AIM2Chile: A Very Delinquent Update

¡Hola! Sorry for the slowness on an actual blog post. Every day that I've mentally thought "I'll write a blog update today" something has come up. But today I have time, and today begins the first day of my fourth week here. Three weeks are complete of my nine week stay so today I'll give y'all a rundown of the first third of my stay here in this beautiful city in this beautiful country filled with beautiful people.

I arrived on the 21st of May, worn out from flying in overnight. I spent the first few days enjoying the gracious hospitality of the Hayes family, recuperating from jet lag, learning about cultural differences etc. That Sunday was a big day. I went to my first service here in Concepcion (the church is in a suburb of sorts called Talcahuano) and had the opportunity to greet the church. Bro. Hayes preached and there was a great move of the Holy Ghost. The church here in Talcahuano is a beautiful church - not in terms of the beauty of the building or other things like that (which it is pretty, I'm not saying it's not) but in that it is a made up of beautiful people who love God and love people. They love to worship and tell people about Jesus. After service we went to eat at the Firmani house and moved my stuff in. Pastor Firmani is the pastor here in Talcahuano. I'm living with his family and primarily helping here in this church. If you'd like to view any of our services you can catch them live at about 8:30 CDT or archived with the following link http://www.vidasinlimite.cl/concepcion/index.php/ustream-online

Since I have been here I have had the opportunity to help in several of the cell groups within the church. In addition to their regular services the church has a system of small groups that meet within houses. The groups are designed to be very small so that people can really get to know each other. The groups meet weekly in different houses and normally begin with a time of worship and testimony, then a lesson from a member of the group followed by prayer and then conclude with food. The idea is that you can bring friends and there they can really connect personally with the church and then hopefully will become a member of the church, receive the Holy Ghost etc. This has been working very well for them. I've been blessed with the chance to teach in two of these groups and visit a couple others. I've visited and/or taught in the young ladies group, the campus ministry group, and two ladies groups so far. These groups are a blessing to the church and every person who comes into contact with them.

Another interesting thing I'm currently doing is helping at the University of the Bio Bio with their English program. Through a series of random events I've ended up helping with an English conversation circle twice a week at the University. One of the students has already promised to come to an event at the church later this month. Wasn't something I was expecting to do but it's been interesting nonetheless. Outreach doesn't always look like we expect it to.

I've also had the opportunity to speak in a service, praise sing, teach in a really cool Sunday School event and muddle through a really awful solo in church on Sunday. When someone asks if you sing, do not assume they mean "with a group" because they probably mean a solo for which you'll also have to play haha. Teaching is Spanish is an interesting new experience. It's hard not to just rely completely on reading my notes aloud but I think I'm starting to get better at it. It's easy to forget important words when you're speaking for longer than a couple minutes but I'm learning! 

The Sunday School event was especially interesting because I got to learn about a different culture as well. Here near the church is a Gypsy camp and the church has been doing some outreach. Many Gypsy children came to the Sunday School event. We played games, sang, worshipped, ate, and had a lesson about when Jesus ate with sinners, and how He loves everyone, not just the perfect people and wants to share more than just our food but our lives as well. Many children were praying and I pray lives were changed. Please pray that God would continue to open doors into the Gypsy community here.

Everyone here is very friendly so when I have down time it's easy to find someone to go exploring with. There are beautiful beaches and wonderful food to be had here and even though it seems like I'm just relaxing, every time I go out with friends I learn a lot of new Spanish words so I'm going to call them educational adventures. It's lots of fun to make new friends from new cultures and countries.

Some awesome things are coming up and I promise to update the blog more often. My first official monthly report will be due next week so be looking for that! Though it'll include some of the same things as this blog, so be prepared for some deja vu. I'll leave you with this gorgeous photo I took yesterday. Please continue to pray for the beautiful country of Chile.

Giving What You Cannot Keep

Read that. Let it sink in. Think about it and then keep reading. 

Ok, have you really thought about it? I can't stop thinking about it. Have I been a fool. I have. I know I have. I've tried to keep what I cannot keep, ignoring what I cannot lose. Jim Elliot, evangelical missionary, is said to be the author of these convicting words and he indeed lived by them, giving his life in an attempt to bring the gospel to a violet tribe in Ecuador. His life and his words challenge me. They haunt me. They make me think about every action, every moment of my day. 

