Peru was really good. While it challenged me in just about every way possible, I also believe it brought me closer to Jesus. I was challenged by pressing into my teammates and being vulnerable even though it didn’t “feel” good. I was encouraged to know that healing isn’t impossible with God, and He won’t abandon me in the middle of it. And I am expectant for Guatemala and what The Holy Spirit is going to do there. I wrote down my favorite part of each day during the last week we were in the jungle and here it is:
11/27/18 The boat ride to the clinic. I wouldn’t recommend getting sick in the jungle, haha. BUT the boat ride to the clinic was astonishingly beautiful. We went through a little marsh area that was really calm and looked like we were gliding across glass. Every wave the boat made would cause the perfect ripple that would make the plants bob up and down the same way. The trees lined both sides and it was beautiful. Also, something cool about the clinics is that they are all free to the people. So people in the village don’t have to pay for the visit or medicine. I found out that that is really neat because it honestly helps keeps these communities alive.
11/28/18 The “dark Party” Everyday we have power from 6-9pm. So we try to get all of our charging of electronics, showering, and whatever done between that time. But tonight, for some reason the generator went off at 8. None of us were prepared for it, but what happened next was even stranger. Maddie hopped on the cajon and Caela started chanting “Dark Party!” which then turned into us chanting “Yes queen!” And we all kept chanting and dancing around and making up weird raps that barely rhymed. And we did this all in the dark (with a couple head lamps). It was so odd, and made me think “how did we end up HERE of all places” but then I decided to just enjoy our weirdness and not question it. I love that I can be weird and goofy with my team. We were all being our weirdest selves, and thats what made it so beautiful. haha
11/29/18 The boat ride Today after ministry, Rolando asked if we wanted to take an extra long boat ride to see some dolphins and enjoy the sunset. We all agreed readily and smiled as we tried to spot out all the dolphins we saw in the river. The clouds looked UNREAL, they were so beautiful. And the reflection of the sunsets in the water just can’t be beat. Everyone was enjoying each others company. It was a stellar ending to the day.
11/30/18 Playing with the kids Today, we taught on David and Goliath. The kids at Las Palmas are so adorable and so intrigued by the story. They are full of joy and laughter and I loved getting to see them play and just be kids. We got to play soccer with everyone afterwards and it was fun. The saddest part is not being able to go back to that village again.
12/1/18 Christmas time Today Alivia and I walked onto the boat while listening to “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in honor of the first day of December. It was fun to think about winter for awhile when we were in the humid jungle heat. It’s fun and exciting to be in a different place, and also fun to think for a little bit about how normally right now I’m used to super cold weather. It doesn’t really feel like December at all.
12/2/18 Worship Today for worship during team church we all water-colored. One of my teammates, Erin, led it and she has a neat passion for using art to glorify The Lord. It was a really cool experience and neat to see how the Holy Spirit speaks through so many different things.
12/3/18 Nauta Today we went into town, about a 35 min. boat ride. We got to walk through the town and through a busy market. It was super crowded and there were a lot of venders selling different vegetables, juices, kink knack items, and a lot of bananas. They also sell really good juice that they scoop into plastic baggies and stick a straw in. Which is a lot different than how’d I’d normally drink anything haha, but it’s so good and refreshing.
12/4/18 John Mayer My teammate Maddie and I listened to some fire John Mayer tracks and danced around the house like old grannies. The moves were quite interesting. And it entertained us for quite a while, haha. Also, dinner was beans and rice tonight, but like the best beans and rice eve, with this really good sausage and plantains. It was amazing. It was a good last day in the jungle.
