The first week we were here we got ready for the team coming from William Carey, getting supplies, etc. Pavel was able to preach on the first Sunday we were here in his home church. It was good to see these people again and fellowship with them.
The next week we were off on the mission trip with the BSU from Carey. First, I just wanted to tell you that we covet your prayers while we were away. There is so much that Satan doesn't want to happen on these trips so he will do anything to stop the Lord's work. From the airport with the team, Pavel and I and two of the girls were in one truck and the rest of the team were on a bus and in another truck. As we were leaving the airport, we got a bit turned around and a guy came and smashed the back passenger window behind Pavel. Thankfully, he didn't break it completely, so he left without taking anything, but it was definitely a wake up call for us to be cautious wherever we are...AND that was just the beginning! We then traded out the two girls for two guys and we were off on our 7 hour journey to Jimbe...which turned into about 10..haha.
Once we got there we had a great time. Most of the team went in to the school...shared about sex education, did ESL one day and then taught the kids how to play flag football, basketball and played a lot of futbol (soccer). The adults on the trip trained pastors and leaders from the surrounding areas of Jimbe...about 5 or 6 different villages (I think).
We also travelled up the mountain to have a baptism service...it was beautiful. There was one baptized in the river and a celebration afterwards. We sang and then ate up the mountain where we had lamb, rice, yuca. It was good, but I was glad I had Pavel there to eat the rest of my lamb. : )
I do just want to say that the Lord did some extraordinary miracles during that time... everything from bringing souls to repentance to multiplying food for 200+ people...He was so faithful in the big things but so good to see his faithfulness in the little things as well. We left Jimbe after being there 5 days and headed back to Lima.
Once back in Lima we got ready for our trip to Machu Piccu...another adventure for sure!!We flew to Cusco (about 13,000 feet about sea level) this past Tuesday morning and did some sight seeing in town one of a temple/church that had not only the Inca influence, but when the Spaniards came, brought the Catholic influence...it was all very interesting, but also really sad to see that they were still worshipping idols and not the one true God. After some sight seeing in Cusco we went to see an Inca ruins near that city…huffing and puffing we made it to the top..haha!! I was surprised to see some of our team fall behind me going up the stairs…didn’t make me feel so old…as all of you know that I am!
After an amazing time at these ruins, it was time for the next leg of our trip to Machu Picchu. We boarded a train to go to a place called Aguas Caliente (Hot Springs). The train ride was amazing…mountains all around you and a river right out your window…it was breathtaking…even without the altitude. It reminds me of the verse in Romans 1:19-20 that talks about how that people can know God because of Creation…I know that it is true and continue to pray that they will come to God and seek Him out.
When we arrived at out next destination, we were told that there was to be a strike the next day and there would be no transportation to Machu Picchu so we would have to walk 2.5 hours up to the park. It also meant that the train that we were supposed to ride back to Cusco would not be running and we would have to walk to where some buses would pick us up and drive to Cusco. Well the only thing that was false was that we did have a ride up and a ride down, but the rest of it was true…we spent about 5 hours on Machu Picchu…which was totally worth it!! It was amazing, and pictures just don’t do justice. We left there to go to lunch and head out on our trek to Cusco…
They said that it would only take about 2 hours to get to our ride, but in Peruvian terms we knew it would be at least 5 hours..although they were close…we walked 12 km (about 7 miles) on the railroad tracks for about 3.5 hours. It was great, except for the part where I sprained my ankle…but that was just the last 5km (2 miles) of the journey. I actually loved it! I love to hike so I not only got to see an amazing place, I got to hike it also.
After we finished our walk we started our 5 hour bus ride to Cusco down the mountain. Of course that meant 7 hours…It was the scariest ride of my life…not for me (after we told our driver to slow down) but because I was responsible for 12 of the students on the van in front of me and their driver was driving like he was practicing for a Nascar race! During this journey my prayer life increased. After a very nervous 7 hours we made to our hotel and had a good night’s rest for our flight back to Lima to send the team off back to the States…
Like I said, it was an amazing trip, but we definitely coveted your prayers and know that you will continue as we continue working in Lima. I will definitely get to update more often now that we are back in Lima.
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