Peru

i'm just warning you all i'm writing this post at 3 in the morning. so please excuse the poor vocabulary, lack of wit, and overuse of the word awesome.

well everybody, i made it back home from peru. the trip was amazing, and everything about it was awesome. it was pretty awesome.

the first day we got in we went outside this english institute and started handing out keychains for frc lima. we were timid at first but picked up speed and started conecting with people. this lady me and keith talked to actually showed up that weekend!



after speaking broken spanish to complete strangers for a few hours we went to this mall in peru. the place was pretty big and i ate a nasty hamburger from this fast food resteraunt called Bembos.

the next day we got up and went to a local orphanage that our church has connected with. the kids there were so happy to see us. we fed them chicken and fries. then i played soccer with some of the boys and played hide and seek, well really just chased, the little girls throughout the orphanage. we spent all day there, and afterwards cleaned up at the hotel. from there, we went to the rd., the frc lima student ministry. christian translated the lesson for us, and a few of the kids even got to play two worship songs. overall, i was impressed by the energy and pimpin set up at the jazz club. after that we all went and ate at the hottest papa johns in the world.






i got up to do set up, just like every sunday, only this time for frc lima. it was much quicker than sawgrass. then i helped out on the first impression team and greeted people as they came into the theatre. i used my awesome spanish vocabulary as i told everyone that came in "hola, como estas?" that night, we went out to larco mar, which is this beautiful outdoor mall on the water.


monday, we went to the david wilkerson school. it is a scholarship driven school with kids from poor areas. it was amazing to see the joy in the kids' faces when we gave them a simple goody bag full of candy and pencils. pencils! they loved them. i visited three classrooms and met two 6th grade boys who chatted up a storm with me. they talked about everything from wwe wrestling to what love is like. i missed most of the song and dance numbers the kids put on because those two boys were talking to me. but connecting with those kids was probably my favorite part. it was so cool to see how interested they were. from there, we went back to the street corner to hand out keychains. that time, we hit the ground running and handed out keychains left and right. we were really on our game. that is until we got kicked out by a cop who i gave a keychain to. he said we didn't have a permit and all this junk and asked us to leave. the Lord had His hand on it though, the two officers were christians and polite about the ordeal and our seem didn't seem downtrodden, they seemed strengthened if anything. i think we were happy for all the people we were able to connect with in such a short time. blessed are those who are persecuted in His name.



tuesday, we went to a shanty town on the outskirts of lima. it was called apachacutec. all the people out there lived in shacks with dirt floors. it was such a dirty place and amazing that it was home to so many. the place seemed hopeless, i just couldn't see a way for people to get out. im sure most people born there, probably die there. but they were so happy with nothing. we brought them lunch and a few toys and toiletries, they were so thankful and so content. we got to meet the pastor and give him some things too. poverty is just evident from sin, i mean whats worse, that or living in america so lost in our possessions that we miss God? some of those people were truly dependent on Him and it was evident.



wednesday was our last day, we spent time going to the inca market and i bought some gifts for my family. then we went on a little tour of peru and saw the country. after getting something to eat and a shower it was time to head to the airport. i slept most of the way home but was sorry to leave. overall, it was a great experience.



what ill take away most from the trip was not just the typical. although i did feel more grateful for all of my blessings and opportunities, i felt reaffirmed that i need to live for Him. that God is the sole provider of happiness and joy. that we are meant to live for Him. that doing His will is the reason i am on this earth. i want to make a difference and make this world a better place, and the only way i know how is through the love of Christ. so i pray i take this with me and continue to focus on Him throughout my life, because to me, thats the only way to have a life worth spent.

(not all the pics are up yet, ill try to put some more in when i get them)