I first heard these words at General Conference and I can't get them out of my mind. At first I only looked at them with regard to money as the quote was read right before a (RECORD BREAKING $4.3 MILLION) offering. I looked at it and I thought of the clothes, the shoes, the knick knacks, and the stuff I'd bought in attempt to keep my money, to sit it around me, to wear it, to enjoy it. Oh the fool I've been. I can't keep my money. It's not my money. It's God's money. I've given but not enough. Money is simply a tool. It's not something to collect or show off. It's a tool and how will I use it? I should use it for the things of God. It can be used to build churches, to support missionaries, to feed orphans, and so much more. Those things cannot be lost. They are of the Kingdom. They are eternal. That's how a wise me should spend my money.

Money. That's obvious. Then I thought longer. Time. Time is another thing I try to keep and use for my own purposes when instead I should give it. How much time do I spend on Facebook when I could read my Bible or another edifying book? How much time do I spend in my own busyness when I could be reaching out, telling other's about Jesus? How often do I want to just enjoy my dinner instead of taking time and making friends with the waitress and inviting her to church? Are my conversations frivolous or do I spend time encouraging my friends? How do I spend my time? It's not mine. It can't be kept. The clock just keeps ticking, ticking, ticking. But it can be used to gain the Kingdom, to reach souls with no price.

Money. Time. Those are easy. They're here, they're now, they're short term and simple to understand. Then I thought bigger. What will I do with my life? My career? Will they be used for Jesus or just to gain a paycheck? I want my life to be spent for Him, giving up me to show others Him. Life is but a vapor and can't be kept so why not give it for Him who has life eternal. 

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

Jim Elliot

For the Love of General Conference

Fall is my favorite time of year! It brings cooler weather, pumpkin everything, boots, tights, scarves, MY BIRTHDAY, and my favorite event of the year: General Conference. GC is my favorite event of the year and it's NEXT WEEK! I'm super pumped and so I'm going to dedicate a whole post to recounting some of the many reasons I love GC. And when I say I love GC I mean the following phrase will be uttered by my someday husband during his vows or the deal's off, "I promise to take Lana to General Conference every year so long as health and finances allow." I've only missed one so far in my my life and I don't plan on that number going up any time soon.

One of my favorite non spiritual parts of GC is getting to travel to various locations around North America. Just going to GC I've been to: Salt Lake City, UT; Louisville, KY; Milwaukee, WI; Des Moines, IA; San Antonio, TX; Detroit, MN; Greensboro, NC; Nashville, TN; Birmingham, AL; Phoenix, AZ; Toronto, ON; Richmond, VA; Columbus, OH; Tampa, FL; St. Louis, MO; and Houston, TX. It's so fun to get to explore new parts of the US and Canada while spending time with people of like, precious faith.

I also love the opportunity to hear and mingle with ministers I'd normally never have a chance to hear. I grew up getting to hear Bro. Urshan, Bro. Haney, Bro. Stoneking, Bro. Billy Cole, Bro. Steve Willoughby, Sis. Vesta Mangun, and so many others. What a heritage we have and what a great opportunity to hear some of the most anointed voices in Pentecost. Oh how I cherish these opportunities. How I cherish the hours and hours I've spent in the global missions section getting to chat and mingle with our missionaries -- my heroes! 

Another thing I love is getting to spend several days surrounded by THOUSANDS of apostolic believers. It's so fun to walk down the street and be greeted by "strangers" who are our brothers and sisters in Christ! "Praise the Lord" is a common greeting around town all throughout conference. I'm always amazed at conference by how friendly everyone is. Often I find myself chatting with strangers as if I've known them my whole life. It's such a place of unity and kindred spirits. It's amazing to join together and worship with so many fellow believers! I remember in Florida being on a trolley and having a sing along of several hymnal songs with everyone on the trolley. And yes we sang page 369 if you know what that is!

It's also amazing what an explosive atmosphere there is at GC. When people gather together in unity powerful things happen. One of the most life changing evenings of my life occurred in Columbus, OH in 2006. Thanks to unity and many months of work there was a powerful crusade service on Sunday night wherein over 1000 people received the gift of the Holy Ghost in one service here in the United States. Did I see every one of those people receive it myself? No, but I prayed with several who received it in the balcony! We like to say that things like that only happen over seas, that America is too hard, but Columbus, OH proved to many that if we work together it can happen here too so we should go ahead and dream big! If we dream big, God will do big things!

I could ramble on further but I won't. Please, comment with your favorite conference memory and let me know if you're going to St. Louis next week! Hope to see you there!!

Potential and Purpose

We've been having revival with Rev. Tim Hadden the last few weeks and it's been amazing! He mentioned something in one of his sermons that hit me in the heart and I can't stop thinking about it. It wasn't even his main point but it's something to think about. Rev. Hadden was preaching and teaching on the purpose of light and was addressing the point that EVERYTHING God creates has a purpose. That includes you and me, not just the plants and animals. 

