Preparing for Peru

(I wrote this before I left Peru.  Sorry it has taken me a little while to get it online!)

So, tonight I will be on a flight headed for the United States and that brings a mix of emotions for me.  To be perfectly honest, when I first came to Peru I didn’t like it too much.  I knew God had placed me here to do some kind of work for Him, but I didn’t know what that was.  And the people weren’t all that nice.

Looking back on the trip now, I realize that I was sent to love.  At the end of most of my emails and blogs I would write ¨Love goes,¨ and now I really know the meaning of that statement.  I went to give my heart to the people here.  Now my mission is accomplished, and sadly it’s time to go.

A little piece of me will always be in Peru, and I really hate to leave knowing that I might not find my way back here. I have met wonderful people who are totally in love with the Lord, and their fire for God is contagious and hard to leave.

I love every part of Peru (even if it had to grow on me), and I now realize more than ever the importance of going, serving, and loving.  God has moved in mighty ways, and He has shown me His unimaginable grace and His unfailing love while I have been here.  It’s been hard to put my experience into words, but I hope that some of you who have read this have been able to get an idea of how God has worked through our team this summer.

It makes me sad to think that these six weeks are over, but I know that God will continue to use me.  It may be through another trip like this or I may just be used at home.  Either way, I am excited to see what God has in store for this next chapter. “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.  Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

Love goes,
Jill

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”  – Isaiah 52:7

Thursday was our last full day in Recuay.  I didn´t that I would be this sad, and I won´t go into all of the details.  I will just say this- I will miss Recuay and all of the people I was able to meet.  I will miss doing our work there, and I hope that one day God will send me back there.  If you want to know what went down these last couple of weeks, just shoot me an email and ask.  I would love to fill you in. 

We got into Lima late last night, and we will be leaving for the rainforest on July 6th.  Please be praying for our teams as we get back into the groove of being a team of nine and as we prepare for ministry in the jungle.  Please pray for our safe travel (we fly to Aquitos at 2 am on Monday and then we take a boat for fourish hours down the Amazon River.)  Pray for tons of ministry opportunities as we wind down during these last 10 days in Peru.

Thank you so much for all of your love and encouragement.
Love goes, Jill

So much has happened since my last blog, and God definitely deserves all the glory.  Today marks the half-way point of our trip.  It´s crazy to think that I have been in Peru for only 22 days and that there is still 22 days to go.  My team and I have been waiting for God to give us opportunities for ministry, and He has given them in His own time.

On Friday, we went to a small elementary school (with only two classrooms!) in Huancapampa.  I thought that we would just be observing, but it turned out I was wrong.  My teammate Jordan and I were put with the younger class of five and six-year olds, and their teacher never showed.  Luckily, Jordan is a day-care worker and I am an elementary education major, so we had some idea of what to do.  We taught the eight students math, read them a book that was way above our own reading levels in español, and even taught them some english words.  When we realized that the teacher wasn´t going to come, we decided it was time to share the Gospel.  We explained to them who Jesus was and the sacrifice that He made for us.  Then we gave each of them a beaded salvation bracelet that I had made and brought with me.  It was awesome, and they listened so well.  We also told them the Bible story of David and Goliath.  It was definitely the best part of the day.  We taught the class from 8 o´clock to 1 o´clock, and it was one of the craziest experiences I have had in Peru so far.  God provides!

Then yesterday (Sunday), we finally got to play volleyball at the hostel.  We had been inviting girls to play with us all week, so we didn´t know how many people to expect.  Three of the girls we invited showed up, and then two random guys joined our game as well.  It was an interesting mix of people, and we played for hours!  During one of our breaks, we got to share the Gospel with them, and I got to tell them my testimony.  It was a wonderful experience, and we will be playing again next Saturday.  We will have more time to pour into them, so please pray for that! 

We have also been blessed with the chance to get to know a great girl named Pamela.  She is 15, and her family doesn´t have much.  But- her hunger for God is awesome, and her willingness to learn is exciting.  We have been able to share so much with her, and I am so glad that I met her.  She loves God´s Word, and we probably spent an hour on Friday just reading our favorite passages together.

So much is happening right now, and I am sad we only have 10 more days left in Recuay.  Please pray that we will use that short amount of time to make a difference in the lives of the people here. 

