tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28002332687617744182024-03-18T21:03:52.530-07:00HuascarKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07669592414128020264noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800233268761774418.post-68247469764419973192012-06-30T09:53:00.001-07:002012-06-30T09:53:24.480-07:00A Day in Pictures….<p>So what is is Franci and I do, what have we done for the past year and a half? I took my camera out yesterday and documented our day so you can see……</p> <p>First we left the house and walked about a mile and a half to Huascar, the walk takes me about 25 minutes, it takes Franci more like 35, I blame it on her short legs.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DjSiDT4zRC0/T-8uWOCjTOI/AAAAAAAACA0/XjxqLJC7Nms/s1600-h/DSC_0048%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0048" border="0" alt="DSC_0048" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DtGK33hxFv8/T-8uXMFxy0I/AAAAAAAACA8/pp4Bsb-XIVY/DSC_0048_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> </p> <p>Upon arriving in Huascar, we ran into Mery and her three children, Heidi, Eduard and Natalie out with their sheep.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hmblPCTgxls/T-8uXz86A2I/AAAAAAAACBE/KdYLycX19IA/s1600-h/DSC_0052%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0052" border="0" alt="DSC_0052" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-t19eIyaSpcw/T-8uYzxejnI/AAAAAAAACBM/Spq4QIt6SEc/DSC_0052_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="152"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9d_p7nw03f4/T-8uZ7qX_8I/AAAAAAAACBU/7S0jcoOKZ5M/s1600-h/DSC_0058%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0058" border="0" alt="DSC_0058" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vlbg7-yScEI/T-8ua9JIa4I/AAAAAAAACBc/GVd-meqZwX0/DSC_0058_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="152"></a> </p> <p>After chatting with Mery we continued upward and “knocked” at Kevin’s house. Here we “knock” by throwing a rock on the roof. First Josué, Kevin’s little brother comes out to greet us, then he gets his big brother. Kevin and I sit on the grass with his duck padding around and swimming in the puddle while we talk about the Bible.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Kq3Tf1QWGYs/T-8ub2RDt_I/AAAAAAAACBk/9ie0ZIitI9A/s1600-h/DSC_0067%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0067" border="0" alt="DSC_0067" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UpCYa_WnMhQ/T-8ucZjShiI/AAAAAAAACBs/Kg27TvSzd6g/DSC_0067_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="165" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-N-44qRUCK5Q/T-8udqFM2sI/AAAAAAAACB0/wmJDvOso0e0/s1600-h/DSC_0069%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0069" border="0" alt="DSC_0069" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NuZFwdDiWQw/T-8ueZ57j-I/AAAAAAAACB8/aN57CcJOaaE/DSC_0069_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> </p> <p>After spending some time with Kevin, a very dedicated and interesting 13 year old boy, we walked to the corner and said hi to our church neighbor, Yoel who is busy running the tienda for his Mom while his aunt Maria and cousin Rodrigo came to visit him.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wJ-NuDt5Ngc/T-8ufdfdNqI/AAAAAAAACCE/KwGgOufztZE/s1600-h/DSC_0076%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0076" border="0" alt="DSC_0076" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zkafNEHVpHE/T-8ugaWP7FI/AAAAAAAACCM/09ntChe93No/DSC_0076_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> </p> <p>By now it was lunchtime. Since there are very few lunch options up in Huáscar, Franci and I walk another mile, this time downhill, closer to the city center. We go to the black market called, Bellavista. In Bellavista we find a lot more variety and options than we would in Huáscar.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7N4ITE9nqOg/T-8uhYwRhAI/AAAAAAAACCU/hI2HpSz9J1E/s1600-h/DSC_0085%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0085" border="0" alt="DSC_0085" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--ok_9Su1No4/T-8uiOhTF7I/AAAAAAAACCc/2jnBS5qYLTY/DSC_0085_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="152"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MKM4zbrnN9w/T-8ujDqIrmI/AAAAAAAACCk/s6PEBkgpYzA/s1600-h/DSC_0084%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0084" border="0" alt="DSC_0084" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cYL9IeS5HQ0/T-8ukI2JQNI/AAAAAAAACCw/0KGZ5ydpTps/DSC_0084_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="152"></a></p> <p>We had a typical Peruvian meal, soup, a main dish and a drink for $1.15 with the current exchange rate. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0dENpzMKZ0I/T-8ulKOU4gI/AAAAAAAACC4/cccXyDgN1NI/s1600-h/DSC_0118%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0118" border="0" alt="DSC_0118" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jkPz0es9xRQ/T-8umEtBbkI/AAAAAAAACDA/BJL1BL7q-gQ/DSC_0118_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dLxikdaXUIY/T-8unLxHLVI/AAAAAAAACDI/AC943CSEaqM/s1600-h/DSC_0108%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0108" border="0" alt="DSC_0108" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_aJCDXGlZkY/T-8un0KwtPI/AAAAAAAACDQ/78oJmCUAfXU/DSC_0108_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="165" height="244"></a></p> <p>After filling our bellies we walked through the black market to find Godofredo, who is Carmen’s husband from Yanamayo. They have two jeans shops down in the black market and Godo always enjoys it when we stop by and say hello.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-u1jWVD6hxrQ/T-8uo1NXRjI/AAAAAAAACDY/YDvVmfwHbyU/s1600-h/DSC_0129%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0129" border="0" alt="DSC_0129" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GJv9uZcgOS8/T-8upnqViLI/AAAAAAAACDg/vawqAz4S2Lc/DSC_0129_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="165" height="244"></a> </p> <p>Then, because there was a big party south of town yesterday, there were not very many combi’s down at the black market. So, Franci and I walked three blocks to another main road to find a combi. On the way, this drunk guy (mind you it’s about 1:30PM) was struggling to not fall over and pass out. And, as I walked by him, his arm flailed up and hit me in the neck. His three friends across the street stood there and laughed.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CoUv2WbGFlE/T-8urV-ZohI/AAAAAAAACDo/BVnIAtF76xU/s1600-h/DSC_0134%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0134" border="0" alt="DSC_0134" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OZ-xQChWt04/T-8ur2nzXpI/AAAAAAAACDw/_81xVOuCIJQ/DSC_0134_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> </p> <p>We did have better luck on the busier street finding a combi, we hopped on and rode the 5-6 minutes back up to Huáscar.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BY8nuq_eakE/T-8us3rYVMI/AAAAAAAACD4/pxM-EVRWH74/s1600-h/DSC_0136%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0136" border="0" alt="DSC_0136" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-m2oCjw2xPjY/T-8utl5qtkI/AAAAAAAACEA/w1qM_OALt_w/DSC_0136_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="165" height="244"></a> </p> <p>We get off the combi at the main entrance to the city of Puno and walk uphill to our next stop. </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iJ4nrJmFyn0/T-8uu1axG6I/AAAAAAAACEI/XcO8GP4EuOU/s1600-h/DSC_0140%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0140" border="0" alt="DSC_0140" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-w3eftvu-ygY/T-8uvlj4suI/AAAAAAAACEQ/UrwYovpZnvA/DSC_0140_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> </p> <p>Our next stop was Yolanda’s house. Remember Mery, the one we found with her kids and sheep as we walked to Kevin’s house? Well, Yolanda is Mery’s cousin. Franci and I sit with Yolanda here on the sidewalk outside of her house, we chat, study the Bible and pray as the rest of the community walks by us.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jBNlr0M5VtA/T-8uwoWHohI/AAAAAAAACEY/VeOICe-S6E4/s1600-h/DSC_0148%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0148" border="0" alt="DSC_0148" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-i-roDWTtFtE/T-8uxQNuMII/AAAAAAAACEg/H6wDMEDLayE/DSC_0148_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="165" height="244"></a> </p> <p>Around the corner and up the hill from Yolanda, we knock, (using a rock on the metal door is a typical way to knock here) on Rut’s door for our regular weekly visit. But, she did not come to the door, maybe she was in Ichu, where the party was, maybe she was washing clothes further up the hill, we don’t know, but this is pretty typical as you will find out. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7kMQJm7E2Ms/T-8uyLGOD2I/AAAAAAAACEo/RzX4BE4YNe4/s1600-h/DSC_0155%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0155" border="0" alt="DSC_0155" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8z5Az_QzOWU/T-8u1B41RuI/AAAAAAAACEw/Ymcz5YIfprw/DSC_0155_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> </p> <p>Then, we went back to Kevin’s house because on Friday mornings we visit with Kevin, Friday afternoons we visit with his Mom, Dominga and her friend, Rosa, and on Wednesday afternoons we visit with Dominga, Rosa and Dominga’s husband, Jesús. But, Franci threw a few rocks on the roof and Brian, Dominga and Jesús’ middle child came to the door and told us Dominga was at a meeting. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3T9oNF12IF8/T-8u2DYAJ5I/AAAAAAAACE4/1dvFFoonI0w/s1600-h/DSC_0154%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0154" border="0" alt="DSC_0154" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_EFpqenS7po/T-8u25oO6PI/AAAAAAAACFA/evJNKnifmNc/DSC_0154_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="152"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cAMB6BltPXI/T-8u4LEqxDI/AAAAAAAACFI/8Z-yhcQon6k/s1600-h/DSC_0153%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0153" border="0" alt="DSC_0153" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6whpHxaRMlw/T-8u4zbEAzI/AAAAAAAACFQ/Sb5_HejBX3I/DSC_0153_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="152"></a> </p> <p>We continued on, striking out twice in a row and as we left Dominga’s house, we saw her neighbor bathing and his wife washing clothes in their “yard”.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YAnFN9PnY7Q/T-8u6H0MusI/AAAAAAAACFY/14-XzMtj54Q/s1600-h/DSC_0160%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0160" border="0" alt="DSC_0160" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OFPB5GegkRc/T-8u60KkwwI/AAAAAAAACFg/qB9xCtU6vzA/DSC_0160_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="152"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fwf-wedzAFE/T-8u7uYCsUI/AAAAAAAACFo/7R82MoIZ9sI/s1600-h/DSC_0157%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0157" border="0" alt="DSC_0157" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qCNW8pnfS-k/T-8u8cj1JeI/AAAAAAAACFw/Nf33C_x2x8I/DSC_0157_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="152"></a> </p> <p>Then we went to find Mery, from the morning. We found her sheep, but we didn’t find her. As we looked for Mery, we saw Rogelia up on the hill with her two kids, Yeni and Rodrigo. We haven’t seen Rogelia in a while and she never comes to church, we decided to head up the hill and visit with her in the sun. Franci chatted up with Rogelia while I played with Rodrigo who calls me, tia gringa (aunt gringa).</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3Y6UCKAa1FI/T-8u9mKctyI/AAAAAAAACF4/o_YlS1TkhfE/s1600-h/DSC_0168%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0168" border="0" alt="DSC_0168" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-niR6SWobu9U/T-8u-v8BmLI/AAAAAAAACGA/y3FRPpTj1z4/DSC_0168_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> </p> <p>As we visited with Rogelia, Yosefina, another one of our contacts came out of her house and sat down with us. Then another lady we didn’t know came and sat down as well. The sun went behind the hill to the north west of us and we were left in the cold shade. Honestly, I was freezing and miserable, but the new lady, Vilma, was very interested in the lesson we were discussing on the Holy Spirit. Rogelia and I huddled close to keep warm as we continued to chat and listen to one another, learning about God in the process.