We leave today for home, it feels so strange to say that! Sorry that I haven´t updated this in so long, I`ve just been having so much fun in Puno! It was very hard to leave Conima, especially the children considering that they were holding onto my shirt begging me not to go! We have had so much fun in Puno and have been staying at a really nice hotel which is a nice change! We took a tour of the floating reed islands, that was awesome! Yesterday we went and saw some Incan ruins, tombs of their ancestors. The food here is so awesome too! I have to admit that I am excited and ready to be home, especially since I`ll only be home for two days before leaving again! We will land around noon tomorrow. Please be praying for our safety!
-Love in Christ
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Swimmin´ in Lake Titicaca
Sorry that I haven´t been writting much in my blog lately everyone, its not because a lot hasn´t been going on...its because so much has been going on! No, but really! I am back in Conima...I came back wed. morning. It feels so good to be back, I missed this place! God has really been working here, keep praying everyone! I can´t believe we leave Monday morning for Huancane for two days, and then Puno, and then home! I have so many mixed emotions, its ridiculous. I´m excited to go home to see everyone but I have honestly fallen in love with this place. Its going to be especially hard to leave the kids, for us and for them. Yesterday was a series of let downs...we had three storying dates with people and they all got canceled BUT Jeremy L. and I got to go story with the police officers this morning. I told them the story of Noah and the Ark and Jeremy L. told them the story of the Ten Commandments and then Kelsey and Jeremy L. are going back at 5:00 p:m to story with them again! We are also storying with Sophia tonight and Armando at the English lesson. And then at 7:00 p:m we have group storying and Pablo (on of the construction workers here) is telling Peter´s Sermon tonight! It will be his second time, God is really working in him. Everyone pray for Pablo! Today has been crazy busy, we have to finish the race strong! So yesterday we totally went swimming in Lake Titicaca with some kids. Actually it was the Jeremys, a bunch of kids, and me. Heather and Kelsey waded in the water but they didn´t want to get soaked. It was freeeezzzzinggg but so freeing! I´m off to prepare and pray for this busy evening, you should do the same! Pray for us that is! Keep Emily in your prayers as well...she has a doctors appointment in Lima today.
-Love in Christ!
-Love in Christ!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Peru as of lately
The FBC Willow Park team left Sunday, we were all really sad to see them go. They really lifted our spirits. I don't even know where to start, things have been kind of crazy lately. Well Kelsey and I painted a bunch of the girls nails on Monday, that was cool. I ended up puking a lot on Sunday night and Emily has been sick for awhile now. So we had to go to the clinic in Conima on Monday. John Grady ended up coming to get us and he brought us to Huancane yesterday. We spent the night here last night and then got lab work done today. It looks like I'll be headed back to Conima tomorrow. Yeah! Emily still isn't feeling well so be praying for her. I'm suppose to story tomorrow but it's been kind of hard to memorize my story with everything thats been going on so pray for that too. Sorry this blog is so short, I have no motivation to go into detail. I'll update this week with more detail!
-Love in Christ
-Love in Christ
Saturday, July 17, 2010
You are God!
Yesterday turned out to be pretty amazing. God is God. He is not a God of circumstances, every circumstance is in his hands. I was reminded of this yesterday. Vbs went really well, I was sad to see it end! At lunch this drunk dude kept yelled at us...in Spanish so its not like any of us understood him expect Jeremy L. and John. I went with Emily and Heather to the English lesson and told Armando the story of Noah and the Ark. Then Emily and I came back to the house because she wasn´t feeling too well. Molly, Jeremy L, Jeremy S, Jonathan, Cory, and I went to community storying last night. We were praying that Paúl (the guy I wrote about in an earlier blog that was showing an interest in storying) would show up because he was suppose to do the story. We were suppose to start at 7:00 p:m and it was about 7:30 p:m when Jeremy S. and I decided to go get Yasmani at his house to come to the story. We got back to the government building and Paúl was there, thank you Lord! So Paúl told the story of Elijah and Baal. It actually went really well! The discussion time at the end was amazing, it got really in depth. The two teenagers named Blanca and Salomon asked a ton of questions. Usually during the story times we ask questions and they answer them but we allowed them to ask us questions. They asked about the trinity, why we don´t offer sacrifices any more, etc. About 16 people ended up coming and we talked until 9:30 p:m. God is really working in Conima. Pray for Paúl, that he will have the strength to become a leader here and that he will come to a saving knowledge of Christ.
Saturday, July 17th
I woke up to it raining in Conima! What a nice change of weather. We were suppose to go on a hike today but its been raining throughout the day and its been very windy. Instead of hiking we have been sitting by the fire all day playing card games. Its been very refreshing, I forgot what it was like to relax! The room started getting extermely smoky from the fire so we opened a few windows, the windows are swinging windows. The wind picked up all of a sudden and the window was swinging like crazy! So I went to grab it and almost got smacked in the face but Cory Lee came to my rescue! John (the missionary) was laughing the whole time! So much for missionaries being loving! haha. Just kiddingggg. The FBC Willow Park team leaves tomorrow morning, they really lifted our spirits being here; its going to be sad to see them go! Well I´m off to go enjoy doing nothing. Please keep us in your prayers as we are spending our last week doing mission work in Conima. We gotta keep fighting the good fight!
