In ALL Things GOD works for the GOOD of Those Who Love Him!

Despite frustration and annoyance, I can’t help but believe that today was a day completely designed and planned out by God himself. I learned yet another lesson in patience, flexibility, determination, and God’s overall provision. After a mechanical issue on my first flight and sitting longer in South Bend Airport {boring}, rebooking for a later flight which would reroute my entire trip, finding out that flight was also delayed until further notice, another rebooking, and 6 hours later than originally planned I arrived in San Antonio tired but full of energy and excited for a great vacation with my high school best friend.

Some of you may be saying, “How in the world would you consider the multiple flight changes God ordained?” At first, that’s what I thought, too. However, having had time to reflect, that’s the only explanation I can comprehend. I’ve flown multiple times and only once been delayed just slightly but without interference to any connecting flights. I’ve not lost luggage, and I’d never been on a plane that’s had known mechanical issues. {Knock on wood, right?} Today all of the above happened – except the luggage - Praise the Lord I didn’t check a bag; it’s hard telling where that might have ended up.

While sitting in South Bend this morning, I noticed a teenage girl hugging good-bye to her mother as we boarded the first flight {the one with the mechanical issue}.  I also observed her mom talking to another couple that seemed to be a family friend. {I love people watching in the airport.} Once on the plane the girl was seated by herself across the aisle from me, and the “family friends” were rows in front of us. We sat on the plane for about 20 minutes waiting for the mechanic to give us the final go {mind you, we’d already been delayed an hour}. After those 20 minutes, it was determined that the mechanic servicing our plane didn’t have the knowledge to fix the error, so we were told we had to get off the plane. I heard the teenage girl across the aisle ask the family friends what she should do, to which they responded that they were just going to go home. I hesitated, but then felt that I should see if she needed help. It was friendship instantly!

We waited at the check-in counter for an hour and a half together talking and sharing similar interests in Christianity, missions, and outreach to the spiritually poor and brokenhearted while also trying to figure out what our options were – she was flying to Philadelphia to visit her biological mom. They booked us on separate flights mine at a later time to Atlanta, and hers still to Detroit but at a later time as well.  Her mother ended up returning to the airport {which I later learned was her foster mom}, and she offered to take us out for lunch.

We left the airport and headed to Subway and Starbucks. Through conversation I learned that my new friend is technically from Liberia, and she moved to Philadelphia with her mom in 2007. In 2008 she was placed in foster care, and she has been with this family since then. Her “mom” is the principal at Elkhart Christian Academy and a former 3^rd grade teacher, so we were able to swap school stories and talk about church and other such things.

Upon returning to the airport for our new flights at 2:30pm, I learned that mine had been delayed to 7pm, and I would then miss my connecting flight out of Atlanta with the next flight to San Antonio being tomorrow morning {my original flight was scheduled for 10:20 this morning and was set to arrive in San Antonio at 5pm}. I immediately went to the ticket counter to see if there was any possible way I could reschedule on an earlier flight. While waiting in line, we learned that Musu’s flight, too, had been delayed.

Long story short, the broken plane from this morning had been fixed, and there was room on it for both of us to fly to Detroit if we left immediately. However, the flights from Detroit were all being delayed due to weather, and we weren’t given departure times for our connections to our final destinations. We arrived in Detroit hoping to find flights to Philadelphia and San Antonio. God is faithful, because we both ended up on flights leaving shortly after 8pm only 9 gates away from one another. {Detriot is huge, so this was a blessing.}

We sat together in the airport for 3 hours, had dinner together, and then parted ways. I’m so thankful that God provided a friend for the day because it would have been a L.O.N.G. day by myself. I’m also glad that I was able to help her out. {I could tell her mom was a bit hesitant putting her on a plane to Detroit with no for sure plan once she got there.}

While I wasn’t thrilled to be delayed, cancelled, late, etc. I do know that in all things God’s plans are best, and I’m sure that today was no exception. I’m now here in San Antonio with Cassandra ready to enjoy the next 4 days together! God is good!! 

