Today marks my third anniversary of living 'la vida loca' in Peru! On May 4, 2008 I boarded a plane and landed in the wee hours of the morning on May 5 and was met by my 'brother in law' as I often call him, Luis Gonzales and Christian Ara... little did I know that this “Christian kid” would become one of the most significant relationships in my life! Below in an excerpt from my journal...
May 4, 2008
"The long awaited day is here. Long ride to the airport, anxiety getting everything onto the plane with extra luggage and a dog. Lots of emotion. Moments of fear and wondering what I am doing. Saying goodbye to mom was the hardest, I had to go before either of us teared up. Peace has settled in on the plane... You are right and good, Lord. I am just to go and will know what to do in the going. You are trustworthy and my Beloved. I will follow you with joy, counting the cost. I want to be used by you.
I want to trust your provision for finances, a van, a home, a community and every detail. I am stepping in as I come with no home, car, furniture, and little planned.
Ruth 1:16 Your people will be my people... In leaving 'my people,' Lord, this is the cry of my heart. Where you go, I will go. Your people will be my people. I consider it my honor to know, love, and belong to you and your people. As a wife follows her husband, I will follow you and embrace you and yours. My love for you is deepening and I go willingly because I want to be with you. I am on my tippy toes waiting for surprises, Father... here we go!"
And surprise me He has... with finances, with a family in Monica, Luis and Sofia, with a "daughter" for a season and a niece for life in the gift of caring for Raquel through her first year of life, with a home in San Martin, then Callao, now in Magdalena, with a van for the ministry, with a wonderful community of friends like Sarah Dobrin, Vanessa Remington, Liliana Sanchez, Rosana Matias, Linda Sipiran, Monica my 'sister', Adeline, Jess, Erin, Gretchen, Deb an amazing ministry leadership team including Lesly, Lucero, Flory, Carlos, Janet, Samuel, Patty, Walter, and others, a church, neighbors and ministry partners like El Refugio and Doris. He has surprised me with short term teams who've sacrificed greatly and given freely from all over Oregon, California, Arizona, and my hometown, Fresno. He has blessed me with timely visits from family and dear friends. And one of the greatest gifts I could never have imagined has been Christian, the man I love and who loves me in spite of me!
Today I am grateful above all for my Beloved, my Father, my Savior who has walked with me, comforted me, protected me, guided me. He has spoken encouragement and correction. He has stripped me and then built me up. He has never left my side and has been true to all His promises.
In January of 2008 as I prepared to come, He spoke to me from
Psalms 121:7-8
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and coming in from this time forth and forevermore."
and Psalm 91:9-15 as I grew more aware of the dangers of traffic, taxis, buses and a big city
"Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place- the Most High who is my Refuge, no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone... I will protect him because he knows My name. When he calls to me, I will answer him, I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him..."
Many asked if I had a timeline or commitment with Young Life for my time in Peru. My only response was that I had sensed from the Lord "go for 3 years and don't look back... then you will know...." So here I am, I cannot say I have not looked back but God has carried me through. He has been faithful and now, 3 years later I know that my call to Peru with Christian will be for a lifetime. Not sure when and where I will live in the USA again, at some point, I am sure. But I feel as though I could shout for joy at God's faithfulness to me and my joy in seeing His provision now, 3 years later.
Here is to another 3 years or 30 years... in Peru or wherever the Lord may lead us!!
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