Not only does God create things with purpose; He expects His creations to fulfill their potential. If you look at the parable of the fig tree in Luke 13 God obviously has no use for the fig tree if it's not going to produce. I got to thinking about that and can't get away from it. What if I'm not fulfilling my potential? What if I'm not living up to my purpose? Will I be cut down? If you look at the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 it's plain that God expects His servants to fulfill their potential. His words for the servant who didn't use his talents were especially harsh. The servant who buried his talents was called a "wicked and slothful servant" (Matthew 25:25). God help me not to be that "wicked and slothful servant." So I challenge you today to take stock of your life and evaluate what God has given you, what your purpose is and if you're fulfilling it because I personally want to be called a "good and faithful servant" and I'm sure you do too!! Join me. Let's make sure we fulfill our purpose for the Kingdom!

One Hair-Raising Anniversary

One year ago today my life changed when the life of one of my dearest friends was drastically altered. Like the sisters we are we both went on AYC trips last summer, her to the Dominican Republic and me to Peru, however her trip ended a bit differently than mine.

Every AYC trip includes a bit of time for fun and for the DR trip that fun included go-cart racing. Wednesday afternoon, July 3, 2013 Milla got on a go-cart just like she had plenty of other times in her life. She fastened her seatbelt, checked that her hair was secure and then smiled for the camera.

And with that the race was on and Milla raced towards something she never imagined...

Somewhere on that course her carefully bound up hair, her beautiful, knee-length, thick, lustrous glory, came tumbling down and every Apostolic woman's worst nightmare occurred. That glorious hair got caught in the moving parts of the go cart and was ripped from her head taking the majority of her scalp with it.

I remember when I found out. I called our other "sisters" and we cried and cried and cried for Milla and for the loss of her beautiful hair. I'll be honest. I questioned how God could let that happen. Her beautiful hair! Her glory! Her scalp! How? Why? Oh how I questioned, but at the time I didn't know the whole story. All I could see was this:

And so I prayed, and I cried and I did what I could to help: meeting her at the airport, holding her hand and praying.

Only over time would I see the full picture. You see God allowed this to happen but He also had a plan for it. He knows the end from the beginning and had prepared her for that moment from her birth. Some of these preparations were minor in the scheme of life and others had seemed like problems up until this point while others were a result of a lifetime of labor by her, but all of these things worked together to keep her safe.

Something Milla had complained to me about over the years was her neck. It's thick and in her eyes not very graceful or feminine, but God made that neck with July 3rd, 2013 in mind. Her thick muscular neck may not have looked God to her over the years but as unspeakable force was applied to it and her scalp was ripped from her head that neck stood firm protecting her from a broken neck, paralysis or even death.

The preparations went deeper still though. God prepared her all the way to her blood. My sweet Milla's blood has too many platelets. Platelets are important but with too many you're faced with severe headaches if you become dehydrated and a you face a higher risk of blood clots as platelets are the part of the blood that helps it clot. Normally you don't want your blood to clot but if you've sustained a massive head trauma clotting is exactly what you want and exactly what normally doesn't happen. Head injuries bleed like no other but with Milla's excessive platelets the blood was able to clot and the bleeding was slowed enough that she didn't bleed to death on that race course.

Further preparing Milla for July 3rd, 2013 was her many years of Bible quizzing. As she struggled to stay conscious en route to the hospital it was the years of quizzing that kept her going as she quoted verses and  sang to keep herself alert and conscious. God prepared her in many ways for that day and her years of living for Him prepared her as well. He provided her with peace in the midst of everything as well, allowing her to rest in the knowledge that He was not punishing her and it was not her fault but simply some piece of a bigger picture. Milla easily could have died that day in the Dominican but she didn't because God had a plan. No matter how horrible the storm you're facing is always know that He is in control and He has prepared you for the storm and will see you through.

Milla's hair hasn't grown back yet, in case you're wondering but I know God has a reason. So for now she's wearing adorable pig tails from the part that didn't get pulled out and trusting God and sharing His great protection everywhere she goes. 

I don't know how the story's going to end for Milla but I'm so glad that God had planned all along for July 3rd, 2013. Happy Anniversary of living and thriving Milla. I hope you make it back to the DR some day!! 

