Peru - The Irony of the Water Crisis

PRAY FOR PERU!!

If you have been following my Facebook at all in recent days, you've probably noticed that Peru is in a serious crisis caused by heavy rains in the highlands which have created landslides throughout the nation. With rainfall reaching nearly ten times the normal amount, landslides are wreaking havoc throughout the highlands and the desert, coastal region.

Crops have been washed away, produce has been lost, more than 60 people have died, and thousands have been evacuated from their homes. Friends of ours are facing the clean-up of such destruction as their house was filled with nearly 3 feet of water, which has since begun to dry leaving clay-like mud on everything it touched.

Ironically, despite the excess rain that has fallen, there is a water shortage in the nation's capital of Lima. Because water is coming down from the mountains with high levels of dirt, branches, and garbage, the water plant is unable to keep up with the purification process. This has led to water being cut in homes throughout the capital for the past 4 days.

Free water distribution sites were set up around the city to give water for cleaning and flushing toilets. People lined the streets for hours waiting their turn to fill barrels and buckets with water. Drinking water is sold out nearly everywhere, and even the places that do have drinking water for sale have begun to charge double or triple the price and limit the quantity one can buy.

There are food shortages as produce has become limited and prices have sky rocketed. Some supermarkets have increased prices of produce more than five times their normal cost. The shelves are nearly empty of non-perishable items.

Preschool, elementary, high school, and university classes were cancelled throughout the nation Thursday and Friday, and they have also been suspended Monday and Tuesday. Some provinces have cancelled classes until April 3rd due to the prediction of more rain in the upcoming weeks.

My heart is broken, but God is teaching me a lesson in gratitude. Thankfully, in our home we have had water for a few hours each day. The pressure hasn't been great, but it's enough time to fill up buckets, wash the dishes, and bathe before it gets turned off again. I've taken a shower (if you can call it that) with a bucket for 3 days now as the water pressure isn't even strong enough to push the water through the shower.

However, yesterday as I was feeling frustrated with the water situation, I was nearly brought to tears by my brother-in-law who had to be evacuated from his home with only the clothes on his back due to the river that flooded the property of the mission where they live. His almost 2 year old son, oblivious to the situation, running around and playing with a smile on his face, and his wife remaining strong even when all she wanted to do was cry.

I was reminded to be thankful - thankful that my house has been unaffected except the lack of running water, thankful that even though the water has been inconsistent, it comes and goes just long enough to save some, thankful that my life has been relatively unaffected by the landslides, thankful that the days off of school gave me time to work on my Master's courses and get ahead on my lesson plans, and thankful that despite my husband's job being at high risk due to the rising sea levels, he has also been safe and unharmed.

It breaks my heart that those most affected are some off the poorest of the nation.  Many farmers have lost their crops, and some have lost animals in the landslides. Those closest to the rising rivers have lost their homes and nearly everything in them. House insurance is nearly non-existent in Peru, and aid isn't always available. My heart breaks for those affected.

I'll leave you with some pictures from the last week. (Most of these I have taken from Facebook and news websites. I hope I don't get in trouble for that!)

 Helicopters taking people from affected areas.

Woman carried away by the landslide escapes by grabbing debris and crawling to shore. 

A cow carried away by the landslides. They think it belongs to the woman above.

BCM (Bible Centered Missions) property after the river overflowed at 2 a.m. Thursday morning. Forty people had to be evacuated.  

The home of my brother-in-law and his family who serve as missionaries at BCM.

 People lined up with barrels and buckets to receive water.

People buying water at the supermarket on Thursday before it sold out and prices tripled.

Public Transportation

I must admit, I'm a people watcher. At sporting events I'm generally more focused on the people entering and leaving the game or seated around me than I am on the game. At church, if you put me in sight of a doorway, sadly, I can guarantee you my thoughts will jump to whoever I see coming and going rather than the sermon.

I remember sitting in the lobby near the large window in my dorm during college attempting to study, yet finding my eyes and my thoughts wandering to the people walking by outside. I'd look at them and observe - what were they thinking, what fashion trend were they showing off, where were they going, what made them tick, etc.

Recently, I find myself doing the same thing whenever I use public transportation here in Lima, which is nearly ever day. Sitting in the taxi with music playing, I observe the taxi driver. Usually to make sure he isn't going to do anything to me or to be sure he's watching the road, but I often wonder about the person behind the wheel as well. Does he have a family at home? What is his background? Is he from Lima or does he come from the provinces? When was the last time he slept? Rarely, do I talk to these men that drive me around the city, but I wonder about them the same.

Then there's the busses. You have 10-50 people crammed like sardines into a tube on wheels. There's music playing, the cobrador is shouting names of streets and urbanizations, asking riders to pay the fare, and a driver shouting at the other drivers in his way on the road, but there is minimal conversation between the riders. Occasionally you'll find a few people on the bus who are riding together and conversing, but those who embark on their journey alone are entertained by their cellphones, music and newspapers. It's awkward if you make eye contact and even more uncomfortable when the bus is silent and one must ask their neighbor for directions.

Again, I find myself observing. In my mind I create life stories for the people around me based on how they are dressed and what they are carrying with them.

Woman A has just left the office since she is wearing a skirt and high heels. She looks freshly powdered, so I bet she's on her way to meet a friend for a coffee.

Woman B must have gone to the gym and then stopped to pick up a few groceries on the way home. She's wearing sports clothes and is carrying a gym bag. She's also wearing a wedding ring, and I see baby formula in the Wong grocery bag, so she must have a husband and baby at home.

I could go on and on, making stories for all of the passengers, but I'll spare you from reading my thoughts.

The moral of the story...

We're living in a globalized world, rubbing shoulders with people of different races, ethnicities, backgrounds and lifestyles on a daily basis. Yet, we have become a world of lonely, self-focused people. We plug our ears with our headphones, listen to our choice of music, and hide in the seat of the bus (if you're lucky to get a seat) avoiding even the slightest bit of eye contact until it's time to fight our way to the door. Even then, one might push and shove through the crowd, saying perdón, disculpa, permiso or any other phrase that kindly implies those in the way should squeeze themselves tighter together so that the passerby may get through. However, despite stepping on someone's toes or knocking someone in the head with your bag little eye contact is made.

Then there's days when I come home and think about the uniqueness of situations like these. As a Christian, am I missing opportunities to evangelize and share the gospel? What if the person standing beside me on the bus today is going home lonely tonight wondering why he is even on this Earth? What if the little girl I saw crying on the bus lives in an abusive home and she's running away? And I sit, guilty as charged, without saying a word, avoiding eye contact, and bopping my head to the music playing through my headphones.

When people ask me why I'm here in Peru I have a few responses:
1. I teach at a bilingual school here in Lima.
2. I came to volunteer with a children's home.
3. My husband is Peruvian.

Yet, maybe, just maybe I am here for more than that. Maybe I am here to be a witness to the other passengers riding on the same bus as me. Perhaps, I'm here to talk about the love of Jesus with the taxi driver who happens to give me a ride home from the grocery store.

