Following His Footprints

Self....What?

2011-03-05T05:36:00.001-08:00

After a little back and forth with one of my students yesterday, I finally talked to him about his need to exhibit more self-control. His lips pursed as if to bring another excuse or backfire some comment, but they stopped before sound was produced. He finally looked up and said "I would say something if I knew what that word meant."
"What word?" "self-control?" I asked. "Yea" was his only response. This morning thinking back about that conversation, I find it to be very telling about our society. When a 12 year old boy does not know what self-control is, we can truly say "America, we have a problem."
Parents please "train up your child in the way he should go so that when he gets old he will not depart from it." -Proverbs 22:6

The fruit of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and SELF-CONTROL!

-A Teacher

God's People Everywhere

2011-01-07T17:40:00.000-08:00

Jim and Elizabeth Elliot courted at this woman's table, and now she is helping me find a job. You have to understand that ever since childhood Jim Elliot has been a huge part of my missions inspiration. He had so adequately penned what my heart felt with words such as "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose" or "I desire not a long life, but a full one like yours Lord Jesus."
The woman who owned that kitchen table so many years ago in Ecudor is Keitha Wittig. She now lives in a retirement community not to far from my house. I stumbled into her room a couple of years ago and can't help but go back. Now she is tracking down job information for me in an area I had expressed interest in clear across the world. God is truly amazing as he works sometimes in the most mysterious/hilarious/ironic/cool/touching/tender/marvelous ways.
What a delight to know and have a body of believers so united in Christ all over the globe, all through history, right in our backyards, and now in 2011!

My Statement of Faith

2010-12-21T22:16:00.000-08:00

I was asked to write my statement of faith in order to hold a Bible study in a particular church's facilities. I thought this was great. More churches need to be concerned with what is being taught and who is teaching! I wish I could just spit out great insight and then send it on, but I really had to think about each thing I wanted to say and so on and so forth so here is what I came up with...

I believe in the Apostle’s Creed which recognizes the person and work of God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit the three in one Godhead. Mankind, since the fall of Adam, is sinful and separated from God by sin. God in His grace calls men to Himself and saves them through Jesus Christ by the work of the Spirit in a person as they hear the gospel. God’s justice demands a punishment for sin; this was met by God’s mercy as He sent His Son to suffer the consequences of our sin. Jesus lived the perfect life that Adam, Israel, and we could not live, and it is through repentance and faith in Him that we are redeemed and also justified in his sight (Romans 5:1-2).

“I believe that Jesus is the way the truth and the life and that no one comes to the Father apart from Him” –John 14:6. I believe in the word of God, the Bible, to be our source and standard for truth. It is infallible, without error and useful for teaching, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). I believe that salvation is by faith alone a gift of God and not of works (Ephesians 2:8-10). I believe that as Christians fruit should flow from our love for God and from a heart and life that has been changed by Him.

This is an excerpt from (http://www.opc.org/beliefs.html) that I found helpful. I believe that it accurately describes how a person is saved and ought to then live:

Those whom God has predestined unto life are effectually drawn to Christ by the inner working of the Spirit as they hear the gospel. When they believe in Christ, God declares them righteous (justifies them), pardoning their sins and accepting them as righteous, not because of any righteousness of their own, but by imputing Christ's merits to them. They are adopted as the children of God and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies them, enabling them increasingly to turn from sin and act righteously. They repent of their sins (both at their conversion and thereafter), produce good works as the fruit of their faith, and persevere to the end in communion with Christ, with assurance of their salvation.

A SIGN

2010-01-14T17:49:00.000-08:00

I was driving down the interstate and there were many questions on my mind was the answer yes, . . . or . . . no, this, . . . or . . . that, I didn't know. They weren't like test questions but big life questions the kind that rarely leave your mind at ease.
Driving from school, headed home going 66 or maybe 67, I looked out at the night sky and the few stars that softly shown. I though how nice it would be if only God would right the answer to all my questions right there in the sky so plain for me to see. That is when I saw it.
It was a regular night in January at 7:36 with the temperature being 51 degrees outside but much warmer in my car! The sign up in the sky was bright yellow and read "LANE ENDS MERGE LEFT" Great! A sign in the sky for me! So if this was related to my questions I knew that I needed to go left but . . . did left stand for yes or maybe it was no since of course left has less letters then right and no had less letter then yes. Or maybe it was about that other decision telling me to do "this" but you know I was really leaning more towards "that". Ahhhh!
After much contemplation, I realized I knew nothing more than when I started for left could be no or could be yes. This sign was not from God.
I smiled to myself thankful that God has written all we need to know in his word. So I come home open my Bible and begin to read the truth and wisdom which set me free, show me hope, and guide my future. God has written and grants discernment too!

2 Peter 1:3 "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness"
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Note: Everything written did not necessarily directly correspond to my exact thought patterns but was written in this way to communicate the worth and necessity of scripture.

