Candice (3/30/11) This is the final blog from me. Perhaps Mike & Gary can respond with their updates accordingly. We finished our last work day on Friday and Gary was able to let us know how impacting it was to visit Rosa's "house". On Saturday, we loaded up luggage on the top of a van and ventured out on a 5-hour bus ride to Cusco along the winding mountain roads- our last ride of this kind for the trip, which was good news to all with motion sickness. Once in Cusco, we had our own adventures as reservations we thought had been made for our overnight accommodations had not been, so thankfully we were able to stay in a hotel right downtown for $15/person. The afternoon was spent getting our bearings in Cusco and exploring the city. We found a pizza place for supper and got ready for our trip to Manchu Picchu.
Sunday morning, we all boarded a bus in the rain at 7 a.m. and took another 2-hour bus ride to a train station, then a 2-hour train ride to a shuttle bus, then a 20-minute shuttle ride up to the entrance of Manchu Picchu. It was quite an experience to see the beauty around us and the tremendous work of laborers who had originally created this expansive site. Most of the day was cool and rainy, then it was foggy, then windy, then nice and sunny right at the end. Our English-speaking guide was very thorough, but unfortunately had a very strong accent. We took all the same forms of transportation back to Cusco and arrived back at the hotel after 11 p.m. The train rides provided the most team-bonding and comfort of all the transportation methods, as we were able to play cards and talk with one-another.
We left our hotel at 9 a.m. Monday morning and made our way to the airport in Cusco for our flight to Lima. There are lots of stories that were created from our adventures on this final day including no running water in the airport, a delayed flight to Lima, our city tour of Lima, and the connecting flight in Atlanta. God was very good and provided us with many visible blessings and answers to prayer on this day- too many to list, but thanks for your prayers!
We are now home safe and sound (except Mike & Gary, who are staying in Abancay for the presentation of the Jesus Film) and excited to apply our experiences to our daily lives. It is a hard adjustment after having lived in a "bubble" for 2 weeks, and we would all appreciate your prayers as we figure out where to go from here and how to best explain the experience we've had and deal with the life-changing things we've seen and learned. Please continue to pray for us. We look forward to sharing more with you in our church presentation!
Team in Peru
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
On the Road!
The team has landed in Minneapolis and is now on the road heading towards Mountain Lake. Praise the Lord for safe air travel.
Continue to keep the team in your prayers and they adjust back to their regular work and school routines and as they process all that the Lord did during these past two weeks. Also keep Mike and Gary in your prayers as they continue on in Peru this next week. Mike and Gary will be arriving home on April 5.
Continue to keep the team in your prayers and they adjust back to their regular work and school routines and as they process all that the Lord did during these past two weeks. Also keep Mike and Gary in your prayers as they continue on in Peru this next week. Mike and Gary will be arriving home on April 5.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
A Moving Trip
Gary (3/25/11) Dear church family, it has been an excellent growing mission trip with so many moving events to stretch us, especially spiritually and personally. We visited our cooks home today where she cares for her handicapped son, Alexandry, and her daughter. She lives in a vacated old hotel while building her home into a hillside she pickaxed out of the hillside. They do so much with so little! We also took part in devotions with the AIDIA staff, a very dedicated staff who love the Lord and pray their people will come to love Him too. Blessings to you all.
Mission Journal #10 - Hang in There!
Today's Scripture focus is from Hebrews 12:1-3 (NASB)
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
*************************************************
What race does God have you to run in life at this time? What do these verses from Hebrews offer as your best hope for a good race?
Pray . . . Lord God, may I keep my eyes always on Jesus as I make my way through life. As He gave his life for me, may I live my life for Him. Amen.
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
*************************************************
What race does God have you to run in life at this time? What do these verses from Hebrews offer as your best hope for a good race?
Pray . . . Lord God, may I keep my eyes always on Jesus as I make my way through life. As He gave his life for me, may I live my life for Him. Amen.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday update- flexibility and the Greatness of God
3.24- Ashton and Annie- yesterday and today have been stretching experiences and good opportunity for us to work on our flexibility. Since we were out of paint we became busy with other jobs like shoveling, pulling weeds, helping with tiles, varnishing, hauling wood, etc. Then Larry found 4 hidden gallons of paint so we were able to finish our fabulous paint job but the we quickly ran out! So we found other jobs to do. After supper we watched an impacting video by Louie Guglio about the greatness of God. We are beginning packing for our long trip home.
Mission Journal #9 - Faith Alive
Today's Scripture focus is from James 2:14-17 (NIV)
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
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Has God placed someone or a situation in your life where help is needed? Seek God and ask Him how He wants you to respond to that need. Ask Him to give you the heart and strength to make your "Faith Alive".
Pray that God will be with the Mission Team as they express their faith through the remaining days of service. Pray that He will continue to give them the heart and strength needed for the physical activity and the emotional and spiritual needs around them.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
*********************************************
Has God placed someone or a situation in your life where help is needed? Seek God and ask Him how He wants you to respond to that need. Ask Him to give you the heart and strength to make your "Faith Alive".
Pray that God will be with the Mission Team as they express their faith through the remaining days of service. Pray that He will continue to give them the heart and strength needed for the physical activity and the emotional and spiritual needs around them.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Mission Journal #8 - Good and Evil
Today's Scripture focus is from Romans 12:9-21 (NLT)
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”
says the Lord.
Instead,
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”
Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
***************************************************
I thought it was good to read what the commentary in my NLT Bible says this for verses 17-21
"These verses summarize the core of Christian living. If we love someone the way Christ loves us, we will be willing to forgive. If we have experienced God's grace, we will want to pass it on to others. And remember, grace is undeserved favor. By giving an enemy a drink, we're not excusing his misdeeds. We're recognizing him, forgiving him, and loving him in spite of his sins - just as Christ did for us."
Pray that the team will be able to take each encounter they have and show God's love. Whether these encounters are easy or are challenging, pray that they will be able to do what it says in verse 9 and 10, "Really love them." and "Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other".
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”
says the Lord.
Instead,
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”
Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
***************************************************
I thought it was good to read what the commentary in my NLT Bible says this for verses 17-21
"These verses summarize the core of Christian living. If we love someone the way Christ loves us, we will be willing to forgive. If we have experienced God's grace, we will want to pass it on to others. And remember, grace is undeserved favor. By giving an enemy a drink, we're not excusing his misdeeds. We're recognizing him, forgiving him, and loving him in spite of his sins - just as Christ did for us."
Pray that the team will be able to take each encounter they have and show God's love. Whether these encounters are easy or are challenging, pray that they will be able to do what it says in verse 9 and 10, "Really love them." and "Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other".
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