Thursday, October 21, 2010

Prayer.....


Today we completed all of the work that Larry had planned for us to do. Tomorrow we will find something constructive to do. Most likely we will go get our "fix" at the orphanage (there is nothing like it and for those of you who have been there SORRY). We didn't even bring crafts or toys so we will get nothing but LOVE from those cute kids and they will get nothing but LOVE from us!

Julio cut his hand today on the edge plainer in the wood shop and we had to take him to the local clinic. He was in the clinic until 6:30 tonight. We need to lift him up in prayer, that his hand will be healed soon and with no complications. Julio is one of my closest friends here in Peru. Even though there is a language barrier, he and I enjoy working together. It's like he and I are connected on a deeper level, when we are working on a job we know what each other are thinking. So, please keep him in your prayers over then next couple of weeks as his hand heals.

I can't express my feelings in my soul for this city and it's people. Everyone who reads this should at least pray about coming here to see what I see here........

Pray for safe travel for the ones of us flying toward home and those who are flying this away to go to South Peru over the next week.

Thanks for reading,
Justin

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

an instant

Sometimes we take the road less traveled and we wonder why we took it...then in an instant we see it so clear that we cannot believe we are a part of the journey... today it was just a very small event that made me realize that God's plan is going to be fulfilled with or without me...
I challenge you to step back and see His work, in your city, in your life...
chow..

The lady and her sheep.

Today we got a lot of work done on the Hospital. After lunch, I feel asleep on the couch. The guys left. I woke up 1 hour later. It was nice. I walked over to the hospital. On the way, there was a woman watching her sheep. A dog had chased a sheep over to the road. The woman got up and went to the sheep to comfort it. When you get away from all of the stress of the states and the distractions that we bring on ourselves you see how we wonder away from our Shepard. Even with the day to day issues. I hope that more people will be able to come with us to Peru and experience something that will change your heart and your life so that we will be able to keep our focus on Him.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Seeing God's Hand


Jeff and I arrived in Cajamarca yesterday afternoon. The first stop after the airport was the aldea (orphanage) - that's a good way to get your heart broken and ready. For those of you who have been, Spiderman was there and in my arms for the entire visit. Jeff also had a little girl hanging on him; she'd been crying when we arrived but time in his arms settled her down. After the orphanage we headed to Villa Milagro to settle in.

Last night four college students who were helped by VM came and shared the difference the assistance had made in their lives. Three of the four were orphans who had no possibility of going to school and learning a trade or career; the fourth was from a large, poor family. Now, one is a CPA, one a systems engineer, one studying psychology, and one in hotel management. Great potential but no opportunity until God used VM to provide assistance

Today we began the tour to let Jeff get acquainted with all the ministries of Villa Milagro. After walking the entire compound here we visited Monte Sion church and school and the clinic. This afternoon we went to a couple of well sites, a mission point, and Santa Polonia (the high point where you can see the entire city laid out).

For Jeff being on site has really helped wrap his mind around the opportunities here. I have described it to him, but you just have to see and experience it. God is doing miracles here; hard to understand and believe without seeing it for yourself, but no doubt when you are here in the middle of it...no doubt you can see God's hand.

Tomorrow, the rest of the team will continue their work on the clinic in Cajamarca while Jeff and I will head to Chiclayo. Chiclayo is on the coast, north of Lima. Currently VM is drilling wells in Chiclayo and VM evangelist Carlos Valenzuela is sharing the Gospel and planting churches. While there we will be going into the schools and visiting mission points.

Many opportunities are here for Geyer Springs. Pray for us and specifically for Jeff, as our leader, to know how God would have us involved here.

Work still to be done.....

We worked on the clinic today......

Monday, October 18, 2010

Another Great Day



Today was a wonderful yet sad day for me.... I got to work at the clinic until lunch. And now the sad-- I had to take my lovely wife to the airport to fly home. this was bitter sweet because I wanted her to stay, but the girls are ready for her to come home.

Dave and Jeff came in on the plane that Deirdra left on. After picking them up we went to the orphanage so that they could have a look around (sorry honey).

