Lies...but NOW we are home!!

So that last post was a lie. We didn't actually end up leaving Miami until 10:45 AM the next day, which really sucked. We had a 17 hour delay. And we had been in the airport for four hours before that. Needless to say, I am done with airports for the time being. When we boarded the plane and prepared for take off for reals our pilot informed us that pretty much everything that could delay a flight did. Great...
It feels great to be home! After enjoying a delicious meal of in-n-out I took a nice long hot shower (sorry mom and dad for using so much water!) I have no idea what time I passed out but I didn't wake up until 6:30 the next day. I am so thankful for my comfortable bed and pillows. Last night was one of the best nights of sleep I have had in a loooong time. It's so good to be home!

Boarding!!!

After being delayed for several hours in Miami we are finally heading home! 

Painting Again!

Today we were painting the church in the morning again. This time with color instead of primer! So we decided to make it fun :)

8/10

8/10

Today we began the day with some construction at the church. Painting doesn't sound hard until you start to do it. We had to sand and put primer on which sounds simple enough but we kept having problems with paint peeling off and then we would need to start over or add something new. Plus we all had dust everywhere from sanding. It was crazy. I am really proud of how positive everyone remained. At times it really sucked but no one had a bad attitude. Everyone saw what needed to be done and got it done. 

After lunch we went to The church in Ciudad Nueva and prepared for Semillas. Finally we got to do what we have been preparing for since last week. The kids were cute. I remembered that I don't really like kids so much so I tried to do more of the background jobs. Especially since I was already having a difficult time with communication. Kids have a way of being very blunt and I know I would get a lot of weird looks because of my gringo Spanish. It was fun to see the kids excitement over the program we had made for them. 

Tonight I had a little time so I threw this video together. It's not the best quality but it will give you an idea of what we did today :) 

8/9 Lunch

8/9 lunch 

Today at lunch we had a table that held over 30 people. For lunch today we donned with the team as well as all of our host families. It was a really good time of fellowship. We had the opportunity to interact with our host family more. At this point in the trip we are all very comfortable with each other so it was fun to add them to that mix. They got to see us as we are and we were more willing to take risks with Spanish then we were at the beginning of the trip. These are the moments I want to cherish forever, good food and great people 

8/9 Church

8/9 church!

Domingo! Today we participated in the church service of the missionaries we are serving. Some members of my team helped with worship and some, including myself, helped with Sunday school with the kids. We prepared a lesson about the lost lamb in Luke 15. We had a story, a game, and a craft. During this time I feel like a could successfully communicate with the kids. I asked for things and they got it right away and I asked questions and they responded well. This was all in Spanish! I feel like the longer I am here the better I am comprehending the language :) 

8/7

Today we finally did what we came to do! We went out into the city and did a presentation to get kids to come back (or to start coming) to the after school program once their winter break was over. For the presentation we had games, music and dancing, a short Bible story with a skit, and a craft. We had about 30 kids from the community come to join us. It was really fun but also terrifying since I'm not a huge fan of children and i don't know how to verbally communicate with them. 

Today I am starting to see myself comprehending a lot more of what people are saying. Hopefully by the time we meet with the kids for long periods of times I will have it down even more :) 

8/6

8/6

Planning for the kids! Craft time!

arrived in Tacna!

After a full day of traveling we have finally arrived in Tacna! The missionaries and hosts are all so kind. Most of them only speak Spanish so I have never been so thankful for a required class in my life. I am not very good but I feel like I can slightly communicate. I am terrible at comprehending it though so when I speak and they speak back I feel awful when I can't keep the conversation. Pray that language will not be a barrier! Tacna is much more calm than Cusco and I am loving it. This country is so beautiful and has so many interesting characteristics. For example, they have tons of stray dogs! So many of them I wish I could cuddle with and take home with me, unfortunately touching them does not seem appealing to me as they have been roaming in who knows what. But it would still be great to keep one :) there is a stray outside my hosts home who they have lovingly named George. He's adorable! Tomorrow we officially begin our "mission"! :)

Machu Picchu Summary

Machu Picchu was incredible!!!!!! I see why it is considered to be one of the seven wonders of the world. 

