Becca In Perú

Back Again

2008-09-21T05:07:00.003-05:00

I got back a few days ago from my first trip back to Peru after 6 months. It was such a great time! I originally was only going to be there for 10 days, but my trip was extended due to Hurricane Ike, and the cancellation of my flight through Houston. I hope to get some pictures up here soon, but in the meantime I will summarize my trip.

On Friday night, I arrived and was picked up by my dear friends Susan, Monica, Paulo, and Raquel. We came back to Susan's apartment and were greeted by Romina and Gianella (who had made a welcome sign) and the new MTW intern Anne. Soon many people came over to greet me, and in traditional Peruvian style we had a party, including some food and dancing. (All starting after midnight!) By the time I went to bed, I had been up 31 hours (because I worked the night before)....needless to say I slept in on Saturday! On Saturday I went with some of the women to Reina de la Paz, a shelter for young mothers in Salamanca, and that night I went to the youth group meeting, and they had a talent show that night.

Sunday morning I played my flute with the worship team for church. It was so good to see and talk to so many of my brothers and sisters in Christ there! And it was so good to worship in Spanish again too! The whole week I met up with dear friends there, those on my team and those I was able to minister to in my two years there. One great thing with the apartment that Susan moved to is that it is the same building where Kike, Martha, Romina and Gianella moved to.... we can run up 2 flights of stairs and hang out with them or just yell out the window "vecinas!" ("neighbors") if we need something. Its great having them close! I was able to see Lea and Ariana (who is now 10months old!) and play with her some. She is so precious! I also got to visit with the Berry's (my team leader and his family) and see their new baby Hadassah, as well as my other dear team members that I miss... the Salvatierras and the Rosses. My week was jammed with visiting people, but what a great way to stay busy! I met up with the girls I discipled, and had some really great conversations with them. I was able to spend some time with my dear friend Mesha who works with Food for the Hungry. I went to worship practice, played soccer with the youth, went to a birthday party, and went to youth group. My week was so jammed that it flew by very fast! What I wasn't expecting was the added blessing to stay 4 days more. On Sunday (the day I was to come home) I found out that my flight through Houston was cancelled because of Hurricane Ike. So with that addition of days (and my loss of control~as if I ever really have it) I was able to relax and enjoy the extra time without a packed schedule... many more sweet times of fellowship and deeper conversations came out of those days. (I am now at work and will be making up the lost hours!)

One very exciting thing that came out of this trip is the planning of a mission trip that I will be leading to Lima over New Years with my singles group at church. I am very excited about this possibility!

It was such a great trip... but it was also interesting to get further confirmation that I am where God wants me right now. I love the people there and it was good to see them again and was interesting to walk the streets I used to call my own yet know in my heart I am not called there right now and that I am to be in Birmingham, at least for this season of my life.

Worship

2008-08-25T04:40:00.003-05:00

Oh! And can I add that I am so excited to worship in Spanish again?!?! I planned my trip, just so I could have 2 Sundays there in Peru!!! Singing in my car with a cd or listening to my Spanish worship mix on my computer is just not the same.... just as worshiping in English while in Peru just wasn't the same. (There is not a Sunday that goes by at OMPC that I do not relish the worship time.)

Corporate worship is so great, be it in Spanish or English! **sigh**

Going Back!

2008-08-24T04:39:00.002-05:00

Well, I am going back to Peru!!! This time for only a 10 day visit, but nonetheless, I can't wait!!! I get more and more excited as the day approaches. I will be going down on a "vision trip" and am using some of the remaining support I have to provide spanish books for the team and church there. As I look at the date right now, I realize that it has been exactly 6 months since I left this dear country that I love.

I am eager to see some of the growth I have heard about at Luz de Vida, the church we planted in Salamanca, to visit with my dear friends and see how they all are, to visit with my team and see how their families are growing and their ministries are going. It doesn't seem like it has been that long since I left.

For those who may not know about what I have done since I have gotten back, I shall briefly sum it up. I got back at the end of February; March and April I visited my supporting churches, supporters, family and friends; and at the end of April I moved back to Birmingham. God planted right into my lap a wonderful job (that on most days I love) and a wonderful roommate! I have plugged back into my dear church, and know that for this stage of my life I am to be here. I am still praying and considering nurse practitioning as well as missions. God made it SOOOO clear for me to go to Peru the last time, and I have no doubt that if He wants me to go again, He will make it just as clear.

So in 2 weeks I will be back in Peru, and hopefully will have another post for you then!

**I do have another blog "Side Notes" for my random thoughts etc, as this one was more for my Peru ministry =) **

Presentation Video

2008-05-10T00:23:00.003-05:00

This is a video that was put together to show to my supporting churches upon my return. It is a tiny glimpse into what I was a part of while in Peru. I hope you enjoy it!

My Last Weeks in Perú

2008-03-18T12:27:00.006-05:00

This post is a bit overdue, but what can I say? I have been really busy since I have been back in the states.

My last few weeks were very busy, very sleep deprived, but very good. One thing that I learned was so important before coming to Peru is the importance of good goodbyes. I believe that I had good goodbyes when I left the states 2 1/2 + years ago, and I wanted to implement some of the same things in my goodbyes in Peru. I visited with many people, was invited to many meals, and had a supurb going away party "despedida" the night before my 1st departure. (I say 1st because, for those of you who don't know, my original flight was unable to take off, and so I stayed another day. It good, but 2 goodbyes were hard.) There were many activities... from beach trips (as it was summer there) to a youth talent show (which they so lovingly dedicated to me), Valentines day, and many many other get-togethers and invites.

Here are some pictures that speak more than my words can right now for me:

After a sweet lunch with Paulo, Raquel, their family, and my roommates.

My first attempt of making ceviche (a Peruvian fish meal), and lunch with the Matamoros.

One of my last visits with Lea.

My last visit with Meche, Maximina, Martin, and Kiara.

Me with Susan and Monica at our Valentine's Day party.

Me with Michael, Laura, and Noah Salvatierra at my going-away party.

Me and Monica at my going-away party.

A group shot at my going-away party... And many had already left by this point!!!

It was crazy fun!!

Toby wanting to go with me.... he was a bit sad in those last days too.

Me with my roommates right before we left for the airport.

Me with many friends on the way to the airport.

Airport group shot.... I am glad you can't see my puffy teary eyes.

I am soooo blessed to have so many good friends!!

What a Whirlwind its been!

2008-01-16T11:23:00.000-06:00

The past month to six weeks has been so full, so crazy, so busy, but so much a blessing. I had one of the best and memorable Christmases ever as it was spent with so many people that mean so much to me. When I refer to Christmas, I mean the season more than the exact day.... though Christmas eve and Christmas day were very special. Like in the states, there are a lot of parties, people getting together and doing things, the lights, the trees, the songs, the gift-giving, and the normal stressful hairpulling season!

Here is a picture of me with my girls at a Christmas party held at the Rosses house.

Here in Peru they celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve with a huge feast late at night, either at midnight or before to "bring in Christmas", and everyone sets off fireworks at midnight too. Teammate and roommate Laura Hoyt and I had received some sweet invitations to join some families for Christmas, and so we split our time between the two. The Matamoros were planning to eat an earlier dinner, so we went over early, and helped them in the feast preparations, and then ate a nice big meal. It was a very special time. This family has become one of my families far from home for me.

After that feast, we went to our good friends the Mauros, who live a few doors down. We are closest to Raquel and Paulo who are close to our ages, and have been getting to know their parents more (who minister in Ayacucho-another area in Peru) and their brother Carlos who is serving in the Peru military. (pictures of the family are below). We had yet another feast with them about 2 hours after our first one. (It is truly a miracle that I ate so much in such a short period of time!!) There were more of their family present. It was a lot of fun! We were with them at midnight to watch all the fireworks and then go back in for the opening of the presents.

On Christmas Day, Laura and I had the Mauros over for a traditional Christmas breakfast (at least for me, Monkey Bread!!). We wanted to share how we spend Christmas day generally in the states, with reading the birth story and talking about it, as well as singing, and gifts. It was a special time with them again.

After Christmas I had a special visit from my dear friend Sarah Nell Jones. We spent some time in Lima, and also traveled to Arequipa and Nazca. It was a very special time for me, as I love sharing Peru and what I love about it to people, especially my dear friends or family from home.

The evening we got back to Lima from our trip, I received a call from home that my grandmother had passed away that same day. MTW assisted for me to be able to return home briefly for the services, and it worked out for transportation too, as I was on a different flight than Sarah, but she, her fianceé and her family could get me to the service and to my family. I was there just a few short days, but it was good for me to be there with my family. Please pray for my family in this time of mourning.... more specifically for my dad and my aunt.

So now I am back in Lima, and having a hard time..... I am looking at the remainder of my time, and how it is dwindling down. Its as if time is pulling me, but my heels are skidding as I am being pulled. I am not ready to go yet. I love this place and the people so much, and it grieves me to say goodbye. I confess that I am in a little bit of depression about leaving. I don't know what God is going to do in my life, and I know that I have a "plan" of sorts, but know that He can and probably will rearrange my plans. I am just going to keep my eyes on Him and let His hand guide me. It is still my prayer and I am attempting to live every day to its fullest, and to take advantage of the opportunities He gives me.

I do crave your prayer for this time of transition.

Thank you all for all your prayers in these years. I will write more as I can.

Ariana

2007-12-10T12:19:00.000-06:00

It is a bit overdue, but praise the Lord!! Ariana is here!! After some early complications in her pregnancy, bedrest, and homerest, Lea gave birth to a healthy baby girl on November 24. Laura Salvatierra and I were able to assist her at home for several hours of her labor before sending her on to the hospital. (The doctors had sent her home and didn't want her to come back until her contractions were a minute or so apart).

It was a special time to be with her supporting her. And we have had some fun visits with her since the birth to hold little Ariana and visit with Lea.

Here are some more pictures of this little treasure!

My Girls

2007-11-23T11:47:00.000-06:00

Raquel and I

Monica

Gianella and Romina

These girls have been the biggest part of my ministry now, as I have been meeting with them weekly for discipleship. It has been encouraging for me to see how they have grown in the time that I have known them. It is all the Lord and His hand in their lives; I have been blessed to see and be a small part of it. With Monica and Raquel, we recently finished a book bible study "Como Llegar a Ser Una Mujer de Oración" (How to Become a Woman of Prayer) and we are now in "Dama en Espera" (Lady in Waiting). With Romina and Gianella we are studying the Psalms and looking at the attributes of God that are found there. They all are eager to serve in the church too, and have already begun serving in different areas.

Please pray with me for them....

For Raquel: continual spiritual growth, dependence on Christ for all her needs, some Christian friends who can help build her up

For Monica: continual spiritual growth, continual boldness in sharing her faith, dependence on Christ for her needs, healing in her family

For Romina and Gianella: continual spiritual growth, that as sisters they can learn and grow together in Christ and help other youth their age, and continual excitement to learn more

My time with them has been so precious, and I've already started grieving in knowing that time is growing short, and soon I will not be here with them. I entrust them to the Lord and rejoice that I have been given the opportunity to be with them.

Lea

2007-11-23T11:01:00.000-06:00

Any day now, Lea Bonzano will be having her baby girl. She has been in many of my updates this year. Early in her pregnancy she started having complications and had been on bed rest. Things began to improve and she was slowly able to do more things, but mostly in her home, and finally able to do more things out and about. She and her husband Jorge have been coming to our new church plant in Salamanca and are attending the membership classes too. I am still visiting her weekly as possible, and it has been a huge blessing that Laura Salvatierra is here too, she is going with me as well to visit. She knows a lot more about maternity nursing than I do, so has been a great encouragement and knowledge base for Lea.

Earlier this month we held a baby shower for Lea and Jorge. It was a lot of fun and well attended! It was the first time I've ever hosted a baby shower (and came to find that they can be a lot of work!) but it was so worth it. It was a good time of fellowship, we got to meet more of Jorge and Lea's family, we got to encourage them, and they were able to get a little basic start of supplies for a baby.

I got off the phone with Lea a bit ago, and her contractions have increased to every 2 hours... so there is still some time, but if you happen to read this, if you could pray for her, that just as the Lord brought her this far, He'll bring her even further to give birth without complications to this precious baby girl, and that both mother and daughter will be healthy.

What's next?

2007-10-17T11:08:00.001-05:00

I've gotten that question a lot lately, be it in English or Spanish. I am in a bit of transition, as I will be back on US soil in about 4 months. Its is so hard to believe how fast this time has flown. I am still praying for complete savoring and enjoyment of these last months here. I am still excited to be here, so its not like I am counting down because I dread it here. I am excited to be here and I am excited to return. I am sad to leave and scared to come back. I will not be extending my time, even after thinking and praying about it, I do not feel the Lord calling me to stay beyond the 2 years I will complete in Lima. So... that is what brings us to answer the question, "What's next?"

As of now, this is what I feel the Lord leading me to. (He often rearranges my plans, so all of this is flexible). Upon my arrival back to the states at the end of February, I anticipate traveling around to churches and supporters visiting and sharing about my time in Peru. I am projecting starting a job at the end of April/early May. I will be returning to Birmingham, and thus returning to my home and supporting church Oak Mountain Presbyterian, where good friends await. In my hope and dream to eventually study further to be a nurse practitioner, I would like to work at Children's Hospital for some more pediatric experience. I am praying months in advance for a position there of 7on 7off with the night shift of 11p-7a. (Feel free to pray that specific prayer with me). Why that schedule?? Working as a nurse, there is less possibility of having Sundays off to go to church, and this is one way I could do that as well as get plugged into things back home or get involved with some ministries. I would also like to see some more of family and friends that I haven't seen in a few years, and this schedule would also allow for some travel. So perhaps after a few years of working and saving, I'll be able to pursue the studies to be a nurse practitioner.

So there you have it!

Please pray with me about some specifics upon my return: Car, finances, job, place to live, roommate(s), TRANSITIONING, travel, speaking engagements, etc.

Thanks!

Its been a while

2007-10-17T10:41:00.000-05:00

Well, it has been a while, sorry for the delays, but thanks for checking my blog when you can! It has been a very busy month+/_ for me. It has been good, but it hasn't been without its various challenges. After the disaster trip I took last month, I had about a week before some vacation time where I hiked the Inca Trail with my roommates. It was a great trip, and renewed my love for hiking... it was a beautiful trail, with different views of the Andes, passing through many ruins along the way (and playing in them some! :-D ), and ending at Machu Picchu. Right after we got back, I had about a week before my parents arrived. More on their visit on the previous post. They left last week, and I am getting back to "normal". What is normal for me? (I wish I knew!).

We recently started a new Sunday School curriculum, so that has been fun to dive into. The kickoff for this curriculum was the Sunday I was traveling with my parents, so I am now learning some of its methods. Its a good program that teaches the bible chronologically. I am assisting in teaching the group of 11-14 year olds. I am still discipling, doing the children's bulletins, working the worship team, and visiting different people.

This past weekend was exciting as we had the arrival of the Salvatierras to Lima. Michael, Laura, and Noah Salvatierra just finished language school in Arequipa and are here in Lima. Please pray with us for a home for them here in Salamanca. Their desire is to be living where they will be serving, but there are not too many places available right now. Here is a picture from the welcome party we had for them.

Spiritual Warfare Seminar

2007-10-17T09:40:00.000-05:00

This month started off well with a seminar led by my father Al Bennett at our church plant here in Salamanca. On Sunday, September 30, my father preached, and then he gave his testimony after church when we had a special lunch and fellowship time. For those of you who don't know about my dad's testimony, he was deeply involved in the occult as a teen. His testimony is quite different than most and very impactful! Many people were touched by it, and eager to come to the seminar that we were holding in the following days. Dad had a few ministry opportunities as well.
Dad preaching Sunday morning, translated by John Goodman.

Praying with Roberto, translation by John Goodman.

Monday, October 1 through Thursday, October 4 in the evenings we held the seminar at one of the schools nearby. (The owner of this school is the man who is letting us use another of his school locations for our worship and other church meetings.) The turn out was very good. An average of 35 people a night, a few nights topping 40. People came from many different churches. His teachings were right from the scriptures, and though many of the topics centered around the work of our spiritual enemy, Satan, Dad focused a lot on assurance of salvation and the power of Christ, which seemed to be a theme greatly needed. It was a blessing to have both my parents here, and have my dad ministering to those near to me here.

(Mark Berry translated for my dad.)

Their visit was fun. They were my first visitors and since they are my parents, I had such a good time showing them around my world here, my Lima, and having them meet so many people that mean so much to me! Many days we were invited over by different people: Kike & Martha, Lea, Robin & Elita, and of course the Berry's and Rosses (missionary families on my team). It was so much fun for my parents to get to know my friends. I tried to show them and take them to the highlights of Lima, the highlights of my life here in Lima, current and former ministry locations.

We had a few days after the seminar to travel, and so we went to Cusco, my favorite visiting spot in Peru, they got to see one of the new wonders of the world-Machu Picchu. We had a good time other than their struggles with the altitude and dry air.

Thank you all for your prayers. Since Dad was speaking on a theme against our spiritual enemy, we knew we needed a lot of prayer, and Satan did have some attacks, but he didn't win the battle. Without your prayers his attacks would have been more strong, so a special thank you to all my guerreros de oración (prayer warriors)!!!

Video: Disaster Relief

2007-09-09T23:06:00.001-05:00

This is a video that I made to show you a bit of a glimpse of last week's trip.

This is a video that was made a few weeks ago.... I just hadn't gotten time to put it up here yet... Its a glimpse of the ministry here in Lima, primarily focused on Salamanca.

Disaster Relief Team Aug 28- Sept 3

2007-09-06T18:42:00.000-05:00

I had the great privilege and pleasure to be a part of the first Disaster Response trip. The whole group was made up of Americans, Peruvians, and missionaries.

Stateside, we had 5 men come down, and their combined experience in disaster relief included months of time in Sri Lanka, New York (after 9/11), Katrina, and more.

Rick Stiffler, Engineer, Team Leader, Pittsburgh, PA
Craig L. Boden M.Div., Ed.S., Crisis Counselor
Shaun Nolan, Pastor at View Crest Presbyterian, Eighty Four, PA
Tim Anderson- EMT, works as a tech trauma center. Philadelphia
Ed Underwood, MD- Birmingham, AL (Oak Mtn Pres member!)

Represented from Peru was:
Keith Powlinson and his son (Cusco),
Larry Rockwell and one of the young guys from his church, Pablo (Huaraz),
Gerry Gutierrez came with 5 of his young adults (Huanta),
and from Lima, Mark Berry and myself along with 4 other guys (Kike, Carlos, Luis, and Robin).

We left Lima in a bus carrying donations, supplies, food, and eager hearts to serve. (As you can see... we had a LOT)

We spent those days in an area called Cañete (can-ye-te), another area affected by the quake. In this area, we visited several locations: Hualcara, Imperial, San Benito, La Quebrada, San Isidro, and on our last day the MTW team down went to an area closer to the epicenter called San Clemente. We tried to locate follow brothers and sisters in Christ in these areas, to see how we could help them, what needs still were lacking, and how we could be best used. It could be very overwhelming just going into these locations just because there is a lot to do.

Here is some of what we saw there:

The biggest need is spiritual, and the second biggest need is of construction. The people mostly affected are the poorest of the poor, whose homes had been built from adobe bricks that quickly came crashing down. I listened to many testimonies, but the one that most hit home was hearing a mother talk of the adobe wall that came crashing down right where her 2 year old was and one of her other children snatched him out just in time, saving his life. Most families that were living in adobe homes are now in temporary housing, tents, plywood, and a material which is woven bamboo/wood-like, that is readily available here. I was encouraged to see how these people, though still in need, are in many cases trying to rebuild their lives.

There are also definite stories of injustice and inhumanity, which are sad and frustrating to hear. There are some reports of people that are giving out donations are limiting the goods only to those who are baptized in the catholic church; others of people hoarding the donations and not sending them down south (this in Lima); and of land owners claiming that people can't rebuild on their land (likely a "squatter" neighborhood that didn't belong to those who built their lives there) but now that their houses are in ruins they have to go somewhere else........

