Happy Spring!

The end of September marks the beginning of spring here in Peru! It is strange to me having just left Minnesota on the brink of autumn, but I would never pass up beautiful spring weather. Many people enjoyed a flower show here in Lima a few blocks away from the mission apartment to celebrate the change in season. I spent some time walking around the park enjoying the unique arrangement of flowers.

During the past three weeks I have spent most of my time here in Lima attending language school down the street. It has been a great experience and I have been blessed to learn much about the language and culture in a school setting. Next week, I will be moving to Lunahuana permanently to start teaching English classes on October 11th! Please keep all the planning and transitioning in your prayers.

Safe Arrival

As you can tell from the photo, I am extremely EXCITED to share that I arrived safely in Peru last week! Though there is much to learn about the people and culture of this beautiful country, I am enjoying all the initial introductions and looking forward to the upcoming weeks and months in which I will be further immersed.

The day after getting picked up from the airport in Lima, the Peru team took a trip down to Lunahuana which is where I will be living during my time here (see picture: from left to right- Jamie, me, Anthony). We spent a few days meeting people, eating delicious Peruvian cuisine, and spending time in this mountain community. Jamie and I were able to stay at our house for the first time and began figuring out how to make our way around the city. After a two night stay, we returned to Lima and began language training on Monday. Our school, "El Sol", is located a few blocks away from the mission apartment here in Lima. We spend half our time each day working on grammar and the other half working on conversation skills. It is hard work, but I am learning much each day not only about the language, but about the culture, the history, and the people of Peru.

Thank you all for your continued encouragement and support! :)

Official Departure Date!!

Many of you have probably already heard this, but the official departure date for Peru is....drum roll, please...... SEPTEMBER 7TH!!!!

I will be leaving that morning from Minneapolis and have a lay-over in Atlanta before flying to Lima. Jamie will also be flying to Peru that day, so I will meet up with her in Atlanta to catch the same flight to Lima. In case you've forgotten, Jamie is another missionary with LCMS World Mission working in Peru. She will be my roommate while there and is responsible for coordinating the short-term teams that come down from the U.S. If you'd like to learn more about Jamie, you can check out her blog (http://jendorf.blogspot.com) or take a look at her prayer card on the LCMS website (www.lcms.org/ca/mission/prayercards/index-v1.5.asp).

Keep us in your prayers as we travel down to Lima together on Tuesday!

A Cloud of Witnesses

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

Throughout Scripture, God makes it clear that there is power in numbers. From the friendship between David and Jonathan and the companionship between Paul and Silas to the creation of Eve to partner with Adam to Jesus calling his twelve disciples, it is evident that God ignites power in numbers. God uses Christians to sharpen one another, to encourage one another, and to pray for one another. Sometimes it's those relationships that keep us going, give us discernment, or challenge us in some way. There is strength in this edification that sometimes cannot be explained.

I have been richly blessed these past three month to be encouraged and lifted up by a vast group of brothers and sisters in Christ as the Lord prepares me to leave for Peru. Many of these people have supported me financially, many have eagerly asked for updates, and many have responded to this calling by offering prayers on my behalf. I am humbled by the commitment and dedication and PRAISE GOD for using these men, women, and children to provide for me. WOW! If you are reading this, you are likely one of those people....so THANK YOU for your support.

Last Wednesday I was especially blessed as a group of these loved ones took time to come to my parents' home to pray over me before leaving the country. Each one shared verses from Scripture and other words of encouragement that are still running through my heart and mind as the Holy Spirit prepares me in ways I could not have even imagined. They then prayed over me, confidently asking for the Lord's protection and guidance. "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16

What a gift it is that God invites us to come together in prayer to Him! It reminds me of the early church in Acts 2 when it says, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to 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." (Acts 2:42-43). I have been deeply supported by the fellowship that God has surrounded me with these past few months and the prayers so many of you have offered to God. May we be filled with awe together as the Lord works in us and through us not only in Peru, but in all the places that he has brought us to.

My house in Lunahuana, Peru!!!