July 2013

God’s timing is best. We’ve been so thankful for these “extra” 11 days to really get ready to go. We’ve kept busy working on paperwork. At the beginning of the month, we took a lightning trip toOhio to visit the home office, “where the magic happens.” While we were there, we were cleared financially to leave. This gave us another piece of paper to turn in to the Japanese government to get the all-important certificates of eligibility. As we anxiously waited for the certificates to be processed and come in the mail, we packed up our apartment and moved in with friends. When the certificates did not come in time for us to make our scheduled flight, we looked at Plan B. We canceled our flights and accepted the small fee to change to a later (then-undetermined date).

The certificates arrived from Japan the day after our original flight. Since we had to have a departure date and flight number to apply for visas, we quickly rescheduled flights and sent the paperwork in to the Consulate of Japan in Chicago, trusting that everything would work smoothly. We were excited and nervous. God knew we needed additional days to work through problems that we didn't even know about at the time. We left Des Moines on a 6 a.m. flight on June 30, arriving inJapan July 1 about 6 p.m. We were thankful when we saw all four suitcases come down the conveyor belt. After a busy day, we were ready for a good night of sleep.

June 2013

We had no intention of doing anything like this. Over six months, maybe even a year, in Japan? It took us a whole month and many e-mails and phone calls to get used to the idea.

Andrew's interest in Japan began in high school when he studied Japanese as a foreign language. He took the opportunity to get involved on two mission trips in college, where he was able to meet the Mitas and help at their church.

Although I planned to be a Spanish teacher, I thought God wanted me to go to Faith Baptist BibleCollege. I enrolled as a English Education major and took advantage of Baptist Mid-Missions’ ¡Arriba! program to learn Spanish and pick up the credits I needed. However, I soon fell in love with English. Now I am finishing my second year as a secondary English teacher. God was preparing me by providing cross-cultural missions experience and an in-depth study of a language that is highly sought in Japan, English.

The Mitas originally asked us to come in May. We asked about coming a year later, thinking that would give us time to prepare, work out paperwork details, and raise support. They, however, are going to be on furlough then. We agreed to coming in June and began to get busy.

Letters to write. Churches to call. BMM paperwork. Meeting with the Faith team going to Japan. For five crazy months we've been trying to prioritize, and God has proven His faithfulness. We are waiting for paperwork to apply for our visas. We would love to have them right now, since we plan to leave in just two weeks, but we need to learn more patience and trust. God’s timing is perfect, and if He decides to change our plans, we know it is best.

—Janae

Iquitos trip

Happy Easter! Just thought I would update a few details about what we think will be happening in the next two weeks.

We leave Lima very early on Monday morning, April 5th (that's tonight at 2 a.m.) and return from Iquitos very late on Saturday night , April 17th.

Elizabeth, Tessha, and I will have ladies meetings every morning from 10-12. We will be teaching, "Capacitar a Damas Como Ensenar Niños" (Teaching women to teach children). In the afternoons we will have kids' clubs from 3 to 5 p.m. The ladies will assist them during the clubs. Caleb will be in charge of games at the clubs.

Pastor Jim and Caleb will be taking turns teaching "How to Study the Bible" and "New Testament Survey" for 8 hours a day.

Every evening Pastor Jim and Caleb will be taking turns with the preaching.

We should stay busy!!!

Please pray for:

1. Preparation for classes and kid's clubs; that we will keep things simple enough for all to understand: Men, ladies and the kids.

2. Health on the trip! :-)

Thank you for praying for this last team ministry we will have this year.

March 1, 2010

A slight pause allows me to catch my breath, but even as I look around me there is so much I want to do! So many lives I want to impact and encourage, but that involves creativity and openness. This last weekend was thrilling. I will be really honest and admit that I didn’t want to leave Lima on Saturday. I so enjoyed shadowing Becky and saw so many opportunities in Manchay that I wanted to keep going there. I would have loved to get involved in Joana’s life or to continue visiting Vilma, Julia, and Yhenny. But why do I ever question God’s will? On the bus, I prayed that God would show me that He had a purpose for me in Chimbote and that I hadn’t reached a dead end with so many of the girls (which was how I left feeling…you should never live on emotions!). We arrived just in time to change clothes for Kids’ Club (but we’ve gotten used to that). Only five kids showed up…disappointing and challenging at best. My lesson seemed to flop, or at least I didn’t think it flowed very well. I was ready to throw in the towel (not that I would have even admitted that to myself).

