Day 4

Breakfast was Scrambled eggs, Papaya, and Bread.
Then we went to church. In a Peruvian JAIL!  There were a few rules to follow.  First of all I did not have a skirt/dress long enough.  They had to be past your knee.  Both the dresses I brought were knee length.  So If I was going to go on this ministry outing I had to borrow a skirt.  Which I did.  Then I went down, dressed with my long skirt and a black t shirt.  Whoopsie, they forgot to mention that we could not wear BLACK.  (Something about the guards being dressed in black...)  So I ALSO had to borrow a shirt!  Goodness.  Finally I got dressed appropriately and we headed out to the Prison.  I was a little nervous but had decided that since I was this far out of my comfort zone, I was NOT going to let little things (like being nervous about going into a Peruvian prison) stop me from anything God might want me to do.  Turns out the scariest part of the whole thing was having to be "searched/patted down" by a Peruvian guard.  Thank God it was a woman.  But seriously going into that small nasty dirty dark closet looking room with just she and I.  I am not gonna lie.  I was shaking in my boots, as they say.  Thankfully though there wasnt much to it.  The guard just barely patted my sides and motioned me on through.  'THANK YOU JESUS!"  The next scariest thing there was the fact that they kept our passports while we were in the prison.  I wasnt too keen on that.  There was no way I was comfortable with not being able to get out of the country and back to the good ole USA when the time came.  But at the finish and on our way out we were all given back our passports.  "THANK YOU JESUS!"  :)

As we turned in our passports and we were entering the prison they stamped our arms with these pigs.  Whaaaa????  The missionaries go each week to this service and said that they sometimes get Santa Clause Stamps, or ones that say "GREAT JOB!" like 2nd graders get on their papers at school here.  Strange!

We worshipped God with these prisoners clapping and singing in Spanish, and praising.  It was true worship.  At the end of the service 4 of them invited Jesus into their hearts and were saved by His grace.
The whole thing was really amazing and I am so glad I went.  Thanks Calley for sharing your clothes.  (She couldn't attend because she had Salem, who was not allowed to go.) Oh and sorry about the sweaty clothes that were returned to you.  :)

We came back to Chicken, RICE, and potatoes.  It was yummy.  Then after a little Siesta we went down to the Safehouse.  It is a home for men who have been rescued from the street life.  It was visiting day at the Safehouse.  Thats why we (women) were allowed to go.  Normally it is only men.  But on this day, Mothers, sisters, and daughters were visiting.  I didnt really expect it to be "fun".  I guess I expected it to be a little awkward maybe.  However it was SO GREAT!  I really enjoyed talking to the men there and their families.  There were several children visiting and we got to play with them and talk to their parents and just generally show Jesus love.  Todd of course was once again the "baby whisperer" to a little girl who would hardly go to anyone else.  (Especially me.)

It was amazing.  Sharing Gods love, always is.

That night we had a church service.  Our own Pastor Danny preached that night.  With an interpretor of course.  He did great.  We did a skit we had practiced during the service.  It was pretty great too.

After an AWESOME service with FANTASTIC worship, we went OUT TO DINNER!!!!
Who knew?!!!
Roasted Chicken, Rice, French Fries, Cole Slaw, and dipping sauces!  It was so so so good.  I may or may not have gotten way too full that night...

On the way back in our Moto Taxi, in the pouring down rain, my new glasses fell onto the street and were run over by another Moto Taxi destroying them.  No big deal though, even though I couldnt see for the rest of the trip very well at all, God assured me that he would allow me to see what was important!  And He did!

This was a day full once again with not many pictures taken.  They are however in my minds eye.

• Todd with Shalom
• The coconut tree
• The open firepit to cook in
• The door where I was searched
• Prison cells
• Prisoners playing soccer
• The guards with AK 47's
• The restaurant
• Moto Taxis in pouring rain
• My glasses on the street

Pictures forever in my mind.

Part of my prayer written before bed:

          Help these people see your love abundantly through us.  In His Name.