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KMj-yLRVhFQ/T-8u_eXKt1I/AAAAAAAACGI/5iNzh1FX-DM/s1600-h/DSC_0169%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0169" border="0" alt="DSC_0169" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TR8WG9kkGlU/T-8vAR8LngI/AAAAAAAACGQ/EQBmp8AAXlg/DSC_0169_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="165" height="244"></a> </p> <p>We finished up with the ladies on the cold, windy hill and walked down closer to the center to Yanet’s house. We rang the doorbell (a rare opportunity), and her son peaked out from the third story window. We asked if Yanet was home and he said he would check, a typical response. Then he came to the front door and told us she was resting but that she wants us to come back on Sunday morning to study the Bible with the whole family.</p> <p>Then we walked another 8ish blocks to get another combi that takes us right to the corner of our house. The combi that seats 17, was packed with 25 people. But standing up on a combi for 10 minutes beats walking home, uphill, after a day out in Huáscar.</p> Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07669592414128020264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800233268761774418.post-37863845770403068672012-05-22T13:07:00.001-07:002012-05-22T13:07:04.073-07:00Fellowship…..<p>Today, right now, a group of 6 from Mid America Nazarene are heading back to the States after two busy, fun filled weeks of work with us here in Puno. This team came to help us strengthen our relationships with our contacts and show them the importance of community and fellowship in the body. So what did we do with this team? We planned events to get the body together, to have fun and fellowship, to show our contacts here in Puno how much we love them, how much God loves them, and how Christ formed the church and the body as a means of encouraging, teaching, supporting and loving on our brothers and sisters in Him. </p> <p>So, like I said, we planned some events to get our contacts together and spend time with them. And let me tell you, Huascar showed up every time! I’m so proud of these ladies and men who are willing to set aside time to spend in the Body, to fellowship.</p> <p>The first event was a field day and volleyball tournament. We had lots of ladies and kids and one man from Huascar come into the city center and play games with us all morning and then share a traditional Peruvian lunch, one of my favorite dishes, <a href="http://www.hispanickitchen.com/profiles/blogs/aji-de-gallina">aji de gallina</a>. We had a Huascar team play in the volleyball tournament and they lost in the first round. But, when the group of North Americans won, they gave their prizes to the Huascar team so they didn’t walk away empty handed.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JURW2loBY7U/T7vxgFzisaI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/vSkj8Ysrou0/s1600-h/DSC_0406%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0406" border="0" alt="DSC_0406" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EbMZAbv9qF8/T7vxhMwQDqI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/YoBdzxvJy-8/DSC_0406_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="151"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YfFBT017C-A/T7vxiJlHUaI/AAAAAAAAB4g/Uid0_TA3zUI/s1600-h/DSC_0453%25255B14%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0453" border="0" alt="DSC_0453" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2GHzsHwP10I/T7vxjIcI2_I/AAAAAAAAB4o/xNzKw8hvMj4/DSC_0453_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="152"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--t0ljHpAuhM/T7vxkHN1W2I/AAAAAAAAB4w/fC3MYh_CI9Y/s1600-h/DSC_0456%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0456" border="0" alt="DSC_0456" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Tq5RboWheT8/T7vxm9iqznI/AAAAAAAAB44/2p06BiHfvd4/DSC_0456_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="152"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3M-WbHKD2O8/T7vxnwuwYcI/AAAAAAAAB5A/8_dF0SIUrzo/s1600-h/DSC_0615%25255B14%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0615" border="0" alt="DSC_0615" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SKaKhfDp9NA/T7vxpLajrsI/AAAAAAAAB5I/6DrZ-40j6t0/DSC_0615_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="152"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lPeXskd1Se8/T7vxtmWy1kI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/bPkWxZpL01Y/s1600-h/DSC_0633%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0633" border="0" alt="DSC_0633" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iTP3x2twad4/T7vxuVGJQCI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/mn08uUraGwA/DSC_0633_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="294" height="199"></a> </p> <p>The second event was a Mother’s Day celebration in the new church building that the last short term group constructed for us. This meant another trip to the center, another combi fare, another morning of putting off the daily chores until later. But, Huascar showed up again and the Mother’s were rewarded with a special gift of gratitude. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5tvKaInnLNg/T7vxvw-2B_I/AAAAAAAAB5g/hXZOm9oolZc/s1600-h/DSC_0858%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0858" border="0" alt="DSC_0858" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8TxErheufmk/T7vxw4Vn6nI/AAAAAAAAB5o/LRq96-JSv58/DSC_0858_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="484" height="326"></a> </p> <p>And the last big group event was the one year anniversary of the church in <a href="http://garrenmoore.blogspot.com/2012/05/1-year-and-counting.html">Salcedo</a> that Garren and Geremias are planting. Contacts from Salcedo came to the inauguration service in Huascar a few months back and so I explained to our contacts in Huascar that it was now time for us to celebrate with them and support them. And, Huascar showed up. We filled up a combi with men, women and kids and went all the way to the other side of town to celebrate with our brothers and sisters. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wGz-bfD2QUk/T7vxxsnlZXI/AAAAAAAAB5w/kCFTb6-e_is/s1600-h/DSC_1042%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_1042" border="0" alt="DSC_1042" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uPeS2_IuioQ/T7vxycfHgQI/AAAAAAAAB54/K_75VjpomqA/DSC_1042_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="152"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VSbLSBRntdU/T7vx0w39FtI/AAAAAAAAB6A/T2mtyQ_UOCU/s1600-h/DSC_1056%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_1056" border="0" alt="DSC_1056" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NSJaxrPSk1k/T7vx1g8sQUI/AAAAAAAAB6I/KDIYAfHy-os/DSC_1056_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="152"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sSDdo9t62sY/T7vx2pdmlJI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/dk3IC7E21ts/s1600-h/DSC_1092%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_1092" border="0" alt="DSC_1092" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-s7BosUGZI4U/T7vx3Bjj6II/AAAAAAAAB6Y/ZS8ZijUfMgU/DSC_1092_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="152"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9Pp-vRsK8iU/T7vx45Jzo0I/AAAAAAAAB6g/aAMuxkoBtys/s1600-h/DSC_1187%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_1187" border="0" alt="DSC_1187" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JYk_2EIz0Kc/T7vx5oU8WWI/AAAAAAAAB6o/32Lv0Bompd8/DSC_1187_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="152"></a> </p> <p>God is working in Huascar! The way He is moving hearts and changing lives in this place is incredible! The physical effort these people are making to get together on Sunday afternoons or for special occasions like this is an indicator that they are beginning to put fellowship with God as a priority in their lives and that shines through in their fellowship as the Body. And that is real life change, that makes my heart leap for joy.</p> Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07669592414128020264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800233268761774418.post-50022408685394372752012-05-05T11:20:00.001-07:002012-05-05T11:20:07.097-07:00Connect the Dots……<p>I feel like I’m playing connect the dots in Huascar. Why? Because everyone we meet, every conversation we have, we are connecting the dots. Let me explain, I will start with our strongest contact, Manuel. Manuel lives next to Josefina, who is also his sister. Josefina is a Wawa Wasi daycare provider who watches Rogelia’s son Rodrigo and Rosio’s son Davis. Isabel works as a supervisor for the Wawa Wasi daycare’s in Huascar, she knows Josefina as well as Elisabeth, a new contact who is a Wawa Wasi provider and Mery who was a Wawa Wasi provider. In the Wawa Wasi where Mery worked, she watched Lydia’s son, Bruce. Mery is also connected to Yolanda, her cousin who we have recently met and Lydia’s neighbor Filomena is Mery’s mother-in-law. Filomena’s neighbor is Dominga and her husband , Jesús. Recently from the contacts we got from the short term group, we have met Teodora and her daughter Gladis, well, Gladis’ husband is Dominga’s brother. And Dominga’s good friend, Rut is the daughter of a another contact we just met, Dionisia. And Dionisia’s son, Willy, helps Estela in her tienda from time to time, and Estela’s sister, Adela is our friend and contact who has a tienda right in front of the church. </p> <p>So do you get the point? It’s like connect the dots! And that’s not even all the dots! Franci and I feel like a part of this community, Huascar. When Mery’s mom fell last week and broke her ankle, Franci and I knew right away from Mery’s cousin, Yolanda who was walking in a hurry to go help. Or when Adela had to go on a last minute trip to Arequipa, we knew about it. Huascar is a little community of family and friends and these people are letting us into their family. They still rarely let us into their home, but, that’s okay, because while we are out on the rocks while they let their ducks waddle around, or out in the grass while the sheep graze, we see the rest of the Huascar community passing by and most everyone we see, we know. </p> <p>Everything in Huascar is fantastic. It’s not without it’s problems, it is not without spiritual battle as these people start a real walk with Christ. But we see fruit in our older contacts and we see interest and desire to know God in our newer contacts. And we see a good group of people getting together on Sunday afternoons to be in the Word and prayer. That’s not how I measure how the work is going here, but it is a sign that God is moving in hearts and lives and it’s exciting, especially since we thought only 8 months ago there was no hope for this community.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zaCWCD6FoWg/T6VvGLoKRjI/AAAAAAAAB2M/WAi0OYZsJG0/s1600-h/DSC_02023.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSC_0202" border="0" alt="DSC_0202" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mcecUPXuEzE/T6VvG3VY96I/AAAAAAAAB2U/p2NW_r0n69A/DSC_0202_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-b7JHqR5w3gY/T6VvH6dUsoI/AAAAAAAAB2c/dh2gvmXDVQM/s1600-h/DSC_02042.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC_0204" border="0" alt="DSC_0204" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HvnHBI3-Wd0/T6VvKEePfpI/AAAAAAAAB2k/KLCQYp0-37M/DSC_0204_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MSKJk90xWCQ/T6VvK_VigaI/AAAAAAAAB2s/92zkVXQo_oA/s1600-h/DSCF15623.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCF1562" border="0" alt="DSCF1562" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-l-1UglPSDPs/T6VvLv4bFmI/AAAAAAAAB20/54t19zFclVE/DSCF1562_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Mkd81nBrr0k/T6VvMhwItOI/AAAAAAAAB28/tcd6VIImkxo/s1600-h/DSCF15932.