What we did:

Our team had many roles and functions. We had 2 VBS days with kids in 2 different communities. In Hualcara we had 150+ kids come out. We sang many songs, I did a little health talk on toothcare, and we gave out toothbrushes and paste, and we had a puppet show. The army was there, in some sense protecting us and showing that we had authorization to be there. They let us use their truck for the puppet show! In San Benito we had 200+ kids come out, but in an area even tighter, and a lot more challenging.

We also had the opportunity to make some medical house calls. Ed Underwood (a doctor on the team who also attends Oak Mountain Pres), Tim Anderson (a paramedic & firefighter also from the US team), and I were able to do some medical assessments in some of the temporary/refugee housing. Overall the problems we found were related to general health or age issues. This area has a lesser risk of epidemic illnesses.

(In this last picture was a family of 3 women, a grandmother, her daughter, and her granddaughter. Both the daughter and granddaughter were mentally challenged, and both suffered from epilepsy, however barely followed their medical regimen for the medicine they were taking, and essentially not having any therapeutic response. The main reason was for their financial state. I was able to get some medicine back to them the day we left, leaving them with 2 months worth of medicine so they can save for further medicine and get back on their feet. I emphasized to the grandmother that we were giving it to her in the love of Christ, and because He loved us, we wanted to love her in this way as well. She then broke down and through her sobs she expressed gratitude and humility, that they had nothing, they lost their house, and were slowly getting back on their feet. It was a moment that broke and warmed my heart at the same time....warmed because I know that was one of the reasons we were called there.)

Our group was able to assist a church in shoring up (or building a support) a wall of a church where the pastor also resides. They also put up a plastic awning at the entrance of the church where the pastor feeds some of the kids in the area.

We also distributed goods to two pastors to give to the needy in their church who were most affected by the quake. We prayed with these two pastors, and are eager for the potential in future training of these lay-men.

We returned to Lima a bit early in order to get supplies and have a tent-maker make some tents to send with the next disaster response team that will arrive next week. There are still families that have no temporary housing. I went around with the guys this past weekend, with the helpful assistance of Kike and Hernan, in Lima to find the right tent maker. They set up an example for our team for pictures just like this to show you one of the most helpful ways funds will be used to house families whose homes came crashing down. The second team will take these tents down for us.

I hope to have a video posted on here in the next few days. Stay tuned!

Thank you so much for your prayers during this week! It was such a hard but amazing week! God bless you all!

Gone to give aid...

2007-08-28T02:11:00.000-05:00

I leave in about 8 hours..... (I should be sleeping, but I have to keep you all informed! ;-) )

MTW has sent a disaster relief team down, which includes 5 men plus several MTW missionaries here in Peru (including myself), and we will be going south of Lima to an area hard hit by the earthquake. Some areas further inland have not received very much help, so we are going there. God knows all the details of the trip, but we have the potential to have medical aid, counseling, rubble removal, and distribution of goods. We are eager to see how the Lord will use this to open the doors for the gospel to be shared.

Please keep those prayers coming! They are felt, and they are yet needed!

I'll be back in a week or so!

The Latest

2007-08-22T21:58:00.000-05:00

Dearest friends, thank you so much for keeping up with this and praying. One week has passed since the earthquake struck Peru. There is still much need. Even if a lot of the response from the goverment or other agencies seemed good to me in my limited view, there is widespread destruction and several places that were hit hard to and have received very little help. A disaster response team will be arriving Monday night/Tuesday morning and it is very probable that I will be going with them, assisting in translation and medicinal help. As mentioned before, I am very eager to go. The group that will be coming will be primarily for counseling and medical help, with the open possibility of doing other things. It looks like we will be going to an area that has not received as much assistance. There are still many details to be worked out, most of which will take place as we are there.

We will be "roughing it" in tents etc. I am glad that I enjoy that kind of thing, however, I know that this will be A LOT different than any camping or hiking trip I've ever taken.

In the areas most affected, there is the risk of epidemics as there is no good way for sewage removal, and many are out in the open air. Please pray against disease and illnesses for these poor people.

I had a fun time this afternoon cleaning out my closet of things to donate. We are collecting supplies and donations to give through a Christian school to a safe hands of church connections the school has in the Ica province. There are so many sad reports of people making off with the donations and keeping them to themselves. Thankfully those who have been caught are now in jail..... sadly, there is probably many other stories like that.

Most people that were affected are already really poor, and don't have savings or insurance, or any current job now. All is gone, and will take a long time to rebuild many parts of their lives, not only their homes. So please pray for that too!

Thank you so so so much for your prayers! And please don't stop! They are felt and they are still needed!

I'll continue to post more as I know more!

It looks like various trips will be made by US teams through MTW during these months. Feel free to contact the home office in Atlanta regarding that if you are interested in coming down. Also they have a MinuteMan account number for this disaster relief. You can read more at Minuteman Appeal, Earthquake in Peru at:

http://www.mtw.org/

Many have asked me how they can help financially. For this specific cause, is why MTW has an account made. The account number for donations to this is #93982 with checks made out to Mission to the World and send to:

Mission to the World
P.O. Box 116284
Atlanta, GA 30368-6284

More to come..

2007-08-18T11:36:00.000-05:00

MTW has an assessment team down in Pisco, Peru right now to see how we all can be involved. I just talked with my team leader, and right now Peru doesn't need medical help. I truly feel the government responded well. But there is a lot of damage, and construction/rubble removal will be needed in these weeks. A decision will be made in the next few days where we will focus our attention. We want to join up with a church and from there minister how we can. There are a few contacts we have, and those with the combination of the MTW assessment we will go. It is probable that we will be taking several trips down: with MTW teams, with our church here, etc. There will be a lot to do.

I am so eager to go down there, but have God's sturdy hand on me telling me to wait a bit. (as my team leader just told me... "don't worry Becca, you'll get to go down there." (Its a bit hard for me to sit still right now.)

In these next few days we will know more about short teams that MTW might be sending down, as well as financial help, and hopefully we'll have an account set up soon for that too. Many of you have asked how you can help. You will be able to help, and when I know something I'll post more.

Please continue to pray!

My own aftershocks

2007-08-16T22:47:00.000-05:00

I am having some aftershocks of my own right now. After images have been placed before my eyes, between Peru press and the world's press, my heart is so broken. I used to see news reports of natural disasters in different parts of the world and ache for the people in the pictures or videos, but its SOOOO different for me now. I can speak the language of those who are sleeping without a roof tonight or who just lost every member of their family. I am just a few short hours from there, but currently can't help. I've been in Ica where a lot of destruction is. I've passed on that highway that collapsed. I was supposed to be there today in that area on my vacation . I feel so helpless at this point and am so close. This has happened so close to me and I will be warm tonight, I will have food and water tomorrow, which are such a blessing, but others will not. The ground shook under my feet too.... it just didn't bring my house down. These people could have been my friends. They are family and friends of my friends. I remember feeling so detached from the reality of other natural disaters, thinking about them in that time frame shortly there after, but as the days went on, so did my mind, and I eventually filled my mind with my life. I feel semi-detached here in Lima too.... where I have a roof, food, and warmth.

Please keep Peru in your prayers. Please as the days go by continue to think and pray for all here.

It has been so easy for me to be self-centered today. Responding to so many that "I" am ok, and "my" experience in the quake. I am the smallest fraction of anything related to the quake. Its about God, His glory, His sovereignty, and the mercy there is yet to be bestown on those in need. I am so grateful for all who contacted me concerned, it truly meant so much.

I know how easy it is to quckly move on, or to see images and place it so far away from our reality. Please don't forget Peru as I have done for so many other disasters. This is a country I love and a country that has loved me so well. It will take a long time for Peru to heal and pick up the broken pieces.

2007-08-16T22:36:00.001-05:00

I just heard from my "sister" in Arequipa, from my host family. Her dad is fine. He just was able to communicate with them. Thanks for your prayers!

A little "shaken up"

2007-08-16T18:53:00.000-05:00

First off I want to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers in this time. As many of you have seen and heard, last night around 6:40 Peru was hit with a very strong earthquake. I want to share that I am fine, as well as every person on our team here with MTW. We felt it strongly here in Lima, but not as bad as in Ica, which is about 100 miles south of here. We were all shaken up a bit, but more physically than emotionally.

I was in my room on the second floor with my roommates when it started, and we have on occasion tremors, but this one was a bit different, stronger and longer, and when we realized it wasn't a small tremor, we went out into the street (me carrying my little dog, who was more scared than us). But it kept going. It did feel like "jelly" as I've seen quoted a few times. The 2ish minutes seemed a lot longer. We saw transformers blowing all over the place (Lima is overcast, so we could see various areas affected with the electrical explosions of sorts). Lima was not hit bad in comparison to Ica, but it isn't everyday that you see the earth wave beneath you or cars bouncing or electrical wires like rubber bands. We could feel many aftershocks throughout the night. Many places here in Lima were without phone and electricity.

God is so good. About 2 months ago my friend Mesha and I planned to go to Paracas/Nazca/Ica Peru for a few days of vacation, and we were to be traveling there today. We would have been just outside of the epicenter. One of the hotels near where we'd reserved is completely demolished. Needless to say, we aren't traveling there now for our vacation.

Please keep the area in your prayers. The death toll is rising as is the number of people injured and missing. Among the missing is a family member of the host family I lived with in Arequipa. They've heard from all but him. He is not a believer either.

It is very probable that MTW will be sending a disaster response team down, and I'll probably be a part of that. Please be in prayer for that too. Preparations would be quick, and we'd need to get quick approval through a government or relief aid organization.

I don't understand why, but Skype has been down too, so if you've tried to call, I haven't been able to respond. I was able to get messages this morning, but it has been unavailable since then.

2007-08-13T11:45:00.000-05:00

Fransisca and Hilda went back to Cusco August 2nd. Please keep them in your prayers. Hilda shared a lot with me before they left. None of their family are believers, and these two women are probably receiving a lot of pressure to use a "curandista" or witch doctor to be cured. Please pray for them to be more of an influence in the lives of their family than vis versa.

More on Fransisca

2007-07-29T20:21:00.000-05:00

I'm going on week 2 of living at the Berry's house. I feel so detached from everything, though 20 minutes from home. It has been a huge blessing and struggle for me in my time here, mostly in the care of Fransisca.

First of all, THANK YOU so much for your prayers! She is doing better to some extent, and I see a more frequent smile on her face, which was lost most of last week while she was in pain and very anxious. She had a very nasty UTI (urinary infection) and now after a few days on some strong antibiotics she is clear! (Read that as you want.) Also, she'd lost her appetite for a few days, and now is eating again; she's also taking a few steps each day from her chairs to the bed, etc, and has great gumption to do so. Its great to see her motivated.

Today we spent a few hours resting outside on a blanket in the Berry's yard. It was a clear and sunny afternoon, which are few and far between here in the winter months. It was a nice time which we all enjoyed together.

As of now, the plan is to have her finish her treatments here in Lima, which will be this week, and for her to go back to Cusco. For the type of tumor she has (cordoma) there isn't too much else that she will be able to do. She is going back to be with family and to be at home comfortably (as much as she can).

Its a hard thing. Its life as well. A great thing though is that God can use anything He wants to bring people to him. For this tumor, Fransisca came to Christ in Cusco. For this tumor, Hilda her daughter came to Christ here in Lima. He has a beautiful tapestry of life, and has granted me the opportunity to have some time with these precious women.

Please continue to pray for them and their family in this rough time.

Continuing of Nursing Skills

2007-07-24T19:30:00.000-05:00

Fransisca is getting worse. I am now living with the Berry's to be an extra hand as often as needed (Becca's Home Health Care~ as Lori calls it) to them in the caretaking of Fransisca. In just a few short days, I've been able to use some more of the skills I used to do on a frequent basis back in the states~ Foley catheter placement, giving enemas, bedbaths, and transfering the patient, and A LOT of teaching. The end of the week last week, Fransisca lost her ability to walk with assistance, she can only be transfered from bed-chair or chair-car, which is definetly a lot better with 2 of us doing it, as she is like dead-weight. She still has about a week left of the radiation treatment here in Lima before she is transferred to Arequipa to continue her treatment. Please pray about that. Her decline in health seems to be more related to her tumor than it does her radiation. We are working with Dr Allen in Cusco, and trying to work with the family to get things arranged with her transfer to Arequipa (she has a son there). Please pray with us in that.

Its hard in that, for me the Quechuan culture here it can easily appear to me as a lack of love for their family member (in this case their mother), just in the attitude that presents itself as apathy/negligence, but how much of it is their culture in that they are more closed off, and how much of it is their lack of knowledge/not understanding Spanish well too? I don't know if they understand the severity of her tumor, and if so, it seems like they are just shrugging their shoulders. I am trying not to judge and to understand their culture more because I don't understand why/how they are responding like this. Daily our friend Kike is fighting for them at the hospital (the system is a maze of lines and paperwork and being heard in order to be seen) and Fransisca's daughter who is here takes on a very very very passive role, and she'd essentially be doing this type of advocacy when they go to Arequipa.

Thanks for your prayers!

Fransisca

2007-07-20T23:43:00.000-05:00

I have been able to do a bit more this week in a nursing role with a woman by the name of Fransisca. She is here in Lima, but born and raised in a small village outside of Cusco. She speaks Quechua, and understands some Spanish. Dr Allen sent her to us here to have some more tests run on a tumor in her spine. The tests came back positive for a malignant tumor, and it was decided for her to start radiation therapy right away. Her daughter Hilda is also here, and they have been staying with the Berry's. I was able to help with her bathing and teaching techniques to Hilda as Fransisca has been quite weak. These past few days she has gotten a lot weaker, and today, especially it has been a huge struggle for her to be able to urinate. We got the necessary supplies, and I inserted a foley catheter. I don't have too many opportunities to use my nursing skills, and it was good to know that A: I could help tend to a need that other people can't yet and B: some skills are ingrained enough and not forgotten. It was another one of those times where I knew that this was yet another reason God has me here at this time.

We didn't have the full kit that is so helpful in the states, and I had to "mas o menos" (more or less) make my own bootleg sterile area and kit, and some supplies I would've used weren't available, so I made do with what I could. (Boiling water can sterilize and is sterile, without it I would've been stuck!) It was quite different than what I'm used to back home, but with what was available, it was done as sterile and clean as possible. I'm glad she was and is now able to have some relief. Next week the Berry's will be going on vacation for a few days, so I'll be staying there to help as needed.

Please pray for Fransisca and Hilda, as well as the rest of their family. Hilda accepted Christ last week, and is eager to learn more. Fransisca accepted Christ in Cusco when someone shared with her. Please pray for her healing, comfort, and the treatments needed.

Personal Prayer Request

2007-07-04T02:44:00.000-05:00

I'm trying to think of where to even begin. This wouldn't be my first sleepless night that I've recently had. To preface my prayer request, about 6-7 months before I left the States to come to Peru, I started wigging out in some ways. Feeling in between places, part of me froze in the friendships I had, fearing further investment, yet all the while wanting to invest all I could while I could. I didn't feel a part of either place at that point, knowing I'd be leaving a place that had become my home (Birmingham) and other places, but not yet being a part of Peru yet.

I'm about 7-8 months away from stepping back on US soil. I've never felt the Lord's call for me to extend my time, but am praying for His guidance in that, and am not closed to the idea.

I feel myself getting stuck in that rut again that I'd gotten myself into a few years ago. Peru is now becoming more of a home to me, just as all the other places I've adapted to. I have some beautiful friendships here, that I already ache at the thought of saying "See you later" or "Goodbye" to them. YES, there are some things here, that I ache to get away from, but overall I know it will be a very hard thing to do next year when I board that plane to take me stateside. When I'm stateside next year, where I will eventually "land" to start over is completely up in the air, so I don't have any one place to particularly envision myself (which in my current state I think would help). So I feel even moreso in "limbo" with no certain destination in sight, and in between places all over again. My heart feels like it needs to start transitioning, but to where? In the transitioning I don't want to loose sight of what is so dear to me here.

I yearn to be living each day here to its fullest, to relish in each relationship here and grieve later, to not be so overwhelmed by these thoughts and feelings, and to completely trust in the Lord with the unknowns of next year. Please pray with me for these things.

OMPC Vision Trip

2007-06-25T08:38:00.000-05:00

June 21-24, I had a wonderful taste from home, from my OMPC home. Mark Hunter, Octavio Samper, and Randy Gilbert were on a vision trip here in Peru and spent some time with me and my team here in Lima. I was their guide, essentially, and took them around, mostly to activities here in Salamanca where we are focusing our ministry right now. It was a great time of fellowship, fun, and food. Its been a while since I've eated that much and that good!!

It was such a blessing to have them here. I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did!

8 Months and what that means

2007-06-10T19:32:00.000-05:00

So its so hard to believe that I have about 8 months left. Didn't I just arrive?!?!? It will be a very busy and fun time! Here is what it looks like, ministry and fun stuff included......

This month Oak Mountain is sending a group of 3 men down for a vision trip. I am excited to share part of my ministry with people from my home church in Birmingham. Later this month I'll be heading down to Arequipa to spend a few days with my host family from my time in language school and some other good friends there.

Early July I'll be participating in a Sunday School training, then later I'll be going for a few days to Paracas, which is also called the "Poor Man's Galapagos", and fortunatly it is only a few hours south of here. At the end of July to early August a group is coming from Nashville to do an Art's Camp here in Salamanca.

(Since there aren't a lot of set ministry dates beyond August, the rest of this will be some of my outing plans.....)

In September I'll be taking a trip with a few friends to hike the Inca Trail. The more I read about it, the more excited I get. Its a 4-5 day hiking trip in the Andes which we'll be going through many incan ruins along the trail, and ending on the last day seeing the sun rise at Machu Picchu. My breath is already taken away at that thought. I visited Machu Picchu 3 years ago, and it will be so great to see it again like this!! Late September my parents will be down to visit. It'll be my first visit from anyone back home and I am so excited! I can't wait to share with someone from home my life here! Dad will be teaching a spiritual warfare seminar for a week here here in Lima, after that we'll travel a bit as well.

After Christmas, my dear friend who is more like a sister, Sarah Nell will be coming to visit me. That will be a very special time, and will be the best way to bring in a New Year!

I am still left with some vacation days that I was holding aside from another person that will not be coming after all, so I am eager to use that time to go to other parts of Peru that I haven't seen yet.

Ministry in the meantime of all these outtings will include discipleship, deeping and developing relationships, children's ministries, Salamanca health ministry within the church plant, possible street kids ministry, and worship team ministry. The time will be full, and very good.

Next February I'll be back to my home in the States....... by now, I have several places that I call home, and no doubt, Peru is a place that I consider one of my homes.

Locked Out and In

2007-06-10T19:16:00.000-05:00

A very humorous thing happened to me this afternoon..... I'm in a blogging mood, so I thought I'd share it with you. First, to explain how many homes work here in Peru, there is the front door that is attached to the house, but there is also (typically in safer neighborhoods) an outside wall or gate, which also has a door. We were heading out to a neighborhood park for the afternoon Sunday school that we hold there. I was running a bit late, so the girls went on with out me. A few minutes later I was looking for my keys, but being that I was running late, I decided to go on knowing that the girls had their keys with them, and I could just close the doors behind me.

So I run out, slamming the house front door, and stop dead in my tracks seeing that the outer wall door had been locked (unlockable only with a key). So I was not only locked out of my house, but I was locked out of the street. Locked in my front yard. I had my Sunday school lessons and materials. I knew 2 possibilities would happen. 1-They'd realize I wasn't there after a while, and someone would come for me, so I'd get about 10-15 minutes worth of a nap in the cold, on the cold ground while waiting or 2-due to a recent event they might think I had a weak pathetic moment and wasn't coming, so they'd not show up until after Sunday school was over, which would be 1 1/2 hours later, and my cold nap would be longer. Either way, I'd get a few minutes of much needed rest.