Next on The Agenda

The next thing on our agenda was to take the Jessica House women swimming.  So we got in our Moto Taxis and headed to a local hotel where you could pay to swim.  When we got there "all of the sudden" the price doubled.  Seriously!  They had warned us about this too.  The locals like to "take advantage" of the white people.  After a good bit of discussion and figuring out if we had enough "soles" (Peruvian money) with us, they finally decided we could swim for the price the missionaries always swim for.  Some of our team swam with the safe house women.  A few of us who did not care to swim had a seat and visited with each other.  That is where I learned a good bit more about some from our team and some of the missionaries.  We talked with one of our team from Kansas - Paige who had gotten news of a stressful event concerning her adopted child from Peru and a court issue.  Please pray with me for miraculous intervention regarding Caleb.  I also heard a wonderful story from another one from our team and how she came to her adoption process.  It is seriously an AMAZING story.  I really wish I could share it with you.  But at this time I cannot as I do not want to do anything at all to hinder her attempt to adopt a precious Peruvian princess.  It was really great getting to know these ladies.  They are amazing women of God who are laying down their lives - LITERALLY- and taking up JESUS!

We also heard a little about this sweeties story.  What a cutie.  His name is Teddy and this is his mommy.  Well after the adoption is complete it will be all legal.

A prayer from my journal:

LORD THANK YOU FOR THEM
USE THEM
FILL THEM
TOUCH THEM
MAKE THEIR CROOKED PLACES STRAIGHT
DO MIRACLES

DO IT LORD!  DO IT!

While we were there someone ordered Ceviche.  I had read about it and had almost decided that I would try it while I was there.  Thankfully she was gracious enough to allow me to take a taste.  Ceviche is sorta like sushi in that it is raw fish - cooked with lime juice.  It was pretty good actually.  I dont enjoy raw fish, but the texture wasnt too bad.  Better  than I expected.  I probably wont ever order an entire meal of it.  But I am glad that I got to taste it there in Peru.  Thanks to you who shared.

After our swim we headed back to the Mission and had supper.  Lomo Sal Tado
I had heard of Lomo Sal Tado online and knew if we went to a restaurant that Todd should order that.  It would be something he would enjoy.  But our great chefs had made it for us!  It is beef, tomato, and onion over  -- you guessed it---RICE.  Have you noticed a trend yet in the meals.  Yes  RICE  basically every meal except for breakfast.

 So after our swim and supper we went to a Saturday Night church service.  It was in this building, their church.

My expectations were that I would not understand much.  As it is all in Spanish.
I was right.
However, what I did not expect was to feel God's Spirit move so.
We sang powerful songs in Spanish.  Some that I could somewhat follow along with, and not so much on others. But ALL OF WHICH I felt God's Spirit through.

Lance Hula, one of our team (Our Youth Pastor) gave his testimony that night.

This is him enjoying Inca Cola.  A very popular soda in Peru. (I brought some home to all the kids to try.)

 He did very well explaining that God's love is powerful and can bring you through any circumstance.

It was a long and wonderful day.

Today as I think about that night and all the other nights we were there,  I realize that I continually see the faces. I wonder if they are forever etched in my mind.

May God bless them and pour his Spirit out on them.

In His Name.

Belin

 The morning of day 3 after breakfast of oatmeal with raisins and papaya we hopped into one of these

in groups of three and headed out to the poorest of poor sections in Iquitos called Belin.  This was our main form of transportation while we were there.  Moto taxis.  They are everywhere.  Tons of them.

I have never ever seen poverty like this before.  The houses, the filth, and in the midst of it all

the children

with faces like these.

"Vamos juegos los ninos"  "Come play children"  We shouted that while walking through the streets and they followed us.  We spent the morning there playing, loving, hugging.  They asked me to teach a quick lesson on the spot.  No preparation.  I was a little apprehensive.  I am all about being prepared.  But mostly because I knew it mattered.  My chance to tell the children something so important.  So I opened my mouth and asked God to speak.  "God loves you." "He created you for a purpose."  "He decided to create you Andrea, and you Mariella and you are special."  Their eyes lit up.  "You are very special to God and he will never leave you.  Whenever you need him you can always ask and he will hear you."  We talked about being afraid and asking God for help.

