Well, this weekend, the community is selling chicken for a fund raiser. Lauren and I got to go to the market in Puente Piedra (which is like 15 minutes from Ventanilla) and let me tell you, was something I hope I never forget. Lauren got to go yesterday too, and so she had told me a little about, but I was so happy that I finally had the opportunity to experience it for myself. We hopped into the van and headed to the market. After several stops to sell some chicken that we had already made, we finally got to the market. It's a huge market, so when we first walked in, we saw lots of clothes and things not meat related for sale....and then I saw a chickens hanging upside down from the top of the stores...and then more chickens...and then live chickens...and then pigs and a cow...all hanging from the top of the stores. Then we were taking pictures in the market and I dropped Lauren's camera and all these people started laughing at us and making fun of us. But it was funny cause Lauren could understand everything they said. So she went up and started to one of the people in Spanish. Hahaha ...ooops. So yeah, today we are vending chicken...over 5,000 plates. And I don't think I will be eating chicken for a little while, thanks :)

The weekend

The boys playing on the playground at the community, and then playing "Porque tanto..." with the boys after Biblestudy.

 Us and our roomies at Dominos, and then us with the Vent'Nilla sign livin' the good life.

All I have to say is that God is incredibly good. I have been wanting to blog for some time now, but just have not had the time. I don't really have much time now either, but I wanted to post a short update.

Last week, the college group from Southmont came and we had a blast. They have such willing hearts, and it was so fun to hang out with them. They were flexible and willing to pretty much do anything. During the week, we reorganized books, helped construct a library (and that included knocking out a sink with a sledge hammer) helping out in the baby house, doing Bible school for four days, making salvation story necklaces, building shelves, and a myriad of other things too. The group got to come to the chicken stand with us, (which Lauren and I were pretty excited about) and then this weekend we got to go to Lima and hang out. That was a blast. We went to the park of water (there are a ton of pics on facebook, so check them out :), and then Saturday we went to Plaza Mayor and watched the changing of the guard and went shopping at the markets there. Then we came back near our hotel and went shopping some more!! Boy it was a day! Then the group left that night, and Lauren and I went to dinner together and then ate some icecream! Yay for that. Sunday, we got up, and got ready to go out and spend the day celebrating Laurens bday. Somehow the lense of my glasses fell out and I think I accidentally flushed it down the toilet, so that was disappointing, but its okay. It was kinda funny. Okay so after we finally got our act together and left the hotel, we found this place to go play kid archade games in Larcomar (the mall thats built into the side of a cliff) and Lauren beat me at pretty much every single game. I let her though...what can i say..it was her birthday!!! Hahahah i am SOOO not good at some of those games. We played DDR and that was a blast....I got a score of E and Lauren got a score of D....didn't know you could get an E, but I did. Good to know I'm an expert dancer. Ha.

So then we went to Tony Romanos or whatever that place is called, because Lauren wanted a baked potato, and apparently they dont really have those here, so we were so happy that we found a place to serve them.  Then after we ate, we went to go get massages and pedicures and that was a blast. I know, some of you who have known me for a long time are probably having a heart attack right now that I (number 1) actually got a massage and pedicure, and (number 2), that I am actually admitting it. What can I say....I've changed :)

So yeah, after that we went to Starbucks and got up with our families and friends, and then caught our taxi home.

I want to write more about the things God did during the week, but I plan on updating the Southmont blog too...sorry to all of the readers that were expecting an update on that blog....we simply did not have time to update it, but I plan on doing it soon!!!

Much love,
Nancy

Well, we have been in Peru for two and a half months, and its been incredible. Every minute of it. Yeah, some days I have wondered if I was going to make it though, but God is so faithful. Having typhoid was not fun, but now that that is gone, life is SOO much better. For a while, it was really weird for me, because I had been sick for so long and felt like I was having to start over as far as getting re-accustomed to things. For example, social interactions with other Spanish speakers were really hard for me, because all I was used to doing was laying in bed. So after about a week or so, I felt back to normal...well I'm not really sure what normal is, but I think its pretty close ;). Anyways, this week has been great. I got some AMAZING care packages this last weekend, and that totally made my week...and my month for sure.

Teaching is just a day by day thing...as is everything else in life. Actually its a minute by minute thing. Earlier in the week I got really frustrated because the kids just weren't wanting to learn and I was really having trouble explaining the concept we were learning that day. There was were a couple points in the day when I just wanted to walk right out of the classroom. I went to my intensive English class that I teach at night and I was just pretty frustrated. The hardest thing is that the kids can pick up on what is going on, and they knew that I was not happy about something. Well, the class turned out to be really good and it was so encouraging because I finally saw the kids understand what I was teaching. I think that is one of the most frustrating parts, is trying to explain something, and then them not getting it, but you knowing that it is your fault for not knowing HOW to explain it or what words to use.