Laura came to my rescue, thinking I'd hurt myself (we have very slippery stairs and floors, that really I'm surprised that I'm still in one piece), so I was able to make it to Sunday School and teach my kids! And let me tell you that when you've had a rough day, hugs from these little kids go a long way!

Moral of the story... look for your keys in Peru or you'll be taking a cold nap!

New Beginnings

2007-06-10T18:44:00.000-05:00

I am excited to share about our new church plant here in Salamanca, "Iglesia Presbyteriana Luz De Vida". No lie, it is right down the street from my house. Its quite convenient! June 3rd was our first service, and there were about 85+ people there! It was great! I helped with vocals in the worship service, that definetly isn't the first gift God gave me to use for His glory, but a decent enough gift.

Our ministry is being focused right now in Salamanca as there is a lot to do. I would like to eventually start a health ministry here too, but it would look a lot different. Please pray for that with me. For my last short 8 months more of my ministry will be with the church plant here in Salamanca.

Here are some pictures from the first Sunday service.

Long Awaited Videos

2007-05-31T23:30:00.000-05:00

Finally! The long awaited (probably forgotten of) videos from VBS in JANUARY!! (Crazy how fast time passes huh?) I had to say goodbye to my computer, and late April received a new one that has enabled me to finally edit the video clips and post these videos online. Thanks for your patience! I hope to be putting more up as time allows!

For a recap, in January we had various VBS's in our church plants here in Lima. For each one I gave some health charlas or talks to the kids about a few things.

This first video is from my talk in Santa Anita about toothcare. Millbrook Presbyterian Church collected and gave me many toothbrushes and toothpaste that I gave out after this health talk, and others like it. At the end of the video clip I tell the kids about our brothers and sisters at MPC, and they start looking for them! How cute! So here is the video... enjoy!

This second video was also filmed in Santa Anita, and I got all "decked" out for it. In teaching a lesson on hygiene, I went to the extreme and got REALLY dirty. The kids seemed to listen well, but wouldn't hug me! That would be a first!

The Training Began

2007-04-20T12:07:00.000-05:00

Here are some pictures from the training last Saturday in Huaycan, and this Tuesday in Santa Anita. In all 10 women are interested in this training.

Pictured from left to right:

Maria Mendoza
Cledia (who in a year will return to the jungle region of Peru with her family-her husband is finishing seminary here in Lima)
Isabel Pineda
Lucia Quiquimlla Quichca
Albertina Cardenas
Hermelinda

Reyna Quiñones
Elita Aguilar Huilca

(not pictured: Yrene Chahua Huamanzana and Lea Bonzano)

My style of teaching is not just book reading or lecturing. I am a hands on learner, and so I have several activities planned, most which include 2 volunteer actresses, a bit of pretending from all, and the right supplies. So this is of me "cutting my arm and bleeding profusely" (red markers come in handy!) and my helpers.

Right now in Huaycan we are meeting on Saturdays to complete the training, and in Santa Anita we are meeting on Tuesday and Saturday evenings. I'm sure there will be more pictures and hopefully video clips to come soon! Thank you for praying for this ministry!

Juana in her new home

2007-04-20T12:01:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to leave a little blog to let you all know that on Tuesday morning at 7:40, Juana Espinoza went on to be with the Lord. As her family described it, she went in peace, like a little dove. Her family told us that since last Thursday, when Mark and a few of us went to visit with her, and pray, that she seemed to be at peace and without pain for the last days of her life. Mark read to her several passages from the bible that Thursday night, when she was uncomfortable, and restless.

The service for her was on Wednesday, and it was interesting to see and learn about some of the traditions.

Please keep her family in your prayers during this time of grief.

Health Training Begins!

2007-04-09T14:32:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday (March 31st) I met with several women in Huaycan who are interested in being trained to be health promoters. We talked about the purpose and goals of the ministry, and what the training would look like. We agreed on the dates for the training... which will be April 14, and April 21. From there we'll meet more regularly and I'll teach new things each time. The main training right now will focus on first aid, roles and responsibilities of a promotor, caring for the sick, and nutrition. I actually just finished the first aid section of the training last night... (Its only 36 pages typed!) I am eager and nervous for this to start. I'll be training twice. Once in Huaycan, and again in Santa Anita. (Santa Anita's training will be 2 nights a week for 2 weeks instead of 2 Saturdays, and that will start for them on April 17th).

Please pray for the women who are considering this ministry: Isabel, Lucia, Albertina, and Hermelinda (all from Huaycan); and Lea, Irene, Elita (from Santa Anita).

Its also crunch time for me, so please pray as I finish things up here for the training!

Update on Elizabeth

2007-04-09T14:21:00.000-05:00

Last week I went to visit Elizabeth again with one of the future health promoters from Huaycan (Isabel). Elizabeth is doing really well. She'll go back to the doctor at the end of this month, and her external fixation device will probably be taken out, and she will probably start taking small steps to walking normal again. She is encouraged, and eager for this to pass. When we were talking about her scars she told me, "Its just one more testimony of how God has gotten me through this and how he saved my life!"

For Good Friday, there was a church service at the church in Huaycan, uniting a few of the church plants. She really wanted to go, and hasn't been to the church since her accident in January. The only thing impeding her is a way there. Kike and I picked her up before the service (and she was all cutely dressed up!) and brought her down. It was a delight for me. I can't imagine being away from the body of Christ for so long, even though many visit her regularly. She enjoyed her time there, and it was encouraging to see those come up around her and help out.

Thank you for your prayers, and please keep them up! She's still got a bit to go yet!

IV Miracles

2007-04-09T13:31:00.000-05:00

A few months ago, 2 sisters, Mechita and Juana Espinosa, and Mechita's daughter Kiara came to Christ. They live together with their mother in a poorer area of Salamanca. Kiara has been involved in the Sunday school we're doing in Salamanca. Kiara and Mechita have been coming to our Thursday night bible studies at Kike and Martha's. Juana, however, has not. Our sister-in-Christ Juana has uterine cancer and is in the last stages. She has lost a lot of strength, and is in the bed most of the time. She has an IV treatment every few days.

Two Friday evenings ago, Martha called me asking if I could come over right away to help Juana. I didn't know exactly what to expect. Their cousin, who is a nurse, has been giving her the IV treatments and medicinal injections, however, she was in an accident, and was not able to come. Juana was due for her next IV bag. I read through the doctor's prescription of the IV and its medicines (mostly electrolytes and vitamins), and prepared that. I started praying at that point too for the IV start (it has been about 2 years since I last started an IV). Once the bag was ready, we stepped into Juana's room, which was lit very very dimly only by a light in the entrance of the room. Juana was in her bed behind the wall that held the light. It was dim. Mechita gave me a candle so I could see the veins better, but unfortunatly the candle holder prevented much light from escaping. So I prayed again. There was only one needle catheter to use for the IV, so it was a one-time shot (in my mind.... its probably normal to try a few times in Peru with the same needle). Early on, even when I was preparing the IV bag, Mechita seemed to question what I was doing. I gently explained my reasoning for whatever it was, realizing that she is worried for her sister and curious about how I was doing things. She also was comparing my actions with her cousins. I was acting only in the quality of care I know how to give. The needle was slightly different than that I was used to, but no matter, I needed to start an IV. I prayed once more as I was inserting the needle in the dimly lit room (thankful that a huge part of putting in an IV is feeling the vein, and not seeing it... I couldn't see it because of the dim light and her dark skin), and God directed the needle in place! Some blood did come out in the process of me attaching the IV tubing to the IV catheter, but not too much. It was enough, however, to get Mechita upset, where she pretty much went off on me for everything I did, telling me how the other nurse does it differently, that I wasn't doing it right, etc. By then the IV rate was dripping as directed by the doctor, the IV was secured, and everything was going well. I think for me it was hard, because in my opinion, God inserted that IV, with so many things against me (long time no practice, dim lighting, one needle that was a bit different....), and my heart was rejoicing in how He guided me, but all of that was being attacked because it was different than someone elses style. I got no closure with Mechita that night.

The next day, I went back with Martha, not knowing if they even wanted me there, and another beautiful miraculous thing happened. As soon as Mechita saw me, she gave me a big hug and asked for my forgiveness (she's a 2 month old Christian), we talked for a bit, me forgiving her and telling her not to worry about it. Then later after we visited with Juana a bit, she apologized again, and I could tell she was still upset at the way she'd treated me. I told her to not worry about it, it was behind us, that "we" were ok, and that she had more to worry about than what had happened. Then she said something very encouraging. She put her hand on my shoulder and said, "Please continue to use your skills and continue learning. It can really help people like us who can't do this and need your help."

Since then, I've been over there, so many times I can't count. To give her pain medicine, or nausea medicine, massages, or another IV (this 2nd one put in by the afternoon light that came into the holes in the roof/ceiling, and me in the bed against the wall to put it in the other arm....another new experience). Each time the friendship growing stronger between me and Mechita. She's had some hard hurdles in her new faith as facing the upcoming death of her sister Juana (who is in her mid-forties) is very challenging. She is very eager to learn, and has mentioned that she would like to spend more time praying with me. I am encouraged by the support they have received by the Christian community here in Salamanca. She mentioned to me that if it wasn't for her "spiritual sisters" she couldn't get through this experience.

THIS is just another way God has encouraged me, that for this point in my life, I am where I need to be.

Please pray for Juana, for healing, peace her suffering, aliviation of her pain, and confidence in the Lord at this time. Also for her family, their financial situation, the burdens they are carrying, and confidence in the Lord at this time.

Other Birthday In Peru

2007-03-27T23:10:00.000-05:00

So I had my 26th birthday here in Peru. It was a great day! In the morning my roomates (Susan and Laura) and one of my teammates (Amanda Ross) took me out for breakfast, they also told my friend Mesha about it, who showed up to the restaurant. Breakfast isn't as big of a meal here in Peru, so you rarely find restaurants that offer pancakes or waffles, however, I'd made a mental note of a restaurant that serves good breakfasts, and so we ate there.

We came home and did some prep work for the party that night. I'd had an appointment for a little pampering, and left for the massage, manicure, and pedicure.

I came back in time to get ready for guests. Birthdays are a big deal here in Peru, and since I've been in Lima a little over a year now, I have a few more friends. Here are some pictures from the party. It was a lot of fun!

From home, I'd received several e-cards, emails, and phone calls. Thanks a bunch!! It was a very good day!

A Breath of Fresh Air: Trip to Huaraz

2007-03-13T22:27:00.000-05:00

So this post probably will have the most pictures than any other post so far. Last week I, along with teammates Susan Crenshaw and Laura Hoyt, as well as missionary friend Andrew Eisner (in Cusco), and Peruvian friend Monica escaped Lima to go to Huaraz, Peru. It was once again nice to get away into nature a bit.

We stayed at the Mission Center that MTW missionaries Larry and Sandy Rockwell are in charge of. We also got to do some things with 2 year MTW missionary Anna Echols. Here is a picture of all of us at the Laguna Llanganuco near the peak of the mountain Huascaran.

Here are some other shots from around that laguna. It was quite beautiful there!

(And I love photography.... so here are some shots I took advantage of that day, not necessarily near the laguna)

This second group of pictures are from the hike we took up to Laguna Churup. I cluelessly had no idea of the difficulty of this "trek". The people at the agency made it sound like a piece of cake. It was in itself a rough trail, mostly uphill, but mostly uphill in very high altitude can be rough on someone who lives close to sea level. I, an experienced hiker, struggled for most of the climb. I did get a bit of altitude sickness, and was quite content taking it at my own pace. There were some fun parts of the trail that require a bit of free-handed rock climbing. We finally made it to the top, where we'd eat lunch. Honestly, I was too worn out to even chew... but I did what I could. The view was great though! The "top" was reaching the Laguna Churup, which from what I read online today, it is sitting nicely at 14,600 feet above sea level. The hike back was nice.... mostly downhill. I didn't struggle as much. Truthfully as much as I struggled that day, it was my favorite day of the whole week we were gone. The views were amazing, I love hiking, it was serene, and although physically exhausting, it was emotionally refreshing! Here are some pictures from that day.....

The way up:

At the top!! Laguna Churup:

And the way back...

And here is me sitting over the city of Huaraz at an overlook.

So here is a huge insight into some of my restful days last week. It was hard to choose which pictures to post since there was so much beautiful scenery. Believe it or not, we went at a time of the year when it isn't ideal to see the scenery.... mostly because the huge mountain snow covered peaks were mostly covered by clouds.... I enjoyed what I saw anyways.

I am now back in Lima, which does not come close in any way to the beauty of Huaraz. I am glad I went, and will look often at my pictures to remember what green hills look like. Isn't God's creative hand awesome!

Salamanca Update

2007-03-13T19:42:00.000-05:00

So to catch everyone up on the latest in Salamanca (my neighborhood)...... We are in the process of starting a church plant here. Since Mark Berry (my team leader) will only be able to serve the church plant as a part time pastor, we're still very much so in the developmental stages, and don't actually have a church formed yet. What we do have so far is a Sunday school for kids in the neighborhood (most of which come from a poorer part of the neighborhood) on Sunday afternoons. Currently we do not have a set location for the Sunday School, so we are using a public park until we have somewhere to go. It seems to be working out well for right now. We also have a Thursday night discipleship group that meets at Kike and Martha's place. We are within a few weeks of ending one of the studies, but it has been encouraging to see the group grow, especially with new believers. There is a "cell group" that is meeting on Saturday evenings too, it used to be like a little worship service, but it is being changed to a bible study. The hope is to start the church and Sunday worship service in June. Until then, there is a group of people meeting together weekly to plan and develop for the Salamanca church plant.

Any prayers are welcome for all of these areas!

Vacation Bible School- Health Charlas

2007-02-21T20:54:00.000-06:00

I was hoping to be able to put video clips on this blog from the charlas I did at the VBSs here in January, but I have resigned to just putting up pictures for the time being. (Because my computer is still inoperable and so my video clips cannot be uploaded.....but in due time

We ended up only doing 3 VBSs this summer* here- Huaycan, Santa Anita, and Amauta. At each VBS I gave 2 health talks- One of personal hygiene (and the kids all received a bar of soap and a sample pack of shampoo) and the other of dental care (and the kids all received a toothbrush and a travelsize toothpaste).

The personal hygiene talk started out like a skit (that I've done before in another location), where I come out dressed very dirty (literally) with dirt all over my clothes, arms, hands, and face (really the face is brown makeup), and also ratty hair. The pastor's daughter Judith acted alongside of me semi-explaining why I needed to keep clean. After the skit I talked more of the importance, and on the way out, no kid wanted to hug me.... hmmm...

The dental care talk was fun too. (I think some energy from my camp days came back). Anyways I explained about cavities (all the kids have them... or have lost several teeth because of them), and why we should brush our teeth. I showed them fun ways to brush their teeth, and in the end we did a chant about brushing teeth. (I wrote the chant to the military chant- "I don't know but I've been told...") It was fun because the kids really got into it and started chanting loadly with me, shouting even. It was a blast.

(At the Santa Anita VBS)

(At the Huaycan VBS)

It is only a glimpse of God's work here.Please pray for all the children who attended the VBSs and their families. That the seeds planted would grow, and people would come to know Christ personally.

***I also want to take this time too to thank Millbrook Presbyterian for their collection of toothbrushes and toothpaste for me. They were distributed at each VBS. Thank you for your hand and help in this part of the ministry! I shared that they were from our "brothers and sisters" in Alabama, and the pastor led them in a prayer for you all. Gracias! Thanks again! ***

Summer Fun

2007-02-21T20:19:00.000-06:00

THE BEACH

It is summer here in Peru, actually it is getting to the end of the summer. It has been very hot, very humid, and somedays almost untolerable! Yet, fall is near, there will be less sun, and soon the many months of gray overcast Lima sky. HOWEVER.... we have enjoyed the summer as one would normally here, and being that Lima is on the coast, we've taken a few trips to the beach on our off days. The beaches around Lima are not that pleasant, and quite polluted, so we've gone south about 40 minutes to some cleaner, nicer beaches. Our first trip was with a dear Peruvian family, the Matamoros (Kike, Martha, Romina, and Gianella). We had a great time, and got a little burned. Our second time we went with the Davidson ladies (Bonita, Anna, and Ila- some MTW missionaries here in Lima). Both beaches were nice in their own ways, and us single MTW Lima gals had a good time. (It is good to get away every now and then).

THE ZOO

Also we treated our friend/househelper Lucia and her family to a day with us at the Lima Zoo- Parque de las Leyendas. It is the largest zoo in Peru, and was a fun place to spend the day. Her children had only been to tiny zoos, petting farm type places, so it was fun to see them getting excited about the animals. Especially her son Santiago, who is really into animals right now.

(Lucia, Santiago, Felix, and Zarumi)

(Zarumi)

(Santiago)

*One side story about Santiago is that this past year he was going through a difficult phase, learning some horrible habits, words, and attitudes from some of the kids in his preschool. Lucia was really concerned. Once in his interaction with me, he sported an attitude like I'd never seen and then hit me. (The issue was addressed of course, but I was quite confused in his interaction with me.) Well, he seems to have passed that stage and is behaving a lot better, and even becoming pals with me! (On the way home he fell asleep, and we all parted ways.... His first thought upon waking was "¡Pero no les dije gracias a las señoritas!" (But I didn't tell the girls thank you!) Lucia and Felix were happy about hearing this because often they struggle in getting him to say thank you and that is when they make him. He wanted to do this on his own.

(Me and my new pal Santiago)

A Little Change

2007-02-21T20:09:00.000-06:00

Ok, so the last post was telling you all about the health ministry training that was to begin. It has now been postponed until the end of March. Its definetly for good reasons though. Although I met with the national pastor and my team leader Mark Berry about the health ministry and when to start it, after a team meeting and a discussion, I realized that for the best ownership of this ministry is for it to come from the church, and from the leadership specifically. We had never met with the elders of the church, only the pastor in regards to this ministry. My team leader is on vacation for a few weeks, and when he gets back I'll be gone as well, so our meeting with the elders is going to be the 13th of March. Although they'd probably hop on board with this, we know it is not the best way to start out. So it has been further postponed until we get their approval. This is a God-thing too in that I am having some computer problems, and although I have been blessed with another on loan, I have several files on the other that were meant for the training. Pray with me that my computer issue will be solved by the latest mid-March so that I will be able to retrieve these files. And please continue to pray with me for the training materials, creativity, and perseverance. (I have been getting cabin fever a lot).

A Date is Set!!

2007-01-27T15:48:00.000-06:00

This week I met wit Mark Berry (my team leader) and Pastor Adrian Fernandez (Peru pastor we work with) in order to set a date for training to begin for our health promoters. FEBRUARY 24th at 4pm the intro/orientation class begins, and from there we will either space the training out for a few weeks, or make a weekend training seminar out of it. I have been and will continue to work on those training materials. I am excited to have this date and get started in the biggest part of my ministry here! All prayers are needed and welcome with much gratitude!!!!

Elizabeth- Part 2..... Health Ministry with a Saw

2007-01-27T09:13:00.000-06:00

Last night I had the opportunity to visit Elizabeth once again in her home. The pastors wife Reyna and my friend Lucia accompanied me. I was very pleased with her progress in these past 2 weeks. I had found out too that I was misinformed originally about the vehicle that hit her, it was actually an oil truck that had been parked on an incline, and the brakes went out, with no driver in the driver's seat. And so she was hit.

Anyways, good news is that the driver responsible for the truck is covering her medical bills for another clinic instead of the "sorry" hospital that she was going to. She is getting better care there. Some other semi-good news is that her husband who abandoned her and the kids last year, has shown up a bit, and is assisting a bit, giving her a wheelchair. So she has that to help. (He also played her part in getting her pregnant before the accident, yet continues to claim that the marriage is over and that he does not want to reconcile..... please add this situation to your prayers for her.)