And then we left them.  Smiling and waving and running back for an extra hug.  Todd and I stopped on the way out to pray for Christina who had been badly bitten by a dog the day before.

I held back tears the entire time we were in Belin.

 Only allowing them to surface a few times.  Never spilling over.

I did not bring my camera into Belin.  The picture above was taken by one of our team.  We were warned of those in Belin who would steal things like cameras and phones.  I did not want to risk my camera being stolen.   So I got no pictures there.  However the pictures will forever be in my heart.

• The dark faces
• Dark eyes
• Shy smiles
• The butterfly
• Slums
• Poverty
• The dog who'd lost a leg very recently.  Open and raw
• Mounds of trash
• The people
• Tin roof after tin roof
• Sleeping people under houses
• The sandals on their feet
• Babies, more babies
• Sweet faces peering out screenless glassless windows.
• The boy who wanted me to get the gum from his hair.  I tried.  I could not.
• The little boy with all that curly dark hair
• The little girls who I so much wanted to hold- but they were too leery of a strange white woman

 I could have done that the entire time.  It was something I wont forget.  But there were other things to do.  Other places to go.  Sharing a little love each stop we made.

We had lunch when we returned to the mission.  Arroz y frijoles  --Rice and Beans  and a Cucumber tomato salad with lemon.
It was really good.  I think it was my favorite meal while we were there.  I kept thinking about those children though while I ate.  Knowing they would LOVE to have some.

Love Looks Like Something

Once we finally made it to the mission we got a bite to eat that the resident chefs prepared for us.   They are former addicts who are now saved by Gods grace and work at this mission serving others and ministering Gods love to the people of Iquitos.  This meal was Chicken, rice, and a potato/beet salad.  Yes Todd ate it.  Actually the beets weren't bad.

After we ate we got a tour of the mission and the local area.

 Walking through the streets was somewhat overwhelming.  Like nothing we had ever seen.  As we walked through I thought about some of the ways that Trent and his ministry were meeting the needs of the community.  I remembered when he was at Cornerstone he preached a sermon titled "Love Looks Like Something"  I have always remembered that sermon.  I think about it from time to time.  That day I got a glimpse of the love this ministry was showing to the people there and what it looked like.

There were kids playing everywhere.  We tried to talk to them.  We said "Hola" a lot.  :)

It's unbelievable how different we live.  I was holding back tears.

It was good to see some of what the ministry does there in Iquitos.  They showed us the beginnings of Jessica House.  The ministry has a house for men called the Safe House.  It is where men who have been rescued from the streets and drug addiction can come to live for a time learning life skills.   There is a great need for a place for women and children and they have begun the building project.  It was cool to see it at the beginning and I pray that the funds will come in and we will be able to see the finished project where many women and children will be ministered to.  You can read about Jessica House here
http://abundantlifeforperu.com/jessica-house/.

Later that night after supper (Egg Noodle Soup with bread and butter) some of our team did some night ministry that they were greatly blessed by.


The prayer I wrote before sleep overtook me:
          Lord, please break our hearts...
               our ways...
               our thoughts...
               our plans...
          for Yours.

A Mission Trip

I have been a christian a long time.  Todd and I hope that the way we live points to Christ.  We have supported missions with prayer and sometimes finances in the past but have never gone on a mission trip to another country before.  We have talked about it in the past and both agreed that one day we would like to do that, but that is really as far as it has ever gone.

