take my heart, i lay it down, at the feet of you who's crowned
take my life, i'm letting go, i lift it up to you who's throne
i will worship ...
the other day i woke up before 6 am and was in pain. over what, i couldn't begin to tell you. it was more spirit pain, i think (though i was nervous about traveling later that day). i laid in bed for over two hours, awake, trying to rest, trying to gain clarity on whatever i was feeling, while just really rumpling the sheets into a twisted mess.
this unnameable feeling might stem from confusion/anxiety. just a guess. i sense i'm entering a season of change. i've said i'd follow Christ wherever, for however long. He brought me to Peru for a bit, and now we might be relocating together. i'm not sure.
i truly have no idea about what is coming, and that is scary.
my best friend reminded me today to remember to be where i'm at in addition to being freaked out of my mind over the big, upcoming-and-too-soon, uncertain questions.
the good surprise on the morning i woke up insanely early....i laid in bed for about 2.5 minutes, just dwelling on negatives. then came this Word, clear as day: "trust in the Lord your God with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths."
i repeated this over and over for about two hours. i held onto it throughout that day, into my travel time. i still cling to it.
i have no idea what this verse holds in this particular context. i am thankful God gave it to me for such a time as this. it is like cleansing rain. and it was raining that morning.
maybe it'll seep deep into my heart again...
19.2.10
15.2.10
Disclaimer: Take all of the following with a grain of salt.
A couple weeks ago I told you the story of the newspapers: Peruvians would take the free newspapers and do all kinds of things with them (see earlier post if you're thoroughly confused). As I started to ponder this cultural difference, I began to observe even more things that interested me. In the name of Valentine's Day, I continue to offer up some ideas/observations concerning Peruvian culture and North American culture.
First, as the title suggests, take this entry with a grain of salt; I write hopefully to entertain (in this entry at least--you'll know when I'm being serious in other posts :).
If anyone knows me even an ounce, you know that I sometimes have a thing for...men with Latin roots. I blame this on my dad. Why, you ask? Well, I suppose because I use the excuse that sometimes girls recognize and value traits in certain young men that remind them of their own father's qualities.
Draw your own conclusions, but you can imagine the chatter between Marta and myself. If we're feeling giggly/girly, we usually start quizzing one another on the attractiveness of some dude. Marta's theory is that she grew up looking at these guys, and because I didn't, I find them more attractive. Who knows. The point is, we have very different "gustos" (taste), and we laugh a lot over this hot topic.
Telenovelas. I haven't got much to say on this topic, other than that it is a culture in itself. I know I've been here awhile when I actually ask Marta to watch a telenovela with me. Shocking, I know (My current favorite is "Dos Caras," a Brazilian novela dubbed in Spanish). My favorite thing about watching these soap operas with Peruvians is that they talk back to the television as if their life depended on the dramatic goings-on of Thalia in "Maria de la no-se-que."
Did you know that passing out condoms in Lima, Peru for Valentine's Day can be turned into a mega-event in which people dance around in costumes of the already-mentioned-objects that I don't want to write again? Oh yes, it's true. I was watching the news the other evening and was floored to see this spectacle in a neighborhood of Lima called Barranco. It was apparently a party, and people receiving aforementioned things seemed quite pleased. I unfortunately have pictures of the television, and I also got a good laugh. Alright, enough on that incident.
Moving on, a small factoid: Some peruvian women start peeling on their faces as a result of pregnancy. The reason I know this: Marta and I went to the beach, and she came back "negra" (black) from all the sun. Her friends at University began to tease her about being pregnant. I asked her why. She replied, as if this was the most normal thing in the world, "Because I'm peeling on my cheeks." Huh??? It took a lot of prompting and pondering on my part, but I finally got an explanation, and it's nothing more than some Latina women peel underneath their eyes/in the cheek region while with child. Hmmm....I have still yet to really understand why. I have some ideas floating around, but no real scientific answer. I'll keep you posted with my findings.
I love Peru. Much love and many laughs. :)
First, as the title suggests, take this entry with a grain of salt; I write hopefully to entertain (in this entry at least--you'll know when I'm being serious in other posts :).
If anyone knows me even an ounce, you know that I sometimes have a thing for...men with Latin roots. I blame this on my dad. Why, you ask? Well, I suppose because I use the excuse that sometimes girls recognize and value traits in certain young men that remind them of their own father's qualities.
Draw your own conclusions, but you can imagine the chatter between Marta and myself. If we're feeling giggly/girly, we usually start quizzing one another on the attractiveness of some dude. Marta's theory is that she grew up looking at these guys, and because I didn't, I find them more attractive. Who knows. The point is, we have very different "gustos" (taste), and we laugh a lot over this hot topic.
Telenovelas. I haven't got much to say on this topic, other than that it is a culture in itself. I know I've been here awhile when I actually ask Marta to watch a telenovela with me. Shocking, I know (My current favorite is "Dos Caras," a Brazilian novela dubbed in Spanish). My favorite thing about watching these soap operas with Peruvians is that they talk back to the television as if their life depended on the dramatic goings-on of Thalia in "Maria de la no-se-que."
Did you know that passing out condoms in Lima, Peru for Valentine's Day can be turned into a mega-event in which people dance around in costumes of the already-mentioned-objects that I don't want to write again? Oh yes, it's true. I was watching the news the other evening and was floored to see this spectacle in a neighborhood of Lima called Barranco. It was apparently a party, and people receiving aforementioned things seemed quite pleased. I unfortunately have pictures of the television, and I also got a good laugh. Alright, enough on that incident.