Book Review of Total Truth

2009-05-08T13:27:00.000-07:00

Let your mind be captured not by the world but by the word

Pearcey, Nancy Total Truth Crossway, 2004

Hey my name is Lindsey Campbell and I just finished reading this book called Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey it looks at what it means to have a Christian worldview. First, a worldview is the lens through which we view the world and our worldview should be based on what is true. As Christians we are called to redeem entire cultures we do this by living out a biblical worldview. This book helps to liberate you from the world’s, cultural and philosophical captivity. Pearcey describes how often even Christians’ minds are separated by a two story dichotomy with values on the top and facts on the bottom separating religion from anything logical. This intellectual split is what often leads to the falling away of the churches children upon entrance into college. Suddenly other ideologies are providing something Christianity did not.

Christians should not be separating their life into sacred items like going to church, praying and secular items like eating, sleeping, working 1 Corinthians 10:13 says “Whatever we do whether we eat or drink we are to do it all to the glory of God.” This book will help Christians discuss their beliefs in a way that non-Christians will understand philosophically. Often on one side of the college campuses we will see the bottom story of facts and science eating up the upper story of ethics or values. Move to the humanities department and the upper story of values takes over, getting rid of objective truth moving to the subjectivism of modernism, multiculturalism, and political correctness. 1 Peter 3:15 say “Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. The Greek word defense is apologia which is the root word for apologetics, the defending of the faith. Apologetics is a crucial skill for Christians in our day.

This book educates Christians on the “isms” of our culture such as Marxism, Darwinism, and postmodernism by revealing the lie they are based on. Pearcey talks about three aspects that every worldview has first they all have some kind of Creation how the world came to be and what purpose it has second, a fall what happened or why there are their bad things that happen and Third redemption or how to make it better. “All truth is God’s truth” said John Milton with that in mind there is a solidly Biblical way to look at and be involved in every area of life.

Pearcey thoroughly takes her readers threw a tour of Darwinism and its errors then she shows us from a pragmatist perspective exactly where Darwinism will take you. Next, Pearcey talked about the first and second great awakening that led to the general “Christianization” of America but also led to the down play of the intellectual role of Christianity instead emphasizing emotional conversions. Pearcey also takes a look at the feminist movement which began when jobs were placed outside the home no longer a family farm or store front but instead work in a factory or office. This led to the need for someone to stay home rather than the family working together. All people long to contribute to something larger then themselves, what we to often forget is that we don’t need competition or a career to fulfill God’s purpose in the world. In the last chapter Pearcy talks simply about the need to live it out by saying “Even worldview studies can become a seedbed for pride instead of a process of submitting our minds to the Lordship of Christ.” I encourage you to read this book and learn what it means to live by a Christian worldview.

Home again, Home agian

2008-12-02T14:32:00.000-08:00

After forty-five hugs and kisses, I hopped in a van and watched as my home and life of the last three months faded away. Surely there is a time to return but is there ever time to leave? My plane left Trujillo on Monday, November 24th at 4:55 in the afternoon for it's flight to Lima. Once in Lima when I got to the counter to check my bags and pick up my tickets I was told that my 11:40 p.m. flight has been delayed until 1:40 a.m. The lady on the other side of the counter said she was going to keep me on the same connecting flight she said "just move quickly and you should be fine, you have an hour and a half which you will need for customs and immigration." She put a "special" tag on my bag so it would come out first. After a fitful night of sleep on the plane, I was ready to run through Miami and catch my plane to Jacksonville. I made it to the baggage claim before the bags did and then they started coming out, the bags that is other peoples' bags. Wow! I though a bunch of other peoples' bags must have needed to come out "first" also. . . Now the people were starting to thin out and I'm still waiting. . . . There it is! I grabbed it and ran through immigration. I went to hand a man my bag to check and he said "I'm sorry you only have thirty minutes and you still have to go through security please step over to that counter for assistance on getting the next flight". He didn't listen to my petition that I could run fast! The news came at 8:30 a.m. and they put me on the plane at 2:30 p.m. that afternoon.
Since I have been home I have been kept crazily busy with family, friends and the holidays, but that's the way I like it!
I learned so much and gained so much experience while I was in Peru. I know I will continue to look back and discover the things God was teaching me with my time there. More than anything I am so thankful for the opportunities I have to serve God and speak of his son whether in the USA or in Peru. "Jim Elliot said "Wherever you are be there 100%." I don't know exactly what the future holds but wherever I am I will diligently strive to carry out this quote so that my time is not wasted on looking to the future and forgetting the present.

2 Corinthians 9:7-8 "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
Each day My goal is to cheerfully give more and more of myself away no matter where I am. Knowing that his sufficiency will carry me.

Though I can't say how regularly, I hope to keep up the blog with clips from this life that God has loaned to me.

