Serve Alongside

This has been an amazing week. Not at all what I had expected. All of my international mission work had been done in central and southern Mexico and that is what I had invisioned. Villa Millagro has done amazing things here. At times this week I have felt that I have definately been blessed way more than I have blessed. Our trip with such a small group came with a very different purpose than any other mission trip I have ever been on. Teaching outreach to the people here. We have worked hand in hand with the church members here on our projects and it has been amazing. Although they think that our group of "blond gringas" aren't capable of much labor :) it has been a blessing to work alongside fellow believers and I feel we have helped equip them to reach their people. God doesn't need us to do His work, but He has called us to. I encourage anyone who has considered coming here to do so. I will be a huge blessing for you! They hunger for His love and are so willing for us to give it.

You are God....

Today is my 5th day in Cajamarca, Peru. This has been such an amazing trip. As with most opportunities that God places before you, I feel I'm GETTING more than I am GIVING, both from the locals as well as my travel companions. Being in a place with believers and very few distractions gives you a chance to recharge and refocus. Because I am here with a small group (Dave Hughey and the girls - as they are calling us) we have had a lot of freedom to come and go and have been able to fit in a lot more activities than with a larger group. All day long I have had this line from one of our praise and worship songs stuck in my head. "You are not a God in need of anything we can give. You are God and that's just the way it is." In a place where so many of them have NOTHING to give, they don't get caught up in their own self sufficieny......it's not an option for many of them. I am reminded daily of how blessed I am. While we witnessed to the people here in the town square, they would often approach us and gather around just to hear what we had to say. They are hungry for food, for affection and for God.
If you have not had the blessing of coming to Villa Milagra, please pray about supporting their efforts and if at all possible, try to come here and experience the people, their culture, and be apart of the Great Commission taking place in Peru.

North Peru: Week 1

This was my first mission trip and I could not have asked for a better group and place to have come. Cajamarca is a wonderful place full of beautiful people, landscape and culture. I was not sure what to expect going into the trip but once I arrived and started working with the people here I was pleasantly surprised. The first day we went to the Plaza in downtown Cajamarca. The plaza was beautiful and had many amazing vendors with handmade crafts and beautiful churches along the way. We were able to attend church at Monte Sion on Sunday and, surprisingly it was not far different from our own church. They sang songs, had a sermon, and took up an offering. Brother Dave actually preached, so we were able to understand what was going on. I also recognized the tune of several songs.

On Monday, we started work in the first clinic here at Monte Sion. I was extremely impressed with how well the facility was set up and that made it easy to run a smooth clinic. We worked all day and into the night, even until we could not see anymore. The providers were working outside with flashlights just to finish seeing all of the patients that came. We saw a lot of people and i was so humbled by the fact that even though we could not do much for the people, they were so gracious for everything we did accomplish. The rest of the week we held clinics around the area and we were able to help a lot of people. We handed out many bibles, vitamins, antibiotics, glasses, and the children were able to do many crafts.

We were fortunate enough to be able to visit the orphanage here(the Aldea) and play with some amazing kids. The children were so happy every time we came. Seeing where these kids lived and knowing they did not have any homes to go home to was humbling. Their shoes were ragged and many of their clothes were torn and dirty. As a team, we decided to all donate money to buy new shoes for the kids and all the tias (house parent) there. This experience was humbling because we all are constantly wondering how we can get the latest gadget or new pair of shoes and knowing that these kids only had enough to survive was a very emotional experience for me.

The other orphanage we went to was for special needs children. We were able to tour the facility and the equipment was as good as we have in the US. Many of the children there could not speak, and some couldn't walk, but everyone on our team just poured out their love to these kids.

We were also able to have the opportunity to go to the local market and buy food for seven needy families. That was a fun group activity where we were able to purchase about a month supply of food for a nine person family. It was also interesting attempting to communicate in their language. In the afternoon, we went to deliver the food and that was my favorite thing we did all week. When we went to deliver the food we saw what most of the families were living in, which was a couple of walls made out of dirt and mud, one bedroom, and a concrete floor to sleep on. I sat there wondering how these families can live like that and still be so grateful for all that they do have. This was a life changing experience and it taught me that we all need to be grateful for what we do have and we should all try to do more to help others.

This whole trip has been filled with great people and great life experiences and has truly made me a better person. I hope to come back next year and for many years to come, and eventually come back as a doctor and offer any help I can to the people of Cajamarca.

Claiming Victory in South Peru

I'm sitting here at Villa Milagro while the rest of the team takes a nap from flying in early this morning. I got here yesterday afternoon after spending a week in South Peru.

Kelly Tucker and I flew to Lima and met a group of eight from Texas that is very interested in working with the villages in Southern Peru.

We drove to Huaytara and stayed there overnight last Saturday. We got up on Sunday morning and after a flat tire on one of the three trucks, we made it to Ayavi. That night we went to a home church service there. There were about 10 Peruvians at that service. It was really neat to get to watch and hear them worship the same God that I worship.