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSCF1593" border="0" alt="DSCF1593" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tUzRnY7g864/T6VvNdleAsI/AAAAAAAAB3E/rmYpyb7I-ik/DSCF1593_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-znpYx9E0BfQ/T6VvOLFsquI/AAAAAAAAB3M/Bw4bzQ9dyEk/s1600-h/DSCF16095.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSCF1609" border="0" alt="DSCF1609" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6hlA5aDtYPM/T6VvPEuzM_I/AAAAAAAAB3U/R5hfmRpUxW4/DSCF1609_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="534" height="360"></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Oh, and, not only is God teaching me to plant seeds and harvest fruit spiritually, I’ve also had a few chances over the past (almost) two years to go out to the field and work in real planting and harvesting. Last week, Franci and I went out with Isabel and her husband to harvest oca, a sweet, long, potato-like vegetable. And as a passerby walked past the field where we were digging and filling a bag with fresh oca, he looked at Isabel and said, “Hola, Vecina”, (hello neighbor) then his eyes went over to me and at sunset he said, “Buenos días.”, (Good Morning). We all had a good laugh after he finished walking by. At the sight of a ‘gringa’ working the field, he lost track of the time of day. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SHzajUbfgbc/T6VvQeuh-yI/AAAAAAAAB3c/hG2mZ1ppWBU/s1600-h/DSC_02830013.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSC_0283-001" border="0" alt="DSC_0283-001" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-i9viB4V4KxI/T6VvREtHtUI/AAAAAAAAB3k/jUqv2nmygkY/DSC_0283001_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AaHiKRrIBS8/T6VvSOKiZPI/AAAAAAAAB3s/bXtT4mYVqBs/s1600-h/DSC_02850012.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSC_0285-001" border="0" alt="DSC_0285-001" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8e5TJhdMFp0/T6VvS4tFoYI/AAAAAAAAB30/C83SVvhAM2c/DSC_0285001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ePkOF1N8FSY/T6VvUFFwKII/AAAAAAAAB38/_lulAEPZSK8/s1600-h/DSC_02820015.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSC_0282-001" border="0" alt="DSC_0282-001" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-poq4Tc_Dg94/T6VvVcp5m7I/AAAAAAAAB4E/M6UxWcfvb_I/DSC_0282001_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="538" height="365"></a></p> Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07669592414128020264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800233268761774418.post-36052844847263407282012-03-09T15:35:00.001-08:002012-03-09T15:35:47.720-08:00A Prayer for Rosio….<p>Rosio is a mother of three in Huascar, Maribel age 5, Davis age 4 and a baby boy not quite 5 months old. Franci and I first met her last year because we would visit the Wawa Wasi daycare where she took her eldest son, Davis. We played with Davis in the Wawa Wasi on a weekly basis and through this connection we were able to get to know Rosio a bit when she picked Davis up in the afternoon. We built a relationship with her and started discipling her in the street outside the Wawa Wasi in the afternoons. But as life goes, things changed in Rosio’s life, she wasn’t taking Davis to daycare anymore and we rarely saw her around. Occasionally we would see her hiking up the hill to her house and would have a chance to chat with her a minute here and there. And just a few weeks ago, we saw Rosio walking up the hill to her house with her new baby boy on her back wrapped in a bright pink blanket, her two older kids in tow, and her husband by her side. Rosio stopped as we said hello and Franci and I met her husband for the first time, a young man who looks exactly almost like their son Davis, just an older version. </p> <p>Today, walking around in Huascar, we saw another contact, Rogelia, with Rosio sitting outside in the sun warming up. (We’ve been freezing here the past few weeks and any chance to warm up in the sun is rare and therefore welcomed!) As Franci and I headed up the hill heading toward Rogelia’s house where the ladies were sitting, Rogelia and Rosio’s kids came running down the hill to give us kisses and hugs. And Rosio’s daughter Maribel started calling me tia (aunt) out of the blue. Adorable, I thought. I had no inclination of what was going to happen next.</p> <p>Franci and I arrived at the top of the hill and greeted the ladies. Right away Rogelia told me Rosio was sad, of course I asked why and what was going on. Rogelia informed me that Rosio’s husband passed away. Shocked and saddened, Franci and I sat down on either side of Rosio and attempted to console her. But what do you say in a time like this? There are no words. I asked if we could pray with her and so Rogelia, Rosio, Franci and myself, sitting on rocks with the sun beaming down on us, prayed for Rosio and this incredible tragedy she is facing. It brought tears to my eyes as I prayed for God’s hand over her life and the lives of her three children. </p> <p>With no words, after the prayer I held Rosio’s hand as I sat by her and she told us what had happened. Apparently, two weeks ago, her husband started acting weird, he didn’t know who anyone was and in this state of mind, he left to climb the mountain by their house, alone and was gone, for how long, I’m not sure. Apparently, he made it back home, the family quite worried yet glad to see him. But, by the time he arrived home, his condition was worse, he had lost all memory of his family and who he was and complained of a headache. His family took him to the hospital and he passed there. </p> <p>Rosio continued to tell us that she has nothing and no one here in Puno. She and her husband with their kids had been living with his mother and now his mother, the grandmother of these three kids, is telling Rosio she’s going to kick her out. Rosio’s own parents have passed and her siblings live in northern Peru. Literally, she has no one here other than her friends like Rogelia. </p> <p>Although saddened by this story and the reality Rosio faces now, we were able to share in a few laughs as we continued to chat and it was precious to see a smile on Rosio’s face. Then, when Rosio got up to talk to another neighbor who had been passing by, Rogelia told Franci and I that just before we came, Rosio asked her if we (Franci and I) were still coming around to teach the Bible. She told Rogelia she hadn’t come down to see us like before and she wants to begin studying the Bible again. </p> <p>God is so incredible! He works all the pieces together! Franci and I had no intention of visiting Rogelia today, we had no idea we would see Rosio, we just happened to be walking up the hill and saw the kids running down to us with their mothers above in the sun. God gave us sun this afternoon to warm our spirits and our bodies, but He also gave us sun which in turn brought the ladies outside to warm up and brought us to them so we would have the chance to pray with Rosio and reconnect with her during this difficult time. </p> <p>Please help us in prayer for Rosio and her three children. Pray for His peace in her heart, for His comfort in her soul. Pray that she would seek God during this time, that from this tragedy, she would experience God in a very real way. And pray that God would provide everything this single mother and her children need from shoes to food to a house.</p> <p>Here’s where we sat with the ladies today, on the rocks between the green door and the blue door, where Rogelia lives.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZvADWqqvtHk/T1qTwtxHzWI/AAAAAAAABzQ/dp__XLuuDzs/s1600-h/DSCF0463%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0463" border="0" alt="DSCF0463" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ump10vKpBgo/T1qTxaYY3nI/AAAAAAAABzY/T87VYfPoAHo/DSCF0463_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a> </p> <p>Davis, age 4. Dad made a special connection with Davis while Mom and Dad were here visiting in June. Dad and Davis were pretty much inseparable while we were in the Wawa Wasi daycare. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-b6VhYw7Oab4/T1qTyKz7CHI/AAAAAAAABzg/IfapSGWfUz8/s1600-h/DSCF1068%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF1068" border="0" alt="DSCF1068" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hEZlTIwqYBI/T1qTy6dbekI/AAAAAAAABzo/HZaHD68IoAs/DSCF1068_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-aJ23QpgO7Tg/T1qTzzmO9xI/AAAAAAAABzw/eh7vhmerYH0/s1600-h/DSCF0671%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0671" border="0" alt="DSCF0671" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eLACOP5Di3Q/T1qT0rw6QcI/AAAAAAAABz4/ZiGW7YVHjBg/DSCF0671_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07669592414128020264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800233268761774418.post-89195487848829284302012-03-04T11:30:00.001-08:002012-03-04T11:41:47.738-08:00Real Life ChangeThings are going great in Huasar! Truly, God is working in this place and its exciting. Franci and I have been able to start discipleship with four new contacts in the past two weeks thanks to the hot chocolate we served on Christmas Eve and thanks to our evangelism outing with the guys in February. We also have another eight contacts we are trying to meet with and get started studying the Bible with them as well. But it’s not about the numbers, its about the stories, its about the lives that are changing. So let me tell you a couple of these stories, these stories I get to see unfold before my eyes.<br />
Manuel<br />
Manuel is a father of three and his oldest daughter Rosio has a three year old daughter who also lives with Manuel and his wife. We first met Manuel when we presented the Felix Vargas film, From the Darkness back in March last year. So we’ve known Manuel for a year, we’ve been working with him, studying the Word with him, and praying with him for a year. And we are seeing results! When we arrive at Manuel’s house on Sunday afternoons to continue studying the Bible with him, he always starts off telling us about what he read that week or what questions he has from his personal Bible study during the week. I love it! I love the questions, I love hearing how amazed he is at the miracles of Christ in John, I love seeing his little notebook where he rewrites Bible verses so he can have them with him all the time without carrying the Bible. Seeing immense growth in him in these past few weeks has been a joy to watch, an encouragement to both Franci and myself. His life is changing, he’s praying and reading his Bible daily, he’s a new creature in Christ. That’s what I’m here for, that’s the desire of my heart, is to see true life change and in Manuel, I see it and it’s awesome! That is real life change.<br />
Iris<br />
Iris is the daughter in law of Lucia, Lucia is a little old lady who has a tourist shop near the plaza and lives in Huascar. We’ve never been to Lucia’s house but we always visit her in her shop, we sit on little benches while she sits on the floor and knits while listening to the Word as she cannot read. Lucia has six children and she prays frequently for her children, that they would be able to walk with the Lord. It was Lucia who sent us a street over from her tourist shop to her son’s tourist shop. There we found Iris, a former Adventist who admittedly has left God to follow her own path in life, including, living with Lucia’s son, Jhon and their son. Iris was a little timid when we first started visiting her about three months ago. She said she wasn’t ready to commit her life back to God because she knew she would fail. But, God has touched Iris’ heart, he has softened her to Him and she recommitted her life to the one and only God of the universe, she gave Him her heart and made a decision to walk with Christ. And I see evidence of this rebirth in her. Iris is sharing the Word with Jhon, her fiancée. She has invited her friends Edwin and Roxana to come and listen to the discipleship lessons with her and Jhon. She is learning and understanding that this walk with Christ is a process. Seeing Iris and the change in her heart is unbelievable. Seeing her reaching out to her fiancée and friends is incredible. This is real life change. <br />
Dominga<br />