Let's hope my trip home is slightly less complicated! :)

Living the Busy Life

I haven't had much time to sit recently, so therefore, there hasn't been much time to update my blog. I finally uploaded my Huaraz pictures to Facebook last night. Today I am just relaxing a bit. I have lunch and dinner plans, but aside from that, I'm just taking things easy. I leave on Monday for the USA, and while I want to see as many friends as possible before I go, I'm feeling quite exhausted. Yesterday, I no more than sat down on the bus and as we started moving, I felt myself nodding off. It was all I could do to keep myself awake for the hour long bus ride. It's nice to have a day to wash laundry, upload pictures, balance my checkbook, and chat via Skype with a few of you I've been missing.

Rather than boring you with a long post about everything I've done in the last week, I'll share some pictures/captions with you.

Wednesday

I went with a two of the summer Kids Alive interns to the water park (Fountain Park).

We got into a few fountains and got a bit wet, but we had a blast.

We watched a light show on one of the fountains. 

Reminds me of family vacations at Disney.

Thursday

I hung out in Manchay for the day.

We put up decorations for the Dia Familiar (Family Day).

I traced and painted this poster of the three "people" types in Peru.

At night I hung out in Pachacamac for a few hours with these darling children.

Saturday

I played for Team Oasis in the Volleyball Tournament during Family Day.

We won the first round and lost the second.

I ate way too much food!

I met Juan Carlos's wife and hung out with some pretty cool kids, too!

Saturday evening I went to a wedding with a friend. I didn't know the couple getting married, but it was still fun to see a Peruvian wedding (my first one). Honestly, it wasn't as elegant and decorated as I imagined it would be, but then again the couple was older (mid-30s I would guess), so maybe they just wanted something simple. It was still a nice ceremony, and I had fun. I didn't take any pictures, so unless Javier uploads some to Facebook, I have none to share with you.

Sunday

I went to church with a friend in the morning. She had told me to plan to be there from about 10:30-2 including lunch. I arrived at 10:30, and we had an hour and 15 minute Sunday school hour. Afterwards there was a ten minute break, and the service began at noon. About 2:15 the pastor wrapped up his message on the church in Acts. The sermon was then followed by a baptism which was very similar to what we do in the States. Each person shared how they came to know Christ, and then they were baptized in a tub of water. Finally about 3pm we settled down to eat lunch.

In the evening Wong (a large grocery store in Peru) hosted a parade to kick of the Fiestas Patrias (Independence Day celebrations). Independence Day for Peru is July 28.

We didn't get to see much of the parade because it started at 4pm and we arrived at 6. The streets were crowded, and it was difficult to see over the large crowd. However, the fireworks were awesome (especially since I missed fireworks in the USA both this year and last year).

Look who Trinh and I found to hang out with.

Actually we all planned to meet; however, finding one another was a bit difficult due to the crowds.

Monday

The Oasis Center in Manchay hosted their Fiestas Patria Party. Each classroom dressed up as a province from Peru and did a march around the upper level for the parents.

Mary's class (3 year olds) dressed up in traditional costumes of Cusco.

Here I am with {right to left) Mary, Gabriella (summer Kids Alive Intern), and Tanya (classroom helper).

The intermediate aged kids dressed up in clothing from the coast of Peru.

The primary age kids dressed up in jungle clothing.

They made me march as the Madre de Patria (Mother of Independence).

I lead the 3 year olds in, but they seemed to be shy following me.

A picture with all the staff from the Oasis Center (minus Juan Carlos).

Monday was also Liberato's birthday. I bought a tres leches cake for us to share together after the Fiestas Patrias march was finished. It was the best tres leches cake I've ever had.

No birthday celebration is complete without singing 4 versions of Happy Birthday.

{Two Spanish version, English version, and Chinese}

You also must get a bit of frosting on your face.

Happy Birthday, Liberato!

It's hard to believe that I leave next Monday already. I am not ready to say good-bye to my new friends and old ones alike. It's incredible how quickly these people begin to feel like family. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here this summer, and just like every year it will be hard to leave. It's amazing how every time I return there are new adventures to be had, new ministries to be a part of, and new people to know. I feel at home here; I feel content and happy. Although I also realize, it is one thing to be here a few weeks at a time, be free to hang out whenever I want, and free to do as I please. I'm sure if I were living and working here it'd be a different story. Sometime in the future, I would love to come and do full time missions in an orphanage or some sort of translating evangelism as I did in Huaraz. I guess in time I'll have to wait and see where the Lord leads.

