Joanna's Journal: There is joy in serving Jesus!

Friday seems long ago as I type this, but it has been busy and fun! I got to Skype with my special friends the Liens who are now missionaries to Indonesia. I can better understand the love of the people that they minister to as I’m here in Peru. I hadn’t seen them since they left for Indonesia, but I’m so glad that I got to “see” them even if it was only over the internet. Miss y’all, but I’m glad you are where you are, and I am where I am. :-)

We headed out to Cusco on Friday to get some stuff done that we needed to. Wendy needed to get the car aligned, and it cost a whole S/. 10! Which is like not even $3.50. We were talking about it at dinner, and Rachel was like, “I wish I could get my car smiled at in the states for $3.50.” I think that is the biggest price difference that I’ve seen. Wendy and I went to go buy ink and go by the shopping place. I’m glad that I have time while I’m here to get a few things each time I go to Cusco, so it’s not like I have to get everything in a week. :-) We headed to dinner at the mall. Papa Johns is amazing here! We really enjoyed it. I have ice cream kinda frequently in the states, and only have had it 2 or 3 times here, so at the mall Wendy and I got a S/. 2 cone. It was amazing and well worth 70 cents!

By the time we left the mall it was getting cold. I layered the shirts and sweatshirts and sock hat. We headed back to the hotel with our day’s purchases. Wendy stayed there while Rachel and I headed out to find some American baked beans for 4^th of July dinner. We literally looked in 7 different stores before we left Cusco, and they were nowhere to be found. The plaza is beautiful at night, and we peeked our head into a few different concerts being held in the catholic churches. I got to see in one, and it was sooo ornate. All the different saints and statues covered in gold. Even if it might look good from the outside though, the real message of forgiveness isn’t found in that church.

We headed back to the hotel after getting everything but the baked beans. We layered on some extra layers and got our blankets and huddled down to finish the last bit on our movie. Wendy joined us, and Rachel had to work translating while we went along for the ride. It was just the thing, and then we went off to sleep. With lots of blankets and lots of layers, I was ok. As time progresses later into our summer, it’s progressing later into our winter here. Cusco is higher and colder than Urubamba. :-) Nothing like Puno though!

Saturday the alarm went off way too early at 6:00. Ariel’s plane was going to get in at 7:10. I kept adding layers as it was cold in the morning. The day before we had a few sprinkles of rain, and Rachel says that makes it not feel as cold, and it wasn’t too bad… says the person with a t-shirt, 2 sweatshirts, a winter jacket, leggings, pj pants and jeans on. :-) We got some hot chocolate and coffee in the airport while we waited for Ariel. And She arrived soon! She is 19 and going to a community college studying nursing with a long term goal of medical missions. She has been to Lima on a missions trip 2 years ago with a group from her church. (which is also Rachel’s church in the states) She is kinda bubbly, and very personable and easy to talk to. I have to make sure I don’t talk too much! :-)

We dropped her off at the hotel to rest while Rachel, Wendy, and I went out. First we went out to breakfast at McDonalds, and I got their pancakes and tea. SOO good to have hot fluffy pancakes when you are that cold! It hit the spot! We went to this open air market that people set up and literally sold everything! Wendy got some flowers for her garden and a paper towel holder. Her’s honestly is the only paper towels that I have seen. They are pretty nonexistent. It was a good morning, and then we headed back to the hotel to drop our stuff off. We then again went to the airport for the 2^nd time to pick up the Lounsbourghs. Mr. Lounsbourgh is the head of the missions department at Faith (Christian College I think). Mrs. Lounsbourgh is an MK from Brazil and their family were missionaries in Brazil for 19 years. Their 13 year old son was with them also, Daniel…very easy to remember! They were very easy to talk to, and we got to know them very well over the next few days. They were visiting different parts of Peru on a whirlwind tour. Their school has the Baptist Mid Missions Arriba program where missions students spend one year in a foreign country doing different things. They wanted to see what Peru was like so they could tell the students and promote that program. :-)

