Skype with Ole Miss=Awesome

Thanks for your prayers!  Jeff, Amber and I had a great time being "at" Ole Miss last night.  It was a great time of sharing with students and I pray they were challenged to think about the community around them and around the world and the impact that they can make.  

It was really fun to see some of the students who have served with me in past summers.  Some of the girls called us again today because they were still so excited and just wanted to talk.  It's fun to hear about their lives back in school and to continue the friendships that began while they were here.

I've been blessed by the students who have served and hope (*ahem* students, I hope you're reading this!) that they will return again next summer.

Prayer Requests

I'm really going to try to do a better job posting prayer requests on the blog.  I've really been convicted about my lack of doing so.  

This week, please be praying for the McLamb family.  They have served in Peru for about 2 years with their sweet kids and are leaving this week for Stateside Assignment.  It's a bittersweet time as they will greatly be missed in Peru, but as they move on to their next assignment, it's exciting to think of all the Lord will do through them.  Please pray for them as they transition over the next months, for their kids and for vision in their next ministry assignment.

Tuesday night Amber, Jeff and I have the privilege of sharing (via Skype) with the Ole Miss Baptist Student Union.  I always get a little nervous when sharing with large groups!  There's something about knowing your face is on a huge screen.  Please pray that the Lord will speak through us to the students, that we will communicate clearly as we share our hearts about missions.  Pray that the Lord will be raising up students to serve in summer missions from this group.




Next week my home church will be returning to work in San Jose de Quero.  Please pray for wisdom in planning, for the Lord to prepare the way for Jamie and his translator, for divine encounters and the words to share.


More to come next week!  Thank you for your prayers.  They are so vital.  I wouldn't be here without them.

A Cutural Experience

Amber and I have been meaning to cancel one of our two land lines for the past couple of months, but we've just never gotten around to it.  Last week we heard from some friends who recently moved to Lima about a good deal on phone and internet.  Today we finally went to the phone company to ask questions and cancel one of the two lines. 

The good deal we wanted is only for new customers.  Since we currently have two accounts with them, we are not new customers.  The phone company rep quickly explained to us if we both cancel and then sign up for a new phone number and internet then we will be considered "new" customers and will be eligible for the deal we wanted.  So that's exactly what we did!  He filled out all the paperwork, had me sign it and then continued to write all the details for our new payment plan.  I would have flipped out in the States if someone started adding to my contract after I'd signed it.  In Peru, I'm just glad that it is that simple!

I'll be internetless for a few days (maybe I'll be super productive around the house too!).  Hopefully next week we'll easily get reconnected with 2.5 times faster internet.  Woohoo!

Play Doh Time

One of the perks of my job is not working normal 9 to 5 hours.  Today, my responsibilities include hanging out with two pretty great kids watching Over the Hedge, playing with Hot Wheels, dolls and play doh while their parents are on a date.  Don't you wish you could have been at my house today too?

Team Retreat

Last weekend, I was able to escape gray Lima with REAP North for our team retreat in sunny Ica.  We arrived mid-afternoon Friday  sunny, warm Ica, which is about four hours south of Lima. The hotel was wonderful and even had a pool!  It wasn't quite warm enough to swim, but it was so relaxing to sit by the pool, soaking up some sun with a good book.  That night Jeff led us in a great group Bible study about having a divided heart.

Saturday morning was set aside for nothing but time with the Lord.  Parents switched off watching the kids so that everyone was able to have a solid hour+ with no distractions.  It was so wonderful to be free from all the distractions of home.  

Ica is famous for a place called the Huacachina. At the Huacachina, you can go out through the hills in a dune buggy, as well as do some sand boarding on some of those hills. In the afternoon, team bonding began!  We struck out together for a new adventure.  I had no idea what was to come, and probably should have been a little more nervous! We were about to go speeding up and down the sandy hills in an open vehicle!  The only way I can really describe what this ride was like, is it was like being on a roller coaster, but in a dune buggy and on sand. We really went almost vertical on some of the hills, would make a sharp turn and then almost feel like we were going to free fall to the bottom.  So much fun.  We stopped on three different hills so that we could do some sand boarding. You lay on the board, then just slide right on down the hill. I was definitely more nervous about the boarding because I was in control instead of a skilled professional.  This too was so fun.  I can't wait to do it again.

Sunday morning, I spent another morning at the pool with sunshine, the Lord and my Bible.  Twas a perfect morning.  In afternoon we set out on another adventure. We drove further down the desert to Nasca to see the Nasca lines.  They are shapes of animals and objects, that were supposedly created by the Incans.  Some of the team went up in a tiny plane to see them.  I opted to keep my feet planted on the ground, and the money in my pocket.  Well, in my pocked until I land in the USA!  

Last weekend was so refreshing and for me, desperately needed.  I love being with my team and being able to experience new things with them.  It was sad to leave the sun in Ica.  Maybe the retreat can become and annual thing.  :)

Me and Amber