Driving out to the town of Vitor from Arequipa, this is more of the scenery for the 1 1/2 hour drive. I was amazed today as we drove back into Arequipa for the weekend how beautiful it is. Who knew that dirt could be beautiful? Within the rocks and sand are so many different colors, both subtle and loud that one might miss them at first glance. If you ever have the change to visit Peru, Arequipa and the surrounding desert and definitely worth seeing…if for no other reason than to see how magnificent and huge our God really is. He made even the desert beautiful. Luke 19:40 says “I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet the stones will cry out.” If we, God’s creation, won’t worship Him, then even the stones will cry out. Let me tell you, there are a LOT of stones. Even in the middle of the desert, where it seems devoid of life, the very rocks, dust, and sand that as passed by, pushed out of the way, or moved to build something elsewhere point to our same creator: God. Maybe it’s being from the Northwest but finding dirt to be so fascinating is very new for me. Driving back today I was in absolute awe and my heart was happy. God is here. He created this crazy desert that seems to stretch forever. He gives life to the random communities that have sprung up. He is with each car and truck driver, even as they pass by His creation without noticing its beauty.
Along the drive, on the tops of each hill you can see smaller rocks piled up on top of each other. Cindy explained to us that the culture here is very pagan and that those are prayer stones. The higher the better for your prayers to reach up to heaven.
And here is Vitor, the village where we’re living this month. The girl in me who is from the Northwest is secretly VERY happy every time we turn this corner and there’s green again.
P.S. Thank you everyone for your support. Because of you I am able to be here. I am now only $222 away from being fully funded! I’m so close!