We picked up Ariel and headed to lunch at Wendy’s favorite restaurant. On the way there, we stopped to see a Catholic procession. It wasn’t like the saint of the town, but a “Purified Virgin”. At least 24 men were struggling to carry this up the hill. They didn’t do it because they thought it wouldn’t do any good, but they truly thought that this was helping partake in Christ’s sufferings. Christ’s sufferings on the cross were finished long ago, and now He can offer the free gift of salvation! At the restaurant, I got alfredo noodles, that ended up coming with a huge portion with ham. It was quite delicious! During lunch the Brazil vs. Chile game was going on, and guess who people at our table were cheering for? Actually, almost all Peruvians were cheering for Brazil because the Peruvians don’t like the Chileans because of border wars and conflicts with them. They don’t even call the food chili because they don’t say that word. :)

We were showing the Lounsbourghs around Cusco, and so we went to the Chocolate Museum. They showed the start to finish process with different video and reading sections. They also had some pretty awesome samples… Chocolate jam which was like spreadable chocolate and chocolate tea. Which was interesting! Daniel didn’t handle the altitude that well, so they went a bit slower with things. We thought that Mrs. Lounsbourgh would have the problems because she had a heart attack 1 month ago, but she was ok. We took an oxygen tank just in case, and Daniel ended up using that. :(

Saturday we were going to go to Ardín for their youth group. That town is about 15/20 min drive away. When we got home, we got Ariel’s things settled, and hurriedly got ready to go. Everyone came over to Rachel’s house for dinner. (Rachel, Ariel, Wendy, Mr and Mrs. Lounsbrough, Daniel, and me) We got dinner from the extra large chicken nugget place that we went to with the Rojas after helping them move. It was delicious, and I finished everything. I think that I’m adjusting to the altitude and meal portions. ;-)

Ariel was pretty tired, so the Lounsbrough’s, Rachel, and I headed to youth group in her very large ’89, 4 wheel drive, stick shift jeep. :-) I think that the car has an extra 2 inches on both sides when we go through one part of the road/alley on the way to the seminary. I really enjoyed youth group! It was a lot of fun! They seemed a bit younger, but maybe that is because I’ve been with a bunch of seminary students for the last month. There was maybe 20 people plus a few seminary leaders and our bunch of gringos. We sang a few songs out of their chorus book, and played some fun games. One we had played at the Wilds before. 2 teams ask for something (a shoelace, something red, a brown bible, a blue pen, etc) and the first team to get the item to the hand of the main person won that round. One was pretty funny and kinda painful looking, but they asked for a strand of hair, so Rachel walks over to a seminary guy named Douglas, and borrows a few pieces. All is fair in youth group game time right? Hey, and we won that round. (sacrificing for the team;)

Mr. Lounsbrough taught in English, and Mr. Ratkey (Mrs. Rojas’s dad) translated. It’s amazing how much I can understand when I hear the English first! I know so many of the words, but when I’m stuck in a conversation, that is when I have problems. Also, some people are easier to understand. I can’t really understand Mr. Rojas at all, but he is from Bolivia. Mr. Lounsbrough taught on serving God with your talents where you are, and being faithful to serve Him every day with your life. I really learned a lot!

On the way back from church, the 4 seminary students (David Freddy, Douglas, Jackie, and Alicia) that help at that church, plus Mr. Ratkey, plus the ones originally in the car all packed in for the ride back. Pretty entertaining! Mr. Lounsbrough was trying to talk with Douglas and didn’t know some of the words he needed. He speaks Portuguese, but not much Spanish at all. I knew some of the words that he needed! (Excited!) It will be a wonderful day when I know enough Spanish to say whatever I want!

Sunday, was a very great, and very full day! We all got up surprisingly early, and enjoyed a cup of tea before going to Wendy’s for breakfast. Wendy worked herself to death in order to make us coffee cake, eggs, crapes, and tea/coffee. It was very delicious! I really enjoyed getting to talk to everyone at breakfast, and getting to know them better!

