5 Initial Thoughts Being Back in the States:

•Life is EASY - I understand everything, I can communicate with ease, I can hop in my car and go where I need to go, when I want to go there, and know how to get there. I feel like my mind has been able to relax for the first time in 10 months.

•In comparison, the American culture is cold - No, not the weather. That's the warmest things around these days. Nothing against my "American family", but a homecoming is not nearly as warm as seeing a Peruvian friend on any given day. Now hello's and goodbye's just seem awkward (really? a handshake?)

•DRIVING. There's almost too much to elaborate on here.

•Another chapter closed - As much as I promised myself, and my friends, that I'd be back to Peru as soon as possible, I can't help but accept that things will never be the same. The hardest reality to face is that life moves on.

•Another chapter begun - I feel like I'm living my dream. Despite difficult goodbyes, and overwhelming culture shock, I know the best is yet to come. I have a lot to look forward to, and I can hardly contain the excitement I feel about what He is going to do with me and and through me at UW Sports Ministry.

Family Activity Day

Today we hosted a special event at school known as Family Activity Day! Families from preschool through high school arrived eager to begin today's competition. About 20 stations were set up around the school campus, each emphasizing teamwork and camaraderie. Whether is was walking across the basketball court with everyone's ankles tied together, or setting a record time for the obstacle course, or building a bridge out of newspapers, everyone was involved to achieve a common goal. Families were awarded a specific number of points for each challenge they accomplished, and the family with the most points at the end of 2 hours won a pizza from Papa Johns! On top of that, if all the families involved were able to earn enough points collectively, the entire school would get an extra day of vacation in May! Here are a few pictures from today's festivities!

"Welded Feet"

Announcing the winners

Afterwards, our director talked about teamwork using a duffle bag and balloons.  Together we can do more! 

Leah, a 4th grader at LMCS, enjoying a "chup" (ice pop) 

The senior class was selling "anticuchos" (cow heart) for lunch to raise money for their senior trip. 

A few senior girls working hard and having fun!

God is Good.... but all of the time?

Have you ever cried so much that you start to feel sick to your stomach? Or your head begins to hurt? After receiving the news of Tami's death this afternoon and attending a packed-out funeral tonight, my head throbs as my stomach continues to turn. So many tears have been shed over the span of a week. And not just mine, a community of people impacted by the lives of Jorge Terrazas and Tami Matsusita. If you could collect ever tear that has fallen since last Thursday, I'm almost certain there could actually be rain in Lima. For weeks. For those of you reading along that are completely confused and those who are starting to regret reading this because of the dark cloud that seems to have settled over your computer, allow me to explain. I promise it gets better.

Last Wednesday our school staff set out for our annual retreat to kick off another school year. It wasn't long before hugs and stories of each other's summer vacations quickly turned to sobs and an evening of sobering silence. A beloved friend and favored teacher passed away unexpectedly from a hiking accident Thursday afternoon. We returned from our trip early with heavy hearts.
The funeral was something beautiful. His wife and 3 daughters glowed, though they were fighting back tears. There was a peace and joy exuding from them that could only be explained by a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Friday afternoon, a midst the chaos from the day before, the news began to spread about Tami. A soon-to-be 9th grade student at LMCS, she and her mom became victims of a severe car accident, leaving her mom disfigured and Tami in a coma. The days that followed were filled with prayers, hospital visits and words of hope as we all waited for Tami to wake up.
Today the nightmare continued. Teachers curiously entered the school's main building for an unscheduled- but required- meeting. Hoping against the worst, we received the news that Tami had died.

For some reason, I didn't think it would be as hard as it is. I had only known both of them for a short year and a half, but the impact of it all caught up with me tonight. Life is fragile and it is not up to us to decide when we will leave this world. Whether you're 63 or 15, your life is not your own.

I was reading in 2 Samuel when King David lost his newborn son. He prayed and prayed that God would heal him, but when He didn't, David immediately went to the temple to worship the Lord. You see, God's character doesn't change based upon our circumstances. However, often times our convictions about who God is largely stems from how we feel.

               Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

    WORSHIP the Lord with gladness;

    come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

    It is he who made us, and WE ARE HIS;

    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

    and his courts with praise;

    give thanks to him and praise his name.

 

For the Lord is GOOD and his love endures forever;

    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

The Lord is good. The Lord is sovereign. The Lord is faithful. I don't know many songs by Laura Story, but this one in particular has been replaying over in my head for days now. I hope everyone who has read this will take the time to consider the gift of life, but also the question of eternity. If it were not for Jesus, there would be no hope. I would still be destined for a place far worse than any pain here on earth. God's love is incredible; the choice is ours. If there were ever a time to surrender your life to the Lord, it would be now. 

Jorge Terrazas

Tami Matsusita