Cedarville University Peru Trip - Day 5

Can I just say, I love going back to the same place twice?  Today was wonderful as the group was able to reconnect with the kids they saw yesterday.  Let’s back up first…

We started the day with breakfast and devotions, finishing chapter 1 in James.  We had a great conversation about hearing and doing, and what it means to have a true and genuine religion.

Just like yesterday, we headed off to the childcare center down the street and got ready to work with the kids.  The older kids were there and we did our “drama” with them, taking time to explain the reasons why God put the different stories in the Bible.  They were interactive and involved.  It was refreshing to watch.    

Then the team shared a little about themselves and we opened it up for a little Q&A.  They didn’t have a lot of questions, so we asked them questions – what sports did they like to play, what did they want to be when they grew up, how many siblings they had (one kid had 11 siblings AND no one was an only child!), etc.  One of the questions they asked our team was, “what is your favorite meal?”  to which Hayley replied, “Pasta con Pollo”, which in Spanish means “cocaine and chicken”.  We all got a good laugh from that.  Afterwards we worked on their books and helped serve their lunch.  As they finished eating, they said goodbye and headed off for school.

We had lunch and then prepared for the little kids.  As they showed up, we sat them down and served them lunch.  It is always fun watching the team interact with the kids while they are eating.  This group has been very interactive and involved with the kids.  The eventually finished eating and we prepared for our Q&A time with them.

To make it more fun, we had the team introduce themselves and we questioned them along the way to see if they could remember the kids names and where they were from.  Hillary was called Noah, the kids thought Kyle was from India (and was an Indian), they had the hardest time remembering Ohio, but they really enjoyed hearing from the team.  We took some time for questions, they asked about our birthdates, favorite foods, etc. They seemed to really enjoy it.

Then it was time to go outside and play – and play they did. Simon says, partner tag, run around and join in groups of 3, 5, 6,7, 10 – whatever number was called.  The kids were having a wonderful time – and so was the team.  It is always fun to see kids laughing and playing.

When it was time for the kids to go, we went upstairs, gave them their books – challenged them to finish them in 3 weeks, and then sent them on their way with a little candy.  The day went extremely well.

A little after 4 we returned to the hotel, cleaned up, many of the team took time to journal, and then we played some games together.  We were waiting for the 8 o’clock dinner with Fausto and family, Andres and family, Solidad and her children, and Erick.  This is a great time of blessing as we hear their stories, and are challenged to pray for them.  This was one of the most powerful evenings last year, and I pray that it will have the same impact on the team this year.  Including Fausto and his family in the dinner will really make things that much more exciting.  He is a great example of Jesus.

We had a great dinner – Lomo Saltado – steak, onions, peppers, fries and rice.  But the best part was when the pastors and Solidad shared.  They asked for prayer for the missions at their church, their evangelistic outreaches, the children and their studies, and Erick asked for prayer for his continued education.

Eventually we packed up all of our things, loaded the bus and headed for Lima.  Our time in Huaraz was wonderful and we still have 2 more wonderful days of ministry ahead of us.  Tomorrow I get to see Norma!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY – while we were talking with the younger kids, some of them went to the table where the puzzles were.  They accidentally knocked them off the table, but they put them all back on the table.  They were convinced they could solve the puzzles, but all of the puzzles were very similar pictures, and the pieces were the same size (and many the same shape).  It was an effort in futility – no matter how hard they tried, it would take a very long time to complete one of the puzzles, nevertheless 4 of them.

How many of us mess up and make a mess of our lives and then seek to solve the problems and put it all back together again.  It is impossible!  No matter how hard we try, we cannot fix what we have broken.   

However, our God is great, and with Him nothing is impossible.  With just a spoken word, that which was unable to be repaired can be made new.

 
How do I know this?  He did it for me.  He does it every day.  He is a great and wonderful God.

Cedarville University Peru Trip - Day 4

Another great day as we began with breakfast and devotions (continuing our walk through James).  We talked about the desires of our heart that draw us to sin and lead to death and contrasted that with the goodness of God that desires to give us more than we could imagine – if we would trust in Him.

