Looking over this trip it is incredible how sculpted it was and yet how little of that I planned. God has looked out for me and although there are oftentimes frustrations I don´t doubt that this is where I was supposed to be for this time. That said I want to come home :)
I will dreadfully miss Peru in a couple months and think about it in little ways for the rest of my life but if my sister hadn´t come down I would be going crazy. As is my sister and I are in a semi jungle city staying with a couple that we met yesterday and this afternoon searching for a swimming hole. I don´t think that I have stopped sweating since I´ve been here and the sun is fierce this close to the equator. Tomorrow we are heading into the mountains to a village called Chachapoyas and that should be absolutely incredible.
I have to post now because I have less than a minute left in the internet cabina.
love you all
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
May 18, 2008
...and life goes on much as it always does...
The last week all but slipped by. I think one of the Devil´s greatest tricks is to keep us so busy with life that we forget God. Of course we can only be occupied for so long before our soul innevitably begins to hunger and thirst for something meaningful. I´ve had a great time here in Peru but the only way that it has even come close to working is because I´ve been seeking God more than I knew I could. I had prayed to be able to read his word like I would a Fantasy novel and to rest in his presence like I would a lovers and it´s happened, it´s been incredible. It is going to be hard to explain this trip to people when I come home. Yes there was a construction project, yes there were the conferences, and yes everyday I am doing something but in the flesh I think I would have been on a flight home a month after I got here. But there is no substance in friends, food, entertainment, or in work that can keep me going like the presence of God.
I´ve doubted, re-doubted, grumbled, and fumed, but over all just kept climbing the mountain. If you could chart my spiritual altitude I think the last two months would be a pretty constant upward slope. Then came this week. I had wonderful days Monday and Tuesday but then the graph would come to a flatline or probably more likely a decline. I didn´t want to read the word, couldn´t quiet myself and seek his presence, and my flesh was rebelling in such a way that I plain didn´t want any more of this Godstuff. I had a fun week, explored the city, read a really good book, watched a movie, and even spent a day playing soccer, but everynight was torn asunder. I was so hungry for God but I sooo didn´t want to eat. God reminded me of many verses that shed light as to what was happening and everytime I read my Bible I could see a little more clearly what was going on. I was rebelling.
I start to condemn myself but then God´s love washs over me again.
I´m going to spend a couple days this week just me and God. I am so excited for the rest of my time here in Peru and I really can´t wait to see how God grows me through the last 5 days of drought. Please pray for deeper intimacy! Don´t be to concerned for me because God is good and as far as the world goes I really didn´t have that bad of a week. Spiritually it was ruff but there were even times of light in those dark places and now I´m able to write from a place peace and hunger, not of hurt and confusion.
Those of you who know me, know that I tend to forget the bad things and dwell on the good times. I don´t think that is always a good thing but now God is showing me how to marvel at his goodness in those times where I was hurt, angry, and confused. And so by my very nature of forgetting crappiness and much much more importantly by the work that God is doing in me I can praise God in and for this storm.
I´m diving into the book of James and going to finish the Gospel of Luke this week and am ever seeking to die to myself that Christ may live in me. Thanks for your prayers, I know they´ve helped drag me through the tougher times, and don´t let up now :)
The last week all but slipped by. I think one of the Devil´s greatest tricks is to keep us so busy with life that we forget God. Of course we can only be occupied for so long before our soul innevitably begins to hunger and thirst for something meaningful. I´ve had a great time here in Peru but the only way that it has even come close to working is because I´ve been seeking God more than I knew I could. I had prayed to be able to read his word like I would a Fantasy novel and to rest in his presence like I would a lovers and it´s happened, it´s been incredible. It is going to be hard to explain this trip to people when I come home. Yes there was a construction project, yes there were the conferences, and yes everyday I am doing something but in the flesh I think I would have been on a flight home a month after I got here. But there is no substance in friends, food, entertainment, or in work that can keep me going like the presence of God.