Here's to five more, busy days!

Huaraz {Picture Post}

Day #1 - Cajapampa

Marilu talking with a few of the boys waiting

for the clinic to open.

Even before we arrived a line was forming outside the door.

Every day there were people lined up waiting for us.

Doing knee injections for Arthritis patients.

Translating - Quechua, Spanish, English

The "Peruvian" Team

God is so creative! This sunset was the best one of the week!

Day #2 - Musho

Sharing the gospel with patients after seeing a doctor.

Translating again - Quechua, Spanish, English

The whole group (minus the photographer)

Day #3 - Primorpampa

Putting up a curtain to block off the surgery room.

Dr. Kellner and I worked together Wednesday-Friday.

More evangelism and prayer with patients.

This lady and her son were adorable. 

I got to translate for them.

She was 19 and her son was a year and a half.

School children lined up for worm medicine and vitamins.

Day #4 - Vicos

Working with Dr. Biggs.

This lady said she spoke Castellano (Spanish).

However, the more we talked,

the more I realized she had no idea what I was saying.

Day #5 - Llanganuco

Day off, team worship service by the lake.

Gorgeous setting!

Turquoise water...loved it!

Day #6 - Paccha

House visit for this lady's bedridden son.

Kids waiting patiently to see the doctors.

Huaraz - God's Hands & Feet

"We simply cannot be obedient disciples of the Lord Jesus and continue to choose self-indulgence, all the while ignoring the desperate needs of others." (Exert from Beth Moore Study of James)

As I sit here in Starbucks trying to kill time between lunch with a friend and a night out with others, I cannot help but think about the last 9 days. My time in Huaraz was the most heartbreaking, humbling, and wonderful thing I have experienced thus far in life {as far as I can recall}. It was exhausting and frustrating (at times); however, setting aside my selfish complaints, it was the best experience ever; it was an experience I hope to one day repeat.

As I recount stories of the people in my mind, tears literally come to my eyes. Last week there was no time to cry for the patients as we were busy night and day; although now that I have time to process it bit, my heart is breaking inside my chest...literally. I hurt for Christ's creation, I am disgusted over my wealth and under-appreciation, and most of all I am overwhelmed with joy that all along the Lord had this trip planned for me without me having known anything of it until I arrived in Peru.

To think that I was on the verge of changing my plane ticket to spend less time in Peru this summer for lack of things to do gives me even more joy that the Lord knew all along exactly what He had planned for me during my time here. Had Leo asked me before I arrived in Peru if I would go on this medical trip, I probably would have said no. Actually, I'm 99% certain I would have said no. However, the Lord's timing is always perfect. A few days after arriving in Peru, frustrated with lack of initiative from friends to plan outings, and wondering how I would spend 5 weeks here, the Lord called me to the mountains of Peru. Leo asked me to go and told me I had to respond that night; without hesitation I replied, "YES! I would love to go!" Only afterwards did I panic a bit. I thought, "What if I don't know the vocabulary and misdiagnose someone through poor translating?" "What if I get sick working with these people?" "What if I miss out on something in Lima because I'm away in the mountains with people I don't know?" I recognized these attacks as the work of Satan, and I quickly shot him down asking the Lord to intervene and provide health, safety, and wisdom throughout the trip. I shared a quote a few posts ago that I cannot help but think of again and again.

"God put you here for this moment in history. You are here for a reason; there are hurting people who need you."

I wish I could give a detailed description of everything that happened July 9-17th in Huaraz; however, I know already some of you are zoning out wondering, "When will she get to the good stuff?" So...enough of the background information.

The Facts

Basically there were two teams of people working together to make the whole medical campaign function properly. About twenty-two people came from the States to work as the medical team, and there were about 20-25 people from "Peru" who went as evangelists and translators. (I was part of the Peru team.) As Leo put it last evening, the whole thing would have failed if all parts weren't working together (see 1 Corinthians 12).