Maybe it's time to take out the headphones, look people in the eyes, and smile at them as they board the bus and sit or stand beside me.

It's not an easy challenge, and I'm a pretty reserved person when it comes to talking to complete strangers. But it's a risk I'm challenging myself to take, and I'd ask that any of you in similar situations consider as well.

Blessings to you and yours.

Following the Ebb & Flow of Life

No matter how much time I spend in this country, how emerged I become with the culture, or how fluent I become in the language I don't think I'll ever feel fully acclimated to life here. Don't get me wrong, I love Peru and its people, the culture and its rich history, and that fact that I found my husband here. But on the other hand, I don't like that I have to be cautious and think about what I'm carrying with me every time I leave the house. I don't like being watched and cat-called by men on the street, and I don't like grocery shopping or worrying about how I will carry all of the groceries to my doorstep on my own.

Life has its way of changing. Throughout high school and college I dreamed of living abroad, teaching students in a multicultural setting, and becoming fluent in Spanish as I managed my way around an unknown city made up of primarily Spanish speakers. I was full of hopes and dreams, wondering where life would take me. Not to say I don't still hope and dream, but my thought patterns have changed.

I've come to believe that I've fulfilled my dream of living abroad, teaching, and learning the language, and now I'm ready to move back home. However, God doesn't seem to think I'm done here yet. My plan was never to marry a local, stay beyond my 2.5 year contract, or become part of a family made up of over 100 members, but God's plan was different. And at the same time, I wouldn't trade any of it for anything.

As I look back on my blogs from trips to Peru and my first months officially living here, I realize I will never be that exact same version of myself again. My experience here in Peru has change me, it has changed my view of the world, it's altered my ideas and perspectives of rich and poor, and it's given me new thoughts and opinions about how to help those in need and educate those who have everything.

The longer I spend here working among the wealthy and volunteering among those in poverty, I realize that neither group is better off than the other. The joy that flows from the faces of the children at the children's home is often the highlight of my week. Then the lack of enthusiasm I witness from students each day at school makes my heart sad for them. Kids that have so much but appreciate so little vs children who have little and appreciate even the smallest gesture of love.

I'm not sure what the next phase of life holds. My current hopes and dreams are to move to the States within a day's drive from my family, buy a house, and begin our family - The Gutierrez family. But I know that's not what God has in store for Javier and me at this moment in time. Right now we feel called to invest in the children at the children's home, care for his grandmother, and live a simple "American" life here in Peru. <American because our life is anything but a simple Peruvian life, yet we aren't among the wealthy of the country either.>

For now, it's just my husband and I embarking on this journey together and praying that the Lord leads us in the way that we should go. We're trusting God to show us His divine plan for us as husband and wife as we follow the ebb and flow of the city life that surrounds us.

The Civil Wedding: Somewhere Between Fiancé and Wife

For those of you that have been following my blog, you've read about the difficulties Javier and I passed through trying to obtain the correct documents for marriage in Peru. We persevered and finally, after two months of stress, sweat, and tears we handed in all of the documents, passed our medical exams, and submitted our final payment for legal marriage. We set the date and we waited.

The date was May 4, 2015. Exactly 21 months after Javier first asked me to date him; a little more than a year and a half since we "officially" became boyfriend and girlfriend.

I had to smile because when I first started dating Javier he told me he knew that I was the girl he would marry. I wasn't quite so sure in the early stages of dating, but I agreed to embark on the journey and see how the Lord would guide and direct us as individuals and in our relationship. The catch was, he had every intention of marrying me, but he made it very clear that he wouldn't marry me for a minimum of 3 years so that we had plenty of time to get to know one another (as if 4 years of friendship prior to dating hadn't allowed us to get to know one another at least a little bit).

Here we are not even two years later: married by law but waiting for the "religious" (traditional) wedding service to live as a married couple - under the same roof, sharing the same bank accounts, etc.

The civil wedding was anti-climactic to say the least. Honestly, I'm thankful it wasn't more than it was. After wading through so much paperwork leading up to the date, it felt like we had dressed up to sign more paperwork. I don't feel married, but I do enjoy calling Javier my husband and hearing him thank God for his wife when he prays.

To put it simple:

• We arrived early and we waited in the lobby to be called back to the ceremony room.
• We stood before the "judge" with our witnesses on both sides, and we listened to the laws of marriage as they were read to us.
• He asked Javier if he agreed to the laws. Javier responded, "Sí!"
• He asked me if I agreed to the laws, and I also responded, "Sí!"
• We exchanged rings.
• We signed the marriage license and stamped our fingerprints beside our signatures.
• We kissed.
• Finally, we went outside to take a few pictures.

It took 10 minutes...literally!! 

Months of hassle, frustration, and tears: incorrect documents, waiting for correct documents to arrive, missing pieces of my residency. A great lesson in patience. A time of growth in our relationship with each other. Another experience to add to the list of ways Peru is not like the USA. 

And tonight, I find myself preparing to return to work tomorrow after a 10 day break. When people ask, I am still a Señorita. However, to close friends and family I have become a Señora. 

I'm somewhere between a fiancé and a wife - not fully one or the other. 

As I explained to Javier, it's a good thing labels are just that...labels. Our relationship has consisted of a lot of confusion in that department. Dating but not quite boyfriend/girlfriend. Wedding planning but not officially engaged. And now, married but waiting for the July ceremony to receive the blessing from God upon our marriage. 

Since Javier won't let me share the civil wedding pictures on my Facebook (as not to confuse our friends), I'll share a few with you here. 

Waiting for the ceremony with Mike and Diane Fietje.

Mike was a witness for our wedding.

Listening to the laws.

Signing the marriage license.

Exchanging the rings.

Stamping fingerprints.

Showing off our rings which are our actual wedding bands.

We only wore them for the day, and now they are safely put away until the July ceremony.

We're married!

Showing off our certificate of marriage.

Pictures after the ceremony with Nancy Miller.

Javier's mom and one of our witnesses for the wedding.

Thank you for you prayers over our marriage as we begin this new adventure together.
"Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."
Mark 10:9 (NIV) 

Legal Paperwork Part 2

Warning: If you haven't read the February post titled "The Chronicles of the Apostrophe" this post probably won't make much sense, so go on over and read that first.

This week my birth certificate arrived via a lovely family that came to Peru and travelled all the way to Cuzco. On their way back home they had a flight through Lima in which I was to meet them at the airport to retrieve the long awaited document. To make a long story short: confusion of dates and sickness kept me from going to the airport. Javier ended up going to the airport by himself as a detour on his way to work Monday evening. And alas we have the document in hand.

Before taking my birth certificate and letter verifying I have never been married to be translated, Javier  made a stop at the mayor's office to ensure that we had all of the proper documentation. He accepted the documents, but found an error with my residency. Of course nothing in this country can be simple...

