Hola my dear friends!
Right now, you will find me sitting alone on a grassy lawn in Quitos, Ecuador! God is simply amazing. We are staying with a wonderful family, Mabe and Fabbi, who have richly poured out their love and are “acting parents” to the squad. Plus, the view is incredible 😉
I am happy to be safe and sound in Ecuador, but I would actually love to share a recap with you what the Lord did in Peru!
Our team, Undertow and another team Hope Ignited, arrived in Lima, Peru on January 10th at one in the morning. We quickly and quietly unloaded what we needed for the night. I fell into an exhausted sleep around two a.m. Woke up the next morning to the sounds of dogs barking, horns blaring, people yelling. Lima city life. I was ecstatic to find we had hot (sometimes) showers, beds, normal toilets and… WIFI! That morning I spent in prayer and in the Word. Then later, our awesome translator Rob showed us around Lima and led us down to the beach where we did a prayer walk, walking and praying over Peru and the people we were to encounter.
The next day, our two teams headed to a different part of Lima. Ventanilla. It was about an hour’s bus ride away from the YWAM Base we were staying at. We had the privilege of partnering with some AMAZING Jesus followers. Rosy, Jadira, Geraldine, Janella, Carol, and so so many others I was blessed to meet. The second we got to the pastor’s house, they sat us down, gave us Inca Kola to sip on, and fed us the most amazing lunch. Lunches in Peru are a BIG deal. Always hot, absolutely delicious, and extremely filling. We finished lunch and made our way down to the church to start ministry. For the next two or three hours, we learned dance moves to Christian songs that we would later perform for VBS. Let’s just say these white Americans need to work on their dance moves 😉
Geraldine, myself, Janella, & Jadira at church 🙂
The next few days were filled with dancing in the town square, passing out tracts and church pamphlets, and even more eating. A week went by without me even noticing! And then VBS was upon us. Kids from the church and the surrounding area came, either to learn about Jesus or to see the loco gringos from the United States. I’m hoping they came for Jesus 🙂
These kids were incredible. They would stare at us with wide brown eyes, tentatively kiss our cheeks in greeting, or high five us with boldness. We got up and danced for them and they mostly just laughed at us. I feel like our awkward dancing broke some barriers with the kids (story of my life) and they then looked at us with delight instead of shyness. We played games such as Simon Says, Duck Duck Goose (Pato Pato Ganzo) and Red Light, Green Light. I felt like a kid again! We shared a dramatic reenactment of Noah’s Ark which again brought lots of laughs. Playing with and loving on these kids brought such joy to my heart. I saw Jesus in their bright, brown eyes. And let me just tell you, the leadership crew was incredible. They brought the word of Jesus with such love and joy. They were so capable, they probably didn’t even need us gringos, but it was so fun to be goofy with these kiddos! VBS was awesome. We even got to witness a healing! My teammate Mike had something in his eye that would not go away. After attempts at washing it out with water or eye drops, it still wasn’t coming out! So we prayed over him and instantly it went away! God is good, y’all!
Our ministry in Ventanilla came to an end, and we started to partner with Grace Life Church (a church plant from the States). We went to a busy mall, and passed out papers in broken Spanish, advertising a free English class and a garage sale to be held the next day. The English class was so fun! We got to meet so many wonderful Peruvians who wanted to learn English, and we also got to share a little bit of Jesus with them 🙂
That following weekend was our adventure weekend. While others went to Machu Picchu, six of us went to a little town in the mountains- San Pedro de Casta. We planned on busing there, sleeping outside and then hiking three hours to a rock fortress called Marcahuasi. We left on a Sunday afternoon, loaded with our overnight packs. Hopped on a bus, to then get on yet another bus. After our first bus, we were trying to find our second bus and things started to get real hectic! We couldn’t find the bus and it was obvious these six gringos were lost. Some Peruvian men started to shout to us to get on this certain bus, but something about it just didn’t feel right. Completely out of nowhere, these two little old ladies grabbed our hands and started leading us to the correct bus! I mean, they came out of nowhere and led us back in the direction they had already come from. They directed us like little mama’s to our bus and got us on safely. It was really amazing to see how God had provided help for us in our complete confusion!