We stayed about 30 minutes outside of the city of Huaraz - 8 hours northeast of Lima - the capital of the province Huaraz. Each day (Wednesday-Saturday & Monday) we traveled about an hour to hour and half up and around the mountains to semi-unreached and unreached villages. The roads were treacherous at times, but our drivers kept us safe on the journey each day. Every day we spent in a different village. We would set up our stuff in either a school or city building and get to work. We worked with patients from about 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day with a half-hour/hour break for lunch.

We saw between 250-300 patients each day ranging in age from newborn babies to 90 year old adults. Most of the children had rashes, stomachaches, headaches, poor vision, etc. Most of the adults had acid reflux, arthritis, poor vision, headaches, etc. As Leo said, after the first 4 patients, everything started sounding the same and translating got easier each day. I think the toughest translating were the patients who only spoke Quechua (a language of the mountains of Peru). We had Quechua/Spanish translators, then I translated from Spanish to English. When the doctor responded, I translated from English to Spanish then another translator translated the message to the patient from Spanish to Quechua.

While I spent most of my time with the Peruvian group {our housing was separate from the U.S. team's accommodations}, I did bond with a few of the U.S. team members. I connected with a few doctors who later in the week argued about who I would get to translate for that day (no worries, the argument wasn't too intense). There were a few others on the U.S. team that I got to know quite well, too, over lunch conversation, time spent on the bus, and small talk throughout the work day. I also made some new Peruvian friends who touched my heart and soul in a special way last week. I was proud when they recognized me as a "Peruvian" despite my height and American accent, and I was awed by the deep spiritual conversations we engaged in throughout the week.

The Stories

I wish I could share with you each person's story that touched my heart last week, but that is literally impossible. Instead, I'll settle for sharing some of the most humbling accounts.

Most of the adult patients we saw worked in the 'chacra' or agriculture. Because of the hot sun and dry air many of them had dry skin, age spots, and wrinkles beyond their years. Fifty year old women appeared to be 70-80 years old walking into the room, crippled with Arthritis and hunched over from years of hard work.

A few of the doctors allowed the kids to listen to their heartbeats. I loved seeing the kids faces light up as they recognized the distinct sound of the rhythm beating inside. As I asked what it sounded like a few replied, "Boom, boom, boom." Others said it sounded like a drum, and one child very sheepishly said, "It sounds like a live person's heart." It was all I could do not to laugh out loud.

One specific patient came to us complaining of bad headaches. After talking with myself and the doctor about her medical condition, she began to cry. I asked her if she was hurting, and she explained to me some of the pain she has in her life. She explained that most of her pain is emotional which has caused her physical pain as well. She went on to tell of her children who are grown and moved away. She explained that she has no husband, and she works night and day in the fields to be able to support herself. I asked her if she was depressed, and she told me that she thought she might be. The doctor spoke with her (through my translations) about praying to the Lord to deliver her from the stress. We shared with her that only through the Lord's help are we able to survive life here on Earth. She told us that she was a believer in Christ, so I then asked her if she read the Bible regularly. She explained to me that she doesn't read the Bible because she was never permitted to go to school to learn to read. I was humbled immediately. I shared a few scripture verses with her, and we asked if we could pray with her. After we finished praying, she stood up to leave and kissed me on the cheek saying "Gracias angel de Dios!" - Thank you angel of God. I choked on my words as I told her I am just human doing the work the Lord has asked me to do, and she left.

On Saturday a man came in with his 9 year old daughter to see us. The daughter had a cold and the father had knee pain. After checking the daughter over and subscribing some medicine to help her heal, the doctor checked the knees of the father. We decided he should receive knee injections for Arthritis. As we were prepping the area to be injected, the doctor was pulled away to check another patient to ensure a correct diagnosis. He was gone for quite a while, so I first talked with the daughter about school and her interests. Then I began speaking with the father about my reasons for being in Peru and how I got involved with the medical trip. He was very interested in what I had to say, and began asking me questions about church, the Lord, and missions. I shared with the man my personal knowledge and then pulled out a track I had been given about salvation. I read the track with him and we talked through it. Afterwards, he told me he wanted to know the Lord and live for him. He thanked me for the work we were doing, and expressed that he wanted to be used to help people, too. He asked me to pray with him, and after I finished his face changed from distraught to joy. You could feel the presence of the Lord among us as his smile glowed from his face. I was humbled that the Lord chose me to serve this man, and I pray that his life was changed that day for forever.