-Love in Christ
Saturday, July 17th
I woke up to it raining in Conima! What a nice change of weather. We were suppose to go on a hike today but its been raining throughout the day and its been very windy. Instead of hiking we have been sitting by the fire all day playing card games. Its been very refreshing, I forgot what it was like to relax! The room started getting extermely smoky from the fire so we opened a few windows, the windows are swinging windows. The wind picked up all of a sudden and the window was swinging like crazy! So I went to grab it and almost got smacked in the face but Cory Lee came to my rescue! John (the missionary) was laughing the whole time! So much for missionaries being loving! haha. Just kiddingggg. The FBC Willow Park team leaves tomorrow morning, they really lifted our spirits being here; its going to be sad to see them go! Well I´m off to go enjoy doing nothing. Please keep us in your prayers as we are spending our last week doing mission work in Conima. We gotta keep fighting the good fight!
-Love in Christ
Friday, July 16, 2010
Love crosses all cultures
I am really starting to love these people, I am not using the word love casually like so many people do...I feel such a deep love for these people. My heart breaks for them and longs for them to know the same wonderful and forgiving God that I know.
Wed, July 14th
Vbs went really well! The kids loved the craft (Joseph and his coat of many colors)! There were about 30 kids there. My Dad and I worked on the story of Noah and the Flood after Vbs (I am telling it in English and he is translating). Everyone went and ate at the restuarant at 5:00 p:m but my stomache wasn´t feeling well so I stayed behind and rested. My Dad, Jeremy L, Jonathan, Heather, and I ended up going to the group storying. It went pretty well, it was a little hectic but not too bad! About twelve people ended up coming and most of them were pretty engaged. We got back to the house around 8:30 p:m and had worship and then caught some ZZzZZZ´s.
Thursday, July 15th
The morning started out kind of rough, just dealing with stress and other things. My spirits were lifted, thanks to my awesome God! Vbs went really well...we had 31 kids there. The day was going pretty well until I got on the computer and had a message from Andrew. He just found out that his mother has a disease called Atypical endometerial hyperplasia(complex) which is a disease that can develope into cancer of the uterus. There are four stages to the disease before cancer. She is in the fourth stage. She has a doctors appointment on September 2nd to decide what they will do. They think that they caught it early enough. She will have a hysterectomy to try to get the disease out of her body. In September they will find out how urgent the surgery will be. Just please pray everyone. I trust God and know that he has the situation under control but its hard not to feel discouraged, especially since Andrew is all the way in Washington and I am all the way in Peru. Thank God I am going there on August 4th until August 18th. His mother´s name is Mavis so everyone please keep her in your prayers. I also need some prayer. I am joyful today because of Christ but its hard not to feel a deep sadness. So please pray for me as well and Andrew´s whole family. I can see God moving in Conima and there is no doubt in my mind that God has everything under contol but in the U.S.
-Love in Christ
Wed, July 14th
Vbs went really well! The kids loved the craft (Joseph and his coat of many colors)! There were about 30 kids there. My Dad and I worked on the story of Noah and the Flood after Vbs (I am telling it in English and he is translating). Everyone went and ate at the restuarant at 5:00 p:m but my stomache wasn´t feeling well so I stayed behind and rested. My Dad, Jeremy L, Jonathan, Heather, and I ended up going to the group storying. It went pretty well, it was a little hectic but not too bad! About twelve people ended up coming and most of them were pretty engaged. We got back to the house around 8:30 p:m and had worship and then caught some ZZzZZZ´s.
Thursday, July 15th
The morning started out kind of rough, just dealing with stress and other things. My spirits were lifted, thanks to my awesome God! Vbs went really well...we had 31 kids there. The day was going pretty well until I got on the computer and had a message from Andrew. He just found out that his mother has a disease called Atypical endometerial hyperplasia(complex) which is a disease that can develope into cancer of the uterus. There are four stages to the disease before cancer. She is in the fourth stage. She has a doctors appointment on September 2nd to decide what they will do. They think that they caught it early enough. She will have a hysterectomy to try to get the disease out of her body. In September they will find out how urgent the surgery will be. Just please pray everyone. I trust God and know that he has the situation under control but its hard not to feel discouraged, especially since Andrew is all the way in Washington and I am all the way in Peru. Thank God I am going there on August 4th until August 18th. His mother´s name is Mavis so everyone please keep her in your prayers. I also need some prayer. I am joyful today because of Christ but its hard not to feel a deep sadness. So please pray for me as well and Andrew´s whole family. I can see God moving in Conima and there is no doubt in my mind that God has everything under contol but in the U.S.
-Love in Christ
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Welcome FBC Willow Park Team!
Monday, July 12th
Today we are cleaning sooo much, this place is going to be spotless! Kelsey, Heather and I went to the hostile to invite the lady who owns the hostile to group storying but she wasn´t there so her father told us to come back later. We invited Franny to the group storying as well. Then we made lunch! We had guacamole and salsa on sandwiches (the meat eaters had turkey as well). Emily and I went back to the hostile around 2:00 p:m and talked to the lady. She said that she works at the school during the day and takes care of her father and runs the hostile during the night. What a busy lady! So we decided that I would garden with her next weekend (she´s going out of town this weekend). We storied with Sophia and her friend. I told the story of Noah and the Flood and Emily translated, Heather followed along with me to make sure that I didn´t mess up. Storying is a group effort! It went really well! Sophia and her friend kept asking me to read in Spanish and every time they would laugh so much. My Spanish isn´t the best, which I´m sure that you have all gathered by now. Sophia pulled out a box full of avocados and I said "me gusta" so she boke one open and we split it between the five of us. We are storying again with them Friday! Kelsey and Jeremy L. did the community storying tonight and said that 18 people showed up!! God is so awesome, he is answering prayers left and right! Also, Emily and Heather said that the English class went really well too! Things are going really well in Conima as of lately, goodbye sickness!
