Sunday, February 20, 2005

Onto everything there is a season. To day was a season of fun! We were able to sleep until 7 am today and Bob wasn’t as afraid that shoes and pillows would be thrown out at him as he pounds on doors at 5 am saying it is time to wake up! Although he still isn’t certain an insurrection isn’t in the making. At 9am we headed for the beach and market area where we could shop for the souvenirs we enjoy bringing back. We had 3 of our guards with us. Big, husky men that wore an all black uniform with a large neon green circle with the logo “men in black” security written on it. They did a wonderful job at keeping us safe and being extremely alert to everything that went on around us. At one point ushering us quickly out of the market place when some known thieves came strolling in. But with these men around guarding us we feel safe and all is well. After shopping and getting our fill of all the various trinkets we went in to a few of the restaurants that Pastor had already scanned for us. The fare was scrumptious and exotic with its authentic flavor of Peru. We invited the guards to eat with us and when I told them they could order what ever they liked their eyes widened in amazement. I am sure eating in a restaurant like we were in is not something they get to do very often if ever. It was even more of a delight to be able to treat them to this meal than it was to try it our self. After eating we walked across the street and on to the beach. The waves were good size and multiple breaking points. The water was colder than what we expected for being such a hot area. Many of our group went on the native reed boats that they have for rent. The local men would either take you out on it for about 5 minutes or for some of the older more braver of the group they could try it alone. Barb D. who is the oldest of our group tried her hand at it and enjoyed it. Nancy Dixon who did not come dressed in a swim suit decided at the last moment that she just couldn’t pass up this opportunity, so she went in with her street clothes on. She made it without getting really dunked until she came back to shore and a wave came and toppled her.
The entire boat was made of reed and there was a dug out hole to sit in or you could straddle it. It took skill to make the boat face into the oncoming waves. Caleb Daum rented a surfboard and wet suit and tried his luck with that. Many of us rented a beach umbrella and chair for the price of $3.00.for the day. A lama decorated in traditional fare was walked up the beach. Kids and adults passes by trying to sell fruit, ices, desserts and trinkets all day. There were some Peruvian musicians at the beach playing the typical music and instruments of this area. As a surprise Bob went and hired them to come and serenade us during our supper back at the hotel tonight. I think Valerie Tracy doing a little Peruvian/American dance as she beat the drum during an impromptu performance with the men might have been a bigger surprise though. Don’t worry, for those of you in the states that missed it, we have video proof and will be selling tickets when we get home. This trip is over budget and this will be a great fund raiser to make up the differenceJ John B. saw the whole thing and will be ready to give a full report during mission time.. Remember John, any blackmail payoffs must go back into the Berkshire Mission fund. John has been a great help on this trip, supplying guard duty when needed along with his regular duties.

All the young folks have formed a real bond with each other and eat most meals with each other at what has become known as the “young people’s table”. How wonderful to be able to build such precious memories of service for the Lord at such young ages along with the wonderful bond of friendship. Thanks to Maranatha this type of adventure and service is open to anyone willing to work.

Tomorrow evening starts our evangelistic thrust. About half of our group will not come back from the work site tomorrow but instead will stay in Casa Grande. Once they leave here at 7:15 am, they will not return until about 10pm. The local Pastor and some of his members have offered to let them shower and clean up at their houses. Our 24 hour prayer vigil will start in the Berkshire Hills church tomorrow. Some of the folks from the Nazarene church in Dalton have asked to be included in that time slot to be praying for us and we thank them for their faithfulness. We have several Nazarenes with us as well as other denominations. We want to thank and encourage each of you as you pray for us and the meetings. Prayer changes things and we need your service as faithful prayer warriors to be able to win souls for Christ and for all the rest that is going on here. This country is full of incredibly sweet, kind and yet hurting people. Even the thieves here are souls that Christ died for and it is up to us to do our best to fulfill the commission to go onto all the world and bring this message of salvation. Working for our brothers, physically, emotionally and spiritually to make a difference in their life is what love is all about.

Don’t forget to email us with words of encouragement and news from home. Any personal mail to me will have to be sent to this address as I am not accessing my personal account here. Keep those letters coming; we are lonely for our friends and family.

May the Lord bless you abundantly and may you always look to Jesus for your answer in life.

Because of Jesus, I smile,

Jennifer Young

Mission reporter

Birds spotted so far by Dwight Taylor:

Turkey vulture, Rock pigeon, Rough-winged swallow, Black-capped swallow, Eared dove,

Bananaquit, Orange billed sparrow, Rufus-breasted hermet, Scrub blackbird, White-winged dove, American kestrel, Croaking ground dove, Black vulture, Long-tailed mockingbird, Spot-breasted wren.