Hola mis amores!!!!
so... we have reached week 6, and only have 3 weeks left until we leave. Crazy..
It has been absolutely amazing here. God has given us so many awesome opportunities to reach out to the people. I taught on evangelism at the youth service last Tuesday. That went okay. There weren't too many students, so I wasn't too nerveous. I have just never taught with a translator, so that actually made it way harder than I expected. But it was still really good. Katrina, Freddy, Elina and I performed a skit for the service, which was good too.
The rest of that week, we went up a few times to the Jesus statue and prayed for the city and did worship. We met the sweetest ladies selling things there and we were able to pray for their families and encourage them. That was awesome and such a blessing to be able to do that. That same day we also did some worship music in the plaza.
Saturday was my "leader day" where I could plan the whole day. That was so much fun, and God gave us sooo many opportunities to share His love with people. I was finally able to do a skid row- Peru style outreach :). We all baked cookies and wrote up verses in spanish to hand out to people that day. We were able to talk to a ton of people, especially the young teenagers offering massages. We asked if there was anything we could pray for after talking with them and giving them the cookies and stuff, and almost EVERY person was so excited to pray with us. That same day we met up with our taxi friend, Alex, and helped him with his english.
Sunday, we went to a different youth service and performed the skit again. Our friend, Alex, met us for that and we all went to dinner after.
This whole next week we are doing a mini DTS for the kids at the orphanage in Cusco. This is the other half of the jungle orphanage. Also, a DTS is the type of school I am doing now, but instead of having a whole topic a week, we are teaching them a different topic each day. I taught Monday on the Character and Nature of God. It went really well. This time I was more used to having a translator so it went much smoother. The kids were also really engaged and participating so that was cool. After we hung around and had lunch there and played with the children. We all had a big soccer game as well, which was a ton of fun.
So the rest of this week, we will be there at the orphanage, while some people go and volunteer at The Meeting Place each day. Tomorrow Elina and Elsa are teaching on the Father Heart of God, and then Freddy on Lordship, and then Katrina on Worship. It should be a really good week. So you guys could be praying for open hearts as well as wisdom for those speaking. Thanks so much.
The beginning of next week (depending on when we can get a bus) we will go to a village to live there for a week. We don't actually have a ton of details of what we will be doing. The pastor that Jordan made connections with (where I taught on evangelism and where we did skits) heads up churches in different villages, so he asked us to come help for a week. As far as we know, it will probably involve farming, teaching, and pretty much whatever they need help with. I am really looking forward to that.
Once we get back, there is only one week left, which is so crazy to me. Time has really flown by. Thank you all so much for praying. Also, thank you for praying against sickness. We are all pretty healthy now, so praise God.
I love it here. It is sooo beautiful. Everyday when I walk outside, I am so in awe of how beautiful it is. God has been teaching me so much, especially what it means to live by his strength and not my own. He has also taught me so much about what it means to really love people, and to put their interests above my own. Still in the process of learning that actually. Haven't quite mastered it haha but getting there. God has been teaching me a lot about His character and what it really means to lay our worries and fears at His feet.
This time is such a blessing, and I am soaking in every moment. I really appreciate your prayers, and your support. I keep telling you it means so much, but IT REALLY DOES! Please keep praying for health and protection, and for God to really shine through us. Also, just for continued wisdom and direction for our leaders and group.
Thank you thank you thank you!
Below are some pictures so far. I tried to put on a lot, but this internet is pretty slow, so its hard to put on tons.
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| Me, Elsa, and Elina |
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| In our beautiful main plaza in Cusco! |
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| Enjoying the city on our day off! |
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| This is where I taught on evangelism |
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| Our skit :) |
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| Evangelismo.. |
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| We went to pray one night at the Jesus Statue, and this is overlooking the Plaza |
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| So increadible |
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| After we prayed at the Jesus statue one day, we found random stairs that lead all the way down to the Plaza. It was so beautiful! |
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| Dinner with Alex after church |
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| Our cookies and verses that we handed out! |
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| This is one of the ladies we gave cookies to and got to pray with |
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| At The Meeting Place with Alex, after we helped him with english |
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On Sunday after church.. Alex bought us icecream.. after I accidently screamed "ice cream!" really loudly when I saw a lady selling ice cream.. haha
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| the orphanage in Cusco- "El Arca" |
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| Where I taught on Character and Nature of God |
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| I had a chicken claw for lunch.. They taught me how to eat it-"suck on the toes and get as much fat off as you can".. yummmy |
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| Kale let me wear his shoes cuz my foot got all bloody after playing soccer and he didn't care if I got his gross.. haha |
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| Elsa and I in the Plaza |
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Our whole team outside our house! left to right:
Annabel (Germany), me, Katrina (Australia), Elina (Finland), Jenna (US), Elsa (Switzerland), Freddy (Sweden), Kale (US)
hhaha Freddy wasn't cooporating for the photo.. per usual.. |
LOVE YOU ALL!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS!