Tuesday, July 13th
The team got here today!!!!!! They arrived at around 11:00 a:m. After they got everything settled we showed them around Conima which didn´t take long considering it is so small. Then we went and ate at the restuarant, everyone seemed to really like it! We came back to the house and the FBC Willow Park team slept since they were so tired from flying. Kelsey, Heather, and I went and gathered sticks and bought some yarn for the crafts. We came back to the house and I showered and we worked on preparing everything for the crafts. Then the Jeremy´s and I went to Yasmani´s house (one of the kids we´ve grown close to) to meet his mom but he wasn´t there so we decided to go on a short hike. While we were hiking Yasmani and his little brother and sister showed up so they hiked with us. Then we headed back to the house because Jeremy S. and I needed to get dinner ready! We made beef tacos with all the fixin´s. The kitchen was so packed with 12 of us but we managed! Then My Dad, Kelsey, Jeremy L. and I headed to the Government building to do the community storying. Kelsey told the story of The Fall of Man while Jeremy L. asked questions and kept everyone engaged. It was some what hectic because the kids were running around but 16 people came (actually a few more but some people left during the middle). One of the construction workers that came answered a lot of questions and he told Jeremy L. that he would like to learn a story one day and tell it the way that we did. Yes!!!! So Jeremy L. is going to give him one of the stories and he is going to try to memorize it. The community storying started at 7:00 p:m and we got back to the house at about 9:00 p:m. When we got back to the house we had group worship, it was real gooood. We all went to bed around 10:00 p:m, we were all pretty tired.
Today, July 14th
This morning we had worship at 8:30 a:m and then we went into preparation mode for VBS. We all prepared everything for our individual thing that we are doing. VBS started today at 2:00 p:m so be praying everyone! I´m doing crafts with Emily and Molly. Woot Woot! John and Emily went and talked to the principal of the school and he said that the kids are really excited and that they liked the posters that Heather and I made. Lunch is in about thirty minutes, we are eating at the restuarant again. God is really working here, we couldn´t do it without all of you praying back home! Oh yeah...yesterday when they got here my Dad brought me peanut butter, cheeze-itz, and some nail polish so we can do a girls day our last week here with the young girls in the town. I think the girls will really like it. My Dad also brought a letter from my Meme and my Mom. My Mom included some lipgloss from Bath and Body works in the envelope. What a sweet heart! My Mom also said in the letter that she found her journal from when she was in Bolivia (around the same age as I am now) and she put her journal entry in the letter from June 11th (the day that I left for Peru). On June 11th she had met a missionary from England named Alison. Crazy cool huh? I thought so too. Well I´m off to see what everyone else is up too. Keep praying, I know that I say that a lot but its so important!
-Love in Christ!
Today we are cleaning sooo much, this place is going to be spotless! Kelsey, Heather and I went to the hostile to invite the lady who owns the hostile to group storying but she wasn´t there so her father told us to come back later. We invited Franny to the group storying as well. Then we made lunch! We had guacamole and salsa on sandwiches (the meat eaters had turkey as well). Emily and I went back to the hostile around 2:00 p:m and talked to the lady. She said that she works at the school during the day and takes care of her father and runs the hostile during the night. What a busy lady! So we decided that I would garden with her next weekend (she´s going out of town this weekend). We storied with Sophia and her friend. I told the story of Noah and the Flood and Emily translated, Heather followed along with me to make sure that I didn´t mess up. Storying is a group effort! It went really well! Sophia and her friend kept asking me to read in Spanish and every time they would laugh so much. My Spanish isn´t the best, which I´m sure that you have all gathered by now. Sophia pulled out a box full of avocados and I said "me gusta" so she boke one open and we split it between the five of us. We are storying again with them Friday! Kelsey and Jeremy L. did the community storying tonight and said that 18 people showed up!! God is so awesome, he is answering prayers left and right! Also, Emily and Heather said that the English class went really well too! Things are going really well in Conima as of lately, goodbye sickness!
Tuesday, July 13th
The team got here today!!!!!! They arrived at around 11:00 a:m. After they got everything settled we showed them around Conima which didn´t take long considering it is so small. Then we went and ate at the restuarant, everyone seemed to really like it! We came back to the house and the FBC Willow Park team slept since they were so tired from flying. Kelsey, Heather, and I went and gathered sticks and bought some yarn for the crafts. We came back to the house and I showered and we worked on preparing everything for the crafts. Then the Jeremy´s and I went to Yasmani´s house (one of the kids we´ve grown close to) to meet his mom but he wasn´t there so we decided to go on a short hike. While we were hiking Yasmani and his little brother and sister showed up so they hiked with us. Then we headed back to the house because Jeremy S. and I needed to get dinner ready! We made beef tacos with all the fixin´s. The kitchen was so packed with 12 of us but we managed! Then My Dad, Kelsey, Jeremy L. and I headed to the Government building to do the community storying. Kelsey told the story of The Fall of Man while Jeremy L. asked questions and kept everyone engaged. It was some what hectic because the kids were running around but 16 people came (actually a few more but some people left during the middle). One of the construction workers that came answered a lot of questions and he told Jeremy L. that he would like to learn a story one day and tell it the way that we did. Yes!!!! So Jeremy L. is going to give him one of the stories and he is going to try to memorize it. The community storying started at 7:00 p:m and we got back to the house at about 9:00 p:m. When we got back to the house we had group worship, it was real gooood. We all went to bed around 10:00 p:m, we were all pretty tired.
