Name Branded

With Christmas coming up, it´s easy to get tied up in material things. Today I went with my Amanda (a sweet missionary friend who is ALSO from Texas) to pick up a Christmas package at the central post office here in Lima. Picking up packages can be quite an ordeal, especially around Christmas time, and the whole event usually takes a good few hours. So, while Amanda was inside, (they one would let the actual recipient of the package into the post office) I wondered around to the nearest market to see what I could find. Surprizingly, I found that the market was filled with stores that sold American-brand clothing. I got really excited because I had found Ann Taylor, American Eagle, Union Bay, Old Navy, Forever 21 stuff for really cheap. I really didn´t need any new clothes, but it was more of the thought of being able to sport some American brands that can be somewhat pricey for pretty cheap. But then I had a realization-the only reason I was thinking about these things was to ¨impress¨ people with my clothes, and to the people here, names like Forever 21 didn´t mean anything.

Something very funny aslo happened while I was at one of these stores. I did try on a few things, and because the sizes here are so different, our American sizes mean very little to the average Peruvian. I told the lady I was looking for some skirts, and she pulls out one and hands it to me. A lovely skirt, but only one problem: it was size 1. Yes. I normally wear a 1....with a 0 attached on the end of that, but this lady was convinced that this wouldn´t matter and that I could still try it on. You can imagine how that went. What was even funnier is that when I asked for something with a little bigger size, she handed me a skirt in size 0. Yeah. That went over well. Or, should I say didn´t go over anything?!?!

Needless to say, I did´t buy anything at this market, but it did make me painfully aware that sometimes I dress according to what I think people will think of me.

Hope everyone is enjoying the last couple days leading up to Christmas...speaking of things to wear, can I just say that it´s SO WEIRD being in a place where it´s summertime during Christmas. Makes for some interesting santa suits....

Arms to Hold You

I have come to know a lonliness, darkness that I have never known before. But I didn´t write this blog to brag or even talk about these things.

When you know the unprecidented depths of these things,  you also know the an uprecidented overflowing grace and mercy- a side of God you have never experienced before- if you so choose. 

I am so thankful for this grace and mercy...and for the arms of Christ to hold you when you walk through the spaces where there is only room for you and Him.

As I was writing this blog, this song began to play and I began to cry, realizing how relevent it was. (Lisa, this was the CD I opened today, and God knew it would minister to me today...thank you.) 

Sometimes I feel like winter, cold I feel

Icicles are forming

It's hard to tell what is real

Cold winter, cold winter day

Frost is on the windshield and it's hard to see

Air is like slivers

It's hard to breathe

It's a cold winter, cold winter day

Warm me up inside

And let your face from me not hide

'Cause You are what I long for

To melt this cold heart of mine

'Cause when You are around I am found

Sometimes I feel like the prodigal, a wandering weary son

Gone in search of something beautiful

Something to make me one

It's a cold winter, cold winter day

The world is full of lies that will only rob you blind

Hit ya' when you are not looking

And steal away your time

It's a cold winter, cold winter day

And warm me up inside

Let Your face from me not hide

'Cause You are what I long to find

To melt this cold heart of mine

And when You are around I am found

Warm me up inside

And let your face from me not hide

'Cause You are what I long to find

To melt this cold heart of mine

'Cause when You are around

'Cause when You are around

And when You are around I am found

Winter: Shawn McDonald

What I think I look like...What I actually look like...

 

Ever had an impression of yourself? A not-so-accurate impression or view of yourself? Well, the above picture was meant to be a joke as I was looking over pictures of when we went to Ecuador and remembered us taking pictures on the beach...and thinking how attractive I THOUGHT I looked. Little did I know...attractive was not ANYWHERE on the list...and neither were any other words of the type! 

Ever asked God to give you a TRUE impression of yourself? Like what He thinks of you? I have asked Him recently what He thought of me and it was actually the opposite of what I thought of myself.

He calls me ¨strong woman,¨ when all I see is weakness.

He tells me I am bold when all I see is fear.

He called me beautiful when all all I see is dissapointment and failure.

He called me by name

And I am His

But so many times I run to others first. 

I run to those I can physically touch, 

forgetting the One who loves me most

Is standing right there

Waiting...

And when I come before Him, confessing my faults,

I find a whirlwind of grace

a new life that pours into my soul

as His forgiveness pours through me

and enables me to forgive others.

Take a minute and ask God what He thinks of YOU...you might just be surprised what He tells you. 

Zoo-ing and things...