We walked down to the child center here in Huaraz and prepared for the arrival of the kids.  We opened 5 puzzles on the tables and the older kids came in and joined right in.  It was interesting to watch – they loved working on the puzzles.  The group I was working with didn’t say a word.  There were 5 of them working on the puzzle with me and no one spoke!  But we finished the puzzle and they were so proud.

Eventually we broke out the dot-to-dot books that we brought down for the older kids.  We showed them how to do the book and encouraged them to complete the books by the time the next team arrived.  They really seemed to enjoy working on them as well. 

Over all they were not as interactive as the group from yesterday, but I had tried to alert the team to this ahead of time.  They are a little older and more accustomed to seeing visitors.  They are not as impressed with us, so breaking through to them is a little more difficult.  I pray that tomorrow as we do a Q&A with them they will become involved and interactive.

Soon it was lunch time and we watched as large plates of food came out.  They spent very little time making this food disappear.  For some it is the only food they will eat today.  What a privilege they have being part of the AMG center here in Huaraz.

After they ate, they headed off to school and we broke out our lunches before the younger kids arrived.  We made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and ate our snacks. 

The little kids began pouring in for their lunch time.  The team served them their meals, and (as is my custom) I went around “stealing” food from kids and watching them wonder where it went.  We laugh and then they get their food back.  They finished their large plates of food as well and we all headed downstairs for the drama section of the program.

The kids did an excellent job picking out what the Bible stories were that the team was acting out.  The team is having a blast presenting these to the children, and the children are loving getting involved.  I wish I could communicate better why these stories are in God’s word, but I know they are hearing them because they recognize them so easily.

As the afternoon passed, we had to say goodbye to the kids, but the cool thing was that we could tell them we would see them tomorrow.  We are looking forward to the Q&A times with the children.  I know they are going to have great questions for the team.

We went downtown for dinner and had a wonderful time of interaction and talking.  We shared our most embarrassing moments, stories from our lives, and laughed together.  It was great.  Then we headed back to the hotel where we continued the interaction with 2 more 2-18 times putting Marissa and Hillary in the “hot seat”.  They ask each other such great questions and I am amazed that they can so freely and quickly answer the questions.  The team really seems to be bonding together and building long term relationships that may last the rest of their lives – only God knows.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:  As we passed through town, a small Peruvian woman passed us.  She was fully garbed in the traditional gear with her head fully covered.  She did not look up, she did not interact with anyone.  She just made her way through the crowd – never lifting her face to look at anyone or anything.  Her back was bowed down, and she walked rather slowly.  How many of us walk through our lives the very same way?  We keep our heads down, we interact with as few people as critically necessary.  Our desire to impact the people around us is minimal, and frankly we don’t want their input in our lives as well.

How lonely an existence!  I really couldn’t tell anything about this woman, but my heart longed for so much more for her.  I longed for her to smile, to stand tall and to be able to look people in the eye.  I longed for a life with meaning and abundance – the one that God has given us. 

God help me see those who are spiritually walking around like this woman so I can share with them the abundant life you have mad freely available to all who believe.

Cedarville Peru Trip - Day 3

What a great day!  I didn’t sleep well, but God gave me the strength to do all that I needed to do.

We had breakfast and then did our devotions together.  We worked through James 1:1-12.  I love hearing young people wrestle with the truths of God’s word, and be able to apply them to their lives.  This group is doing an excellent job of talking together about the Bible.  It truly is exciting.

We headed for Yungar and got ready for the children.  The plan was to do charades of bible stories and have the kids guess what stories we were acting out.  The team has been very creative and willing to do whatever.  We walked through the skits and boy were they interesting.  In order to pull it off, we would have to be very comfortable with looking silly.  I know they can do it, and they seem like they are thrilled to try. 

When Pastor Fausto arrived we went on house visits.  As we visited the 3 homes, Fausto would give us a little of their story, tell us about their children that attend the center, and then allow them to share.  Many of the team members saw this time as a high light of their day.  It was neat to hear the stories and to see the openness with which they shared.  Their homes were surprisingly very nice.  I did tell the team to expect a very different experience when we arrive in Lima.