Today, July 14th
This morning we had worship at 8:30 a:m and then we went into preparation mode for VBS. We all prepared everything for our individual thing that we are doing. VBS started today at 2:00 p:m so be praying everyone! I´m doing crafts with Emily and Molly. Woot Woot! John and Emily went and talked to the principal of the school and he said that the kids are really excited and that they liked the posters that Heather and I made. Lunch is in about thirty minutes, we are eating at the restuarant again. God is really working here, we couldn´t do it without all of you praying back home! Oh yeah...yesterday when they got here my Dad brought me peanut butter, cheeze-itz, and some nail polish so we can do a girls day our last week here with the young girls in the town. I think the girls will really like it. My Dad also brought a letter from my Meme and my Mom. My Mom included some lipgloss from Bath and Body works in the envelope. What a sweet heart! My Mom also said in the letter that she found her journal from when she was in Bolivia (around the same age as I am now) and she put her journal entry in the letter from June 11th (the day that I left for Peru). On June 11th she had met a missionary from England named Alison. Crazy cool huh? I thought so too. Well I´m off to see what everyone else is up too. Keep praying, I know that I say that a lot but its so important!
-Love in Christ!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Floatin´ on Lake Titicaca...or actually sinkin´
Yesterday was a very eventful day, to say the least. I actually got to sleep in...till 8:00 a:m which is late for me. I munched on some Peruvian cereal and headed up stairs to the hang out room. I sat around and talked to the Jeremys and Kelsey for a bit. Jeremy Lou and Kelsey went to the clinic at 9:00 a:m. I cleaned the bathroom and then Jeremy S. and I went on a hunt for "pollo" or chicken for you non-Spanish speakers out there. We literally walked into a least six stores and said "¿Donde es pollo?" or "Where is chicken". Thats about as far as my Spanish goes. Everyone was out of chicken, they were waiting for the shipment to come in so we had veggie soup and cucumber sandwiches. It was yummie and vegaterian. ( ; I´m converting all my team-mates! After lunch I stopped by the Internet cabena and then the Jeremys came and got me to set out for our adventure! We decided that we were going to hike out to our favorite spot and build a raft...and float across Lake Titicaca on it. So we collected at least twenty soda bottles (from our kitchen and from the trash that people throw out on the streets) to help the raft float. So we started building our raft and Jeremy Lou cut his finger open pretty bad so I had to go into nurse mode. I made the sail! (We used a sheet but we didn´t actually end up using it because the wind shifted). Two and a half hours later our raft was complete! It had three parts to it for each one of us to sit on. Lets just say that we didn´t get very far from the shore and we all ended up wet, the boys more so than me! Jeremy Lou came out with leeches all over his feet and I had to pick them off! It was disgusting! We decided that it was about time for us to start heading home considering it was going to get dark soon. So we jogged back (we were so cold we were moving fast) wet and dissapointed. When we arrived at the house Kelsey and Heather were making dinner: pancakes, bacon, and eggs. It was so good! After dinner we headed up to the hang out room and had a group meeting. It went well. Today we are cleaning all day! The FBC Willow Park team arrives here tomorrow! I am so stinkin´excited to see my Dad and everyone else! Keep praying for them! I have great news...my friends Shelby and Brooke made it to Haiti yesterday. What an answer to prayer! Tonight I am telling the story of Noah and the Flood to Sophia and her husband (the people who own the store next to our house) and I am a littler nervous, so please pray for me to have a peace about it. God is doing so much in Conima, its awesome! We are building some awesome relationships, its going to be hard for me to leave. Keep praying hard everyone!
-Love in Christ!
-Love in Christ!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Tummy, why won´t you get better?
Last night Jeremy S. and I played hide n go seek in the plaza with the kids, it was so fun! We found out today that the kids used to be scared of us because we are gringos but now they think we are nice, geez...what a relief. The parents here tell their children that white people will catch them and suck all their fat out...no joke. No wonder they are so scared of us! We had a nice dinner last night, pork chops (which I didn´t eat), mashed potatoes, and mac n cheese.
Today we had worship and then Emily, Kelsey, Jeremy S., and some of the kids went on a hike but Heather and I stayed behind because we weren´t feeling too well. I am starting to think that I will never get better! I literally played sudoku for hours, I think that I am kind of addicted now! Today has been pretty uneventful, yet relaxing. Tomorrow we are cleaning the whole house...we have got to kill these germs! Two of my dear friends are leaving for Haiti tomorrow, Shelby Johnson and Brooke Collins so please keep them in your prayers! I will write more tomorrow when I am feeling better.
-Love in Christ!
Today we had worship and then Emily, Kelsey, Jeremy S., and some of the kids went on a hike but Heather and I stayed behind because we weren´t feeling too well. I am starting to think that I will never get better! I literally played sudoku for hours, I think that I am kind of addicted now! Today has been pretty uneventful, yet relaxing. Tomorrow we are cleaning the whole house...we have got to kill these germs! Two of my dear friends are leaving for Haiti tomorrow, Shelby Johnson and Brooke Collins so please keep them in your prayers! I will write more tomorrow when I am feeling better.
