peru

Stopping to stretch our legs in the Sacred Valley

We are home from Peru and we had an amazing trip. We have been so blessed with the prayers and support given, and we know this trip would not have been possible without the many people who stepped up in so many ways while we were gone.

Machu Picchu

Our time in Peru seemed to go so quickly, from the moment we arrived in Lima, where we spent the night in a missionary guest house. From Lima, we flew to Cusco where we traveled by bus through the Sacred Valley to a town called Ollantaytambo where we took the night train to Aguas Calientes. The next day we took a bus to Machu Picchu. This portion of the trip was intended to allow us to acclimate to the altitude, but was so much more as we toured the ancient Inca ruins. We would be spending most of our time in Peru at elevations of 11,000 to 14,000 feet. The mountains in this part of Peru are especially beautiful. That afternoon we returned to Aguas Calientes where we took the afternoon train to catch our bus back to Cusco. Toured Cusco the next day, visiting markets and historical sites, (and a huge parade) and then caught our plane back to Lima. Our 8-hour bus ride (a neat double decker) to Hauraz went safely, and it was nice to stretch the legs again. We were now in the hometown of our missionaries, Ade and Rachel Yanac. Ade took us on a practice hike in Hauraz up to the cross overlooking the city. It was a bit of a tough hike coming off the bus ride. The day ended at Ade and Rachel’s home, where they served us a meal as a group and we were able to spend time with their family.

Life on the trail. Good sleeping!

Tuesday started our trek up the mountain to our first village. The next five days proved to be amazing and humbling as we worked with the children in each village. Our team was working alongside the AWI missionaries who had translated the New Testament into the Quechua language. Together we would do a children’s program in the school (passing out children’s Bibles, teaching, and coloring) and then we would spend the afternoons playing with the children. In the evenings, the families would come and watch the Jesus Film and then we would share testimonies and pass out the Bibles to each family. 

Such pretty colors

The Quechua people are so beautiful, and their traditional clothing is very colorful, with the full skirts and tall hats. The stars at night were so clear and the sky full of their beauty. It was the first we had ever seen the Milky Way that clear and so close. Nights were cold as we slept in our tents (around 30 degrees), but as soon as the sun came over the mountains in the morning, it was again hot. We were incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful team, and each day of the trip we were reminded of what a special group we were with!

Lunchtime on the trek

With the AWI missionaries. (Ade next to me.)

food for the soul

In the quiet of the morning, I was spending a little time to myself but knew that Frederick and Claire were both awake. I could hear Frederick trying to get his toy cars off the bed where he had been playing with them, saying, "Stuck, car is stuck." So I just reasoned that the other noise I heard was due to him finding creative ways of getting his cars. I listened. It sounded like wadded paper. That didn't make sense so I dismissed the idea. Again, like fine paper, tearing. That really didn't make sense. What was he doing? My ears hardly ever are wrong. Frederick was still talking about his cars, and this tearing sound was so delicate. I was thinking, "That really sounds like very fine paper being torn."

Then my heart about stopped. MY BIBLE!! I ran to the bed and sure enough, there was sweet little Claire ripping a page out of my Bible, then putting it in her mouth. She was so happy. She even looked up at me with those big, innocent eyes. I was mortified. I had left my Bible open to the passage in Timothy I had been reading last night before bed. I guess there is more reason than one reason to hide God's Word in your heart. 

still chewing on something

so sweet is little Claire

the offended page, no Scripture damaged

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you! 

40 days

I have felt this year I need do a specific study during this 40 days before Easter and journal together with other believers.  I am inviting you to join me in reading a chapter a day from the Bible. Below I have listed the chapters I will be reading each day, starting Wednesday, February 22.

When I was younger, I created a way to journal that fit me: I call it L.E.A. L – listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling me through the Scripture; E – evaluate myself and areas in need of change or needed course of action; A – act on those changes or assignments from the Lord. My entry looks like this:

Date: xxxx xx

Scripture:  Xxxx  xx:xx

Listen:

Evaluate:

Act: short take-away statement

Please use whatever method works best for you. If you join me in this time, I would appreciate updates as to what the Lord is telling you during this time so I can pray for you as well. Remember this does not include Sundays.

1.       Mark 1     (Feb 22)

2.       Mark 9     (Feb 23)

3.       Matthew 5     (Feb 24)

4.       Matthew 6     (Feb 25)

5.       Luke 15     (Feb 27)

6.       John 3     (Feb 28)

7.       John 14     (Feb 29)

8.       John 17    (March 1)

9.       Matthew 26     (Mar 2)

10.   Matthew 27     (Mar 3)

11.   John 20     (Mar 5)

12.   Luke 24     (Mar 6)

13.   Acts 2     (Mar 7)

14.   Acts 4     (Mar 8)

15.   Acts 17     (Mar 9)

16.   Acts 26     (Mar 10)

17.   Romans 3     (Mar 12)

18.   Romans 7     (Mar 13)

19.   1 Corinthians 13     (Mar 14)

20.   1 Corinthians 15     (Mar 15)

21.   Galatians 5     (Mar 16)

22.   Ephesians 3     (Mar 17)

23.   Philippians 2     (Mar 19)

24.   Matthew 3:1-4:10     (Mar 20)

25.   John 16     (Mar 21)

26.  Titus 2   (Mar 22) 

27.   Acts 10     (Mar 23)

28.   Romans 8     (Mar 24)

29.   Romans 12     (Mar 26)

30.   1 Corinthians 2     (Mar 27)

31.   1 Corinthians 12     (Mar 28)

32.   1 Corinthians 14     (Mar 29)

33.   Ephesians 4     (Mar 30)

34.   I Peter 4     (Mar 31)

35.   1 John  4     (April 2)

36.   Colossians 3     (Apr 3)

37.   1 Thessalonians 4     (Apr 4)

38.   Hebrews 10     (Apr 5)

39.   Hebrews 13     (Apr 6)

40.   James 4     (Apr 7)

26 for the heart

Have you ever had times when you are so overwhelmed or burdened that you cannot remember simple things? I had a situation like this years ago where I woke in the middle of the night, and while I was trying to pray Scripture, I couldn't bring it to mind. This just made my situation worse. So I spent the next day putting a verse to each letter of the alphabet. (I use the alphabet as a mental trigger). I designed cards with each letter, so I could carry them with me, but I also memorized the 26. The Bible says to hide God's word in our heart so we might not sin against him. Now I always have at least 26 verses that I can pull to mind using the alphabet.


A - All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
B - Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved - you and your household. Acts 16:31
C - Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
D - Depart from evil and do good. Psalm 34:14
E - Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right. Proverbs 20:11
F - For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
G - God is love. I John 4:16
H - Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up. James 4:10
I - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
J - Judge not and you shall not be judged; condemn not and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37
K - Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3
L - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30
M - My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8
N - Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5
O - Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. Hebrews 13:17
P - Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Psalm 103:1
Q - Quench not the Spirit. I Thessalonians 5:19
R - Remain in me and I will remain in you. John 15:4
S - So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31
T - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
U - Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it. Proverbs 16:22
V - Vengeance is mine; I will repay sayeth the Lord. Romans 12:19
W - Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind your saying, "This is the way, walk in it." Isaiah 30:21
X - eXamine me, O Lord, and prove me. Psalm 26:2
Y - You give me your shield of victory, your right hand sustains me. Psalm 18:35
Z - come and see my Zeal for the Lord. 2 Kings 10:16