Monday we went and talked to some of the high school kids in the school. We spent lots of time with the younger kids because they were out of school. We played soccer and volleyball with them as well as painting fingernails and making bracelets and necklaces. We also gave out reading and sun glasses in the square. That night we had a Bible study that started out just with us, but then in the middle of it the high school principal and one of the high school teachers joined us. We talked about peace with them and how the only was to have true peace is in God. He is the only one who can give us peace in the middle of any kind of storm. They both asked great questions and we were able to share with them what we believe.

We got up on Tuesday and drove to Tambo. The first thing we did was meet with the Pastor of the home church there. We talked to him and arranged to have a church service that night even though he wouldn't be able to be there. His wife was going to lead the church that night. While we were there we made necklaces and sun catchers with all of the children and many of the adults in the town. They loved doing this and swarmed us as soon as we pulled all of this out of the back of the truck. After we ran out of supplies, we walked up the the top of the hill and met with the Principal of the school there. She is a very sweet, christian lady. We talked to her for a while and invited her to the church service that night. After dinner, we went to the pastors house for church. There were probably 28 or so Peruvians at the service that night. After the pastor's wife talked and lead worship, Kelly talked to the people about security and that our security is in God and not in anything of this world. After Kelly talked, they wanted us to sing in English for them. We sang Days of Elijah and they loved it so much that they wanted to sing it in Spanish. One of the translators told them the words in Spanish. We then sang it in English while they sang it in Spanish. That was one of the best moments of the entire trip. Being able to worship the same God in two different languages was the coolest things ever.

On Wednesday we were back in Ayavi. We spent some more time with the little kids because they still weren't back in school. We spent the afternoon with the seniors in the school. We told the stories of the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ. We then had a little presentation for each of them. We gave them a necklace, lip balm, candy, and a Bible. The girls had a necklace with a cross on it so that they can always remember that the cross is their guide. The one boy in the class got a shield to remind him that Jesus is his shield. It was really cool to give these things to them and know that we have at least planted a seed for each of them just because of a simple necklace. That night Kelly cooked chicken spaghetti for the whole town. We had more people come this year than Kelly had ever seen come before. After dinner was over, we all went over to the church. Instead of them talking this time, we told the crucifixion and resurrection story again. We asked if anyone would like to accept Jesus and lead in a sinners prayer so that if they wanted, they could pray that and accept Jesus. Even though no one said anything, I'm sure that there was someone out of about 40 of them that was impacted somehow.

We were able to see a lot of growth in both Ayavi and Tambo this year. Please continue to pray for these villages and the ones around them. We want these villages to be able to claim victory in Christ.

Please keep the team that is here in Cajamarca this week in your prayers as well as the team that will be here next week.

-Christina Davis

LOOOOOK

What a view.........

Need in the Peruvian Amazon

Yesterday I witnessed women throwing their childern on the boat when we were just trying to relocated to a better spot right up the bank. They thought we were going to leave without seeing thier sick and helpless childern. Made me think what would I do if I was in the same situation. We are extremely blessed as a country. What can we do with all of the excess blessings the Lord has trusted us with?????!

Today we had almost 600 people come and go on our boat. They were very greatful for our medical and dental assistance. The need here is way to big when you only have 3 days.

When I looked out of my hammick this morning to my surprise the people were already lined up at 5:30 and waiting on us to get up and get started. As the day went on I watched the line grow and grow and grow........ Someone went on the river bank and said that there was over 1000 people in line. I am sure we will be forced to leave tomorrow with people still on the bank.

My thought for tonight is that we need to remember people on the BANK!!!!!

We made it...God is always faithful

After a delayed plane for 5 hours, original boat sank, went from 3 boats to 1 cargo and 1 small passenger boat, many various boating issues, hours of pill counting...God always prevails and continues to show us patience and flexibility.

Mosquitos are not as bad as we thought which is always good but the heat turned out to be something different. It is more humid than we imagined!!! Rained a bit but mostly humid and HOT. Sunscreen, Sunscreen, some deet, and more sunscreen.

About 35 volunteers came travelling from Georgia, Texas, North Carolina and all over Arkansas. There are various ages, so many testimonies, and many opportunites to learn from each other. It is always amazing to see how God uses all different types of people to do His work.

Justin, myself, Dave, Jordan, Kelly, and Daniel are all on the cargo boat. Roughing it doesn´t say it! My shower has a Potty in it!!! We are sleeping in hammock´s on the top deck to get cool air rather than sleeping in a sauna

Plus Justin and I have seen some BIG nasty spiders in our bunk!! Very Interesting and a Extreme learning experience for me... Patience and Flexibility!!!

Amazon Peru 2011

We are on the Amazon in one of the small town village, big enough to find an internet store. We just attended service that has been started by Raul several years ago and now has a full house! Dave preached (Julio translated) over Mattew 9 - The workers are a few. God uses all his people from North America to South America and beyond.

All the Peruvian people are so thankful and gratious towards us. With all the hardships we have encountered to it didn´t stop from people to hear God´s word. 4 members of the boat crew were saved yesterday and some attending church with us today. God is Good!