Monday, December 26, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Virgin of Guadeloupe
Wowzers.
I think that word is the one that could best describe my emotions.
I am currently just sitting here looking at my computer trying to figure out how to best put into words all that has happened over the last few days. So many emotions. And there are way more to come!
I'll try and summarize. Cause to tell you the truth I'm pretty tired and have yet to unpack, which I'm not excited about.
The last few days of Peru were great. God blessed us with beautiful weather and awesome things to do. The plane back to Mexico City was the nicest plane Ive been in. We each had a personal Tv. Needless to say my eyes stayed on that screen mostly the entire time. . .
In D.F. (Mexico City)we packed it all in. Or first day we went and saw the cathedral for the virgin of gualdaloupe and heading to the tent for our first day. We spent the rest of our time in that tent (besides our free day)were we ministered to the pilmgramers (pelegrinos). We provided free food for them(tortas), refreshments (usually hand squeezed orange juice),Christian magazines to read, pills and foot massages (usually involving popping blisters). You would think there would be no down time in that tent but thane you are there for 12 hours straight down time is something you find quite easy. There were some frustrations with how the church went about evangelizing to the people but it was a good lesson to learn in that we now have so much knowledge (because of our previous 3 months) that sometimes we need to live it out when we don't have time to disiciple. If that makes any sense at all. Overall it was a dirty, messy, tiring, purposeful, stretching and eye opening experience. So many inside jokes came from those few days alone.
After our free day of touring downtown and shopping we went to the church to eat. God is so great when He throws in times of wonder when we least expect it. There was a missionary who came to the church that night (last nigth) named Adonnis. He is gifted with prophesy and He loves to use it in the Lords name so we had a (i have a loss for words here) renewing time of prayer with the youth worship group of the church (they were there practicing). The Holy Spirit was so present and God spoke truth into us through Adonnis. I love God and all that He does in and through people! He is such a personal God and loves to use us to reach others. He loves it when we finally get it. When we really realize how much He loves us. When we see how much He gave for us. That His love comes to us through His Son and the Crucifixion. He is extreme in the way He moves and the way He loves.
I'm going to leave it at that and talk about how weird it is that I'll be home in 4 days some other time. Pray for us as we work out this transition in our hearts, minds and souls.
I think that word is the one that could best describe my emotions.
I am currently just sitting here looking at my computer trying to figure out how to best put into words all that has happened over the last few days. So many emotions. And there are way more to come!
I'll try and summarize. Cause to tell you the truth I'm pretty tired and have yet to unpack, which I'm not excited about.
The last few days of Peru were great. God blessed us with beautiful weather and awesome things to do. The plane back to Mexico City was the nicest plane Ive been in. We each had a personal Tv. Needless to say my eyes stayed on that screen mostly the entire time. . .
In D.F. (Mexico City)we packed it all in. Or first day we went and saw the cathedral for the virgin of gualdaloupe and heading to the tent for our first day. We spent the rest of our time in that tent (besides our free day)were we ministered to the pilmgramers (pelegrinos). We provided free food for them(tortas), refreshments (usually hand squeezed orange juice),Christian magazines to read, pills and foot massages (usually involving popping blisters). You would think there would be no down time in that tent but thane you are there for 12 hours straight down time is something you find quite easy. There were some frustrations with how the church went about evangelizing to the people but it was a good lesson to learn in that we now have so much knowledge (because of our previous 3 months) that sometimes we need to live it out when we don't have time to disiciple. If that makes any sense at all. Overall it was a dirty, messy, tiring, purposeful, stretching and eye opening experience. So many inside jokes came from those few days alone.
After our free day of touring downtown and shopping we went to the church to eat. God is so great when He throws in times of wonder when we least expect it. There was a missionary who came to the church that night (last nigth) named Adonnis. He is gifted with prophesy and He loves to use it in the Lords name so we had a (i have a loss for words here) renewing time of prayer with the youth worship group of the church (they were there practicing). The Holy Spirit was so present and God spoke truth into us through Adonnis. I love God and all that He does in and through people! He is such a personal God and loves to use us to reach others. He loves it when we finally get it. When we really realize how much He loves us. When we see how much He gave for us. That His love comes to us through His Son and the Crucifixion. He is extreme in the way He moves and the way He loves.
