FINISHED!

This is what we call the "home stretch" ladies and gentlemen. That last part where you're running past the crowded bleachers cheering you on, and you think your legs are going to give out, but you keep going because not only would your fans be disappointed if that happened, but it would be extremely embarrassing, so you muster up all the strength you have left to cross that glorious white line at the end that had beckoned you from the sound of that starting gun shot. The only thing standing between me and my finish line is 4 more days of high school graduation, school responsibilities, packing, despedida-ing, cleaning and all of the above- which means everything I forgot. It's been quite the race these past few months. Of course, never complete without its struggles and challenges- but that's what makes the finish line so beautiful!
Yesterday as the high school students were leaving school for the last time this year, one student stepped out to cross the street as his mom was calling his name from the other side, and he got hit by a U-haul type truck right in front of the school. By God's grace he seems to be doing ok as he's recovering in the hospital.
With that in mind, I'm reminded that heaven is my finish line and technically speaking, every day is my "home stretch." You've heard it said, "We aren't promised tomorrow." And if that's the case, we have to run each day with all we have left. Praise God there IS a finish line- the hope of heaven and the physical presence of Christ. The hard work and struggles of this life aren't in vain when we know the Saving God (Romans 5:3-5). And the harder we run our life's race for God's glory, I believe the more beautiful our finish line will look.
I'm gathering all my strength to finish up strong here in Peru and I can't wait to see you all as I cross the finish line on December 21st :)

Living By Grace, Loving with Conviction

Happy Thanksgiving! Just in this week alone, I've been given more than enough to be thankful for. It's been an interesting experience celebrating Thanksgiving in another country. One that I don't think I adequately appreciated until just recently.. as in, 10 minutes ago. 

It was great to celebrate with my "family" here in Peru. Our house of girls got together with a few other American missionaries and feasted on some timeless Thanksgiving treats- stuffing, green bean casserole, homemade mashed potatoes, and of course turkey- the whole 9 yards. I think our stomachs had reverse affects from having adjusted to Peruvian food and then dumping  a week's worth of traditional American food into our stomachs. But we enjoyed sharing some old favorites with each other and participating in family traditions. 

Today we had another Thanksgiving lunch for those who couldn't make it on Thursday. The couple who hosted our get-together decorated the house beautifully with pretty table cloths and fall flowers. After we read Psalm 100 and thanked the Lord for his blessings- and another table filled with food, we ate the afternoon away and finished it off with a little family game time. 

On our way home we passed the guard house that sits on the corner of our block where two watchmen sat, talking with each other and enjoying the late afternoon sun. With bags of leftover food crowding our arms, we passed them with a smile and simple greeting, as usual. As I passed, I felt an overwhelming urge to give them the food I was carrying, you know, the food I was going to take back home and probably throw into the refrigerator until it became too old to finish later because I'd forgotten about it. I continued walking.. and juggled through a short thought process.. "wait, do what? But.. what if that's 'culturally unacceptable,' what if they don't even want it? That would be awkward.." But as I reached the door and headed into our kitchen I decided, why not. I warmed up a box of hot food, put some salad and deviled eggs on a plate and grabbed a bag of chocolate, butterscotch cookies. My friend Peter accompanied me back to the guard house where we were greeted with slightly confused, but smiling looks. I explained that this past Thursday was a big holiday back in the States and we had just come back from celebrating it with some friends. We had a bunch of extra food and wanted to show them our gratitude for their work by sharing some of the leftovers with them. They were pleasantly surprised as they thanked us and our short interaction left a deep satisfaction in my heart. Not because I had this "great idea" or a "giving heart," but because it felt good to live by conviction. 

My friend Beth and I were talking this past week and challenged ourselves to step out of our comfort zones. We want to show Christ in a practical way, not just by quoting Scripture and teaching Bible lessons or singing praise songs. We want to serve our friends, our students, our co-workers, even strangers. We want to take advantage of the convictions  that the Holy Spirit puts on our hearts, instead of quieting them with "reason" or excuses. A lot of times, I find myself hesitant to follow through because it goes against culture. Certain people don't interact with others of a certain class. It would be "wrong!" Our maid (very typical to have in this culture) would not eat the Thanksgiving meal with us at the table because she felt uncomfortable, so instead she stayed in the kitchen. Watchmen are at your service, not the other way around. 

