¡Hola from Arequipa! We’re well into 2022 and less than two weeks away from our next Harding University Latin America group arriving. There are 30 students coming along with Jonathan Roberts (who directs Harding’s financial aid) and our dear friends Debora and Sira (with whom we spent a significant amount of time in the 2020 lockdown).
We’re so thankful for the opportunity to receive a group. We’re thankful for COVID vaccines—both that Peru is over 80% vaccinated and kids started getting vaccinated last week, and that there is a way to safely travel and continue to learn in God’s diverse world. We believe travel and study abroad can be a spiritual discipline. God created this world as a playground for learning, and some of the most important learning we can do is how the diversity of human cultures and languages teaches us something about God. Two questions I keep in mind through HULA: “Can we hear the voice of God in a language, a sensibility, a culture not our own? Can we see the presence of God in the face of a stranger?” (Jonathan Sacks, The Dignity of Difference, 58). Wherever you are, there is incredible diversity. Join us in thinking about how that diversity says something about God and the world we live in and what it means to be humans made in God’s image. I’m working this year on a dissertation for my Doctor of Ministry program and it’s all about study abroad as a spiritual discipline. I’ll share some of what I learn along the way 😁.
It’s summer break here, so we’re finding some activities for the kids. Adileen’s doing tennis lessons and Katie took them on a rock climbing excursion this past Friday. In the meantime, we’re watching and praying as decisions are made about school for 2022 and the school year’s start in March. It looks like kids will finally go back to school in person (for the first time in two years!) for at least three days a week. Will you pray with us that it can move toward a more normal, 5 days/week schedule? And that kids from all socio-economic levels will have the opportunity to go to school? It seems that education is a mess right now, here and other places too. May God renew the energy every day of those teachers giving their lives to the education of kids. May school boards and city councils and governments provide for these teachers. And may we all grow in justice, wellbeing, and joy.
In December we said goodbye to some dear friends, the Bolos family. At the same time, we were so thankful to welcome our dear friends, the Wilkes, back to Arequipa with their three girls. You can follow their important work here. We’re thankful for new friendships (like with the Monrroy family!) and shared faith and all that helps us find contentment and gives joy to everyday life.
On January 3, Kinney turned three (see above Kinney's Paw Patrol, digger, Bluey cake 😂). I turned 34 on January 8. And Adileen turned 6 on January 21. Thank you for your constant giving. For your prayers. For being with us in spirit and mission. Thank you for the Christmas cards and gift cards and birthday wishes. Thank you.
In this issue of the newsletter I’ll share two articles. The first is an amazing story of the church here doing an adobada to help buy a new hearing aid for our Venezuelan friend Jose—and how so many of you chipped in to quadruple what was raised. Second, an update about the amazing work Paty has led with marginalized small-business owners for CUDA microfinance. It’s in the midst of the chaos, darkness, and corruption that seeds of the kingdom—life, wellbeing, light—burst forth. Resurrection is all around us.
God, open our eyes. Teach us to see.