Its so different here from anything education wise in America. For example yesterday, school let out an hour early, and the only reason Lauren and I knew (neither of us had classes yesterday afternoon) was because one of my students came up and asked me if we were having English class. I asked her what was going on and why school let out early and she told me that all the professors were having a meeting. And poor Lauren was JUST about to take a much deserved shower and I was supposed to be writing an exam and making copies for my English class....so we get to the meeting, and the meeting is about the environment. Which was really funny because Lauren was like "if this meeting is about being green or something, I'm getting up and leaving!" Hahahah yeah it was about school environment, earth environment, etc. but it was just really funny number one that neither of us knew about it until last minute, and number two because they canceled school to have this meeting. Well, environment is important I am sure....but yeah...

So this blog is taking a couple days to write :) so this next little bit is actually referring to things that happened the same day that the above stuff was written.

Okay, so I went to go teach my class yesterday and when I got there, the director came up to me and told me that I had "bastante cuardernos que necessetan notas." That's prolly all spelled wrong and terrible grammar, but basically that means I had a TON of English notebooks to grade. So thats what I did for the next oh, three or so hours. Fun times. It was really difficult because I could really understand what was going on and what I was supposed to be doing. This sometimes makes things really funny, and sometimes it just makes things really really frustrating. This was one of those frustrating times. But I'm learning that when I don't understand what is going on, it's not just because of the language barrier...I went and asked on of the other teachers what was going on, and she didn't know either.  But a funny part did happen in the midst of this frustrating situation....While I was in the office trying to find notebooks to grade, the PE teacher was also in there. He started talking to me and through a conversation of broken English on his part, and broken Spanish on my part, and through the course of this conversation, I think he tried to get me to go out to eat with him, asked me if I liked to walk on the beach at night (really!??! hahaha) and told me that we should go to Miraflores one weekend....so was like UM yeah sureeee....I gotta go teach English now. So, I definitely left to go make copies of my exam and then I had class. But whats funny is that on my way back from the copy place, I saw him leaving school...and I definitely had a sweet tea in my hand, so it looked like I just dueced out of our conversation to go get a drink...ooops.  Okay...really do gotta go teach English class now ;) Blog more later.

So more just keeps happening.  As I went to my class after lunch, the welding teacher came in and asked me to explain an English word and then we started talking about school stuff and he strait up asked me if I was a Christian.  Out of nowhere. It was so cool. And he asked me what group or whatever, and I just told him that I believed whatever the Bible says is true, and then I got to share the gospel with him. I told him that I believed and that I believed that Jesus came and died on the cross for us and rose again from the dead. I told him that the only reason that Lauren and I were here was to tell the kids about how to have a relationship with Jesus.

So many opportunities are just flooding us here. Lauren just got finished telling me a little bit ago about a boy that she met on the Cusco trip that came here to the community just to visit her and two other people and she was also able to share Christ with him and give him a Bible (thank you Gayla!!!). So wayy cool things are happening here. Two of my students invited me to have dinner at their house (they live outside the community) and their mom is apparently from California (small world! hahaha) and so I am excited about that. So many things happening.  Again, as Matthew says, the harvest is so huge and the workers are so few....please pray that the Lord will send more workers.

Lauren and the boys after Bible study





Lauren, Milagros, Me

The boys and me



After Bible study...and apparently showers too hahaha.



This was sooo funny...I taught them the names of the clothes in class and then had them dress up. Lots of laughs.

The boys...

One of the activities during Bible study. 

This little  girl tried to jump off the roof into the street. She had to sleep in the volunteer house so that we could keep an eye on her. She started out in Laurens bed and then decided to move to mine. We got about 5 hours of sleep, but she didn't try to escape, so thats good.

 The weekends we get to spend in Lima are always such an encouragement and provide a fresh breath of air. Yummy food, good friends, and beautiful sights.

 Tamales for breakfast?! Are we in heaven??? Ha.

 Manny let me adopt her family for mothers day...we had soooo much fun. I LOVE her family.

And this last picture...well, Lauren didn't want to break the news, but she will be following the footsteps of her dad and opening a dry cleaners here in Peru. The open date is set for tomorrow. Ha.

Uhhh Huuu!

Well, today was pretty interesting. Actually this whole week has been pretty interesting haha. Okay so yesterday, the Alpacas were gone. Guess what was on the lunch menu yesterday...yep. So also yesterday, Lauren informed me that we did not have school today. I mean its pretty normal not to find out about things until 2.4 seconds before they happen, but I am soo thankful for Lauren cause shes pretty much in the know about things. ha.


Okay so today, school was cancelled because of Earth day. Okay so this is what happened today. They planted a bunch of trees all over the community with one huge tree that they planted at the center of the community known as the ¨peace tree.¨ The kids wrote notes to ¨mother earth¨asking her to forgive them for not taking care of her as they should. The notes were thrown in the hole dug for the peace tree and then a sacrifice of cocoa leaves was made. A boy prayed in Quechua. The tree was placed on top of the notes and I guess all the cocoa leaves and stuff. So yeah. Lot more stuff going on here than we had originally thought...