Ok, so last night's visit. Like I said, I was very pleased with her progress in the past few weeks. Last night, I observed how she had been transfering herself from the bed to the chair, and from the chair to the bathroom. I was pleased with how she was doing it. I instructed her on some exercises to do in bed as well as in the chair. She had been in bed these past few weeks, and so I also instructed her to start getting up to the chair at least 3 times a day, and gave her some exercises to do as well. She was quite eager to do them, and had a great attitude about it. She has a partial cast so that her wounds from the accident can heal better. I took a look at those wounds, and they seem to be healing really well too.

What encouraged me most, was her outlook on everything:

- "I may not be able to get to church right now, but I know that God is right here with me, and He encourages me everyday."

- "In the taxi on the way to the hospital, the taxi driver told me that I should convert to catholicism because all these bad things happen to me. I told him that I was not going to, that it is Satan who is doing these things to me, that the Lord is saving me. The Lord didn't take my life from that truck, He saved me from what could have happened."

- "Sure, I'd like to be working, but the Lord has it right now for me to be here healing, and it gives me more time with Him."

It was such a sweet visit. The Peru twist in the story, is giving her crutches. I was able to purchase some aluminum crutches to donate to the Huaycan church for times such as these, but the vender only had one size. (One size fits all doesn't work well for the smaller framed Indian population..... I would estimate that she is maybe 4'8). The vender told us that if we did need to make it smaller, we could measure it and cut it with a saw. So that is what we did. We got her up, measured her with the crutches and the right height (it was already on its lowest setting). Some neighbors let us borrow a saw, and Reyna and I stepped out of the house and sawed her crutches at the marked point. It was definetly the first time I've ever used a saw for anything in health care!

Thank you for your prayers for her. Please keep them coming!

Elizabeth

2007-01-14T20:11:00.000-06:00

This blog I am posting most for prayer, for a woman named Elizabeth. She is the mother of 5, 2 of which are in the diaconal feeding project in Huaycan (Marcos and Daniel... if you remember my post on them). As for many impovershed families in Peru, jobs are hard to come by, and after her husband abandoned her and the kids, she has been looking hard for a job to provide for her family. She finally got a job, which she was to start this past Wednesday, however, this past Monday, she was hit by a "combi" or public transportation van, leaving her with a broken leg in several places. She was taken to Bravo Chico hospital (the same hospital that I went to last year with the man who fell off the roof.... in other words a sorry hospital that doesn't care much at all.)

On Wednesday I was in Huaycan for their VBS to do my health charla for the kids at the VBS (toothcare). Pastor Adrian Fernandez (the national pastor we work with) told me of her situation, and asked if I would go visit her with him and his wife after the VBS. And we did.

Upon walking into the humble brick home, she was in the little den, on top of a mattress, with blended wool and alpaca blankets serving as pillows behind her back. (It is summer here, and quite hot.... that will get uncomfortable soon). The only light in that room, where six to eight of us sat around the mattress, was coming from another room. There was no light where she was. We all talked for a bit, and then I started asking her different things regarding her pain, and anything the hospital might have informed her of for care at home.

She was told nothing of her care, other than she had an appointment with the doctor a few days later.

Her leg was unelevated and also uninformed of changing positions in bed to avoid getting bedsores. The educator/nurse in me kicked in, and I explained the importance of that. Her oldest daughter Miriam was there, and so I was able to show her, together with her the proper way to turn her mother (without the luxury of drawsheets). I also explained how to put her on a bed pan (in this case a shallow bowl).

Some of this stuff was so basic for me as a nurse, and I am so glad that I could use something that, on any other day, I might take for granted. It may not be much, but God-willing it will save her from having horrible bedsores, in a very unclean environment, for her lengthy time in bed.

After we all talked for a while, we prayed with Elizabeth and her family, which is always the best thing, and for me a special thing, in a home visit. She did loose her job, but I am so encouraged how the church is coming around her and her family at this time. The churches in Huaycan and Santa Anita are taking up a special collection for her and her family.

Please pray for this sweet sister in Christ and her family in this hard time. Thank you.

Video from Huaycan Charla

2006-11-18T22:59:00.000-06:00

This is a video clip that has taken me forever to get up on here! One: I'm a baby in the art of videography and editing. My first attempt, after many hours on my freedays, the video was too long to be uploaded onto the sites. I found that out the hard way! Two: My computer has been on the fritz. I've been without it on many occasions now as it has been in the lab (so to say). It'd get better, work for a week, and then go on the fritz again. Anyways, so now I have my computer back, and this first day of having it, I was able to reedit and now get it posted for you all.

Enough said on that.

This clip is just to give you a little taste of my life here in Lima. I have 3 health charla (talks) a month, at least, in different areas where we work. The clip is from a health charla in Huaycan about 3 months ago. That evening I was teaching more in my series of nutrition, and what is a balanced diet. For a culture who has a very high carb diet (and in that I mean rice and potatoes are always together on their plates), knowing what a balanced meal is has been challenging. When I show a balanced meal with only potatoes, they ask, "And where is the rice???" I also have a spiritual application part of my health charlas. In this video clip, the pastor's wife, Reyna helped me in teaching them about putting this lesson in practice.

I hope you enjoy this video!

EE Clinic

2006-11-18T19:24:00.000-06:00

Two days after getting back from Panama, Laura and I embarked on a week-long clinic for EE (Evangelism Explosion) from October 20-28. We had finished the 13 week course in September, however, our team leader wanted us to take the clinic, which is the 13 week course jam-packed into 1 week, in order to strengthen our presentation. That week was challenging, but good as well. We were able to meet many other pastors and leaders here in Lima, as well as other provinces of Peru. We were also able to get to know some of the leaders in the Huaycan church a bit more. We went out for 3 visitations. Laura and I finished the class and received certification. We are using EE in our ministries as well. It is a blessing, especially for me in Spanish, to have learned this method.

(The group of us who received our certifates at the end of the clinic.)

MTW Area Retreat in Panama

2006-11-15T18:58:00.000-06:00

Last month I had the wonderful opportunity to attend MTW’s Latin American Retreat. It takes place once every four years, and this year we were able to spend a week in Panama. There were roughly 300 missionaries, or home office staff present, and it was a wonderful time of renewal. I thoroughly enjoyed the meetings and sessions. It was good to worship corporately in English again as well as having live sermons in English. We had the afternoons free before our evening sessions, where if it wasn’t down pouring (due to the rainy season there in Panama), we’d have some beach time. I also enjoyed getting to know my teammates better, including the Ross’s who are in language school and will be coming to Lima in January. It was good to meet many other missionaries too. It was good to have that week because we came back jumping into a few very, very busy weeks here in Lima.

(Susan Crenshaw with Jeremy and Amanda Ross and their girls Kayla and Bella)

(My team leaders Mark and Lori Berry)

(Me with Laura Hoyt and Susan Crenshaw.... my roommates and teammates here in Lima. That week was a blessed time for us too, to be able to relax together and enjoy each other outside of a work environment. They are such a big blessing to me!)

Satan's attempts & God's Successes: A story from one of my health charlas

2006-11-15T17:57:00.000-06:00

Its interesting on the spiritual battlefield to see how the enemy will try to stop the plans of the Most High Master and Commander, but its great for me to be on His side! I say this because I have had some experiences where I can see both forces at work, yet the One and only Force is always winning, and is always working through me, when even I, as a weak vessel am attacked.

For example, last month before my most recent health “charla” in Huaycan, various things took place that one could easily excuse canceling the charla. From computer issues (that God miraculously allowed for me to finish my charla) to stomach issues only that afternoon. (Also to preface that, I am not ever nervous before giving a health charla… I actually quite enjoy them.) To put it nicely, ten minutes before my taxi arrived, I lost part of what I ate that day, leaving me feeling weak, nauseated, and quite “blah”. The thought ran across my head to see if I should cancel it, I mean really…. I had just thrown up! Maybe it was the perseverance in me, or strong will, although I believe it was the Holy Spirit, but the stronger thought of, “God’s work goes on (even if you just threw up)” came across my mind, and I knew with confidence that He would, like He always does, work in spite of me that night. I had called Mark and Lori (my team leaders) for prayer, because I knew I needed more prayers than my own, and one of my remarks was that I couldn’t wait to see how He was going to get the glory, because it never fails! He always does do some amazing things.

I had NO idea what amazing thing He was going to do that night.

I arrived to Huaycan, and this time I had more people attending than ever, guys and youth included too! (normally it is only women). I still was feeling quite under the weather, but continued on, only in His power! On the front row was Maria Mendoza, listening intently and taking notes. I had met her a few weeks earlier at a youth lock-in. (She came not knowing it was a lock-in for youth… She’s in her late 30s. But just the same, she had a good time.) In all honesty, I don’t remember too much about the health talk, I do remember the topic, but not much of me sharing that evening. As always there is a part of the health talk that has spiritual application, and as that evening I talked about malnutrition, I spoke of spiritual malnutrition, and the deep hole that we all have and try to fill with other things when we don’t have Christ, and how He is the only thing that can fill that profound hole.

After the talk that night, I chatted a bit with Maria, and then went to help with passing out the snacks. The pastor’s wife, Reyna, asked me if I could talk further with Maria, because she wasn’t yet a believer. Since we had recently finished the Evangelism Explosion course (in Spanish), I would present the gospel with that format. I agreed and as I went back to continue my conversation with Maria, my mind went blank, and I realized that I couldn’t remember the outline of the presentation, but I walked forward anyways knowing that He’d bring what I needed to mind, when I needed it. (And I was keeping in my mind, that this might just be how He was going to receive the glory that night.) She was quite the talker, but it was so interesting hearing her story! One of the most amazing parts is that she recognized me from working on the roof 2 ½ years ago with OMPC! She lives very close where she can see the church quite well, and she was convinced when she saw me a few weeks earlier that I was one of those women working on the roof (an untraditional thing here, that’s for sure!). After an hour or so of her sharing her story, struggles, dreams, and how God had been tugging at her heart, she made a comment about the spiritual application of my health charla. From that point I was able to present the gospel to her, and wouldn’t you know that God brought everything to mind every time I needed it!

In the end, understanding everything, Maria joyfully accepted Christ!

She shared with me afterwards all the things that were placed in her way all that day, that could have kept her from coming, but she didn’t want to miss that evening’s charla. The enemy is working, but so is God, and He is much stronger! Please pray with me that Maria would grow in her new faith and that the enemy who tried so hard to keep her from coming that night, would cower away from further attempts on her faith.

"Fall" Festival for the Salamanca Sunday School

2006-10-31T17:51:00.000-06:00

Peru, like the US celebrates Halloween. Kids get dressed up, go trick-or-treating, there are costume parties, and stores sell candies and are decorated to some extent for Halloween. It is not something that the Christians here celebrate, and also being the time-frame for celebrating the Reformation, the group of us working in the Salamanca Sunday school, decided to have a Fall Festival, of sorts (although it is Spring here). So on October 29th, we had a festival involving skits, puppets, a clown, even Winnie-the-Pooh, singing, and a bible story. It was a lot of fun!

(Here is the group that helped pull the whole thing together!)

I have found that I enjoy being a bit of a “ham” in front of a group of children (now in front of peers is a different story). The day before the festival, we were getting the skit together, and the guy who was supposed to be a mean wolf in the skit didn’t show up, so for some outrageous reason, I volunteered to be the mean wolf. The outline of the story is that one little girl had a doll, and her doll was her joy, her life. I was the wolf who took joy away from people, and so I took her doll away. The second girl had a ball that was her joy, and once again, I took her ball away. The last girl had Christ who was her joy. Not only could I not take Christ away from her, but I couldn’t even touch her to try to take it away. It was fun, and I had a makeshift costume of all black, but my face make up was my favorite! (Maybe it was real enough that one of my friends had his nephew there and the little child would begin to cry when I looked at him, even when I smiled. oops... I guess I won't be doing too much ministry looking like a wolf!)

To give you more information about the Sunday School in Salamanca, it started after our summer teams came this past summer. One team worked doing a VBS here in Salamanca (where us single girls live). And from there, we started working with the kids here. There is a cell group from another church in Lima that meets in Salamanca, and we are hoping to start a church plant here with that group and with the kids and their families. There are several brothers and sisters in Christ in the area that are helping with the Sunday School, and some are from our church plants that we work with. We split the kids up into 4 different groups according to their ages. I am partnered with a young Peruvian, Lucy, who is from Huaycan, and is an active leader. Our group is from the age of 8-10, and is the largest (and in my opinion: the hardest). Many of the children come from a rough part of Salamanca, and their home lives are hard. Pray for me to love these kids well, as often it can be hard.

To See Through Their Eyes

2006-09-23T10:32:00.000-05:00

I pass him by
Many a day
Selling sodas
To earn a small pay
He sells them on streets
To buses passing by
But its not what he does
That catches my eye

With a humped back
And no teeth in his smile
Tattered dirty cloths
His only choice in style
My guess of his appearance
He's no less than 65
With no 401 plan
The elderly still have to survive

I cannot help but wonder
What his eyes have seen
What is his life like?
Has he achieved a single dream?
I assume its a life
That has been quite full
Of many a hardships
And even more strife
Subjected to poverty
But wanting to live
His own family in need
Yet he is lacking to give

She sells bits of candy
Downtown in the night
Strapped to her back
Is her youngest weighing too light
Her child is sick and malnourished
Help is what she needs
And though she loves her child
She's too ashamed to plead

"They've helped me out so much" she says
"I dare not ask for more"
Yet her daily pay will not provide
For all her children (there are four)
Her children are hungry
And need to be fed
But what happens here,
When one can't afford bread?

I cannot help but wonder
What her eyes have seen
How many tears have fallen knowing
She can't help her own fulfill their dreams
I assume its a life of pain
As she is running in fear
From her abusive husband far away
Settling with her children here
Subjected to poverty
But wanting to live
Her own children in need
Yet she is lacking of to give

I cannot conceive
What it is like
To live as they live
Dirt poor in this life
I've always been sheltered
Never lacking a meal
With clothes on my back
Yet their fight is so real
I don't know why
My life is this way
With the blessings I have
I lack words to say

To see through their eyes
Would be something grand
To know their heart more
To better understand

I look in the mirror
And what do I see?
A child of God
Still in great need
As I stand before the throne
I am just like them all
In need of a Savior
For daily I fall

To see through His eyes
Would be something grand
To know my heart more
To better understand......

Insights from Sewage

2006-09-07T13:23:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday we had one of our normal EE meetings in Santa Anita. In the middle of our meeting before our visitations, a foul odor entered the church. Then I could hear the sound of cars passing by, and the sound of them passing on wet cement. For those who don't know, it does not really rain here in Lima. It mists, and occasionally the mist will accumulate just enough for tiny droplets, but never enough to make a street that wet. My guess was a burst of a septic pipe, and as we left for our visits, we found that it was true, and much of Santa Anita was full of "stuff", mostly in water.

Yet, after our visits, some of us started talking about the sewage, and the truth that can be found in it. We had to be outside taking in the full force of what was in the street, and it smelt horrible! But, after time, we couldn't smell it anymore. And as we discussed, that sewage is just like our sin: Foul! Ruining every street of our life. Affecting everything. Getting splattered over everything. And soon, that smell goes away. The wetness dries. Yet, it is still foul, and we don't notice it. Our sin, as we live in it, looses its odor, we get used to it. But it is still there affecting everything and everyone around us, and mostly us.

Another thought. The next day, Laura and I were doing a duet in church. She was singing, and I was playing my flute. On the way to church I was polishing my flute, after it had gotten pretty dirty with my practicing. I placed the polishing cloth up in its separate part of my case, and somehow got distracted and didn't close up properly my flute in the case. When we got out of the taxi in front of the church at Santa Anita, part of my flute fell on the ground. Not just the ground. The muddy ground....muddy from the night before. Knowing that part of my flute was sitting in essentially sewage, I got so discusted! (I am grateful that it wasn't the mouthpiece of my flute... that would have been so much worse!)

But, that is like our spiritual life too. God works on us, polishing our lives, and what do we often do? Jump right into "poo". The sin that waits in the mud around us, and we often can't help but go right into it. Is the Polisher discusted, as I was? The most beautiful part, is that God delights in repolishing us, so that we shine. Not shining of ourselves, but shining forth His glory.

(and on another note (no pun intended) here is a picture from our music special at church)

Some Friends' Wedding

2006-08-29T00:45:00.000-05:00

Some friends and neighbors of ours, Elizabeth and Ruben, were married this past Friday. It was a huge step for them, because they have been together for 14 years, living together as if they were married. Elizabeth became a Christian a few years ago, and just last week Ruben accepted Christ as well! They had a civil marriage performed, and afterwards a long reception at their house. (which was quite convenient for us, because it was right next door!)

It was a lot of fun, and like any Peruvian party, with loud music and dancing. We did a bit of that, but soon came the time to throw the bouquet. And guess who caught it!!! (yep! me!) The tradition here is similar to ours in that I'm "the next" but here, it means I'll be married in one year! So get your passports ready! (yea right!..... call me crazy, but I don't see THAT happening!) It was fun anyways, and gave me a great opportunity to pose with the happy couple! (ok, so for your info, it is normal here not to smile in pictures.... they truly are happy!)

My House!!

2006-08-29T00:35:00.000-05:00

For a free tour of my place here in Salamanca, go to the following site to see a video! (I apologize in advance for my lameness in many parts, but hey, what can I say? I'm no video journalist!)

Ella Taylor

2006-08-25T00:31:00.000-05:00

Many of you may know by now that I am an aunt for the first time!

My brother Matt and his wife Melissa welcomed their first child, Ella Taylor Bennett, into the world on August 13. She came about a month early, but just right in God's timing! (And she'll be 4 months when I get to see her at Christmastime!) She may have been early, but she was very healthy! 6 lbs 9oz and 20.5 inches! She did have some problems with jaundice and losing a bit of weight (which is normal for babies to do) but all is getting better now.

Here she is with her cool and amazing parents!

(She's so precious and a bit addictive, don't ya think??? I can't wait to hang out with her!!! As much as I can't wait to see you all in December if possible, she's the 1st person on my list!....I just wonder, if I'm this obsessed and excited about my niece, what will it be like when I have my own???)

To Matt and Melissa: I know you are and will be great parents! I daily think of you and pray for you and Ella! I couldn't be more excited or happier for you both! She is such a blessing! "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him." Psalm 127:3

Starting at the Ground Level

2006-08-24T23:51:00.000-05:00

Allow me to share with you some of my excitement over the past 2 days.....

So as the majority of you know, the Lord called me to Lima, Peru, a city of 9ish million people to start a lay-health ministry with the church plants that our team works with. Ever since feeling the first tug on my heart to come here and work in this manner, I've struggled with the feeling of being incapable and inexperienced enough to start something like this. Yet, when the Lord sends, He will reap the benefit (aka He will be glorified), and it won't be an empty result. I have learned to trust Him in new ways, that although I don't always believe that I have the capacities, I know Who does, and He won't ever let me down, and if He's called me to this, He won't let Himself down!

My first few months here were spent mostly getting accustomed to Lima, getting to know some of the people in the churches, doing some of the health talks, and as you all have seen pictures of the sweet children in Huaycan-working with and getting to know them as well. The past few months have been busy with teams, and now through the leadership of the churches and our mission here, some of the vision and goals of the lay-health ministry have been given, and its my time to get the groundwork started, and dream big of how this ministry can help and affect lives for the glory of God. To make a ministry that could be left and self-sustained by those trained to do so in the churches, and who are trained to train, that if the Lord does not call me to stay here in Peru more than my alloted time, that they can do the ministry without me.

My prayers for the Lord's wisdom and guidance have been ever present in my life. And the questions of: "Where in the world do I start?" "What exactly does a lay-health ministry look like?" "How will the lay health promotors be trained?"