Today we are leaving around noon for Huaraz to meet up with the Aija team and have a little bit of a rest.  We will be back tomorrow afternoon, so please pray for our safe travel.  Also please be in prayer for my teammates Julia and Kelsey.  They have both had pretty bad colds, and it hasn´t been easy for them.  Continue to pray that God would reveal Himself to us, and that we would be His willing servants. 

The Word seems to be exploding off of its pages when I read these days, and I have learned so much about God through studying the Bible in Peru.  I have been reading Luke, James, and Psalms.  But the most comforting passages lately have come from Philippians.

¨But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.¨ – Philippians 3.7-9

We have been in Recuay since Sunday night, and I think we are finally getting in the groove of things.  We are renting an apartment from a Christian family in town, and our living situation is not bad at all.  The hous has two bedrooms, a living room (with a couch we made from extra blankets), a kitchen, and our very own bathroom with lukewarm water.  I couldn´t ask for much more, and the family who owns the place has been very nice and accomodating.  We are working with a wonderful translator named Umberta, and I am pretty sure she is going to fit right into the role of our temporary mother while we are here.  (She has all ready cooked dinner for us twice!) You can tell that she has a heart for the people of Recuay, and I am really glad we are going to be working with her.

We have tried to start our ministry here, but nothing seems to be working out for now.  We have had three Bible studies planned with some ladies in different places, but unfortunately they have not worked out.  We have also gone to two schools to try to get permission to come and share a little about the US (and a lot about the Gospel), but those opportunities haven´t panned out either.  I think it is easy to get discouraged when our plans seem to fail, but I am going to stay strong and have faith that the Lord will provide.

Although we did not get to do a ladies Bible study, we were able to play with some of their kids and tell them a Bible study.  I count that as a small success, along with being able to meet some strong Christians who will hopefully open doors to the rest of the community. 

Somthing that really surprised me was how popular volleyball is in Peru.  All of the young girls play, and I am excited because it will be an awesome way for me to get to know people here.

It´s hard not to get homesick, but I know that God has a plan for me here in Peru.  Thank you so much for your prayer.  It makes it easier to wake up every morning when I know that people back home are praying for me. Continue to pray that our team remains unified and effective, and pray that opportunities for ministry arise in God´s time.  Pray that  I will have courage to speak with people about God´s love and sacrifice, and pray that I will have patience until the right opportunity comes along.  Your prayer and words of encouragement are greatly appreciated.  Until next time…

Love goes,
Jill

¨I am still confident of this- I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord.  Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.¨
- Psalm 27, verses 13-14.

We spent four days training in Canta, and it was absolutely wonderful.  There is so much to tell!  We spent our time in Canta adjusting to the culture and learning about prayer, bible storying, evangelism, and building relationsips with the people here.  God revealed a lot of things to me during my time there, and now I feel ready to go out into my assigned town.

Speaking of that, I finally know where I will be living for the next four weeks.  Tomorrow we will take an 8 hour bus ride to a big town called Huaraz, and then our 9 person team will split up.  I will be going to a place called Recuay with Jordan, Julia, and Kelsey.  The others will be going to another town called Aija.  We will be doing ministry in these different towns for 23 days before we head back to Lima for the last phase of our trip.

I am so excited that God placed me in Recuay, and I know that this is where I need to be.  I will be working with a wonderful group of girls, and we will have opportunities to meet people and build relationships, lead Bible studies, play with wonderful Peruvian children, go into the schools to share the Gospel, and much much more.  I can´t believe that we will be in Recuay tomorrow, and I am excited to see how God will use our group. 

I would be so grateful if you could pray for both of our teams while we are in the field.  Pray that each team will be unified and that we will work together, with the same love and purpose, as we serve God this summer.  Plesae pray for our health (most of us have uneasy stomachs from the Peruvian food), and please please please pray for us as we travel (especially tomorrow morning as we head up 10,000 ft into the Andes Mountains)!

Thank you for those of you who have been praying for me and my Spanish.  I have become a lot more confident in the past couple of days, and I know that God will use my words to touch peoples lives this summer.  It is so hard to adjust to the culture, and its even harder not to get homesick.  BUT, I know that God has me here for a reason..  Even though I miss my family, my friends, and the familiarity of the United States, I know God is using this experience to shape my faith and to reach others so that they can know His love. 