Before Sunday school, Ariel and I walked a little past church to the market so I could show her around. We only went to one part, but I always love to go to the market. It’s so very different than the US. Sunday school Mr. Lounsbrough taught from Romans and Mr. Eric Pardine translated. Again, it was very full, and more benches and extra chairs kept being brought in. There were probably about 50. :-)

I love going to church, and especially singing the music! Mr. Randy preached in church, and Eric translated. He started off with his testimony, and then went into the story of the 10 lepers tied together with salvation. He is a very passionate preacher, and goes all over the world preaching. After Peru, I think he is going to Africa. He is teaching the 4^th year students here at the seminary, and then when he finishes that class, heads down to the Christian school to do their chapel every day. At least 5 people were saved at the Christian school the first 2 days! Wow, praise the Lord!

A whole bunch of gringos went out to lunch at a very good Chinese place here in town. The Lounsbroughs, the Rojas, the Ratkeys, the Pardines, Rachel, Wendy, Ariel, Randy, and I all were there. I got the fried rice, which is always amazing! Rice any way is good! Ariel, Cassandra, and I walked down to the gas station to get coke for the meal, and it’s fun to be able to use some of my Spanish.

I practiced some piano for the evening service in the afternoon, and kinda relaxed. We were going again to the church in Ardín for the evening service. Victor and Techis, go there, and the brother of the treasurer 2 doors down is the pastor. I got the music the evening before, so I had some time to practice. I knew 4 of the 5 songs, and had heard the other one a few times. He ended up singing “Near the Cross” way faster than I had ever heard it, and I was playing catch up for the first few lines. I could barely hear Victor leading, and the piano was louder than everything else. Then he skipped song number 4, and went to 5 which was the one I didn’t know as well. At least I know my numbers in Spanish pretty well. :-) It would have been worse to start the wrong song. Also, I’m still getting used to playing my offertory the length of the offering. You have to be pretty flexible where you stop! ;-) All’s well that ends well, and it was ok. Could have been much worse!

There were too many people to take back to Urubamba in Rachel’s car, so Ariel and I rode with the seminary students on the bus back. It was very quiet and uneventful, and much different from the normal. :-) We walked back from the gas station to the seminary, which is quite the walk uphill, but I was fine.

We all again headed over to Wendy’s for chicken soup and sandwiches and more fellowship. It was great to be able to just enjoy talking together! I really got to talk to Ariel a bunch that night, and get to hear what she thinks, and what is going on in her life. I think that we will get along great while she is here. I leave the 31^st, and she leaves the 4^th of August. It was a good day all together, and very busy. I don’t think we have had a dull moment around here! :-)

Monday, Ariel, Wendy and I helped Cassandra get unpacked and organized. She just got partially moved Saturday. It needed some work, but by the time we were done, the main room was mostly empty. We cleaned some stacking basket holders and situated her kitchen. It was really great to be able to help her the way we did. She does so much for everyone else, and is busy with 3 little kids. We were happy to do it. It’s funny, because 2 days after I got to Peru, we helped the Rojas move out of their house, and 2 days after Ariel gets here, we help the Pardine’s move into that same house. :-) Working hard! She was pretty tired this afternoon.

Next, we went with Wendy to the market to get some things for dinner for tomorrow night! Spaghetti! We got tomatoes, and hamburger, and some bakery bread. Ariel and I got a few things from this one store also. The meat section in the market isn’t the most pleasant, but I always enjoy getting to go there! I was definitely looking forward to dinner the next night!

Lunch we had with the seminary students. I never had it before here, but we had fried sweet potatoes over rice. (after our bowl of soup) The sweet potato had cheese stuck inside, and it wasn’t bad! I’m not a huge sweet potato fan in the states, but I ate about ¾ and was very full after that! We are going to try to call Ariel her middle name, which is Lydia. Ariel is a type of laundry detergent here, and also Juan showed her a picture of the little mermaid Ariel. That is a rough name. :-) She is named for a Old Testament town which means Lion of God or something like that. I enjoyed talking with Milka at lunch. I don’t see these people quite as often because I’m not taking classes with them everyday many hours a day. People are glad to see me though, because when I’m in the lunch line, almost everyone that comes out says Hi to me. I’m like… Heidi or someone is standing right next to me, but everyone wishes me the “Buenas tardes”.