-Love in Christ!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Getting ready!
We have been praying so much for the FBC Willow Park group that is arriving on Tuesday. We are all so excited to see them, I´m especially excited to see my dad! Today we went to the school and hung up the posters that Heather and I made, the director loved them and they even gathered a small group of kids! We will be starting VBS on Wed. at a school that ranges from age six to twelve. There are seventy kids. Be praying that we will be able to communite the Gospel to these kids affectively. I am working in crafts! It´s almost lunch time and my stomache is getting restless! Today we spotted Barnaby Jones(our pet dog in Conima) and he walked with us for a while. He is a bassit hound and I love him, I wish I could take him back with me! I´m off to go see what´s for lunch!
-Love in Christ!
-Love in Christ!
Back in Conima, feelin´good!
Wed. July 7th
I forgot to write something on Tuesday´s post...Jeremy S. and I went to the pharmacy to get motion sickness medicine for Kelsey and I. On the way there, a guy on one of the bycicle taxi´s went to greet Jeremy. He literally held Jeremy´s hand for at least three minutes and Jeremy had this "help me!" look on his face but all I could do was laugh! Then we went to the pharmacy and we didn´t know how to say motion sickness in Spanish so Jeremy tried to act it out. Needless to say, the woman thought we were crazy and she kept saying "no intiendo" while laughing hysterically. So we called Emily and she talked to the lady via the phone. My stomache hurt so much from laughing at these awkward events!
We ended up catching a bus to Conima at around 7:30 a:m. Praise the Lord! Jeremy sat out by the curb and called us when the bus was there, so we had to run to catch it! I beat the rest of the girls there and the bus wanted to leave when I got there but Jeremy kept saying "tres gringas" or three more white people coming. It got the message across because they waited. Right whenever the girls got on the bus, that bus shot off like a rocket ship! We got to Conima and of course they charged us more than everyone else since we are white, but Emily told them in Spanish that we knew they charged us to much. They didn´t know what to say, it was pretty funny. We got into the house and went into cleaning mode! Goodbye germs! Then Jeremy, Kelsey, and I went hiking to our favorite spot on Lake Titicaca. We did some pretty intense rock climbing and I got stuck at one point. My hands are scratched up pretty bad but it was soooo fun! We hiked about six miles and brought back some fire wood with us in potatoe sacks. We almost got ran over by a llama that was on the loose! Kelsey and I went running and screaming. On the way back from the hike, that same llama followed Jeremy for a little while. When we got back Kelsey, Emily, and I went to re-schedule to story with the police officers tomorrow. Kelsey and I made dinner...I spilled hot oil all over my foot and then slipped in it. Emily and Jeremy came into the kitchen and Emily started screaming. The cardboard behind the gas stove was on fire! Emily and I started screaming "fire!" while Kelsey began blowing on it. Jeremy stood by shaking his head. Kelsey must have some pretty good lungs because she put that fire out! Heather came running down the stairs in a state of confusion. After dinner we went up to the meeting room and sat by the fire and talked. It was rather relaxing.
Thursday, July 8th
This morning did not start out well for me. I woke up with a stomache ache, and threw up a few times. I swear, I have never been so sick in my life. So I skipped out on worship and slept till around 10:30 a:m. I felt better instantly when I awoke from my nap. I went up stairs to the meeting room and everyone was busy making goodie bags for VBS next week. I joined in the assembly line and boy were we moving fast! We decided to take a break for lunch around 12:15 p:m to go eat at the restuarant. We came back after lunch and Kelsey and Jeremy continued working on the goodie bags. Emily´s back was hurting her so she laid down for a bit. Heather and I each made two posters in Spanish to hang up at the school for VBS. They look pretty impressive if I may say so. I took a nice, hot shower and then Kelsey, Emily, and I were off to go story at the police station. The police officers welcomed us and Kelsey told them the story of Adam and Eve in Spanish. She did so well! I was so proud of my roomie. We stuck around and talked to the officers for a bit. Today (Friday) we are making them no-bake cookies. After we talked to the officers for a bit, we headed to the bodaga (store) down the street but the owners were at a funeral recession that we had actually seen marching down the street earlier (and that I took a video of!). We bought some animal cookies from the store and headed back to the plaza. We hung around the plaza for a bit and played with the kids. Jeremy play-boxed with them, they loved it! The electricity was out all day but we managed without it. We had spagetti for dinner. YUM! Then Kelsey and Heather went to tell Sophia (the lady who owns the store beside our house) the story of Adam and Eve. Kelsey told two stories today and did great! I read for a bit beside the fire and retired around 10:00 p:m which is actually late for me!
-Love in Christ!
I forgot to write something on Tuesday´s post...Jeremy S. and I went to the pharmacy to get motion sickness medicine for Kelsey and I. On the way there, a guy on one of the bycicle taxi´s went to greet Jeremy. He literally held Jeremy´s hand for at least three minutes and Jeremy had this "help me!" look on his face but all I could do was laugh! Then we went to the pharmacy and we didn´t know how to say motion sickness in Spanish so Jeremy tried to act it out. Needless to say, the woman thought we were crazy and she kept saying "no intiendo" while laughing hysterically. So we called Emily and she talked to the lady via the phone. My stomache hurt so much from laughing at these awkward events!