Wow. I know it´s been forever since I´ve blogged. I wanted to update on several things that have been going on here...please excuse broad range of topics that will be covered in this blog, but think of it as a zoo...crazy, and lots of different things to look at and read about. =)

I actually got the privelge of going to the zoo here FINALLY and I had a blast. I saw so many beautiful animals, some of which I had never seen before. Here are some pics.

This panther was my favorite out of all the animals. Don´t know why, but I´d never seen markings like this.

This seal was crazy! It would go and swim in it´s little pool and then when it was ready to come in, it would stand up against the door on its TAIL!!

One of the animals I´d never seen before...

a REAL tucan!

Many of the houses in the jungles of Peru look like this. 

tortuga!! (turtle)

The birds here are the most colorful I´ve ever seen. 

This fish looked like it had gold specks woven into its scales.

This wolf was so pretty...it looks like it could be a picture in a story book.

Well, it´s impossible to sum up all of the things that have happened in the last two months, but it´s been quite a lot. I have seen at least one more person accept Christ as their savior, and I am so excited about what is to come. 

Salvation bracelets have been a huge blessing these last couple of weeks. We had the supplies to make several hundred, and many that were already made, so many of our Peruvian friends have been using them to witness to their friends. So neat to see. 

Carlos, a 17 year old boy who became a believer about 4 months ago, is helping make bracelets.

 We also got to hang out with a mission team in another part of Lima. They have four sweet interns that are with them for 9 months, and they wanted to see our part of Lima, so they came out for a visit. 

 Some of the neighborhood kids working on arts after a Bible study. They are writing on paper hands one good thing they will do that week. 

Please continue to pray as things things seem a little crazy right now. Searching for vision and purpose as I continue to learn the language and culture. We are still studying the Bible with different groups several times a week, and wanting to start more groups, or re-vamp some of the ones that we had in the begining. Thank you so much for your prayers. 

This picture is incredible, isn´t it? I took it as I was walking down a street at the zoo. It reminds me of the peace and rest we can have in Christ. Something you´ve taken advantage of today? 

Why Don´t You Come In?

Seven sweet faces staring at me from behind bars. Seven pairs of eyes full of questions, their ponytails lopsided, hands damp from washing and hanging clothes.

Why don´t you come in? They ask. 

I can´t. I respond. 

My hands reach through the bars that separate us to touch their hands, to let them know that not only do I care about them, but that I love them with a love they may never understand.

http://tinyurl.com/3mgvbjn

Many of you know that I lived in an orphanage with 800 kids last year teaching English and the Bible to the kids who lived there. I taught these kids, ate with them, played with them, shared a year of my life with them. 

About four months ago, I was told that all strings between the orphanage and myself and Lauren had to be cut. I was told that there were suspicions that I was helping construct another orphanage, and the director thought I was only there to try to take kids out of his orphanage and bring him to my orphanage. I tried to explain the truth, that we are not trying to establish an orphanage nor are we helping anyone start one. We are here to study the Bible. He didn´t believe me. So I never told the kids or the people that were a part of my life for a year good bye...I just left. There was no time for any of that. 

To this day, the kids do not understand what happened. They do not understand that the situation is much deeper than we can see- that there was a spiritual battle being fought.  When we see some of them outside the orphanage from time to time, we are able to explain what happened. 

Today was kinda one of those days. 

We went to go visit a family that lives right next to the orphanage, and as we were walking by, some of the girls saw Lauren and I walking by and began calling our names. 

We stopped and talked to them, telling them how much we loved and missed them and reminding them not to forget what Jesus did for them on the cross and that He wants a person relationship with each of them. 

That was just a few minutes ago that all of this happened. I am asking God to show me what to do. If I should go back and talk to Miguel and see if I can reconcile things...somehow explain things all over again and pray that he will listen.

There are over 100 children in that orphanage who gave their lives to Christ last year, and before any of this happened today, the Lord laid on my heart to go back and ask permission to baptize them...not because I believe in any way that baptism saves, but because as I study the Bible I see that baptism almost accompanied salvation...the outward sign to the inward change. 

I would appreciate your prayers during this time. For wisdom and grace, maturity and boldness. I know that God has called me for such a time as this. (Esther 4:14). 

I am not only thankful for the time I spent in this orphanage, but I am thankful that I was forced out. Because in that, the gospel has been spread to the surrounding cities and districts. The time I would have spent in the orphanage, I now spend outside the orphanage, and many families have heard about how to have a relationship with Christ. 

But now more than ever, we need direction and a clear short term vision. Please join us in prayer for this.

Walking right on by

"Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." Isaiah 1:17

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18

http://tinyurl.com/3gqklgj

"He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses." Proverbs 28:27

"You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall." Isaiah 25:4

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained ^[b]by the world. James 1:27

"If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." Isaiah 58:10

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." Isaiah 61:1

Proverbs 31:8-9

Open your mouth for the mute, For the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.

