My Journal- Aug 6

Sunday, August 6th- Lima/Arequipa

I woke up "early (about 7 or 7:30) to go to the market with Anton and Vegas. She wanted to buy fruit for breakfast before we went to church. So, the 3 of us went and picked out many varieties. We had some familiar ones- red grapes, pineapple, small oranges and we had papaya and kiwi, some red stuff that perhaps was palmagranite, bananas and a fruit that was green , but then when peeled was white. It was sweet and had maybe only 10 large seeds, so they were easy to pick out... We also went to the actual grocery store after to get some buns (a variety again), yogurt, juice, and cheese. It was a large breakfast and then we all went off to church.

"I think it was a Calvary Baptist Church... and of course in Spanish. We arrived at 9 for the early service and were greeted warmly- a nice feeling. Actually, because so many of us did not speak Spanish, [the pastor] got a man to stand up beside him and interpret the sermon! It was good and the Pastor spoke very passionately and with much body language. It seemed long to me though, because all of us were still so tired. I really enjoyed the music and singing. They had nice harmony and I even recognized about 2 songs in English! It was great." Church ended about 11 and we all went and got our baggage "to head back to the airport for our 3rd and final flight!" Some of our team members were lucky enough to grab some food in the airport for lunch, but I wasn't one of them. "... but they did serve a small sub (turkey I think) on the plane with a drink so I was thankful for that.

"This time, I wasn't sitting close to anyone I knew, but at the end of the 1 hr flight, engaged in conversation with the gentleman on my right. He had the window seat, and knowing me, I wanted to share the view and took glances when I could. I found he spoke more English than I expected and we talked until we landed. I did catch his name- it was Luis and he works in a mine.

"The Arequipa airport is a very small one, but simple and not very crowded. We all got our bags and then waited about 1/2 hr for our bus to arrive, and what a bus it was! ... - very yellow/ orange, very old school. But it got us to where we wanted to go!"

We spent the rest of the afternoon visiting and joking a lot, did some planning and practiced our Spanish with other teammates. "Liliana is one of my new favorite additions to the team." She met up with us in Lima (where she's from) and gets to spend the next 2 weeks with all us crazy Canadians. "She is 22 and is in Seminary right now. She speaks a little English, but we've had some confusing discussions. But she keeps trying (maybe because I keep trying). It was a pleasure to be able to pray with her and Vegas (even though I didn't understand half of it) when we met together in our prayer partners."
The team was split up between 3 different places to sleep tonight and I was with Sari and Tanya and Sarah and Rob. "But we had supper all together at one house and stayed there until about 8- 8:30." On our way to our place to sleep, " we stopped at a cornerstore and had a hoot trying to communicate with the Peruvians working there. Sarah and Rob wanted to buy nuts (since they are vegetarians), but we could find none and getting their assistance wasn't working because, though they were eager, they simply didn't know what we wanted. The only thing we could find was a "drumstick" ice cream that had pieces of nuts on top." We pointed to them and asked what they were and the clerk would say something and we would continue to point and he would say the same thing and Rob was so funny because I think he thought the Peruvian was giving him the word for ice cream or something. He kept saying, "No, these" and point even harder to the nuts on top and the Peruvian probably got quite confused. But he just kept saying the same thing, like "Yes, that's nuts". "It's nuts. Peanuts." We laughed and they laughed- it was very humorous. The young man was so patient, and Rob finally decided that he was given the right word, but we still didn't get more nuts. "I bought the drumstick because I wanted ice cream anyway. Actually, each of us got something and then we continued on our way.
"Tomorrow, Rob and I will go back to the cornerstore and buy some bread for breakfast. We have los huevos y marmalada (eggs and jam) and everything. Then, we go to the camp!"