Last Days

2008-11-22T12:57:00.000-08:00

I can’t believe it, I leave for home in two days. The last few days have been full of realizing that such and such is my last this and my last that. Thursday Samantha threw me a fogota (going away party) with the friends that we had made from Saturday night church and the other volunteers. We went to the beach in Salaverry and had a bon fire. I have loved hanging out with the young people from the church in Salaverry. We sang songs, played games, ate smores, and then ended with a prayer. Everyone is asking when I will be coming back.
Friday in school Miss Ali’s class (that I work in) and Amy’s Kindergarten class had a going away party for me. I was thrilled to get cards from several of the kids. Since Friday was my last day of language therapy I decided to get cookies and just hang out with each of my kids. Every time I go to get one of the kids for language therapy there are mixed emotions, sometimes they are ready to go and other days they hate the idea. Well, Friday several of the kids were playing outside when it came time to get them and they were completely miserable as I dragged them away. I wanted nothing more than to be like “listen today is a fun day, you don’t understand the surprise I have for you.” When I was standing outside calling one of them, I couldn’t help but think of God and how he has so much in store for us but we don’t want to move or go outside our comfort zone. What frustrating foolish sheep we can be sometimes. The way the kids treat me and the other tias is often a good demonstration of how we treat God. So, what behavior do I want to avoid? Ignoring his voice, saying no, never saying thank you, always asking for more, and not giving him what he asks for (because it’s all his anyways). Just as there are things to avoid there are definitely things worth imitating, the smiles, the love, the trust, their generosity, the kids here don’t have to bear their burdens alone, we too can rest in the arms of our father.

2008-11-19T15:19:00.000-08:00

Monday night Sam and I put on an evening for the mother figures while Amy, Laura, and Angela watched the houses. We bought some chicken and made some mashed potatoes and salad, the best part was the cheesecake that was for dessert. I think they enjoyed the time to relax and spend time with each other. After dinner Sam read John 13.1-17 where Jesus washed the disciples' feet and then we washed the mothers' feet. We are thankful for their service to the kids.

Mother for today

2008-11-13T18:45:00.000-08:00

Today, the mother of one of the houses took three of the girls on an outing while I watched the house. I was excited about getting a break up from my normal routine and getting the opportunity to spend time with some of the girls in their house. When I came to the house a little before eight this morning the girls were watching a movie, a little while after the Madre (mother figure) had left I cut off the television, which is always my goal and always a problem! Bridgett was doing homework, Milagros was playing outside, and Yamelit and Alisa were working in the kitchen which only left one in the house who was very mad at the evil Tia (aunt, the name all volunteers and workers go by) who doesn’t like TV. She continues to mumble about liking all the other Tias except for me while I insist on playing a game with her or reading a book. Finally, I pulled her out of the house and up to the volunteers’ quarters where I found three strawberries, some bread and sugar for us to make a “me” version of strawberry shortcake. The girl was pretty quiet. It was neat to see how she responded when I persisted to love her despite her unlovable attitude. It was a great day! I even got to do a short devotion with them on the beatitudes tonight.

2008-11-07T18:54:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of quick highlights and then some pictures. One day in language therapy I was telling Marita about my family from the pictures that are on the wall, the next day she comes in and says she had prayed for my mom and dad.
Sam and I take five of the older kids to church with us. None of them are confessing believers and so don't take communion. Last Sunday, Sam brought two younger boys and started to explain communion before we got to the church, one of them quickly says I don't won't to take it, but the other one said I do. While the rest of the kids and I went in to church, Sam sat down with Davis. He said "I understand it, the bread represents Jesus' body and the wine his blood from when he died on the cross for us" Sam asked "Is he still dead?" Davis - " No! he rose three days later, he is my savior and I really want to take communion."

Anable is one of the new girls, when she first came she cried a lot and did not like people to talk to her or come near. The other kids said she doesn't like gringos. Now, she is a different kid, so sweet, always says hi, and has the best hugs.

The sunset from our patio. You can't realy see it in the picture but the ocean is in the distance.

That bus is a migro and it is how everyone gets everywhere. You stand anywhere on a main road and wait for your lettered bus to come by. When you see the one you want comming you wave it down, and hop on as they slow down. They are fun to ride; I like it when there aren't any seats and I get to stand up, hanging onto the railing.

Plaza de Armes, or the center of town in Trujillo. I am with Liz the director of the orphanage.

So, one of the new workers has watched me play soccer and decided to ask if I play chess too. He brought his game from home and we played during lunch break, NO I did not win . . . shhhh .. .. don't tell anyone!

My school! Daily line up for departure.

Italo and Junior work on math with me.

Marita is learning to read. (I hope)

Here is the school teacher/ my co-worker and friend. Miss Ali is so sweet and is always talking about God. She truly demonstrates his peace and joy.

The kids went to the zoo.

This was the fiesta that Hugo and Sarita through for two of the boy's birthday. They invited me and Sam, and it has truly been one of my highlights.

Arnold, there is not a person I can think of that would not want him.

Hugo and Sarita and their boys. Sarita has been working here over six years and married Hugo five years ago. They are no longer the parents of the boys house I was really sad to see them go.

America, America

2008-11-03T18:25:00.001-08:00

My thoughts have been consumed by my country as I pray for the upcoming election. Sunday, I was in charge of watching the kids in the library which gave me the time to read some different Bible passages as I was thinking about the state of my country. How easily the prayers and situations of the prophets seem to coincide with all that our country is going through.
In the passages that I read I kept seeing the importance of first confessing one’s own sin. When we come in with repentance and humility we can present the needs of our country.
Daniel 9:3-5 "So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.
I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws." This is my own confession as I desire it to be my country's confession.
2 Chronicles 20:3 "Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD" How much I am like Jehoshaphat I fear for the state of my country. I want God to preserve this country for himself. 2 Chronicles 20:15 "Thus says the LORD to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s" How comforting! God calls us not to be afraid but know that he is in control of the battles both physical and spiritual. Verse 16- 18 we will go out to battle and trust in the Lord and he will give us cause to rejoice (v. 27)

Nehemiah 1:3-11 "The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.
Nehemiah’s Prayer
4As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5And I said, "O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.' 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man."

