We’ve had the AMAZING experience here in Peru of being encouraged and mentored by the Marshall family. Bill and Jennifer have been so kind to us week after week inviting us to join them in their home, forgiving us when we show up on Peruvian time (which is SOOOO the fault of our Peruvian friends. . . haha), and always showing the love of Christ to us. When we fist began going to their small group, the session was supposed to last for 6 weeks. I was excited about getting together with them, but I didn’t think it would go beyond those 6 weeks. God had other plans, though, and led the Marshalls to open their home to us every week after those 6 were over. Through the small group meetings, we’ve been fortunate enough to make friends from various parts of the world and to develop meaningful relationships with them. We’ve shared our struggles and hurts, excitements and blessings. God has blessed our time together by showing to me that fellowship with other believers on a continual basis with prayer and study of the word is not only necessary but spiritually uplifting.
*grace and bill digging in!
This week we met to have a Christmas party mixed in with a few goodbyes. Once we arrived at the Marshall’s house (*ahem* a mere 35 minutes late), we were excited to see that Jennifer and many of the other ladies had prepared wonderful foods for us to eat and enjoy! We chowed down on the delicious dishes and then settled in for a bit of Christmas Carol singing. Our typical “villancicos” were not well-known in our group of mostly non-Americans, but we did our best to teach them! :) Good times. . .
*junior "eating." haha. enough said. . .
Next, Bill asked that Liz and I share our testimonies with the group. Liz went first and explained her road to salvation and the way God has carried her ever since. When my turn came up, I really wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to say. I prayed that God would let the Holy Spirit lead my heart and my voice so that my words would be honoring to Him. As I spoke, I recalled the way God brought us to Peru. Let me share a bit of that with you. . .
I felt God placing it on my heart to go out and serve Him sometime in the late fall of last year. I had prayed during the spring semester for God to show me where He wanted me to go and to show me how to get there. And, HE DID! I came across the opportunity to go to Peru through the International Mission Board website and considered applying. During this time I was actually exploring an opportunity to go to Mexico, but after much prayer I realized that Peru was where I should go! So in late May, I sent in my Peru application and waited. Meanwhile, Liz heard of the opportunity to go to Peru and began praying about it, too. By the time she decided she should go, she looked on the website and saw that it was taken. Feeling down, she decided that she would email the Hughes just to make sure that there wasn’t some mistake about the position being gone. They told her that I had already gotten it, but that they could add her in, too! This all means that during my application time, I hadn’t really considered the fact that the position was written for only ONE person. I honestly believe that God kept that from my attention because He knew that if I knew I would be here alone, I wouldn’t have applied. But, by the time I realized that I would’ve been alone, I was being told that I would have a partner! God is so good and so amazing and truly a bit sneaky when He wants to be. . . Haha. Praise Him for that! He promises us that He’ll give us no more than we can handle, and He proved that He truly knows my limits! :)*sharing our testimonies with the group
Anyway, the main thing I want to leave behind here in Peru is a bit of the love of Christ. I hope that God’s proud of the work He’s prompted me to do here. It’s all for His glory.
After testimony time, we started our “White Elephant” gift exchange! We each brought a gift and then played a game that most of you have played, I’m sure. The way it works is that everyone draws a number, picks a gift in that order, and has the option of stealing gifts. Church people can be ruthless! Haha. Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention that Junior was in charge of the gifts, and he was encouraging EVERYONE to steal. Hah. That boy has a very childlike spirit when he wants to. . . :) It was so much fun, and by the time we go to the final gift, people were STILL not done stealing gifts! I think we were on the last gift for about 15 minutes! Haha. It was truly wonderful. I should also mention that with each gift that was chosen, we shouted, "QUE LO ABRA!!!" That’s the Peruvian equivalent of, “RIP IT!” :) It was so great.
I just want anyone who is in our small group to know how much you’ve meant to me. The faith you possess and your commitment to prayer has taught me so much in my stages as a growing follower of Christ. As I seek wisdom and spiritual maturity, each of you should know that you have been a part of God’s teaching in my life. I will miss you terribly and will never forget you or the way your love for Christ has been so evident in your lives. Thank you for being part of my time here on earth, and if I don’t see you in this life, I look forward to hanging out with you in the next.
*maria totally ended up with some pisco. . . hilarious!
Katrina
“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”-Acts 2:42-47
*click the video below!
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