I spent most of the day in bed trying to recover. I feel fine, but I just dont have a lot of strength. Ill get up and make a cup of coffee and then realize that I need to go lay back down. The medicine that Im taking is pretty strong and it basically wipes out all the bacteria in my intestines, so Im having to take probiotics every 6 hours. 12 more days and I go back to see the doctor for another diagnosis.


 Today was definitely a special gift though. Today was the first day that I have felt well enough to read in bed. I am reading Captivating by Staci and John Eldridge, and the Lord has really been speaking to me about some things in my life. I am reminded that just because I am in a different place, I still have the same problems I had before I left. So today has been for me a lot about dealing with issues from my past that still need to be dealt with. And I dont really want to deal with them, so Im asking God to help me to want to want to deal with them. Because I know they arent just going to go away.


This week has just flown by.

Health Update

Well, my friends, I found out today why I have been so sick. For those of you who don´t know, I have been sick every week that I have been here, and most of it has been stomach stuff. I figured it was just part of getting used to everything, but after having a couple of blood tests done, I found out today that I tested positive for typhoid. You get typhoid from contaminated food / drink. I got the vaccination before left, but it doesn´t ever cover you 100%. I have medicine that I started taking today, and I am going to be fine. It is pretty serious, but because I had the vaccination, I just need to take the meds the dr gave me to kill the bacteria in my intestines I should be back to normal. I am taking probiotics every 6 hours and I am cooking all my own food now...and of course drinking only bottled water. I really am okay, but I would just apprecate your prayers. God was so merciful to let me find this out now, and I am so thankful to know too that I wasn´t crazy this whole time hahaha. I feel fine, but I realize that I´m still sick. I taught all my classes today (except for intesive English tonight) and I have been able to do everything normally for the last couple of days, I just dont have my normal strength, and will try to take it easy for the next couple of weeks. Thank you so much for the prayers. Ill keep you updated.
Much love!

¨I Would Die For You¨

This is a Mercy Me song that I had never heard before and I was on the computer here at the locutorio doing lesson plans and just listening to different songs on YouTube and when I heard this song, I started crying.

And then I looked up the lyrics and read the first comment underneath it and I really started crying even more. Here are the lyrics and I  also posted the comment right under the lyrics. You can listen to it on YouTube here. I dont think Ive heard a song that moved me so much...maybe ever. The lyrics came from a 14 year old kid that died from a deadly infection he picked up while he was on a mission trip in Peru. I had no idea.

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/I-Would-Die-For-You-lyrics-MercyMe/3A3D0D45B74DC7CB4825716A00130D0C
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQXai_lS9MY&NR=1

I WOULD DIE FOR YOU

And I know that I can find You here


'Cause You promised me You'll always be there

Times like these, it's hard to see

But somehow I have a peace, You're near

And I pray that You will use my life

In whatever way Your name is glorified

Even if surrendering

Means leaving everything behind



My life has never been this clear

Now I know the reason why I'm here

You never know why You're alive

Until you know what you would die for

I would die for You



And I know I don't have much to give

But I promise You I will give You all there is

Can I possibly do less

When through Your own death I live?



No greater love is found

Than of those who lay their own lives down

As sure as I live and breathe

Now I know what it means to be free
 
 
Heres the comment:
 
¨this song was written entirely from BJ Higgins journals. he was a 14 year old boy who went to Peru on a mission trip with Awestar ministries and picked up a deadly virus. when told he was going to die, BJ replied "tell me one downside to that!" amazing attitude! he journeyed back to Peru once more before dying just a few days shy of his 16th birthday. his parents wrote a book called I would die for you. check out BJs story and awestar ministries it will change your life!! god really used this boy! :]¨

Update

Well, the last three days have been pretty interesting. Wednesday night, I ate the infamous hambourgesa pollo (desculpa, mi amigos peruana...my spelling is terrible) and things were not the same after that. After three shots in the butt, blood tests, and a ton of pills, things are a little better. I woke up Thursday morning with body aches, and pretty bad stomach and headaches. And the ever so lovely diareaa and throwing up came too. I am so thankful for a clinic on the campus of the community. Its scary sometimes, because I dont know what is going on, but everything they have done so far has worked. My biggest prayer request is that God will let my body adjust and stop getting sick. This has been the biggest frusteration for me, and it has been the biggest setback. Please pray that God will grant me strength to do what He has ordained beforehand that I should do, and that He will help me to walk in the grace and love of His presence.

So many opportunities are being opened up here to talk with the kids about Jesus and what He did for them on the cross. It is really overwhelming. We can hardly go anywhere without someone coming up and asking Lauren to explain something to them. I am still learning the language, so its not happening to me much yet. It is realy overwhelming, and Lauren and I are praying that God will send more strong Christians here to help. The scripture that says ¨The harvest is pleantiful but the workers are few¨could not be more true. So one of my deepest prayers is that you pray for God to send more people to Ventanilla, Peru. And if you are reading this, and you know God is calling you here, PLEASE COME.