After kids’ club I started to write my weekly text to Cinthya to remind her about our discipleship meeting (fully expecting her to have yet another excuse), when she appeared at the church ready to go! Shocked doesn’t even scratch the surface. We spend some time talking about the example of Mary and Martha and the importance of a person quiet time with the Lord. Then we brainstormed about ways that I could encourage her in the coming week as we walked to pick up Elizabeth for our youth meeting. Elizabeth actually came (the first time since I have been here)!

On Sunday I talked with Devie about our Sunday school class and some other projects for that. We planned to decorate and alternate teaching responsibilities. She also gave me a few other projects and invited me over for a Saturday lunch (followed by a time of organizing the SS materials at church). I was also surprised in SS when Saraí asked me a question without me saying anything to her first.

Then after church I talked to Valentina and she said she would come to the youth meeting on Saturday (something she had always been vague about in the past).

That afternoon I had a good talk with my “sister” Gina about growing spiritually (although I fear it is just a talk, I was glad to know that that door wasn’t closed).

I came away from the weekend astounded by God’s grace. He had worked through so many of my failures. I had not planned any of these encounters. Sure, I had prayed for them, but that had slacked in the business of camp. How can it be that just as things are getting exciting, I only have four weeks left (before returning to Lima)?

Arrgh!

Why can't I paste from Word? ... I'll have to think of a new plan for writing blogs...

And then comes February...

Wait, February? You've got to be kidding me! My life has been swept away by camp. Of course, I love it that way. I frequently find myself laughing as I think, 'and if we did this in the States..."



My first week at camp I had the privilege of co-counseling a cabin of seven girls. We quickly learned that the job description of counseling here is quite different when the kids we set free to play as the counselors all went to wash the supper dishes (throughout the rest of the week, the cabins took shifts washing the dishes and other camp clean-up duties). I had to laugh when the evening chapel service was pushed back an hour (and that was just the beginning of schedule changes).

...well, I never did get back to that.

First Impressions

"How can something that is so different, be so alike?"

Camp in Peru is camp. There is no doubt about that. Singing, laughing, learning. Bug bites, sunburn, dirty feet. All the things you love...and the things you could live without.

The kitchen does not cease to amaze me. Our amazing cooks, Rosa and Fronilda (not even joking...that is her name), cook everything on three kerosene burners. That is right... no deep fryer, no griddle, no oven. They also keep enough water boiled so that the campers can come in and get a drink (but forget ice). Dishes are washed in the many sinks in cold water. I don't think there is hot water anywhere at camp, but it is not an issue. I didn't hear anyone complain about cold showers while we were there.

Manitoumi was brought to mind in so many ways. I missed my families from family camp, the faithful ones who come every year. I missed grass and golf carts. I missed the cooks and staff. Mount Victory and the beautiful pool (and all of its wonderful lifeguard equipment). I missed washing dishes in the big sinks...

Opportunities like this really help you to see what camp is all about. "A fun place to learn the right way to live."

Christmas Program in Peru

The Christmas rush for us started on Tuesday night at 8 pm with the second and last Christmas program rehearsal (smaller groups had been working for the last few weeks). The rehearsal went pretty smoothly, although I must admit I wondered how the actors would do with their lines.

The invitations for the Christmas program said 7:30 pm. We intended the first 30 minutes to be meet and greet time. In typical Peruvian style, most of the programs participants were there by 8 and the program started at 8:30. We had many visitors and the actors surprised me with how well they had refined their lines in just one day!

A few first: I went to help with the costumes and was asked to sew the lead child's tunic. I broke the needle (first time I have ever broken a needle), the only needle they had. I whipped two bobby pins out of my hair and pinned up his shirt. This is also the first program I went to where we cut a hole in the side of the church to give the actors a secret entrance.

