The Beginning...

As I start spring semester of my junior year at SBU, I am realizing how incredibly blessed I am. The Lord has given me so many great friends and good times during my time at SBU. I can safely say that I am a different person than I was two and a half years ago. Praise the Lord!

He has been teaching me and changing my heart, although sometimes I wonder if I will ever learn some lessons. He has allowed me to meet people who have taught me, encouraged me, prayed with me, and who have for some reason decided to go on crazy adventures with me from across town to across the world. 

One of the places the Lord brought me to will forever hold a piece of my heart. Peru.

I never really believed He would call me to share His Gospel in a place I had only read about. But after freshmen year, I found myself on a plane headed to the Amazon Rainforest to do just that. I had no idea what the Lord would do, or what He would teach me. 

I loved the beautiful, friendly, welcoming, strong, non-time oriented people who loved to laugh. I loved sharing the Gospel, especially to people who wanted to hear. I loved worshiping in another language. I loved living apart from all of the comforts I have grown used to here at home. I did want to go back, I just didn’t know if that was the Lord’s plan. 

Some people come back from a mission trip absolutely knowing they would go back and be a missionary to that place again. They come back absolutely in love with the place and people they went to. I didn’t. At least not in the same way they seem to. I do love the people of Peru. Without a doubt. But I had no idea where my future would go. Looking back, I think this was another way the Lord grew my faith. I did want to go back to Peru, but I did not have a burning passion that others seem to have when they return. The first trip to Peru came to an end and I was extremely sad to leave.

Year 1 Team: In back - Jamie, Josh, Will. In front - Pedro, Roque, Sarah, me, Jose and Vladimir

I did not know if the Lord would allow me to go to Peru a second time anytime soon…but He did. I got a phone call asking me to consider leading a team to the same area the next year. And so year two came and went with celebrations and challenges and adventures of its own.

Year 2 Team: Pedro, Vladimir, Jose, me, Amanda, Craig. In front - Segundo, Jen, and Roque

Then I did not know if He would allow me to go a third time…but He has.

So that’s where I am. Getting ready to start what will probably be my craziest semester yet. Getting ready to again lead a team to a place that I love very much. To a people who need the Lord just as much as we do. I know I am unprepared and unqualified to do this on my own, but I also know my God is bigger. He has been faithful in the past and will be faithful again.

I realize I have not been able to share as many stories of God’s work in Peru as I would like to. My intention in writing this blog is to allow you to know more about my heart for the people in Peru, to share some past experiences, and to allow you a glimpse into how the Lord is preparing our team for this summer. 

I hope you will get a glimpse of the place and people I have come to love. I hope that you will pray for our team and for the people we will meet. I hope that the Lord will encourage you and grow your faith in Him like He has done for me. I hope that you will join in His mission to spread the Good News to people all over our world…including the place you call home. 

1 Timothy 2:1-7

 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,  for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

~For His Glory~

PS please feel free to give any input on things you would like to know about =]