Eventually we returned to the center and the kids began arriving.  We played ball with them, blew bubbles, kicked a soccer ball around, whatever we could do to connect with the kids.  There were only 30 in all, but that made it very personal and interactive – a great start for the week.  After a while we made our way into the church to do our “program”. 

Sure enough things played out amazingly.  The team did a great job sharing their creative natures by acting out with the kids, and even pulled kids into the drama (and they were very willing to be a part of the “show”).  From creation to Noah to David to Daniel – they did 6 different dramas – and the kids got them.  The one that really surprised me was the “tower of Babel” I was amazed that the kids got it right away.  We had 4 kids act as rocks to build the tower, and then the group started getting kids to get on top.  More kids than were requested jumped up to be part of the show.  They piled on the bottom four – it was hilarious!  They had fun and they were learning about God.

After our dramas we gave them all coloring books that they are supposed to complete before the second team arrives later this month.  If they do they will receive a certificate and a candy bar.  I am hoping some parents will even help the kids complete the book.

Our day there drew to a close and we headed back to the hotel.  A group of us went to the weight room to work out.  We had a good time exercising – some were trying yoga – and I do mean trying – while others rode the bike, used the EFX, used the rowing machine, did sit ups, pull ups.  Two people in the group even did a little wrestling (yeah, I was one of them).  It was good to stretch some muscles and burn a little energy.

We headed for dinner at 5:30.  As we sat around the table, we had a “hi-lo” session.  Team members shared the highs of their day – from house visits, to kids looking at their pictures and trying to say their names, to building relationships with the kids (and not wanting to leave), they had a great day.  The lows were mostly the inability to interact with the kids at the level they would have liked, tiredness, and leaving the kids.  Really – it was a great day!

The day concluded with a meeting around the table in the computer room where Rebekah was on the “hot seat” for the 2-18 sharing time.  She shared about herself and answered questions about herself.  This group is very interactive, very interested in each other.  They love to talk, laugh and share together.  They will go back to Cedarville as good friends.  I am certain of it. 

Over all – this was a great start.  Tomorrow is Huaraz (day 1) because Chiquian has been rained out.  God must have a reason for it – we will find out soon!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: When I think of the word meekness in the Bible, I cannot help but think of Pastor Fausto.  He is a mild mannered man who serves the children with love, shows compassion to the people of Yungar, is well known and loved in the community, and is an excellent example of Jesus Christ.

I long for these same characteristics in my life.  I know only God can do it – so it is this that I am praying for in my life.

Cedarville University Peru Trip - Day 2

Another early morning as I awoke to the alarm at 5:30 (about 2 hours after I went to bed).  Actually Noah’s watch and my clock went off at the same time, and as I stumbled about to find out what was making the noise, I walked over to Noah.  Still in a sleeping haze, I walked over to his bed.   I thought he was Dee, and as I reached to get his attention, he turned over and I noticed his watch making the noise.  Then I realized the other noise was coming from the other side of the room. I walked back to the restroom where my phone was beeping.  It really was a weird beginning to the day.

By 6:30 everyone was up and ready to go.  We consolidated some of our things so we weren’t carrying so much to Huaraz.  Because we only had a limited amount of time we were not able to get breakfast, so fig newtons, Pop tarts and water carried us over to lunch.  We ate at the bus station and by 8:10 we were on the bus heading to the mountains.

We had a special surprise in store for us, as we started out of the station, the gentleman up front put a movie on.  I was surprised when I saw “Sherwood Pictures”.  Yeah, we had the opportunity to watch Fireproof (Spanish with English subtitles).  What a blessing it was to know that they were showing this movie that has a clear presentation of the gospel, and a great model of what Biblical marriage looks like.  Only God knows what the ramifications of this movie can be to the Peruvian culture.