"She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy." Proverbs 31:20

http://tinyurl.com/42a8xwy

I want to be this woman. The woman that opens her hands to the needy.

The truth is that I can´t even really find pictures on the internet that resemble the situations of the people I  am going to tell you about. None of these pictures are taken from the actual situations I am writing about. I refuse to take pictures of them in their situations because that would only mock them, so I will do my best to tell you about some of the specific people that have touched my heart over the two months.

Sachi

http://tinyurl.com/3gkeh3g

Sachi apparently was robbed of her most important worldly posessions within the last year and now lives on the street. She tells us that she had a good job as a some type of social worker, but that that she lost her job somehow around this same time. She has been living on the street for some time. Several well-meaning people have tried to take her a nursing home, but she always ends back up on the street because she says they mistreat her in the nursing homes. Sachi is about 50 I think, but looks like she is 70. She apparently has two families with which she sometimes stays, but many times she is on the streets through the night. She works for about 10 soles a day (equivalent about $3) by watching a street vendor stand. A cheap meal in the part of town where she is costs about 10 soles. Sachi told us that she had surrendered her life to Christ about 2.5 years ago, but I honestly have not spent enough time with her to learn more about her story.

Samuel

http://tinyurl.com/3g62ca8

Samuel is a blind man who sells candy on the streets of the rich touristy part of Lima. I met Samuel when I was walking with Lauren one night, and stopped to talk to him. I only talked to him for a few minutes, but in those few minutes, Samuel told me that he had given his life to Christ and was a follower...yet still he is on the street. He might sell 10 soles worth in one day, I really have no idea, but I know it´s probably not much. My heart goes out to this man.

Rimac Teens

http://tinyurl.com/3vvj2q9

Rimac River

Then there are the kids that I have only heard about but never seen go to river Rimac in Lima and hang out there doing drugs and just spending life there. I want to talk to them, and tell them there is hope beyond Rimac River. Lauren was the one who found out about these kids, and I am so glad she did. Several of our guy friends have said they would down there with us and spend some time with these kids. We plan to go there sometime soon, the Lord permitting.  Please pray for God´s hand to touch the hearts and lives of the kids there.

?

http://tinyurl.com/3f7q2me

Then there´s the man with only one leg. He sits on the bridge and ¨rents out¨ his scale. No, he doesn´t sell scales, but for 10 cents, you can weigh yourself on his scale. People here many times only have enough money to live for the moment. Which means you don´t buy a scale...you weigh yourself for 10 cents when you have the extra 10 cents. I have yet to talk to this man. I pass him every time I go to Puente Piedra to go to the market or the grocery store.  He is someone who God loves and who, everytime I pass, wonder about him- his story, and if I should share the gospel with him.



I walk by these types of people every day. And so do you. They may not have limbs missing or be blind, but they are desperate need. Need of love. Of Christ´s love. Need of physical things. Need to hear the gospel. Need of a hug. Need of a warm meal. Need of a million different things. I ask that the Lord shows you who is in need and what their need is. Don´t walk right on by like I have done countless times with the man on the bridge. They have faces and names. Why do I not know them?


Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ Matthew 25:44-45

http://tinyurl.com/3tfp6bx

Please pray for us as we seek a way to help the homeless, poor and needy. And please pray how you too can be a part of helping the people of Ventanilla / Zappallal   Lima, Peru.

These Days...

Here are some pics from our Biblestudies and other events we have been doing. God has been so good to us...we now have five weekly meetings with different groups of people where we study the Bible. Call them Bible studies, house churches or missional communities, they are something that we are so thankful for and hoping they will grow and multiply.

The kids outside the market in Ventanillia. They don´t like to listen sometimes...but they sure like to play soccer!!

They all love having their own Bibles though, and reading from them (or if they don´t know how to read, sometimes they just pretend)

Teaching.

Scratch my back, PLEASE!!!!!

Nearly every Bible study at each of the locations includes at least 4 kids.

One of our friends invited us to an event he was doing at a nearby school. It was so cool because like 50 kids showed up...on a SATURDAY!!! We got to play with them, talk to them and study the Bible with them. There are some amazing kids that live in my city.

Playing ¨The Hand Game¨ It´s a game that tells the story of Christ coming to earth, dying for our sins and then rising again. 

Human knot.

Playing basketball.

Playing volleyball. I´m kinda upset I didn´t play sports as a kid...it´s hurting me now  ;) In the states, you could always be a ¨cheerleader¨ on the sidelines if you weren´t playing...here, you´re just weird if you don´t play. hahaha. 

