Lampa is a pink adobe city

Dear Friends,

"¡Cuàn preciosa, Dios, es tu misericordia! ¡Por eso los hijos de los hombres se amparan bajo la sombra de tus alas! Seràn completamente saciados de la grosura de tu Casa y tù les daràs de beber del torrente de tus delicias, porque contigo està el manantial de la vida; en tu Luz veremos la Luz." Psalm 36:7-9

Oh Lord Jesus. Another day in the Pink city, another day of stares and kids shouting, "Gringo!"
Another day of school children marching with their band instruments
another day of Futbol tournaments for the Local Friendship cup
another day of potatoes with rice
another day of Justin being sick with intestinal junk
another day missing mom`s hugs
another day wondering how Bethy is
another day wishing I knew what tomorrow holds
Another day.

Lord
In your light we see light
Lord
In you is the fountain of Life
In your life we drink Life.

Lord Thank you
For the discipleship meeting last night
with Sr. Mèndez, Alex, and Carlos and Sandra.
Thank you for filling them
for working in them
for bringing them to you
for growing them
Forge yourself into them
Strengthen them
and bring their wives to You.
May whole families in Lampa come to Know you in your Fullness.

Oh Lord Jesus.
Another day unsure of the right steps.
Unsure if my heart is leading in the right direction
Unsure if my love for this place
is unfounded
unsure if the world should really dictate my future
or if "contigo està el manantial de la vida" and if I can follow you
even into dark places
even when my heart whispers
"go home"
even when my hands attempt to grasp something that cannot be held
but rather contemplated
No te alejes de mi
Señor
seas tu mi visiòn
seas tu mi futuro
Seas tu mi mañana.

Another day in the Pink City of 5,000 people who make their living selling alpaca shishkabobs on the street for a couple of cents or in driving combis stacked with twenty people back and forth from Juliaca, the biggest city in this area. another day in the Pink City where the leather Jesus in the Catholic church towers over fearful people. another day in the Pink City where cerveza dictates how every wife will be treated tomorrow morning. another day in the Pink City where Quechua ladies dress in felt hats and wool sweaters and wool leggings and hold the hands of little boys in NY baseball hats and knock-off adiddas sports pants. Another day.

Another day of rejoicing of praying of encouraging of wondering of celebrating of butchering quechua of hearing the Peruvian national anthem played for every event.

Another day of thanking the Father for the opportunity to learn from His lost treasures hidden among the mountains in Pomachanchi en Nuñoa, en Chupa, en Lampa.

Amen.