One of the most difficult stories occurred on Monday in Paccha. A lady came in the morning for her own check-up and as she was finishing up the lead doctor asked me if he could pull me away from my patient to translate for him. I began talking with the lady, and she expressed to me that her 24 year old son was unable to walk and needed medical attention. She said that she lived about 10 minutes up the mountain, and she was begging that a doctor go with her to see her son. Dr. Sealy asked me to see if she could return after lunch, and he ensured her that then a team would be free to travel with her to her home. She did in fact return (we weren't sure if she would), and a team of doctors and translators went up to the house with her. A while later they came back, and Dr. Sealy explained that her son was bedridden and terminally ill, and there was very little that they could do; the mother was his sole caregiver. We took up a collection among our team, and the money was given to the mother to help pay for expenses for her son. We connected her to a local church to find someone to come visit and help meet their needs twice a week. We were also able to provide wound care items and tons of vitamins, Tylenol and ibuprofen.

In Closing

While I could go on and on for hours {actually I've been typing for hours off and on as I've had time}, there is no way to fully express exactly what I experienced last week. All there is are my words and a small hope that maybe through the text you are able to understand the mighty work of my Lord Jesus and His love for the world. In no way do I wish to take credit for any of the work that was done last week in Huaraz. I am simply a girl following the will of the Lord. Where He calls me, I go, and what He asks of me, I do {sometimes a bit hesitantly}. I am overjoyed and humbled that God has chosen me to be His servant here in Peru, even if it's just for a few weeks each summer.

"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." ~ Matthew 25:40

"Not my will, but yours be done." ~ Luke 22:42

Weekend through Pictures

 I rode the new train that runs above Lima.

Hector couldn't wait to show me this experience.

It was so much faster than any bus or taxi.
I hate traffic here!

The train arrived in downtown Lima where to spent time looking over the city,

talking about the differences between this view and a typical view of the U.S.

 We ate a quick lunch downtown. 

They gave us "free" Pisco Sours.

I didn't like it, so it remained untouched.

 I went camping with my friend Teresa. 

We spent the majority of our time at the pool.

 Just chatting and people watching.

 We got in the pool for all of 10 minutes.

While the air was hot, hot, hot,

the water was cold, cold, cold!

 The camping place had a mini zoo.

We paid (a very low price) for lettuce, sweet potato,

and apples to feed to the animals.
The monkeys were by far the most fun to feed.

 We also fed this large turtle.

And I marveled over the amazing creation of my God.

Mountains that reach the sky, clouds to provide relief from the sun.

Green grass and trees that give us oxygen and provide a bit of color

at the basin of these Andes Mountains.

All in all it was a great weekend! Friday I spent the afternoon with my dear friend Hector chatting and offering my personal advice on some issues he is facing.

I left Friday evening with another great friend, Teresa, to go camping in Santa Rosa de Quives which is about 2 hours outside of Lima. We stayed at a beautiful country club with her family and a few of her brother's friends. Reason for the trip: Her brother's birthday.

We talked, sat by the pool, got eaten alive by mosquitoes, fed animals at the zoo, ate and ate and ate some more, sang karaoke, played charades, and slept very little. The days were hot, but the nights were very cold. All in all it was a great weekend!

Tonight at 7pm, I'm headed to Huaraz, a city 8 hours from Lima in the mountains of Peru. I will be translating for a medical team that is coming from the U.S. I will return "home"(aka - to Lima) on July 17th. Please be in prayer for this trip: safety, health, and ministry. I know it will be unlike any other mission trip I've done. Right now I am a mix of excited and nervous. I know God had this trip planned for me before I ever arrived in Peru, so I trust that He will be faithful throughout the next week. 

I'm not sure that I'll have access to internet, 

so be looking for a new post when I arrive back in the city!

It's hard to believe that I've only just finished two weeks here in Lima. It feels like I've been here forever. Three more weeks to go, and lots of people yet to see!