We ended up catching a bus to Conima at around 7:30 a:m. Praise the Lord! Jeremy sat out by the curb and called us when the bus was there, so we had to run to catch it! I beat the rest of the girls there and the bus wanted to leave when I got there but Jeremy kept saying "tres gringas" or three more white people coming. It got the message across because they waited. Right whenever the girls got on the bus, that bus shot off like a rocket ship! We got to Conima and of course they charged us more than everyone else since we are white, but Emily told them in Spanish that we knew they charged us to much. They didn´t know what to say, it was pretty funny. We got into the house and went into cleaning mode! Goodbye germs! Then Jeremy, Kelsey, and I went hiking to our favorite spot on Lake Titicaca. We did some pretty intense rock climbing and I got stuck at one point. My hands are scratched up pretty bad but it was soooo fun! We hiked about six miles and brought back some fire wood with us in potatoe sacks. We almost got ran over by a llama that was on the loose! Kelsey and I went running and screaming. On the way back from the hike, that same llama followed Jeremy for a little while. When we got back Kelsey, Emily, and I went to re-schedule to story with the police officers tomorrow. Kelsey and I made dinner...I spilled hot oil all over my foot and then slipped in it. Emily and Jeremy came into the kitchen and Emily started screaming. The cardboard behind the gas stove was on fire! Emily and I started screaming "fire!" while Kelsey began blowing on it. Jeremy stood by shaking his head. Kelsey must have some pretty good lungs because she put that fire out! Heather came running down the stairs in a state of confusion. After dinner we went up to the meeting room and sat by the fire and talked. It was rather relaxing.
Thursday, July 8th
This morning did not start out well for me. I woke up with a stomache ache, and threw up a few times. I swear, I have never been so sick in my life. So I skipped out on worship and slept till around 10:30 a:m. I felt better instantly when I awoke from my nap. I went up stairs to the meeting room and everyone was busy making goodie bags for VBS next week. I joined in the assembly line and boy were we moving fast! We decided to take a break for lunch around 12:15 p:m to go eat at the restuarant. We came back after lunch and Kelsey and Jeremy continued working on the goodie bags. Emily´s back was hurting her so she laid down for a bit. Heather and I each made two posters in Spanish to hang up at the school for VBS. They look pretty impressive if I may say so. I took a nice, hot shower and then Kelsey, Emily, and I were off to go story at the police station. The police officers welcomed us and Kelsey told them the story of Adam and Eve in Spanish. She did so well! I was so proud of my roomie. We stuck around and talked to the officers for a bit. Today (Friday) we are making them no-bake cookies. After we talked to the officers for a bit, we headed to the bodaga (store) down the street but the owners were at a funeral recession that we had actually seen marching down the street earlier (and that I took a video of!). We bought some animal cookies from the store and headed back to the plaza. We hung around the plaza for a bit and played with the kids. Jeremy play-boxed with them, they loved it! The electricity was out all day but we managed without it. We had spagetti for dinner. YUM! Then Kelsey and Heather went to tell Sophia (the lady who owns the store beside our house) the story of Adam and Eve. Kelsey told two stories today and did great! I read for a bit beside the fire and retired around 10:00 p:m which is actually late for me!
-Love in Christ!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The Conima team is infected!
Let´s see...where to begin? So last night I went back to the hostile, took a shower and as I was laying in bed I was praying to God that I would be able to sleep through the night without throwing up. My lower back was hurting really bad; I think just from being so sick. I´m laying there and talking to God and thats the last thing I remember. I awoke at around midnight to Kelsey throwing up, I mean puking so bad. I felt terrible for her.
This morning the team and I woke up at 5:15 a:m because we were suppose to try to catch a bus at 6:00 to Conima. Heather and Emily woke up feeling terrible, turns at that the whole Conima team is infected. I actually woke up feeling fine. So Jeremy, Kelsey, and I went to the bus stop. I have never been so cold in my entire life. Let me just give you a mental image: Its below freezing and all the clothes I have with me are a pair of jeans that I have worn for a week straight, some dirty socks, a t-shirt, a hoody, and a thin jacket, oh and some cheaply made mittens (I bought them for 5 soles in Juliaca which isn´t even three dollars). So the three of us are sitting there and I swear that my finger tips are about to just fall off. Everyone is feeling discouraged and not that great physically so of course I´m trying to be the comic relief but its not working. We said a little pray for the girls and that a bus would come but I honestly think all of us were just so beyong feeling discouraged.
So the girls call us and tell us that they aren´t feeling any better. We had back to the hostile around 6:45 a:m, we haven´t even been outside for two hours but it felt like all day. We went and talked to Sonia (the missionary) and told her everything. "Looks like we are spending another night in Huancane" I think to myself and a single tear comes to my eye. Then I metaphorically slapped myself and said, "Get it together girl!" and I did. I read some of the book of John and put my iPod in and listened to some Hillsong and actually got to spend some really awesome, intimate time with God. The girls are still feeling terrible at this point so I decide to grab a blanket and catch some Zzz´s. I fell asleep around 9:00 a:m and was in and out of sleep till around noon. The group gathered together to see how everyone is feeling and we made a group decision to try to catch a bus or a van to Conima tonight if the girls are feeling up to it after they eat lunch. I think we are all ready to be back in Conima, not to mention we have two appointments with people tomorrow. We´ll see. Everyone at home keep on praying, we really need it here. I think that today was one of the most discouraging days for all of us. Not to mention that I went to buy the girls some sprite at the store about half a mile down the street and ended up being short one sole so I had to walk all the way back, which doesn´t seem like a big deal but it is when you are at your breaking point.