Like Nehemiah I have a deep sadness for my country. Like the wall that surrounded Jerusalem was torn down so our moral wall is coming to ruin. While The Israelites were reassembling after being scattered my prayer has been for the Lord's mercy, that he would not bring destruction upon us by our own hand. It is so important to keep up our wall of defense as an individual and as a country, not letting our worldview be torn down by those who would have us live in lies.

Who knows how this will be read four years from now, or even tomorrow night.

Me Amigos

2008-10-27T20:04:00.000-07:00

The bus ride to church.
Josue is 13 years old, but he is really big for a Peruvian. Since the bus drops me and the older kids off at the Presbyterian church on the way to the kids church, we have half an hour hang out at a park.

This is Josue. He took my sweatshirt so . . . I took his. I am still wearing it tonight and hope I don't have to give it back! I am sure a lot of volunteers probably give the kids some of their clothes when they leave, I wonder if any take some from the kids!

Renew

2008-10-27T19:08:00.000-07:00

Hey friends and family,
I am still here! Staying busy as always. Recently, I have enjoyed meeting a lot of new people at two different churches. I always love meeting new people and spending time with them. I know that even these encounters have a purpose, and I pray that God would let me be a "light" not just a "white" distraction.
Patience is a virtue and there is always plenty of room for practice. Sometimes it is really hard not to get frustrated when you have been doing the same things with different kids day after day and then one of them won't listen. In the last week I have really begun to refocus my language therapy and school time. I have always been the kind of person to just do the work and then move on to the next lesson. Since about 7th grade I've closed all my school books only to quickly open another until I could say I was done. Now, I know there is always another one! In the last week I have really begun to refocus my time in language therapy and in school because while there will always be a need for physical improvement the comparis has no comparison to the importance of spiritual issues. In language therapy I have started reading a different verse to them every day and then piecing together some Spanish words, in my still ever so limited Spanish, to explain the importance of the verse. I've really come to grasp with the importance of just taking the time a child needs for proper correction rather then getting frustrated with how little we are getting done.
I have had the opportunity to read different passages of scripture with one of the older girls in the last couple of weeks. While she does not yet have a personal love for God's word, she definitely knows how important it is to me.
I will be starting with two more girls in language therapy this week. Pray that I would get enough sleep and have plenty of energy to smile, hug, and love.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Cor. 5:17

Food for Body and Soul

2008-10-14T19:51:00.000-07:00

Maybe you were wondering about the food. Have they served the chicken foot soup since I have been here ect. . .
Here is a little of my routine, each morning I go downstairs around 6:30a.m. to have breakfast with the kids and then bring up the bread for the other volunteers. The bread is really good but the problem is you can eat a whole lot of it before you notice you have had any. Every morning the kids also get either chocolate milk or oatmeal. None of the other volunteers partake in this part of the diet but I have begun to help myself to some of it in the kitchen every morning. The thing to know about the oatmeal is that it is a drink with particles floating in it, not the normal oatmeal ideal. I really didn’t care for it at first but now it is pretty good. There are always bananas, apples and oranges that we can have at any time.
I love lunch which I eat at 1:oop.m. as soon as school is over every day. It is normally white rice, beans, and meat (a lot of times chicken) and then most days either a lettuce, cucumber, or radish salad. There is also juice or warm jello to drink.
And finally, for dinner we will have a soup or rice and something smaller like a veggie patty or a plantanon pancake. I really like pretty much everything that is served at the orphanage I even eat a little ahee which is a spicy sauce very popular down here.
Oh, yes we have had the chicken feet soup several times but they never put any of the chicken feet in the volunteers tupperware: ( One day I will have to get one though, a least for a picture : )
For spiritual food I am studying Galatians which the volunteers then discuss on Tuesday nights. I have also been reading some Psalms and Proverbs that always have encouraging and wise words. Finally every free second I have, I pick up the Journals of Jim Elliot which are really inspiring to read as he sought to serve on the mission field and fought with continually giving his whole heart to God.

Sunday Lunch

2008-10-14T19:23:00.000-07:00

Hey for those of you who read a post at a time I thought I would let you know that the post Language Therapy dated September 18th was actually posted later but showed up under an older post, so if you haven't seen it check it out.This Sunday the psychologist intern invited me over for lunch after church. I normally eat lunch with her at the orphanage, and she likes how I eat all the food and go back for more! Several of the workers call me Peruvian since I like the food, the Americans call me a garbage disposal because I finish up what everyone else does not want. So Claudia's mom asked if I wanted to try cuy, I said sure, it is kind of like a little rabbit I figured this out from Claudia's little English, my little Spanish, and the looks of the foot that sat on my plate. It was good, tasted like chicken!After lunch she showed me pictures of some of her family that lives in the states, and then she looked at some of my pictures.I then had an interesting experience as she went to her room for a nap and I slept on their sofa for about 30 minutes! Then we went to her grandparents’ house where I met her grandparents and a bunch of her aunts. I really enjoyed talking with her grandfather while she would translate and every now and then I would look up a word in the dictionary.Please pray for Claudia she says she is a Catholic but she seems to need a personal relationship with Christ not just a religion name. Her and I had a short conversation about my interests in the mission field and some of the differences in Catholicism and Christianity. Pray for more opportunities as well as wisdom for me.