My Journal- Aug 3-5

I know I am a month behind, but for those of you who are interested, I will provide some of the more important parts of my journal while in Peru. I am long-winded when it comes to journalling, I've found, so I'm trying to create a revised shorter version for your benefit. :)

I started it Thursday, August 3rd (the day before we left from Cold Lake to travel to Calgary to fly to Peru!) "I am very excited about leaving for Peru tomorrow. I have been excited for months now... I've been praying for God to work in the Peruvians hearts so they will be open to the Gospel message and also that God would work in my heart and teach me too. I'm a little scared because I feel so unprepared and I wish I had practiced more Spanish and knew the songs better and knew the VBS better, etc. I know it will all work out because it always does. I do pray for team unity though...
I packed my bags tonight and I'm a little proud of myself because I still have room in both of them for more stuff! My big bag is only 33lbs and I'm allowed 44lbs so I can add more supplies when we get to the church tomorrow. That makes me happy." That's all for today.

If I was going to comment on Aug. 4, I would have to say that I was hoping the drive down to Calgary wouldn't seem too long. But Tyler has a 20 questions game, which is lots of fun and we played it a lot on the way down in the vans. Even over the walkie- talkies! Good times."

"Today is Aug. 5 and we are flying on Continental Airlines right now." We had all gone to bed at almost midnight and woke up at 4 am to get ready "take the shuttle to the airport and get our baggage checked, etc and on the plane by 7 am take off. I tried to fall asleep again because I was so tired... and I guess I succedded because I woke up to Tyler getting breakfast beside me and realized I wouldn't be getting any because I missed the order." I was thankful to get a cup of coffee though (black, but oh well) and tied over my hunger with a couple granola bars I was carrying with me. "Thank goodness for other people's advice!"
Ironically, "both Newman's are sitting behing me (Oh brother!) and Greg at the window seat because he was very excited about flying and wanted to see." A funny tidbit: "When we were all at the airport earlier, I was in line with my bags filling out a customs form or declaration and someone came up from behind me and said, "Excuse me sir" and then "Excuse me ma'am" and I moved so they could get by. My first accidental insult since I cut my hair short again!" Jamie enjoyed my new nickname and called me Sir for a number of days after.
Also during this plane ride I met a young man named Shawn who was sitting to my left at the window. I found out he was from Houston Texas and was heading home from a business trip I think. He works somehow with Macintosh computers. The week after, he was going to Boston and then to Saudi Arabia after that! We had a short chat and I decided he seemed like a nice guy.
"We are now at Babba's Bayou City Grill for lunch in the airport (in Houston). It's nice. It's a seafood place and both Tyler and Chris are trying the catfish dinner... There are speculations as to whether they will like it... Newman is also excited about eating his Tuna Steak Sandwich. I'm not brave enough to try the seafood, so I got a Buffalo Chicken Sandwich. Tanya and Sari also passed on the seafood... Right now the men are musing over the fact that this place has a white wine with tobacco and smoked bacon in it somehow. The things people think of!"
We temporarily lost Anton, Vegas, Bill and his boys and all the Lopez's, as they ate somewhere else, but eventually found them again during our 3 hour wait between flights.
"Tyler seemed to like his catfish; Chris, I think, was disappointed (but ate most of it) and Andrew ate his tuna, but critiqued it thoroughly commenting on the marinade, the texture & flavour. I guess that's what you can expect from a cullinary student!"

* * * * * * * *
"Well, it's dinner time now..." Hooray, airplane food!- a small, but filling meal. I had "beef with pasta noodles & vegies in a gravy sauce and came with a small salad (1 tomato slice, 1 cucumber slice) and I think ranch dip, a bun & butter and a really good brownie for desert. Made you thirsty and they gave you a small drink. In this flight, Tyler is sitting on my right again and a gentleman from Japan is on my left at the window. He is travelling in Peru for 2 weeks too and going to Cuzco and Machu Pichu as well! Cool huh! We haven't talked much because we seem to be miscommunicating a lot, but we try." We were all given complimentary pillows, blankets and head sets to use this flight and "I think the team is generally less bored this time (and perhaps less tired for some reason). Lord, are you up to something?..."
Some reflections of mine of the team members:
"It's been wonderful for me to see Vegas again and Yolanda- she is always smiling with her mouth and her eyes when you look at her. I hope that Anton feels he is integrating into the group, because from my view, he fits very well."

