Vacation

Last week Amber and I had a great time traveling all over southern Peru.  I've travel a good bit of the north, since that is the area we work in, but this was my first time really venturing far south.

We started out in cold Puno at 12,500 on an adorable boat in Lake Titicaca.  The Yavari, has quite a history.  It was sent from England in the 1860s around the southern tip of Chile, to a port in northern Chile,  traveled 30 miles north (by road or train, I can't remember!), then pulled across Peru by donkeys for six years before arriving at it's destination in the land locked Lake Titicaca.  What a journey!  Anyway there are 4 teeny, tiny cabins aboard that have now been turned into a B&B.  When laying in bed, I literally could touch all 4 walls!  The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful.  I became slightly obsessed with photographing all the details of the boat.  

The rest of our time in Puno we visited some islands on the lake.  The Uros people live on islands that float in the lake make of reeds.  Every 20-25 years, they have to build a new island because the one they are currently living on has decayed.  It was really interesting.  We also climbed to the top of a "mountain" on another island, which would have been much easier if we didn't start at 12,500 feet.  There wasn't much oxygen up there, but it was beautiful.  Lake Titcaca is so enormous that it felt like we were on an island in the middle of the ocean.  At its widest point, it is 120 miles by 50 miles.

The next couple of days Amber and I hung out in sunny and warm Arequipa.  We didn't have an agenda, but really enjoyed sleeping in a little, taking a slow days walking around town, looking at the incredible architecture, drinking coffee, and shopping.  It was a good and relaxing time.

Our last days of vacation, we traveled to the most southern city in Peru and crossed the border in to Chile!  I was really excited about getting a new country stamped into my passport.  Arica, Chile is a port city and not aimed at tourists, so we didn't have a whole lot to do.  However, the day was beautiful.  Sunny and hot with an awesome cool breeze, what more could we want?  I loved sitting by the ocean and smelling the salty air.  It took me back to summers at the beach in Korea.

Eventually, I'll get some pictures posted.  My rechargeable camera battery has completely died and won't hold a charge, so I can't get the few pictures that I do have off the camera.  One of my teams will bring me a new one and I'll be back in business.

Thankful Thursday

Thursday really snuck up on me this week!  It's been a great week hanging out with the Nelson's and getting 5 new students assigned to our projects!  It's like Christmas when I find out that more students are coming.

This isn't a shocker for what I'm thankful for... SUNSHINE!  I feel like I could write a whole blog on how much I love the sun.  Not to get the best tan ever or because the beach is so much better when the sun is out, but because it just makes me happy.  This time of year, I get to see it every day.  Come June, it will hide for 5 long months.  So for now, I'm a happy camper!

Vacation is just 36 hours away and I hope to come back with some great stories and pictures to share!  First stop, Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake!

Happy Morning

I love good news first thing in the morning.  I was quite surprise (and excited) this morning when I started reading my email to learn that I have been assigned not one, but two students to serve from August to December with me.  This is awesome!  

My teammates who teach English classes for translators (and do SO much more) are leaving in July.  Knowing this, my supervisor and I decided to request 2 students to come and fill their huge shoes for a semester at a time.  I honestly didn't expect to receive any students.  Oh me of little faith.  Kaleigh and Lindsay will be coming this fall and I couldn't be more excited!

Thankful Thursday

You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
Nehemiah 9:6

Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus

Monterrico, Guatemala

Andes Mountains, Peru

Black Forest, Germany

 Mountains, rivers, hills, deserts, oceans, plains, forests, plateaus, sunrise and sunset...the Lord made them all.  Thankful for the Lord's creativity in creating such a beautiful world.

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.

Revelation 4:11

New Newsletter

Hey folks!  Check out the REAP Newsletter section on the left.  The January 2011 newsletter is hot off the press.  And don't forget to check out our team prayer blog at: www.pray4reapnorth.blogspot.com

Prayer Request *Update*

Thank you so much for your prayers for my teammate Felicia this morning.  She has come through surgery well, the screw has been removed from her foot and tomorrow she can begin putting weight on it again.

Healing is going to continue to take time, and I'm sure some days will be easier than others.  Please continue to lift up Felicia as she works to rebuild the muscle in her leg.

To continue to follow Felicia's story, you can check out the Henderson's family blog, here.

Prayer Request

Hello Prayer Warriors,

My sweet teammate, Felicia, is having surgery in the morning to removed a screw from her foot.  Felicia has quite a story from a fall in November.  She's battled with a blood clot, her blood being too thick (and having to get injections in her stomach), which have caused the surgery to be delayed until, Lord-willing, tomorrow.

Felicia said on her blog today:

I dread being awake during the surgery, and I really dread the IV being "hammered" (or so it felt) in the top of my hand. Pray for the following items, PLEASE:

• gentleness from staff (IV, etc.)
• peace before, during, and after the surgery
• the surgeon (Dr. Suarez) and staff at Clinica San Felipe for the surgery,  & doctors (cardiologists Dr. Talledo and Dr. De La Pena) at Clinica Anglo Americana for continued treatment of my clot
• the clot to dissolve safely
• rapid healing of her leg/ankle/foot
• strength and stability in learning to walk again

Felicia has to be at the hospital at 7:15 (EST) tomorrow morning.  Thank you so much for your prayers for her through surgery and recovery.

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful to serve alongside an incredible team of missionaries.  I started thinking today about those who started this team and have since returned Stateside, the impact they made and how they paved the way for those of us who are currently in Peru.  I'm thankful for their ministry, sacrifice, dedication and commitment to the Lord.

Psalms

As I've been reading Psalms over the last few days these verses have really stuck in my mind.  I don't have an exegesis on these passages, I just wanted to share scripture.  Maybe these passages will speak truth into your life as they have mine.


Rest in God alone, my soul,
    for my hope comes from Him. 
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my stronghold; I will not be shaken. 
My salvation and glory depend on God;
    my strong rock, my refuge, is in God. 
Trust in Him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts before Him.
    God is our refuge. 
Psalm 62:5-8


Sing to the LORD a new song;
   sing to the LORD, all the earth. 
Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
   proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
   his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
   he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
   but the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
   strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
Psalm 96:1-6


What are some of your favorite passages?