Holiness: Love for my Beloved

Do you ever wear pants? Can you cut your hair? Can you wear makeup? Why don't you wear jewelry? Never ending questions, day after day after day they ask with curiosity and sometimes scorn. And day after day my answers surprise them when I tell them yes I can wear pants, jewelry or make up and yes I can cut my hair. They often laugh when I tell them I can but I choose not too as they assume I'm simply brainwashed into believing it's my own choice. I can do any thing they might ask I am after all physically capable of doing so however out of love for my King I choose not to. It's all a choice. The real question is why I make that choice. 

Why? That's the question I love to answer. Ask me why I do or don't do anything with regard to modesty or holiness and the answer is always the same. I love Jesus and so I choose to dress or act in ways that show my love for Him. You see, we are the Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25-27) and when a bride loves her husband it is her desire to please him. On that most basic level it is my desire that Jesus be pleased with me and so I live and dress in a way that I hope will be pleasing to Him. Holiness is an outward expression of my inward love for Jesus. It's an expression of my desire to please Him and furthermore to be like Him. 

There's an interesting phenomenon that occurs when a couple has been together for long enough. The more time they spend together the more alike they become. I rememberwhen I was dating my first boyfriend I started picking up habits and likes and dislikes from him. For a simple example I used to hate sausage pizza. After a while though his favorite became my favorite and I still like sausage pizza years later. The same is true with our relationship with Christ. The more time we spend together the more alike we become. Our likes and dislikes become the same. Our desires become the same. We become alike. 

However there is a key difference in this relationship. In my relationship with Christ only one of us can change and that's me. In Malachi 3:6 He declared that He is The Lord and He changes not! Scripture is clear that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. So if He does not change and is always the same then there is only one way that we can become alike. I have to be the one that changes. I have to become like Him. For us to be like a long married couple becoming alike over time then I must change. I must become like Him. And if I am going to be like Him then I must know what He is like. 

There are many good words that can be used to describe The Lord: loving, powerful, wonderful, omniscient, the list could go on for all eternity. However there is one trait that stands out. The angels cry out one word to describe Him: holy. Of all the things God is his holiness is one of the most oft mentioned. The angels cry out "holy, holy, holy" and as Sproul put it “The Bible says that God is holy, holy, holy. Not that He is merely holy, or even holy, holy. He is holy, holy, holy. The Bible never says that God is love, love, love, or mercy, mercy, mercy, or wrath, wrath, wrath, or justice, justice, justice. It does say that He is holy, holy, holy, the whole earth is full of His glory.” And so if I'm going to become like Him that means I must become holy. In His word He even tells to be "holy for [He] is holy" (1 Peter 1:15). So the more time I spend with Him, and the more like Him I become then the more holy I become. 

And so because I love Him I do what I know will please Him. Because I love Him I spend time with Him. And when I spend time with Him I become like Him. And to be like Him is to be holy, to act holy, and to live holy. I don't dress like I do because of rules. I don't dress like I do or act like I do because a man told me to. And contrary to one popular opinion I don't dress like I do to protect the men from their own lustful ways (another post for another day). I dress and act like I do because I love Jesus and I want to please Him and be like Him. "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine" (Song of Solomon 3:6) and I want to make my Beloved happy and I want to be like Hm. And so I do all things, not even just the outwardly obvious things like clothing, with a desire to please Him because I love Him. So when you want to know why I do something there is a simple one word answer: LOVE. 

This was written as an answer to an assignment by my pastor to the young people and college and career as part of a series he is teaching. To listen to that series or any other sermon from our church click here. If you attend my church and have read this whole thing I apologize as you'll be hearing it again on Wednesday night. 

The Powerful Potential of Plastic Chairs

Chairs before service in the last church we visited in Lima, Peru

You've all seen them -- plastic garden chairs, the seemingly official seating choice of churches on the "foreign" field. You'll find them in churches large and churches small, though why I've never known. Why those chairs in particular? Why not pews, even the most basic wooden bench, they can't be that expensive, says my American brain?

But there's a flaw in my American brain. My brain likes clean, neat spaces, rows that don't get messed up, and easily determined seating capacities. My brain thinks inside the box.

Outside the box is found the answer. Plastic chairs allow you to start with 50 chairs for those you know will show but when God shows up and 100s more arrive you can add more rows until you reach the door. When there are more people than chairs you put them up and stand -- allowing more people in God's house. When the sermon has ended and the people gather eagerly to pray you can get them out of the way -- allowing all to gather at the altar without the limiting confines of immobile pews creating an arbitrary size limit on the altar area.

Plastic chairs take the limits off. Plastic chairs are full of potential.

Lord help me to take the limits off. Help me think outside the box.

