For the last week I’ve been at the beach. The day I posted my last blog was the day that we left Porvenir. The move wasn’t in our plans, and to be completely honest, it was not at all what I wanted! The decision to change locations was made, by our squad leaders, to ensure our safety.
Last Friday was a day of rushed emotions. Over our lunch break the missionary family, living at the Inca house, had decided to take their puppy to the vet. But after exiting the walled in property of the children’s home they were blocked by a taxi. The little girl had to watch as six men jumped out of the taxi and pulled her father from the truck, wrestling him to the ground with a gun to his head. The thief’s took of with the truck and the puppy. By Gods grace, we are sooooooo thankful the little girl and her family are all safe!
Due to this threat we were moved out that evening after many sad and tearful goodbyes.
Our new location is the sandy beaches of Huanchaco, a cutesy little beach town. As beautiful and peaceful as this place is, I did not want to be here! I had absolutely loved our ministry back in Porvenir, and couldn’t see why we possibly needed to move. I’m not as concerned about safety as most and I figured that with a few more safety precautions and heightened awareness we would have been just fine. I wanted to continue the ministry we were a part of, I wanted to see the orphanage continue to be built, I wanted to grow the relationships we had formed, I wanted to go to the trash dump again, I wanted to continue doing skits and evangelism in the town, I wanted to go to the day care, I wanted to stay right were where were I was!
Did ya notice how many “I’s” I just used. Yeah, I wanted to stay, and I may add for good reasons, BUT… God had other plans! And you know, I did come on this here world race to serve God, not to do as I wanted.
Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
It took me a few days, and much praying, to fully realize that the move was Gods plan and not just “faulty decision making” as I had originally wanted to think. I had to accept the fact that God sets up authorities for a reason. I don’t always make the decisions, thankfully. God works through my leaders to make decisions that I may not always agree with. I had to be willing to give up a fun and fulfilling ministry, that was very organized and consistent, for a week of uncertainty with no plans. I had to sink my heart beat with Gods for the people of Huanchaco.
When we first got here all I wanted to do was go back to Porvenir. But, thankfully, I did have a change of heart and I decided I would not let this week slip by as I “sat on my bucket” (a WR term for refusal to do anything).
I knew that there were people in this town that God wanted us to meet. The lyrics to a worship song were stuck in my head “Where You go I’ll go, Where You serve, I’ll serve.” I started to look for opportunities and for people to reach out to. And it didn’t talked long for me to understand just why I was exactly where I was, exactly when I was! I don’t know why I ever doubted? I’ll try to remember that for the next time!!
I was able to form a great relationship with a Dutch girl named Marcia. We had some good times together, laughing and talking. She’s a very interesting girl and quite the adventurer. She came to Huanchaco on her own to improve her surfing skills. In the course of our chatting we were able to go deeper and I learned that she was a Catholic raised atheist – yes in her home the two go hand in hand. Her mom was both a Catholic school teacher and an atheist. Marsha told me that’s quite normal in the Dutch land. Church is basically there for the big stuff, like weddings and funerals. Anyway, I got to share with her my love and passion in life – Jesus Christ. Marsha did not get down on her knees or make a commitment to God, but nonetheless a seed was planted and I will continue to pray that it grows. Each person we meet, and each life we touch makes a difference, even if we never get to see the finished product!
I was able to plant a lot of seeds this week. I could continue to tell you stories of the people I met, both the 5-minute encounters and my week long buddies. But time and my sleepy eyes will not permit.
My buddy Joca joined me for some street evangelism on afternoon, and since he speaks Spanish and English, we were able to share how God had changed our lives with many different individuals.
All in all this week was awesome, and I’m so excited that I can always count on God to know what He’s doing!
Tomorrow we start off on our week long journey to Bolivia. Yeah its gonna take a while! Over 50 hours in just driving! But add stops and border crossing, bus changes and all, and we’re looking to arrive in Bolivia Thursday night!
Oh and did I mention a two day stay at the worlds second most beautiful lake??? 🙂 We’re getting a break from sitting and sleeping on buses by stopping in at Lake Titicaca!
For more cool facts about this past week read my teammate Stephanie’s blog on our meeting up with the Christian surfers.
And by the way I’d encourage you to check up on all my teammates blogs (you’ll find them to the left on my home page), often times you’ll find out what’s going on much faster then waiting for me ;).