In Peru, I have to update my residency yearly to prove that I am still here working. There is also an annual fee I have to pay. Usually they put a sticker on the back of your resident card to show that you have paid and updated your status. However, the law has changed, and now it is all in the computer system. They are no longer using the stickers, but when you enter the numbers into the government system, then it shows up at that I am legally in the country.

Unfortunately, the elderly man in charge of legal weddings here where I live didn't want to take Javier's word nor the documents I had stating that I have paid and am legal. Javier tried to explain the situatoin, but the man only wanted to ee the sticker on my resident card or there would be no wedding.

Thankfully, Javier has a way with words, and he convinced the man to call the immigration office. After a short exchange, the man nodded his head in approval, and Javier was on his way to drop off my paperwork with a legal translator. We picked up the paperwork on Friday, and everything is now placed in a plastic report folder waiting to be turned in. Next we have to do medical screenings and then publish our marriage in the paper for 8 days. Then, we will finally be able to set a date for the legal ceremony.

It's been quite the exhausting, frustrating process. I've cried in the office at the municipality more than once, and I've spent a lot of time in prayer that everything would work out. At one point I even asked God if this was his sign that we shouldn't be getting married - which I later decided wasn't the reason, but that perhaps God is trying to teach me patience.

As all Peruvians say, "Por algo ." Meaning: There is a reason.

Hopefully, all of this to say, that by the end of April, I should be a legally married woman. However, we are still waiting until the "religious" (traditional) ceremony to take place before we will consider ourselves to be married.

Thank you all for your continued prayers. Let me leave you with another picture from our engagement session.

A Visit from the Doctor

I've always prided myself in never having to use Peruvian healthcare, although I knew sooner or later it was to happen. The good thing about Peru is that when one gets sick, the pharmacy almost always has an antibiotic on hand one can take without a prescription, so that is usually my go to source.

However, when I was up all night Sunday sick to my stomach I was afraid a visit with the doctor may be in my near future. Trying to be tough, I overdosed on TUMS and took imodium with me in my purse hoping to make it through a day of school. Since sick days are not given as part of my contract, in order to be absent from work one must provide a doctor's excuse meaning if I missed work I had no choice but to visit a doctor...something I was hoping not to do.

By 8:30 a.m. I felt like I was on fire and when I stood up I got so dizzy I had to sit back down. I couldn't even make it from my desk to the doorway without holding onto the wall the whole way. So I stalked down the hall to the bathroom and then into the director's office and explained my situation. She sent me to the nurse, and the nurse sent me straight home after discovering my fever was over 101F.

Everyone at school always talks about this wonderful service that our insurance provides in which a doctor comes straight to your house. I called as soon as I got home, spelled my name fifteen different times, and explained over and over that I only have one last name. (Unfortunately, I couldn't tell them I am Yesica Gutierrez like I normally do since I had to use my legal name.) After about 15 minutes I was told my insurance didn't carry this benefit, so I hung up, emailed the lady in charge of the insurance at school, and I went straight to bed.

I woke nearly 7 hours later with a fever of 103.8F, received an email from work with a different policy number, and I called the doctor again. This time after spelling my name thirteen more times and explaining several times that I only have one last name, a doctor was sent to my house. He arrived nearly 3 hours later at 9:30pm.

Now, I will say it is quite convenient to have the doctor come straight to you, but I won't say the service was the best. The doctor was nice, but he honestly didn't do much. He asked my symptoms and what my temperature  was last time I checked; then he took my blood pressure and pressed on my abdomen a few times. Finally, he wrote me a prescription for 5 different medicines (for dehydration, fever, nausea, parasites, and infection), and he was on his way out the door less than 15 minutes after he arrived. Five minutes later the pharmacy was on my doorstep with the medicine he had ordered.  And by 10:30pm I was back in bed with lots of drugs in my system.

I took Tuesday off work because there was no way I was going to play tough girl again. Javier was off, too, so he came to spend the day with me. Basically we both slept most of the day since I was sick and he had worked overnight the night before. But he made sure I had soup for dinner and that I took my medicines on time.

So while I lost my pride of no medical history in Peru, I can say I've had yet another new experience...a doctor visiting my house and medicine delivered to my door all for less than 20 US dollars.

And just in case you're wondering - Yes, I am feeling much better. After my first meal in 5 days which was Chinese food for dinner last night, tamales for breakfast this morning, and Papa Johns tonight, I'd say I am cured.

Although, now allergy and cold season is starting so my eyes are bright red and my nose doesn't stop running...

Let me leave you with one of my favorite pictures from our engagement session. :)

The Chronicles of the Apostrophe

"This will be something we look back on one day and laugh about," responded Javier to my aggravation over a missed apostrophe in my last name, O'Connor. 

You see, here in Peru you must have a legal wedding before you can have the religious (traditional) wedding ceremony. The legal ceremony consists of the laws of marriage being stated, the exchanging of vows and rings, and the signing of the marriage certificate. It would be similar to going to the courthouse to receive your marriage license in the States but on a much larger scale. Most couples do the legal ceremony just days before the religious wedding.

However, as a foreigner things are a bit different. You see, there are 2 documents you are supposed to get in your home country to bring to Peru for the legal ceremony. The first is a letter stating that you are not married and have never been married (or in some cases a letter proving that you are divorced and legally eligible for marriage). The second is a birth certificate. Both documents are to have an apostille.To make things more complicated, the couple must marry within 60 days of the date marked on the documents.

For Javier and I that meant that upon returning to Peru we'd have about a month and a half to legally be married even though our traditional ceremony isn't until July. And We worked so hard to get everything in order to take the the town hall, and we were denied because my birth certificate wasn't written with an apostrophe in my last name.

After a trip to the US Embassy, I spent the evening writing an affidavit claiming that I am the same person with or without the apostrophe in my last name. I received a scanned copy of the original birth certificate issued at birth which included an apostrophe, and I made copies of all of my documents. We realized my driver's license also does not have an apostrophe which we thought would benefit us in the process. Javier spent hours carefully translating the affidavit into Spanish, and we took it to the US Embassy to be signed and sealed. In talking with the lawyer at the US Embassy I was promised that this is a procedure they do often and that it is an acceptable way of verifying the legality of my birth certificate since the US Embassy cannot issue a birth certificate.

We were so relieved to have the documents in hand, and we returned to the town hall only to be denied again. The man in charge of the district where I live wasn't willing to accept the affidavit. He claimed that I could have asked any friend of mine to sign and seal it, and he demanded a birth certificate with an apostrophe or that I change all of my documents to be without. 

So I spent hours on the phone with my mother and the State of Indiana Health Department. I was told it would be impossible to put an apostrophe in my name because the software they use doesn't allow extra characters. I talked to another lady who seemed willing to help, but after 15 minutes on hold, I hung up. I called the next morning and talked to a very helpful lady who was able to do just what I needed. 

Finally, 2 weeks later, we think we have everything sorted out. Now we are waiting for the birth certificate to arrive with the apostille, so that we can have the document translated and finally be legally married in Peru, hopefully before the date on the letter stating that I am single"expires" in the early part of March. 