Our Song

Our song -- every couple has one -- that special song that makes you think of the other person. Maybe it's the song you heard on your first date. Maybe it's a song that tells a story similar to your own. Maybe it's just a song you both like. It gives you goose bumps to hear it and leaves you soft and sentimental, maybe a little misty eyed. It's a different song for everyone, but that's what makes it special. 

Right now I don't just have one song that's "our song." There's several. And they change often. But there's always at least one -- special to where our relationship is right now. There's always at least one song, usually several that make my heart skip a bit and my eyes mist. But these aren't songs that bring to mind a special person. No these are songs that make my heart flip thinking of my dearest love, the one who laid it all down for me, the lover of my soul, my one and only savior, Jesus.

Right now these are our songs, songs that make me stop anything I'm doing and cry in thanks, songs that make me feel His love, songs that remind me of all He's done and all I get to do.

Closer

"What Can I Do?"

You Are Holy

Victor's Crown

So, those are "our songs" right now. What are some of yours? Maybe I'll find another one to add to my list. Keep worshipping my friends. Keep communing with Him. And when you find that song that makes you stop and pray no matter what you're supposed to be doing listen to it often!

New Year

A new year. A fresh start. A blank slate there for writing on. A chance to improve and put the failures of the past behind. This day is so full of promise. The world is full of people with zeal for changes and self improvement. A month from now most have failed but that doesn't have to be you -- or me. 2014 can be different. 

2013 was an interesting year full of many highs but not all I would have wanted it to be. It was a year of triumphs and tears. A year in which I moved forward in many ways and found myself lacking in others. But today is a new day. A day to go higher. A day to go further. A day to do all He asks me to do. So this year I have one word on my heart: Faithful. A reminder that He is always faithful and a reminder to myself to be faithful in the small things that are easy to forget. Faithful.

This year I'm not posting my resolutions publicly but I will say I've taken steps to ensure they go beyond today -- at least the truly important ones. Step 1 is accountability. I'm working together with friends on some of the same things to make sure we keep each other on target. Step 2 is making the goals manageable -- each month has it's own goal -- often to be determined by the previous month's success. Don't let 2014 be another year wasted. Go. Do. Create. Make it great. It's a whole new year with 365 days to use for His glory!

Giving and the Wonders of Social Media

I'm a fan of social media. It's a fact and those who know me know it well. It has its faults and issues I'll admit. But it has some wonderful qualities as well. I'll address the flaws at some later date but today I'd like to talk about the good sides.

It's magical the people you can come in contact with who you'd ordinarily never meet. Several weeks ago I was over on Evy's Tree's blog and she featured a fundraiser she was doing to help fund an adoption for Emmy over at It's Just Emmy. I'd never encountered Emmy and her blog nor the amazing adoption loving community on Instagram. I didn't need any more hoodies so I didn't buy one even though I found Emmy's story touching. However as I clicked through some of her other posts I found another fundraiser. This one was for a print of a lovely quote by Amy Lou. 

When the Lord places a calling on your life He also provides the map & the lamp to guide your path. All you have to do is follow.

I loved it and bought it immediately. Later on I got the print and Amy Lou had sent me several extras as well. The generosity this stranger had astounded me. To do a fundraiser for someone whom I believe she's never met AND through in extras with purchases she was already making no profit on was amazing. 

As I continued to look at her posts and those of others I was inspired by their giving ways and the friendships formed among these women. I watched in amazement as Emmy has continued to host fundraisers for other adoptive parents after sweet Georgia's adoption was fully funded. I watched strangers give to people they'd never met. Somewhere along the way their attitudes rubbed off on me. Not only have they inspired me to make time to be crafty and create beauty instead of worrying about making it perfect they have also inspired me to give. This week I found myself reading a post by someone on Facebook who frankly occasionally annoys me. However a post that would previously have irritated me instead inspired sympathy. I still have to check my attitude on a regular basis but after the influence of these lovely ladies I instead decided to find a way to bless this person who is obviously going through a rough patch. Later on I was shopping and about to buy a second pair of boots (obviously a want not a need) and then remembered a little girl from my church's bus route wearing sandals last night when it was 35 degrees outside and headed over to find a pair of flats for her instead. 

I don't say this for you all to know that I did something "good" but to marvel at the impact these giving ladies that I've never met have had on me. Social media can be a time wasting, depressing technology, but it can also connect us with people better than we might without. It can allow others to influence us and vice versa. It's amazing. Find someone who makes you want to be a better person and follow them. Let their light ignite yours.

AYC Peru: Want to Help? Pray!

