Sojourner with a destination: Christ

Dear Friends and Family,
Grace and Peace in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

After weeks of internet mishaps and unavailability, I am able to post a brief blog. (haha...I don't think it will be really brief...maybe I will post this in sections.)

I am in Pausa with Cindy, one of REAP South's resident missionaries in Southern Peru. Ashley Barrett (my new team-mate and twin soul) and I sent Justin on ahead to Marcabamba where Jacob and Derek are serving so we could have a down day after climbing a 18,000 ft volcano with Cindy and the Boys. It has been a relaxing and much needed rest: I have delighted in doing laundry, cleaning Cindy's apartment (a one-room joint in a kind of permanent hostal situation) and cooking...things we just don't get a chance to do when we are living out of backpacks and staying in hostals every night. We daily eat out in what we call "Menu" here in Peru. In Mexico we know these as "Comida Corrida" and anyone can tell you it is like Mom's cooking (if your mom is Mexican or Peruvian), but you might find chicken feet in your soup (just about every day) and little rocks in your rice...but the fried pototes (yes, it is true...Peru has about 3,000 varieties of potatoes, and no, I have not tried all of them) are delicious and the Inka Cola is my new favorite drink (move over, Tamarindo flavored Jarrito). So Cindy lady has been cooking pot roasts and banana muffins and pancakes and oh yes, I have been suffering a stomach ache because I am not used to the American food (even in the USA I eat Mexican food...) but it has been sooooo good. Yay for Cindy Lady and her good conversation and comfortable presence.

Since writing last month's entry on the way to Arequipa, Arequipa, I have been in several cities and small towns where interesting things have happened. I will try to be brief, but I know that those of you who are praying and are actually interested in my life will be anxious to know what has become of me...

know that I am healthy, stronger, and deeply tanned by the Peruvian mountain sun. I am fully decided that I am a nomad, a sojourner, with no real place to call home and no intention of really ever settling in one place anytime soon. The last six weeks have been pretty revealing of my passions and my personality: "Lord I was born a rambling man...." and "They Call me the Breeze" and "Walk On" are songs that keep running through my mind....This constant traveling, the few things on my back, playing guitar in a public square, sharing the Good News with people everywhere I am...this passing through valleys of Baca, only to find that the Lord is turning it into streams of Living Water...this is wonderful. Stability for me has become the constant change. And I am at peace about that...Beth and Eric, you are going to find a new chica on my return to Chicago...no more worries about navegation or messed up schedules...I have taken my team safely through the whole Southern half of Peru on public transportation that I have had to figure out along the way....sleeping in bus terminals, struggling to breathe in combis packed like sardine cans, and riding for hours on end to the next village, only to find that the team has gone out for the day and we have to find a place to stay in a town we don't know...this is all so normal now. Favorite transportation: The back of a pickup truck. Yeah baby. Second favorite: mountain bike down a mountain in Nasca. WOW. Both were parts of fun trips we did outside of ministry...you know, we have to relax some time!!

Ok...I need to start with where I have been....Arequipa to Nasca, Nasca to Bella Union, Bella Union to Nasca, Nasca to Incuyo, Incuyo to Quilcata, Quilcata to Pausa.

During our week in Arequipa I turned 23 and had a Peruvian dance party to live Andean music in a Terrace Restaurant overlooking the Plaza de Armas. I took the opportunity to celebrate my "Santo" by picking up a genuine Peruvian novio named Alejandro (who is really a Classical guitar) to accompany me on my travels. He has helped my new team-mate, Ashley, and I lead worship with the teams we visit and has been a huge stress reliever for me as we deal with the challenges and the questions that come with addressing the strategy, the purpose, the methodologies, and the conflict of each team. While in Arequipa my team joined the ESL team in a retreat to the Colca Canyon, where we watched the famous morning flight of the condors after staying the night in a hostal with a bunch of European backpackers in a small town called Chivay (which means the place where you make love...don't worry, none of that is happening around here). Our time in Arequipa, which is supposedly the most visited city after Cusco (the home of Macchu Picchu) was interesting and beautiful...the guinnea pig was delicious (I have some swell fotos of that experience) the fellowship was sweet (thanks to Francisco from the church life in Lima) and the time we spent with the ESL team was much needed. Amen.

I have to post this now...or it might erase. Next stop: Nasca, where Ashley took Amy's place on our team and we had our mid summer debriefing.
More later....
Love to all.
PLEASE WRITE... when I finally get the opportunity to check my mail, you don't know how wonderful it is to hear from you.
Beth, I love you. I am praying for you chica.
Thank you all who take the time to read my thoughts... it is a blessing to know that I have prayer partners all over the World.
Joel Smith and Greta and Angel, thank you so, so much for your letters to me. I miss you, my Mexican family...Joel, thoughts to you are on their way. Please send me your London address again....I forgot to pack it in my hurried exit from Chicago. I need to bounce some ideas.
Johan, stay brilliant in Brussels. Thanks for your consistency.
Mom, I miss your enchiladas and your hugs. I need some girl time when I get home!
Uncle Ger, CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay for the Lord's timing in everything!
Go Nikki!!! You are blessed!

Blessings and Peace in the Name of the Lord Jesus

Adventure Al (for all of you who doubted that my nick name was a good fit, think again. Who can tackle 18,000 ft in two days in the WINTER in Peru? Yay for all my camping and hiking skill...thanks to Dad and Uncle Ger!)