The Lord blessed me with a friendship about 3 years ago to Mesha Smith (feel free to ask me the cooler more detailed story later). We met in Birmingham, before the Lord called either of us to mission work. To shorten the story a bit, she is working here in Lima too, but with Food for the Hungry. We actually arrived to Lima about the same time! Anyways, Food for the Hungry is an international organization, and here in Lima they work in 18 different communities training lay health promotors. Yesterday I spent a day with them, touring some of their communities, talking to some of their promotors, asking a bajillion questions, and soaking up their years of knowledge and experience that they have of a Christ-based health ministry. My head is still spinning with ideas. A beautiful relationship has been formed with them, and several staff members there have offered their help as well as some of their materials.

Then today, as my energy was still feeding off the excitement from the day before, I met with Lea, a Peruvian sister in Christ, who attends our church in Santa Anita. She worked with the health ministry in Cusco before she married and moved to Lima. She is also a nurse. We had an exciting time today talking about all the possibilities of a lay-health ministry here through our churches. She has a heart to help, and much experience from her time in Cusco. She wants to work along with me in getting something started, and for it to be healthy, to grow and continue here. We have a very similar vision as well, which always helps in whatever field.

Please join me in praying for His will to be made known to me, Him to use me as His instrument, and Him to lead and guide me with all His wisdom. These days have been very encouraging, and the Lord is showing more of His work that He is doing.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen watch in vain." Psalm 127:1

Its all His work....
I could say, "Unless the Lord develops a lay-health ministry in Lima, the missionary Becca works in vain....."

Post-Teams

2006-08-19T14:11:00.000-05:00

So our last summer team left about 2 weeks ago now. I have wanted to write a bit telling about the amazing teams that we had down here this summer. From May to August we had 5 short-term teams come down, each of them a huge blessing, and each quite different.

First in May we had a team from New City Fellowship Church in St. Louis. It was a smaller group of 3 men, and they did construction work and a VBS in Amauta. They were our first group to go to Amauta (which is a new area we are starting a church plant in), and after their week there, essentially the work in that area began. When the VBS started there were around 30 children. By the end of the week there were 180!! Fellow missionary Laura Hoyt is working out there the most.

Then in the beginning of June, we had Laura's church here, Dayspring Presbyterian Church. It was a fun group, several adults, a few young ladies. They did work in Santa Anita, where the church plant that we currently attend is. They did work on tables and chairs/benches for Amauta, and in the afternoons a VBS for the kids in Santa Anita. They were a fun and lively group, did many creative things with the children. Many children in the area came for this too, and many have continued to come for Sunday school on Sundays!

Then in July, right after the 4th of July, a young group from Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian (Atlanta area) came. The majority of this group was youth with some adult leaders in the group. They had what seemed to be an endless amount of energy! They did some work in Huaycan and Amauta. I was with them in the days that they were in Huaycan, doing a mini VBS with the kids in the project there, and also Sunday school. The following week they were also in Amauta, helping with some construction and in the afternoons doing a VBS with the kids. This time it began with around 70ish kids and ended with 270ish!!! This group (like all groups) were great, and some of the youth could speak Spanish, so they were able to do a bit more.

In each of those VBS's I was there several days helping, and on many of those days doing little health talks for the kids. I learned quickly that the kids listen to puppets a lot easier than they listen to me, and so I've taken to doing many different puppet shows for these kids. The first one was about the importance of eating vegetables. Another was a puppet that had a cold and teaching the kids to cover their mouths (we had a little spray bottle to spray the kids each time the puppet sneezed...fun times!!) And then I also had help with a little skit where I taught about washing hands, and I was completely dirty (yet once again... fun times!!!)

Our next team was from the Atlanta area as well, West Cobb Community Church. This group had a different dynamic as there were 2 children, ages 6 and 8, and adults of different ages. We worked with them in our neighborhood, Salamanca, to do a VBS in the afternoons with the kids. A lot more kids came than we were expecting. Granted, not as much as in Amauta, but we had a steady number around 55 every day. We also started Sunday school with these children on Sunday afternoons (which I am helping out with). It makes it a bit convenient in that I only have to walk 2 blocks to get there.

Our last team that left 2 weeks ago was from Nashville, Christ Community Church. This group, the majority women, with Nathan Reidel (former missionary kid), came to do an Art Camp in Huaycan. They taught the kids in Huaycan (ages 4-18) about different art, music, and theater. We had a few translators that week which helped us MTW staff do more of the crowd control. I stayed with the drama class to help with crowd control (aka DISCIPLINE in many cases) as well as to learn and assist for the closing program on Friday night, where the 3 different classes of the kids performed. The performance wasn't error-less, but like any drama presentation of kids, its cute regardless! The kids throughout the week did different art projects, mosaic art, that they did individually, as well as helping with a mosaic on one of the walls in the church of Huaycan. They made metal crosses decorating them with glass beads. They also got to learn (some of them) how to play the dulcimer, and they had a few music lessons to sing a few songs for the Friday night.

It has been a fast and busy summer (South American winter) here, much to the teams. If you are reading this and you were a part of one of the teams. Thank you again!!! You were such a blessing!!! If you are reading this and want to bring a team sometime, shoot me an email!

PS.... I am unable at the minute to post pictures, but as soon as "blogspot" lets me, there will be some picture to accompany the stories!

Completely Weak

2006-07-28T03:53:00.000-05:00

As I sit here and write, quite early in the morning, a party behind my house continues (my clock reads 3:56am). I am grateful for a day of rest tomorrow (WAIT!! I mean TODAY!!), because with how loud the music has been playing since 10:30ish, I don't know how anyone here in this neighborhood can sleep. (tomorrow is the Independence day here in Peru, and so the majority of the country will not be working)

This month is almost over, and it seems like it has just begun. It has been a good, but extremely busy month. We've had several teams come this summer from the states since May, and they are such a blessing to me, our team, and the people here that they serve. We've had construction teams and VBS teams come. This month, in these past 3 weeks, 2 have come back to back, and we have been working hard with them. (just to set the stage a bit)

One day last week, I found myself completely weak and broken. I can't express sufficiently with words how low I was. I was physically and emotionally drained, and I also happened to be physically sick with some various things. The day before too, I sat and delightfully dwelt in a bad attitude about something (why do we do that??), thus ruining my day with a sour sinful attitude, and affecting those around me (sorry ladies!). I was tired, sleep deprived, and just drained in all aspects possible. I don't see anything wrong with crying in public. People can do it as much as they want or need..... I just don't want to do it myself. Several tears were spilt that morning, in front of several people. My sinful attitude from the day before plus all the other issues became quite aware to me, and I was at such a weak point that I knew that if anything came from me that day, that it would only be from the strength of the Lord. We can muster up strength within us, in our own will, (or so we think), but this day I could not muster up anything. Mark Berry, my team leader was on the bus that morning, and we talked about this issue of mine, and he was quite encouraging. I admitted my complete weakness and dependence on the Lord. We prayed through it.

Would you believe it????? The Lord answered our prayers and then some. That morning we did some light construction work, and that afternoon was a VBS in our neighborhood. The Lord supplied me not only with His energy, but also His joy. I think I was the most active that I have been for these past few weeks!!!

So a few rhetorical questions..... Why do we dwell in sin, sometimes delightfully, when we know straight up that it is sin?? (For me it tends to be frustration, anger, or bitterness) Is that supposed to feel good?? Why do we try to do things in our own power, forgetting the very Source of life? Why do we not come to Him first before trying everything else??

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PS: My clock now reads 4:26. And the music has stopped! I think I'll go to sleep now!

Daniel and Marcos

2006-07-28T03:17:00.000-05:00

These two beautiful boys are such a delight in the program. They both are quite similar, sweet-natured quiet boys. Of the two, Daniel is the oldest (8), and Marcos (6) is next. They both behave well. They are also in the program for similar reasons as the other children. Their older brother was in the program, but as he advanced in school, his grade has school in the afternoon, so with the open spot, Marcos came on board to the project.

MARCOS

DANIEL

Their family is struggling right now, and their father recently left the family to be with another woman. These boys are suffering a lot from it. (Please be in prayer for this family). Marcos seems to display his emotions more than Daniel, as many times as he starts his homework, he gets frustrated with it, but begins to sob. It breaks my heart everytime. They both work hard in their chores. Daniel often helps his little brother with his homework.

Joel, Diego, and Alexandra

2006-07-28T02:08:00.000-05:00

These siblings bring so much joy to my life! Each of them so loving. And each of them in such need of love. They also come from a broken and very poor family. Their father has left them, and their mother and grandmother do what they can to provide for them, and that is selling candies on the street, which makes an average of 20 soles a day (on a good day) which is close to 6 dollars.

Joel started in the program first. He is 8 years old, and takes care of his younger siblings well, but it has also been forced upon him. He has been a testimony of sorts to his mother who is not a believer. One of his stories that brings tears to my eyes is the following: he constantly is talking to her about how she needs to go with them to church on Sundays. She argues saying that she needs to work so they can eat. His response to her is that if she does not work one day, that they will not die of hunger and that they will be ok, even if they miss a meal that day. (What a child!) Before his brother and sister were in the project, he started to miss days there. When it was investigated, they found that he had to stay back with Alexandra and Diego because his mother or grandmother were not at home. So then his siblings came to the project.

Diego is the second child. He is 6 years old. Diego was born prematurely, and when his mother gave birth, essentially he was born in the toilet. She thought he was dead, and we don't know how long he was there before they realized that he was not dead. It could be for these reasons that he is a special needs child. He is a precious little boy, and has some weakness on his right side, especially his arm. They are working with him, some physical therapy exercises daily at the project. He is so caring!

Alexandra is the youngest child in the project at four years old. She is also quite caring. She has the cutest smile, but it is a broken smile as her tiny primary teeth are halfway rotten already. She loves puzzles and coloring, and is one of the first children to run to us when we arrive at the project.

Jasmin

2006-07-28T01:55:00.000-05:00

Jasmin is the oldest child in the Huaycan Cristo Salvador project. She is 11 years old, and quite the helper! She, like the other children come from a very poor family. Her family rents out the majority of their home as a store for another family, and their small income comes from that and selling candies on the streets.

All the children have chores do complete after lunch. She often finishes her chores and helps the others with theirs. She often volunteers to pray or to help with the music with the devotionals. She also helps the littler children with their homework. Many of the children look up to her. Through this program, her parents were visited by come members of the church's EE program, and thus came to Christ. They are now active and assisting in the church.

She is such a joy to be around, so kind-hearted, always smiling, and always willing to give hugs.

A Struggle

2006-07-25T12:19:00.000-05:00

If you don't mind reading my vulnerable heart as I share with you a recent struggle and conviction that the Lord had helped me through.

One issue about the culture here, and other Latin American countries that I have had to work through (and continually have to work through) is the quite frequent cat calls, whistles, kissing noises,and crude comments made at me. The men here do that to many women, and it is done all the more with my white face walking around. Each time I have to plead to the Lord to keep my sharp tongue still in my mouth or restain my hands from making ugly gestures at them to convey my discust. It never comes across to me as a complement, instead I always feel degraded when these men, who are usually really dirty, scummy looking men that make these foul comments or sounds. It is as common as a bird's song, or a car's horn here.

Yet..........
How many times have I looked at a man, thought he was attractive, and said something about him to a friend, or thought of him and to myself made my own cat calls of sorts? How many times have I found a man attractive on the big screen and made comments? How many times have I physically or emotionally lusted after, desired, or thought of a man, or men in ways that I shouldn't?

The humbling truth: I am just like those men on the bench-- dirty, scummy, and full of junk. I am no better than them. I am no cleaner than them. Foulness comes out of my mouth too, because sin is in my heart. I am just as dirty as them. Even if I don't speak of what I think of the opposite sex, my thoughts can still be sinful.

Christ didn't come to save the righteous, but the sinners.

ONE YEAR TODAY! ! ! ~ July 25, 2006~

2006-07-25T10:43:00.000-05:00

Today marks my one year mark since I landed in Peru--And what a year it has been! As I look back on this past year it is quite easy to say that I am a different person now than I was when I arrived. I recall vividly the severe lack of sleep I received the nights before I left the states, the amazing support and profound depth of the goodbyes I received from friends and family.

One year ago I stood in line with my bags packed just slightly overweight, with the next two years packed into 2 check-on bags and 1 carry-on, praying that they would let my bags slide on in.

One year ago I hugged my parents goodbye at the airport, made my way through security, and truly felt the Lord's peace and presence with me as I embarked on His journey for this part of my life. "God, now its just You and me!" I said. I got on the plane and within time Birmingham became my past as it became distant beneath my feet.

One year ago God gave me a huge blessing as I somehow was placed on a first class flight to Lima.

So how am I different?? Let me count the ways!!! Granted, I am still the same person, just a little more pruned or polished since I arrived. But the process to become so is not the most painless experience. I have had my share of hard times, but as I look over this past year, it has been worth every tear, every headache, every cultural hit, every laugh, every goodbye...................

So the obvious change is that I can now communicate with more people in the world than I could last year. I do enjoy Spanish, and I am still learning more. I can now fend for myself in a Spanish speaking country, and it was quite intimidating in my early days here before I could. Also since I love friendships, to be able to make more friends through the medium of another language is quite meaningful to me. It allows me to see a bit through their eyes, hear through their ears, and know more of their hearts as they share with me. I am used to speaking Spanish that often I don't even think about it when I do speak. I enjoy worshipping in Spanish as well. (Although, I still enjoy my English sermons better).

For me, coming to another country, my reliance on Christ for sustenance has greatly increased. It is a different country, culture, customs, sounds, sights, smells, and it used to be a foreign language. I have had to rely on my Rock more in this year, and learn more about what my reliance should be. I have a new a deep appreciation for safety, and DAILY rely on God's hand of protection. I have been strapped for money, and have needed to rely on God's hand of providence, and His moving in the hearts of others to give for my basic needs. I have and will be away from family and friends for some important milestones in their lives, yet I have been present in the important milestones of new friends here. I have seen God bring people to Himself.

I have also learned more about myself and seen more of my sin. I think that the mission field can truly bring it out of someone. I have seen more of the discusting person I am, and am always in great need of my Christ, His grace, His mercy, and His cleansing. He is continuing to work on my heart, to work in my life, to make me to be the woman He wants me to be.

As a shirt of one of my friends says, "I am the wretch the song talks about."

And this is only year one!

Santo Tomas: Mission trip with OMPC

2006-06-25T21:16:00.000-05:00

(This blog is a bit overdue, I have just been able to load some pictures on this blog. Enjoy what you read and see!!!)

As we get deeper into the winter here in Lima, the days are cool, gray, and overcast. Very rarely does the sun come out, and very rarely can you see the outline of the sun through the clouds. It is a thick ceiling of clouds. I was quite excited to join the OMPC mission trip to Cusco then to Santo Tomas Peru, where both are in the Andes mountains. The trip to the Andes to this village reminded me that, yes indeed the sky is blue, and yes, there are green fields to run in or hills and mountainsides to hike up. Bright colors in the landscape of Lima hardly exist, and what a joy again to behold the creative work of my Creator. It was also quite nice to have some breaths of fresh air, as in Lima I breathe in a lot of smog-air.

We did some "light construction", which essencially was painting the church in Santo Tomas.

The majority of our time in Santo Tomas was with children ministry. Two schools opened their doors to us, letting us run a VBS type program with their children various mornings. The kids were so cute!

Our last morning we went to a school for special needs kids. The teachers invited us to come, and they shared with us how the handicapped kids are not valued in society here, and are not treated well at all.

In the afternoons we went to a local park and played with kids. We also set aside some time for bible lessons. It was fun to hang out with the kids, but often very chaotic!! One day, however some of the girls had some questions about Christ and went to Sara Davis, who is an intern working in Cusco this summer. They started talking, and I saw them across the park and had a feeling they were talking about Christ. I went over and joined them. They were asking some good questions. Then the moment came and they wanted to pray to receive Christ. Right after that, when we said "Amen", we opened our eyes and there were a few more kids there. The process started again, and ended the same! More children accepting Christ! We said "Amen" and there were more kids. We started writing down names and ages for the pastor there who had joined us. He shared as well, and more children accepted Christ. We had a total of 14 children who accepted Christ that afternoon!! It was so amazing to be a part of!

One afternoon a doctor on the team and I made a house call to one of the church members who was suffering from a herniated disk. I have been on other mission trips, the majority of them being medical. This was my first time in a home visit to serve as a translator and a nurse! I truly enjoy home visits, although I do not get to do that often here in Lima yet. Hopefully the time will come for that.

My time with the team was such a blessing! It was great to have a "bit of home", and it was great to get out of Lima a bit to see ministry in other parts of Peru.

Juan

2006-06-25T20:56:00.000-05:00

Juan is a 6 year old boy, who just started in the diaconal project in Huaycan in February. When I met him, he was still quite disobedient and getting into trouble all of the time. He is from a broken family. He has 6 siblings, some from different fathers. One of the fathers is now in prison due to his involvement in the terrorist activity in the 80's, and his father is almost nonexistent in his life. His mother had to make the hard decision within the last year to place two of Juan’s siblings in an orphanage type setting because she could not afford feeding all of her children.

Juan is in the program for such reasons. Like the other children, he receives a well-balanced meal, a toothbrush and tooth paste, help with homework, devotionals, and playtime.

He used to misbehave during the devotional time, probably to avoid the lessons. So we’d take him into the other room alone, where he got the devotional anyways.

He has made such a difference, now he is praying with the children too, and his mom says that his behavior at home is a lot better, and it is so much better at the program. I have seen a huge difference too. I love working with this precious child!

Health "Charlas"

2006-05-15T14:49:00.000-05:00

One part of my ministry is up and going. Every Saturday I am giving a health talk (or in Spanish-"charla") to different church plants. Right now it is only in two locations: Santa Anita and Huaycan, but we are hoping to get it started in another area: Amauta. I have taught a few classes on Dengue Fever, as that is something that they often get sick with in many of the poorer areas. (I had to do research for that one, as I didn't learn much about that in school!) I am starting a series on Nutrition, as well. Last weekend was my first talk in Huaycan about Nutrition, and it went really well. The women got really involved and interacted a lot.

Much of my time is spent in preparation for these charlas. At first it was a bit of a challenge to prepare for these, as many of the women I speak to don't read, and so I have to do a lot for visual learning. I also have to teach them in a way that would make it practical for their life.

Many of the women that come are either mothers of the children in the diaconal childrens program, women who attend the church there, or their friends. It is a mix of believers and unbelievers. Typically after my talk there is a devotional and fellowship time. It has been good to get to know these ladies better. We'll see what else God will do with this time with these women. Please continue to pray for these health talks, and the development of a lay-health ministry here.

Close Encounters With Peruvian Politics

2006-05-15T12:10:00.000-05:00

Peru is in a political transitional period. Last month presidential elections were made, leaving the choice between what people here say, "worse and more worse." Alan Garcia, one of the candidates was president in 1985-1990, and in a brief summary: severely messed up Peru's economy. Garcia is the candidate in the run-off elections against Ollanta Humala, who despises democracy and would like to rewrite the constitution of Peru. He comes from a family that supports the shooting of Jews, homosexuals, and Chilean investors. He is greatly supported by Hugo Chavez of Venezuela (if that tells you anything.) The current president Alejandro Toledo will be out of office on July 28, and the new elected president will be in. The run-off election will be on June 4th.

Please pray with us about these elections. The election results could place Peru in some rough times (again).

I have never really had many close encounters with famous people or politicians in my life. However a few weeks ago I had a few experiences back to back. May 1 was a Peruvian holiday, and I was taking that time to visit friends in Arequipa. I was in the airport, and my flight was delayed. I took to reading a book, but at one point I looked over to a coffee shop in the airport near my gate, and I spotted a man who looked a lot like Ollanta Humala sitting maybe 10-15 yards from me. I wasn't sure if it was or not (as sometimes my eyes play tricks on me, and I think that I see famous people). To make a long story short, it was him. I found out when I landed in Arequipa that his wife was on my flight, and although I didn't see him, I wouldn't be surprised if he was too because of a huge political rally for him outside of the airport.