*******

I felt ill while at Machu Picchu. So I had to go to the medical clinic to get an IV. I feel much better now. :) although I felt sick, it was still an amazing sight to see :)

This picture is an excellent example of how deceiving pictures can be. About twenty minutes after this was taken I was napping on the side of the mountain while the tour guide told the rest of the group the history of Machu Picchu. 

This is the view I had when I woke up from my nap. So gorgeous!!!

I am so glad I was able to make it up to see this, if it had been any later into my sickness I wouldn't have made it. God is so good even in the midst of sucky situations! 

These mountains were incredible! They were so steppe and tall, it was amazing to me how the Incan's could build on top of them and even live there. It was scary enough walking around it in my tennis shoes, I couldn't imagine walking there in shoes with poor grip. 

I wish I could just sit there for hours and stare into the beauty of God's creation. 

Seriously though, look at that! How can you not want to praise God for that beauty! There is no way beautiful things like that are coincidence. 

Plane flights

We have officially made it to Peru!!! We are currently in another layover in Lima to go to Cuzco where we will be catching a train. It's been a long day of traveling 

Departing to Peru!

In line to board the plane to Lima! We will be beginning our trip in Macchu Piccu then we will be heading to Tacna to do our missions work. We still are not 100% sure what we will be doing but it sounds like we will be spending the majority of our time working with children and their families in an after school program :)

Waiting in Dallas

We had a six hour layover in Dallas. To pass the time we played card games! 

Departing from CCV

We are finally heading to Peru!!! Please pray for our journey and that Hod would lead us to those who he wants us to touch 

One Week!

Today we had a final team meeting before we depart to Peru! We went on a lovely hike in to a waterfall in Monrovia :) We found out that we are meeting at the church at 7am a Saturday! Ekkk! It's becoming so real! We went over some advice we received from the Peru 1 team. I am so glad that we were able to talk to them so we have some idea of what to expect :) God is good so I know this trip will be fantastic :)

Testimony Time

This past Sunday my missions team was able to gather together for a potluck and to share our testimonies. It is amazing to see how God brought all of us to this moment in time. We are each very different but we are all followers of Christ. It was such a blessing to hear how Hid has been at work in the lives of my team members. It makes me very excited to work with them in country. 

Trip Update!

My team has decided to visit machu picchu at the end of our trip!!! I cannot wait! It will be such a great reward to a crazy summer :) It is one of the seven wonders of the world, which are all on my bucket list, so I am extra excited :)

While this is going to be an amazing, once in a life time experience, it will also be adding about $300 to our total trip cost. Which is a lot cheaper than a whole new plane ticket for another trip :)

Please continue to pray for funds to come in. 

We wil also be leaving on August 1st, which will be the day after I return from working at Campo Pondo, hich is going to be crazy!!

We will be having a rummage sale at the church the first weekend of June. If you can donate or serve alongside me during the sale it would be greatly appriciated! Let me know! :)

Yardsale #2

Yardsale!!! Saturday's yardsale was not nearly as successful as last weeks yardsale. It was a bit discouraging to not make as much. Throughout this entire process of my missions trip I have been learning the importance and fully relying on God. Money is something that usually stresses me out and I have seen it stressing me out during this process too. I am about a third of the way funded and I and supposed to be 75% funded at this point. As you can imagine, I am very stressed out right now, especially since I just signed a contract which commits me finacially to the trip regardless if I can go or not. 

Phillipians 4:19 says, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus". This verse is a continual reminder for me throughout this process that God will always provide. It is very difficult for me to fully relinquish control, especially in this kind of situation. Now I now this verse does not mean that I can sit back and just wait for God to appear, but that I need to do my part and God will help me. 

