Closing Days

I have 10 more days in Peru. If you count today, and today's almost gone. That's kind of the problem, my days are slipping away really fast. So I'm really busy squeezing as much loving as possible into every day.

That's why I went to the women's home 4 days this week. (Home of Life, for women who are HIV+ and their children.) That's where this baby lives, Mijaet. I call him my nephew and hold him as much as possible. Even today when I was there, a little girl that I've never seen there before came and stretched up her arms to me, so I held her on my lap and loved her. God is pouring abundant love over me, and I have so much that it gushes out of me onto these kids. I see Jesus in these beautiful women and children. After I leave, I pray with everything in me, lifting them up to my Father in heaven because I know He loves them so much more than I do.

Anyway, that's what's going on in my heart these days. But I do have times when my feet are on the ground too! We went to a gigantic fountain park, we went to the zoo and saw enormous rats, we survived another earthquake, and I was nearly ran over by a bus yesterday...kind of has a way of bringing you back to reality! I said to the team, "Follow me, I know exactly where we're going," (tongue in cheek, since I actually didn't) and proceeded to step out in front of a bus. That was after leading us onto the wrong bus earlier this week. Poor team! I guess it is time to go home!

So I'll be back in Abbotsford on my birthday, and we have 10 days of debrief there. Hard to believe. I miss you all so much, and am looking forward to seeing you. But it's really hard to leave here, this land and these people that I've fallen in love with. I'm so grateful that God is giving me peace in my heart, and reminding me that He will continue to work here long after I'm gone. A verse that we've talked about and I've thought about a lot is Psalms 65:11"...Your wagon tracks overflow with abundance." So I'm believing that, that behind us we're leaving God's wagon tracks through this country, and they're going to continue to overflow with His love onto each person that we've met here.

On the edge of a dream

Last spring, after I graduated from nursing school, I heard this phrase, "On the edge of a dream". It resonated deeply within me, as I began to feel Peru getting closer and closer. And now you can see the picture of us at this incredible waterfall, in the foothills of the Andes mountains. We had an amazing day hiking around there, and I went off by myself to pray and thank God for fulfilling this dream.
I had another moment the other day. I was at the home where we go a few times a week to be with the women and children, which is called the Home of Life (Hogar de Vida). I was holding one woman's baby, singing him songs about Jesus and making him laugh, and she was sitting close beside me. And I knew that in that moment, I was sharing the love of God in Peru, in the best way that I can.
I don't know if I'm making sense, but what I'm trying to say is...I'm not standing on the edge of my dream anymore--I'm living it! I am living my dream, the dream that God planted 11 years ago. And I love it.
On Wednesday we are living for a 2 1/2 week trip to the northern part of Peru. I would ask your prayers, as we will be travelling lots, the weather is hotter up there, and we will be eating unfamiliar foods again. Our team has already had a lot of sickness, and I want us to be strong physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Please pray for angels of protection and God's mighty power to be at work in us.
I hope you are well. And I thank those of you who take the time to read this and remember me and pray for me. I can feel your prayers across the miles.
Oh, yeah. And please pray that we won't meet any rats on our journey. I'm bringing my rat trap though. You just never know.

Living a Peruvian life

I am getting tanned from the sun, toned from the gym, and kind of wanting to cut my hair. But I don't think I will just yet, because right now they tell me I look Peruvian. (Actually, someone initially said that I looked like a rich Peruvian. I wasn't exactly sure what that meant.) But anyways, I am fitting in well here, at least until I open my mouth! My Spanish is improving, slowly but surely. For example, we learned a very useful phrase in Spanish class yesterday: We're all going to die! So I used it several times at the gym this morning when these Peruvian men were trying to make us lift about a zillion kilos.

I watch the sun rise over Lima from the gym each morning...and I pray with all my heart that God would rise His Son over Peru. I watch all the cars driving somewhere, the people walking somewhere, and pray for the touch of my Father in their lives.

Here's a picture of me in my new role of playing guitar. I'm not great, but I can do it cuz I'm here in Peru.

We've kind of settled into a routine here. It feels very natural to me. I'm living a Peruvian life.

Yeah. I am Peruvian.

I love Peru!

Here's some pictures of the inside and outside of our church (and home) so you have more of a visual of where I am. And here's Breanne, Roxy, and I collecting palm branches for palm Sunday. Yeah, our life here pretty much rocks!
And have I told you lately that I love you?