Something productive I did:
I've been reading Tie Down the Sun a lot today (a recommended Christian read about South American culture and history). It sounds boring, but it actually was really interesting because it gave an in-depth look at the Peruvians' traditional religious thoughts and practices and elaborated on the clash of the native's way of worshipping their god with the Spaniards' customs and religion when they came over and conquered the people.

* * * * * * After landing in Lima * * * * * *

"It's technically Aug 6th now since it's 2am and we are all going to bed. Leaving the airport in Lima was the coolest experience so far because we had a 40 min. ride in a nice tourist bus to our place to stay tonight. (And of course I was staring wide- eyed out the window at everything!) The architecture here is very attractive and interesting to look at... And I saw my name! Written on a huge cement sign... Carlos said that was the name of that section of the city." It was named after a real person I guess because her first and last names were displayed, but all I noticed was Carmen; I didn't catch her last name. "Anton said he saw his name too, but in spray-painted grafitti on a wall." We also saw Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Ford Mazda, Hyundai, and Kia Motors! "Oh, and a John Deere place too. All familiar things from home, so they are worthy of a note." Pretty much everything else was all in Spanish.

Some thoughts on language:
"I think the language barrier is going to get to me later, but I kind of expect that anyways."
When we arrived at the guest house, we also met Rob and Sarah Patterson there. "Our host Jen is really nice...and on our beds were set out a towel for each of us with a water bottle and a chocolate! What hosts we are blessed with!

Some closing thoughts:
When we wake up, breakfast is at 8am and church starts at 9 and then we head back to the airport at 12 for our 1-hour flight to Areqiupa. "I'm so excited! It seems so strange to finally be here. Lord, we thank you and praise you for all you have already done. We pray for your continued guidance and direction for each one of us and for the team as a whole. And Lord, again be with Drake at home and bless him as he works. I do admit I miss him because I love him so. Amen & Buenos Noches.

Peru- it's just the beginning

"The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine upon us."
Psalm 118:27

"[Your Father in Heaven] causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
Matthew 5:45

"But for you who revere my name, the sun of rigtheousness will rise with healing in its wings."
Malachi 4:2

Our journey to Peru was amazing in so many different ways, I don't really know where to begin. There are a few major lessons God taught me while we were there and some of them are as follows:
1. He showed me that you can definitely love and be loved by people you don't even know.
2. Language barriers are no barriers at all if you know how to SHOW others love. Like the famous saying- "Actions are louder than words". Yeah, very applcable.
3. Our team did not bring Jesus with us there to the people. God is everywhere and he was already working in the lives of the Peruvuans long before we came.
4. If anyone plans to do anything for God, prayer is essential! Without it, we are as helpless babies battling against Satan's forces. Living for God requires communication with and total dependance on God. Nothing less.
5. One does not go on a missions trip to convert people to their religion or their God. We go to share life and love and our journey's experiences. If this proves a tool to minister to others, we jump at the chance- because everyone both needs and deserves to hear the good news about God.

You know, it's funny though, because these are all lessons that I had already learned. I guess God felt he needed to remind me of them, which I'm thankful for. When I went to Mexico in college for the same reason, God showed me these truths there too. The one I am constantly surpirised by is this:
More often than not, they minister to You more than you ever ministered to them!
Isn't that incredible?! You think you are going to a people who have nothing and are poor in so many ways and you are going to make things better, or help them somehow, and that will bring them to learn about God and how to love others and take care of themselves and their families, etc, etc. But (and its a big but)-BUT, it happens quite diffrently in reality. They serve you and love you beyond what you can even understand sometimes simply because you have left all your luxury behind in our big Land of Plenty and have gone to them for reasons they don't understand either. But they are thankful. So thankful! And it makes me want to cry...

Pre-Wedding Pics, Reception and more!

Getting hair and makeup done is only the beginning!

She obviously had a tropical theme, so the tiki hut and the table center pieces reflect that. Drake adding the goldfish to each glass container (with his hand! Ewww!), and pretty scenes, decorations and smiles. The one with Dylan sticking out his tongue- well, what else is there to do when you're standing in the reception line? All the groomsmen are included too: Kevin, Jeff, Dale and Dallas, I think.
There are many more pictures, but I need to limit myself somewhere! I just love weddings!