I never knew an apostrophe was so important. In the States it doesn't seem to matter if it is there or not - credit cards, driver's license, etc. However, here in Peru they seem to think that I am two different people. One person has an apostrophe in her last name and the other person does not.

I just hope that Javier is right that this will be something we laugh about one day. Right now the joke in the midst of all the wedding planning is, "...if we get married" not because we don't want to, but legally at this point it is impossible. 

God is testing our patience and perserverance. He is testing our love for one another and our willingness to do whatever it takes to be together. God has a plan for this, and while we don't understand why this happened, we know that at the end of it all we will get to spend the rest of our lives together. And eventually I'll change my last name, so hopefully there are no more errors of forgotten apostrophes. 

And I'll leave you with a few pictures from the proposal just for fun.

 151 days until the wedding!

Sometimes I Wonder...

Update blog: I've had it on my to-do list for quite some time. Actually it was something I meant to do before I ever went home for Christmas, and it never got done. Today after arriving home from my 2nd day at school, I decided tonight would be a "me" night. I don't get quiet evenings just for me much anymore. I am usually with Javier 4-5 evenings a week and the other days I try to catch up with friends or take care of necessary tasks like cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, etc.

So here I sit in front of the open windows, listening to the sounds of the outdoors and enjoying the breeze the ceiling fan provides. (Sorry friends who are buried in snow.)

My last blog update was 6 months ago! I'm sorry blogging world that you haven't been as informed about my time here in Peru. Life got busy second semester last year, I flew home the night school ended, had a whirlwind of a trip in the States and Canada, and now I find myself back in Peru. I've been here about two weeks, and it's been quite the adventure - organizing legal paperwork, visitors from America, planning a wedding, a day trip north of Lima, pool party and hanging out at the children's home, and now school is starting.

Now let me get to the meat of what I have on my mind tonight...

Some days I wonder why God brought me to Peru, so far from my family and my closest friends. I wonder why I gave up teaching in an amazing school with great colleagues and a church which felt like family. But then I remind myself, that this was my dream. Being here in Peru (a Spanish speaking country) was a calling I felt as a 13 year old sitting in my first Spanish class.  If I weren't here I wouldn't be marrying my best friend and I probably wouldn't speak Spanish quite as well, not to mention other things, too. Some days are hard, some days I want to give up and move home, but I know that God brought me here for a purpose, so I will push through, I will try to smile, and I will continue to seek God's plan for my life each and every day.

Javier and I joke that he had to travel to 60+ countries and then back home to Peru in order to meet the perfect girl for him. I never imagined when I met him in 2009 that 4 years later he would become my boyfriend. Add a year and a few months and now he is my fiance. I guess if this is what God's purpose in bringing me to Peru was, then I can't complain.

Peru is home now, yet Indiana is home, too. There are still days and  probably always will be days that I miss my family, my friends, and my life in Indiana.  Recently, I miss teaching at New Paris Elementary. Being back home and visiting my friends at school made me miss it; I was jealous of the resources, the classroom decor, and the overall friendly atmosphere. I fear I have lost my passion, I miss having a class full of children that felt like a second family.

As the school year begins, I must constantly remind myself that no matter what happens, this is the means God used to bring me to this great country, so I must rejoice. I need to stop dragging my feet and hanging my head. Instead, I need to walk proclaiming the good things the Lord has done and be thankful because He is faithful and good.

Please pray for me, my colleagues and our students as we begin the 2015 school year.

Please pray for Javier and I as we continue to sort through paperwork issues in order to be married here in Peru.

And lastly, please pray for the children's home as they have faced many staff changes already this year.

I made it a goal when I returned to Peru to try to update my blog twice a month. Let's see how well I can do with that!

Blessings to each one of you!

Living to Serve - Prayers Please

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." ~ Matthew 25:35-40

One of the most important lessons I have learned in the last year is that anyone can serve the Lord. You don't have to have a huge bank account of money or even the grandest of all houses. It simply takes a willing heart and a desire to help others.

One of the first things that drew me to Javier was his desire to help others. We met at the Children's Home in 2009 and every time our paths crossed here in Peru he was one of the first ones to call and make sure I was settled and had everything I might need. At the time neither of us had even thought about a relationship beyond friendship, but God has a way of altering our plans and doing things in his timing.

Upon my arrival to Peru last year, Javier was one of the first people to call me, to help me look for an apartment, and to make sure I was settled into my new home. After a month or two, we both began to realize our relationship was changing, and the rest is history.

Anyways, our relationship is not the purpose of this post.

Upon meeting Javier, I noticed a love for the children of Kids Alive. He'd come and play with the kids, buy things they might need, and he usually returned from his trips abroad with something for each of them. He loved them and loved spending time with them.

Since our relationship has begun, he has taught me so much in means of serving others. He uses the car to give some of the guys at work a ride home who many make less or live further away. A few weeks ago we picked up a young girl and her 15 month old baby walking along the road at 12:30 at night to take them home - a 10 minute drive which would have taken her about an hour walking, not to mention the danger aspect.

We've recently decided together to use our resources, knowledge, and love for the children to begin to help the adolescents at the Juniper Tree (Kids Alive) Children's home. Our desire is to find interests they may have and provide classes or training so that upon leaving the home they have a skill that they can use to support themselves.
A few weeks ago we were able to pay for one of the teenage boys who is a phenomenal artist to take a 2 day course in which he was able to learn techniques for 3D painting using ceramic material and a wooden board. Javier picked him up and drove him downtown both days for his class. After the course finished, we were able to purchase the supplies he would need to continue to practice this new art he had learned.
We'd love to do this with other children as well. However, the key is finding what the children are interested in and then looking for ways to help them to develop these interests. It also takes coordination with schedules and money.
In the future we'd love to open our home (when we have one) to the kids to come a few at a time and stay for a weekend. Our desire is for them to see how a family functions outside of the children's home and to be an example of a Godly marriage.
It's a mission/ministry we both feel very called to, but we are still trying to figure out how exactly it may develop and function.

Please be in prayer for us as we continue to develop our ideas and work with the children to determine their interests and the best way for us to help. Pray for us as we run ideas by directors of the home who thus far have been very supportive - although I've heard rumors that they're praying for us to be house parents and live at the home with 6-7 kids in our care once we are married (a field of ministry we do not feel called to at this point). Pray for time and resources - both of which can at times be limited. Pray also that the Lord would continue to guide us and direct us in the way that He has paved for us to go and that if it means a change in our vision that we would follow as He leads.

Much love from Peru! ~ Jessica

Living a Dream - Year #1 Reflections

Do you ever have those days or weeks when you wonder what in the world you are doing in life? Where are you headed? Are you on the right path? Are you following God's will? Why you are where you are?