Dinner was awesome! Larry had arranged for some students, who the ministry had sent to College, to share their stories. This was another one of those PERU moments when you try to hold back the tears and can't even imagine the burdens these people go through everyday. One guy raised his 3 year old brother on the streets at the age of 4. And he did this for a few years. That would be like my 6 year old, Anna, raising my 3 year old , Madison. Just their survival alone IS a God thing. This makes me think about my life and all the problems I think I have. We are a very blessed country, so let's all start giving what has been given to us by GOD. No excuse is a good one...... if these students aren't making any excuses then I shouldn't be either.

This trip has been just as much, if not more, of an eye opener as the first time I came to Peru........

Trying to explain the unexplainable,

Justin

Sunday, October 17, 2010

God Never Quits


Today we (Nathan, Rick, Justin, Kelly, and Me) traveled up North to Yanacancha Baja church. This church was created by Monte Sion but a few years later, the church had lost their Pastor and their members. Monte Sion had discovered this in June and sent out a crew to re-establish the lost church. One local man stepped up and took on the responsibility to get the church back and running again. That day (June 27th, 2010) there were about 6 members attending. Today, God has blessed this church, and there were 12 adults and 14 children!!! A full 2 hour worship with Sunday School.

Kelly Tucker found a local market around to corner from the church and we experienced a "local Peru-Mart". Products included various ranges from yarn and toys to....racks of meat hanging up. The group purchased a soccer ball and wooden tops to distribute to the kids after Sunday School. We enjoyed playing duck duck goose and simon says with them. We did ,however, wish that we could have planned it better and brought VBS materials for the kids. Something to remember for the next trip!!

Upon travelling back down to Villa Milagro, we stopped to a familiar "Gold Mine" location. Of course, we had search for gold in the creek. Words can not describe how beautiful this place is.

Later that day, Larry Johnson took us on a tour to Downtown Cajamarca and the Banos Del Inca. It was Nathan's first visit to Peru and it was awesome to see his facial expressions. Again, this country is so beautiful that it almost takes your breathe away - wait, that is the altitude. But seriously, you have a true realty check on how well American's in the US have it and how much we take it for granted.


Prayer Needs: We found out that Omar's (boy we found during June-July clinic visit whom has a brain tumor) Parents have refused to allow Omar to be re-evaluated by us and even having surgery to save his life. They rejected because of fears of taking their child to America.

Marty Mote has been sick all day. We are about 98% sure that it is altitude sickness. He is coming around but hasn't had much of an appetite.

I will be travelling back home tomorrow and arrive Tuesday morning by myself. Please pray that I will have a safe travel and make it from plane to plane on time!! Mostly, pray for Justin as he will be worried for me.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Treasures


Today the second crew arrived; Kelly, Nathan, and Rick. After breakfast, they didn't want to go and rest. So they went with Marty, Justin and I to the clinic. They started in working but quickly went down hill. You could ask them a simple question but because they were so sleep deprived they couldn't answer you correctly. Needless to say, Marty had fun picking on them ( just a bit). They did go to their rooms for rest after lunch.

Marty had Liz (aka clinic's gate keeper) to show him the little girls that his Wife, Lynda, had met in July. It didn't take long for her to find them and it was incredible to see these little girls eyes when Marty handed them the photo of them that Lynda had taken. I believe they even remembered her! He also gave them the message that God loves them. Having relationships like this is another reason why it is so awesome to be here.

Later that night before we left the clinic, Marty found some brick makers (brick made out of mud and hay). One of the brick makers showed Justin how to make a brick. We have Justin on camera, digging in the mud and framing out a brick. The Peruvian's crowed around and thought how funny this "Gringo" is making this brick. Afterwards, they re-did the brick :) Guess he didn't do it to their standards.