As our AYC trip swiftly approaches I am grateful for everyone who has prayed, donated, and spoken many words of encouragement. I have no doubt the next few weeks will change my life altogether for the better. I have one final request though: keep praying!

Bro. Jury (our chaperone) sent us the following prayer focus that I'd like to share with you all.

1. Protection (from thieves, accidents, diseases, etc)
2. God opens the way before us (this includes the ease of our travels without problems i.e. airport security, no mechanical difficulties or delays, etc.)
3. Favor (for God to grant us favor first of all with HIM, with the church and the heathen, business and otherwise, wherever we go)
4. That God will make us a blessing to His church and people, use as instruments for His Glory
5. That people will come to know Him as a result of our efforts
6. That God will teach us things through our Brethren whom we will get to know and know God better as a result

All of these are important things, but I would especially like to ask you all to pray for our protection. I have had a friend experience a bad accident on another AYC trip (But my God had his hand of protection on her still -- blog post to come detailing His divine work) and I've known of many who have had to spend part of their trips in hotel rooms sick with this virus or that illness. 

We covet and appreciate your prayers during this endeavor and are confident that God will encamp angels round about us during this journey. Pray that many people will be touched and blessed by God in Peru and that both the Peruvian church and the AYC Peru team would be forever impacted. Continue to pray for AYC Dominican Republic today -- they have made it back to Miami and are all traveling home today, and for AYC El Salvador -- on the ground until next Monday! 

AYC Peru: FAQ

I just want to take a minute to answer some of the frequently asked questions about my trip. This post is accurate as of it's posting but information is subject to change as there are still many things we don't know.

What organization you traveling with? I'm traveling with Apostolic Youth Corps, a division of the United Pentecostal Church International. AYC is a combined effort between the Global Missions Division and the General Youth Division to send young people overseas to be an active part in missions work. This particular trip is also sponsored by another division of the UPCI, Campus Ministry International. 

Do you know anyone you're going with? I do not know one soul on the trip personally. Through facebook, texting, and phone calls I have become good friends with two of my group members but we have yet to actually meet. I know of a few of the people through mutual acquaintances but essentially I'm going with 25 strangers.

How many people are in your group? As best as I can figure from counting email addresses there are 23 of us in the group. We will be traveling with 2 chaperones, David and Holly Jury, and with the Showalters, our host missionaries.

When are you leaving? We depart on Friday July 12 from Houston. We'll be flying out about 4 in the afternoon. The group will assemble in Houston throughout the day and leave together at that time. We will arrive in Lima that night at about 10:30.

How long is the flight? The flight from Houston to Lima is 6 hours 30 min. It is direct and they claim they're going to feed us. It will be the longest I've ever flown and the highest altitude, so prayers for my sensitive ears are appreciated.

How long will you be there? We have 9 actual days in the country plus 2 travel days. We will be actively in Peru doing things other than sitting on planes from July 13-July 21. 

Where in Peru are you going? We are going to Lima, Arequipa, Juliaca, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Cuzco, and Macchu Picchu.

What are you going to be doing? Honestly, I don't really know. Whatever they tell us to do haha. I do know that we are going to be participating in at least one church service in every place except Macchu Picchu. We will even be in a service on a UPCI Island Church in the Uros man made Islands. Because our trip is sponsored by CMI it is probably safe to assume we will do some work in colleges and universities there. I also know we will be doing evangelism. There is sight seeing on the schedule but except for Macchu Picchu it is combined with street evangelism, etc. No time will be wasted.

Will you have access to the internet? At times yes. The two hotels we know so far do claim to have wifi but I will not be paying international data charges so access will be limited to when wifi is available.

Are you going to be uploading pictures while you're there? When wifi is available I will upload pictures to Instagram (which will also post to my facebook and my twitter feed). I also plan to blog as time and internet connections allow.

Will you have your phone? Yes BUT it will be in airplane mode all the time. Phone calls will cost me $2.89 a minute, sending a text will cost me $0.50 and receiving one will cost $0.05. DO NOT TEXT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you would like to send me a message you may either facebook message me or download the app WhatsApp and send me messages that way.

Got more questions? Post them in the comments! That's all for now folks!

AYC Peru: It's almost here!

Warning: This post may be a bit rambling; you have been warned!

So, according to my countdown app, there are currently 8 days, 22 hours, 19 minutes and 41 seconds remaining until my flight leaves Tulsa (assuming it's not delayed...I am flying American so that is questionable). There are so many thoughts and emotions flowing through my poor brain right now that  I don't think I can begin to express them all here -- but I'm going to try.