I think all of us are at, or close to our breaking point today but you know what...it´s okay because I´m just a silly human being and I find SO much comfort in knowing and believing that my God has a reason for it all and he´s got it under control. There was a point there today when I really started questioning God but once again, he put that joy inside me in the midst of a storm that can only come from him. Hopefully we will get to Conima tonight but if not then its okay because God´s got it under control. Thanks for all your prayers, you all are such prayer warriors!
-Love in Christ!
"You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32
This morning the team and I woke up at 5:15 a:m because we were suppose to try to catch a bus at 6:00 to Conima. Heather and Emily woke up feeling terrible, turns at that the whole Conima team is infected. I actually woke up feeling fine. So Jeremy, Kelsey, and I went to the bus stop. I have never been so cold in my entire life. Let me just give you a mental image: Its below freezing and all the clothes I have with me are a pair of jeans that I have worn for a week straight, some dirty socks, a t-shirt, a hoody, and a thin jacket, oh and some cheaply made mittens (I bought them for 5 soles in Juliaca which isn´t even three dollars). So the three of us are sitting there and I swear that my finger tips are about to just fall off. Everyone is feeling discouraged and not that great physically so of course I´m trying to be the comic relief but its not working. We said a little pray for the girls and that a bus would come but I honestly think all of us were just so beyong feeling discouraged.
So the girls call us and tell us that they aren´t feeling any better. We had back to the hostile around 6:45 a:m, we haven´t even been outside for two hours but it felt like all day. We went and talked to Sonia (the missionary) and told her everything. "Looks like we are spending another night in Huancane" I think to myself and a single tear comes to my eye. Then I metaphorically slapped myself and said, "Get it together girl!" and I did. I read some of the book of John and put my iPod in and listened to some Hillsong and actually got to spend some really awesome, intimate time with God. The girls are still feeling terrible at this point so I decide to grab a blanket and catch some Zzz´s. I fell asleep around 9:00 a:m and was in and out of sleep till around noon. The group gathered together to see how everyone is feeling and we made a group decision to try to catch a bus or a van to Conima tonight if the girls are feeling up to it after they eat lunch. I think we are all ready to be back in Conima, not to mention we have two appointments with people tomorrow. We´ll see. Everyone at home keep on praying, we really need it here. I think that today was one of the most discouraging days for all of us. Not to mention that I went to buy the girls some sprite at the store about half a mile down the street and ended up being short one sole so I had to walk all the way back, which doesn´t seem like a big deal but it is when you are at your breaking point.
I think all of us are at, or close to our breaking point today but you know what...it´s okay because I´m just a silly human being and I find SO much comfort in knowing and believing that my God has a reason for it all and he´s got it under control. There was a point there today when I really started questioning God but once again, he put that joy inside me in the midst of a storm that can only come from him. Hopefully we will get to Conima tonight but if not then its okay because God´s got it under control. Thanks for all your prayers, you all are such prayer warriors!
-Love in Christ!
"You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32
Monday, July 5, 2010
Waking up to strangers singing in Spanish...
So yesterday we had a 4th of July cookout at the Grady´s and both the Georgia teams came too! I ended up going outside after we ate and I layed in the grass and read my bible and journaled for a bit. I started feeling extermely tired as I was soaking in the sun so I decided to take a quick nap before entering in the Texas vs. Georgia competition...I mean I needed my sleep to kick their butts. Well my quick nap turned into sleeping from 1:30 p:m to 8:30 p:m. I guess I was just super tired. I´m alone in the hostile because everyone went to eat and I wake up to people singing Spanish in the room next to me. My first thoughts upon waking up are 1: Where the heck am I? and 2: Why are there people singing in Spanish in the room next to me? So naturally I get up and sneak out, tippy toeing out of the hostile. I walk down to the Huancane girl´s house but no one is there so I headed back to the hostile and John came to the door. He called the Huancane girls and told them I was trying to get in! So I went back over to their house and we watched 27 Dresses, again. We got back home around 10:30 p:m and suprisingly enough I actually fell asleep around 11:30 p:m.
Today I woke up at 6:15 a:m to people singing Spanish...again. I´m starting to think this is a new routine. Turns out the owner of the hostile rented it out to some other people...who really like singing apparently. We cleaned the hostile and packed all the groceries up because we thought we would be leaving today. We headed down to the bus stop with Pastor Rueben at around 11:00 p:m and we end up waiting till around 12:30 p:m so we decided to go grab some lunch with the Huancane girls. We ate and went back to the bus stop and found out we would be spending another night in Huancane which really stinks because we had two appointments to story with people tonight. Kelsey, Emily, and I went to the Huancane girl´s house and watched The Devil Wears Prada. About this time I start feeling pretty sick to my stomache. I threw up twice before dinner and figured I was okay to eat two grilled cheese sandwiches but I ended up throwing up about seven more times after dinner. I´m talking puking out my brains. It was pretty awful. That was actually only about twenty minutes ago. I honestly wouldn´t be suprised if I all of a sudden puke all over this keyboard. Let´s just say that I´m not feeling the best. So please pray that we will be able to find a bus tomorrow morning and that I´ll stop feeling so sick. Thanks for your prayers everyone!