Please pray for me throughout the remainder of this process. Pray for funds to continually flow in, (thank you to all who have donated so far!), above all pray for my heart to continue to be shaped in a way that is more like Christ so I can show the people of Tacna Peru his love more deeply. 

Yardsales this weekend!!!

My team will be having a yardsale this weekend on Friday and Saturday!!! If you have anything you would like to donate please contact me!
Comment here, email me at hipchick0322@yahoo.com or text me if you have my cell phone number!

Yardsale #1/4

My sister and I are both fundraising to go on missions trips this summer. I have been collecting donations for the past month, which really paid off, quite literally too. This past Saturday Krista and I raised about $450!!! Thank you so much to everyone who helped out by either donating things or time. We are doing another yardsale this week, so keep praying that the funds will pour in! God is good!!!

Passport Update!

Praise the Lord! I finally got my passport in with plenty of time to spare!

Safety Training Meeting

Today we had an all day safety training meeting, which was great but it made me a little afraid. In my stress and coping class I learned that we are born optimistic and we learn to be pessimistic. I believe seminars like this perpetuate this pessimistic form of thinking, even if it is helpful. Personally, I like to think the best of people, whereas I feel that this seminar taught us to be overly cautious about everything. Ultimately, I do believe we need training like this because if we live life optimistic of everything we will probably get into trouble eventually. It makes me sad that we live in a society where being pessimistic is considered to be better and safer than being optimistic.

Yard Sale Donations

My sister and I are having a Yard Sale potentially on May 9th. We need your donations! If you have anything you can donate please comment here or message one of us. We will take anything that is sellable. 

Deadlines :(

Half of my funds ($1400) are due by April 30th. I am a little bit stressed out because that is seven days away and I only have $765. Please continue to help me in prayer as these deadlines approach. I cannot do this on my own. God is good and he will provide if it is in His will for me to go on this trip.
Here is the link to see the progress of funds raised: https://ccvsocal.managedmissions.com/MyTrip/mmoore

Passport Renewal

Planning to get my passport renewed tomorrow! I am hoping all goes well and that this is not a long process. I started much later then I hope. Please pray for quick processing and delivery!

#Blessed

Today in training we watched a video that reminded me how much I have that I take for granted. When asked what I am thankful for I often list off people, but I often overlook the running water I have readily available in over three locations in my house, the abundance of food in the fridge, or the fact that I have an extra large house for my car (3-car garage). There are so many things I have that I do not need, and yet I want more. I was reminded this week to be thankful. I am considered rich to the majority of the world. While I may believe I am not rich because of everyone around me who has more. I truly am extremely wealthy and I have much more then I will ever need.

Hope Around the World concert

Hope Around the World

Hey friends and family! The benefit concert for global outreach is coming up next friday (March 27th)! It will be a great time with music, raffles, delicious food, and the chance to learn about our missions teams and help them financially. If you haven't got your ticket yet you can get them here:http://www.ccvsocal.com/adults/global/hope-around-the-world/ For every ticket you purchase using my name as the one who invited you I will receive $10 toward my trip! I also still have 4 physical tickets on me to sell. Let me know if you want to come, I'll be there serving so I would love to see you and tell you more about my missions trip!

Change of dates

Our trip dates are now August 2-15th :)

Why Perú

When I first applied for a missions trip Perú was not on my radar at all. I initially wanted to go to Kenya to meet the child we sponsored or to Chilie to work work with at-risk adolescents and to be able to utilize the Spanish I have been learning.

When I got my acceptance email I was extremely surprised and a little heart broken that I wasn't going to meet the child we sponsor. Over the following week I became more at peace about it and after I met my team I felt even better. God has a reason for everything, even if it is not always clear at first. I know I am where I am meant to be and I know this trip will be amazing. I can't wait to see how God uses me!

I'm going to Peru!!!

Hey everyone! I am going on a missions trip to Peru!!! I cannot wait to see how God will use me in this country. I have no idea what I am doing or who I am going with, but I know God placed me on this team to this country for a reason.