While I know God has me exactly where He wants me, and I'm living a dream come true, some days are just plain difficult. I miss teaching in the States with respectful students, consistent discipline and students from average families. I miss my colorful, student friendly classroom filled with books and resources for the kids. I miss a loving, supportive staff that truly had the best intentions for the students. I miss my church and the Bible study group I became a part of my last 2 years back in Indiana. I miss driving to my friends' homes for the weekends to spend the night and have girl time. But most of all, I miss my family...sitting outside in the summer around the pond with a fire burning or laying out in the pool relaxing while talking about anything and everything with my mom. I miss the smell of a warm house in the winter, feeling soft carpet beneath my feet, and the comfort of simply being "home".

However, despite all of the things I miss and looking past the days when I think I can't take anymore, I know that God has me in Peru for a reason or perhaps more than one, and I couldn't be happier. Living and teaching in Peru has been a dream of mine since 2007. I discovered a love for Spanish and teaching during high school and after just one trip to Peru, I knew I had to come back. This is my dream, something I prayed for for years. I'm thankful that God answered my prayer in His timing and not my own.

As I look back on the last year, I am filled with reminders of God's love, faithfulness, and protection time and time again. He's provided for me in ways I never even imagined, and not once has He left me feeling alone.

• He provided an apartment for me when I was very discouraged with what I was originally offered. It's the perfect apartment for the perfect price, in a safe location, and my landlords are wonderful people. 
• He's kept me safe in the streets, taxis, and buses, and only allowed me to experience one robbery which happened to be the stealing of Javier's phone right from my hand through the window of our own car. 
• He's blessed me with opportunities to serve and build stronger relationships with the children at Juniper Tree in Pachacamac.
• I've been able to pay off one loan which leaves me only one left to go...there is light at the end of the tunnel! 
• In moments of loneliness it never fails that He has provided someone who calls to chat or hang out with. Sometimes His love has come through mail from friends back home, too. Mail which is appreciated more than I think you understand.
• I have learned to serve more, be hospitable, and think of myself less. Who cares if the house hasn't been cleaned in a week? There are people that would like a cooked meal and a hot shower.
• God blessed Javier with a car that has been super beneficial and a blessing in so many ways. 
• I've made new friends and built deeper relationships with old friends. 
• I've learned so much about humility and living simply. 
• I've heard testimonies I can't imagine having to go through, and I've seen people on the other side of tragedy living lives filled with joy and completely surrendered to the Lord.
• I've been blessed by the presence of Javier in my life. A friendship of 5 years that I never imagined would develop into a lifelong love and marriage. (Yes, I said marriage...)

I could go on and on about the goodness of God during my first full year of living here in Peru. As I look around me and cringe because the sun is setting at 5pm and that the chilly evening air is drifting through my windows, I stop to remind myself that even having this apartment is a blessing because so many others live without properly closing windows or sturdy cement walls. 

Of course I miss my family, my friends, my church, and NPE, but I'm not here to dwell on the things that aren't here with me. I'm here to learn, to serve, to teach, and to become the best person that I can be. I'm here because this is where God called me many years ago, and I am ready to carry out the mission that He has placed before me - to educate children and to serve to the best of my abilities. 

Thank you all for your continued love and support as I follow this path of life. It's hard to believe it's been a year, and I'm already excited to be home for Christmas. However, until then, I am looking forward to the days ahead with anticipation. Awaiting the Lord's daily voice leading me in the direction He has set for me that day. Each of your prayers is a blessing in my life. I couldn't have made it this long without you!

Living with Contradictions

This post has been a long time coming. I've sat down to write many times, but the words just don't flow. There is no way to accurately describe the inner conflict I face on a daily basis as I try to find my place at work and in ministry here in Peru. My thoughts are honest thoughts; they are my opinions and my own emotions. Please note that there are some generalizations made that are not meant to offend, but rather to encourage each of us to take a look at how we are living and ensure that our financial wealth (or lack of) does not impact how big or little our faith in Christ is. Christ should always be our first love and our only source of hope and confidence.

_ _ _ _ _

Some days I'm not even sure what to think, how to respond, or even if I'm living reality. It's emotionally exhausting some days to work among the wealthy and serve beside the less fortunate (in terms of money). My daily job is to teach children from wealthy families. Most have nannies or at least someone who cleans house and/or cooks dinner for the family, and some hardly see their parents. Then, I volunteer at a children's home here in Lima where children live without biological parents, in a house with other children who aren't related to them and with a "mama" who cares for them.

Just last Friday I was riding the bus home from work after a very long week, when two boys, brothers between 7-10 years old got on the bus. They talked about how their parents are drug addicts and how they have to support their family, including two younger sisters. They then sang a song (very off key) while trying to keep their balance as the bumpy road tossed about in the aisle of the bus. My heart broke as I thought about the children at the children's home and even those in Manchay who have faced similar situations. When they finished singing, they walked the aisle with their hands out hoping someone would give them a few soles. Some people did, others did not.

This is a normal situation here in Peru. People enter the bus to sing a song or play an instrument and then walk the aisle hoping to receive money from the passengers. Sometimes they explain about a sick family member and try to sell chocolates or other treats to earn money to help pay for the medical expenses. Other days they discuss addictions they have overcome and the need for money to start over with a new life. Sometimes I give money, sometimes I don't.

I live in a wealthy area where houses cost more than the houses in my hometown in the USA. Yet, on the other side of the mountain people live in one or two room houses, dirt floors, and sometimes don't even have running water or electricity. I work in a school where parents pay $1000 per month for their children to attend school while some of my friends' children attend public schools where they are lucky to have a full week of school due to absent teachers or random school closings. I see vehicles with their BMW, Audi, and Mercedes, emblems on a regular basis and then I see families with multiple children boarding the bus with barely enough money to pay their bus fare.

My heart and mind are confused as to how one city can have such dramatic financial differences. It seems the poor get poorer while the rich get richer more drastically than I can express. It breaks my heart that very few of this country's wealthy people care for those living in desperate situations. It seems like the more money one has, the more superior one feels and the less concern for the well-being of others.

However, I'm learning that no matter what social class you come from, we are all poor in some way. Some more visibly than others, but each one of us is lacking something. Some of those around me who have little by means of financial wealth have much in terms of spiritual wealth. They are some of the strongest Christians I know who daily encourage and challenge me to be a better person, to have more faith, and to believe the impossible. They are the ones serving this country and witnessing to their neighbors in attempt to grow and strengthen the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth. On the other hand, the wealthy are generally content. Life is "easy" and there is little room for or need for God. They tend to be nominal in their beliefs and some use church as a way of making connections and growing their businesses.

Heartbreaking...

But, there is hope! The poor in finances are rich in the Spirit and they are making a difference in this great nation. My faith and strength rests in the hand of Father who is making disciples right before my eyes. If only more people would realize that money is only temporary, but they things of God last forever.

People are inherently...

As I began to think of a title for this post I recalled a paper I wrote during my last year of high school debating whether people are inherently good or inherently evil. I don't remember which side of the debate I took a stance on, but I do believe that all people have a bit of evil inside them as a result of the fall of man in the book of Genesis when Eve chose to eat the apple.

