Eating a Pig in Peru

31 March 2009

Well, I’m on the plane headed for Peru and my mind is replaying the months spent in Guatemala.  In the last couple of days I’ve had to endure more difficult good-byes.  Right now if I’m really honest, my thoughts are bittersweet.  The time living (really living) there was truly sweet as God opened my eyes to so many things!  I just don’t understand the favor I’ve found from the people I’ve been with(family, teachers, team) and the incredible mercy and grace of God.

·      Being open about who I am and what I’m about early in a relationship (follower of Jesus)—it seems to bring about more trust and openness from the other person when its not hidden or forced on them.

·      That we are first called to make disciples, which means sharing Him and His truth with everyone.  From there, God provides the increase and their salvation.  Sometimes obedience really does make sense…

·      The love that comes from sharing all things (ie: possessions, money) openly and freely among the body and how that draws non-believers in and in a way I’d never imagined.

·      A glance of the kingdom of heaven here on earth…

While the official language school is over and I can’t thank you enough for all the prayers!  It’s definitely going to take more time before I feel comfortable, but I scored well on my tests and feel like I have a good foundation.  God has taught me a lot about serving and loving others without using words.  It’s beautiful. Despite just writing that though, I have to admit that I feel I was served more.  That thought alone has made me really check myself.  In Matthew 5:44-48 Jesus mentions love and how it’s easy to love those that love you, so what is the difference in us and does that show?  I guess those are the things I’m bringing with me to Peru.  Thanks for sharing in this first phase of the journey…

Well, this week marked a first.  I had mentioned a Bible study we have with some of the Spanish teachers at our school and this week was the first time Kerri (an IMB missionary friend also in school) and I led it by ourselves—totally in Spanish!  Just so you know, neither Kerri nor I know enough of this language to really pull that off. God is so faithful to represent Himself and so faithful to us as we attempted to twist our tongues to make comprehensible sentences!  In the last month-and-a-half we’ve been working through a story set called Creation to Christ, which (you guessed it) tells the Bible from the creation of the universe to the coming of Christ.  The women who come really do seem to enjoy it, and though they all have a strong Catholic background and attend (or attended) church, they haven’t really heard many of these stories.  When they realize how everything from both the Old and New Testaments reflect one another and Christ, they are really surprised!  This week’s story was Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well.  It was here that Deity clashed with man’s traditions and life change happened in an entire community—great story, huh? (John 4) Keep praying—for this place and wherever you are—because Jesus said “…greater things than these…” are possible. (check out the chapter in John 14) And thanks for all the prayers–they’re definitely helping me through language right now! (Oh! And the picture I posted before was from a trip up to the top of a volcano nearby.  S’mores made over lava!)

So I definitely want to fill everyone in on the awesome ways God is moving in the lives of the people we’re around. We are in school for four hours in the morning (Monday-Friday), so we spend quite a bit of time talking one-on-one with our teachers. From these relationships that have been built over the last three weeks, we have each been able to share with our respective teachers what actually brings us to Guatemala to learn Spanish. Truly God has given me an understanding of the passage that reads: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” Before we even arrived in San Juan (the town where we’re studying) God was already stirring/moving within our teachers. They were ready to hear hope or something that didn’t sound absolutely crazy or to just know more about who this guy named Jesus is. Our teachers have been watching us and listening too. Out of all the groups and individuals they have as students in this particular language school, one teacher in particular said that there’s just something different about us. It’s hard to describe what I feel about that as I am seeing everyday how God is drawing His people to Him and using us to be a part of that along the way. The whole situation renews my faith and trust in His promises, and increases my boldness as I see that there’s really nothing that I’ve brought to the situation but some willingness and surrender–it’s God who is doing all the work and using us to reach the people He’s died to save. Also, I want to thank you for your prayers! I know there are so many praying; not only is it evident in what is happening here, but I really do feel it! Thank you for reaching the lost! You are reaching people despite being hundreds of miles away… I’m including a link to a video posted on YouTube. If you’re unfamiliar with this, you’ll just click the link and it will send you to a different website to watch a video of me explaining life here in Guatemala and a bit more details about what is written above. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjF7CPPiGcg

Well, language mistakes are numerous (and really funny)!  So far I’ve cussed three times, which is really embarrassing, but I don’t dare say that word in Spanish (embarrassing) because I’m afraid I’ll tell everyone I’m pregnant!  This marks a full week here for our group attending language school and God has been so incredibly faithful!!!  Language school lasts 3 months, during which time we all live with a separate family—who does NOT speak English.  (That would definitely be immersion!)  School started this week, and while we’re all at different levels, it’s going pretty well for each of us.  Your prayers have been huge and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate them.  Personally, there’s no way I’d be where I was without them! Thank you! 

First Impressions:

-       Seriously God, this is were you want me to live for the next three months…surrounded by mountains and one active volcano, all of which can be seen pretty much all the time?  Well…okay!

-       Two parents, five children, a husband and a grandchild can live in one house…and they can even host a student trying to learn Spanish!  Craziness and never a dull moment!  (Oh, and I forgot to mention there’s only one bathroom!)

-       There are MANY Catholics here and they don’t see the difference in their beliefs and Christian beliefs…and it’s hard for us to see it sometimes, too.

-       Guatemala has crazy weather:  I was told it was summertime right now, which apparently means its cold in the mornings (50), warm in the afternoons (75-80), and cool in the evenings (60).  I thought this place was closer to the equator!?

-       …but, the homes here aren’t all closed in. Each bedroom in my house has four walls and a ceiling, but the ceiling stops there; everything else is pretty much open, allowing for an amazing view at night, not to mention being able to see the mountains from the ‘patio’ on top of the house.  However, morning showers can be a bit cold… =)

-       Food here is great!  My house mom fixes all the food and I’ve had normal things (chicken and rice) and then others that are a bit different (corn and bean tomale…for breakfast).  And, I’ve learned you can wrap just about anything in a tortilla.

-       The people. Well, they seem friendly and warm, but then it’s really hard to know what they’re like because were so different.  Not sure if that makes sense, but we don’t really blend in around here so people look and act differently around us. Can’t wait to get to know my family here and other people in town.

-       The US has way too many driving regulations—seat belts and lines down the middle of the road are overrated and unnecessary for getting where you want to go.  I’ve actually seen a guy driving a dirt bike (motorcycle) with a girl on the back holding a large computer hard drive.  That takes some major skills and a lot of balance!  And, you wouldn’t believe how many people can fit on a school bus!  As long as you have air to breathe… (My stomach still hurts from laughing!)

-       The people here work long, hard days to provide for their families and many of the kids are older than their age.

Well, that was quite a bit to read, but I hope it gave you a bit of insight into what its like here.  I’m still trying to figure out how to record and post so hopefully I’ll figure that out soon and post a video for you all to see what its like here.  Thanks so much for visiting and reading, and even more, praying!  The group here really wants our families, teachers and those we meet here to know the truth of God’s love and the PERSONAL relationship they can have with Him!

Hasta luego!

(Later),

Ginny