When the program was over, Pastor Luis preached a "short" sermon (almost an hour, lasting until 9:50) presenting the plan of salvation. I've heard rumors of people snoring, but I think that was just the kids. It was a great sermon.

After the message, we rearranged our seats, and I went to help serve pork, panetón, and hot chocolate. MMMmmm... so good! They bought the whole pig (head to tail). The women were joking around and taking pictures in the kitchen, when Devie said, "People from other countries are going to see these pictures and say what savages the people in Peru are!" (she was pretending to eat the pig's face). It was a fun time that kind of reminded me of the camp kitchen (but maybe that was just serving drinks from a five gallon buckets).

Christmas Eve was filled with laundry, homework, and some Christmas present wrapping. I felt a strange urge to be busy baking, but decided against going to the market as I had heard that it was full of people. We finished cooking our special dinner at 8 pm. We finally ate the baked chicken, hot chocolate, and Panetón at about 10:30. We waited until midnight to exchange gifts, but were interrupted by the sound of a firecrackers. We went out on the balcony to watch for a bit. After opening presents, we went for a walk and visited the cousins. At 2 am Christmas morning, we were walking through an alley eating ice cream sandwiches in our short sleeves. :-)

Christmas day we celebrated with the Gringos (the Stilwell clan met in Chimbote this time). It was a blessing to sing carols in English and have a brief devotional, eat a wonderful dinner of Ceviche and Chicharrón de pescado (fish and fried fish), go to the beach, and play some fun games. Definitely different, but fabulous!

Introductions

Time is passing rapidly. I realized today that I left home seven months ago. That wasn’t as big of a shock as when the math hit me that that means that in four months Arriba is over. I’m not sure how I feel about that. I have a renewed sense of needing to take advantage of every moment and soak up all that I can.

We are settling in nicely with our family. Let me introduce you. My host, Miguel, is a former fisherman who recently opened a hardware store (the one above which we live). He is very curious about life in the States and English. It seems as though he cannot ask enough questions, (or does that just mean that I am not asking him enough questions?)

My hostess, Gina, is an elementary school teacher (she just recently finished her degree). She is constantly busy working in the hardware store, cooking, and cleaning. Her love for her family is obvious.

My oldest sister, Gina Elvira (18), is in her second year of studying psychology at one of the universities in town. She goes to classes in the morning and studies in the afternoons. She is quickly becoming one of my best friends here. She takes me with her when she has to go to the market, bakery, or any of the little stores new our house. She is starting to open up more and more, and I am learning to ask questions and share (without being asked). She is one of my best Spanish teachers. She not only corrects me as I speak, but also questions me later to make sure I am remembering. Some of my favorite times with her are when we are talking about what we are learning from the Bible. Everything is so new to her that it is a huge encouragement to me to keep studying.

Angie (13) is the youngest. She is a giggly one. She enjoys chatting with her friends online, watching TV, spending time with her friends, and exercising (if it doesn’t mean getting up early). She thinks that her family looks out for her too much and would like to get a break from their constant care, but realizes that they only do it because they love her.

It is an adjustment living with three girls (counting Rochelle) instead of three boys, but I am enjoying having sisters.

Hicimos la vaca

(slang for skipping school, but literally means we made the cow)

This is just for those of you who questioned my artistic abilities. After drawing the cow and sheep, I am considering switching to an all-out art major. Well, maybe just elementary education (all they do is color and paste anyway, right?).

New Traditions

Is it really December? Are you sure? I've yet to hear a Christmas carol, and where is the snow? Why am I not stressing about finals or trying to find a ride home? Oh, wait, that's right; I'm in Peru (and very content to be here). We have started a few Christmas preparations at church. We started working on our program last weekend. I am helping in the stable group (Apparently I will be drawing a cow today...). The ladies and children will sing, and, of course, the Christmas story will be acted out. Afterwards, we are planning on having Panetón (a bread with raisins and candied fruit...the Peruvian Christmas cookie rival) and hot chocolate.