That bus lasted a few hours, and then we ended up in another small city. By that time it was getting late, and there were no more buses to take us to San Pedro! I was feeling a little dejected, because I so badly wanted to be in the mountains and not spend one more night in a city. I think some of us just ended up accepting the fact that we’d have to spend the night in a Hostel and leave for San Pedro the next morning. Not so with Mike! He ran over to a taxi driver and bargained with him on prices to get us up this mountain. The taxi driver accepted our price, and the six of us piled into his tiny car with all of our baggage. We then endured about a two hour car ride up some pretty steep grades and switch backs. Me, being from the mountains, loved every second of those switch backs! I realized then that I really had missed my mountains, the pureness of the air, and the crazy winding roads. The second I smelled that fresh, pure mountain air, my eyes teared up. I honestly felt like God had given me a little gift of sweet mountain air and that He was literally smiling upon me. I was so so thankful.
After the car overheating two times, we made it to San Pedro de Casta! It was starting to get dark out, so we quickly piled out of the taxi ( me and Ally in the trunk) and headed for the tourism office where we had to pay for the hike the next day. They offered us a place to sleep outside for free, in the cold mountain air, but under a porch to be out of the rain. We ate some dinner, and then started setting up for bed on the concrete porch. As I started unrolling my sleeping bag, I heard singing. I bossily shushed everyone to see if they could hear it too! We listened for a second and then half of us took off running (leaving behind our things) to listen more. We ran to this large building where the singing was coming from. The upstairs lights were all on, and we started to recognize they were singing about Jesus! We ran back to our stuff, repacked it all and ran back to the building. We crept up the stairs and entered this tiny little attic church. Inside was one man leading worship on guitar and about seven tiny little Peruvian women holding their hymnals. We set down our things and shyly walked up to the chairs. They then flooded us, offering their bibles and hymnals for our use. We sang along, and then the man gave a sermon for about 45 minutes. They asked us to introduce ourselves, and where we were from. We told them we were missionaries and they about died with excitement! We weren’t just some American travelers- we knew Jesus too! They asked for pictures with us and most of the little old ladies huddled around Mike, giggling like schoolgirls. This entire time I was praying to God about how nice it would be to stay in this church, rather than outside in the open air. It was cold- and if Maggie is cold, you know its cold. But I felt in my spirit to not ask to stay there, that it was to be offered but to be ok with the possibility of staying outside. All the little old ladies left, and then it was just the Pastor Moises and his wife Frida. They asked us where we were sleeping, and we said outside of the tourist office. They looked shocked and said, “No! You sleep in here!” We said “No, no, we’ll be ok outside!” And they completely INSISTED we stay inside the church. I looked around at all our shocked, dumbfounded faces. Tears started pouring then. We thanked and thanked them as Frida went and brought us warm wool blankets. During the time I was praying about sleeping there, two other girls felt the same way and God told them the same exact thing- to not ask to stay, but that it was to be offered.
We went to sleep that night warm and secure in the hands of the Father. I realized then that I knew it would’ve been ok to sleep outside, but that God had something SO much better for us. And I know that’s how He works in everything. He always has something far grander in mind for us.
We started our hike early the next morning. The hike was pretty dang hard. I’m fairly used to elevation, but it was even higher than in Wyoming, so I was panting like a dog and dizzy. Little old women leading their donkeys were passing us! We made it up with huge encouragement from each other in about four hours. The sight at the top would’ve taken your breath away. Massive rock formations surrounded us. Mist rolled in and blanketed us. As I stepped through the entrance gate, I knew I needed to worship Jesus.
Before Training Camp in October, I secretly made the decision that I was not going to sing for my squad- mostly out of fear that they would only like me because of my voice. So I didn’t sing. I didn’t lead worship, and it was really difficult for me to sing for my team. I wanted them to love me for me, not for my talent. I think out of fear, I was protecting myself. It was the weirdest thing in my life. I’m so used to singing for people back home! But the Lord does some weird things sometimes 😉 and one of the absolute things I missed the most during our first month was fully worshiping Jesus. I would do it quietly to myself, but never sang out loud, belting it for all I was worth, because I was insecure and didn’t want to intrude on the others quiet time or for them to only see my voice, and not my heart. I sorely missed it and it literally felt like something in my entire being was gone.
