One of the most difficult things about being a missionary is a very basic fact. We are American. We were born there, grew up there, understand how to function there, and will always have significant connections there. We will never stop being American in some aspect, no matter how much time we spend elsewhere or how hard we try to open our minds to new perspectives.
A New Year, A New Style
A word about the new look. First of all, we hope you, the reader, dig it. Our newsletters are for your benefit. The bit of extra work we put into this little publication is meant to make your reading experience more than just informational. And we figure, if we’re going to do something, we might as well kick it up a notch.
Other Items of Interest: End of 2009
A Peruvian Christmas
Last year, we had only been in Peru for a few months when the holiday season rolled around. We were able to get our homes decorated and a few American-style treats made, but we were still very early in the learning curve to knowing what we could and could not do here. We also had very little exposure to a typical Peruvian family’s Christmas celebration. However, this year, we know quite a bit more about the culture and have been able to learn from our friends as we go.
Chocolatadas
In our first full year in Arequipa we have tried hard to integrate ourselves in the communities of Alto Selva Alegre and Miraflores. Through ICDU we have opened libraries and taught seminars on urban gardening. For Christmas we decided to take the advice of our Peruvian friends and throw two parties, one at our library in A.S.A and one close to a new library up in Miraflores. These traditional holiday parties, called chocolatadas, were mainly for the kids, but it gave us a great opportunity to meet more of our neighbors and spread the word of what ICDU is about here in Arequipa.
Bapteezy
We’ve enjoyed the girls’ experience of our first baptism. On the way to the water, Shaye was very curious about Jose Luis getting “babertized.” Most often since that day, when Ana prays she thanks God for “Jose Luis and bapteezy in the water.” The ritual made quite an impression on the kids—and on us as well.
Breaking In
During our time of preparation for the field, our team studied several different books in an effort to better clarify how we would approach the mission here in Arequipa. Some things we knew wouldn’t apply culturally, but we were able to glean quite a few pearls of wisdom in how to approach church planting, cultivation, discipleship and outreach.
What's to Come
Often we find ourselves using the newsletter to recap the month. In fact, Greg’s article is aimed at keeping you updated with our work. However, we also have a number of things that we are planning and preparing for right now, though they have yet to come to fruition, and we want you to know about them. What I hope you all do with this article is make a list of our upcoming projects and begin praying for them. We are still in the early planning stages with some of these and could use guidance. These are in no particular order, which is my favorite way to handle things.
Availability
God designed relationship with a great purpose in mind. He wants to be in relationship with us, and we are to spread his kingdom by forming relationships with others. That is what my life is about no matter what part of the world I am in. I have had many frustrating times here in Peru because of my inadequacy with the language and learning to juggle my duties of mother and evangelist. I am an extrovert by nature, and I decided this past month that I would dive in to this Peruvian relationship thing full force. I feel like God heard my prayers and blessed my availability.
The Spinny Rainbow Wheel
When I’m pushing my Mac’s processor, a little rainbow hued circle appears, spinning where my cursor should be. It lets me know that the computer is working, but it’s going to be a moment before I can do much else. Sometimes I have the feeling that little icon is hovering around my head. We have a couple of things in the works here that are just waiting for the processor to catch up.