I met Dominga on Christmas Eve while Franci and I held a ‘chocolatada’ out on the street in Huascar. Dominga was one of many ladies I met that morning. I took down her name, address and phone number and she said Franci and I were welcome to visit her during the week. Franci and I went to her house multiple times and knocked, we also called her, no response. Then, two weeks ago, Franci and I where walking around Husacar and we saw Lydia, another lady we disciple and chatting with Lydia was Dominga. Dominga asked us why we hadn’t come to visit her. We explained we could never find her at home or get a hold of her by phone. So we set up an exact day and time to visit her so she would be sure to be home. And now, two weeks in a row, at 2pm on Friday afternoons, Dominga is home, waiting for us to knock (by throwing rocks onto her roof, a common way to knock here in Puno). When she hears the falling rocks on her roof, she comes out and we sit on the dirt in front of her house and read the Bible. You may think, two weeks, big deal. But it is a big deal. It’s a big deal that two weeks in a row Dominga has made a conscious effort to be home at 2pm on Friday’s, its a big deal that Dominga has set aside time two weeks in a row from all that she has to do, in order to sit on the dirt and read the Bible and pray with her neighbors walking by. That’s a change of heart. That is real life change.<br />
So I could tell you, we are discipling 16 people in Husacr, up from 11 in January. I could tell you that we were able to walk four people through a prayer of salvation in February. I could say we have another eight contacts in Huascar we hope to start discipling this month. I could throw more numbers out there. But it’s the stories behind the numbers that touch my heart, its the real life change that God is navigating that gets to me, that excites me, that reminds me of why I’m here.<br />
Here are some photos of Manuel at his baptism in January. Unfortunately I was still struggling with pneumonia the day of the baptism and couldn’t go. But, I’m so proud of him for taking this step to declare he’s serious about this walk with Christ.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JVSEGlYKhzg/T1PCsPpYSOI/AAAAAAAAByA/RKpmjkMuy9Q/s1600-h/DSC_0014%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC_0014" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VQ_s1MHu7us/T1PCtdSWHwI/AAAAAAAAByI/eh5tq-qJhGc/DSC_0014_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px currentColor; display: inline;" title="DSC_0014" width="165" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Azhr5_UGLKA/T1PCu_cvjaI/AAAAAAAAByQ/DA-BuDWG9RA/s1600-h/DSC_0020%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC_0020" border="0" height="165" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yh6E-o30qLc/T1PCvk1l5UI/AAAAAAAAByY/JyptP-QH2rA/DSC_0020_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px currentColor; display: inline;" title="DSC_0020" width="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6tlxmyNPLj4/T1PCw5bdqWI/AAAAAAAAByg/04w3520G_4Q/s1600-h/DSC_0021%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC_0021" border="0" height="165" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AO-9hqMbc28/T1PCyUDm6vI/AAAAAAAAByo/mZWifqtf46A/DSC_0021_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px currentColor; display: inline;" title="DSC_0021" width="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HBaAeb5ncSw/T1PCzPl7b9I/AAAAAAAAByw/8ukTTrekvxg/s1600-h/DSC_0870%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC_0870" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jRogM6o_yPQ/T1PC0B-fxpI/AAAAAAAABy4/toqTEsT-WRk/DSC_0870_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px currentColor; display: inline;" title="DSC_0870" width="165" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cG2YzOcH_jg/T1PC1D4OxWI/AAAAAAAABzA/k8TyCCc3PaQ/s1600-h/DSC_0907%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC_0907" border="0" height="165" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7nL7AkjIwxo/T1PC2asR1JI/AAAAAAAABzI/cViffOflLTw/DSC_0907_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px currentColor; display: inline;" title="DSC_0907" width="244" /></a></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07669592414128020264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800233268761774418.post-18048237688089352392011-12-24T10:17:00.001-08:002011-12-24T10:17:52.120-08:00Feliz Navidad<p>Merry Christmas! Franci and I went out to Huascar this morning and had an awesome time sharing hot chocolate and fruit cake, yes, fruit cake otherwise known as panettone, a Christmas favorite here. We were prepared to serve about 50 but ended up serving about 80! God helped us miraculously this morning. He helped us serve more than we were prepared to serve and He gave us nine new contacts in Huascar. For those of you who aren’t here working with me daily (umm, all of you, right), nine contacts is huge! We have names, addresses and phone numbers. And specifically three of them were very sweet and asked me before they left, “You are going to come visit us, right?!” So awesome! </p> <p>Here are some pictures from our humble little event out in the street, sharing hot chocolate, panettone and bags of used clothes from the states…..</p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IPaEtTJBtyQ/TvYW65DRb_I/AAAAAAAABfo/KqLU6OjYsAM/s1600-h/DSC_0256%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0256" border="0" alt="DSC_0256" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ClOeQLWV9Wc/TvYW8I1UPsI/AAAAAAAABfw/bVMIR5SvNck/DSC_0256_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--rWIrexdAYA/TvYXCRy1k9I/AAAAAAAABf4/iqXQDKO01h8/s1600-h/DSC_0259%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0259" border="0" alt="DSC_0259" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-y6KuRz6jlWc/TvYXCxYwcDI/AAAAAAAABgA/RSTh-issuXs/DSC_0259_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="173"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pWpPs0CyqH4/TvYXEG9GsdI/AAAAAAAABgI/nw4HpIzofGY/s1600-h/DSC_0258%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0258" border="0" alt="DSC_0258" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-meIGk9inI1c/TvYXElCaV5I/AAAAAAAABgQ/BP8EO8FImTk/DSC_0258_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="191"></a> </p> <p align="left"></p> <p align="left"></p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UFjMAdDJWQ8/TvYXFl0InvI/AAAAAAAABgY/k1evpOQoKOc/s1600-h/DSC_0265%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0265" border="0" alt="DSC_0265" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1PWAqGFrXa0/TvYXGB4jUQI/AAAAAAAABgg/Ua6ekG4SlQU/DSC_0265_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vDi-Y-m6RWI/TvYXGyUQKvI/AAAAAAAABgo/EM29uvf-Vbc/s1600-h/DSC_0272%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0272" border="0" alt="DSC_0272" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uql1Vz_F0Bs/TvYXHki3mpI/AAAAAAAABgw/F3FuhATmS9Q/DSC_0272_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="145" height="244"></a> </p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VpHchdyOd2A/TvYXIcWeNvI/AAAAAAAABg4/0sARjvo1Ogk/s1600-h/DSC_0274%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0274" border="0" alt="DSC_0274" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sNA3UpLcQpQ/TvYXJDV__7I/AAAAAAAABhA/79LEQxUIFUM/DSC_0274_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="140"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-p7q2O2khn2Y/TvYXKMw-BsI/AAAAAAAABhI/V47sBWm1ZOQ/s1600-h/DSC_0283%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0283" border="0" alt="DSC_0283" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nCmF9iX8Ifc/TvYXK0Pf9SI/AAAAAAAABhQ/CcORb9UYgmY/DSC_0283_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ShLjWOWpyYM/TvYXLyKXd8I/AAAAAAAABhY/EpCeGmdA7D0/s1600-h/DSC_0281%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0281" border="0" alt="DSC_0281" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tJp9grMrdaU/TvYXMa9U3gI/AAAAAAAABhg/U4RlCYjGelQ/DSC_0281_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="190"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zKZ6ofUrqCg/TvYXNIngN6I/AAAAAAAABho/yymcQva11Tg/s1600-h/DSC_0285%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0285" border="0" alt="DSC_0285" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YNZdNah6h5A/TvYXNvVQgxI/AAAAAAAABhw/5I9aN34Tok0/DSC_0285_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"></p> <p align="left"></p> <p align="left"></p> <p align="left"></p> <p align="left"></p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aiSTK4d1Qv0/TvYXOgtyI4I/AAAAAAAABh4/gFY-Kgs-pL4/s1600-h/DSC_0313%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0313" border="0" alt="DSC_0313" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RCHxSxb_ssU/TvYXPE-rZwI/AAAAAAAABiA/r107svXtLyI/DSC_0313_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="235"></a></p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2MFAdDE4Hmk/TvYXQFV6lPI/AAAAAAAABiI/swX6niDLK3M/s1600-h/DSC_0292%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0292" border="0" alt="DSC_0292" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IFvvqRYKxyU/TvYXQl1wiSI/AAAAAAAABiQ/t1eK6p5rSTo/DSC_0292_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a></p> <p align="left"> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9DxQuHGTB0Y/TvYXRkiSo1I/AAAAAAAABiY/Sf9V2TlL4pw/s1600-h/DSC_0304%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0304" border="0" alt="DSC_0304" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QM9d6P6yEcM/TvYXSQOIelI/AAAAAAAABig/S34RLCT4Mq0/DSC_0304_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="204" height="244"></a> </p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u2uIc6MmCjc/TvYXTIZQzUI/AAAAAAAABio/tihmnCrSKLs/s1600-h/DSC_0300%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0300" border="0" alt="DSC_0300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-60Vy66qBejI/TvYXToSpn3I/AAAAAAAABiw/pv6XV_F7TK0/DSC_0300_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="190" height="244"></a></p> Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07669592414128020264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800233268761774418.post-41401318139482526832011-06-25T07:34:00.000-07:002011-06-25T08:48:33.346-07:00Dificil.....<div>Well, I haven't blogged about Huascar since March! Oye! I could say that I have been really busy, which is true, or too tired to think about blogging at the end of the day, which is also true. But, the real reason I haven't blogged in so long about Huascar is that most days I feel like there's nothing good going on there. We struggle to make new contacts in Huascar and have even stopped visiting some people because we would knock on their door week after week after week and they are either not there or tell us they don't have time to learn about the Bible. Huascar has proven to be very difficult and frustrating. Its hard to blog when I feel like this, I want to tell you all that everything is perfect and share amazing stories of how God is working. But in Huascar, God's work sometimes seems invisible. I know that He is working in this place. I know He is touching hearts and opening eyes and ears to Him. </div><div>.</div><div>As I've said before, these communities are like our children, Franci and I have three kiddos. And each community (child) has its own personality, character, strengths and weaknesses. My parents have always told Brooke and I that they treat us differently because we are different people. They punished us and rewarded us in our own special ways to match our personalities. Well, the same goes for these communities. What works in Yanamayo, doesn't necessarily work in Huascar. What works iin Huascar won't necessarily work in Chucuito. So, we are still finding out what works in Huascar. I am learning that in Huascar we need a lot of patience with these people. I am also learning we need to be consistent to show them the importance of Christ in our lives and that we need to be something stable in their lives. </div><div>.</div><div>The thing that makes me excited and encouraged in Huascar are the kids. The kids come to our weekly Bible and English class on Friday afternoons. We have fun, color, learn about the Bible, sing in English, and play volleyball. God uses these smiling faces and loving hugs to remind me He is working in Huascar. </div><div>.