This is where my revelation set in. 

There are times where it is extremely important to be sensitive to cultural boundaries, but there are also cultural limitations that beg to be transcended by the love of Christ. You may be familiar with the story of Jesus and the woman at the well (John 4). He was on his way back to Galilee and had to pass through Samaria. As a Jew, it was socially and religiously unacceptable to converse with a Samaritan, much less a Samaritan who was a WOMAN. I re-read this story and looked up some articles to help me understand the gravity of the situation during that time. I found this quote that sums up the heart I want to emulate to the people in Peru, "He was not limited by the customs of his day but addressed her as an equal with men and a potential sharer in the kingdom" (Thiessen, Jesus and Women in the Gospel of John) I want to see people through the eyes of Christ. Whether a politician, watchman, or house maid. Everyone was created in the image of God and everyone needs a Savior. I thank God that I can live by His grace and love by His conviction, and it's my prayer that He continues to give me opportunities to be a light in His kingdom on earth. 

Reality Check

It’s Saturday morning and where am I? At school, making up the days we missed at the beginning of the semester due to extended construction on the new building. Overwhelmed with school work, lesson plans, and various responsibilities I started my day with a chip on my shoulder that I would lose a crucial day of relaxing and planning. Then I opened my Gmail inbox. My best friend had sent a prayer letter and I was excited to read what she had to say. I wish I had room to share everything that she wrote, but let’s just say that the 5 minutes it took to read her email was enough to slap me in the face and wake me up from my spiritual lethargy.  Consumed with deadlines and appointments, classes and grading, it’s no wonder I feel like I could break if I have to do one more thing. I've found myself buried with things to do and responsibilities to fill that I’ve run myself dry and have not taken the time to fill up on the Living Water I so desperately need. My priorities are all turned around and I’ve convinced myself that “I have to get this done” before I can do anything else- like pray. Like spending time with MY SAVIOR. Like being challenged by a sermon. Like spending time in praise and worship just because, not because I have to practice. Like simply resting in the Lord’s presence. “I don’t have TIME.” I’m not going to lie, it’s a fight. It’s a struggle to put down the papers and the books and pick up my Bible and my journal when I feel like I have a never ending list of things to do. But I will fight. I will battle the idea that work is more important than my relationship with Christ. I will not give into the belief that having a perfect lesson plan is more important than having a pure heart. 

Thank God for friends who bring you back to reality, who fight by your side, and who remind you about what's really important. 

"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

10 Things I Remember about October

1. It came and went extremely fast.
2. 3rd quarter ended and I survived (and enjoyed) my first 9 weeks as a teacher!
3. I took surfing lessons over our 2 day vacation in Cerro Azul.
4. 1 John became my new favorite book of the Bible.
5. My boyfriend sent me roses ("aww", I know :) )
6. I learned to play a ton of new praise and worship songs in Spanish!
7. Christmas shopping? Check. And with more than a week to spare this time!
8. I checked out a children's book in Spanish last week to get some extra practice.. Turns out Google translate is not always so trusty.
9. Netflix is now available in Peru!
10. I enjoyed a 2 week unit on teambuilding and character training with my 5th and 6th graders. Now it's on to the "Olympics!"


"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock." Isaiah 26:3-4

Buenos Días!

What a beautiful morning! I’m currently sitting at my desk in the teacher’s sala, fortunately located beneath the room’s skylight, temperature is a perfect 60 degrees, sun is shining and birds are chirping (seriously). Days like this you wonder if there is anything wrong with the world! The days are passing quickly and it’s all I can do to keep up. I’m so thankful to be here. I absolutely love it and I still have the same confidence as the day I left that this is where God wants me to be. It’s that peace that helps me make sense of the hard days. And it’s that comfort He gives that encourages me through troubles. This morning, I just want to soak in His goodness and reflect on His provision and blessings as His beautiful earth wakes up around me. Que tenga un buen día mis amigos, porqué esta es un regalo de Dios. 

