Election facebook status updates over. (Praise the Lord)

On with Life...
One of biggest parts of my life down here in Peru has been the Larco Parish Church. (note the website is a little outdated, we have a roof now and have had for more than a year and half) Out of the current three parish churches that Peru Mission has, this is my Peruvian home church. Since the beginning of my time here, I've been attending Larco, been a part of the Grupo De Jovenes (youth group) as well as participated with the music on Sunday and a few Bible studies throughout. This church has been so amazing to be a part of and to watch God working through the people to see the growth of this congregation and its programs, and to see their sense of community as they said goodbye to one pastor and openly received another pastor, began new bible studies, came together to help more in the community and see the desire to be a stronger church flourish among the people.

One of the ways that the church has seen growth has been in the addition of new members and the development of future leaders in the church as well. Here's the latest edition of the Peru Mission Newsletter that speaks about the new Deacon's program in the church:

Training Future Deacons

The Son of Man did not come to be deaconed but to be a deacon and give his life for a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

The key to Peru Mission’s long-term goals is attaining godly, male, indigenous leadership in our parish communities. Jesus Christ himself serves as our model for healthy church leaders. Everywhere he went Jesus preached and portrayed the good news, loving sinners both in word and in deed. Following this divine example, it is our hope that the kingdom of God will expand as we preach and portray the gospel in our communities. It is noteworthy that the New Testament has preserved the importance of words and deeds in the offices of elder and deacon. Jesus is our deacon (Romans 15:8) and chief shepherd (1 Peter 5:4). Both offices are rooted in the person of Jesus, and both offices are essential for the life and mission of the church.

We have been praying for many years that God would raise up a new generation of Peruvian leaders, and we are beginning to see the answer to our prayers at the Larco Church. There are literally dozens of young, capable men waiting to be trained. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the leadership at Larco Church launched a ten-week deacons’ course last month. At our first meeting we had thirteen eager men ready to learn what it means to be a deacon.

God has also been adding new members to the Larco congregation. With this new growth come new challenges. Pastor Jaime and the elders are spending most of their time in diaconal work such as administration, mercy ministry, and building upkeep. The elders simply cannot keep up with all the needs of the congregation, let alone the surrounding neighborhood. Our hope is that the Larco Church will soon have an army of deacons ready to help the elders lead the church through service to others.
Please pray that God would continue to raise up godly, humble, capable leaders in all branches of the church and mission.

The Election as I have seen it...

I won't lie. I didn't keep up with politics. I didn't really know the platforms for either candidate. I...did...not...vote. I know, Normally I'm all about voting, but this year, I'm either a really bad US Citizen, or just a decent Peruvian resident.

All that is to say that one of the ways that I have been socially/electronically connected to the election this year has been through Facebook, which allows you to write a Status update, to say what you are doing right now or how you're feeling. I went through all my friend's status updates who have posted something about the election. I'm not writing anyone's full name, but all of these are copied directly from facebook.

I am only going to comment on the first status update, because I can't resist it. As for the rest I'm not saying I agree or disagree with any of these (though I do think some are ridiculous, I won't say which) but these are true opinions and this is how I have observed the election.

D. found out that after i vote tomorrow, i can get free Ben & Jerry's and free Starbucks AND a free Krispy Kreme donut. Life rocks. **Commentary on the United States of America. How do you get US citizens to vote? You bribe them with sweets. um... Isn't that what did Hansel and Gretel in?**

L. just waited two hours to vote!! GO MCCAIN! :).

J. just cancelled out a vote for change.

M. walked in and got to vote without standing in a line...oh the joys of living out in the middle of nowhere :).

L. is happy she already voted and was happy to cast her vote for Obama/Biden.

D. is pulling for McCain, but prophesying that Barack Obama is the next President of the U. S.

J. is hoping his friends realize that REGARDLESS of who gets in, the world isn't going to hell in a handbasket.

J. is so excited! Go Obama!!!

M. thinks "President Obama" is difficult to enunciate clearly.

J. thinks it's funny that oprah is quoting the bible in reference to her endorsing obama.

N. is ready for forward movement. Finally.

J.- there goes the neighborhood. To Switzerland I go.

K. is ready for Jesus to come back NOW!

J. -well obama...you've got a lot to live up to. good luck saving the world.

C. just watched history being made.

R. -Finally the change America needs..

V. is asking america why?

N.- God is Sovereign. Even if you don't believe in God we have a system of Checks & Balances. Either way, the country won't fall apart. Everyone chill out.Please.

L. -all the baptists are scrambling to their Left Behind books to see what happens next in the story....

A. is in TEARS! The 1st African-American President? 2008? And it's 4REAL! God had his hands in this along! Say what you want! It was a part of HIS plan!

K. is still proud to be an American. Obama will never take away what this country has accomplished, nor decide by himself it's future.

E. is disappointed in the number of people who are willing to give up on their country simply because they did not get their way. Canada/Mexico deserve you.

S. thinks Hitler gave good speeches too....

X. now believes this really may be a defining moment in American history - this Obama guy is the real deal.

D. thinks that it took more than one president to build this country and it will take more than one to tear it down...

M. is praying for our president-elect.

J.- “At this defining moment change has come to America” (Obama 11/04/08) “National Socialist Movement will bring about a revolutionary change" (Hitler 01/30/37).

