city in Peru. I´m very excited to be in Arequipa. EVERYONE says that it is the perfect city; always sunny, cool, 8000ft above sea level, and is overlooked by volcano El Misti.

Now that I am moved into my apartment (a former dentist office), and go to my first real class tomorrow, I should be able to communicate more often. About my apartment...I have two roommates, Melissa and Jessica. These girls as well as Steven are my partners. I´m pretty much jumping into help them with their English classes.

I wish I´d brought my computer or at least camera cord, so I could show you all that I´ve done and seen so far. Since I didn´t I´ll just give you a brief summary, and you can question me individually.

Monday: I arrived in Lima. The plane trip was wasn´t bad. I sat next to Maria Luis, and she told me about her family in the states and her children (my age) in Peru. When we got off the plane she helped me though customs and luggage. She was very nice and motherly to me.


Tuesday: Free day around Lima, waiting for everyone else to arrive. We, a group of about 8 Americans, went to a mall overlooking the Pacific. From there we walked back to our hostal. It was a good time to get to know the other missionaries working through ReapSouth, this summer. Most of them are traveling to villages all over Peru. Around dinner time we went to Papa John´s (and American classic) and walked down to the movie theater to watch the new Indiana Jones (en inglés). It was cool, because it takes place in Peru, and we´re going to Nasca at the end of June. Going to the movies might become a foreign country tradition. When I was in Mexico City, we watched the Good Shephard. I wouldn´t mind this tradition.

Wednesday: The Amazing Race. This was a great way for all of us foreigners to sight see Lima, and get a taste of the lesser visited side of the city. One of our challenges was to find and drink a full cup of jugo de rana (frog juice). We took it like champs, which was hard, because we watched Willy destroy the frog. The Amazing Race ended us up in Chosica, where we would be at for the next three days for orientation.

Thursday: Camp in Chosica began. Our schedule looked like this: worship, classes, food, worship, classes, food... But all were very fulfilling and interesting.
Friday: Camp continues (worship, classes, food, worship, classes, food...) Rick Shephard finish his teaching on the Tabernacle, and it was really interesting to see the relations between the old testament and the new testament. They´re so many references to Jesus. After these teachings were done we all sat down to an AMAZING Thanksgiving Day dinner. It was everything and more: turkey, stuffing, buttered rolls, gravy, green beans, (so much food!) and like six desserts! It was so hard to move we were all so full.

Saturday: We had an early breakfast and then traveled back to Lima. In Lima we had another free day. We used this time to buy our bus tickets to Arequipa and eat lunch at a really good seafood place downtown. I had fried shellfish, bery good, and tried the well known plate, ceviche. It wasn´t bad.

Sunday: Went to church. Many people in ReapSouth go to the Flamingo Road Church. They are in Cooper City, but have a campus in Peru and around Florida. It was in English, and I really enjoyed the message. The pastor spoke on our covenant with God. Then we got lunch and began our 15 hour bus trip to Arequipa. The bus ride wasn´t so bad.

Monday: We arrived in Arequipa around 7:30am and napped. Then, while Melissa was in class, Jess and I shopped in Arequipa. I had to buy a blanket. It´s coming into winter and it´s getting cold.

Well, obviously, I miss you all! I´ll try to update the blog more, as I began my classes.

Thank you for all your prayers!

Te amo

Step Two: "By your powers combined..."

Today I was unexpectedly overwhelmed with gratitude that I could only credit to God. God created people and the people I know are beautiful. It is very easy for me to find God working through people, even in such a self centered society. With the American dollar depreciating and gas prices reaching never ending new heights, I was more than ever surprised by my realization today.
While the US is in such a low economic spot, everyone is having to cut back on their spending. I am utterly amazed at how I have been supported through this decision to go to Peru. I was never worried about coming up with enough money for the trip. My sisters call me naive or reckless, but I prefer to think of my absentmindedness toward money as a subconscious faith in God. It may be childish not to consider how bills will be payed, but nonetheless God has always provided for me. Sometimes it would boil down to the expense of my parents or the inconvenience of my sisters; which is why I also thank God for the graciousness that binds a family.
Anyway, as I received more money toward my trip today, I was overwhelmed with thankfulness. I am so blessed to see God work through people in such a financially hard time as it has been. I am even more blessed to be directly on the receiving end of God's gifts. My friends, family and even some strangers I've yet to meet have donated their money, time, knowledge and prayer, all for the sake of my two month trip. It fills my heart with peace to know God takes care of his followers, just as He promises. Just the way churches are stabilized by their members, God's people are stabilized by each other.

Thank you so much for pouring so much into me. I can assure you that in return it will be poured out into Lima.

God bless.

Step One: Preparation is a long word

One time I began to wonder about the direction of my life. Little did I know God was listening and had been listening my entire life. I was 14 with little stress, yet I felt lost in a simple world. God responded and I've followed his path every since.
Immediately after taking my first step in faith, the idea of international missions pleased me. Even six years later, after much growth and readjustment, the idea still brings great joy to my heart. God has led me to a fitting university, where I have found comfort in the majors Education and International Studies.
This summer the Lord has lighted a path of adventure, and I will obediently travel to Lima, Peru. I depart from the US May 26 and come back August 6. Currently, I am preparing for my journey ahead. This includes getting immunizations, packing, and starting a super cool blog. I ask and will continue to ask all summer for prayers directed toward Peru and my time there. My following chapters are sure to include exciting ventures, funny stories, and lots of blessings, so be sure to check back for updates.