Hodgepodge

2008-10-09T20:31:00.000-07:00

I have been staying very busy recently with different outings and activities that are planned. Sunday there were spring parades all over the country, but the biggest one happens in Trujillo. It is kind of like the Macy parade of our country. Samantha and I took two boys to church with us, to the lunch, other places and then to the parade. We were out with them a total of twelve hours. The parade was really long I think we saw about two and a half hours of it and I´m not sure we caught the beginning, but the boys seemed to enjoy it. The funniest thing that happened is while Samantha and I were watching the parade a boy in one of the bands pulls out his camera phone and takes a picture of us! Samantha and I smiled and then died laughing as all the people around look at us and laugh!
So one of my favorite things to do down here is write notes to the kids or the different workers and then translate them into Spanish. I write Miss Ali the school teacher about one a week and I always include a scripture at the end. The other day after reading the note I had left on her desk she comes up to me with tears in her eyes and said how much she needed that verse for the day. It was Psalm 46.1 God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble.
Wednesday, all the kids and most of the workers took a trip to Simbal, a place of eternal sun and good climate. At least that is what a sign said, but when we first got there it kind of felt like Florida! We played games with the kids, had a packed lunch, and then swam in the pools! I had a great day, and I think I made some people´s day, I sat in the front seat of the bus on the way there, and there were some kids in the bus in front of us, when they saw me they all start talking, one girl waves and I wave back, this made them all very excited.
This morning all the volunteers had a prayer meeting, and we spent the majority of the time singing praise music accompanied by one of the girl´s computer. It was so nice to worship in English with other girls who are from totally different backgrounds but love the same Lord.
So we have certain food items that we always have and if I want something different I either have to buy it or create it. I´m a frugal kind of cheap person, so I am all about creating, whether mushing up bananas and sprinkling it with sugar or slicing some bread to make crackers. Tonight Amy and I made some apple sauce. I even was able to use the apple peels sprinkled with sugar to have a taste of apple pie.
Two of the more meaningful things that have happened since I have been here were one, a girl said something to me about not being a Christian, so I had her read some of the different Romans road verses in Spanish, second one of the boys in my language therapy can get really pouty and hard hearted. One day he just sat on the floor and talked about how bad he was, I told him I was bad too but that God forgives and we need Jesus in our heart. I brought in Samantha, who speaks better Spanish then I do and she talked to him but he kept saying he didn´t want to change, he had no desire to be a follower of Christ. Truly God has to do the work on a person's heart, except for the grace of God there I would be.
It is really sad to see the stubbornness of the human heart against the God of heaven and earth, creator, redeemer. How often I forget my place before our perfectly holy King, yet he blesses me and I call him Father.

Birthday Outing

2008-10-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

Maria, me, and Yameli
We ate at Mediteranian Chicken

Maria bought cotton candy

I don't know why she needs to curl her eyelashes when her eyelids curl so well.

Don't we look like twins?

On Sunday Samantha, Laura, and I took Maria out for her 13th birthday and she took Yameli (also 13) along. We went to church, the mall, had ice cream, lunch, and saw a movie. We gave them each ten soles to spend on anything extra they wanted. My goal is to try and teach wise stewardship. Maria chose to buy two bags of cotton candy and some chocolates while Yameli waited untill we left the mall and wanted to go to some shops on the side of the road where she could find some cheaper things. She bought a little of this and that until her ten soles were gone.

I have to tell you that earlier in the day she had been admiring my eyelashes. Apparently my eyelashes curl up while in Peru a lot of people have almost oriental features including straight eyelashes.

This little shop happened to have an eyelash curler which was one of Yameli's purchases. In the taxi on the way home I asked her about it and said did you get that so your eyelashes can be the same as mine? She breaks into a smile and says "yeah".

Teacher for the Day

2008-09-22T17:27:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday I was the substitute for the class that I help in during the week. Miss Ali the teacher was going to Ecuador with of the other volunteers, who had to take a trip out of the country to renew her passport. She had planned work for all of kids to do in the notebooks for Thursday and all I had to do was watch them. Friday we were going to be having school outside or ´playing´.
Thursday my morning started at 5.40 a.m. when a rolled out of bed. I would have plenty of time to have breakfast, walk the other kids to school at 6.50, get stuck outside having not realized before I left that the doorbell was broken, have devotions, eat breakfast, and get my things together before school started at 7.30. Oh, I found out that morning that 3 of my 9 students were going into town and for a doctor’s appointment. They ended up coming for the second half of school.