Learning to Let Go

Today I woke up with an unfamiliar agitation and discontent. I couldn't figure out why I had such a frustrated attitude when I had only been awake for 5 minutes. I went to church feeling somewhat pensive, and maybe even a little confused. I couldn't place the feeling I had or where it was coming from. I half-heartedly sang along to songs I didn't recognize, trying to pronounce words I didn't understand. This only fueled my frustration because singing is one of my absolute favorite ways to worship the Lord and I felt like I couldn't do that, as badly as I wanted to. The message began and I was bombarded by strange words and a lack of comprehension. I've gotten to a point in my Spanish comprehension where I can pick up pretty well on context, and typically understand the majority of a message. I'm not sure if it was a lack of effort on my part this morning, or a particularly difficult message to follow, but nothing seemed to connect. I ended up heading home after the sermon and skipping the discussion groups that followed the message. After pounding out some chords on the piano, I grabbed my guitar and sang as loudly as I could- taking advantage of a rarely empty house. I turned on some Jeremy Camp whose loud instrumentals seemed to match my mood, and began to journal- something not atypical to a heavy heart. I began to pray and think and dig into my heart and my thoughts. As I began to write, I noticed a pattern. I was unhappy with my circumstances. Tired from facing the constant struggle of teaching and trying to motivate seemingly impossible students, missing friends and family get togethers, and wishing I could be sitting under the worship and preaching of my church in Virginia, I selfishly rambled on about all the things I didn't have.
Rewinding to the night before, I went to a young adults Bible study at one of the local churches. We were challenged with Luke 9:57-62 and what it means to be a committed follower of Christ. He gave 6 characteristics of this type of commitment. It is passionate (going wherever, doing whatever God asks), serious (He is going to ask you things you cannot do by relying on your own strength, you will need His help), one of faith (how often do we ask God "Why?" "How long?" or "Who will go with me?" when He calls us to do something), a priority (Now. Not tomorrow, or whenever "this" happens. There's a world dying without Christ), permanent (look ahead, not to the things behind you; don't focus on the past), and purposeful (it's not about the things you can do, but what God can do through you). The men in this passage said, "Jesus! I will follow you anywhere, but first..." God requires everything. That's a hard lesson to simply digest. I realized I am going to have to rid my heart of this selfishness. The idea that if I just had a familiar friend, or my pastor, or a higher competency in Spanish that I could do it, and that I would be happy. Surrender includes sacrifice. These are things I gave up by following God's call on my life. The sooner I let go of my comforts and my "need" for anything/anyone besides Jesus himself, the better. My prayer is that God loosens my grip on the things I want to hold so tightly to for confidence and comfort. I'm realizing more than ever that being a disciple of Christ is not simply to be filled with the Spirit and involved in a handful of ministries, but moreover being willing to give up anything- and everything- if that's what is required. After all, was it not Christ who did exactly that for me first?

"If it had not been for the Lord who was on our side"

In Psalm 124 David celebrates the sweet victory that comes when the Lord of heaven and earth is on your side. I’ve experienced this power, this strength that comes from the same God that rescued a multitude of people from genocide, slavery and death. A God that is powerful enough to deliver a nation from their enemies (time and again) is the God that I serve; the only one that gives me the strength I need to do what He has called me to do. David repeats this phrase: “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side.” Then they would have been defeated- annihilated at that. I can plug that phrase into my own life. If it had not been the Lord who was on my side, I would not have made it through my first week of teaching! If it had not been the Lord who was on my side, I would not have had the patience I desperately needed at times. If it had not been the Lord who was on my side, I would not have been able to fight the temptation of self pity and self doubt. If it had not been for the Lord, I would be at a loss. A detrimental loss. Praise God- the God of heaven and earth- the God of Israel- the God that saved a nation from destruction, a human race from eternal death, and me: a girl struggling to fit her role as a teacher and role model to a couple hundred kids in Lima, Peru. A God so magnanimous, yet so personal. If it had not been the Lord who was on my side… I would hate to think of the life I’d be living- or NOT living in that case. I’m thankful for the struggles and the challenges, but only because I know that I have an almighty God on my side that is fighting for me. Friends, I have great news… “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8. 