I´ve doubted, re-doubted, grumbled, and fumed, but over all just kept climbing the mountain. If you could chart my spiritual altitude I think the last two months would be a pretty constant upward slope. Then came this week. I had wonderful days Monday and Tuesday but then the graph would come to a flatline or probably more likely a decline. I didn´t want to read the word, couldn´t quiet myself and seek his presence, and my flesh was rebelling in such a way that I plain didn´t want any more of this Godstuff. I had a fun week, explored the city, read a really good book, watched a movie, and even spent a day playing soccer, but everynight was torn asunder. I was so hungry for God but I sooo didn´t want to eat. God reminded me of many verses that shed light as to what was happening and everytime I read my Bible I could see a little more clearly what was going on. I was rebelling.
I start to condemn myself but then God´s love washs over me again.
I´m going to spend a couple days this week just me and God. I am so excited for the rest of my time here in Peru and I really can´t wait to see how God grows me through the last 5 days of drought. Please pray for deeper intimacy! Don´t be to concerned for me because God is good and as far as the world goes I really didn´t have that bad of a week. Spiritually it was ruff but there were even times of light in those dark places and now I´m able to write from a place peace and hunger, not of hurt and confusion.
Those of you who know me, know that I tend to forget the bad things and dwell on the good times. I don´t think that is always a good thing but now God is showing me how to marvel at his goodness in those times where I was hurt, angry, and confused. And so by my very nature of forgetting crappiness and much much more importantly by the work that God is doing in me I can praise God in and for this storm.
I´m diving into the book of James and going to finish the Gospel of Luke this week and am ever seeking to die to myself that Christ may live in me. Thanks for your prayers, I know they´ve helped drag me through the tougher times, and don´t let up now :)
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Doug Fakkema e-mailed me the other day asking how the Ministry is going down here. I thought others might be interested in the same thing and this is how I responded:
The work is a lot different than I expected. I haven´t really participated in much of the construction to this point. Most of my time is spent helping set up services and make everything run smooth. Mario is somewhat of an Apostle overseeing a number of projects and Churches so we have service of some type 5 nights a week. I have been overwhelmed, excited, disappointed, and the gambit over and over again in the two months that I have been down here. The next two months will be so little like the first that it is hard to say what will come to pass even next week. The only thing that is keeping me down here really is the surety of calling. I really feel that God closed the door that I opened and opened this one on his own. So although in the world and in my mind it is super easy to get tired of things my welfare can be more accurately tracked by how much time I am spending with God and how close I am to him at any given point. If I don´t seek God´s face at some time during the day I get depressed or pissed or overwhelmed but more often than that I am revelling in the presence of Jesus as I worship, read the word, or simply soak. I guess that all goes to say that I´m holding in there by the grace of God and am excited for the next two months, more to see where God takes me as I lay my life at his feet than because of any construction or any other thing that is happening here in Peru.
On that note this phase of construction is actually finished I´ve got some pics and Mario has more so I probably won´t get it all on the website until Mario returns in June. Expanding the school ended up costing around 1700 dollars and moving a great door (pictures will come) sucked up the rest. On one hand it was exciting to see how far the money went on the other there is so much more to do. I have a great peace and joy with the work that was accomplished thanks to all the money that you guys donated.
I definately need your intercessory prayer and I know that it is helping me keep my head above the water sometimes. Thanks for everything, Luke
The work is a lot different than I expected. I haven´t really participated in much of the construction to this point. Most of my time is spent helping set up services and make everything run smooth. Mario is somewhat of an Apostle overseeing a number of projects and Churches so we have service of some type 5 nights a week. I have been overwhelmed, excited, disappointed, and the gambit over and over again in the two months that I have been down here. The next two months will be so little like the first that it is hard to say what will come to pass even next week. The only thing that is keeping me down here really is the surety of calling. I really feel that God closed the door that I opened and opened this one on his own. So although in the world and in my mind it is super easy to get tired of things my welfare can be more accurately tracked by how much time I am spending with God and how close I am to him at any given point. If I don´t seek God´s face at some time during the day I get depressed or pissed or overwhelmed but more often than that I am revelling in the presence of Jesus as I worship, read the word, or simply soak. I guess that all goes to say that I´m holding in there by the grace of God and am excited for the next two months, more to see where God takes me as I lay my life at his feet than because of any construction or any other thing that is happening here in Peru.