Tomorrow will be awesome and I can't wait! We are going up the mountain to Yancancho Baja for Church. Larry has arranged for us to have a translator. Pray that the others in the crew see what Justin and I did when we went in June. Being up there on the mountain was ONE of the greatest experience. We witnessed a church struggling to stay alive and people struggling to spread the Word. God is so wonderful and how great it is to see his work in the making.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,....But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." Matthew 6:19-24

Friday, October 15, 2010

The Harvest Field


Today, we worked at the Clinic - installing door casings from the materials created yesterday.
We also got to know the workers there in the clinic. They taught us spanish and we taught them english. There is a young woman whom is working there as a "gate keeper" so that she can go to semionary school and be a missonary. She was diffently hungry for the word and intrigued on how Americans are. Crazy that there are people here in Peru wanting to go to other countries to spread the gospel.

Marty and I did have the opportunity to go to the Monte Sion school. We checked on the young girl there that had an under developed ear. She seemed to be happy but her hearing was in the same condition - which is good. The children were very happy and excited that we came. It is different to walk into a school and have the school be open to missionaries.

This evening Marty, Justin and I had the opportunity to eat dinner with Mr. Larry Johnson. The one who created Villa Milagro. One of his stories was about how he got started. He was in Texas, loving life. He had many businesses and responsibilities. But God convicted him to do more - outside of his Church and home walls. After much trials and tribulations, he finally submitted and went to Brazil where he drilled his first water well. God didn't have him stop there. God started his true conviction on his life, and God took some of his financial stability away to let him know that God is in control. He read and researched about needs in Northern Peru. This is where he put his God given talents to work. He and his Wife, Joy, began to drill water wells in Peru. The rest is history...or for others to follow.

For those of you reading the book, Radical by David Platt, Larry's story could have came directly out of the book. Larry is a true inspiration on what it means to devote your life to the great commission. God has used a farmer/entrepreneur to make his kingdom known. Larry at first questioned whether or not he was called to "go and make disciples of all nations..." (Matthew 28:19) but then realized it is a command.

Matthew 9:35-38 The workers are a few

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Saw Dust

Today was Sunny part of the time but mostly it was raining. The rain here in Cajamarca is COLD! But when it was not raining we experienced birds chirping, many butterflies roaming, and flowers blooming. Seeing this beautiful environment made me appreciate Gods creations.

Marty and Justin spent majority of the day making lumber out of slabs of wood. They used the wood mizer, plainer, and table saw. Lets just say a lot of saw dust was Everywhere! It made us all realize how much WORK it is to build something here. You can not just run to Lowes and buy all your supplies...Here you actually have to make your supplies. It humbles you and teaches patience.

Selso (one of Villa Milagro's main guy) asked me to drive the Truck! So I drove the truck with all the finished lumber/supplies in the back with all the guys holding it down. No one got hurt and I think I surprised them on how well I can drive an old truck.

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Colossians 1:15-17

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

We made it!

Yes, we finally made it - tired but here and ready!
Travelling went smoothly. Marty kept Justin and I entertained.

We arrived in Cajamarca around 6 am. Selso and Nancy (Villa Milagro's finest) were waiting with Smiles. They took us to Villa Milagro where we ate breakfast. After breakfast we went straight up to our rooms and received well needed rest.
After rest, we ate again!! Lunch was, as always, wonderful and fulfilling. After lunch, Selso took us to the Monte Sion Clinic where he showed us what the work was that needed to be done. Marty and Justin took measurements and we started in on our first day of Construction.
First they had to create the lumber (2x's, etc) to build. They looked like they had a great time learning from each other and from Julio (Villa Milagro's woodwork expert).

After dinner, the three of us did our devotional. Matthew 25:14, The Parable of the Talents; 3 men with talents. Two men did wonders with their talents and the Master labeled them as "faithful servants" but the 3rd man did nothing with his talent and was labeled as a "worthless servant".

In this parable, Talents is a currency. But a God given gift is a Talent...weird, huh?
We should be multiplying our Talents for the Kingdom of God (currency and gifts).

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

We are in Houston and ready to fly to Lima!! Justin and I had only 2 hours of sleep so Marty is leading us through the airport. Well... maybe we all are getting lead. So far everything has been smooth sailing, of course, couldn't expect anything else. Marty did lose his wallet for a brief second but found it at the counter. I guess maybe we shouldn't had stopped to eat those loaded BBQ baked potatoes.
Everything is great and it is very clear that God is with us and leading us though this journey.