While we were in Canta, we were able to go to two different church services.  This was a special treat because there won´t be an established church in Recuay.  Each church had about 10 people at the service (besides our group) so the meaning of church is very different here in Peru.  Even though the services were held in Spanish, it is obvious that God can break any language barrier.  It was an awesome experience to be able to see the people worship in Canta, and I am so glad that I could be a part of it.  At the service we went to last night, there was even a kind of ¨worship leader¨ who was visiting the church, and he knew some songs that we were familiar with.  We were able to sing ¨Trading my Sorrows¨and ¨Open the Eyes of my Heart Lord¨ in Spanish, and it was really really beautiful.

Anyways, before I go I want to share this scripture with you all.  I have been reading the book of Philippians and it was also preached last night.. It definitely fits our summer because we have to learn to be content in foreign situations.  We have to be content in doing God´s work, regardless of whether we have eaten a good meal, showered in the past week, or been able to talk to someone from home.  And that just scratches the surface of the importance of this verse to me.  I know that you all will be able to apply it to your lives as well.

¨I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.¨
 - Philippians 4:10-12

Thanks for your prayers!  Keep them coming!
Love goes,
Jill

It´s 11 pm, and I am sitting in a hostel in Lima.  There´s no place that I would rather be.  Our team arrived safe and sound last night, and we spent the day meeting the baptist missionaries in Peru and taking in the city.  It was a very much appreciated rest after a full day of travel, and tomorrow we leave for Canta (a three hour drive north of Lima).  We will be in Canta until Sunday having orientation and preparing ourselves for the field.

I saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time today because it´s only a couple blocks from the hostel where we are staying.  The beach was awesome, Lima has some pretty spots, but I am ready to see the mountains.  I am so excited for the drive tomorrow because it is supposed to be a beautiful ride. 

On Sunday we will leave Canta and travel back to Lima.  Then we will begin our 8 hour bus ride to Huaraz.  I am very excited because Huaraz and the surrounding town is where we will be working for the first four weeks.  Pray that God would open the hearts of the people that we are going to meet and that we will be able to encourage the believers that we meet as well.

I have had some culture shock since arriving and have been more reserved than usual.  I am scared of saying the wrong thing, and I feel intimidated when people talk to me in Spanish.  I know that it will get easier though, and I would truly appreciate it if you would pray that I would have courage to speak the language the best that I can instead of not saying anything at all.

I know that this blog is super spastic and basically just a schedule, but I feel like its super important for you all to know where I am and what I am doing.  That way prayers can be more specific.

I don´t really know what to expect in the next couple of weeks, but I know that God has it under control.  Our team is full of some really great believers who have hearts for serving Him and His children.  I am ready to build relationships with them and to learn from them this summer.  I am also ready to learn many things from the Peruvian people.

I just wanted to give you all a quick update!  Please be praying for the group as we travel tomorrow and as we learn everything we need to know this summer.  It would also be great if you could pray for one of our team members- her name is Rhianna, and she has been sick for the past couple of days.  I also am going to list my other team members´ names so that you all can pray for them by name.
Supervisor- Mindy
Team- Jill, Keri, Blake, Jordan, Ryanne, Rhianna, Kelsey, Melody, and Julie.

Thank you so much for all of your support.  I will write again soon, and hopefully my next blog will have a little more depth!  Keep reading.

Love goes.
Jill

Okay, this has to be quick.  But I wanted to write one last blog before I headed out of the country.  =]

These last couple of weeks have been full of waiting.  I feel like that is all that I have done, and waiting is a pretty anxious business.  I haven’t slept much in the past couple of nights, and I have become well acquainted with that deep-achy nervous feeling that has set up camp in my stomach. 

It has also taken me like four days to pack, and I am proud to say that I am done (and it’s only Sunday afternoon!).  Packing is absolutely no fun, and I am usually an emotional rollercoaster wondering if everything is going to fit, if I forgot something, if I have too much or too little… You get the picture.

If you put those two ideas together, then it’s no secret that I have been a nervous, emotional wreck for about four days now.  But something that my favorite youth pastor (he told me to put him in here. haha) read today really spoke to me.  It calmed me and helped to remind me that God has this entire trip in His hands.  Matt read Matthew 6, and I wanted to share that with you all.  It is something that I am going to treasure over the next couple of days, and I feel like it can really help all of us.     