-Love in Christ
Today I woke up at 6:15 a:m to people singing Spanish...again. I´m starting to think this is a new routine. Turns out the owner of the hostile rented it out to some other people...who really like singing apparently. We cleaned the hostile and packed all the groceries up because we thought we would be leaving today. We headed down to the bus stop with Pastor Rueben at around 11:00 p:m and we end up waiting till around 12:30 p:m so we decided to go grab some lunch with the Huancane girls. We ate and went back to the bus stop and found out we would be spending another night in Huancane which really stinks because we had two appointments to story with people tonight. Kelsey, Emily, and I went to the Huancane girl´s house and watched The Devil Wears Prada. About this time I start feeling pretty sick to my stomache. I threw up twice before dinner and figured I was okay to eat two grilled cheese sandwiches but I ended up throwing up about seven more times after dinner. I´m talking puking out my brains. It was pretty awful. That was actually only about twenty minutes ago. I honestly wouldn´t be suprised if I all of a sudden puke all over this keyboard. Let´s just say that I´m not feeling the best. So please pray that we will be able to find a bus tomorrow morning and that I´ll stop feeling so sick. Thanks for your prayers everyone!
-Love in Christ
Sunday, July 4, 2010
4th of July...in Peru
Its interesting spending American holidays in another country. When I was 18, I got to spend 4th of July in Africa, actually we were on a safari so that ruled. I'm not going to lie to you bloggers out there, today has not been the best day. I woke up at 6:15 a:m and lets just say I spent a lot of time in the bathroom, it happens to everyone. I couldn't go back to sleep so I thought that a shower sounded like a great idea. Oh, it gets worse. So I go to step in the shower to get my clean on BUT my foot slipped out from under me and I hit my side on the little step you have to step over to get in the shower and I went to catch myself and landed on my hand. So my left hand is really bruised and hurting but on a brighter note...I haven't made many trips to the bathroom lately. I know you all wanted to get really close and personal with me.
We are at the Grady's in Huancane, we spent the night last night. Today we are having an American style cook out and apparently Jeremy Lou created six different events for us to compete in against the Georgia team, I'm doing the apple bob. I'm gonna get those apples!!!! I'm off to go practice my apple bobbing skills...I can't let the team down!!!!
We are at the Grady's in Huancane, we spent the night last night. Today we are having an American style cook out and apparently Jeremy Lou created six different events for us to compete in against the Georgia team, I'm doing the apple bob. I'm gonna get those apples!!!! I'm off to go practice my apple bobbing skills...I can't let the team down!!!!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Is that you God?
Oh hello world. Today we went to the market in Juliaca, that was fun! We bought a ton of food, I mean a TON. We pretty much stocked up on oreos for life. I brought some sweet headphones at the radio shack here for like ten bucks. Yippeeeeskipppeeee!
So I'm trying to discern if God is speaking to me or if its just my silly ambitions so please pray. I was wondering today how silly I must look to these people here. I am always doing hand motions and speaking english, its a littler embarassing. Its also embarassing that I always mix up my spanish words. I'm kind of a mess here, actually I am.
But seriously, how do you know who God is really speaking to you? I've been praying and reading in scripture so now I'm just waiting for a response. Sometimes I wish that God would just come down from heaven and smack me in the face and tell me what's up.
I wonder if people ask for silly signs like I do. Sometimes I'll be looking out the window at night and I will ask God to send a shooting star to tell me yes. I bet God is up in heaven laughing at me. That's probably what thunder is, God laughing at the silly things we do or just the silly things that I do. Oh God!
I'm ready to hear his voice.
-Love in Christ!
So I'm trying to discern if God is speaking to me or if its just my silly ambitions so please pray. I was wondering today how silly I must look to these people here. I am always doing hand motions and speaking english, its a littler embarassing. Its also embarassing that I always mix up my spanish words. I'm kind of a mess here, actually I am.
But seriously, how do you know who God is really speaking to you? I've been praying and reading in scripture so now I'm just waiting for a response. Sometimes I wish that God would just come down from heaven and smack me in the face and tell me what's up.
I wonder if people ask for silly signs like I do. Sometimes I'll be looking out the window at night and I will ask God to send a shooting star to tell me yes. I bet God is up in heaven laughing at me. That's probably what thunder is, God laughing at the silly things we do or just the silly things that I do. Oh God!
I'm ready to hear his voice.
-Love in Christ!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
MOOOO
The Mo team left this morning, I really enjoyed getting to hang out with them! Today´s been pretty uneventful...we played with some kids and Jeremy S. and I made lunch. The most eventful thing that happened today is the toilet getting clogged. Yep. John (the missionary) will be arriving in a few hours and we are eating at a local restuarant and John is going to tell them a bible story. We have actually building a lot of relationships and we are going to be telling a bunch of people bible stories next week! I´m getting really excited!! And our team has been thinking of ideas for the church team when they come. It finally feels like we are really starting to spread the Gospel here! Goodness, I just feel like dancing!! I´m off to do some reading.
-Love in Christ!
-Love in Christ!
This is me...
- Alison Franklin
- Ft. Worth, Texas, United States
- Hi! I am seeking God's will for my life and currently traveling here and there.