I will, however, also argue that because Christ shed his blood on the cross and died to cover our multitudes of sin, those who have accepted Christ as their Savior and choose to live for Him must also then choose to fight the evil and practice the good. Of course we still sin, we still make mistakes, we still have that mark of evil upon us; yet Christ, by His grace, covers the evil and sees the good. We as Christians must then choose to demonstrate the good to the world in order to be living examples of Christ's light in a world filled with the darkness of evil.

In the last month, I have faced evil acts committed by man two different times in the form of robbery. I am so thankful for God's physical protection and provision during both occasions. Let me explain more...

Most of you know that last month my U.S. bank account was hacked, and all of the money I had deposited to continue paying on my student loans was used to make purchases around the world (literally - Siberia, USA, England, Israel, etc.) We have no idea how this happened since my debit card has been safely stored and unused since I was in the US in January. Thankfully, the bank was very helpful, and all of my money was returned either by the companies or through insurance the bank provides.

Then on Tuesday this week, I was robbed again while in my own car. I know a lot of my American friends are wondering, "How does one get robbed while driving down the road in her own car?" Let me be the first to tell you, it's actually very easy.

Javier had picked me up at school to take me to the central post office where I was to pick up a box my parents had sent me. The post office isn't in the best part of Lima, but it isn't in the worst area either. Javier and I were driving with the windows partway open, when he asked me to look up a number on my phone. Holding my phone in my right hand, I began to search the internet for the number he had asked for.

Upon finding the number, he asked me to use his phone to call the company. I explained to him that in English it would be nearly impossible for me to accurately explain the problem we were having with the car, so in Spanish I probably couldn't do it either. I then asked him if he would please call them, to which he responded, "If you call, I'll tell you what to say."

Still holding my phone in my right hand, I picked up his phone to dial with my left. I (not being from these parts) never thought to close the windows, and Javier being focused on the call, the problem with the car, and getting to the post office before they closed also did not think about the insecurity of using a phone with the windows open.

After that things become a slight blur. I don't remember if we had stopped for a traffic light or slowed down because of traffic, but as I began to dial a hand entered the window and grabbed Javier's phone. In my peripheral vision I could see two men outside the car, one in a green and blue plaid button up, and the other in a solid colored t-shirt. My immediate reaction was to throw my phone to the ground to free my right hand to help fight for the phone. However, before Javier or I could react the man holding the phone was twisting my fingers, and I just let it go. We quickly drove away, but as I turned around I saw the two men running down the street in the opposite direction, bent over the phone.

I am so thankful the men didn't approach us with a knife or a gun. We are blessed that the only damage they did was causing temporary pain to my fingers and shaking my nerves up a bit. The only lost property was a cell phone, not a life.

So then the next questions I received from friends back in the US were, "How do you get it back? Do you file a police report?" Forgive me, but I had to chuckle inside. Javier and I first went to collect my box knowing that we were running short on time. Next we went to the cellphone company and had the phone chip and number blocked so that the men could not access Javier's stored information or make phone calls. As for a police report, even if we filed one, the police wouldn't do anything about it. Cellphones and such things are robbed on a very regular basis here in Peru.

"What happens next then?" one might ask. Well, Javier still needs to buy a new phone, but in the meantime he worries about me even leaving the house without being able to contact him. As for the men who stole the phone, they will probably take it to one of the markets and sell it to someone looking for a phone cheaper than they sell them in the store.

Lessons learned:

• God is our ultimate protector. 
• Pray for those who do evil against you for they need to know the salvation and wholeness that comes through a personal relationship with Christ. 
• Forgiveness.
• Sharing the blame - Javier and I were both responsible for setting ourselves up to be robbed. 
• Even though I generally feel safe with Javier, I also need to continue to be aware of my surroundings and personal safety.
• Close the windows when talking on the phone (no matter what area I am in). 
• Don't use a cellphone in plain view in certain parts of the city.

Please friends and prayer warriors, continue to pray for safety and God's protection while I am here in Peru. I know similar things can and do happen in the US; however, here in Peru it is more likely. When I add up all of the time I have spent in Peru it amounts to approximately 16 months. I am so thankful that in all of that time, this is the first time I have been robbed, and I pray that it will be the only time it happens, too.

I will be sending out another newsletter at the end of this month. If you are not signed up for my monthly updates and would like to be, please comment with your email address. (All comments are sent to me before being published on the blog, so I will not post any comments that include your personal email addresses or information.)

God is faithful!!

And just for kicks and giggles, here's a recent picture of Javier and I while hanging out with a missions team that was visiting from Canada for a few weeks. He wanted to use the hot pads and quilts the women had brought to pretend he was an elderly, native Peruvian woman.

Blessings to each of you and your families this Easter weekend.

Much love - Jessica

Doctor Visits and Culture Differences

Since returning from the States in January I have been to the hospital/doctor's office twice for Javier. There aren't really doctor's offices or clinics here like you would find in the States, and both times I have felt a little weird going to a hospital for something at home I would visit a local doctor about. However, that's how life is here, so I must adjust.

In January we went to the hospital because Javier had been having chest pains for a few months. We were afraid it could be a heart condition, so he promised me when I returned from visiting my family we could go. I was simply baffled by the process, so informal and not very thorough.

First of all, I was allowed in the room with Javier during the entire process. I may be wrong but something inside me was screaming HIPPA violation since there is no marriage commitment between Javier and I. Apparently here that doesn't matter. The doctor didn't even think twice about me following Javier into the room, and he actually included me in the conversation.

Then it got "worse" I guess one could say. In my head I was thinking that if I were a doctor and someone came in with chest pains I would probably do a chest x-ray and other tests to analyze what the problem might be. However, instead the doctor asked a few questions, had Javier sit on the table, and asked him to raise his arms up and turn from side to side. As he was doing so he asked if there was pain, and when Javier responded yes, the doctor said it must be a pulled muscle. He wrote a few pain prescriptions, and he sent us out the door.

Considering Javier hasn't had too much pain since being off the pills and the days of rest the doctor advised, I assume that it was just a pulled muscle. However, there are still random days when he reports that it hurts which makes me wonder if that's really what it is.

This past week, Javier called me and asked me to pick up medicine at the pharmacy for a fever and for a sore throat. (You can buy antibiotics over the counter here.) I arrived home from school to find Javier fast asleep with a cold cloth on his head and red skin. He had come from working overnight to sleep at my apartment while I was at work with the plan to surprise me and be here when I got home. His plan was not to have a 104.3ºF temperature.

After a short discussion he asked me to call a friend that drives taxi to take us to the hospital (I still don't know how to drive our car.)so that he could see a doctor. We went straight to the emergency room, and they put us in a "private room" to wait. (Room as in a little cubicle with a bed and a chair closed off from the main hallway by a curtain. As we waited, Javier had me ask the doctor multiple times when he was coming to the room or to ask what we were waiting on/what were they going to do next. Again, there was not one person that asked who I was and not one person told me I couldn't be in the room with him. The only time I was asked to leave was when the nurse put an IV in his arm, but she didn't say a word to me later when she pulled down his pants to put a shot in his hind end. (Don't worry, I chose to look the other direction.)