So they file in and we start with some songs. Rocio who is 14 was a great help about figuring out what I was trying to say and then interpreting to the rest of the class. The last song was I Can Only Imagine, which the kids are learning in English. I had Rocio read Ephesians 6.10´20 which is about the Lord´s armor. I had the armor drawn on the white board and we went over the different pieces. Devotions closed in prayer and then the kids grab a book for about half an hour. The problem is only three of them can read so I grabbed a book and read to the others. The kids did a lot of copying of words and sentences and then math problems. Some of the kids worked hard others not so hard! Junior could not seem to do his addition problems on anything but my fingers! When he used his fingers that meant he had to count with his chin and then he couldn´t see and so would miss a finger and get the wrong answer. Now Kevin sat quietly in the front of the class, I always assumed he was working hard. But when it came to the math there was a sequence he had to fill out like 344, 345, ..., ... 346 ect... every time I went by his desk he was still on the same number that I had last helped him with. July was fun I didn´t think I was capable of explaining prime numbers in Spanish, but I think she understands is now. Unless you help Marita she puts random numbers at the end of all her addition problems. I really was not able to help Rocio with her word problems though they always used to be my favorite in English. Italo is great. He loves math and works hard but can´t remember how to write certain numbers. So sure, there were little behavior issues but really the day was pretty smooth. Oh, well Marita writing on the white board with a fabric marker was not fun, but I pretty much got it off.

Friday was really more of a difficult day being outside the kids just do their own thing. It started out great with devotions and then math problems that I had prepared for each of them with sidewalk chalk outside. When we were done with that, I looked down and it had only been an hour.

My mind dwells upon my salvation. My heart is covered by Jesus´ righteousness. Faith is my shield against the enemy’s darts. The belt of truth holds me together. My feet are carrying the Gospel of Peace. The sword of the Spirit will penetrate many hearts. Most importantly God will hear my prayers.

Language Therapy

2008-09-18T19:12:00.000-07:00

Here is a brief overview of my five students in language therapy. They each have different problems, but even more so different aspects of their personality that make them dear.

This is Junior! He just turned nine. His right side is weaker. He has to practice moving his tongue left and right up and down. This is difficult for him because his tongue naturally goes to the left side. He speaks pretty well but he always has a ton of saliva in his mouth and slurs his words some. During language therapy I look at the pictures of my family that are above Junior's head.

So here is my office, or closet. This is Zuzu or Zuleica. She is two and comes to me mostly for stimulation. A lot of times she can be shy, but once you get to know her, and she's not tired, she has plenty to say. I do a lot of blowing exercises with her because she needs to use more force when she talks.

Everyone loves Edwin. He's generally a happy sort of fellow. He is six years old and has some form of autisim. He always has a cup or bottle cap with him. He breaks up leaves, grass, or plastic puts it in the cup and then pretends to drink it. While my dad was here, Edwin would call him "bad man" "bad man".

I love Italo he is nine. I work with him a lot in language therapy as well as in school. He always is wanting to learn. Throughout the school day he will ask at least three times me? me? Can I work with you now? And during lunch he will show me how he can practice his addition on his fingers. He is nine years old and does not talk very well at all. Though he has been at the orphanage for a long time, he has a memory problem that takes a lot of consistent repetition before he learns a word. For example, one day we did nothing but talk about the color yellow, I believed he really had it but when I introduced green, he lost yellow. In this picture I went over to his house and we were working but it turned into a tickle war where he ran and hid under the towels.

This little fellow is Abel, Italo's seven year old brother. He can be a little hard to manage but he can also give the biggest hugs. He loves to lick and bite anything that comes near his mouth! When I use my hands to work with his mouth they approach carefully and are ready to be pulled away quickly.

We all were created in God's image and have a soul that goes to eternity. Lord give us eyes, ears, and a heart for the least of these little ones.

Direction and Purpose

2008-09-17T18:23:00.000-07:00

Everything always sounds better on paper or in this case on a computer screen. It is easier to tell of the smiles and hugs and wonderful events then of the things that are not so swell. I´ve always wanted to go onto the mission field and could never believe that then was not the right time. I have always wondered why Jesus was thirty before he began his public ministry. How about Moses what was the delay. I must recognize that God´s time table is much different than mine, but his is much better. He sees with a long term perspective which is something I need while I am here. It is easy to fall into the tendency of just making it through each day rather than looking at the children's´ life as a whole and evaluating what is best for them physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

The primary hurdle is the language. I can´t say just anything I want and I can´t explain what I mean. The kids don´t always want to sit and listen as I try to read the Bible and they can be quick to say not intiendo when it is an important issue. I know I will look back on this trip having learned and grown a lot maybe also be more confused about the future, but God is there and he does not fear for my future for he holds my future.
Wherever I am I will glorify God and enjoy him forever.

Meet and Greet

2008-09-15T19:44:00.000-07:00

Saturday an American girl, Emily, came to the orphanage to play games with the kids. Later she, Samantha, and I walked to the beach and then took a bus to a church function. Samantha, one of the other volunteers, and I met Emily´s fiance, a Peruvian. They said that they want to have us over for dinner some time next week. The other day at church I met Dorcas, a Peruvian who speaks English very well. She works with missionaries helping them learn English and doing whatever else is needed. When I was telling her bye, she got my email and said her birthday was on Friday and some friends were going out for a movie. Both times I have left the orphanage an invitation for another event has come along. Although I don´t like to leave the orphanage it is neat to meet people and get to know them. The stranger on the street and your best friend provide opportunities for shinning a light.

