After too short of a time spent in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, our team headed to PERU! We have now been here for 12 days, and those 12 days feel like 3 seconds- time is moving so fast. Since arriving in Peru, we have participated in sweet team times, explored (SO MUCH), made new friends with hostel mates, gotten to pray for health and healing, and we are living the best and most interruptible life. To be interruptible and spontaneous when God has newness around every corner is actually the greatest thing I have participated in.
Here are some highlights from the past 12 days in Peru!
This is the Plaza de Armas in Arequipa, Peru. Our hostel was about a 15-minute walk from here, and we came here often during our few days there!
This is Mercado San Camilo in Arequipa, Peru. We got to go and explore, make friends with some of the vendors, drink freshly squeezed fruit juice, and talk with some of the locals here!
In Arequipa, we got to feed alpacas and llamas, it was a highlight for some of us (Sarah Beth)
From Arequipa, we took a 12-hour bus to Cusco, Peru!
Here we got to rest and hang out with our squad leaders and mentor for a night before packing up to head to Aguascalientes- the town nearest to Machu Picchu.
The van ride from Cusco to Hydroelectrica was one of the most beautiful (and most terrifying) rides that I have ever been on.
This is my favorite photo from the ride up!
Once we arrived at Hyroelectrica, we hiked 6.4 miles to Aguascalientes! (if you are on the world race budget- you walk the train tracks and skip out on riding the 30-minute train). It was SO PRETTY and we often stopped to soak in our surroundings.
Friday, September 14th we woke up around3:45am to get to Machu Picchu! We got to go into the park, explore, take SO MANY PHOTOS, and make friends with 3 girls from France who were in our group. The views were amazing and getting to see this was such a fun blessing.
And Sarah got to hug a llama- so that was another plus.
During our stay at Casa Machu Picchu Hostel, we meet 3 guys who were studying in Santiago, Chile- Joseph, Max, and Pau. We spent the afternoon exploring the town of Aguascalientes with them!
We returned to Cusco the same way we went- hiked 6.4 miles from Aguas to Hydroelectrica, 7-hour van ride from Hydroelectrica to Cusco. On the way back, however, it rained in our hike and we totally enjoyed the cool mist. We worshiped, and Catherine and I got to walk back with a lady named Maria. The 6.4 miles went by in a flash while we talked about life, practiced speaking Spanish, and Jesus.
Back in Cusco, we stayed near the historic district and ate some of the best vegan/vegetarian food I have ever had!
In our hostel, we met a girl named Claire from the UK and we got to sit down and chat for a long time at Starbucks together. Nicole and I spent the afternoon with Claire discussing spirituality, the Holy Spirit, and faith. It was the COOLEST conversation. Bouncing off ideas and beliefs brought so many fun questions. The biggest thing that I brought from the conversation is the fact that coincidence does not exist. Claire mentioned that earlier the previous day she was thinking about how she needed spiritual people in her life, and then we showed up. It is incredible to be able to be a vessel and to get to meet people from all over. Claire’s spirituality was inspiring and questions challenging. I loved our conversation and it was a major highlight for me and my time in Cusco!
In the end, Nicole and I got to pray over Claire and I can’t wait to hopefully see her again- wherever and whenever that may be.
We left Cusco and came to Lima, where I am now sitting in another Starbucks writing this. The bus ride was 23 hours long- traveling for long periods of time has become very normal I must say. The highlight of the ride was getting to watch Mamma Mia with Nicole (THANK YOU NETFLIX FOR HAVING A DOWNLOADING OPTION). It was her first time seeing the movie- and for me, that movie brings up the sweetest memories of my Mama.
For the next 8 days, we will be in Lima working with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) and having breakout teaching sessions to learn more about what it looks like to life a life following Jesus.
For now- Chau!
Xoxo
Abigail