After all was said and done and we were told we could leave the doctor handed me the prescription and medical note, and Javier sent me to buy his medicine. I didn't know the hospital had it's own pharmacy, so I wandered out of the hospital to the pharmacy down the street to buy the medicine. I was given everything I needed and sent on my way.

Now, as if the actual procedure was different than I'm used to, there were other differences I noted. Neither the doctor or nurses wore gloves. The bed sheets had a mark of dust or dirt on them despite looking clean. The ER visit took less than 2 hours (the fastest ER visit I've ever experienced). Asking the doctor multiple times how long we'd have to wait or what we were waiting on was completely acceptable. (I did explain to Javier that that behavior would not be allowed in the US.) Most shocking was that the visit cost a little more than 100 soles, which amounts to about $40. Can you imagine an ER visit in the States (without insurance) only costing $40? I think a visit to the local doctor's office costs more than that.

Thankfully, Javier seems to be doing much better. He took a few days off work, and he says he is still feeling weak and tired, but his fever is gone and his cough and congestion seem to be clearing. Let's hope we don't have to make any more doctor's visits for a very long time!

April Showers

I think most of us are familiar with the popular phrase: April showers bring May flowers. A similar phrase could be applied here in Peru: Cold April mornings bring earthquake warnings.

It seems that with the recent earthquake in Chile on Tuesday, and one of smaller size yesterday, earthquakes are all anyone talks about. Did you feel anything? There's a bigger one coming. Do you have a plan if an earthquake would occur? Are there earthquakes where you are from? It's colder this April than usual, the cold mornings/evenings combined with the hot afternoons could signify that earth is changing and an earthquake may occur here soon.

Sometimes I have to smirk when I hear the comments of others, but inside I often find myself nervous and afraid. I have a hard time believing that the rare, April cold mornings and evenings combined with the hot afternoons would be a sign of an earthquake to come. I mean it makes sense that it could signify a thunderstorm or a tornado - weather related events, but an earthquake is something completely different.

However, when I think of the reality that an earthquake can happen at any moment, with no warning, no matter where I am or what I'm doing I start to become afraid. What would I do if I were home by myself? What would I do if I were at school? Or worse yet, what would I do if I were on a bus stuck in traffic as I often find myself in the afternoons returning from work? Chances are cell service would be cut off and the internet would be down, I'd not be able to reach Javier or anyone else for that matter.

Usually it's in those moments that I become most fearful that I feel the touch of the Lord and He reminds me that He is in control; that He knows exactly if/when an earthquake will strike, and that He already knows my fate should it occur here in Lima.

I'm learning more and more that we can't live our lives in fear. I can't be fearful of getting robbed every time I go out, or I'd never leave my house. I can't be afraid of saying the wrong thing in Spanish, or I'd not be able to communicate with most people here. I can't be scared of an earthquake that may or may not every happen because the time and place of where it may strike is unpredictable.

Living without fear doesn't mean make stupid choices and decisions. I still don't exchange money on the street; instead I go to the exchange house near the bank. I try to speak in Spanish with my Peruvian friends that speak English because even when I make a mistake, I know the more I speak the more I'm learning. I'm learning that it's okay to mess up because real friends will help you out rather than laugh at you. I've also learned that while it's necessary to have an emergency plan should an earthquake occur, I can't just sit at home in fear waiting for it to come an go.

If nothing else this experience living overseas has taught me to live outside of my comfort zone. It's taught me to depend on God more than ever before, and it's taught me to think differently. I'm learning not to sweat the small things, to focus on what really matters, and that my problems are small in comparison to the situations and suffering others around me are facing.

So if anything, while in the north you are all singing the tune "April showers bring May flowers." I am here in Peru smirking at those who have told me (in their own words of course) that these "Cold, April mornings signify earthquake warnings."

Birthday #27

It's been a fun week of birthday celebrations which will end after dinner tomorrow evening. I'm not one to enjoy the center of attention much; I don't like standing awkwardly while people sing to me, opening cards in front of people always makes me nervous because everyone's eyes are staring at me while I read, and I get anxious about how to respond when I open gifts.

It was fun this year to celebrate my birthday along with Javier this year. (I'm still amazed at the way the Lord fashioned 4 years of friendship to get us to this point.) His birthday was on Sunday, and because of his crazy work/study schedule we started the celebrations on Thursday last week by adopting a family tradition of going out for a nice meal together. We went to Brujas de Cachica which is a fine dining restaurant not too far from my apartment. The food was very typical Peruvian cuisine and quite delicious.

On Sunday, Javier was here before church so I made breakfast...french toast, eggs, and coffee. I gave him his gifts, and we headed to church. Afterwards we met up with his mum, and we went to the food court at the mall for lunch before he headed to work for the afternoon shift. This has become our regular Sunday lunch when he works in the afternoon because the food court is the only place serving food at 11:30 on a Sunday morning.

Then came my birthday on Tuesday. I was informed on Monday that I had to go to the Immigration office in downtown Lima on Tuesday for the finally process of my residency. "Great," I thought, "Just how I want to spend my birthday...sitting and waiting." I really didn't have many plans for Tuesday except to have my friend Mary and her daughter over for dinner in the evening. However, Javier called late Monday night and informed me that he'd worked out his schedule to be able to spend time with me on my birthday.

Tuesday was a wonderful day; it was probably one of the most memorable birthdays yet. I woke up as normal and headed to school. When I walked into my classroom the students began singing happy birthday to me, and three more times that day a class sang to me when I walked in. I left for Immigration around 8:30 and returned to school around 1 as a resident of Peru (after 3+ months of paperwork and waiting). Upon returning to school, my students had made me a giant card and each one drew a small picture along with a little note.

Javier picked me up at school, and we went to the laguna near my home. We sat near the water and talked, fed the geese, ducks, and other birds nearby, and enjoyed the sunshine. Afterwards we went to San Marinos - a nearby cafe - for cake and then returned to my apartment to hang out for a bit before he left for work.

My friend Mary and her daughter Milly came along with my friend Juan Pedro. We ordered chicken, french fries, and salad for dinner and Mary and Milly bought me a chocolate cake. My landlords also came up and had bought me a cake that is similar to tres leches but even better. I shared cake with them before dinner arrived. Mary, Milly, JP, and I had a great time laughing over dinner and sharing cake together. We chatted for a bit, and then they headed home around 10 last evening.

Tomorrow I'm going out for dinner with some of the Peruvian teachers from school. I still find it humorous that I have more in common with the Peruvian teachers than with the international group, but I think we could all agree that I never came here for the foreigners to begin with.

I'm still waiting on the package from my parents to arrive. The tracking number shows that it's arrived in Peru, but beyond that I have no idea where it is. Hopefully a call to the customs office tomorrow will explain where the package is and how I can get it. I'm excited to see what's inside.