We stopped for lunch at Cheto’s (a roadside restaurant where Movil Tours stops at the halfway mark).  We purchased 6 plates of food to be shared with the team.  Grilled chicken, fried chicken, rice, French fries…  it was delicious.  Levi encouraged 3 of the others to try Inca Cola.  They all seemed to have a great time.

Back on the bus for 4 more hours of travel.  Some rested, some read, some worked on their devotional manuals, and some watched “Lo Imposible” (Spanish with Spanish subtitles) the movie about the tsunami.  Looks like a pretty good movie, but after it ended we watched the 30 second clip over and over again.  Just enough to drive you crazy.

We arrived safely in Huaraz, but had to wait on our bags as they were in another bus – go figure.  We arrived at the hotel before 5, and had our evening meeting/dinner at 6.  Rebekah suggested we do an “exercise” to get to know one another – a person talks about themselves for 2 minutes and then the team asks them questions for 18.  We heard from Alyson and Hayley while we waited for the pizza to arrive.  It was rather interesting.

This group is very open and willing to share - we had a great discussion about God and truth.  I am looking forward to our devotional times in the morning.

It has been a long day – Hillary’s 19^th Birthday – and I am ready for bed.  The team has been encouraged to have lights out by 10.  Breakfast is late tomorrow – 8:00 AM!!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:  As we drove over the mountains, you cannot help but be amazed at the magnitude of these mountains.  One of my favorite sections of the road is a stretched out plain that holds various cattle that look like ants with the backdrop of the monstrous snow capped mountain behind it.  The majesty of the mountain is overwhelming.  The power necessary to raise this rock up out of the earth is immeasurable.

This is my Father.  He, with a word, created all that exists, and is powerful beyond my comprehension.  There is no limit to the power his hand wields.  The bible tells us that the stars are the work of his fingers!  I am always humbled as I look at His handiwork.

However, His powerful hands are a place of security and rest for me.  I do not fear the power of His hand, but rather rest in the knowledge that He is a loving Father who is my rock, my fortress, my protection, my safe place.  This is my Father!

Cedarville University Peru Trip - Day 1

I had a long day today – the plan was to take the 6 o’clock shuttle from Chattanooga to Atlanta, catch the 10:15 flight to Columbus, arriving around 12 and leaving with the team back to Atlanta at 2:15.  There were many people praying for me – I know it, and things went incredibly smoothly.  From curbside check-in (so I didn’t have to carry the 160 lbs of luggage through the airport), to my gate being right at the top of the stairs, to the baggage claim and check-in in Columbus being one staircase apart. It was all too smooth!

We finally arrived in Atlanta around 3:00 for our 5:20 flight.  Again, everything went smoothly up until we boarded.  We sat at the gate from 5:00 till 6:40 – when we finally left for Lima.  Yeah, over an hour and a half in the plane at the gate.  No complaints, no whining, we just sat with everyone else and waited to leave.

The flight was rough, with the captain occasionally turning the seatbelt sign on.  Overall, though, it went rather quickly (6 ½ hours) and we arrived in Lima.  We tested the “luck” of the team members as we hit the button in customs, and 7 out of 10 of us (including me) ended up with red lights – meaning we had to get our bags screened.  After a brief delay, we met Jose and Lutgarda and headed to the hotel. 

We arrived at San Suites hotel at 3:00 in the morning.  The team was still high spirited, and looking forward to a great week.  Our bus leaves the station at 8:10 AM tomorrow, so we have a short night ahead of us. 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: 3 times today I left the ground on a plane.  All three times the weather was dreary, snowy, overcast and miserable.  However, as the plane left the ground, we headed right up into those clouds and after a short time of total inability to see anything, we broke through a blanket of clouds and into a beautiful, sunny, blue sky.  The view was amazing.

It got me thinking about our daily lives and how occasionally things become overwhelming, miserable, dreary, and downright difficult to deal with.  But even in the darkest of days, I can be reminded that I have a father who is above it all – who sees the beauty that surrounds the clouds.  Who is not untouched by difficulties I face, but is able to carry me through it.  He will walk with me through those times, and if I follow His truth, I will rise above it. 