When a mission trip to Peru was mentioned in our church we both raised our eyebrows at it.  And almost immediately Todd was totally in.  I was more skeptical.  By that I mean that Todd sometimes is all in for something and then he changes his mind, or something comes up...  So i wasn't so sure that this would actually happen and honestly I just sorta waited for that moment when he would say- no we weren't going to go.  I was certainly not going without him.  So I waited.  And waited.  The point came when I finally realized, okay, wow I think we really are going to go through with this.  And then fears came in.  Sometimes I struggle with "What ifs".  Thats is what happened.  I got a little worried about many different scenarios.  I asked for prayer from Todd and a friend and began to feel better about it all.    Then I finally began to be excited about it all.  The day finally came, so with passports in hand and tickets reserved we were setting off for Iquitos, Peru.  ME AND TODD - leaving the country for a whole lot of unknowns.  FOR REAL!

The first day we woke up very early.  3:45 am.  Excitement was in the air, however Todd knew that I had some anxiety the day before about the whole thing.  As we were getting ready he came in and told me that he looked at it like this:  "THIS IS AN EXCITING JOURNEY THAT IS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW FAITH IN GOD LIKE WE HAVE NEVER SEEN."  I loved those words and I believed them.

So off we went.  We got to Houston to catch our flight.  Thankfully I am not nervous about flying so that was great.  It took 6 1/2 hours to get to Lima, Peru and then we had to wait for an early morning flight out to Iquitos which meant we had to try to catch a little sleep in the airpot.  Yea that didn't go so well.  Not that I thought it would.  We finally got to board that flight and got semi settled in our seats.  Exhausted, I got as comfortable as possible and dozed off as we were taxying off.  The next thing I knew everyone was moving around.  I woke up confused and Chelsey told me that we had to get off the plane.  Something happened with the landing gear or something and we had to get our things, get off the plane and go back into the airport.

A little after that they called us to board another airplane and off we went again.  This time we did take off and made it to Iquitos!

This is the Amazon River as we were coming in to Iquitos.

 We finally made it.

Trent and some of his team were there with a bus to pick us up.  This is our team before getting on the bus.  It was so neat to meet some of these precious people and have this experience with them.

This is the balcony and that door was the door to the room where Todd and I stayed while in Iquitos.

 This is the view from our room/balcony.

We were so exhausted when we got there but we finally got to eat a little and rest a bit before the ministry part began.  We really didn't know what to expect or what all we would see.  But we were up for whatever it was.  I continually prayed for God to use us and that we would be his instruments, his hands, and his feet where ever we went.  In Jesus Name.

TREATS

 After Joshuas graduation I told Avery she was SO VERY GOOD she deserved a TREAT.  I asked her what she wanted and she said a big big sucker.  Ask and you shall receive!

She loved it.  Poppa kinda liked it too.  (She shared)

 ANOTHER TREAT
We had a day of watermelon,

 trampoline jumping,

 crawfish,

and croquet.

ANOTHER TREAT
Some friends even dropped by and got in on the fun.

What a CUTIE!!!

 Isn't summer great!

This will be my last blog for a couple of weeks for sure.  But believe me I should have something great to blog about when I return.  So I would appreciate prayers (lots of them) as we will be ministering God's love to some precious Peruvians in a couple of days.  May we be His instruments and be well used by God Himself.
Thanks

Photographer Avery

Avery loves to takes pictures with my camera.  She is pretty good at it too.  When we were at their house she asked me if she could take some of everyone.  I let her.

These were all taken when we were playing a little ball in their front yard.  She loves her Gigi.  I love this picture she took of her.

I dont really remember why I posed like this but oh well.

 Not a bad shot of her daddy either.

 Sebastien looked away.

We had fun that afternoon.  Josh enjoyed his new glove even though he wont really use it.  But it didnt hurt to break it in a bit.  

Avery our photographer for the event did well.  I should have paid her more.  I wonder if she will love photography as much as her Nonna when she is older...  Actually I guess I love capturing the memories more than just photography itself.  I am glad I have the thousands and thousands of photos that I have.  I enjoy looking back over them from time to time.  They always make me smile.

God Bless You, whoever you are.  I hope that you have many wonderful memories to capture as well.