Year 26 began with me being offered a teaching contract here in Peru, and year 27 begun by receiving my Peruvian residency. I can only imagine the great things God has in store for this year. Here's to being one day closer to 28!

The Saga of the Taxi Drivers

I'm starting to hate taking taxis anymore here. The anxiety and stress makes an hour long trip on the bus (double the amount of a taxi) almost worth it. If you watch the news there are always stories of taxi trips gone wrong - robbery, kidnapping, etc. (Don't freak out Mom and Dad!!) I'm thankful I live in a safer area, so usually from my apartment I don't worry too much, but I still pray as I enter each taxi that I arrive safely and intact at my final destination. I have learned to check that taxi license plate number and ask the taxi driver for it so that I can text Javier the number. I then text him when I get where I need to be so that if something were to go wrong he has the information to contact the authorities.

I take a taxi to school each morning because with morning traffic and the travel time in bus, I'd rather sleep in a little bit and pay more than get up at 5a.m. to ensure arriving to school on time by bus. A few weeks after moving into my apartment, by chance I ended up asking the same taxi driving two mornings in a row to take me to school. The second day I asked him if he would be willing to take me each morning and he agreed. This worked for about a month and a half and then he quit coming on Mondays. A few weeks later he quit coming at all. And then came the stress each morning all over again...

• Would there be an empty taxi at the stop near my house?
• Would it be a safe taxi?
• How much will I have to pay today? (Each taxi here determines its own price since most are independent drivers rather than being employed by a company.)

Ironically or by God's plan, a little over a week ago I had left my house late. I arrived at the bus stop to hail a cab, and every one that passed was already occupied. I was slightly panicked, worried that I would be late for school when an empty cab finally passed. I was a bit nervous getting in as the numbers weren't on the side door like they normally are, and he was charging me 3 soles (about a dollar) more than normal, but at that point I felt I had no other option. I got in, said "Buenos dias" (good morning), locked the doors, ad prayed silently while asking for the plate number. 

The man kindly gave it to me, and then he asked me if I had worked at LISOFT (the school I worked at in 2009). Come to find out he used to be in charge of maintenance. We talked the whole way to school, and as we got near he asked if I'd like a ride every morning. To make it even better he offered to pick me up at the end of my street rather than me having to walk the 3+ blocks to the bus stop each morning. 

He picked me up each morning this week, and it has been a complete blessing. He's a trustworthy Christian man, trying to support his family. It costs a bit more than I was paying originally, but Javier and I both agreed that for the peace of mind that I will arrive at school safely without having to find a new cab each morning then $5 more a week is worth it. Plus, I'm helping out someone who I know will use the money he is making wisely to support his family.

Please continue to pray for safety throughout my time here in Peru. The plan is to start looking to buy a car when I return from vacations at the end of January, but even with owning a car there are risks one must consider. However, at this point those risks seem minor in comparison to the nerves and stress of hailing a cab.  

¡TeMbLoR!

It's been quite the week. It was the first week back in class after a 9 day break, and I must admit it's been quite exhausting. On top of that, I contracted a stomach bug (I blame the salad I had for lunch Tuesday because I haven't felt well since then), and I can't eat hardly anything without feeling sick shortly after. I've gotten by with Tums, and yesterday I went and got some medicine from the pharmacy. Having not felt well and feeling exhausted, last night I headed to bed around 10 (nearly an hour and a half earlier than my normal); however, I was rudely awakened last night at 2:30 a.m. from a deep sleep, and I was more than a little nervous and confused.

You see, Peru is on a fault line, and tremors and small earthquakes are common. I don't know if it's because I'm not used to them or what, but typically unless they are strong I don't feel them. For instance, yesterday morning while in the shower apparently there was a tremor. I'm thankful it wasn't strong because the shower is the last place I want to be if it becomes necessary to evacuate the building. Haha!

This morning was a different story, though. I was in a deep sleep when I heard the glass bottles on my dresser begin to rattle and clank softly against one another. I woke up afraid someone might be in my bedroom, but then I heard the neighborhood dogs barking and my windows and door rattling. I sat in bed realizing a tremor was occurring and wondering if I should get up and grab a sweatshirt in case I needed to head outside, but it passed within a few minutes. I laid in bed still wondering what to do. I was afraid to fall asleep for fear of another tremor to follow, so I committed myself to pray. After spending some time in prayer, I drifted back to sleep.

The tremor was the only thing anyone talked about for the first few hours of the day. I got in the taxi to head to work, and the taxi driver asked me immediately if I felt the tremors (yes, plural) last night. I told him I felt one at 2:30 a.m., and he informed me of another between 4:00-5:00 a.m. which I must have slept through. On the radio I heard there was a 4.0 magnitude earthquake just an hour-ish south of where I live.

At school everyone, teachers and students alike, were talking about the tremors. My students came in full of energy (as usual) asking, "Miss Jessica, sentiste el temblor?" "Yes, I felt it. Did you?" I responded. {In order to help them learn and practice English, I try to always respond to their questions in English even when asked in Spanish.}

Tremors are normal in Lima, and they are something you just learn to deal with, but each time fear overcomes me. What if this time it isn't just a tremor. What if it gets strong? What do I do? Where do I go? I asked a friend a few weeks ago what the protocol is for earthquake emergencies, and he informed me of where to go should I be home. My neighbors below me are quite friendly and very concerned for me as a single woman living here, so I assume they would check on me, too.

In the end it comes down to God's protection and my faith in Him. As I become more confident in my surroundings, I'm realizing my prayers for protection and safety aren't as persistent as they were in the beginning. My reliance on God's strength guided me through each new day has faded, and I'm falling into the feeling of comfort. I'm comfortable with my life as it is, I'm comfortable leaving my house on my own and taking public transportation to get from one place to another. I'm comfortable in my job, and I'm comfortable with the friends I've made. However, that comfort shouldn't lead to my complacency in my faith and relationship with Christ.

Comfort isn't what Christ died for; He died so that we would be made right before God and have the opportunity for an intimate relationship with Him. He didn't bring me here to Peru, thousands of miles from my home, to be comfortable. I believe His purposes for me here are bigger than simply living a "comfortable" life, and I'm ashamed that I've fallen into routines and habits. I desire intimacy with Christ, passionate faith that brings others to their knees before the heavenly throne, and a prayer life so centered in Christ that every word and thought would be tied to conversation with my Savior. I desire radical living, living that doesn't come from comfort but rather from discomfort. I want to be different from the crowd and known as a woman who feared the Lord and lived only for Him.

While the "temblor" might have awaken me from my sleep and scared me quite a bit last night, I'm thankful that I have a God whom I can trust. He has the perfect plan for humanity. He desires intimacy with me, and He intervenes in my life even when I fail to notice His presence. He loves me, and He has blessed me beyond what I deserve. He is my protector, my counselor, and my friend, and I choose to depend on Him for all the days of my life.