Peru- August 8

It's Tuesday! The day everything starts. Liliana rang the big bell at 6:30am. (to wake everyone up). Right now it is 7:10 and we are supposed to have group devotions. 7:30 is breakfast and Carlos and Yolanda are wiping the tables off. The view here looks really cool with the sun up now. It's quite green down here and there are some tall trees that look like Cedars.
Lord, I just want to serve you today!
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Now, it's just after supper. People are mingling and talking and I feel a great need for a nap- so I'm writting here instead. Breakfast was porridge and I ate about half of mine (I really don't care for porridge) with bun things and jam (marmalada). All jam seems to be the same kind here and it's always called Marmalada. We did the VBS this morning and it was quite something. I don't know how the other stations went, (since there were many like one for the story, one for the craft, one for the horsebackriding, etc) but I did the craft the whole time and it went pretty good. Some kids had a challenge listening to sit and then after the craft , we talked a little bit about the sunshine (that we had painted with our hands) and how it related to Jesus.

Yolanda and I did the four groups (which were categorized by age) one after another, but the last group came late and not all of them got to do the craft, (which they were upset about) because it was noon and they had to leave back on the big wagon that brought them here.

"The men all came back for lunch (our team and the locals) and we all ate together. We had squash soup (which was quite good b/c they added just the right spices). And we had rice & chicken & potatoes (pollo y papas) in a sauce.

After lunch Tanya & I didn't know what to do (b/c we were not needed to help with the dentist), so Vegas gave us a job of staining some picnic tables, and as we did, we met a new friend, Samuel, who is 25 and lives in Arequipa. He helped stain two tables, and a little guy named Jordan (Hordan) helped too. He's not that young, maybe 10 or 12? Anyways, we were ready to be done then, so we ended and I found I have a large blister full of liquid on the inside side of my thumb on my left hand from the paintbrush! It took a while to get our hands clean b/c we needed someone to find us some varisol or paint thinner to get it off. One of the older men on the camp got some and poured a little out on what looked like cheese cloth so we all got some. That was real great, b/c we really didn't want to stay that sticky! After, we went for a short walk around the camp to see more and came back for supper.

"I am thankful Lord, that you helped us make this friend. He left, but he'll be back next week. I can see that a lot of good relationships are developing with many people, and I thank you Lord. Liliana is still doing very well with her English and though she stops in confusion with strong and solid expression b/c she is thinking so hard, she keeps trying, keeps laughing and smiling. Thank- you . Her smile makes me smile. She is beautiful to me. And Lord, thank you for Tanya and Sari. I think they are doing excellent too, though they are a little shy-er to strike up conversation; this is their first missions trip and I pray that you would work in them. Lord, sometimes your vision gets me, just for a glimpse, and I really do want to cry. Oh, what incredible love! Oh, what joy! You are our hope and our only light. We are a lost people, Lord, and it is no different in any culture. I think it was yesterday, I thought to myself, if I do go on missions, I want to go somewhere that they already speak English. Then, I don't have that language barrier and can really start ministering and having deep conversations with those around me about God. But Lord, something inside changed. Perhaps I like the challenge of learning Spanish, but it would take twice as long to get to the same place but I guess then you still have developed a relationship during that time. That's important too. Lord, you know what is best and I trust you. It's not up to me anyways! You are Lord. You are King! Reign in me! Oh, for your Glory reign in me! Thank you for Anton and that he is here and growing in you. Thank- you for his devotion & personal stories. Bless him in Jesus' name. Amen.