Just like the pilot trusts his instruments as he heads through the clouds to get the clear blue skies, it is imperative that I follow the instruction of my loving Father who wants nothing more than to see me obey and follow Him.

Just a part of something wonderful...

I assume you know, but if you don't, the smallest bone in the human body is the "stirrup bone", the stapes, one of the three bones that make up your middle ear; measuring 2-3 millimeters.

Why am I thinking about this today?

The coolest thing about the gospel is it is made up of so many truths that not only change the course of my final destination, but alter the very details of my day to day interaction.  From the forgiveness I experience daily to the strength to obey, daily the gospel shapes the way I look at life and think about the world around me.

What is interesting is that if you were to take out any of the "smaller" ideas of the gospel, much like removing the "stirrup bone" in the ear, everything becomes silent.  Grace becomes ineffective.  The Gospel becomes silent.  I fear that too often followers of Christ end up behaving like deaf people because we limit the impact of the gospel to only the things we can control, the things we can understand, and the things that are comfortable to us.

If the gospel is impacting every area of my life, disciples of Jesus should look (and sound) very different from the world around them.  However, when we start to make the gospel fit our own understanding and match the shapes that we create for it, the conclusion is often like that of the rest of the world.

For instance, in missions, plenty of humanitarian groups around the world feed, educate, clothe and house the needy.  How should that look different for a gospel shaped organization?  In churches, people mess up, people sin, people fall.  How does the church respond differently than people who don't know Christ?  What does forgiveness, reconciliation, restoration look like for a believer?  At work, millions of people every day leave home to go to work.  How does the truth of the gospel shape the way a "Christian" does his or her job?

When we limit the gospel to a message given for an unsaved, unregenerate, fallen world so that they can be reunited with God, we have part of the message.  The rest of the message, and frankly the bulk of the message, is for the one who has embraced the basic truth of the gospel and is seeking to live out a life that would glorify God and imitate the Son.

How does your life look different as a result of the gospel?

JUSTIFIED defined!

Many who have grown up in the church have heard the word "justification" before.  One way people remember it's meaning is "Just as if I'd never sinned".  This "definition" of the word is very deficient and can cause huge problems.

Actually, I believe many followers of Christ live as if this were the definition of justification.  "I am righteous", they might think, "My sin is gone, as a matter of fact, it as if I have never sinned."  The result, one who thinks like this loses the magnitude of their sinfulness and the cost that was paid to exact the forgiveness and displace the wrath that was required for the sinful act.

For instance, if I drive 125 miles per hour down the road, I am guilty of breaking the law.  When an officer pulls me over, they did not cause my guilt, but rather just exposed it and have called for a reckoning for breaking the law.  If I then went to the courthouse and the judge declared me guilty (which I have already recognized I was), he would follow that with the proper punishment for the crime.  IF he saw the incident report, identified my guilt but called me "innocent", he would neither be a good judge or an honest judge.  He cannot say I was not guilty!

He could chose to "declare me righteous" by the means of covering the offense, expunging my record, or paying the cost of the penalty on my behalf. Which is a much better understanding of the word "justification".  God calls us righteous because we bear His Son's righteousness (when we accept Him as savior).  God poured His wrath out on His Son (the part we must not forget) to satisfy the payment due for the sin against His holiness.

Many live as though they have never sinned - and walk in arrogance, judgement and even continue in sin because God's grace is so amazing.  We look down on the world.  We stand as a "measuring rod" for other Christians and require that they live up to our level of "righteousness".  We even take the mercies of God as a license to continue doing things that are completely against His nature.  All as a result of a misunderstanding of what Christ did on our behalf.

I am guilty!  Completely, without defense, a guilty sinner before God.  And I didn't just miss the mark, I lived in enmity to God - I hated Him, I fought against Him, I wanted nothing to do with Him.  YET, HE chose to pay my penalty, cover my sin, and declare me to have the righteousness of His perfect Son, Jesus Christ.

What is the consequence of living with this reality in mind?