</div><div>Here are some pictures of the kids in Huascar while Mom and Dad were here. We had the opportunity to visit the Wawa Wasi daycare to pass out toys to the children as well as share toys with all the kids in our weekly class as well.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622173047012792082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwE7H_aHd-MVbdVGpBDMB1gE63WnQShrvbAZBXhx1Ahs3e6vm5pi5nTeyDZ6sX09j1XD023HRjuzEPZBkJlWBHjGhKl3iqWUY33T1sMG4l0Ert3AXfahcqxTjhQc_eYI489-KMgedmsE/s320/DSCN4295.JPG" /></div><div>Mom with Lucero and Ruby, Ruby is also known as prince, short for princesa (princess), no wonder she and I immediatley connected!</div><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggksbtMyqbTJp4jkqx0xumkpVOeql36qRhRKAbTxDR69FpS1c0-Dm9tBfXPulGNb5a1B6PTp3T5omiHaQzDax4T3TemUVt7dhS7XRJbFiyebJUFpZgystqXEQwriO_-rEWgkfZ6ZUDiQ/s1600/DSCN4287.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="width: 200px; height: 150px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622172003439653362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggksbtMyqbTJp4jkqx0xumkpVOeql36qRhRKAbTxDR69FpS1c0-Dm9tBfXPulGNb5a1B6PTp3T5omiHaQzDax4T3TemUVt7dhS7XRJbFiyebJUFpZgystqXEQwriO_-rEWgkfZ6ZUDiQ/s200/DSCN4287.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TyueMMjKqYMtHJGAQQ-IDuOzMbVbQZiELU30JMCr9bh4dx7kJ13g4aSrwsFKsdU_d-sU6Dh39E2pPCBmYYEtUbHfiuxdXuze9sT-dQqP0m3Wc0_MgiM4E3EL5hk9ZzKd34EBFpc8NLM/s1600/DSCN4289.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="width: 200px; height: 150px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622172012891290306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TyueMMjKqYMtHJGAQQ-IDuOzMbVbQZiELU30JMCr9bh4dx7kJ13g4aSrwsFKsdU_d-sU6Dh39E2pPCBmYYEtUbHfiuxdXuze9sT-dQqP0m3Wc0_MgiM4E3EL5hk9ZzKd34EBFpc8NLM/s200/DSCN4289.JPG" /></a></div><div>Davis and Lucero, Isn't Davis adorable! Dad took these pictures.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6MI2rf7gXc9BWHkSXCJZAGkePWZAnsfICPlzwpemnmtbZIDRMCU6yJ_Oa6sxCcPuarnUg3DSdniIrytjAg5CyFL76T1H21SOH6L_orKto8IblC7YnjUPIbG1Yudr1hMb_HuO3-VcXd4/s1600/DSCN4279.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622167198854123970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6MI2rf7gXc9BWHkSXCJZAGkePWZAnsfICPlzwpemnmtbZIDRMCU6yJ_Oa6sxCcPuarnUg3DSdniIrytjAg5CyFL76T1H21SOH6L_orKto8IblC7YnjUPIbG1Yudr1hMb_HuO3-VcXd4/s320/DSCN4279.JPG" /></a></div><div>Praying before we start our Bible lesson. Obviously the kids are still learning to bow their heads in silence!<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWq2rHpU82v5B365-LZJD4RFUD8O6p751kQomjNFXxLg21KvIK9_4uVuN5YjYoHy7V-qg7g5wzdVuZZ1ZxInir6U3nz2mWJfAiKWbt5d2QUGqCqVFTdthqOmOCmDL-uZod-jPu6rIwZdg/s1600/DSCF1068.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="width: 150px; height: 200px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622165030317453330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWq2rHpU82v5B365-LZJD4RFUD8O6p751kQomjNFXxLg21KvIK9_4uVuN5YjYoHy7V-qg7g5wzdVuZZ1ZxInir6U3nz2mWJfAiKWbt5d2QUGqCqVFTdthqOmOCmDL-uZod-jPu6rIwZdg/s200/DSCF1068.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMFaA8ObOg1uKNEP0lh7sRApT0eD_aunrD9yroxDYxwyIOxHAj7ZSmvjhlB_-rskr2FJzdkPml9VsjBkX2p8BhCpIarB8a4SHz5wGLxXNn4RMh-gUAU32zx1ITV9HHv0StVdjPX6dSog/s1600/DSCN4098.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="width: 200px; height: 150px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622165023242276658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMFaA8ObOg1uKNEP0lh7sRApT0eD_aunrD9yroxDYxwyIOxHAj7ZSmvjhlB_-rskr2FJzdkPml9VsjBkX2p8BhCpIarB8a4SHz5wGLxXNn4RMh-gUAU32zx1ITV9HHv0StVdjPX6dSog/s200/DSCN4098.JPG" /></a></div><div>Dad with Davis in the Wawa Wasi and kids coloring their lesson sheet in our class outside.<br /></div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzT3RiqO1pFAQ2Dhk2VdWoPUhJ5TtA3iKmkxv1Ft_DqkgOPxlxPcUNi4OyEOh9mtrRcL-5amqu5G6p43fOoQ6ZohZLhK-1oPMaNXFhpgn45NvSJEw5g52V2Q6SJ7qmPIDSOro_jR7lEl0/s1600/DSCF1088.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621941520733347618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzT3RiqO1pFAQ2Dhk2VdWoPUhJ5TtA3iKmkxv1Ft_DqkgOPxlxPcUNi4OyEOh9mtrRcL-5amqu5G6p43fOoQ6ZohZLhK-1oPMaNXFhpgn45NvSJEw5g52V2Q6SJ7qmPIDSOro_jR7lEl0/s320/DSCF1088.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUSKBZORAOCcxmQjv_4yqXbaix9HdUeWZBPdG-CC9ycPxDqBzGffXmpivh0tqlyK09bXqA0o-b6d7oYZRttCOrg0pSa7HcwAesznHR1a_j-v9_qvy4qqsWe2uJuUPcL1qvyn7bFGeC9I/s1600/DSCN4092.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="width: 200px; height: 150px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622165019304315090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUSKBZORAOCcxmQjv_4yqXbaix9HdUeWZBPdG-CC9ycPxDqBzGffXmpivh0tqlyK09bXqA0o-b6d7oYZRttCOrg0pSa7HcwAesznHR1a_j-v9_qvy4qqsWe2uJuUPcL1qvyn7bFGeC9I/s200/DSCN4092.JPG" /></a></div><div>Dad playing with Valeria, Ruby, Rodrigo and Davis at the Wawa Wasi and Rodrigo outside playing with his present from the States, a wooden toy car, a big hit with all the kids!</div><div>.</div><div> </div><div><b><i>I say to God my Rock,</i></b></div><div><b><i>"Why have you forgotten me?</i></b></div><div><b><i>Why must I go about mourning,</i></b></div><div><b><i>oppressed by the enemy?"</i></b></div><div><b><i>My bones suffer mortal agony</i></b></div><div><b><i>as my foes taunt me,</i></b></div><div><b><i>saying to me all day long,</i></b></div><div><b><i>"Where is your God?"</i></b></div><div><b><i>Why are you downcast, O my soul?</i></b></div><div><b><i>Why so disturbed within me?</i></b></div><div><b><i>Put your hope in God,</i></b></div><div><b><i>for I will yet praise him</i></b></div><div><b><i>my Savior and my God.</i></b></div><div><b><i>Psalm 42:9-11</i></b></div><div><b><i>.</i></b></div><div> </div><div>Be with Franci and I in prayer for Huascar. Pray that we would not be discouraged and downcast, pray that the devil would not prevail in this place. But pray that we would have hope in Him, that we would praise Him for every little victory in this community, that we would see His mercies and His miracles no matter how hidden or small. Thank Him for the children in Husacar, for their faithfulness to our weekly class and for their excitment to learn about the Bible. </div><div>.</div><div>Thank you for your love and prayers for this community and for Franci and I as we work with these people. They are very much needed!</div></div></div></div></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07669592414128020264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800233268761774418.post-49737694097328464432011-03-30T19:08:00.000-07:002011-03-31T08:18:59.611-07:00Floodgates.....<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >God is faithful! Amen?! <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >Francisca and I have been frustrated and confused and sad and a mixture of emotions in Huascar. But these past two weeks we have been blessed and joyful and busy and grateful. God has opened the floodgates in Huascar! We are now focusing more in Alto Huascar, up on the hill. Yes, this involves more walking and hiking but its worth it! Over the past two weeks we have made eight new contacts through the movie we showed (a film about Felix Vargas, you can order a free copy at fromthedarkfilm.com) and from me dancing at a traditional festival called Corta Monte. Out of these eight new contacts we have started discipleship with five of them in the past week! And we also finally started discipling two other women we had previoulsy met. That's seven new people recieving the Word of God on a weekly basis! And two of them, Manuel and his daughter Rosio, have accepted Christ and made the decision to live a life with Him!<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >.<o:p></o:p></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56YsZ-OmDt5BhOBAcpQOmiEvIQZtBySMusWX7x-czGzUY2_R11UNPotQyecyLH5DUoysnYp-z_umOnuQCvx-omXrAN8Z-L66EPwu0jpHzJnKnv3lquHNaGbMQjillWknxxvR3HxsnNLg/s1600/DSCF0172.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 86px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590090304754386386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56YsZ-OmDt5BhOBAcpQOmiEvIQZtBySMusWX7x-czGzUY2_R11UNPotQyecyLH5DUoysnYp-z_umOnuQCvx-omXrAN8Z-L66EPwu0jpHzJnKnv3lquHNaGbMQjillWknxxvR3HxsnNLg/s320/DSCF0172.JPG" /></a> <br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >And this is why I say, God is faithful. He is so faithful to answer our prayers in His timing and in His way. Francisca and I know it all started with Lola. Lola was a little old lady we met a month or so ago in Huascar. We chatted with her and asked her if we could visit her at her home sometime. She said yes, we could visit her but where she lives there is no address. We weren't busy, just wandering around Huascar confused and seeking God's guidance as usual. So we walked with Lola to her house in Alto Huascar. I didn't even know that all these houses on this hill were part of Huascar. Not that we have to stay exactly within the city lines, God doesn't color in the lines, he makes the lines. But we never thought to even go up there. Thanks to Lola, we now are focusing in this place where she took us, this place God showed us through her. Unfortunatley, we have been unable to meet with Lola as her daughter does not want us in the house. But, God used her for His plan, to guide us and lead us directly into His Will.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >And as Franci mentioned in theblog post she wrote a few weeks ago, we spent five week in the park waiting for kids to show up for classes on English and the Bible. For five weeks, nobody came. We changed the location to Alto Huascar and on our first week we had seven children! In Alto Huascar its like the belssings just keep coming and coming! </span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeBih7MSN2LDX6oOtKdOnsZXvJB0vUrZDNQeOYXEPU0zrKekJRgwLstPLV5A3ViXuCsrZo6VL74PDLVCTw5CvzT6jU5X1eFWuPcdz7Rdkz9kPCaqMU51T9nKUWa79LNEEtWBB1LWUu-c/s1600/DSCF0322.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590093999474048818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeBih7MSN2LDX6oOtKdOnsZXvJB0vUrZDNQeOYXEPU0zrKekJRgwLstPLV5A3ViXuCsrZo6VL74PDLVCTw5CvzT6jU5X1eFWuPcdz7Rdkz9kPCaqMU51T9nKUWa79LNEEtWBB1LWUu-c/s200/DSCF0322.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBu3nMKHKQGmXEt7HGnd7C2QT3lsNq8h3BAWyy4XqWCeQmYbji43rauRoNBJZqHBaTfHXsBvK3CVVInquolfzOgziqWju81owg9zMV2UNX-hsev0QM45ntymBtxYfmGaGmvwQ6Iqkl3No/s1600/DSCF0355.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590094016633077058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBu3nMKHKQGmXEt7HGnd7C2QT3lsNq8h3BAWyy4XqWCeQmYbji43rauRoNBJZqHBaTfHXsBvK3CVVInquolfzOgziqWju81owg9zMV2UNX-hsev0QM45ntymBtxYfmGaGmvwQ6Iqkl3No/s200/DSCF0355.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDU9XCqB7BniFvgU6P7Ja4o_bEYYaZbc7utWCh7rbNyu6rsZKTDVsUnj0R_iqzrKQGYVu3CkUDdIc79Z8uWwWCfz3FwE_nHnz6jsSk6DzWLK7t5iYDDlKi7baxaeEZLMIPHUHJnOc2l8/s1600/DSCF0338.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590094010284450690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDU9XCqB7BniFvgU6P7Ja4o_bEYYaZbc7utWCh7rbNyu6rsZKTDVsUnj0R_iqzrKQGYVu3CkUDdIc79Z8uWwWCfz3FwE_nHnz6jsSk6DzWLK7t5iYDDlKi7baxaeEZLMIPHUHJnOc2l8/s200/DSCF0338.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSuLtgll4IVe4EKS_nmsOaVJu8zMFHqsCETH1gZTw_ePc4G9MjUelOdRNlLuCrjiNIVrPKZZF5cftMt2SqeJ6Cnqa4S8pFCFYeqcTK9-A9mlkq8XvNlDPSNg6ZoHup4oIoVl7ndKUPHk/s1600/DSCF0326.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590094007989466738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSuLtgll4IVe4EKS_nmsOaVJu8zMFHqsCETH1gZTw_ePc4G9MjUelOdRNlLuCrjiNIVrPKZZF5cftMt2SqeJ6Cnqa4S8pFCFYeqcTK9-A9mlkq8XvNlDPSNg6ZoHup4oIoVl7ndKUPHk/s200/DSCF0326.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >Here are some names to pray for......</span> </p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >Tomas</span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" > - A older man we have started lessons with and is interested in knowing more about the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >Rosio</span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" > - A twentysomething girl, married with one daughter, who accepted Christ into her life a week ago Sunday.