The next day, President Toledo was in Arequipa, and I watched the last part of a speech he was giving there at a university on TV. I left shortly after the speech ended to meet up with a friend for dinner. On the way there, several police, security vehicles, and a large van with tinted windows from the same university that he was giving a speech at, passed by me on the other side of the road. The taxi asked, "I wonder what could be going on." (*free translation ; ] ) I told him it was the president, and he looked at this white girl like I was crazy. But it was the president!

So I am not one typically into politics, but with the latests events and how they can seriously change the lives of everyone living here, my interest has been sparked. It isn't everyday that one has these types of encouters, and now I've had two close encounters with 2 major politicians of Peru.

If you want to do some more reading on some of the politics here in Peru, here are some articles I have found:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060514/wl_nm/peru_poll_dc_1

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-peru-poll.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

A Different Kind of Safety

2006-05-15T11:48:00.000-05:00

Safety? What does that mean here? Does safety in numbers still apply? Gates, locks, high walls with sharp spikes on the top. Will that protect me?

It isn't at all that I live in such fear of my environment where I don't want to leave the "safety" of my own home, but the constant guard that I have up, no matter where I go is a weight that I didn't carry back in the States. To give you just a glimpse of my surroundings, where I live and work-- the area I live, is not the most dangerous, but isn't the safest area to live either. A few weeks ago, one night at 1:30AM I was awoken to the sharp sounds of 5-6 gunshots fired close to my house. It was the first time I have heard those in my neighborhood, or EVER for that matter near me. Not that I will be walking in my neighborhood at that time of the night, but knowing that this does occasionally happen in this area, didn't bring a lot of comfort. The shots fired was with an attempted kid/adult napping. A couple weeks after I arrived here, there was an armed robbery during the day of a pedestrian walking on the street next to my own. And the other week as a gesture of friendliness after a brief conversation, I returned a handshake to a street vendor who offered his hand to me to shake. I did not know that it would be a slight battle to get my hand back as I kept pulling back from him trying to free my hand. I learned that day from some of my Peruvian friends, what should have been an obvious lesson, that safety comes before friendliness.

I have already been robbed, however I am so grateful that it wasn't an armed robbery and that they were sly enough that I didn't even feel my cell phone being slipped out of my pocket. And I am glad that was all that happened. If I am to be robbed, I'll take that anyday!

Many days I travel through some very unsafe areas, and since I am white, I will always be a target. It is a common stereotype and misconception that "gringos" (white people) have a lot of money, and that we carry it with us.

Like I said, it isn't that I live everyday in a debilitating fear that I will be robbed, attacked, or whatever, but there is a constant need to watch my steps, even within my own street, and be wise in what I do, and how I do it. Living like this daily adds more tension than this job calls for in and of itself.

What I can't refute however, is knowing that I am in God's will here in Peru. As my ol' friend Jonah will attest to, being in His will and in His hand is the safest place to be. He didn't like the plan God had for his life, and turned to go in the opposite direction. Soon he was swallowed by a whale, and spent 3 days inside with dead fish (mmm..... great smell!!) and the strong acid inside the stomach (probably bleaching his skin and hair) before being vomited onto land. I have learned in my own life as well that it just isn't a pleasant experience willfully doing the opposite of what God wants in my life. I know I am where He wants me, and that is the safest place to be. And you know what? Even if my God does allow me to be robbed, attacked, injured, or killed--He will use it for good! My life is His anyways!! So what do I have to loose?

The Faces I Can Never Get Tired Of!!

2006-04-16T20:23:00.000-05:00

So I have been in Lima now for about 2 months, which is proof for me that time does fly fast! I have gotten into a bit of a schedule, preparing for a series of health talks I will be giving in several churches, and working at the Diaconal Project in Huaycan, a shantytown area outside of Lima.

Here in Peru, it is normal to greet women with kisses on the cheek, and men handshakes. Everyday we arrive to the project and are overwhelmed by shouts of excitment and right after those, the many sweet kisses from the children in the project.

Here are my sweeties!

This last week I got to visit the parents/families of these kids. I was glad for the opportunity to go into the homes and learn more about how these kids live. These kids are in the project for different reasons each, but mostly for their economical needs. It was a humbling time--yet to hear stories from the families, their struggles, and also their faith--it was an encouraging time as well. As time goes on, I am hoping to add a blog for each child, so that you as well can get to know these precious children!

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." ~Jesus~ Matthew 19:14

My First Birthday in Peru!

2006-03-27T10:28:00.000-06:00

My first birthday in Peru was so great! I had many greetings from friends, family, and supporters by email. Some of which were great surprises!! I have learned that birthdays here in Peru are a big deal, I also received several SKYPE phone calls too. Sunday night I visited with Bonita and Elise Davidson, as they brought over cake and a present. And so my birthday celebrations began. At midnight the phone rang, and fortunately Kiera and I were still awake, but puzzled as to who would call at that time and why. It was the family from Arequipa who I lived with. Both Laura Hoyt and Susan Crenshaw (2 year missionaries that will be working with us here in Lima) are living with them, and they all stayed up to call me. They also told me that I had a package from them that I could pick up the next day.

Monday happened to be my day off too, which always makes birthdays better. Kiera and I met up with Lori for coffee at a Starbucks here, and then did a little shopping. Part of the shopping included getting a bulletin board to put pictures and cards up that are sent to me. My room is now more of a haven for me, with many pictures of friends and family. A sweet family, Kike, Martha, Romina, and Gianella, brought dinner over, along with an amazing chocolate cake. It was a special time of celebration and fellowship with them. Here are some pictures of them. I have started discipling the girls each week. They are so sweet, and so eager to learn more about God!

Then on Tuesday we returned to the childrens project in Huaycan. I had no idea that they knew about my birthday too! After lunch they presented me with a bouquet of roses and a cute poster with all of their handprints wishing me a happy birthday. It was so sweet!

It was a great birthday! I am so blessed to have such a birthday from 2 cultures!!

Update on Rafael (The Man Who Fell)

2006-03-25T09:27:00.000-06:00

Here is more of an update on the man who fell on Monday, breaking his arm and lacerating his forehead, just above the eye. The coworker who had hired him is also a pastor (I don't believe I had mentioned that). However, he lives somewhat near this man and his family, but has electricity and running water. For the time being, Rafael and his family are staying with this pastor. He has told us that he is feeling a lot better, and is really grateful. He will be following up on the placement of his arm and the casting as he heals.

Please pray with us for this man and his family, as they are not believers, and as they are living with this Christian family, and has contact with us. Pray that this will be the means God uses to bring another Peruvian family to His kingdom!

I Cannot Complain about our Healthcare System

2006-03-20T20:15:00.000-06:00

Today was quite a day. I don't even know where to begin, my head is still spinning. So this morning we met at Mark & Lori Berry's house (my team leader and his wife). So they recently moved into the house that they are renting. The owner of the house has been making some changes and fixing things, well actually has hired different groups of people to work.

We were meeting to have an orientation for myself and Kiera, who is interning here for a few months. It was only a few minutes into the meeting when we heard a huge “thud” and then some moans. We ran outside to find one of the workers had fallen off the roof at the doorway, and already had quite a bit of blood covering his face. He had a deep laceration above his left eye and an obvious break of his left arm above the wrist. We jumped right in and started applying pressure to the eye wound, and ice, elevation, and a makeshift splint. I wasn’t really sure at first how we were going to transport him to a hospital, not really knowing how that works here. With the head wound from his hard hit, it was unsafe to use a taxi to transport him. We were able to call an ambulance, which the firefighters respond to. (Which is fortunate—many places in Peru do not have an emergency system like this, in fact many of the shantytowns outside of Lima do not either). The firefighters came, placed a neck brace on him, placed him on a backboard, and soon they were off. Mark and one of the coworkers of the guy who fell went along with them in the ambulance. The pastors wife of the Santa Anita and Huaycan Churches, Reyna, and I went in a taxi a little bit later.

In that time period during their departure and ours, the police arrived for questioning. Once they found out that this man who fell did not have insurance (which is quite common here because often insurance is hard to come by, or the system is just as corrupt that it doesn’t really reduce costs.) He wanted to place the blame on Lori, after seeing that there were North Americans living there. Reyna kept trying to explain to the policeman that they weren’t responsible; they didn’t hire the guy, that the responsibility was on the owner of the house. He still kept trying to get Lori’s passport number for the records, and Reyna kept explaining that her info was not needed. Then the gardener jumps in as well and said that she was not responsible at all. We were told that he was probably trying to place the fine on her anyways because she was North American. He finally drove off very angry. Unfortunately here when many people see a white face all they see next is $$$$$.

So Reyna and I went on to the public hospital that they took him to. [Approx. 11:30] A series of unbelievable things will now follow about the health system in Peru:

In order for a patient to be seen those with the patient need to pay for an admittance fee. So you have to walk to a different area of the hospital to get that. When that is covered, the person will be seen, but only to determine what medicines or supplies are needed. Then those need to be bought. There is a pharmacy in the hospital, yet in another area, but if they don’t have everything, we have to go out of the hospital grounds to one of the pharmacies across the street to purchase the rest, and if that continues, we keep looking in all the pharmacies in that area until we have all that we need. (Meanwhile the patient is still on a gurney waiting to have help---in our case, broken arm and bleeding head). This hospital is also a teaching hospital (which that alone makes me cringe! These students are learning how to treat patients, but how to treat them horribly!) But there were several students who were eager to sew him up, so that was the only thing really that happened fast in comparison with the rest of the day. So that all was taken care of. We are still waiting for more to happen. Pretty much, if you want your patient to be seen or attended to, you have to keep asking people to check on things, you have to stay on top of them. (This was Reyna’s role, which she did amazingly well! I was always kicked out, they kept saying only family---I don’t know why they thought I wasn’t!! :] )

So then Reyna keeps asking for attention, getting different answers from different people, “Oh, we’re waiting for the doctor to come from surgery,” etc, and being brushed off. Finally after maybe another hour, someone comes to look at the guy, sees that he doesn’t have another set of paperwork, and asks us to get his triage paperwork. (This being the first time we’ve heard of this, and of course going to another place to have paperwork, fortunately a bit closer.) The triage paperwork isn’t like triage for us; it was just his information, being name, birthday, age, parent’s names, and what he was in for. This happened maybe at 2:00. So we should by now have all the paperwork, although it has been a maze to get it all. X-rays have been ordered, as well as an echogram to check for internal bleeding. Fortunately the x-rays can be taken in the ER. Unfortunately, when he was taken for his echogram, the workers in that department were on strike, a strike that only started a few hours before. Not even the nurses were informed of this, however they were commenting on how often this happens. Finally a radiologist came to our aid, and took the test for our patient.

He was taken back to the ER, to sit and wait for a doctor that still had not come to look at his arm (this arm, which was still laying to his side, not elevated, iced, or splinted.) They kicked me out about as soon as I would go back, and me being a nurse didn’t help, who knows, maybe intimidated? I mentioned to Mark, that if we were still getting the run around and they weren’t going to be doing anything to this guys arm, then it at least had to be elevated, as it was now around 5:45. When he went back to say something to someone about it, he and the coworker were kicked out again. Mark asked me if I could go back and say something to someone, once I found Reyna. Maybe it was good timing, but when I did find her, she was talking to the “traumatologist” who told us that she was going to set his arm in a few minutes (probably the first true statement we got the whole day from the staff there).

The doctor went looking for assistants. Reyna mentioned that maybe I could help her. Granted, I didn’t really know what she was going to have her help do, but then my mind remembered the situation earlier with the police, and that if anything went wrong with setting his arm or casting his arm, would they pin it on the north American girl who was assisting? The doctor pulled in 2 assistants: a nursing student, and a woman custodian, who left her garbage can and broom next to the door before she entered in. What was the doc going to have her do? Maybe I should have gone in anyways! So his arm was placed and he got his cast on. It was now maybe 7:00. (He had arrived there between 11-11:30) So then we get him out of that room after he received his cast (who is now pushing his gurney? We are, in order to keep on top of things getting done for him). We waited outside in the ER hall for his next X-ray to see if it was set well. Now adjacent our guy in the gurney was someone dead wrapped up in a blanket on top of a gurney. We took him into the radiology room, where there was no radiation protection. The radiologist wore nothing, nor placed anything on the patient to protect him, and there were 2 doors leading into this room, with only one that was closed. We waited for the results from the doctor. His arm was set fine, but she wanted him to stay overnight for observation for the head wound.

So if a patient comes to a hospital emergency room, someone needs to be there staying on top of everything. This person runs around in a labyrinth of places to go to have all of the right paperwork, all the medicines, etc. What happens if there is no one to help them? If a patient is admitted, the family is responsible to bring food to the patient. If there is no family, friends, or no one knows the person has been admitted, do they go hungry?

Rafael, this man who was injured is a father of a 1 year old little girl named Gianella, his wife is 18 years old, and they live up high on a hill in a shanty area, where they do not have electricity nor running water. He couldn’t find work, and needed to provide for his family, the coworker asked him to help him this week, and the day of his fall was his first time working there. He has no insurance, nor probably the opportunity to get it. What happens now? He can’t work. There are no sick days for the unemployed. There are no food stamps.

Does it make you think? It makes me think!!! This is real. This is what happens everyday. If only I could somehow add the smells, the blood, the screams, or the cries that I heard in the hospital into this blog. It is here, a simple bus ride from my home, and I could take other rides to other hospitals here and see the same. My gut still turns from observing so much there at the hospital. Not just the frustrating system, or lack of system. The lack of hope. The many running out crying. Why?

A hospital operated like a mechanic’s shop: paperwork, and techincal skills. It is real people who enter, but are treated without dignity. It sure isn’t health care.

Our team wants to do what we can for this man and his family. They are not believers. We’ll see what God has in store, and how we can serve in this situation. The truth is that there may not be hope in that hospital. But at least 4 people walked in there yesterday with the only Hope that the world has.

Adapting Again

2006-02-23T09:21:00.000-06:00

I arrived to Lima this week, and am in the process of settling in. Since I have been in Arequipa for the majority of my time here in Peru, I am now needing to learn Lima, and the way of life here. Some may ask, "But you have been in Peru, why are you adapting yet again?" My best description for those who have not been to Peru, is if you compare Arequipa, Peru to Birmingham, Alabama (for example) then my new move to Lima, Peru would be about equivalent to moving from Birmingham to New York City, or Los Angeles. Lima is the capital of Peru, and is the largest city in Peru.

But my adjustment again is not only in learning my way around a big city, I may never accomplish that, but I have been living with a host family while in language school, so in that, the food shopping was taken care of, the proper preparation of fruits and vegetables was taken care of, etc.

There are grocery stores here, but I have learned that produce is a lot better from either the market place, or the people who walk the streets with their buggies full of fruit, announcing with their loudspeaker what they are selling. Typically it is cheaper too. For example, yesterday I bought 7 beautiful, ripe, yellow bananas for the price of 1 sol (which is around 29 cents).

Another different thing here, that I didn't have in Arequipa (I think due to how my home there was set in the neighborhood), is the black film that settles on everything here, and how fast it settles in. One reason is that our air conditioner is the system of open windows and fans. It can make cleaning frustrating as one can clean/dust items in the morning, and in the afternoon there is yet more black film/dust that has settled. If you walk around barefooted, your feet will be black after a few minutes, if you walk around in your white socks, you'll have a cheap and easy change of your socks to the color gray. If you walk around in shoes will little traction, the combination of the film on the hardwood floors will take you for a fly (or at least your legs over your head) if you aren't careful.

I was also used to Arequipa and their mild temperatures and dry air. Here in Lima, in their summer, it is quite hot and humid. There are also many different bugs of many different sizes, flying or crawling through my home, making themselves at home wherever they please.

Another adaptation, is that where I lived in Arequipa, it was quite a quiet place, our house was tucked back in a neighborhood, and we didn't get a lot of outside noise. Here, street vendors are walking by at all hours of the daytime, starting early some days, selling ice cream, fruits, buying broken items from homes, etc. There is also the nightly trash pickup that comes between 8-10:30 at night, and their announcement of arrival is that of a guy clanging on a metal object quite loudly. There is also the loud parrot, living somewhere behind me, who loves squawking at any time of the day. Construction noises, random and different sounding whistles, each one indicating the items that they are selling (I haven't learned that whistle system quite yet).

So those are just some of the differences to my life in Arequipa and my new life here in Lima. It was easier too, in my life of just learning the language, to focus on that. Now I am beginning to get started in ministry, and am definitely still in the language learning process too. It will be neat to see what God does here!

What do you miss most?

2006-02-14T15:17:00.000-06:00

I have been asked that question several times. I have come to different conclusions at different times, of course the most constant answer being "family and friends". Sometimes if I am hungry or having a craving for something back home, my answer might be: "Family, friends, Arby's Jamocha shakes, Chick-fil-A's Waffle fries, or Jim N Nick's cornbread rolls."

However, yesterday on the bus ride back from Chile, I came to another answer. I was listening to my iPod trying to drown out the dubbed-over version of Disney's Hercules. I truly believe that God works through the random setting of music programs. In a random selection about 3000 songs, almost back to back I worshiped to 4 songs from the worship album of my church back home in Birmingham, Oak Mountain Presbyterian. If I imagined hard enough I could picure myself back there, worshiping with everyone. People say that you don't really know what you have until it is gone. For me, it was a beautiful time of worship, and it made me realize that I also miss my church back home: the community, the worship services, the feasts of the word, and I can truly say that the church is filled with the Holy Spirit.

One thing that the Lord has brought to mind is that yes, at times I do miss things from back home, but when I am back home I will miss things from here. I will probably miss worshipping in Spanish, I will probably miss the different cheeses they have here, and more I am sure. Yet, then I remember again that this really isn't my home, neither here in Peru nor in the states. So I am "learning to be content in whatever the circumstances."

Fun Toby Stories

2006-02-14T15:05:00.000-06:00

I had no idea when I got a little puppy that the neighborhood would be changed! He has become quite popular with the kids in our neighborhood, especially since they are on their summer vacations from school.

When translated, the kids come over and ask "Is Toby home? Can he come out and play?" It is quite humorous. I like to go along with Toby since many kids don't treat their pets well, and I don't know the kids well enough. It cracks me up though how they ask if he can play as if he were another kid like them!

The other day I was outside playing with the kids and Toby, and one little boy asked me if Toby talked English or Spanish! How cute! My response was that he didn't talk either, but that we do talk to him in both languages!

Also right now is the "carnival" time, when for a few weeks a lot of water pranks are played. Typically the guys try to get the girls wet and vis versa, whether by water balloons or pails of water. It is random. If you are walking in the street, you are a target. The kids in the neighborhood have been playing these pranks with each other too. Since Toby is in the stage of learning the world by his mouth, he has already discovered several busted balloons. Now some of these kids are cleaning up areas with balloons when Toby comes out to play (whereas they probably wouldn't have otherwise).

He's a cutie!

Laura's here!!!

2006-02-14T14:56:00.000-06:00

Ok, so this post is a few weeks old, however, my teammate Laura Hoyt arrived last month to Peru. She is in language school right now in Arequipa. I have had fun showing my friend and teammate the fun places of Arequipa. It is so good to have her here with me.

This past weekend we went to Arica, Chile for her visa. Like many things here, it wasn't without drama, but we made it back with her visa in hand, which is the most important!

Here is a picture of us together here!

My Peruvian Adoption

2006-01-19T21:04:00.000-06:00

Last week in one of my classes, my teacher and I decided to take my lesson out of the class and to a restaurant. We were walking down the street when we passed by a veterinarian’s office. I asked if we could check out the puppies there, so we went into the foyer where the dogs are in the cages. And there before were two Shih-tzu puppies, each that looked identical to the one I left behind with my parents. I instantly was captivated by one of them, and throughout our time in the restaurant that was all I could talk about. I wasn’t sure however if I could have him with my host family or not, so as we passed back by the vet’s office I put down a small (refundable) down payment. I went right home and talked to my “mamita” (my host mom), and she didn’t have a problem with it, so the next thing I know, I am back on the street making my way back to the vet’s office.