After lunch, I came back and washed some dishes. :-) Alicia usually does it, but since she doesn’t work on weekends, the pile had piled up! We were out of spoons, and the pile of dishes and some bottles took about an hour to wash. It’s all good though, and I was glad to give Alicia a break. I don’t want her to think that this American never does dishes or something… :-) We worked on a Cubbies craft and a craft for the kids in Puno then headed out to kids’ club.

Wendy mentioned to me once that she does a small kids’ club for the kids who live on campus and I mentioned that I wanted to help. Like I mentioned earlier, I found out I was teaching last night after dinner. I decided to teach on obedience and Jonah. She had a short lesson all written out both in English and Spanish, so I just added a few things here or there and some questions. There are about 6 kids who come, and a few I had never seen before. Milka, Techis and Victor’s little daughter came, Ellie Adda (or spelled something like that) the cook’s oldest daughter, and a few others. While we colored a picture of Jonah, I sat with Fatima who is really adorable!

We sang a few songs, which I always love doing, and then I taught. All the praise to God… I taught a lesson (even if it was very short) in Spanish! Ariel held some pictures that Rachel had, and I think the lesson went all-together pretty well! We colored and had cookies for a snack. Fatima was copying me, and it was really sweet. Whatever color I used, she wanted to use. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. :-) We went to play games, and we played “pato, pato, ganso.” Otherwise known as “duck, duck, goose”. Right then it was just little girls, and we had a great time! Rachel’s 2 dogs did seem to want to join us though. :-) We also did a few relays, and at the end, they wanted to know when we were going to do it again! :-) Ariel and I both really enjoyed!

Rachel went to go pick up the Lounsbouroughs from Machu Pichu bus drop off, so she was gone for a while. She is the second year class sponsor, so Monday nights, they all come over and meet. They are memorizing the book of James. When Douglas came over with dinner, we were like… “Oh, yeah, that’s tonight.” I got everything ready, and went over for a little food. I usually eat my dinner on the stairs while they have their meeting, so I did that even though Rachel wasn’t here. We had a gravy like substance with potatoes and carrots over rice. It was very good except one small ingredient… cow stomach. :-p I ate all but a very small amount. I didn’t realize what it was until later when I flipped a piece over and saw the honeycomb look to it that I had seen in the undesirable part of the meat section. I had parts of 2 stomachs because they looked different. I knew we were going out to eat with Rachel and the Lounsbouroughs later, but yeah… It tasted very chewy! One cow… 4 stomachs. :-) Ariel missed out on it because she was taking a nap. (the first few days you feel pretty tired, and she had done a lot today.)

We walked to meet them at the restaurant later, and that meal was really delicious! It’s been good getting to know the Lounsbouroughs some even if they are only here for a short time! We got to see a few pictures from their day, and it is truly beautiful! It will be great getting to go with Ariel and Rachel!

This evening (Monday) we had music practice for the Gira trip from 9-9:30. It went pretty well. I came back and got a shower and then drank hot chocolate to warm me back up. (and now I’m working on this.)

Sacrifice of flowers fit the purified virgin.

You can see a priest and altar children in the front

Me and Fatima at kids club

Teaching Jonah

Getting cozy for a movie night.

My God is so great!

Pato, pato, ganso!

Coloring time!

:-) :-) :-) with Anita, the Cook's youngest child.

Church Sunday morning in Urubamba.

This is the first song, and it will fill up more. Can you find me?

Raul leading music

Struggling to carry it up the hill. At least 24 guys working on it.

I ate all but that. And I knew I was going out later, so didn't want to get to full.

Very typical looking soup. We had this for lunch

Jackie, me, and Alicia at Ardín Sunday night.

Market picture of lots of peppers!

Seminary property. Chapel and class rooms are in the big cream building on the left, the little brown one is the snack shop, the white one behind it is a library, girl's dorm, kitchen, guest housing, and dining hall. The green one on the right is Pat and Wendy's house and the top is Alex and Sonya house.