I'm going to leave it at that and talk about how weird it is that I'll be home in 4 days some other time. Pray for us as we work out this transition in our hearts, minds and souls.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
He always comes through!
Life has been crazy!
Every time I think about blogging I never end up having time. Today is a free day and so far i have enjoyed it by eating, coloring, looking about pictures and reminiscing and I'll probably leave writing this blog to eat again :). We have been going and going and going and the ing that is insane is that we only have a few days left! I can't get it into my head. I can't comprehend that it's almost Christmas. No matter how many decorations of Christmas trees, snowflakes, snowmen etc. that the Peruvians have set up the 80 degree days mess with my mind. Thinking of being with my family in 13 days is definantly a bittersweet thought. I want to miss them and although I am so ready to go home I have to keep reminding myself that this part of my life is ending. I can never come back to it. I don't want to wish it to end so part of that is making myself not think about home. That is very hard to do as I really do miss everyone and can't wait to be home.
13 days.
It's so strange.
I won't be living with these lovely people anymore.
There is a possibility that I will never see them again.
Okay I'm done talking about this.
Here's what's been happening in my life and in Peru:
We have worked with different churches around the area to do more street/park programs and it's fun to meet new people even if it is just for a day. We went and did a few programs at our local market and park and actually we got kicked out of both of them by the police! It wasnt that big of a deal, it was mostly just funny.
We also got the opportunity to go to a cancer hospital and do a few dramas for the youth there. A really cool story came out of that trip even though it wasn't us in specific. There was a girl who was dying and the pastor we were working with and a ywamer named Sophie went in and prayed with her and she 'prayed the prayer'. I don't any more information besides that but it was an emotional time in the hospital.
I love nursing homes. I like them better when I can understand the people there but it was still so fun to do a program and just hang out at a local nursing home. After our kids program including clowns and puppets they encouraged us to talk to the people. The man I started talking to was named Lois. He really liked to talk and ask questions even though he could not here a single thing I tried to answer. I lost him about halfway through when he started talking about Mormons. Either way he was so sweet and I loved talking to him. There was another lady there who i talked to named Carmen. She is still completely bilingual. That to me was/still is incredible! Her English was perfect! The cool thing is that she is one of a few Christians there and she really has a sweet heart and cares for everyone there. It was a fun experience and I will probably never forget Carmen.
I'm not sure if I blogged about this but back in Juarez one of our main prayer focuses was children with AIDS. We obviously thought that they would be the children in Africa with Michales ministry but there are other kids with AIDS out there. It was such a confirmation from God when we got to work with a childrens home called Hogar de Vida (home of life) where all the kids have AIDS. It was a cool experience to meet the some of the kids that we had been praying for for over a month. They were so full of energy and love. All they wanted to do was be picked up and held. And although we were only with then for a few hours it is an easy way to see God's sovereignty.
There is a girl who lives in the house under us who works with an orphanage and invited us to their Christmas party. So we prepared a drama and some games and headed to the orphanage in the morning. There was another group there but we still got to do our program after lunch. It was fun and the kids were great. It made me miss Rancho Los Amigos (the childrens home at our base) and think the others would agree with me on that.
That night we were able to be a part of a youth group at one of the churches in the area. The worship was really encouraging and needed and God was there for sure. We split into groups and explained YWAM and everything to the youth. I was with Estrella and I fell that it went perfect! God helped me to understand and to speak clearly. I was really encouraged with how well I could communicate with them (with the help of Estrella of course). It was a great day and we were all so pooped. We got back at 12 and headed right to bed in anticipation of today.
In general God has really been speaking to me of the importance of the cross and sin. It has been cool to see ways God has backed up those topics with everyday things. I have also thinking a lot about my future and keeping my mind open to hear what God thinks. I have been starting to see a little more clearly for at least the next few months (i think;) and I know that God will continue to lead me. The cool thing that I have seen and know ever so clearly is that it doesn't matter what I do, as long as I do it in His name He will bless me. That is so freeing and I am constantly reminding myself that.
To my family: when i get home I will not want any chicken, rice or potatoes. I have never in my life consumed so much of those three things and pop! I didn't use to drink pop before I went to Juarez, and even then i had maybe two or three things but it's almost like they don't have water here! However i am getting hooked to a drink called Inca Kola. Its great and I am going to miss that.