Disbelief: A portion of my brain is simply incredulous that I, yes little ol' me, am going to be in Peru in just over a week. I have dreamed of going to Peru for years but for a variety of reasons have never thought I'd ever see foreign soil. One former man of God in my life told me upon hearing of my call to the Spanish speaking portion of the world that my calling didn't mean I'd ever go anywhere -- I'd probably just help in a Spanish church in the states and I'd probably never leave the Oklahoma area. Another person in my life told me that "all young people feel called to missions but most never go so don't get my hopes up." So, needless to say, I dreamed about it but never thought I'd ever actually go. Actually it was just a week ago today that my brain finally accepted the reality that I am going to Peru. I was shelving books at McFarlin library when it just hit me that I'm really going to Peru! I almost ran around the library screaming but I instead settled for listening to Shout Now Radio on Pandora and having a praise break while I shelved (if anyone saw me I'm not crazy, just excited). I just can't quite believe that I'm going to South America in less than 9 days!!

1 Thessalonians 5:24

Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.

King James Version

Excitement: So I don't want to do anything these days. I just want to pack and talk about my trip and obsess over how much longer it is 'til I'm in Lima! I've already become pretty good friends with two of the people I'm going with and I can't wait to meet them and spend 6.5 hours on a plane with them while we drive everyone else around us nuts because we won't shut up. (But at least we won't be singing Disney songs, right Justin? I may bring a pillow just to smother those people...) I cannot focus on anything I'm just too excited!!!

Fear: I'm not afraid of getting kidnapped, murdered or lost but I am worried about many silly things. I'm afraid of losing my passport, forgetting something important, getting sick because of how bad the flight hurts my ears, getting sick in general, embarrassing myself, being the least spiritual person in the group, forgetting every word of Spanish I've ever learned, eating guinea pig, being the most out of shape and slowing the group down, having an asthma attack on Macchu Picchu, somehow sinking an island in the Uros Islands, and a thousand million other things. It'll all be ok though!!

Impatience: Since I began typing this the countdown has shifted down to 8 days, 21 hours, 53 minutes, and 35 seconds. Can time move any slower? Can it be next Friday yet? I'm ready to go! Let's go! Let's do this thing! Are we there yet? Come on! I've got things to do, places to go and people to tell about Jesus!!

So anyways! I'm excited! Expect another post today or tomorrow detailing where we're going etc! Also, if you sent me a donation and I haven't sent you a thank you note I promise you will get it before I leave! It's been a crazy several months with school and two jobs and I've gotten behind! You'll get it though!! :-)

AYC Update

I'm sure many of you remember the post where I first poured out my soul about the desire to go to Peru with Apostolic Youth Corps this summer. Here's your update. I was officially accepted to this tiny trip of 16 students from the US and Canada. I don't know a soul that is going and it will be my first time outside of the US and Canada so I'm both excited and terrified. Now the pressing matter in money. The first payment of $1100 is due one month from today and will pay for our airfare to and from Peru (the return flight is overnight, oh my....) and as it stands I'm only about 35% funded for that first payment. I still need about $700. I know God is going to provide this but I don't know how haha. I'm running a 5K on 4/20 but have very few sponsors. I'm going to be selling Mazzio's Coupon books as well but they aren't in yet. I'm asking all of you to consider sponsoring me or just donating to the cause. I have a Paypal set up just for my trip and it is lana-bible@utulsa.edu. You can gift money to that account and I would be thrilled. I love you all and am looking forward to sharing this journey with you!

Food Friday: Baked Potato Soup

As part of my goal to cook more now that the semester is over I've decided to jump on the "Food Friday" bandwagon. Just a warning the following recipe is not suitable for those trying to lose weight, fight heart disease, etc. :-) The pictures alone may clog your arteries. Enjoy.

On cold evenings when we have a little time to spare my family loves to enjoy a good pot of baked potato soup. This particular version is especially delicious (and fattening). Hint: if a recipe starts with melting a stick or more of butter it's good.

Oh wait, that butter was just to tantalize you. First you need to assemble your ingredients.

Ingredients:

4        large baking potatoes

2/3 c.   butter or margarine

2/3 c.   flour

6 c.     milk

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

4        green onions, chopped

12       slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 c.     shredded Cheddar cheese (additional for garnish)

8 oz.    sour cream

Directions:

Bake potatoes (hint do this several hours ahead, peeling and dicing freshly baked potatoes can remove your fingerprints and prepare you for a life of crime).