On that note this phase of construction is actually finished I´ve got some pics and Mario has more so I probably won´t get it all on the website until Mario returns in June. Expanding the school ended up costing around 1700 dollars and moving a great door (pictures will come) sucked up the rest. On one hand it was exciting to see how far the money went on the other there is so much more to do. I have a great peace and joy with the work that was accomplished thanks to all the money that you guys donated.
I definately need your intercessory prayer and I know that it is helping me keep my head above the water sometimes. Thanks for everything, Luke
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Guinea Pig (kuy)
So I was talking with my Grandma on the phone today and she asked me what foods I have ate that are unique to Peru...
They put the head that I had been taking pictures of on Pastor Washington´s plate and I asked him if I could take pictures. I didn´t understand why he gave me a funny look about taking his plate until after we said grace and I looked at my plate again. I forgot there where three guinea pigs and lucky me I got a head also :)
It was generally quite disgusting but surely an experience.
They put the head that I had been taking pictures of on Pastor Washington´s plate and I asked him if I could take pictures. I didn´t understand why he gave me a funny look about taking his plate until after we said grace and I looked at my plate again. I forgot there where three guinea pigs and lucky me I got a head also :)It was generally quite disgusting but surely an experience.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
The KiDs
This is Diana! I love Diana! She is one of those more quiet girls who
doesn´t constantly beg for attention but loves to play.
This is Diana´s little sister.
Some of the kids you know because they always seem to get dirty :)
A lot of the kids are obsessed with my camera and want to take pictures ALL THE TIME...
This is Pastor Fedrico´s son Johosaphat.
He is super cute, loves to be thrown up down and all around,
and will wear you out in five minutes.
Fedrico´s daughter Kaylee was really shy to start with... to start with :)
I asked this girl to smile with her Mazamorra one night
I asked this girl to smile with her Mazamorra one night
and I don´t think she´s stopped smiling since :) she´s a cutie
I wanna take this one home! At a lot of the services her
mommy let´s / haves me hold her and I have yet to see her cry!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Prayer Requests (last updated 4-30-08)
Hi everyone!
I´m having a great time here in Peru but as always there areas where I would love your prayer support.
1. Seeking God- ¨but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.¨This is one of the verses that God gave me about why I am here. As I read Matthew God linked this verse (mat. 6.33) and Matthew 8.22. ¨But Jesus said to him, ¨Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.¨ This is one of those hard verses that I never really liked or understood but as I prayed God revealed (to me in this time) that this verse is telling us to leave the things of the flesh, since we are alive in Christ and dead to the sins of the flesh, behind and ¨allow the dead to bury their own dead.¨ So this is my first prayer request that here in this time I may fullfledged seek God´s face.
-----I love it when God´s confirms a word that he has given you through other saints. About two minutes after writing this first prayer request I went into the bible school to hear David play a song and Mario surprised us with a prophetic message. After he spoke we were singing and worshipping, in Spanish, and then Mario began to prophesy in English. It was one of those words that just resonated as truth and was a complete confirmation of what God had been speaking to me through his word. Hallelujah :)
2. Learning the language- I didn´t learn anything my freshman year in Spanish 1 but had a great second year with Senora Hallingstad. With that little foundation I am able to get around but can´t have real conversations with the people. It is hard to learn Spanish when David is so much better than I am. When we are working or shopping or wherever we go it is faster, easier, and more comprehensive for David to talk... it´s really nice but at the same time I don´t get to learn the language. David is teaching me Spanish as we work but it is a challenge and I could definately use the Holy Spirit to speed things along :)
ºººupdateººº I think it is sort of natural when learning a new language but I feel like I´ve sort of rounded a corner. It is easier to understand and communicate and everything is coming to me a little faster now. Praise the Lord for the patient Peruvians who are helping me learn the language :)
3. Health- Well to start from the feet up:
I have a rash on one of my toes that Tinactin can´t kill. (Praise God it´s gone! Thanks for you Prayers.)
I sprained my ankle back in August and it is still giving me trouble when I work.
My back and neck seem to enjoy going out of place (Praise God. Two weeks ago Dee Copely spoke at the bible college about the ¨new song ¨ and after her message we were worshipping and I was dancing at the back entrance, just worshipping God and up front Mario was like, ¨Someone´s back is being realigned¨. Sure enough my back was the worst it had been since I had been in Peru and as I moved around the bones where in place and the pain was gone. I´ve cranked it a couple of times since then playing with the kids and working but I guess that just means I need to dance some more :) Hallelujah!!!)