There are plenty of things I'm going to miss.
There are plenty of things I miss.
Only a few days. . .
Every time I think about blogging I never end up having time. Today is a free day and so far i have enjoyed it by eating, coloring, looking about pictures and reminiscing and I'll probably leave writing this blog to eat again :). We have been going and going and going and the ing that is insane is that we only have a few days left! I can't get it into my head. I can't comprehend that it's almost Christmas. No matter how many decorations of Christmas trees, snowflakes, snowmen etc. that the Peruvians have set up the 80 degree days mess with my mind. Thinking of being with my family in 13 days is definantly a bittersweet thought. I want to miss them and although I am so ready to go home I have to keep reminding myself that this part of my life is ending. I can never come back to it. I don't want to wish it to end so part of that is making myself not think about home. That is very hard to do as I really do miss everyone and can't wait to be home.
13 days.
It's so strange.
I won't be living with these lovely people anymore.
There is a possibility that I will never see them again.
Okay I'm done talking about this.
Here's what's been happening in my life and in Peru:
We have worked with different churches around the area to do more street/park programs and it's fun to meet new people even if it is just for a day. We went and did a few programs at our local market and park and actually we got kicked out of both of them by the police! It wasnt that big of a deal, it was mostly just funny.
We also got the opportunity to go to a cancer hospital and do a few dramas for the youth there. A really cool story came out of that trip even though it wasn't us in specific. There was a girl who was dying and the pastor we were working with and a ywamer named Sophie went in and prayed with her and she 'prayed the prayer'. I don't any more information besides that but it was an emotional time in the hospital.
I love nursing homes. I like them better when I can understand the people there but it was still so fun to do a program and just hang out at a local nursing home. After our kids program including clowns and puppets they encouraged us to talk to the people. The man I started talking to was named Lois. He really liked to talk and ask questions even though he could not here a single thing I tried to answer. I lost him about halfway through when he started talking about Mormons. Either way he was so sweet and I loved talking to him. There was another lady there who i talked to named Carmen. She is still completely bilingual. That to me was/still is incredible! Her English was perfect! The cool thing is that she is one of a few Christians there and she really has a sweet heart and cares for everyone there. It was a fun experience and I will probably never forget Carmen.
I'm not sure if I blogged about this but back in Juarez one of our main prayer focuses was children with AIDS. We obviously thought that they would be the children in Africa with Michales ministry but there are other kids with AIDS out there. It was such a confirmation from God when we got to work with a childrens home called Hogar de Vida (home of life) where all the kids have AIDS. It was a cool experience to meet the some of the kids that we had been praying for for over a month. They were so full of energy and love. All they wanted to do was be picked up and held. And although we were only with then for a few hours it is an easy way to see God's sovereignty.
There is a girl who lives in the house under us who works with an orphanage and invited us to their Christmas party. So we prepared a drama and some games and headed to the orphanage in the morning. There was another group there but we still got to do our program after lunch. It was fun and the kids were great. It made me miss Rancho Los Amigos (the childrens home at our base) and think the others would agree with me on that.
That night we were able to be a part of a youth group at one of the churches in the area. The worship was really encouraging and needed and God was there for sure. We split into groups and explained YWAM and everything to the youth. I was with Estrella and I fell that it went perfect! God helped me to understand and to speak clearly. I was really encouraged with how well I could communicate with them (with the help of Estrella of course). It was a great day and we were all so pooped. We got back at 12 and headed right to bed in anticipation of today.
In general God has really been speaking to me of the importance of the cross and sin. It has been cool to see ways God has backed up those topics with everyday things. I have also thinking a lot about my future and keeping my mind open to hear what God thinks. I have been starting to see a little more clearly for at least the next few months (i think;) and I know that God will continue to lead me. The cool thing that I have seen and know ever so clearly is that it doesn't matter what I do, as long as I do it in His name He will bless me. That is so freeing and I am constantly reminding myself that.
To my family: when i get home I will not want any chicken, rice or potatoes. I have never in my life consumed so much of those three things and pop! I didn't use to drink pop before I went to Juarez, and even then i had maybe two or three things but it's almost like they don't have water here! However i am getting hooked to a drink called Inca Kola. Its great and I am going to miss that.
There are plenty of things I'm going to miss.
There are plenty of things I miss.
Only a few days. . .
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