Moving on, a small factoid: Some peruvian women start peeling on their faces as a result of pregnancy. The reason I know this: Marta and I went to the beach, and she came back "negra" (black) from all the sun. Her friends at University began to tease her about being pregnant. I asked her why. She replied, as if this was the most normal thing in the world, "Because I'm peeling on my cheeks." Huh??? It took a lot of prompting and pondering on my part, but I finally got an explanation, and it's nothing more than some Latina women peel underneath their eyes/in the cheek region while with child. Hmmm....I have still yet to really understand why. I have some ideas floating around, but no real scientific answer. I'll keep you posted with my findings.
I love Peru. Much love and many laughs. :)
14.2.10
being refined.
On this Valentine's Day I am sitting in Cusco, Peru under the cloud-sprinkled sky--the kind that you know is thinking about rain, but the sun won't refuse to go away (I even learned a new word: Garua, which means "to sprinkle"). Hillsong is playing in Spanish in the background, Marta and Ellen are making a wonderful-smelling lunch, and people are partying on the streets to celebrate Carvanal (mainly with various forms of water weapons, which we managed to avoid earlier today, though I got soaked twice yesterday).
I just wanted to wish everyone a happy day, filled with blessings. How wonderful that if you are a believer is Jesus you can claim to know what true love really is. I've been reading 1 John, and God is molding and refining me through this go-round of reading such a beautiful book.
One thing I've come to terms with recently is that in this time in Peru, God is drawing me close to Him, through pain and trials, but nevertheless, closer to the Father. I see certain things He is working on in me, how He is preparing me for the future, whatever that may entail.
I'm still learning to love. I'm still learning to serve. I'm still learning to trust. I'm still learning to believe God, to be bold in faith. I'm still learning to walk well with God. And I'm still learning His love for me, though I'll never fully understand that.
The good news is this: God so LOVED the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life (John 3).
Also check out 1 John (pretty much all of it) and Isaiah 41.
All for love.
I just wanted to wish everyone a happy day, filled with blessings. How wonderful that if you are a believer is Jesus you can claim to know what true love really is. I've been reading 1 John, and God is molding and refining me through this go-round of reading such a beautiful book.
One thing I've come to terms with recently is that in this time in Peru, God is drawing me close to Him, through pain and trials, but nevertheless, closer to the Father. I see certain things He is working on in me, how He is preparing me for the future, whatever that may entail.
I'm still learning to love. I'm still learning to serve. I'm still learning to trust. I'm still learning to believe God, to be bold in faith. I'm still learning to walk well with God. And I'm still learning His love for me, though I'll never fully understand that.
The good news is this: God so LOVED the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life (John 3).
Also check out 1 John (pretty much all of it) and Isaiah 41.
All for love.
8.2.10
Traveling...
A quick update on this week: I'm going to be traveling to Cusco, Peru, and I'd love some prayer. Not just for me, but for a fellow Journeygirl, Ellen. I am going primarily to help out the ESL ministry there and just spend time with her. It's going to be a sweet time of encouragement for both of us (she is alone there as well). If you would pray that we can dive into the Word together and really be in prayer over our ministries, that would be much appreciated.
In addition to focusing on REAP stuff and "life stuff," we also might have the opportunity to help out in some villages near the center of Cusco. In January much of Cusco, Ayacucho, and Puno were affected by very heavy rains. Flooding occurred, bridges were washed out, and people even died. The communities have been severely damaged and the people are in need of food, clothing and a general rebuilding. Ellen and I might get to help out; my prayer is that if I do go, that the love of Christ is shown and that physical needs are met as well. Check out the link below for more info on the situation there. FYI: Machu Pichu is closed due to the floods, so if you were planning on coming down here for that, reschedule.... ;)
I love hearing from people, so shoot me an email if you'd like. I'm excited about the days ahead, and I pray you're seeing God in your lives and all around you.
http://enperublog.com/2010/01/26/emergency-declared-in-cusco-heavy-rains-flood-the-region/
In addition to focusing on REAP stuff and "life stuff," we also might have the opportunity to help out in some villages near the center of Cusco. In January much of Cusco, Ayacucho, and Puno were affected by very heavy rains. Flooding occurred, bridges were washed out, and people even died. The communities have been severely damaged and the people are in need of food, clothing and a general rebuilding. Ellen and I might get to help out; my prayer is that if I do go, that the love of Christ is shown and that physical needs are met as well. Check out the link below for more info on the situation there. FYI: Machu Pichu is closed due to the floods, so if you were planning on coming down here for that, reschedule.... ;)
I love hearing from people, so shoot me an email if you'd like. I'm excited about the days ahead, and I pray you're seeing God in your lives and all around you.
http://enperublog.com/2010/01/26/emergency-declared-in-cusco-heavy-rains-flood-the-region/
1.2.10
Cool story...
A friend passed this to me and I was immediately inspired after the first reading. Check it out, it's a very cool story, though certainly sad. Underneath the link to the news story is the Chandler family's blog, which is also awesome.
http://ow.ly/12jQm
http://themchandlers.blogspot.com/
http://ow.ly/12jQm
http://themchandlers.blogspot.com/
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