Ministry this month looked a little bit different from the past few months; it was slower, more intentional and way more quiet! My prayers were answered to get out of the concrete jungle and do ministry away from the hustle and bustle of city life. We were placed in Cajamarca, Peru, a mountain town up in the Andes. We lived with a woman named Mama Filo, who is a literal angel sent from heaven above. I pray one day I can come back here to visit her and her family! We only stayed with Mama on our off days, and during the two weeks of ministry, we traveled farther into the Andes to minister to local villages.
One week we stayed in Yanacancha, and the other week we stayed in a town called Matara. Both of these places were surrounded by beautiful landscape and even more beautiful people. I didn’t take my camera out all that much, so below are some iphone photo shots! But still, even to give you guys just a glimpse of what we were surrounded by is incredible.
I really enjoy the fast paced lifestyle. I like being busy and I like the feeling that I have when I accomplish something. But that’s not what I wanted this month. I wanted to slow down and really understand fullfilment through simplicity. Back in Thailand, our host Pat taught us a lot about the simple life, and taking things really slow. God is patient, and we should be also. I think I’ve lost that over the past few months. Our ministries have been in the city; we’re busy from sunup to sundown; I’m stressing about a future job, moving home, being present, pressing in, and finishing well.
And then God just answered my prayer and said, enough.
Not a, “Stop it, Juliana. Enough!” But a sweet, “You’ve done enough, daughter. I’m proud of you. Just take it easy and rest in me.”
So I did. I took these two weeks of village ministry and poured over my Bible. I prayed specific and difficult prayers. I listened to nature and heard God speak over me. I loved the people of these villages and heard their stories. I just rested in God’s creation and let the love of His people wash over me.
Not many times in my life am I able to just sit and be totally present like that. It was refreshing. It was really needed.
Our teams are changing, tomorrow, and then we head into our final two months of the Race. I’m really glad that I felt God’s peace of telling me that I’m enough and that I’ve done enough this month. I don’t feel like I have to strive to prove something to somebody these next 8 weeks. All I feel like I need to do is love really really well and take it easy in the presence of my Father.
I’m taking it back to my Thai roots. Life is simple. Love God & Love People.