Playing ¨Senior Lion¨ after church. It´s like Red Light, Green Light.

Mili and I getting a quick bite to eat at McDonalds before heading to Camino De Vida...a church in Surco that we go to when we have the time. 

Mansfield Muchachos come to Peru!!!

Well, needless to say the last month and a half have been full ones...like our time here has pretty much been Wow...Sorry it´s been a while since I´ve blogged. There just has not been time to record all of the things that have been going on. Gonna take a bit to catch up!! First off, First Baptist Mansfield Church brought their team to help us out for week. We did events in 8 different public and private schools surrouding the area where we live. The events included a Bible story, skit, songs, craft and snack. Some days we did this repetition up to 12 times because of all of the different grades we worked with. It was something we could not have pulled off without this group and our Peruvian friends that helped us here. 

Preparation for the group started months before they came. Our Peruvian friends gave up weeks of their time to come and even live with us for a time and help us make fliers, put together the props, crafts, etc. 

Milagros, one of our dear Peruvian friends, also gave up two weeks to help us. She is so creative and knows how to serve like nobody´s business. She is incredible.

One of our other sweet Peruvian friends, Melissa, helping us out. She came in from over 2 hours away to be with us and help us out. 

Having a little fun with Pringles while we go to the different schools and coordinate events, busses, times, etc.

Trying on costumes...well...Nicchola trying to make sure the ¨wrapping for Jesus´body¨  (for the skit of the death and resurrection) would fit over a grown man...

More trying on costumes...Well, mine wasn´t exactly a costume...

SATURDAY JUNE 18, 2011 GROUP ARRIVES!!!! =)

Along with the group came some awesome suitcases =) My sweet mom packed one full of my favorite stuff...cheez-its and socks just happened to be in that suitcase...thanks, Mom! 

And the action begins. Monday thru Thursday we did events in the schools. We told a Bible story, shared the gospel, gave out arts and snacks. We got to minister in 8 different schools.

These are the signs we use most commonly to share the gospel here. The have been such a blessing to use. Thank you http://www.kingswitness.com/ for coming up with the great idea and for letting us use it here in Peru. 

One of the assemblies. This was held at a school that had just been built. Before this school, the teachers and students were meeting in wooden/ cardboard- looking shacks.

Tyler hanging out with some of the kids. Tyler used pretty much every second that the group wasn´t doing something to be with the kids. It was so sweet to watch the kids interact with him.

Josh and Jessica dancing around at the beginning of one of the programs. They were great with coming up with impromtu dances if we needed to fill a second of dead time. 

Nicchola and Jeanette being fishermen during the ¨follow me¨skit. 

Some of the kids working on the art project.

Kids in elementary school doing motions to the songs we taught.

Are you ready??? SIIII!!!!! =)

Well, this is Lauren and I looking like goofballs singing the ¨fisherman¨song.

Thursday of that week, we threw a huge city wide event. We invited about 12,000 people, but not near that many came. It was the first event (of this type and size) that Lauren and I had ever planned, so we learned alot from the event to say in the least. To be honest, about everything that could go wrong did, but the group was great in the midst of it all...they did the very best they could without even really being able to speak the language (Except for Kap-I-tan and Lourdes). A special thanks to the group for hanging in there with us to the end. The good news is that many people heard the gospel that night, and we may never know in this life how many seeds were planted. 

The group...Peruvians and North Americans working together toward one common goal. So cool. Wow. This is the body of Christ...the Church. Christ´s beautiful bride. 

The group left Ventanilla on Friday of that week to head back to Texas. We were so blessed to have them here for that week. One of the biggest blessings that happened during that week is that our Peruvian dad, Nicchola, became a Christian. He had been hearing the gospel for about a year from Lauren and I talking about it, and up to this point had not put his faith and trust in Christ. When he saw the sacrifices this group made (giving up their jobs, leaving their spouses and families etc. for a week to come tell people in Peru about Christ), he realized that he too wanted to be a part of the family of God. Nicchola gave his life to Christ one night in his hotel room (I think it was Wednesday night) and told us about it the next day. I was translating for him as he was telling the story to the group (I didn´t know about his decision at this point)....and when he said that he gave his life to Christ, I just stopped dead cold translating and looked at him. My mouth dropped open and I turned and gave him a huge hug. I think the group figured out by body language what was going on. Such a cool experience. So thankful God allowed me to be a part of it. 

God also gave me another brother the night of the event. His name is Carlos and he is 17 years old. He is a university student who came to the Thursday night event and ended up giving his life to Christ that night at our house after the event was over. Please pray for the body of Christ as God keeps adding to the number those who are saved. (Acts 2:47) Pray that God will show us how to be disciplers.