For family celebrations, I have heard something of eating duck, panetón, and hot chocolate at midnight on Christmas Eve. Then the Trujillo missionaries are coming down so we can eat fish (and maybe head to the beach??) for Christmas day. I will have to remember to journal.

This is where I hang my hat

I had always dreamed of living in a loft apartment. Okay, so I was picturing more of a cozy apartment above a bookstore or bakery on a busy street downtown rather than a good-sized house about a hardware store on a sandy sidestreet, but that is the way dreams often go. I am getting used to a bathroom without a toliet seat and showering with a widowmaker. Nuevo Chimbote is a quaint little town on the coast of Peru. Chimbote is known by many Peruvians because of the perfume from its fishing industry. I live here with a family of fairly new believers (they will complete 3 years in May). Gina works as a teacher and helps with the hardware store. They started the hardware store recently when Miguel gave up working in the fishing industry. I also have two sisters, Gina Elvira (18) and Angie (13). Together we like to walk in the Plaza, shop for groceries in the market, and cook. Nevertheless, I am absolutely falling for this place. Now, about those 40 hours...

Back to Lima

The trip back started with a hearty breakfast of bread and hot tea (albeit, it was delicious and I loved it!). We headed out at 8 a.m., leaving our luggage and 2 team members to come later on donkeys and a horse. I now can say that I know what it is like to walk through a rain cloud: beautiful, but cold. In spite of the cold, we were enjoying the company of one another and chatting as we went along, joking that the people from the mountain have a different definition of shortcut than we hold. We followed them up and around mountains (I'll admit I was wondering why we did not just take the path). We made it to where we were to take the van at about 3 in the afternoon and unloaded the donkeys (which had made it there much earlier even though they left later). We talked of hot food and wondered why we had failed to bring snacks this time. When some of our guides pulled out a bag of popped corn I jumped for joy and accepted their offer. The rain came back again and we decided that our best option would be to form a circle and huddle together for warmth. I wondered if the rain meant that the van would not be able to make it on the roads (a premonition that later proved quite accurate). Soon the whole group had joined our huddle. After some time it became evident that the van was not coming and we should look for some better shelter from the wind and rain. We talked of making a cave out of a boulder and our luggage (which sounded exciting to me). As we headed off in search of a bolder, Josué came down the road saying that the van was coming, but we had to walk a little further to meet it. After another hour of walking we spotted a bus coming down the road on the mountain ahead of us. Praise the Lord we were saved! We piled and and gave our guides our flashlights and some sweatshirts. Sarai gave Junior her boots (his sandled feet were sure to be frozen). The ride to Huacrachuco was spent singing praise to our Savior.

Upon arrival we were met by a man from the Christian Alliance Church. Apparently, we were in charge of the service at their church and they were waiting for us. They allowed us to change (we searched our suitcases for dry clothing...it did not end up being what we would normally wear to church, but desperate times...) and gave us some hot tea, promising hot soup after the service. The service was another interesting experience, but I can't say that I understood a whole lot of what was happening. Later we quickly ate our soup and headed back to the hostal (for our $2 a bed stay). We set our alarm for 2:30 a.m. so that we could catch the 3 a.m. bus and crammed ourselves into the 4 bed we had reserved for 9 girls (I'm not sure why the guys had 4 beds for 5 guys, but I guess they just need more space...I'll just say poor Caleb). I was out as soon as the heavy, warm blankets were on me, and I don't think I moved until the alarm went off far too soon.

The bus filled up quickly and people even sat or stood in the aisles. Liz and I offered to hold the children of a young mother who was standing near us. She gratefully allowed us, and we cherished the time we were able to hold these precious little ones. They got off the bus in less than two hours, and Liz and I went to sleep. The next morning came bright and clear. Another breakfast of bread and juice and then back on the bus. We made it back to Chimbote by 6 p.m., but decided to wait for the 11:30 bus because downtown Lima is dangerous in the middle of the night. We had a delicious meal at the bus station and wandered around until 11. The bus was wonderful (okay, so the movie wasn't all that great, so I didn't watch it, but other than that...). The next morning I woke up just as we were reaching the outskirts of Lima. Becky met us at the bus station and graciously did not say anything about how badly we smelled (you try doing all of that without a shower!). It was good to be home.

