A Change

This has become life.  It is natural.  The US is almost a distant memory.  This is what I know.  Peru really is home now.  I could not see myself anywhere else in the world.  It’s been nearly 2 months since returning from the States and I must be honest.  I really appreciated the love from all the family and friends, but it was extremely difficult to be in the States for those 2 weeks.  The most comfortable that I felt the whole time I was there was going to Cancun’s and talking in Spanish to the guys there.   Wal-Mart was like a culture shock for me, I am not used to having that many choices.  The simple life here in Peru is what I have come know and love.  Simplicity has become beautiful.

About a month ago my assignment changed from teaching English to being on a traveling team that will work in different villages in the mountains to start churches in different villages, continuing the work that has already started in these areas.  This week and next week we are training local believers in Lima on how to plant churches in mountain villages and we will all leave on our assignments on Saturday, the 29^th.  I specifically will be working alongside 2 Peruvians in a village for one month at a time, then return to Lima for a week and then go to another village during March and April. 

I just got word from Todd Unzicker that the HBA will be sending 3 teams to Chavina in March.  Right now it looks like I will have to the chance to work with these teams in Chavina for the month of March.  I really cannot wait to go.  It’s always great to see familiar faces here in Peru and for people from home to be able to be involved in the work that we are doing here. 

Last week I had the opportunity to travel and work in a small village in the mountains called Huambalpa.  With two teammates we traveled around 20 hours to finally reach the village.  This village, unlike many, had a man named Miguel who was a strong believer.  Miguel had been praying each day for three hours on the mountain behind his house for the past couple of years that God would start a church in his village.  We received a call from Miguel asking for help in training himself and his church.  We went for a week, with a local pastor in his area, and helped in training Miguel how to lead the new local believers in his village.  We were able to spend nearly 6 hours a day with Miguel as he was soaking everything in, so joyful to be able to have help.  It was truly a blessing.

I ask that you would be praying for Miguel, that God would continue to teach him from the Scriptures and give him wisdom in leading his people.  Also, pray for the church in Huambalpa, that they would be a light in a very dark area.  Please be in prayer also for the training over the next few days that God would prepare us all as we leave for our assignments in the mountains over the next few months.  Last, be in prayer that God would work through us as we carry the gospel and train new believers, that God’s name might be glorified all over the earth.