Melt butter. Add flour until smooth. Cook 1 min. stirring constantly. Gradually add milk. Turn to medium heat until thick and bubbly.

Add potatoes (peeled and diced), salt, pepper, a handful of green onion, 1/2 c. bacon, and cheese. Cook until hot. Stir in sour cream. If too thick, add milk to your desired consistency.

Garnish with cheese, green onions and bacon and ENJOY!

You Go!

Hello all. It has been ages. I've returned to tell you a story. A long time ago there was a little girl. She had blonde hair, blue eyes, and as one old preacher said, a kissing smile. She was cute. But even at the age of five she had more than ruffles and bows on her mind and heart. Her family faithfully attended General Conference every year. Every year during the foreign missions service she would sit there primly, dreaming of responding to the alter call for new missionaries and knowing she was way to little. After services they would go to the exhibits and if her parents lost her they knew she would be in the Foreign Missions area chatting with the missionaries. All her life the missionaries were her heroes. She loved to hear them talk and dreamed of visiting their countries. She dreamed of people getting the Holy Ghost and of a man, preaching in Spanish about el fuego del Spirito Santo (the fire of the Holy Ghost). And yet she wondered why God never sent an angel down or any such amazing thing to call her. She remembered sitting at the table with Nixes and dreaming of visiting them in Peru. She remembered all this and she longed to go but somehow she was convinced she hadn't been called. Then one day in deep prayer she realized she had been called for so long that she simply didn't realize because she couldn't remember NOT being called. That little girl grew up, gone is the blonde hair and blue eyes. Still her heart longs for Peru. Life is what it is and she's still to young to just run off to another country as a full time missionary. But she has wanted to do an AYC trip for a long time. Each summer though the time wasn't right and Peru wasn't on the list and she was determined to go there. For a while she gave up. And then the tugging to go on an AYC trip returned. And so she decided to start saving vacation time for the Summer of 2013, not knowing where the destinations were but knowing 2013 was her last summer before adult life set in. The summer before senior year seemed like the perfect time and so she started saving those vacation days. Then she decided to check the AYC website. And she found they had posted the 2013 destinations. And there on the list, towards the bottom was Peru. The letters leaped out at her and she it was time for her to go. Or should I say it's time for me to go. 

July 12-22, 2013

Peru

Est. Cost $3000

Will you help me go? Will you donate? Will you pray? Will you give me fundraising ideas? Will you help me go? Many obstacles stand in the way and most of all I would ask that you pray for my father. I am his baby girl and he worries about me. I send him a text when I get places so he knows I'm ok. Peru would be hard for him to handle. But the LORD is able to give peace. So pray with me! Thank you and if you are 16-35 YOU GO!

How Much Does the Love of God Cost?

¿Cuánto cuesta el amor de Dios? Cuesta nada pero costó la vida de Jesús. 

How much does the love of God cost? It costs nothing but it cost the life of Jesus.

I love Him.

I love Him.

Because He first loved me.

And purchased my salvation on Calvary.

Learning Spanish has been such a beautiful thing for me. I've come to the point that I love to worship and pray in Spanish. It's so much more real even though I do make mistakes sometimes. I give so much more thought to the meaning of what I'm saying. I've realized that it becomes easy for words to become meaningless. We use them so much we don't think about it. We forget their meaning and we forget such important things. We say things over and over but do we even know what we're saying anymore? It's so easy to speak the words and not really remember what they mean. We just have an autopilot response and that's that.

I have heard and said all my life that God loved me so much that He died for me. I've heard and said time and time again that His love is unconditional, that it costs me nothing, that He already paid the price. Oh, but do know what it means? Do I know?? ¿Cuánto cuesta el amor de Jesus? How much does it cost? Oh, it's easy to say it costs nothing but not remember that it really means NOTHING! And so I forget and I begin to try to earn His love. I try to buy it with my deeds.

But then I feel His arms of love wrap around me when I least deserve it and I remember again as the oh so emphatic words "El amor de Jesus cuesta nada"  slip from my mouth. ¿Nada? Really? Nothing at all? It costs nothing? 

And then I am shaken. I tremble in shock as I remember "costó la vida de Jesus." It cost the life of Jesus. And as those words travel through my mind I see the picture of Christ Jesus on the Cross. The blood drips from His battered body and I really remember the love of God. I remember His love cost me nothing but it cost Him so much because He loved me enough to ensure that it would cost me nothing. And in that moment I am truly grateful and aware of His love for me. I'm truly aware that it cost me nothing because it cost Him everything.

John 13:15

Greater love hath no man that this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

King James Version

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

King James Version