S. says: so change has come to America huh? I hope it's as good as people want us to think....

J. is excited to see what a sovereign God can do through President Obama, a sinner just like me.

E. is waiting for all those people who promised they would leave the country to come visit me in mexico!

L. is thinking that living in Chile for the next four years might be a very good option.

H.: Well, America you voted and you got it: Higher taxes and fewer freedoms! But God is in control!!!

A.- I want everyone to go buy a bottle of chill pills and down a few.

S. hopes that now that Obama will be president that he'll at least put his hand over his heart for the national anthem and hold a higher opinion of our country.

K. is scared that her husbands Commander In Chief will be Obama.

B. is SARA PALIN 2012! :).

L. is trying to deal with the fact that obama is going to run our country for 4 years

J. sees that the world is still turning. Weird

H. voted for Michael Jackson. He's black, and white, a woman, and a man... definitely politically correct, and a crowd pleaser :).

M. is sayng, "Promotion does not come from the east or west. God is the judge, he puts one down and sets up another." so lets pray for the one God promoted!

J. is mourning the election of Obama for President. Oh God, please have mercy on our nation

M. is praying for our country and President elect!

S. will be glad to help you move

The Season....has begun.

Globalism and its effects on Peru can be argued to be either good or bad. Today, I argue that globalism is a positive thing.

Why?

Because globalism has brought some of the US traditions of Halloween to Peru. Is that really a good thing? Well....that's also something that could be debated as a positive or negative thing. Today I argue that Halloween traditions coming to Peru are also a good thing.

Why?

Because it means that Plaza Vea (think Peruvian target and an exemplar of globalism in Peru) sells pumpkins for a few weeks before Halloween. Is that a good thing? YES!

Why?

Because I get to make Homemade pumpkin pie!!! Just like my mom's (but a little baby step down). I have successfully carved, diced, boiled, scraped, and pureed two and a half giant pumpkins. The 1/2 because the warmer weather and humidity in Trujillo apparently means that half of your pumpkin will grow mold after 2 days...lesson learned.

2 and 1/2 giant pumpkins means I have enough pumpkin puree to last me until I leave Peru for good next July. So far, I've made mini pumpkin pies, normal sized pumpkin pies, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin lattes, and cinnamon chocolate chip pumpkin bread. Yes, those are just as delicious as they sound. There of course is much more of this to come- including, but not limited to: Pumpkin mousse, pumpkin swirl cheesecake, pumpkin fudge pumpkin cream cheese spread, pumpkin gingersnap parfaits, pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread, pumpkin bars, and yes of course, More homemade Pumpkin pie...

I is for I....am back!

After two days of traveling, three airplanes, 6 hours of layover in Miami, 15 hours of layover in Lima, and 96 pounds worth of luggage for the missionary families (and some for me) which included but was not limited to: Chocolate Chips, Books, Two Stuffed animal turkeys, Velour Lounge Suits, Candles, Coffee Filters, Dance Leotards, a macbook pro, Saffron Rice, Peanut Butter M&Ms, and Batman Costume complete with mask (no...unfortunately not for me) I have returned to my Peruvian home of Trujillo. Phew!

Today is my first day back of teaching, and so far I'm 0 for 2 when it comes to actually teaching. My first class had no students, my second class had 1 student. Third class hopefully will be a charm. Actually I know for a fact that my third class will be a charm because it is one of my all-time favorite classes at SALI. I spent 3 cycles with this class, and then last month could not teach them because of my U.S. travels, and now am going to be "Reunited and it feeeeels so goood!"

My trip to the US was great. I looooooved seeing all my friends again and getting to catch up with so many people! It was nice to also have a "test run" for when I actually go back to the United States for real next July. WHICH, I figured out is why I was so very nervous about traveling to the US in the first place, because I was trying to see what it would be like to leave for good. The second I stepped on the plane I opened my sketchbook to write down my thoughts about leaving. Here's a little peek:

I don't even know where to begin...I don't know how to describe what I'm feeling. I was super nervous about the possibility of there being a problem in Lima with me trying to leave the country for some ridiculous random reason...How strange it is to me that I have been planning this trip so long and expecting and anticipating it and suddenly it has arrived and my anticipation now seems so foreign to me. Even stranger, the thought has crossed my mind many times that this trip is like a "prueba" (trial run) of what it will be like when I leave Peru for good. I've tried to be in tune with my emotions as I leave, like I'm trying to become familiar with a Jackson Pollock painting. I try my best to study it, but in the end I won't be sure what the best method is for remembering it. Do I look at only the general picture and try to remember only the overall image without trying to know the specifics? Or do I intensely study individual lines or splatters of paint, hoping that by getting the fundamentals, I will be able to build something vaguely similar? Of course now what really scares me is that as of about 10 minutes ago, my life in Peru somehow seems like a memory. Only a memory. I am no longer experiencing it daily, but rather remembering people and places and sights and smells and textures and sounds. And perhaps these thoughts are too dramatic. After all, I'm not going to the US forever. I will be there for 9 days and then I will return to the normalcy of my Peruvian life. I know that at least I have 8 more months of my time in Peru, but down in my heart I know what's really scaring me is that one day, this flight will be the end and that my Peruvian life will truly be nothing more than a memory that I will desperately try to recall. And it will make me sad that I can only recall it, and not experience it. I'm so emotionally invested. I can't leave so easily.

Sooooo...looking back, I was pretty freaked out on that plane. Hehe I'm a lot less freaked out now. This US trip was good for me to at least get a glimpse of the future, I feel a lot more prepared now, and I know that yes. It will be incredibly difficult to leave, but not impossible.
So there you have it. That's what was going on emotionally. Take it or leave it.