Well I said goodbye to Chile, it had its ups and downs but I survived. As always God taught me things that changed how I view his people and Him.
My whole squad arrived in Peru for a five day debrief in Cusco after traveling for a total of 75 hours on multiple busses including being stranded in the desert for 16 hours because our bus broke down. Debrief was just what I needed. I felt like a had time to focus on the lord again by listening to my awesome coaches, SQL’s, mentor, SQA, and even my squad mates; also by diving back into the word. It was hard to watch while almost the whole squad got sick; so they went to the hospital and got diagnose with salmonella, a parasite, strep, laryngitis, bronchitis, and/or attitude sickness, thank you Lord that I wasn’t one of those. Everyone that got sick received medication and started to get better by the end of debrief.
When our four day debrief was over MANistry and FEMINistry started, a play on words with the men and ladies month of ministry together. The men on three of our teams united and the women of those did as well. Those two teams stayed in Cusco for this month and Priceless, my team, and Now, the other all womens team traveled to Lima to stay a night in a hostel and then split up the next morning. Team Now is in Trujillo and Priceless is an hour in a half north in Pacasmayo.
We have been in Pacasmayo for fourteen days now and Ministry has been really laid back here, I like it. We are partnering with Iglesia la antorcha to do a whole bunch of cool things. We have been helping out with youth group, english classes and, we just finished our last day of VBS. the great thing about ministry here is we have a bunch of free time so my team is creating are own ministry. We are helping out with the garden in our compound, we are going to bring chocolates to the hospital, and a couple of us went to a bonfire on the beach with the youth and a couple other locals.
Peruvian food is amazing and I would love to share with you what me and Priceless have eaten so far.
chocotaxas- a candy, a couple of us got to make already, that is made in a plastic mold by dipping your finger in melted chocolate and smearing it all over the inside of each mold. You put the rack in the freezer to harden them and then take the rack out and put inside each one a heaping amount of manjar, thick carmel, and either peanuts, raisins, or a pecan on top. Then you put a layer of chocolate on top to make the bottom of the candy and freeze them again. lastly you take them out of the molds and put them in this cute little paper wrapper and sell it for one sole, 30 cents in the US.
Papas Rellenas- Mashed potato’s + meat + fried = AWESOMENESS. Basically you form the mashed potatoes into a oval shape and make a indention in it putting chicken or beef with a little bit of a hard boiled egg inside and the greatest thing about it, it’s FRIED. Top it off with some ahi sauce and you are god to go.
Cow heart- Muy Bueno, put it on a skewer grill it.
Chicken Gizzards- a little scared to try them but when grilled to perfection their alright.
Churros- although they are south american art I think Peruvians do them the best. best when hot with manjar in the middle and sugar on top.