The wedding

After life began to settle, we turned our attention back to the wedding (in addition to the kid's clubs we were working on). Josué and Sarela were to be married on Thursday (tomorrow!). We decorated the church using a poncho (which we cut up), toliet paper, ribbon, pvc, candles and balloons. It looked nice (I will admit that I was surprised) and the cake traveled really well. The actually wedding was definitely another cultural experience. We all participated in some way (a little weird for me since I had only met them two days before the wedding). The lady in front of me had a little chick and the mother of the bride didn't arrive until the wedding was over. Maybe that was not that unusually for this town as one person told me it was the first church wedding they had ever had (and she had shown up at the civil wedding).

After the wedding, everyone was invited to the house for a meal. As we were finishing, someone started a rumor that people were at the church waiting for the service. We weren't planning another service for that night but headed down to the church anyway. After about thirty minutes, Pastor Henri decided we had enough people for a service, and we begin. Pastor Henri brought the message. Then we headed home to try the cake that had survived the 3 day journey. It was worth the wait.

Missing (and the subsequent search)

We were welcomed with a hot cup of tea, the most delicious bread in the world, and some fried potatoes. We talked of going straight to bed as we tried our best to eat this tasty meal until Pastor Henri interrupted us with a distressing problem: my roommate and the group with her had not yet made it to the town where we thought they were going to stay. Josué had gone to look for them, but it was already quite dark and dangerous to be wandering around a mountain. Options started coming quickly, but there really wasn't anything for us to do as we did not know the terrain. We couldn't even call home because the cellphone tower was out. Josué went to find them and tell them to stay at Estancía and we were sent to bed.

We were led up a rickety, homemade ladder to the second floor of a mud and straw house. First, they led me to my room at the end of the hall with one bed made. When Pastor Jim asked where his room was, they pointed to the unmade bed in the same room. He explained that that wouldn't work for us, so the took me across the hall. However, as I looked into this room, I saw Timoteo's head peep over the covers and decided I would continue my search. After a few more rooms, it was decided that I would sleep downstairs with Elizabeth. I quickly updated the other girls from the team what was happening with Rochelle and our plan for the next day. Upon crawling into bed, I realized that the bed was about a foot and a half shorter than I was expecting and my sweatshirt was still wet from our hike, but the two ibuprophens had already started to attack my killer headache and aching muscles, and I was ready to sleep.

At about 3:30 a.m. our room was completely awake. Alicia, Elizabeth, Sarai, and I talked for almost an hour. We heard the pigs from the next room trying to get into our room, but thankfully the door was latched tightly. I drifted back to sleep until the sun came up.

Morning also brought more tidings of our missing friends. We learned that Rochelle and Javier never did make it to the town and, as of six o'clock, they were still missing. People from the surrounding villages were searching. Pastor Jim went to the one phone in the entire town to call Lima so that Becky could call the States. Then he went with Josué and a few men to the other town to wait for the lost ones. We were sent to the schools to tell all the children about the kid's clubs we wanted to have. The director let us talked to every classroom, and most of the students wanted to come. As we were walking, Pastor Henri and Alicia (Javier's wife) came running up with the news that our friends had been found and we could meet them on the other side of town.

It was a relief to see them. They had a rough night in the dark with a cold rain. I am sure they will never forget this trip!

The endless hike

11:30 Our combi that was to arrive at 9 finally shows up. We load up and start heading up the mountains as it starts to rain. After about an hour the driver tells us that he cannot go any further on the soggy roads and we must walk to meet up with the donkeys which were to carry our things (suitcases, material for classes, decorations and cake for the wedding). Fortunately, Josue Tinto (the national missionary) was with us and started us in the right direction. We started off cross country. The stronger men ran ahead only to return and help those weaker carry their things. It was a glorious moment when we saw the donkeys at about 3. We continued our hike across the country. This time following a donkey. As time wore on, our group segregated and spread out. The rain came and brought a fresh chill with it. Sometime close to five thirty, we saw a small town. My hope was quickly dashed when I learned that this was a town called Estancía. I think all of the town came out to watch us walk through (the town only consisted of about two streets). We continued through muddy, red trails that started to go down the mountain. At about seven we decided it was too dangerous to walk in the dark and waited for the lights that we saw descending from the mountain. They were from our group. The men left us with their light and we continued on our way. Pastor Jim nearly fell off the mountain with the cake, but we safely arrived a little after eight ready to go to bed...