One Cup of Pepsi

2008-09-15T18:56:00.000-07:00

So everyday I normally am wanting some kind of American substance or sweet. I brought some stuff with me and then my dad bought some stuff while he was down here, but I have really tried to do with as little as possible. Just so I can say I did it and because if I don´t eat it or spend it I get to give it to the kids.
I have played soccer almost everyday since I have been here. I noticed that they are keeping score but I normally have no idea how my team is doing. The other day I was on a team with two other boys after we won by one point I started to leave but they ran after me and said since we won there was some kind of reward. I went into the dinning room and was poured a whole cup of Pepsi. I was smiling the hole time this was definitely a treat. The other boys also had giggly smile on their faces as they sipped their reward.

Your word is sweet, sweeter than honey on a honey comb.

One Big Hug

2008-09-14T18:06:00.000-07:00

You might have thought I gave the hug but actually I received it. Jim Elliot has always been one of my biggest heroes as he struggled with and pursed his dream of serving God in another country and going to the unreached. He and four other men served God until they were martyred by the Acuas. Right before I left I had finished another book about his life written by his wife Elizabeth Elliot Through the Gates of Splendor and I had talked with Keitha Wittig, a lady who had worked with them in Ecuador and is now retired at Penny Farms. Only to add finding out about Mrs. Bowens kindred love for the Elliots and her allowing me to borrow her copy of the diary of Jim Elliot, which I am thoroughly enjoying. Today as I stepped out of the van Bert Elliot, Jim´s brother, gave me a big hug as I walked into his home church. I was able to talk to his wife Colleen for a little bit and she said that most of their years they spent working on the other side of the mountains, but they have been in Trujillo the last twenty years. I was so thrilled to go to Centro Biblico Church and see the work that God is doing. The church also has a school were our four high school students go.
Mr. And Mrs. Elliot were paid so much respect as people before, in between, and after went to greet them.
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news.

2008-09-14T06:56:00.000-07:00

Alias, his wife, and three daughters.
The Christian school where many of the kids go to school had a fiesta. The lady with the microphone was sort of like a clown who dance sang and played games with the kids. The lady in red in the background was the bubbly lady that recruited me as photographer.

The blue building has the volunteers´ rooms upstairs and the library, kitchen, dinning room, and offices down stairs.

Everyone loves to use my camera. I found them in their room posing with teddy bears.

family, friends

2008-09-14T06:41:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I have been so bad about putting pictures up. This computer does not like me, not that one ever did. Plus the Internet will cut off right when I start to publish.
Dad and I had lunch after church with Alias and his family. Alias is the guy in the cap, the fix it man at the orphanage who dad worked with. In Peru many family members live in the same house, they just keep adding on rooms.

Dad and I climed the sand dunes that lie just outside of the orphanage´s wall. Since it was dark we apprently went the hard way up and down, up and down, instead of the slopping way up.

Did I miss something

2008-09-14T05:51:00.000-07:00

Listen . . .
What do you hear. Half of my language therapy time is supposed to be spent on listening to noises outside, or having them close their eyes as I make a sound and they try to identify them, a rattle, bag, whistle, liquid ect. . . There are many new sounds around for me to take in. How often do I hear them, do I really pay attention. Many nights a strong wind will roar weaving its way through the sand dunes, erasing all signs of footprints, and coating everything in a layer of grime. I hear a clock ticking, the dog ´Tracy´ loves to bark at night, a fly buzzes by, and a lone mosquito humms me to sleep as I dive under the covers. Do we spend enough time listening, even close to half the time. I am thinking of our spiritual lives. We stay so busy, we think we are doing good if we get our supplication in. Listen, God is speaking through his word, through his people, and through the door ways he opens. I don´t mean this in a mystical kind of way, but in a practical way as we take time to prioritizes our ever fleeting life. When I listened to the wind the other night, it reminded me of God´s power, creation, and like the wind though He can not be seen, He is their and leaves a mark covering the past and making a clean slate. Listening is often an action, it is more than sitting quietly, but asking question, to show concern and see what you can do to help. One boy here told me NO several times. It does not take much listening to understand that this is more than a composition of two letters, but an attitude that reflects the heart. This particular boy had been severely abused. He needs to have a strong authority figure that both corrects and loves. The kids in language therapy are being taught how to listen and identify sounds, not for hearing purposes alone but for speaking. Is it not the same with our Father when we listen to just the way he says something ´tone, context´ we can begin to more clearly communicate with others in a real language not our own made up sounds.
So be hearers first and doers second. James 1,22

Pictures

2008-09-13T20:49:00.000-07:00

Here was our hotel for one night in Lima, Peru. It was very nice. The free breakfast consisted on two pieces of toast, a cup of jucie, a cup of coffee, and some jam. We shortely after found the McDonalds.