When I got my last puppy, I had about 4 weeks to think of a good name for him. But this day I didn’t wake up thinking, “Hmm…. Maybe I’ll get a dog today.” It just happened. So for about a day or so, this little fella didn’t have a name. I had a little list of ideas, and I also was looking on the internet, but nothing seemed to fit this little guy. I wanted a cute name, and one that had a good significance too. Well, finally my list came down to Coby or Toby. So I went to look up what those names meant. Coby was derived from Coburn, which is a name of a town. However, Toby was derived from Tobiah, which is Hebrew and means “Yah-weh is good” (God is good). My decision was made easy between the two then.

Some day I may adopt a different Peruvian, however right now, this little Peruvian is keeping my hands full too.

So here is a picture of my little adopted baby named Toby:

The Small Things in Life Part 2

2006-01-19T19:52:00.000-06:00

I know this may not be exciting to those back home, but the mundane-ness (I don't know if this is a word or not, but it sounds good, and forgive me because I am loosing my English words at this very moment), so as I was saying, the mundane-ness of coke, diet coke, and fanta as options to drink have made me miss my favorite sodas of Dr. Pepper and Mountain Dew. I was expecting to find those occasionally in Lima, but not here in Arequipa.... but LOW and BEHOLD this week I found them, and have been savoring every taste. Yet again, trifle, but comforting too!

New Years in Peru

2006-01-19T18:49:00.000-06:00

New Years Eve was interesting as well here. Us girls (Anna, Marissa, and Susanna) went to the youth group of one of the churches in Cusco. A few missionary girls, who are with Wycliff, had invited us over for dinner and to celebrate bringing in the New Year. Andrew Eisner (a missionary in Cusco) had his family visiting, and his sister joined us that night too. The night was so much fun, and filled with a lot of laughter. Right before midnight we went upstairs to watch the fireworks. We had a great view over Cusco to watch the fireworks being shot up from the roofs. Someone mentioned that it seemed like little fleas jumping around, which was a good description. On New Year's Eve in Peru, it is typical to use yellow for everything at New Years: confetti, balloons, leis, and underwear. If you have these, it is for good luck, that you will have a good year. Here is a shot of us at dinner that night:

Yet Again, Another Small World

2006-01-19T18:34:00.000-06:00

So as I mentioned, I spent some time in Cusco with some friends during my school break. We were expecting an intern, Anna, to arrive later on in the week, and she was going to stay with us. On the Friday morning that she was getting to Cusco, I wanted to prepare breakfast, but I prepared some grits (not really knowing where she was from or if she would like them). Since she had arrived to Lima really late at night, spent the night in the airport, and flew to Cusco that morning, she came to the apartment and crashed. (Not that I can blame her at all!) Later when we were talking, Marissa, an intern in Cusco told me that she went to Samford (which is in Birmingham). I thought that was cool. When she woke up we started talking, and I found out that her dad works at Briarwood Pres., but that she goes to Oak Mountain Pres. To add another small world story to my blog, Anna is the sister of my friend Rebecca Cushman, who I know from Oak Mountain. That was quite fun!!

(Anna and I at a coffee joint)

She and I did a few things together while I was there. One day we went to some Incan ruins overlooking Cusco, named Saqsaywaman. It was fun because there weren’t many tourists there, and we kind of made our own tour there. (Respectively, of course!) Here are a few shots of those ruins.

Also here is a shot of all of us girls together in Cusco. It was a great way to spend my school vacations. (Left to Right: Susanna Murphy, Anna Cushman, Marissa Gabrysch, and myself)

My How Time Flies!!!

2005-12-30T14:46:00.000-06:00

It is SOOO hard to believe that 2 years ago this week, I was on my first mission trip ever, and it was here in Peru. After that trip I got swept up in a whirlwind of applying and being approved by Mission to the World, raising support, going through training, and arriving here!

(Here's me 2 years ago here!)

(And here is a kind-of recent shot 2 years later.)

Right now I am on Christmas vacation from language school, and visiting some missionary friends in Cusco, so I get to have a bit of a language mental break before returning to my last few weeks of language school. That is hard to believe too, that I have already been here for over 5 months, and have a month left of school before I start my ministry in Lima.

When I think of these things, how much God has taught me and how far He has brought me in the past 2 years, it is beyond my comprehension what He might do in my life these next 2 years. It is also beyond me sometimes to think that He actually wanted this for my life, of having the opportunity to live and work in another country, and meet the amazing people I have met! I never imagined this for myself, nor desired it at an earlier age, however, He changed my desires, and He has given me such adventures when I follow His will!

Here is yet more pictures to share with you from this week. This was taken at an indian village outside of Cusco, when I went with a few nurses with their house visits. We had to take a taxi to a certain point, and then hike to get to the village, but the view was so worth it!!! What an amazing God we have who has made this world, and has given me the grace to actually stand and view this aspect of His creation! Here is a glimpse of His Andes mountains:

My Christmas In Peru

2005-12-30T11:17:00.000-06:00

Many have asked me about my first Christmas here in Peru, and often I ask myself "Was it actually Christmas?", because I never had the "Christmas feeling." But the date gave it away and convinced me otherwise. Sure there were Christmas trees, Christmas lights and decorations all around, but it just seemed different. Maybe it was the Christmas carols in Spanish that I wasn't used to, or maybe it was the heat instead of cold, but nonetheless it did seem like a holiday. For me it was a great reminder of a holiday celebrating the birth of greatest Missionary who stepped out of a throne of comfort, glory and perfection to come down to this dirty world, and give people hope, peace, and light for the darkness in which we live.

On "Christmas Eve Eve" (the 23rd) or "Christmas Adam" as I recently heard, the students and teachers at the language school had a Christmas party, where we shared different traditional food from our different countries, as well as explained some of our traditions during the Christmas season. Thanks to a good friend, I had a recipe for Egg Nog, which is one of my favorite Christmas tastes!!!!

Peru does celebrate Christmas differently than the States, but the traditions were fun. December 24th is the day they celebrate Christmas. A family tradition is to have the HUGE Christmas dinner at midnight of the 24th, and close to midnight many people set off fireworks so there are a lot of people outside watching, then afterwards is the big moment of opening presents. Then the sleep follows (since it is very late!)

As far as my Christmas, the church I have been going to in Arequipa had a service on Christmas Eve. I joined one of my Peruvian friends in playing a flute duet at the service. We played "The First Noel" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem" (and I honestly couldn't tell you what the lyrics are in Spanish, but these songs are sung here as well).

I returned back to my home, and was a bit relieved to find out we were going to eat the huge dinner at 11:00 PM instead of midnight. But what a meal it was! Traditionally they eat turkey, a variety of different salads, and applesauce. It was quite good!!! We did go out and watch the fireworks, and came back in afterwards to open presents and wish each other a Feliz Navidad!! A beautiful part of opening presents is that as each gift is received, a hug and kiss on the cheek plus a "gracias" (thank you) is given before the present is opened. After the presents were opened, we partook in the traditional hot chocolate, which is homemade, and has of course chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, and other YUMMY stuff. (I think it is needless to say that in other countries, like the States, the Christmas season is also the most fattening time of the year!)

Here is a picture of me with my Peruvian family:
On Christmas day I was able to sleep in. My church didn't meet since we met the night before, and like I mentioned, although it did feel like a holiday, it didn't quite feel like Christmas, but no matter...it was!! I was invited to join a few other Americans for Christmas dinner, so it was nice to celebrate Christmas here with a little of both traditions from both countries. The afternoon was consumed of me talking to my family back home, which was really special.

I think the Lord has prepared me for the holidays away from home by working in a hospital for the past few years and missing out. But it does make me treasure the memories and look forward to the future times of celebrating with family and friends back home. This may only be my first Christmas here, but I do hope and intend to bring some of these new traditions that I have learned from Peru into my future Christmases.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!

The Small Things in Life

2005-12-18T15:51:00.000-06:00

For as long as I can remember, it is always the small things in life that tend to make me really happy! This seems to be heightened for me here in Peru. For example, the other week I received a package from my parents, and low and behold inside the box was my favorite cookie in the world (that I can easily consume in one sitting if I am not paying attention) THIN MINT girl scout cookies!!!.... Then this past Friday I happened to be in a grocery store here in Arequipa. This store will get different random imported goods. I was casually walking down an aisle when my eye caught a glimpse of CHERRY COKE!!!! Ok, so I paid more for it than normal, but it will be worth it I am sure! I kept the two treasures close together, feeling like I needed to save it for some special occasion..... but yesterday afternoon, without need of a special occasion except of the opportunity of eating the cookies and drinking the cherry coke I consumed a bit of both. Of course they were consumed slowly to savor the taste that, granted at home I could easily pick up anywhere, yet here these moments won't come as often. (Crazy, I know.... but comforting). It doesn't take much to bring a smile to my face!!!

"Its Beginning to Feel a lot Like Christmas!"

2005-12-07T13:36:00.000-06:00

So, yeah, there are definetly some differences here in the holiday season. Here is just a list of things to indicate if you are having a Peruvian Christmas:

-10- Instead of people saying "it feels like Christmas" as it gets colder, here as the weather turns hotter, the people say "its beginning to feel like Christmas" (granted, in Castelleno/Spanish not in English)

-9- Instead of dreaming of a white Christmas, here in Arequipa people have told me that a good Christmas is one with rain. (Arequipa only gets rain during the months of December, January, & February, and this season starts at the end of December)

-8- Christmas is actually celebrated on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day.

-7- Instead of Egg Nog as a traditional Christmas drink, a type of hot chocolate with cinnamon and nutmeg is normal.

-6- In departments stores there are many Christmas decorations, but right next to them are swimsuits, beach towels, and beach gear to go to the beach.

-5- Speaking of which, instead of going snow skiing, hop on a bus and head for the beach, which is what a lot of families do here around Christmas.

-4- There isn´t an option for a hay ride with many people stuffed in the back of a truck with hay, however at any moment you have the freedom to get on a bus jam packed full of people with no regard or idea of what personal space is.

-3- Instead of sleigh bells, every other day you hear the obnoxiously loud "CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG" of the man collecting garbage. If you were not awake, you would be after that!

-2- Instead of carolers, everyday you hear different vendors walking around selling their products: like the fruit vendor, "¡PAPAYA, PIÑA, PLATANO, MANZANA, LIMON...!" or my favorite the shoestring sellsman who walks around with literally hundreds of shoestrings on him and shouts, "¡PASADORES!" : (I wouldn´t call any of it singing, because they only speak monotone using one note, but they DO go to many differenet neighborhoods, and often use a megaphone)

-1- And last but not least, Santa doesn´t have to worry about slipping off of the roof due to the angle or the ice (because the roofs here are flat and are far from icy). He has to worry about the bajillion dogs that live on the roofs and how to get past them on almost each roof to bring in the presents. Poor guy. I don´t see how he does it!!!

The Adventures at Lake Titicaca

2005-11-28T16:15:00.000-06:00

So this past Friday, as many people were shopping and fighting to get the best bargains, my Peruvian sister Ana and I were peacefully making our way by bus to Puno, to visit Lake Titicaca and some of the islands there.

(For a bit of a geography lesson for those who are like me: Lake Titicaca is the largest freshwater lake in South America, and the highest navigable lake in the world at 12,500 feet above sea level.)

Our first stop early on Saturday morning as a part of the tour was the floating islands near Puno, Los Uros. Here people live on islands that are made out of reeds, as are their houses, boats, and the people eat the root of the reeds too. It was quite interesting to learn of their way of life.

After our visit there, we had a 3 hour ride to Amantani Island. The people there speak Quechua and Spanish. They were so friendly! As a part of the tour we stayed with one of the families. The houses on this island were very primitive, as in an outhouse, no running water in the house, and no electricity. They had a room set aside for us with 3 beds and a table. The primary form of income for this family is through the tourism, vegetation, and handmade goods. The family we had were so sweet and humble. After we arrived they served us lunch: hot potato and carrot soup then roasted potatoes with fried cheese. They also gave us a type of herbal tea that was supposed to help with the altitude. Here are some pictures of the family and their house.

After lunch we were lead to a colosium where a soccer match between some of the islanders and some of the European tourists had already started. This was the meeting place for where we were going to hike. This colosium is very likely the highest in the world too. After watching a bit of the game, we hiked up one of the mountains of this island (unfortunatly I forgot the name) for a great lookout over Lake Titicaca. We were told we could see other parts of Peru and even Bolivia from this point. I did see a lot of land, but couldn't distinguish which was which. It was a great view though!

When we hiked back down we met up again with our family and had dinner. After dinner they dressed us up in the typical dress of the island and took us to the community center where all the other tourists were dressed up as well. We got to learn some of the typical dances, and then later in the evening we danced by the fire outside. It was a lot of fun!! Like I mentioned earlier there is no electricity on this island and no one told us to bring flashlights, so it was interesting walking to the community center without light. The girl of the family led us around as if it were nothing. Here are some of the pictures of the clothes we wore.

Maybe it was the hiking, maybe it was the dancing, or maybe it was the fierce sun combined with the cold air, but we slept so hard and so good that night. We got up and were welcomed by the fresh air and hot pancakes. We said many thank you's and goodbyes to the family and headed for the port. From there we went to the island of Taquile, where the people there were a lot less friendly and one would be lucky to receive a smile at all. But it was a beautiful island, and very interesting to learn about their system of marriage and courting. (Guys all you need is a few pebbles to throw at the girl you like, and you both have about 8 hours to decide if you will get married....feel free to ask me more about this odd subject!) After lunch on this island we climbed down 535 steps to the port. We traveled another 3 hours back to Puno to catch our bus and go home. Here are some shots from the last island:

Thanksgiving in Peru

2005-11-28T15:38:00.000-06:00

Many people have asked about my first Thanksgiving in Peru. It was a lot of fun with some familiar tastes! Besides myself, there are 2 American families at the school. We all brought a different side dish for the Thanksgiving meal. We shared Thanksgiving with a German family, a few women from England, and a Peruvian woman. We had the traditional turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potato casserole (especially since sweet potatoes and every other potato is abundant here!), green bean casserole, and other side items. We shared some bible verses, poems, and what we were thankful for. It definetly was a different Thanksgiving, but so nice to be able to share it with other people who are used to this holiday and its traditions.

*side note* If you ever volunteer to make the green bean casserole for a Thankgiving in Peru, be sure to bring down some cans of green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and especially French Fried onions. This receipe which is so easy back home was quite a challenge here making everything from scratch: cleaning, cutting, boiling them until they are no longer crunchy (because who wants a crunchy green bean casserole?); making the cream of mushroom soup from the powder mix here and adding to it to make it thicker; battering and frying onions, then baking to dry them to put on top. (needless to say, this recipe is a lot more difficult and time consuming here than back in the states).

I am so thankful for my family and friends, those both here in Peru, the states, and other parts of the world. In my room I have pictures taped around my mirror and others in different parts of the room. Daily I have reminders of what good true friends I have! Some people are fortunate enough to have a few good friends, and I am blessed with so many. I am so thankful to be living in Peru! What an adventure this has been. I am so thankful to all of those who have given me the opportunity to live here by their prayers and support! God bless you all!

Intercultural Party

2005-11-21T15:04:00.000-06:00

Earlier this month there was an intercultural party, where us students and teachers from different parts of the world shared a dish and music from our countries. (Thanks Suzanne for the Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Cake receipe! It was a hit!) If we had a dance to share from our country, we did. Thanks to Ridge Haven and my years there I was able to teach the 16-step, 32-step, and the moves to the Tragedy song. We all got to learn some basics of salsa, as well as some traditional Peruvian dances. Of all the countries represented there were people from: Peru, USA, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland. It was quite a memorable night!

Me with my new friend Alyssa:

El Día de Los Muertos

2005-11-04T12:47:00.000-06:00

Tuesday, November 1st, here in Perú and in other countries El Día de Los Santos (All Saints Day) and El Día de Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) was celebrated. (You may have seen photos of this holiday celebrated with parades of people in black, and many decorations with skulls and bones. This is how Mexico celebrates this holiday.)

Out curiosity I went to different cemeteries to see how Perú celebrates this holiday. From a combination of Roman Catholic and other cultural traditions, the majority of the population goes to the gravesites of loved ones to visit, give gifts of flowers, food, music, beer, and other things. There are priests that are available to go to the gravesites and offer prayers to the deceased. Different bands will come and play the favorite song of the deceased person as well.

There were so many people all over the place! Sometimes in some crowds it was difficult to even push my way through! This is a picture of one main sidewalk in a cemetery (actually this photo was taken at a slower hour for this cemetery... I can´t imagine it at a busier time!):

Near the largest cemetery in Arequipa streets were closed down, and vendors were all over the place, either set up as a little flower stand, a restaurant, or toys. People also go to other gravesites of people who are considered heroes in order to ask the deceased for a miracle for them or a family member.

Often it is like a family reunion and picnic at the gravesite. The family brings the most favored meal of the deceased person and stays there to eat, and leaves the meal and drink at the gravesite. In one of the poorer cemeteries the families were very warm and welcoming to foreigners, sharing some of their meals, and were very eager to show off the gravesite.

I did see a sign at one of the masses that was held, saying that you could pay for the souls of your loved ones to be freed from purgatory. I was told later that if you pay, you can receive a certificate verifying this. (And just who and how are you going to show this paper to when it matters?) hmmmm...It definitely reminded me of why I am here, and hopefully soon I will be able to communicate more about the FREE gift of salvation and with that to be absent from the body is to be present with Christ, and that we can have hope and assurance of this!

Wah-becca

2005-11-04T12:26:00.000-06:00

So I have acquired more nicknames here than I truly expected! The normal “Becca” which I am accustomed to hear, Rebequita (which is a nickname given with affection) and from that a few more variations:

*Bequita (which I am not as fond of, maybe because it is close to Becky, which I love for other people, but it just never fit me)
*Bebequita (from a combo of my name and bebe or in English: baby)
*Wewequita (this one is more recent, and I am not too fond of either, but don´t think that it will last).

However the last one, I am not sure if I don’t like it because it reminded me of when I was little and couldn’t pronounce my “R’s” and they came out as “W’s”. When I was little I would tell everyone that my name was “Wahbecca” I liked “Wabbits” and the primary colors were "blue, yellow, gween, and wed". I had to go to speech therapy to get this corrected.

But recently when I heard this name of “Wewequita” and it reminded me of those days when I couldn’t pronounce my R’s it made me think of God, and His awesome big plan for my life. Now I can pronounce 3 different “R’s” well, and after meeting other people from different countries I have been able to practice other pronunciations of R´s. (French, German, Danish, and Swiss). How awesome to look back and see how God’s hand was working even in my young years of 3-4, that He enabled me to have my English R´s corrected and then to be able to communicate in another language that can be difficult for some people to pronounce and roll the R’s.

Banana Nut Bread Blunders

2005-10-29T10:29:00.000-05:00

(and other cooking adventures!)

So I have only cooked a few times here in Peru. My first time cooking here in Arequipa for my host family was a family dish from back home (originating in Thailand) Fried Macaroni. Overall that went well because it came out tasting delicious, but it took 4 hours instead of 2 to prepare (mostly due to it taking an hour for the water to heat up to boiling point, and I had to use 2 frying pans to mix the ingredients instead of a large wok).

My last experience in the kitchen was a lot more dramatic! Last weekend I had the urge to bake some banana nut bread. I talked with my host mom about it and we planned for it to be ready for breakfast on Saturday morning, so we went and got all the ingredients. I told her that I needed to look up the equivalent between Celsius and Fahrenheit, but she told me that I didn't need to because there were no marks on her oven to show the temperature, and she usually just guesses the temperature. She told me that is why she doesn't use it very often.

A little bit later I started prepping everything. First I had to cream the butter and sugar together with a mixer. The plugs here are different and don't stay in the socket very securely. So as I am mixing the butter and sugar and with each movement of my hand the mixer becomes unplugged! So then I start mixing again with my left hand holding the plug in place in the wall, the right hand mixing the ingredients with the mixer, and my right elbow trying to hold the bowl in place so it doesn't spin with the mixer. Meanwhile butter and sugar is flying all over the kitchen!! What a challenge and a mess!!

