1-2 de Noviembre (El Día de los Muertos y Small Group)

So, today was ANOTHER Peruvian holiday! I sure could get used to all of these unexpected days off! :) Jeff and Judy invited Liz and I over for one last meal together before they leave for the states on Friday. It’s hard to believe that we’ve been here for two months and that it’s already time for them to leave. Before we know it, we’ll be on our way back, too. That’s a very bittersweet thought for me. I’m really going to be sad to leave behind all of my new Peruvian friends and the life that this mission field has brought.

Anyway, tonight was NOOMA night! The episode we watched was titled, “Luggage,” and centered around forgiveness and emotional baggage. Sometimes it can be so hard to forgive those that have wronged us. I know that I have some deep emotional hurts that have taken time to heal and some that are still healing. The cool thing about learning to forgive others is that we have the best example possible of how to do this. God didn’t require us to earn His forgiveness; He freely gave it to us through Jesus’ death on the cross. How amazing is it that He loves us enough to give His forgiveness if we only ask it of Him. The hard part in forgiving others is in learning how to be merciful and show them grace in the same manner that God does. Even when we feel like we should take “revenge” on someone else or that they don’t “deserve” our forgiveness, God still calls us to forgive them.

*our small group at the Marshall's house!

Friday night, God really gave me an example of someone that has learned to forgive the way God forgives. As we met in our small group at the Marshall’s home, we were privileged to have time to fellowship with other believers while eating delicious foods from around the world! Jennifer, who is from Thailand, and Grace, who is from Korea, prepared us some delicious foods for us to try! Liz and I brought our Texas roots with us as we made a Tex-Mex favorite, chicken enchiladas! In addition, we had some Peruvian desserts and, of course, Inca Cola! After we’d stuffed ourselves to the max, we gathered around and worshipped God through music for a bit. I hope it’s true that God loves a joyful noise and doesn’t always expect a beautiful one because we aren’t exactly the most musically inclined group. BUT, one thing that can be said about being in our small group is that I am so blessed to be in the midst of such genuine, faith-filled believers. They are an encouragement to me every time we gather. So, this week our friend, Grace, told her testimony. Grace grew up in Korea in a fairly wealthy family. She got saved when she was a young adult in college. Since her family was all Buddhist, they rejected her new found faith and, in turn, rejected her. She was kicked out of her house with literally only the clothes on her back. It was so amazing to hear her story and the way her faith in God never wavered, but instead grew stronger. Eventually her mother and sisters got saved as well, and Grace is still praying for the salvation of her father. Hearing her story was so encouraging; knowing that it is possible to have such great faith gave me hope that someday mine might be big as well. She also has forgiven her family for abandoning her, and it is evident that she holds nothing against them. It’s so hard to completely forgive someone who has wronged us. I thank God for Grace’s testimony and for the examples He gives to us in fellow believers.

*yummy!

*Grace sharing her testimony with us

“I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring your prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for. Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will answer you. You will seek me, and you will find me because you will seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

Katrina