</span> </p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >Manuel</span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" > - Rosio's father who also accepted Christ and is very hospitable to us and eager to learn more about Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >Richard</span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" > - Rosio's huband who is not very interested in anything about the Bible but does work with tourists and wants to practice English with me.</span> </p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >Henry</span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" > - A man we met at the Corta Monte who was drunk when we met him but he did give us his correct address; althought we have been unable to find him at home.</span> </p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >Juan</span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" > - Another drunk guy from the Corta Monte who also gave us his correct address (its common to get incorrect addresses from the drunk guys), but we have not been able to meet with him either.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >Yolanda</span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" > - A woman Franci met at the movie who requested we visit her but has not been at home when we stop by.</span> </p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >Isabel</span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" > - A woman who works with the Wawa Wasi daycares and we have seen her both in Huascar and Yanamayo. This past week we started discipleship lessons with her.</span> </p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >Yosephina</span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" > - The Wawa Wasi leader in Also Huascar. We visit her Wawa Wasi every Friday to play with the kids and teach them a few English words. She has yet to show interest in anything further.</span> </p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >Lourdes</span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" > - A mother of one in Alto Huascar who works all week as a painter while her husband works six hours away in Arequipa. She is recieveing the discipleship lessons and shows interest. </span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >Yanet</span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" > - We met her in February but she has been sick and unavailable for a month or more now. Finally, she is feeling better and we have started the first two lessons with her.</span> </p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" >Lola</span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" > - The lady that took us up to Alto Huascar, that we can find a way to meet with her again.</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12;" ><o:p> </p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibrifont-family:Calibri;font-size:85%;" >Psalm 57:2-5 & 9-11</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif';font-family:'Times New Roman';" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibrifont-family:Calibri;font-size:85%;" >I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif';font-family:'Times New Roman';" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibrifont-family:Calibri;font-size:85%;" >He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me;</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif';font-family:'Times New Roman';" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibrifont-family:Calibri;font-size:85%;" >God sends His love and HIs faithfulness.</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif';font-family:'Times New Roman';" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibrifont-family:Calibri;font-size:85%;" >I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts-</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif';font-family:'Times New Roman';" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibrifont-family:Calibri;font-size:85%;" >men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif';font-family:'Times New Roman';" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibrifont-family:Calibri;font-size:85%;" >Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif';font-family:'Times New Roman';" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibrifont-family:Calibri;font-size:85%;" >let Your glory be over all the earth.</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif';font-family:'Times New Roman';" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibrifont-family:Calibri;font-size:85%;" >I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations; </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif';font-family:'Times New Roman';" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibrifont-family:Calibri;font-size:85%;" >I will sing of You among the peoples.</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif';font-family:'Times New Roman';" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibrifont-family:Calibri;font-size:85%;" >For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif';font-family:'Times New Roman';" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibrifont-family:Calibri;font-size:85%;" >Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif';font-family:'Times New Roman';" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibrifont-family:Calibri;font-size:85%;" >Be exhalted, O God, above the heavens; </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif';font-family:'Times New Roman';" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibrifont-family:Calibri;" ><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:85%;">let Your glory be over all the earth.</span></span></o:p></span></p></div></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07669592414128020264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800233268761774418.post-53560111581647590582011-03-09T19:49:00.000-08:002011-03-09T20:00:03.821-08:00From Franci....I haven't wanted to blog on Huascar lately because we have been struggling to meet with people and make new contacts there. So, what do I do? Pass of the problem to Franci! I told her today to help me with the blog and to write down what's going on in Huascar and how she feels about it in her own words. Here is what she gave me.....<br /><br />En Huascar hemos empezado a trabajar las ultimas semanas de Enero. Hasta el momento tenemos 5 contactos. Pero lo que pasa es que estas personas cuando vamos a visitar, no estan en casa y es el motivo que no empezamos con ninguna clase. A veces estamos preocupadas porque no podemos empezar con las clases, y estamos orando cada dia por Huascar para entender lo que Dios quiere que hagamos y tambien hicimos un festival de ninos y se reunieron muchos ninos y a estos ninos, les citamos para un dia viernes pero por la lluvia no se reunieron.<br /><br />Translation:<br />In Huascar we started to work the last few weeks in January. Up to this moment we have 5 contacts. But what happens is that when we go to visit these people, they are not in thier house and for this reason we have not started with any class (lessons on the Bible). Sometimes we are worried because we cannot start the class and we are praying everyday for Huascar to understand what God wants us to do. Also we had a kids festival and many kids came, with these kids we set a date weekly, Friday, to meet but we have not been able to meet with them due to the rain.<br /><br />So that's it. That's what's going on in Huascar in the words of my partner, Francisca. Its brief and to the point. I can't really blame her for not knowing anything about blogs as I didn't really know anything about blogs until I started mine almost a year ago. I'll continue to have Franci write some notes about what's going on in our locations over the next 16 months. I want everyone to hear from her as well as we are partners, sisters and friends in our lives here and in this work.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07669592414128020264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800233268761774418.post-31512584548979892272011-02-25T08:34:00.000-08:002011-02-25T19:05:48.966-08:00Impacto Numero Uno.....<span style="font-family:Calibri;">Franci and I sat atop the stairs of the Condor (600+ stair steps up a little mountain to a statue of a condor, bird, and a beautiful view of the city) a few weeks ago and planned out the next few weeks and months with goals and objectives. One goal, ‘meta’ in Spanish, was to have a kids festival in Huascar in February after all the hoop-la of the Festival of the Candelaria.</span> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Planning things like this festival is one of the hardest things to do together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We come from different cultures, have different strengths, and different ways of doing things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But after getting frustrated a few times, on my end, Franci rarely gets upset or frustrated….we finally got the plan together in agreement, with a few compromises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Over the span of a few days we passed out flyers and invited kids, parents and grandparents to the festival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We told everyone we will be teaching English and <span style="mso-ansi-language: ES-PE" lang="ES-PE">valores</span> (good values) along with candy and balloons, all for free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We woke up Friday morning, the day of the festival, to rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Which is normal and frequent this time of year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But there wasn’t a hint of sun or blue sky on the horizon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was praying for God to clear up the rain as our festival was to be held in a park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We went along and prepared as though the rain would clear up. I called my Dadda and vented to him, asking him for prayer too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Finally, the rain cleared up!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Praise God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were ready to get all the stuff out of our “storage” room and when I turned the handle, nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The door was locked and no one was inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Everything we needed, the speakers, the generator, the <span style="mso-ansi-language: ES-PE" lang="ES-PE">cuy</span> costumes, were all in this room!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But Micah worked hard and with the use of Trevor’s old Visa, they picked the lock and got the door open for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Finally, we were ready to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Franci and I along with all of our brothers, went to the park in Huascar and set up for the festival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofzH8fzYhazB9xA-9Wnc6fZqRBEB6RwjNAfKSfpZKAbtklkvIqU8_tFmXqWlEfH6XEYnmWobdbxJ9jRHNNbfubqrLYW2OBwej9_WFMKQ_Vs3LVY2NvRVGX-NmLCpPrg3gRSA_KiEWQxI/s1600/DSC_0155.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Y579xQ11dhawnJtaWeyk1o8kv9Iwdho8w9IrjBM8QMuZ8K8NphjQzKOn45ckkUtoIgl4NlNsVM6yfXx-PnchfFKCSY7IrGyoRz6u1nJiF3Rttq3x3cDL0_I0B2KFsI2Be0TDRNv_eIk/s1600/DSC_0146.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 134px; 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HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577827580276486450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDXL-t3mfwut0UWCuu6fNpoikXYQOURukolscDa77wYmvcAtUV5He5U3-4QO7Nr92NVsE9TTQIEUbHejFWGNde9TUfoUoaMEYnViMIRgJqOnm2d6JZu0PKsI3iVAPB5pY4x1CAPPMwkg/s200/DSC_0177.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDPJL2o4B1j7thmpOrN2s4nRWGRBFy-ljppbFZYNxaTstxyouZ25Qc73pmJqi-l9ZVQWjidW1N9sbAyh6nF1yyIaoQczVDvSKz3jBFQ-MpNsJBgMkrZKNhaxHsVWXpI47v-JE-kHSlP8/s1600/DSC_0182.