Come to church with me this morning...

I wish you could be with me this beautiful morning. So picture it in your mind, and come with me. It is in a clean, small, hot church. Everyone is kissing me, genuinely glad to see me. And I am glad to see them. We can't open the windows today because last week the neighbors complained that we were too loud. So we bring in the fans.

I am playing piano this Easter morning at church in Peru. I am missing home today, but glad to be part of the service. Playing piano is a strange mix of feeling back in my comfort zone, and at the same time unsure of myself here in this country, where the words are so different to my ears.

I am trying to understand the sermon. It is about the Resurrection. I kind of follow it, but it takes so much concentration. And I'm feeling a bit under the weather today. Oh dear, I missed that scripture reference. Where are we? Lord, help to learn Spanish. Thank You for your resurrection.

The offering basket goes by, and I'm watching people give what they have to Jesus. Roxy is giving her testimony, and I'm cheering her on. Now 2 young people are giving testimonies from the youth retreat this past week, and I'm wondering if I'm making a difference here. I'm wondering what more I can be doing. I'm praying for the Holy Spirit to flow through me. Why can't I understand more Spanish? What are they saying?

It is getting hotter and hotter as the service continues, and I'm living more and more for the seconds when the fan points to me. 10 seconds to rotate, 2 seconds on me. 10 seconds off, 2 seconds on. I am wondering if I can sneak out and get some water. Nope, that won't work. The door is behind the pulpit. This is ridiculous. I feel like a little kid fidgeting in church. Sarah, pay attention. And then it's finished.

And I think of another time when those words were said..."It is finished..." And I praise my Jesus for His sacrifice for me, for us. That He would come to earth as a baby, die on the cross for our sins, and rise again--how can that be? What kind of love is that from the God of the universe?

Happy Easter! He is risen indeed!

Kickboxing???

OK, I have learned since being here that being a missionary doesn't always look how I imagined it. But I did not know that kickboxing would be part of my training here. Otto, our host missionary, really wanted us to accompany him to the gym every morning, so today was our first day and we did some kickboxing. (I have to say, I definitely enjoyed it.) He says that we need to be in good shape for our trip up north in May. And after thinking about it, I thought, yeah, a missionary should be in good shape. So I'm kickboxing.

I am getting more involved with the church and building relationships with people. This is a picture of Lisa, myself, and our host mom, Angelita learning to make jewelery with one of the ladies from the church. I gave my testimony in church on Sunday in Spanish (it was translated for me), and everyone was thrilled. Then yesterday we spent some time playing guitar at the park, and playing with some kids there. We met a woman selling jewelry, so we invited her to English classes, showed her where the church was, and she came! Someone there invited her to church on Sunday, and she said she would also come to that. And for me, it was a great moment.

I am totally bonding with my host family here. Jano (pronounced Hano) and his wife Angelita (little angel) are the pastors here. They live upstairs with 2 of their daughters, and we live downstairs, behind the church. They have made us feel so welcomed and loved here, even asking us to call them mami and pappi. Very affectionate. I feel so honored to live and work and love with them. Some people here are calling me Sarita (like little Sarah, very affectionate term), and I love it. I feel like I could fit in here.

So I'm where God wants me for this time. I love walking with Him on the path that He carves out for me, and I pray that same blessing for you.

Lots of love,

Sarita

Kissing and starving

I arrived in Lima, Peru this week. And so far, we've done a lot of kissing. I know, kissing sounds a bit sketchy for a nice missionary girl like myself, but the traditional Peruvian greeting is a kiss on the cheek. Takes a bit of getting used to, but it is very warm and friendly and I like it (usually). And as far as starving...well, we had a bit of a problem with our budget, so we were not really eating a whole lot. Enough to eat three meals a day, but not enough to be full. But we found the problem and now we have plenty of money and food. But it was kind of a good experience. How many people in the world go to bed hungry?

Okay, and is everyone praying for me to learn Spanish, or what? Because I'm learning like a Spanish machine!! Yay! Next week we'll start Spanish lessons, which will be good.

I was reading the story in John 9 about when Jesus heals a blind man. When people ask him how his eyes were opened, he says that it was a man called Jesus. I love that, a man called Jesus. So that's what I've been praying--for you, for me, for my team, and for Peru--that we would encounter a man called Jesus. Everywhere we go, each day, we would meet Him where we're at.