My wrists never healed from when I broke them.
My right hand has two warts :(
And now I seem to have la Gripa again (a cough)
4. Wisdom- There is so much need but I only have so many resources, simply said I need my Father´s wisdom. Many days I´m torn to pour out everything I own, everything I have, and all that I am. It is so hard to come from a place of such prosperity and blessing to the basurero or to any place where there is poverty such as that which surrounds me here and I must ask the Lord to hold my heart, for it is confused. And so I must listen and love, pour out all of myself that I can, all that the Lord calls me to, and be a good steward. For every gift I have is from the Father and every gift I give is to be a spirit led gift from the Father.
¨If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?¨—James 2:15-16
¨give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” —Luke 6:38
and Matthew 25:14-30
5. Spirit Led-Romans 8:14 ¨because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.¨
Thanks everyone, I will continue to update this post as I go.
I´m having a great time here in Peru but as always there areas where I would love your prayer support.
1. Seeking God- ¨but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.¨This is one of the verses that God gave me about why I am here. As I read Matthew God linked this verse (mat. 6.33) and Matthew 8.22. ¨But Jesus said to him, ¨Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.¨ This is one of those hard verses that I never really liked or understood but as I prayed God revealed (to me in this time) that this verse is telling us to leave the things of the flesh, since we are alive in Christ and dead to the sins of the flesh, behind and ¨allow the dead to bury their own dead.¨ So this is my first prayer request that here in this time I may fullfledged seek God´s face.
-----I love it when God´s confirms a word that he has given you through other saints. About two minutes after writing this first prayer request I went into the bible school to hear David play a song and Mario surprised us with a prophetic message. After he spoke we were singing and worshipping, in Spanish, and then Mario began to prophesy in English. It was one of those words that just resonated as truth and was a complete confirmation of what God had been speaking to me through his word. Hallelujah :)
2. Learning the language- I didn´t learn anything my freshman year in Spanish 1 but had a great second year with Senora Hallingstad. With that little foundation I am able to get around but can´t have real conversations with the people. It is hard to learn Spanish when David is so much better than I am. When we are working or shopping or wherever we go it is faster, easier, and more comprehensive for David to talk... it´s really nice but at the same time I don´t get to learn the language. David is teaching me Spanish as we work but it is a challenge and I could definately use the Holy Spirit to speed things along :)
ºººupdateººº I think it is sort of natural when learning a new language but I feel like I´ve sort of rounded a corner. It is easier to understand and communicate and everything is coming to me a little faster now. Praise the Lord for the patient Peruvians who are helping me learn the language :)
3. Health- Well to start from the feet up:
I have a rash on one of my toes that Tinactin can´t kill. (Praise God it´s gone! Thanks for you Prayers.)
I sprained my ankle back in August and it is still giving me trouble when I work.
My back and neck seem to enjoy going out of place (Praise God. Two weeks ago Dee Copely spoke at the bible college about the ¨new song ¨ and after her message we were worshipping and I was dancing at the back entrance, just worshipping God and up front Mario was like, ¨Someone´s back is being realigned¨. Sure enough my back was the worst it had been since I had been in Peru and as I moved around the bones where in place and the pain was gone. I´ve cranked it a couple of times since then playing with the kids and working but I guess that just means I need to dance some more :) Hallelujah!!!)
My wrists never healed from when I broke them.
My right hand has two warts :(
And now I seem to have la Gripa again (a cough)
4. Wisdom- There is so much need but I only have so many resources, simply said I need my Father´s wisdom. Many days I´m torn to pour out everything I own, everything I have, and all that I am. It is so hard to come from a place of such prosperity and blessing to the basurero or to any place where there is poverty such as that which surrounds me here and I must ask the Lord to hold my heart, for it is confused. And so I must listen and love, pour out all of myself that I can, all that the Lord calls me to, and be a good steward. For every gift I have is from the Father and every gift I give is to be a spirit led gift from the Father.
¨If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?¨—James 2:15-16
¨give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” —Luke 6:38
and Matthew 25:14-30
5. Spirit Led-Romans 8:14 ¨because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.¨
Thanks everyone, I will continue to update this post as I go.
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