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577824567122198626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDPJL2o4B1j7thmpOrN2s4nRWGRBFy-ljppbFZYNxaTstxyouZ25Qc73pmJqi-l9ZVQWjidW1N9sbAyh6nF1yyIaoQczVDvSKz3jBFQ-MpNsJBgMkrZKNhaxHsVWXpI47v-JE-kHSlP8/s200/DSC_0182.JPG" /></a><br /><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4du7vMJJ1U24KqmpUGkK8ibRzKX4zqjKhTmINe0unrTm87SWuCmPX0V0WJG-OcLiCxyVH7kuL4riT3xwwVVvqHD2xixcdU6Y2U9Ro62SXTAwhH8nuqSbGQqqf3m3vxoCe8Qw-odc7qnI/s1600/DSC_0172.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577824563389307394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4du7vMJJ1U24KqmpUGkK8ibRzKX4zqjKhTmINe0unrTm87SWuCmPX0V0WJG-OcLiCxyVH7kuL4riT3xwwVVvqHD2xixcdU6Y2U9Ro62SXTAwhH8nuqSbGQqqf3m3vxoCe8Qw-odc7qnI/s200/DSC_0172.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKdLSmSpj0sywqfodBYPbJvkoTkobiZbnZ5b_tX-XBVUPMZEj5MhEFfqVGJ3pyDa7tfAGfoqLFOjQXQT29pw_F9Y6K3S9ITyNSKsUuqAan_gmsi8vICO7QKGEpEZgxchtVZOgDbl5TpI/s1600/DSC_0218.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 134px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577824560702974930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKdLSmSpj0sywqfodBYPbJvkoTkobiZbnZ5b_tX-XBVUPMZEj5MhEFfqVGJ3pyDa7tfAGfoqLFOjQXQT29pw_F9Y6K3S9ITyNSKsUuqAan_gmsi8vICO7QKGEpEZgxchtVZOgDbl5TpI/s200/DSC_0218.JPG" /></a></div><div><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">When we got to the park, Franci and I read Psalm 20 together (as we read one Psalm per day) and prayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Psalm 20 was perfect, a gift from God this day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It said in verse 1, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“May the Lord answer you when you are in distress.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then in verses 4-5, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>May the Lord grant all your requests.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But even after we read such a promising word, as we were setting up, and it was time to start with no kids in sight, I was frustrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I asked God, ‘Why clear up the rain, why unlock the door, why get us all the way here and not provide us with any kids?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What is your plan?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I asked God to give us the desire of our hearts, to complete the plan.</span></p></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwOmvzRa6xnaGBJXttF1-pjULYkvPluoAm0a0hzA_p1CF40-hmiFChkVXiOk12bRu8Bg0dzX5qQXq_TIaiVueGSTgTJBx_ksBjenQd-_f0OFWDm0gJeNh6GREMhXrPbgB5ElVcVtSTEc/s1600/DSC_0219.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577824556927315762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwOmvzRa6xnaGBJXttF1-pjULYkvPluoAm0a0hzA_p1CF40-hmiFChkVXiOk12bRu8Bg0dzX5qQXq_TIaiVueGSTgTJBx_ksBjenQd-_f0OFWDm0gJeNh6GREMhXrPbgB5ElVcVtSTEc/s200/DSC_0219.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxT3X9fmSFGhbq1ZDNiMiKrHrHyqY004vBMb6YBHrocxwDM3HiR842uNguiGc5my_U-YzamGv3Z_UZcolyHBWzGuivQ1vatnu83WafXg-Fauubw2sZGc71-uwclWX7Hm19SqFfyYNRWQ/s1600/DSC_0268.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 134px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577819279674413458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxT3X9fmSFGhbq1ZDNiMiKrHrHyqY004vBMb6YBHrocxwDM3HiR842uNguiGc5my_U-YzamGv3Z_UZcolyHBWzGuivQ1vatnu83WafXg-Fauubw2sZGc71-uwclWX7Hm19SqFfyYNRWQ/s200/DSC_0268.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDB5jFE7nc36KzN-cVRdRZv9sSr5WM6ySjmWYKrwUS2YhwlgwKgWfC-4PsTmEcejCG-dGxJnUXIdPuKoBtgSvZF56eZoB_9R_UNp0rSZPSATxre8tsl9TIEN1R__KEZDgQRCYOkjfYLc/s1600/DSC_0281.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577819271158443714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDB5jFE7nc36KzN-cVRdRZv9sSr5WM6ySjmWYKrwUS2YhwlgwKgWfC-4PsTmEcejCG-dGxJnUXIdPuKoBtgSvZF56eZoB_9R_UNp0rSZPSATxre8tsl9TIEN1R__KEZDgQRCYOkjfYLc/s200/DSC_0281.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglj8iqhfXLnQ2GHhqowDndzwKHpMvqrFv2IWsD8PWn6HHlOUiH1OUYzbvKKiYZKPSFCh0Ogp0PzT16Rp0axyms_y78Q623hRcICdhYGn34IwFLV16lWqQVYrd_6I51lDCTLzjvO8K2D4/s1600/DSC_0296.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577819269934869410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglj8iqhfXLnQ2GHhqowDndzwKHpMvqrFv2IWsD8PWn6HHlOUiH1OUYzbvKKiYZKPSFCh0Ogp0PzT16Rp0axyms_y78Q623hRcICdhYGn34IwFLV16lWqQVYrd_6I51lDCTLzjvO8K2D4/s200/DSC_0296.JPG" /></a></div><div><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">We started with two kids and they played with the parachute in the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We had the cuies dancing and the kids music blaring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Finally, a few more kids came and we stopped the parachute game to start the English lesson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We just went ahead and began with the few kids we had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But the entire hour and a half we were teaching the kids, singing, watching puppets and coloring….more and more kids kept arriving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At the end, we ran out of coloring sheets there were so many kids!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>By the end we probably had about 30 kids with 7 or more mothers sitting with us, listening and interacting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">This festival provided us with four contacts, and a friendship with the president of the park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Also, we have invited everyone to join us again each Friday afternoon for more lessons on English and the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>God truly blessed our first impact event!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We are grateful for all He did to clear the path and provide for us during this afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Psalm 20:5a We will shout for joy when you are victorious and lift up our banners in the name of our God.</span></i></b><br /></p></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPkdf7oR6ETZFWTnoREQWIsuD_XKn8cAlbihGNZ5Ndr3MjFsiAc23HMxBs8TmDdqFzwWpWjCrbbvKg7WaRGhleY_ZpqSeIez36sIzHsoQyxKKcS6sn9J33MjrJ7n7i8XHpYt6q9A_V54/s1600/DSC_0320.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577819263855164946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPkdf7oR6ETZFWTnoREQWIsuD_XKn8cAlbihGNZ5Ndr3MjFsiAc23HMxBs8TmDdqFzwWpWjCrbbvKg7WaRGhleY_ZpqSeIez36sIzHsoQyxKKcS6sn9J33MjrJ7n7i8XHpYt6q9A_V54/s200/DSC_0320.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtfajJ6QSfZvFeS6RUgXx0hGsi1vblUBis6bImkBR7AaiJ18LIPoK4uE7pYZzJsGSfNjABQxsgdbQHGtRIjFkzjG8liTYvRbzceQyb130iSj1Ay5EI5SuhyTtW8Gyfqf7VrM5RXOUpGs/s1600/DSC_0315.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577819259752447394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtfajJ6QSfZvFeS6RUgXx0hGsi1vblUBis6bImkBR7AaiJ18LIPoK4uE7pYZzJsGSfNjABQxsgdbQHGtRIjFkzjG8liTYvRbzceQyb130iSj1Ay5EI5SuhyTtW8Gyfqf7VrM5RXOUpGs/s200/DSC_0315.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07669592414128020264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800233268761774418.post-90151799589648737772011-02-13T17:50:00.000-08:002011-02-13T19:10:42.519-08:00His Purpose......<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">What does a day in Huascar look like? Every day is completely different. When we don't have visits set up, we try to let the Spirit lead us when we're not sure what to do or who to talk to. And other times we have visits set up with people to talk in their houses or normally on the sidewalk in front of their house. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Today Franci and I left at 9:30am after waking up, getting ready and our morning prayer meetings. We walk about 25 minutes to "Alto Huascar", it’s called 'alto' (high) because Huascar goes from one mountain to another, with houses up the mountain side and in the valley. We were in Alto Huascar looking for an address of a guy we met last week. We met Jose, about a 20ish year old kid in a tienda. He spoke some English to me and I asked him if he would like to practice his English. English is a great way to open doors here, it’s such a great opportunity to begin conversations and relationships with people. But I didn't want to "bait and switch" him. So I told him we normally teach some English and then some of the Bible too. He was okay with that and we got his info and set up a visit for 10am on Sunday morning.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">We were looking for the address: Circunvalacion Norte 1522. We found 1492, 1501, 1555, 1574, but there was no 1522. After over an hour of asking around, wandering, asking some more, knocking on a few doors, and praying, we still couldn't find the house! I even had to buy some credit on my phone to call him and his phone number was not working. Finally, we sat down on the sidewalk. There we just talked about what to do and discussed how frustrated and sad we were as this guy really seemed like a good lead. (It's amazing sometimes how similar this job is to my old job, it’s just a different product I'm offering!)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">As we sat on the curb with busses whizzing past and people walking by, a drunk guy passed us on the road. He walked past and then about 10 minutes later he returned to talk to us. He asked me "Que tal?" and we chatted for a moment. Then Franci jumped in and told him it’s not cool to be drunk, especially at 11am. She talked about how not only does drinking wear on your pocket and health, its displeasing to God. Overall, Jorge, seemed like a guy with a good head on his shoulders. He's studying mineral engineering, 20 years old, and lives by himself most of the time while his mom spends much of the week at her boyfriend's house in Juliaca. While chatting with buzzed Jorge, I thanked God for using us despite the fact that we missed our first appointment. How cool that we sat down right where we needed to in order to meet Jorge! And now we have an appointment with Jorge next Sunday at 1pm to talk with him more about his struggles and the Bible! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">From there we walked toward the center of Huascar and went into a restaurant we wanted to try. There was a plate called Seiscito that we were both interested in trying but as it was 9 soles and we normally only spend 3.50 - 4 soles on lunch, we ordered one and shared it. Lunches basically always come with soup. Today the soup was Caldo de Cabeza, it’s a soup made from ram head and potatoes. I let Franci eat the soup; what a sacrifice! Finally we got our food and it was ground beef, some veggies, sauce, and potatoes. Hungrily, I cut up all the potatoes then started eating only to find out they were not potatoes but chuño. Chuño is a potato that's been buried for a year to dry out, yuck! They are more expensive than regular potatoes but gross! Franci and I ended up eating the meat then buying ice cream after because we were still hungry! </span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">After our chuño lunch, we walked by the park and sat down next to a lady making a sweater. Franci talked to her for about an hour. And I literally do mean talked 'to' her. I was frustrated as this lady, Rosa, didn't seem interested at all. The hour passed by, I prayed for strength as I was incredibly tired and for patience as I was completely frustrated with Franci. At the end, Rosa did seem a little more interested but had excuses on why she couldn't give us her address and how she doesn't have a phone. So we have no way to contact her, only her name and face to pray for her and possibly someday run into her again. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">It was 2:30ish at this point and we had an appointment with Janet at 3pm but her house was only about 5 minutes away. We walked down a road we hadn't been down before and halfway down the block we saw 5 men carrying something up the stairs. It wasn't a couch or any type of furniture. I asked them what they were doing and one guy told me they were bringing the virgin of the Candelaria home and told us to come up and look. Franci and I looked at each other and decided to climb the stairs and check it out. We walked into a smoky room with the virgin on the table in the center of the room. About 4 men were working to set up her pedestal to move her from the table to the hideously decorated pedestal. We watched an older gal say a prayer to the virgin. It was quite eerie to be in the room at that time. Franci and I were both praying silently for these people. I thought about how sad it is that they waste all this time and effort for something that's not real. It astounded me that these people can devote their lives to something and yet they will still be deprived of an eternal life with the One and Only. If nothing else, Franci and I agreed that going up to that room was worth it to bathe the place in prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4ro-54rwbfjBpl_QEPR_aVV3AhWFWo60QXpClln1pUQb9y7h-EY_dT9njF86Nwh5bfL_9ft4RO3Md0bf_hH-4dHtuokR9UntKgmGO-eekrWue747MTEWywtEvuSxCTAid9qnGieH8BI/s1600/102_3060.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573373739460187666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4ro-54rwbfjBpl_QEPR_aVV3AhWFWo60QXpClln1pUQb9y7h-EY_dT9njF86Nwh5bfL_9ft4RO3Md0bf_hH-4dHtuokR9UntKgmGO-eekrWue747MTEWywtEvuSxCTAid9qnGieH8BI/s200/102_3060.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGrNZ_0gF1FxRq8pnSun-flZCPMDFN6tlegrXfpOGt9gi7mW5bzIKZ7k1fBxbA5bmcszkwTSl_l2WUY-oz764vxxdiObbIZ0dELkA8PBS6bHWRlPseOuTbpqMRW6j26udpuneTx61L2I/s1600/102_3066.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573373736233899042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGrNZ_0gF1FxRq8pnSun-flZCPMDFN6tlegrXfpOGt9gi7mW5bzIKZ7k1fBxbA5bmcszkwTSl_l2WUY-oz764vxxdiObbIZ0dELkA8PBS6bHWRlPseOuTbpqMRW6j26udpuneTx61L2I/s200/102_3066.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0P0Zf_1l8vqnq-Otnb6-jZl5NqVAlfLgBJB3UBYZl8Sky2HTlM0_QeUwS0aGAPu3h2iWadjc_nV3DmcYmDyLVulLCO0qQZtEwAMoIvT8vZjg4bS6xQeNc4b6xwwKP790oMNjlBBJ4IU8/s1600/102_3069.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573373734227714818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0P0Zf_1l8vqnq-Otnb6-jZl5NqVAlfLgBJB3UBYZl8Sky2HTlM0_QeUwS0aGAPu3h2iWadjc_nV3DmcYmDyLVulLCO0qQZtEwAMoIvT8vZjg4bS6xQeNc4b6xwwKP790oMNjlBBJ4IU8/s200/102_3069.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfl9QfVu-gO5pohmBqCkcrkG2gJJv7_202Pq9NKRkALhZdQHs4-nPRriM8YoK1s65KO3i2mdaSVPM8-n_psbhR2PhcNDJisBSM9N4oX5_cXxWF_eFMDaRpd5RjldyizzheSqioH84jmWI/s1600/102_3057.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573373739150536642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfl9QfVu-gO5pohmBqCkcrkG2gJJv7_202Pq9NKRkALhZdQHs4-nPRriM8YoK1s65KO3i2mdaSVPM8-n_psbhR2PhcNDJisBSM9N4oX5_cXxWF_eFMDaRpd5RjldyizzheSqioH84jmWI/s200/102_3057.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Finally, it was 3pm and we walked up the street to Janet's house. Janet is a hairdresser and we've stopped in to talk to her a few times but today was our first scheduled appointment. We knocked on the door and waited but there was no answer. We remembered I have credit on my phone so Franci called her cell number. Janet had forgotten about the appointment and wouldn't be home until 7pm. Franci confirmed we could come back next week at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">About six hours after we had left the house in the morning, I felt like very little had been accomplished. We were unable to get in contact with our two appointments for the day. But, I remembered and was comforted by a verse that says, <b><i>"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21</i></b> Everything I had planned for today was a bust, but I have faith and confidence that God's plan prevailed today. Maybe God had us set up the appointment with Jose only to be lost and not find the house and to sit down and meet Jorge. Maybe God had us spend an hour with Rosa in the park in order to be walking down the street at the right time to find the men brining the virgin home so we could pray in that place. Please pray with me that on a daily basis Franci and I will be able to follow the Spirit and allow God's plan and purpose to be fulfilled rather than ours.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"></span></o:p> </p>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07669592414128020264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800233268761774418.post-89307430107038972542011-01-21T14:00:00.001-08:002011-01-21T20:44:38.711-08:00Ready, Set, Even Though, Go.....<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">So, although Franci and I are still digging through our bags and suitcases and are sleeping with our mattresses’ on the floor in a room that will eventually be a storage room, and still sharing a bathroom with the boys…technically, despite not being settled yet, we have started working. Our two weeks here in Puno have been a locura, (craziness/madness/insanity), chose your favorite, they all apply. We really haven't had much time to start getting to know people in our communities as we have been busy with the move, buying things for the house, praying over everyone's communities, and helping the mother church with VBS. But, Franci and I managed to get started the other day by spending some time in Huascar. Out of our three locations, Huascar is the most familiar to us as it is closest to our home and we spent a day wandering through Huascar at the beginning of December, just Franci and I, searching for a home.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Franci and I arrived in Puno with a plan to get started. Let me back up and explain how this plan came about. Probably about two months ago, our cluster parents Chad and Amanda challenged our group to fast lunch and use our lunch money (yes, we have lunch money like 12 year olds! haha) to bless someone that day. They challenged us to go out into a part of Arequipa, where we were living at the time and bless someone however we wanted. We could buy them lunch, household items, just give them the money, or whatever we felt the Spirit leading us to do. Franci and I left this day and went out to Alto Libertad, the area where we helped lead a cell group, close to the church we attended in Arequipa. I introduced Franci to prayer walking. We walked the area and took turns praying aloud as we canvassed the roads of Alto Libertad. We prayed God would put someone in our path to bless, that His Spirit would be with us and that we would be able to express His love and compassion. As we were walking and praying we saw some people working in a </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: ES-PE" lang="ES-PE">futbol</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> field. We looked at each other and decided we would help one of them. Then we looked around and right there on the corner was a tienda. We ran over to the tienda and purchased soap, oil, butter and other items we thought would be useful. But what we didn't know is that God wasn't guiding us to these people in the field, but was guiding us to the gal in the tienda, Nora. As we were buying the items from Nora we struck up a conversation with her and were able to talk to her about the Bible and our Savior. We set up a meeting with her for the next week, left the tienda and gave the items to one of the gals in the field across the street. After this, we went back and visited Nora a few times. We were able to plant some seeds and help answer some of her questions and strike up a friendship. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">It was after this experience that Franci and I were talking and both found out that we had both felt we need to fast and prayer walk in our locations in Puno. Jesus fasted before he allowed himself to be tempted by satan (Matthew 4:1-2) and he prayed as preparation to preach and speak the gospel (Mark 1:35-39). So why not use the example of Jesus? Isn't he who we should strive to imitate? So Franci and I both agreed we wanted to fast and pray over each of our locations in preparation and petition.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">And this is exactly what we set out to do on Wednesday morning, a time of prayer and fasting in preparation and petition for the suburb of Huascar. Franci and I left our house and walked to Huascar, about a 30 minute trek. We got to Huascar, sat down and prayed. We walked about the city spending time together and praying. Then, we decided to go to another part of the city where we hadn't been before. There was a hill with stairs going to the top and a bunch of people on the stairs so we thought we would check it out. After climbing up a slippery dirt hill and jumping over a gaping hole, we finally got to the bottom of the stair case. We got halfway up the stairs and saw what was going on, construction. I was so mad I didn't bring my camera! These people had rigged rippled sheet metal into "hot dog bun" shapes, kept together with thin strings of metal, and each hot dog of sheet metal was set inside another one, making a slide from the top of the stairs to the middle. At the top of this contraption was a concrete mixer and a pile of rocks. The guys at the top would mix the concrete, add some rocks, then pour the mixture down the sheet metal slide and with a whoosh and a clamor, the concrete and rocks slide past us on the slide. At one point, the lady right above me on the stairs lost the head to her shovel in the passing rocks so I picked it out for her and ran it back up to her. And another time the guys let more concrete and rocks down the slide than normal and the spraying of concrete and louder noise startled me and I almost fell down the stairs and took Franci with me!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">As we watched this creative invention at work, Franci and I talked to Brigida, a lady about 40 years old who owns a house on this hill and is the one building this wall. We chatted for a while, just small talk and not much else. Then, Franci whispered to me that she wanted me to tell Brigida that our mission here is to teach people about the Bible and that we would like to come back sometime to visit with her and talk about the Bible. Immediately, Brigida told me that she like to drink and party and she does not want to learn about the Bible. I explained that we will not tell her what she "can" or "cannot" do because that is up to her and her conscience and relationship with God. I also told her we could come back not to talk about the Bible but just to talk as friends. She really didn't seem interested and things were very awkward at this point. So after a few minutes, Franci and I said our goodbyes and continued up the hill to check out the view of the lake and the city from the top.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Unfortunately, we really didn't get anywhere with Brigida, at least not what we expected. But, I think this was an awesome learning experience. Being shot down on our very first attempt in Puno is quite humbling. What I have taken from this is that Franci and I need to be very sensitive to the Holy Spirit. We need to let the Spirit guide us in each conversation so that God can tell us when to proceed, what to say, when to pull on the reins and more. When Franci told me to ask her if we could come back to talk about the Bible, I cringed and thought, no, let’s not use that word, "Bible" yet, that's not how we do it in the states. That word pushes people away and turns them off. But maybe that was God telling me to pull back and build more of a report with Brigida before we mention the Bible. So my prayer right now is for discernment, for open ears and an open heart. I want to be able to hear the Spirit speak to me in these situations so that I may follow. And I want Franci and I to both hear the Spirit so that we are on the same page and of one mind, God's mind.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Even though it was not the start we expected or wanted, it was a start. Praise God that we are here and He chose us! Even though we got shot down like a nerdy boy asking the cheerleader out to prom, we got to experience our first rejection. Praise God for teaching us through this rejection! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"> </span></o:p></p><p> </p>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07669592414128020264noreply@blogger.com0