Mission's Missions Complete

A final farewell.

Before setting off for Peru our team met every month to discuss, plan and prepare. Our objectives, or mission statement, were three things: no flash banging, we needed to bathe in God's grace and we needed to die first, then go. [Ask someone from the team to explain further]

At our debrief this morning (and partly the night before) we established that our objectives had been completed. We each have a story. We each were touched by our trip. We soaked up God's awesomeness and reveled in his glory and grace. We touched others simply by being ourselves and depending on God to give us supernatural strength to push through. Our individual gifts were able to shine together only because God used us in a powerful way. Three main events each day at a non-stop pace would have knocked many down, but not when it is for God's work.

Our trip was complete and we had no complications on our return. We set out as 29 very different people and that is not the way we returned. We've returned different, rejuvenated and we have experienced something, as a team and individually, that many will not fully comprehend. I do, however, hope this blog has opened that window a bit. 

I am sad to write this final blog post for the 2012 Mancora, Peru trip. I was very happy to let all of you in on our mission and to see the joy God allowed our team to bring. I thank you for your comments, prayers, encouragements and support. For each prayer request I mentioned it was answered very quickly and I know all of your prayers are largely responsible.

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Sorry for the intrusion on the hugs and happiness, but it had to be done.

Please continue to pray for our team. Pray that we'll each be able to take our learned dependence on God to another level and continue to work for Him. THANK YOU!!!!!!

Quote of the Day: [It's not a quote because I lost my piece of paper] Andrea would like to marry someone special...;)

Picture of the Day:

You can't help but tear up...

We are in Ecuador

After a long day of traveling, we have finally made it back to Ecuador! My oh my did we have an adventure.

Our day began bright and early only for our bus to arrive very late. When it finally did arrive, the towering charter bus was a stark contrast to our Mancora surroundings. We loaded up our suitcases and waved goodbye to our friends from the church and near buildings.

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 The hiccups of the trip began when we got to the border. Our bus driver was direction-challenged and somehow got wrapped around to where we all had to hop off and on the bus a total of five times! At one point we made the customs patrol suspicious and we had to unload our bags to have some of them checked. Luckily we all got through, but it definitely was a process.

This is an illegally awesome picture.

This is too.

After the headache of customs, we were later pulled over and given a speeding ticket. We were on the bus for a long time and though we'd prepared snacks for the trip, we hadn't expected the problems and quickly ran out of food (we blame Juan Pablo). By the time we finally got to our hotel in Ecuador we were cranky, HUNGRY, annoyed and some were very tired. Not a great combination.

We were able to check in and throw our bags down and then booked it to the McDonalds across the street. We all agreed, McDonalds had never tasted so good.

We are now safely tucked away in our rooms. Refreshed with our lovely hot showers and feeling utterly spoiled by our hotel. Thank you for your prayers. We will be seeing all of you very soon. Please pray for easy travels/customs tomorrow and that we enjoy our last day together as a team.

Quote of the Day: [Sidenote: We were discussing how there were 29 pastors this week.] "We've all been pastor-ized."-George

Picture of the Day:

 

We are headed to the airport right now! Check for our last day later tonight.

Peru Bonfire

Thank you Abby for taking some of these great photos!

Late last night, after out youth program concluded, our team enjoyed a bonfire with the leaders of our host church. We melted our marshmellows over a tiny flame, and ate s'mores in the sand outside our bungalows. The family from the church was kind enough to present each of us with a sweet memento and thanked us for coming to share ourselves.

Mancora Goodbyes

This morning had an interesting start. After breakfast we met for our morning devotion. The chapter we were to have read was 1 Peter: 5. We discussed how easy it is for satan to distract us from doing God's work. (5:8) "Be self-controlled and alert. You enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." As we discussed our thoughts about the chapter, a rooster decided it was morning! It continuously crowed and loudly. So loud that those expressing had to pause! [This is where quote of the day comes in] Besides the stupid rooster, there were many other distractions that could have taken our focus away from preparing us for the coming day. Male was sick (she is, thankfully, feeling much better) and we were frustrated with some other things besides the rooster. Luckily, we were not deterred...we really only wanted to kill a chicken.

We set out for our last day at the Nicaraguan church. I arrived behind many, but not all, of the other tuc-tucs. A group of kids (about seven) welcomed us with waves and smiles and then eagerly asked for Pepper. Their tuc-tuc was behind us. The program went really well and the team and kids played their hearts out. When it was time to leave, there were many tears, tight hugs and gripping of clothes. Mariana and her friends made us a huge, delicious lunch. We ate. However, our host church also made us a lunch and it was a huge pig! Not only were we to eat pig, but we were then made to feel like pigs. The food was great, but it was a lot.

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Had to be used

 The afternoon program was also a success. Some of the children from the program at the Nicaraguan church also came for this program. Sweet moments with sweet kids. Smiles, hugs and tears as well.

I don't know what to say...

Although we were not starving at this point, we decided to eat again so we wouldn't be hungry later. [Note: this was some hours later]

We returned to our host church to conclude our week with the youth. Again, some of the children from both the Nicaraguan church and afternoon program came for the youth night. It was an eventful night, the mayor of Mancora came to give us his thanks. Afterwards Gina gave her sweet testimony. The team split off into small groups and we concluded the night with a team and church leaders bonfire [More to come on that tomorrow].

Mayor of Mancora

We've made it through. We were with God and used by Him. I'd say it was an overall success. Tomorrow we will bus to Ecuador. Pray for safe travels and health.

Quote of the Day: "Satan can take the form of a lion (see 1Peter 5:8), but he can also take the form of a rooster."-Juan Pablo Herrera

Picture of the Day:

We tried to see how many Jonathan and Pepper could keep up on the bar. It was almost seven!