What Matters Most

It's been 3 weeks since I arrived in Peru. Since then I've met more people than I can count, eaten some of the most delicious food there is to be tasted, experienced the responsibilities that come with being a first time teacher, worked on a construction site, killed two scorpions, and seen God answer prayers in ways I needed it most. While my transition has been fairly easy, it still presents inevitable challenges, but not physical, or cultural challenges necessarily, though those are unavoidable.  I found the biggest challenge to be within myself. A battle of what to believe. "Can I really do this?" You have no experience. "Will they like me?" Everyone has told you how tough these kids are going to be. "What if I mess up? Terribly?" Don't be surprised when you fail. But God patiently- and repeatedly- battles for my thoughts by reminding me, "I've called you here for a purpose." "Love them like I have loved you, despite their reactions." "I will give you strength. I will work through you." When I look solely at myself, my capabilities, my experience, my strength, the task before me is overwhelmingly scary. But I'm quickly learning that fear conquers little.
What I thought mattered most was doing a good job, being a good teacher. Successfully taking over a position and not disappointing my superiors. Running an impeccable program that the school (and I) could be proud of. Bad desires? No. But what really matters most? Galatians 1:10 "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." I'm afraid to fail because I'm afraid to look bad. I'm afraid I'll be embarrassed in front of peers, and teachers, and parents. But, what matters most is that my life, my job, my attitude, my efforts, my relationships- absolutely everything- honors Christ, and is motivated by Christ. If I do that, I cannot fail. Sure, perhaps the unit I planned on baseball turns out to be a disaster, but will my students see Christ reflected in me? Will they see a God that truly loves them? That's my purpose. That's my goal. That's my motivation. And that's what matters most.

Destination: Lima, Peru

Let me start off by saying, God is good, all the time. Remind yourself of this while you read, as I will be doing the same while I type.  My dad and I arrived at Tampa International Airport with excitement, anxious to begin our adventure to Lima, Peru in 2 short hours. As we begin to check in, we ran into some unexpected baggage charges, but our excitement motivated us to oversight the annoying $30 fee. Having researched the airlines height and weight limit the night before, I was proud of my preparations, only to find out that the said weight limit online was incorrect and I now had two very overweight bags on my hands. After quickly going over our options, we had to purchase another bag from the airline: $40. As I unpacked and repacked at the counter, my dad was checking in. Once, twice…five times later his reservation was not found. Long story short- there was no reservation for him. The anxiety was quickly rising and the excitement was beginning to dwindle. The hustle and bustle began to pick up as more passengers were checking in and the airline representatives were struggling to keep up with the increase in traffic. Multiple attempts were made to find the flight confirmation or at least purchase a new ticket. We came up empty handed every time. A call to customer service could only provide a $2000 trip the next day. Meanwhile, my mom and sister are waiting curbside because their car had conveniently died amidst the chaos of those being dropped off for departing flights. Time was vanishing quickly and take off was approaching faster than I’d like. We eventually came to grips with reality and my dad reluctantly told me I was going alone. We had to check the extra baggage he was taking for me- that’ll be $200.  So $270 later I walked to my gate, alone, just in time to walk straight onto the plane before departure. Leaving my family with sad hearts, it wasn’t anything like I’d imagined. As they waited for a tow truck, I waited for my flight to take off. Let me remind you again, God is good, all the time. Skip ahead to the 6 hour flight into Lima. I sat by a hilarious Peruvian lady who briefed me on the do's and don'ts of living in Peru. Her lighthearted nature put me at ease and she kept me laughing most of the trip. Once we arrived she helped me through immigration, customs and baggage claim. God was definitely looking out for me. We parted ways and I found the Andersons in a sea of people waiting to take me to my new home. Safe and sound in a cozy apartment, I thanked God for his provision, his sovereignty and his amazing grace that has given me this opportunity to start the next chapter of my life in Lima, Peru.