Humility - I have no standing to judge others - I am more guilty than they could ever be.
Thankfulness - I did nothing to deserve this grace - so no matter what else happens, I am blessed.
Sacrifice - All I have is His - He has complete control of who I am and what I become.

I need not impress God with righteous living - His Son was completely perfect, so I cannot add to it.
I need not impress others - the only good I can do is done because of what was done for me.
I am free to live my life in a way that glorifies the One who gave Himself for me.
I need to share truth with others - that they might enjoy the freedom that comes in Christ.

Lord, help me to live this way.

Have you been listening?

Elections are right around the corner.  Debates, reviews of debates, television commercials, this process is ever before us. 

As I was listening to the debates the other night, it seemed like both candidates had something good to say, although I line up with one more than the other, the fact is both of them were passionate about their side, both of them are intelligent men with different viewpoints.  They both desire to head to someplace better, and they both define it pretty much the same way, but the path to that "better place" is very different.

I was thinking about this as I was driving today, and the person in front of me stopped when they should have kept going.  "Why did you do that?"  I asked them, although only I could hear.  "What is wrong with you?"  In other words, "why don't you behave and think like I do?"

Then the connection came to me - we all view the world through our own frame of reference, we evaluate things based on our beliefs, our experiences, our fears and anxieties, our passions...  and then we draw conclusions and they are right!  Problems come when someone else has a view that is different, because that must be wrong - in order for my ideas to be completely right.

The alternative requires a ton of humility to realize that my limited understanding and ability to process information keeps me from being completely right about everything (and for some of us, we aren't right about much).  Pride keeps us holding on to a position of being right, all the while we are devaluing the people around us by making our thoughts the only correct thoughts.

Imagine walking into this world and actually being right about everything.  Think about what it would be like to know all, understand all, comprehend everything, and be surrounded by people who think they do - AND they are not even close.

Christ modeled for us what it looks like to speak truth in love with grace and humility.  It should be so much easier for us, because we are actually frail and imperfect, and when we recognize that humility should come so easily.  However, it seems that we don't listen long enough to hear everything that we need to hear, and we are so self-promoting that we want others to listen to us.

Oh, to be like Christ today in this way - to study to learn truth that I might be able to share it with others in humility with grace and mercy.  God grant me the mind and heart of Christ to be able to respond this way.

At the end of the day, what really matters?

Since I have written last, I have had many thoughts about our God and what it means to "Bless the Lord".  What is interesting is that I find it rather easy to "bless the Lord" with my words, and say the things that are most appropriate, or most "Christ-like", but the thing I have wrestled with is, what about my actions?  What about my thoughts?  What about my innermost desires?  Is God "blessed" because they line up with His will?  It seems so easy to say the things that we are "supposed" to say because we are disciples of Christ, but the question is, is God really blessed if the rest of me doesn't line up with truth?

The aim of our instruction, Paul tells us, is to love out of a pure heart, to have a good conscience and a sincere faith. (I Tim 1:5)  It is not sufficient to be followers of Christ in our language alone, but in all of our actions, attitudes and thoughts.  How else could we maintain a "good conscience and a sincere faith" before our Father who sees all and knows all? 

The truth is, this is another reminder of the greatness of the Gospel in my life.  I am called to "glorify my Father who is in heaven", all the while knowing that my broken, marred, weak flesh cannot do it perfectly.  I need the righteousness of Christ to give me the ability to "glorify God" at all.  Yes, we can get it right occasionally, but perfectly?  Not a chance.

I was writing my daughter yesterday, and I realized even as I wrote that the conversation applied to me as well.  Perfection is not our goal as disciples of Christ because it has already been gained - I cannot add to the perfection of Christ.  However, in fleshing out what it means to follow Christ, I should continue to pursue excellence in every area of my life.  It is a progressing goal that allows for the flesh I still struggle with, but also does not allow me to be satisfied with failure. 

Well, the question was, "at the end of the day, what really matters?", and my thought today is that I seek to love the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my might, and to love my neighbor as myself" not just in word, but also in deed and in truth!