Finally I am able to get all the ingredients in, including the sifted flour (which is also a first for me!) The recipe makes 2 loaves, and I am ready to turn on the gas oven. Their gas oven is quite different than the one I used at my parents house in Alabama, instead of an automatic lighter, we have to light a match to start the fire. I typically enjoy playing with fire in a fireplace or campfire when I have a long stick to poke at it, but I have never been too fond of matches, especially now when lighting a gas oven. My sister and her friend helped me out on that and trying to figure out the temp. including the altitude. We agreed that I would check it again in 30 minutes, and we proceeded to watch a movie. I came back 30 minutes later, and should have realized that something wasn't quite right, but the dough had risen, and the oven was still warm so I planned to come back later and check again. The next time I checked it the dough had sunk and the oven wasn't warm at all! We came to learn that the gas tank had run out of gas, and at 11:00 at night we weren't going to go get some more gas! So I put my half-way baked bread into the refrigerator, not knowing if it was even going to come out good the next day!

The next morning we had a new tank of gas for the oven, and we started the temp at a warm temperature to get all parts of the loaf warmed up at the same time. After many minutes of that, I checked again, and it appeared that everything was working well, so I increased the temperature some. The next time, to my dismay, I discovered that all around the outside of the bread it was the perfect golden brown and perfectly risen, however in the middle I had banana nut soup! I lowered the temp and asked my host mom what she thought I should do, if I should salvage the good parts or leave it in for a bit more. We left it in a bit longer at a lower temp, and FINALLY the last time I checked it, granted it was more brown than I like, but I no longer had soup! The bread was cooked all the way through!

After all that went against me I am surprised that it came out at all! It crumbled at lot more than normal, but it tasted just like it should! The next time I make it I'll probably use my friend Stacie's oven (she has marks for the temp. settings). The only challenge she and I have had with hers is to have a stool hold the oven door shut!

Sandsurfing In Peru

2005-10-15T15:53:00.000-05:00

As a part of my trip to Lima and brain break from language school, I went with a few friends to Ica, Peru for sandsurfing. It was a blast! Ica is about a 3-4 hour bus ride south of Lima, and unlike Lima right now, it has clear skies and powdery sand. For about 12 dollars one company took us out on a dunebuggy (which was so awesome, like a natural rollercoaster!). After our ride, we got to sandsurf on 4 different dunes.

I wasn’t the most graceful person on the sandboard, that’s for sure! I laugh now because I had visions of me doing some jumps and sandboarding coming natural to me, but I was far from that! I couldn’t tell you how many times I tumbled down the dunes! My second attempt I thought that I might be able to sit back a bit and go down. It was fun for a few seconds before my board started aiming straight down the dune, I couldn’t steer it, and the next thing I knew I was going headfirst, and getting the breath knocked out of me with each tumble. The 3rd dune was quite steep, and I let my fear after my last experience get the best of me. I went down the hill so slowly! I’m sure Andrew and Isreal could have gone down 3 more times at the rate I was going! The 4th and last dune was a doozy! I went down on my belly, head first, which was by far the easiest and most fun way I used going down the dunes. I could control my speed with my feet, and the sand really didn’t get all in my face like I thought it would!

Although I lack much skill with this sport, I hope to return again sometime. Maybe next time I´ll have more air in my face than the sand!

The Familiar Feeling Foreign!

2005-10-13T19:41:00.000-05:00

I visited some friends in Lima for about a week, and I was so excited to go to my favorite restaurant from back home: TGI Fridays. I went twice, once for a girls night out with Suzanne Matthews, and again to place an order to go. When I went the second time, I really wasn´t too confident in my Spanish skills, not knowing what the Spanish equivalent to ¨TO GO¨was. I entered and spoke to the hostess saying ¨Lo siento, no puedo hablar bien, pero yo necesito ordenear para salir.¨(aka... I am sorry, I cannot speak well, but I need to order in order to leave). (I learned shortly thereafter that ¨llegar¨is what I should have used for ¨TO GO¨). She directed me to the bar, where I repeated the same thing to the bartender. His response was beautiful and exactly like this: ¨You can order in English if you want.¨ So after I placed my order in English, I waited and I sipped on a Sprite that he served me, while watching ESPN 1 & 2 (and American football was on one of the channels) and behind me was a table of 5 or 6 people talking in English. For a little bit this experience that is so similar to something back home was so foreign! I am not used to going out and hearing English around me, and it felt weird at first. It was somewhat comforting too, so besides the Starbucks in Lima, I may find myself at TGI Fridays as well.

Colca Canyon

2005-09-16T15:06:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I took a trip with other students to the Colca Canyon. This canyon is the 2nd deepest canyon in the world, second to another here in Peru. I came away with many stories from this weekend. I’ll start with the bus ride:

This was my first time traveling by bus in Peru, which was definitely a new experience. After about an hour of the 3-4 hour trip, the pavement evolved into a road of dirt and rock. I think it was about another hour or so later that we had pavement again. I wouldn’t be surprised if I lost some brain cells in this part!!!!! The view of this part of Peru was good though: a lot of desert, mountains, and alpacas and llamas.

We had the ¨hook-up¨ from one of our teachers who has family from Yanque, the village we stayed at. The whole weekend only costed $40. We slept in a hostal, and I was pretty comfortable, other than applying almost all of my clothes as PJ’s and sleeping under 4 wool blankets. The coolest part was because of the dry air and blankets there was a mini fireworks show inside the sheets from the static electricity!

Here is our group that went: (2 students from Germany, 3 from Denmark, 2 from ALABAMA!!!!) And here is our teacher and personal tour guide trying to be a condor (that´s Edgar for ya!)

We got up really early to catch the bus out to Colca Canyon, we went early because there are condors who fly around the canyon up until about 8 or so in the morning. We got to the frigid lookout and hung around. It was beautiful, it was steep, and it was cold!!

We saw some condors flying about every 5 minutes or so, but far far away.

After a while (to get our frozen blood moving again) we went for a hike. We saw vizcachas (which look like rabbits with short ears and long tails). (Cute little guys!!! I´m sure they are a nice Peruvian meal as well!)

When we climbed back up to the lookout, it was amazing how many condors were flying around! By this time a lot of vendors were out selling their crafts, and hundreds of tourists were looking at the condors. It was neat in this picture to compare the size of the condors and the people!

There were at least 20 flying at one point, which I hear is rare—many people have gone 2 days in a row and haven’t even seen one! They are so huge and beautiful!

We returned to Yanque and did a few other things. We hiked around, and got a tour of the old Yanque, which the ruins were at least 500 years old. It was so neat to check out! My imagination went crazy wondering what life was like for these people. The irrigation ditches made of stone were still intact, the walls of their houses still standing, some showing evidence that they had 2 floors.

Our teacher, Edgar took us over the river Colca, and we saw some ancient Incan tombs, once again my imagination went crazy again.

We also went to 2 different hot springs. The first one we went to was more for tourists, where the hot spring water was pumped into a pool. The second was my favorite, all natural, clear hot water which was only about 20 yards away from a frigid river. (This definetly made up for some of the cold showers I have had here.) This also was where it was helpful having an inside guide, there were absolutely no tourists here, and there were many Peruvians staring at us like we didn´t belong there (granted there may have not been too many of us ¨gringos¨ there before, and some of the Peruvians were bathing).

Other fun things as pictured was learning a Peruvian dance (it may not seem like it in the picture, but I was really dancing with the girl), and talking a bit to some women with their alpacas.

It was a great weekend: a little escape from what has become normal to me, and a trip to some beautiful parts of Peru with a glimpse into current customs and into ancient Peru.

More of My Life Here

2005-09-16T14:43:00.000-05:00

Here are a few more pictures to give you more of an idea of my life here.

This is a picture of my family that was taken at my sister´s graduation:

Eli, Ana, Juan Carlos

This is a cute little park that I walk through everyday on my way to school.

If I remember to look up, here is a beautiful view that I have as I walk to school:

Here is my where my school is held. It is a house, but not used as one. It´s very cozy!

Here are some of the teachers, and some of the former and current students at the school:

Here is another beautiful picture of one of the overlooks here in Arequipa.

And some other random shots that have been taken of me since I got here.....

The first of me eating ¨Túna¨ which is a type of fruit, actually from a cactus. It´s sweet, but full of small hard seeds. I don´t like it too much for that consistency factor.

Attractive, huh?

This one is from when I tended to my ¨patient¨. The water bag in the box sprung a leak, and using my wound care skills I dressed up the wound, but the pressure of the water was too strong, so here I performed a transplant ¨surgery¨ by putting the water in a new bag.

Empanadas: The “Hot Pockets” of Peru

2005-09-16T14:42:00.000-05:00

(and other food descriptions for the many questions I’ve received)

Many have asked me about the food here, and what I have been eating. Before I get to that, let me tell you about Empanadas!! These tasty snacks really are the best thing since sliced bread. They are similar to hot pockets but so much better! The sometimes crispy, semi-greasy bread envelops various delicious things: ground beef with mushrooms, onions, or ham and cheese, veggies, or just cheese (the choices are almost endless); or the sweet empanadas have fruit or a sweet cheese on the inside and are powdered with sugar on the outside. I haven’t had all that are available, but of the ones so far, THEY ARE OF GOD!!!

Ok, other foods, and a typical day of meals here. Breakfast (desayuno) is typically a roll, very crispy on the outside that I cut open, and spread on butter and add jelly. If I don’t have the bread my mom serves me fresh fruit with a bit of cereal and yogurt. The best part of breakfast is every morning is the fresh juice I get which is more like a fruit smoothie without ice. Ummmm…….. Lunch (Almuerzo) varies day to day. Here lunch is the biggest meal of the day, but it usually is much later in the day than when you back home eat. I have eaten as early as 1:15 and as late as 3:00. Here in Arequipa there is a different soup for each day of the week, so far I have only had a few of them at lunchtime. Typically lunch is either a soup or salad and then a meal typical of Peru, or Arequipa. Sometimes chicken, sometimes beef, with usually potatoes and rice. Gratefully my Peruvian mom has noticed that when both potatoes and rice are together in the meal, I only eat a bit of the rice. (This has helped in cutting back on the high carbs here!) Dinner is usually simple, a sandwich from that same type of bread from breakfast with ham and cheese.

Familiar items here in Arequipa: KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King, (Surprisingly not McDonalds…..although I probably wouldn’t go there anyways) Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, Fanta, Gatorade, Twix, Snickers, M&M’s, and other various items. One of my teachers told me of a store here that carries many imported foods. We’re going next week for practice class to check it out! (However, I am sure that an Arby’s Jamoca shake or Jim ‘n Nicks rolls will not be there).

Watch Rip-Offs

2005-09-16T14:08:00.000-05:00

Ha! So some of you might remember a bit in my last prayer letter about trust, and whether or not to trust the guy who I took my watch to in order to replace a battery. As is turns out, less than a month after I get that “new” battery, guess what died! So I made mention to my Peruvian mom that I needed to go to a jeweler because of my watch. We actually went to the marketplace and go to different booths until she found a vendor she was satisfied with. The battery cost me a total of 3 soles (less than a dollar) and the vendor took us to a man who replaced the battery for free. When I got my battery replaced (by a used one!) last month it cost 25 soles (a bit under 8 bucks). Needless to say, I got ripped off a month ago. I guess it is a part of learning!!!!

Things Don´t Always Go As Planned

2005-09-15T18:45:00.000-05:00

So I am sitting at the computer now writing a new entry, and hopefully catching up on other entries that I have been wanting to write. Originally I was going to go tonight with a few other students to get our visas in Chile, but my stomach had something else in mind. I won´t go into any details, but I think I know where the writers of the movie Alien got their idea for the birth of that little guy. I went to school, and must have looked worse than I thought for my teachers to tell me that I should go home and rest. Sweet as they are, they packed me up with some tea, that is supposed to help my stomach, and sent me on my way. I got back home, explained what I could to my ¨Mamá¨ and went up to my room. I didn´t get to sleep any, although I was well pampered with coke, sprite, Peruvian tea, and soda crackers. I watched Notting Hill (since the other night I watched it on TV here in Spanish, and didn´t quite understand everything), and played more spider solitare and Mahjong tiles than ever! Needless to say, God has something else in mind, and I will get my visa soon when I can handle another 6 hour Peruvian bus ride.

Pieces of Manna

2005-09-06T18:24:00.000-05:00

I have been reading the book ¨The Allure of Hope¨ by Jan Meyers, and in it the Isrealites and their wandering in the desert is discussed. She writes about how the Lord provided daily manna for their needs as they were longing for the promised land. We are living like the Isrealites as well, in that we are longing for heaven. Daily the Lord provides ¨manna¨ of some sort as we are reminded of heaven or of His provision. Ever since I read about this, I try to find something daily that is my manna. Here are some of my pieces of manna so far:

* When I remember to look up on my walk to school and see an amazing snow capped volcano in the distance

* When I hear 90’s techno music as I am in my spinning class, and briefly close my eyes to be taken back to middle-school end of the year parties at the skating rink (It always brings a smile to my face)

* When I can laugh with my teacher with embarrassment because I accidentally said something nasty in Spanish (that I will not be translating here)

* Opening a certain cabinet in the house here that has a similar smell as my Granny’s old house in Alabama

* Being able to talk to friends back home when they are at the beach and knowing that the same sun they’re cooking under is the same that is roasting me too!

* Seeing a Hyundai Santa Fe for sale (isn´t it ironic...don´t ya think!) in my neighborhood and letting it be a daily reminder that God did provide and He will provide (PS… for those who I may have not updated, Dad bought it from me and traded it and another car in, so it is no longer on my shoulders)

* Receiving sermons from back home, that are in fact more like feasts of manna than pieces of manna. Oh how they feed my soul!

Cultural Swings

2005-09-06T18:16:00.000-05:00

If you’ve ever lived in another country for an extended period of time (ha… I’m saying extended and I’ve been here, what? 6 full weeks?)… Anyways, you might understand what I am going though. If you haven’t, let me give you just a peak of cultural adjustment:

One day I absolutely love it here and want to absorb as much as possible from the culture and language. Other days my brain truly feels restrained as if it were in a really tight straight jacket, and sometimes I feel like I’m crazy enough to be in one myself. The swings have instead the come in other time spans as moods throughout my day, instead of the full day. I can be depressed without a clear reason why, yet a few hours later mediocre or back on top of the world. (Is this cultural shock or cultural bi-polarism?) I have seen a lot of what I have experienced so far as an adventure, and recently (because I can’t always predict what kind of mood I am going to be in during the day) my moods each day have become an adventure in and of themselves. Another description of cultural adjustment that I used in my last prayer letter was that I swallowed an emotional parasite.

I think that a lot of this is related to learning the language and the current frustration with not being able to communicate well or understand a lot. I hear a few words and assume something, then find out I was completely wrong. Almost like when I was 8 and my parents were continually telling me that I was not listening.

I have taken to giving myself “English breaks” where I read books (currently on The Allure of Hope which I highly recommend to you ladies!) or listen to music on my IPOD. The funny part of a lot of this is that lately in my attempt to communicate, when I speak in Spanish a few English words will just pop out, or if I am on the phone to someone back home speaking in English, a Spanish word will jump out of my mouth. No, I haven’t dreamt in Spanish yet, and if I did, I can guarantee that I wouldn’t understand it all. I promise, once I do dream in Spanish, it will be on this blog site!

The Director´s Chair

2005-09-06T12:32:00.000-05:00

What is it about movies and books that often take us away from reality yet can stir something in our souls? I love stories like this, but they often send my desiring heart down a path of discontentment and disillusionment. I tend to romanticize a lot and dream about what “my story” may be like, instead of seeing my present story from God and letting Him write the screenplay of my life. My heart wants to learn of the characters in later scenes, whether friends, a reunion of friends or family, or of a certain one to lavish my love upon, instead letting Him bring them in from stage left or right in their due time. Its as if I am not happy with the Writer of the script and instead of talking to Him (who is also the Director, Producer, and Special Effects Coordinator), I change the story to what I want as I dream beyond the present or say my lines, even if it is out of the will of the storyline. Instead of asking “What if” I need to think of “what is,” and not jump to later scenes that are not prepared for filming.

I need to focus on the scene at hand, living my role as best as I can only with the help of the Director, and interacting with others in the scene with the love and care that my character is called to be. It is only by His help that I can live out this role and can see what I do through the lens of His camera. Although I make (and will continue to make) mistakes throughout the filming, the camera keeps rolling and the Director doesn’t shout “CUT!!!” and chew me out for a bad take and my horrible skills (since I am the worst of all). Instead He smiles as He looks on with love at the story and those in it, knowing with His editing He will still receive glory for this biographical “Lifetime” movie and will change and redeem my character from all the mistakes I make throughout. In the studio the lights are not on me or others in the story, although I, and others, may presume it is or “hog” the light, it is always on the Director, and He radiates His light upon us.

And He, like a director, isn’t always on his director’s chair, He was before the scene, He is in the scene, and looking back His hand is seen. Usually without my recognition He changes things around to redeem the story from my faults, as well as protecting me in the action scenes since He didn’t need a stunt double for me. (He actually was my stunt double in a scene many years ago when He took the torture that I deserved).

He is also the composer for the musical score in this story, and although I may not audibly hear the music He has written, I feel it in my soul. A synopsis of the overture goes a bit like this: strings playing in a minor chord long, soft notes during the sad scenes; a lively trumpet and cheerful flute echoing notes and rhythms that dance in the happy scenes; the saxophone wailing the blues in the more mellow and depressing scenes; and in all the frustrating and stressful scenes is the disharmonic sound of a middle school band tuning, warming up, and practicing at the same time without order.

He has poured His life, His blood, sweat, and tears into this story and to think that I, and probably other characters in this story, are asking for more from Him: things, money, and easier script to play. We consistently doubt the goodness of the story, perhaps wondering why we took this certain role. We may wish that we looked like someone else in the next studio or that special effects could airbrush us so that our flaws could be hidden. We do not know that in our weaknesses the truth of the story, the compelling truth of our complete depravity is what the Director wants to see to show the audience of His grace and that there is nothing we did to deserve it or earn it. We don’t trust that the Director truly has the good of our character and the story in mind.

When my story is over, the Director only has one Oscar in mind, of which is my heart. He treasures it and will never let it out of His grasp.

Get the Door--its Peruvian Pizza Hut!

2005-09-06T12:22:00.000-05:00

I have now learned to have available more than S 29.75 (soles is the currency here) when the Pizza Hut delivery man arrives before the rest of your family who actually ordered the pizza.

Story: It was a calm Sunday afternoon, and since I go to a different church than my family here (mine is located about a 3 minute walk from my house) I made it home before them. I heard the door bell and went down to answer it, being a bit apprehensive of course since I can’t communicate or understand well right now. He (I presume) asked if I ordered the pizza, and I tell him that I don’t speak or understand much, but I didn’t order the pizza. He then looked at the ticket and said “Eli Burns” who is my Peruvian mother. I said (as best as I can) that she isn’t here and must have ordered it by her cell phone. I asked how much the pizza was and he told me it was 32 soles (pronounced so-les). I quickly ran upstairs and counted my money and to my dismay I only had 29.75, and am a bit over 3 soles short, which is the equivalent of about 1 buck! I returned to the impatient pizza man and explained that this was all I had and the lady who ordered it isn’t here. He kept on using the word about returning, and in my attempt to understand him I asked if he was going to return, which made him speak even more rapidly and all I could get was that he had more deliveries to make (which I think I understood that more from common sense than from what he was going off about). The next thing I knew he started to reach for the money in my hand, I jumped back saying “¡Un momento señor!” and as I was trying to question further, thanks be to God, my family arrived home from church! The man received his full 32 soles, we got our hot pizza (it was Hawaiian! Mmmmmmm), and we all got several laughs from my attempt to communicate!