A branch on the vine

2008-09-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

Many of the staff and voulunteers go to diffrent churches. This last Sunday my dad and I went to church with the children. We all hoped in ¨BOB¨, that is the bus´ name, and headed to a Baptist church. First there was Sunday school with a lesson on John 15.1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser.
After we took the kids back to the orphanage Alias had all of the voulunteers over for lunch. Alias is the fix it man who my dad had worked with all week. He was very grateful for all that Dad helped him accomplish. Dad and I enjoyed time with his three daughters Kayla 10, Becky 5, and Amanda 3. He took all of the volunteers to the beach, but the best part of the trip was dancing in the car and pretending like we were singing to some Peruvian music. The girls loved it.
My work with the school and language therapy are going well. In school I take certian kids aside and work on counting, addition and colores. In language therapy everthing is about repetition and excersizing mouth muscels. I have five students that you can keep in your prayers, I will try to bring you future updates about each of them, Zozo 2, Edwin 6, Abel 7, Junior 8, and Italo 9.

Truth is something that never changes it was established by God for all time. We must live by the truth for we will be judged by truth. My God is truth.

Fiesta

2008-09-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

On Friday I walked the children to the private Christian school they attend. There was going to be a fiesta in celebration of the schools anniversary. As I was saying goodbye to one of the boys a bubbly lady appears and starts talking to me about . . . something, finally she pretends like she is taking a picture and I figure out she wants me to come back in a hour to be the photographer for the party. This was a lot of fun. I got to eat cake with my hands, and make people smile ¨cheese¨. Then I helped sweep up the mountains of trash that come with Peruvian parties, either from a lack of trash cans or a lack of desire to put the trash in one. The kids have begun to weasel into my heart. I love it when I begin to grasp more of each child´s personality.
Friday nights are movie nights and during Monster Inc ¨dubbed in Spanish¨ I girl leaned over and told me she was crying. At first I thought it was kind of odd, but then I began to think about the kind of stuff many of these children have been through. They probably have so much stored up inside that at any moment waves of memories and emotions can come over them. I hugged her and played with her hair. Only God can understand and heal her wounds. I have written some verses on a card for her that I found in Romans during my quite time. They are words that comfort me as I find my place of service her in Peru.
Romans 8,28 )apparently they don´t use a semicolon.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
31 What shall we say to these things, if God is for us, who can be against us.
35a Who shall separate us from the love of Christ.

Pictures to come.

Arrival

2008-09-06T19:11:00.000-07:00

Hola,
Reporting from just outside of Trujillo, Peru. The traveling part of the trip went terrific. God blessed us as we found our way to the hotel in Lima and then to a McDonald's for breakfast. The first couple of days I was given time to adjust to my new settings and get to know the kids. This was difficult for me because I am the kind of person who wants to jump right in and take on more work. Monday I will begin my work at the school, as well as, my work with language therapy. I had a meeting with the orphanage´s school psychologist who had planed out the lessons and gave me directions for the language therapy program. I will have four students. The first session is basically breathing, blowing, smiling, ect. . to work on controlling mouth movements. The children in language therapy range from 2 to 9 I will have them each individually in increments of 30 minutes.
Ms. Ali is the school teacher I will be working with, she is very sweet. She speaks a little English and really wants to learn more. I told her that she could teach me Spanish and I would teach her English. We are both excited about this opportunity.

Prayer Requests

2008-08-31T12:41:00.000-07:00

Please pray for safe travels, my dad and I leave tomorrow to fly to Lima then on Tuesday we take an eight hour bus ride to Trujillo. My dad will be staying a week and then returning.
Pray that as God created a language barrier for his purposes at the Tower of Babel He would also break the barrier for His purposes. That I would learn to communicate the truths of the Bible through words and action.
Pray that I would remain strong in my personal walk with God and that the children there would desire such a relationship with their heavenly father.
Finally pray that I would just be able to forget about myself and serve diligently wherever is needed whether it be playing soccer with the kids or cutting up onions in the kitchen. I want to go to the orphanage and though they can forget me the moment I leave; I don't want them to ever forget the God who I serve. My hope and prayer for these children is that they are receiving a foundation for their spiritual and physical life in order that they can be a light to the world.

Packing Up

2008-08-30T09:22:00.000-07:00

Here is my first picture. I was experimenting with my new camera to make sure I could get pictures off of it and onto my blog; since, sometimes I can be technically challenged or maybe it is technically uninterested. Any way after some help from Jordan getting the picture rotated the project is complete.
I thought I could fit everything in one bag and a carry on but because of the weight restrictions cramming doesn't help. So I will have to use my dad's carry on as well.

My hero is Jim Elliot. As I do mission work whether at home or overseas my desires are summed up by his quote "He is no fool who gives what he can not keep to gain what he can not lose."
Whether it is money, time, energy, sleep, health, or life it is worth it in eternity.

Spreading Hope away from Home

2008-08-12T16:36:00.000-07:00

The count down has begun for my trip to Peru. I leave September 1^st and will be gone for three months. I am amazed and excited about the opportunity God has opened for me to go to Trujillo, Peru to serve Him at an orphanage. James 1:27 says “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” I have wanted to go on the mission field as long as I can remember, and my desire was always to work with children. My dad will be traveling down with me, and he will be staying for a week before returning home. The little I know about what my jobs will be at the orphanage are working as a school assistant and working with children in language therapy in the afternoons. Please pray that I will be a tool in our Father’s hands. Also pray for traveling mercies for my dad and I as we try to find our way around a Spanish speaking world! The name of the orphanage I will be serving at is Hogar De Esperanza “Home of Hope”.