On the mountain, we all went our own ways and I climbed to the top of this rock, plugged in my headphones and just sang. I sang to Jesus and absolutely did not care that everyone I was with could hear every word, every flaw, every crack of my voice. I worshiped our Creator on top of a cliff, arms spread, heart overflowing. I had no idea where the others went, I just stood on that cliff for maybe an hour. I didn’t even want to explore. I just wanted to sit with Jesus and sing. Tears come to my eyes now thinking and remembering it. I sang with every bone and muscle in me, and it was just me and Him. He healed the missing parts of my heart that day on top of a cliff, in Marcahuasi, Peru. I felt free.
After an hour of worshiping, He told me to go explore. So for maybe 20-30 minutes I jumped from rock to rock, soaking wet from the mist. I got to play like a kid again, and be alone with my Father. We all met up again, and I knew the Lord had worked in each of their hearts as well. Their faces radiated joy. We ate a quick lunch of trail mix, and started the hike down, which only took an hour. We all shared what the Lord did for us on top of the mountain.
We came back to the little mountain town to eat a real lunch and take a quick nap. Dinnertime rolled around, and we took Pastor Moises and Frida out to dinner where they then offered us another night to sleep in the church. They were incredible! So life giving and so generous. They were our Unsung Heroes. They took us in and provided shelter for us. They showered us with love. And I know now, that that’s what it looks like to be a Jesus follower. Selflessly giving of yourself, your things, to better serve people. And all with love. I really, really wanted to go to Machu Picchu that weekend, but never felt peace about it. Now looking back, I know God called me up onto that mountain to worship. To meet Moises and Frida. To witness how Christianity truly plays out. He knows me far better than I know myself, and for that I am eternally grateful.
We got back to Lima, tired yet full. FYI, don’t suck down a milkshake after traveling, hiking, and hardly eating for a couple days- you will live in the bathroom. The next day our team, was to start Unsung Heroes (if you haven’t yet, please read my previous blog that talks about what Unsung Heroes is and what God did and who He led us to). That last week in Peru doing UH was amazing. We walked around Mira Flores listening to Him. Jumping in the ocean fully clothed. Eating ice cream. Casting out fear. Being led by the Lord and listening to where He wants you to go is super cool, and I encourage every single one of you to do just that. It may not look like me, leaving my known for a year to seek after Him, but it may be giving up something of yours, something you hold onto real tightly, to allow Him to sweep in and lead you. Do it. You will NOT regret it. 🙂
Our time in Peru sadly came to an end. 30 hours of bus rides later, we arrived in Banos, Ecuador for all Squad debrief. Banos is incredibly gorgeous. In the mountains, surrounded by trees and waterfalls. It is a city, but with a small town feel. I instantly felt comfortable there. Our days were filled with one-on-ones with leaders. Sessions on intimacy with Jesus. Worship led by fellow squad mates. There in Banos, the Lord took something from me that I had been holding onto for a very long time. Fear.
You see, I would give a little bit of fear over to the Lord, but always hold onto the rest. During debrief, I declared that fear had no hold on me. And this time it stuck! I got up in front of my entire squad and sang. And through the shakiness and the nerves, Jesus delivered me from my fear of being vulnerable with my family here. He delivered me from fear of everything! The next day, I even went waterfall canyoning! Repelling down waterfalls, and jumping off 100+ foot cliffs! And not one single time was I afraid! Not. One. Time. Jesus is in the miracle business. And I believe with all my heart, that Him taking every fear off me was a miracle. A complete miracle.
You guys. Jesus is good. He is good to you. He is good to me. He wants to know you and be intimate with you. Shake off every fear and dive deep with Him. Jump off that cliff. Swim in the ocean unafraid. Sing until your lungs give way. Let Him love you completely.
“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love. We love each other because He loved us first.” 1 John 4:18,19