More to come...then maybe I can start on Cuzco.

My Side of the Mountain

The sound of squeeling brakes sent me into an immediate panic as I woke from fragmented dreams. The bus seemed to be sliding downward; I fought the urge to scream. Where was I, and what was happening? As the driver skillfully righted the large tour bus, I sat up and looked around. It was still dark. 2 AM. Twelve hours down and who knows how many more to go before we reach the small mountain village of Huacrachuco, Peru. The winding road's many turns scared me as I looked over the abyss. Looking around me, I noticed that everyone else was being reasonable and sleeping. I joined the for a few more hours.

Watching the sun rise on the mountain is truly spectacular. The shadows slowly disappear as the rays of light seem to warm my very soul. The bus paid no heed to this wonder, however, and continued its trecherous climb until it stopped suddenly. The driver said something about the truck ahead not being able to make the turn. I followed everyone off the bus to find out what was going on ahead. We cheered as the buses finally made it around the corner, racing up the mountain and almost missing our bus afterward. By 7:30 we had reached the bus stop.

I'll have to be honest here, Caldo de Cabeza (head soup) was about the most awful thing I have ever attempted to eat and definitely not a good idea for breakfast. Fruit from the market never tasted so good!

Yikes!! I need to go pack!! This epic will have to be continued...

Coming ahead...
The endless hike
Missing (and the subsequent search)
Sleeping with the pigs (well, almost)
The wedding
Penguin huddle...Should we build a cave out of our luggage?
Saved!
Back to Lima

Will Cuzco be this exciting?

Chinchil here we come!

This is an exciting day (which might explain the fact why I have already been up for an hour on a Saturday). We are headed up north to Chimbote to meet our new church and family before heading to Chinchil Sunday to arrive Monday. Please pray for God's strength and a godly attitude for this trip. Also pray that he will use us through classes and personal interactions. Although we will be gone from Lima for nine days, we will only be in this little mountain town for three full days.

With lightning speed...

classes are just about over. One more morning of tutoring (followed by Ceviche with our language helpers)and two days of final exam remain. I can't believe we have already made it to this point.

On Saturday we are catching a bus and heading north to Chimbote (where Rochelle and I will get to meet some of the people at the church in which we will be serving soon!). After church on Sunday, we will get on another bus to head inland for over 10 hours (I think on a dirt road). Then, after a 20 mile hike, we should arrive at a little mountain village called Chinchil (can you say remote?). The plan is to help with a kind of VBS kid's club and with a Peruvian missionary's wedding. There could be as many as 200 kids at the kid's club! Thankfully, some of the young ladies from my church in Manchay are coming to help as well. It should be quite the event. In the mornings Pastor Jim will be teaching a series on Salvation and we get to go to his class. It will be a good refresher on the personal evangelism class we just finished.

I am looking forward to seeing a new region and getting to know the people there, learning a few phrases in Quechua, and trying new food.

I am not so sure about sleeping in cold tents and not showering for a week, but I am sure it will be worth it.

Welcome Spring!

October is here along with shining sign and warm weather. We only have six more hours (three morning sessions) of Spanish tutoring and the final exam. I am thankful to be finished and ready to start the internship part of the year. Personal evangelism class was a stretching class. We are now better equipped to share our faith in Spanish. Pastor Gary kept reminding us that now that to whom much is given, much with be required. That is a sobering thought as I consider the privilege of the Arriba program. Please pray that I won't waste this opportunity in any way.

Thanks for your prayers

Thanks for praying about Kid's club yesterday. I think it went well (other than telling the kids that God stopped the sun so that the Israelites could peal-pelar instead of fight-pelear). Many kids were there and they did a great job listening. God definitely helped me with words and not shaking with nervousness. Thank you for praying!