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Just wanted to share that with you all.  I will miss each of you.  Keep reading!  The next update will be coming from Peru! =]

I have been home for three days now, and it has been a needed vacation. The last two or three weeks were pretty hectic, and it is nice to have a break from all of the studying and saying goodbye to people. It was hard to leave Furman this time. Last year I was excited about having the summer to spend time at home. This year Furman has kind of become my home, which makes leaving difficult and saying goodbye to people sad. If you don’t all ready know, I am not big on change; I really try to avoid it as much as possible. But change is absolutely inevitable, and I have tried to embrace it this time around. I have a feeling that this summer is going to be a big summer of change for me. I will be leaving for Peru in 21 days, and that blows my mind. We still don’t know much about the trip yet, and I am feeling scared/unprepared. But- God will provide. He will work it out, and our trip will be wonderful and will glorify Him. I am excited to see what happens during these last couple of weeks of preparation, and I’m more excited to see all of the changes that this summer will bring.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated, and I ask that you would continue to keep me in your prayers. I need to get all of the final details worked out- preparing spiritually, getting immunizations, finalizing travel plans, packing stuff, brushing up on my Spanish (hah), reaching my fundraising goals. If you could just pray for each of these things, then that would be great. On the fundraising front, things are slowly moving forward. I have raised a little over $785 which is about half of my goal. I am hoping to have the other half raised soon, so that I don’t have to worry about it. I am sending out letters this week, so hopefully that will let people know more about my trip.

Last Friday, April 24th, was the 5th anniversary (for lack of better words) of me dedicating my life to Christ.  I honestly can’t believe that it’s only been five years because it sure does feel like a lifetime.  It’s hard to remember back to the days when I didn’t know that Jesus was the only thing worth living for.  It’s crazy how radically life can change in one day.

I sometimes try to think of scenarios of where I would be now if I hadn’t accepted Christ, if I had never met the people who showed me God’s love, if God hadn’t humbled me and helped me to realize that I needed a relationship with Him.  Some of those scenarios are scary and pretty unimaginable.  I have no clue how I would have made it through these last five years without Him.  It would have been pretty bleak, to say the least.

My relationship with God is not perfect.  He is perfect, but I am flawed so all of the trouble basically stems from my end.  I am regularly apathetic to His call and His will for me; sometimes God gets pushed to the bottom of my priority list (it’s especially easy for this to happen when finals roll around); and I let Him down every single day.

But my relationship with God is beautiful, too.  He loves me in a way that I can’t describe or measure.  He is what I cannot be.  And He forgives me when I fail Him miserably.

There are no words of thanks that will ever come close to being enough for God’s sacrifice, for His willingness to suffer, for His unconditional love.  But still, I must thank Him.

Thank you God for saving me.  My hope is that I can point others to Your saving grace and that I can please You with every minute of my life.  Happy half-a-decade. =]

“Who are we, that You would be mindful of us?
What do You see, that’s worth looking our way?
We are free, in ways that we never should be.
Sweet release, from the grip of these chains.

Like hinges straining from the weight,
My heart no longer can keep from singing.

All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified:
Emmanuel, God with us.

My heart sings a brand new song.
The debt is paid, these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.

Lord, You know, our hearts don’t deserve Your glory;
Still You show, a love we cannot afford.

Like hinges straining from the weight,
My heart no longer can keep from singing.

All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified:
Emmanuel, God with us.

My heart sings a brand new song.
The debt is paid, these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.

Such a tiny offering
Compared to Calvary;
Nevertheless,
We lay it at Your feet.

Such a tiny offering
Compared to Calvary;
Nevertheless,
We lay this at Your feet.”

PRAYER UPDATE:  Also since this is supposed to be a prayer blog for Peru (haha, I know Peru isn’t mentioned much at the moment), I just wanted to give a quick update and some prayer requests:

• Preparations are going fairly well.  I have raised $655 for the trip, so that means I only have $845 to go.  Thank you so much to everyone who has given!  Pray that God will provide the rest!
• I haven’t heard from our on-field supervisor yet, so please just pray that he contacts us soon.  I am getting anxious!
• Also, please continue to pray for my spiritual preparation for this trip.  During the end of the year and finals, it is always a struggle to find enough time to devote to being in God’s presence.  Pray that I will fight the urge to study, study, study, and that I will make sure I give God the time He deserves.

Thanks for your prayers!