Anyways, it's been a great first week! We saw a bit of the city, so here's a few pictures of us, at the ocean and at the catacombs (a graveyard under a church). Do you like the bones?!

The day I died

Morbid title, I know. But it caught your attention, didn't it?This verse jumped out at me yesterday: Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For YOU DIED, and your life is HIDDEN WITH CHRIST in God (Colossians 3:2,3). I died? It's not really something that you hear on Sunday mornings too often. It struck me because God has been teaching me so much about surrender, and repentance, and other stuff that is really not very fun. But dying? Do I really have to go that far? Isn't that a bit extreme? But if I am completely surrendered to my Jesus, if I let go of my selfish desires, then I have died to self. This is my new passion...for my life to be so hidden in Christ, that people no longer see Sarah, but they see only Jesus. When I go to Peru, are people going to see a selfish, spoiled white girl, or will they see Jesus?

This is a picture of the Mark Center, where my days are numbered. It has been a wonderful home for 2 months, and I will remember it as a place where I had fun, made friends, learned tons, and met God. On Saturday night we have a comissioning service, and then we leave at 1 a.m. on Sunday morning to drive to Seattle and catch a 6 a.m. flight. Lovely. And then, I will be back in my sweet Peru. It's hard to believe that I'm really going back for a 3rd time, and will be there in less than a week. I can hardly wait!!!!!!!!

I hope you are all well, wherever you might be reading this. Your prayers, friendship, and encouragement mean so much to me. My challenge for you today is have you died? Is your life hidden in the shadow of Jesus?

Countdown

Well, I have been scolded for not keeping my blog updated, so here's to a renewed effort.

12 more days and I will be flying into Peru. I must confess that I was getting cold feet for a while, but they're gone now. I'm ready. I was born ready.

OK, so maybe I wasn't born ready, but God in His grace has prepared me for this for 11 years. (Yeah, I'm a bit of a slow learner.) I have flashes of memories of Peru, and my heart resounds within me...this is what I was made for...to walk with Jesus in other countries, spreading His love in whatever way I can. I look forward to this longer mission, where I can actually form relationships.

Training is incredible. By taking the time to step away from my life at home and just be with God, I think I've learned in 2 months what normally would have taken me several years. God challenges me, I try to resist Him, His love wins me every time, and I learn to walk with Him more. I'm trying to take out that second step and just get to the good stuff though!

My invitation to you today is to let God speak to you. What is He saying to you today? And how will you respond?

Teammates

Some of my teammates and some bonding time. We'll be together in a foreign country for 3 1/2 months. We'll laugh and cry together. We'll encourage each other, and fight sometimes, I'm sure. So while we're here, we are trying to connect as much as possible. As you can see, there is a beautiful rocking giraffe here, "Percy", lovingly handmade and something of a Mark Center legend. And even though we are adults and soon-to-be missionaries, we enjoy playing and riding on him. Unfortunately, we found out the hard way that he was not made for 3 adults...craaaaack...and I am afraid that my team will go down in history as the ones who broke Percy. It was sad. Quite sad. Not to mention embarrassing.

Other than that incident, though, training is going great and I'm loving it here. That's all for now.

Team Peru (AKA Teamo Supremo)

Left to right: Roxy, Laura, Lisa, Dave, Sarah, Breanne

As you may guess, we had a ridiculous amount of fun taking our team pictures; it was one of our first bonding moments. After this was immunizations, our next big moment. (I didn't have to get any, so I held their hands and entertained with finger puppets.)

We're slowly getting more information about what we'll be doing, and it seems like it will include teaching English, kid's ministry, helping with the church services, and working at a home for HIV+ women. We will be in Lima, which means I'll also get to see my sponsor girl, so I know that will be a highlight for me. More details later, I just wanted to get something up here.

Sarah

The hammer falls

Today was the unveiling of teams.
Tension was high. Kleenex was ready. The chart was flipped.
I actually burst into tears before the names were even revealed, but one of the girls on my team ran and hugged me, telling me I was going to Peru. I then proceeded to cry for the full hour of worship.
I'm sure most of you can imagine how excited I was--returning to my favorite place! We've got a strong team and I think the journey ahead will be incredible.
Anyways, this is just a quick first post and some pics of my team.
Keep in touch!
Love you all!
Sarah