Boldness

 Hello friends!
Have you ever had that moment when you were trying to say you were hungry, but what you actually said was that you wanted a man!.. Yep that happened to me. Unfortunately everyone still remembers AND reminds me each time we see each other.. I think that you would get the word hombre and hambre really mixed up too.
The last couple of weeks have been really busy! We have settled in to some what of a routine! We have made some really great friends and have begun to build relationships with them!  I miss home, but as many of you know I have a box of cards that my friends and family put together for me a couple of months ago! Those cards have been so amazing! Many days the verses will coincide with the exact situation I may be facing that day, but when I look up at the date it was written in June or July! The Lord is so faithful! He cares about each detail in our lives!  It has been very humbling to serve such a MIGHTY God!
I have a story that I want to share with you! It happened last week, but I haven't been able
 to stop thinking about it. I thought that might mean that I should share it with you! So I hope you enjoy!
Almost everyday we travel around the city by buses. Many times they are really crowded and full of people just trying to get home after a busy day of work, or to the next lunch meeting! It is a common practice for men and women to get on the bus at each stop and attempt to sale some chocolates, peanuts, or pens. It is also common for  people to get on the bus and tell a sad story to try to get people to give them money.  When they stand at the front of the bus they often mumble, hang their head low, and look ashamed. However, one day I was on the bus, and a man came on the bus. He was slightly taller than most of the peruvians, and he began speaking. Immediately when he started to speak he got my attention. There was something about the way his voice sounded that compelled me to look up at him. I listened to see if I could understand what he was saying, and I began to catch small phrases.  He was speaking with such boldness.  He was speaking loud and he believed every word that came out of his mouth as if his life depended on it. Little did I know that his life really did depend on it! I gathered that he was talking about Jesus. He was sharing the story about how Christ radically changed his life. I looked over at Gina and I asked her if she could tell me specifically what he was saying. This is what she said
" He says he was a drug addict. He was on the streets and he lost everything. He tried so many times to break his addiction, but he failed. He lost his family. He lost his home. He didn't have a job or anything else. He ended up in jail.  He said that the doctors told him that his addiction to the drugs was so strong that he would never be able to detox.  Then he met Jesus Christ.  He said that Jesus radically changed him. He broke his addiction to the drugs and he was set free! He said that Jesus Christ had the power to change any one's situation! He told us that  the bible says that if a man doesn't work he doesn't eat, and so he is on the bus trying to provide for his wife and child. Now that he has earned their trust back he is doing the best of his ability to provide for them!"
 I was just astounded. I normally just pray for them or tune them out, but this man was different!  His story was so compelling! He was just on the bus trying to provide for his family, yet he was doing so much more! He was sharing with others what Jesus Christ has the power to do! We have a lot to learn from this man.  I was encouraged simply by the way he spoke. So many times we try to sugar coat the gospel. We try to tip toe around what might offend other people. However,  I think we are holding the piercing words of scripture in our heart afraid of losing a relationship. When in reality I think that we are holding back words that could give them life! When we believe in what Jesus has done for us....When we have told God and others that we are devoting our lives to christ, we must follow that up by speaking BOLDLY! I am not telling you to stay on a street corner and condemn others, but I am asking you to share and speak the message that brings life.  Speak boldly about the way the Christ has changed your life . Don't stand at the front of the bus with your head down mumbling about why people should give you money. Present your words with passion (Not sugar) that captivate the listener's attention! This is the way that we start to accomplish the one mission we are called to!

Speak in boldness when you have plenty- " You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone O'Lord make me dwell in safety!" Psalm 4:7-8

Speak in boldness when you are unsure!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding " Proverbs 3:5
"Trust in Him at all times, O people pour out your heart before him; God is our refuge!
"Have I not commanded you, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be dismayed or frightened for the Lord God is with me wherever I go" - Joshua 1:9

Speak in boldness when you are unequipped!
"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common mean, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus" Acts 4:13

Lead me

  Hola Chicos! I have to preface this by saying, it is really late, and we have had a really full day of activities. My brain is pretty much mush at this point, but I really want to write this while it is fresh on my mind.
Since I have been in Peru, I have noticed something that  keeps happening. The first time that I saw it was the second week that we were here. We were downtown in the midst of traffic. We were walking along with the busy pace, when I noticed there was a blind lady who was crossing the street ahead of me. As you can imagine crossing a street can become quite a task, but just trust me..it's a big ordeal. A lady had grabbed her hand and helped her across. Once they crossed, the lady left the blind woman to carry on her way.. I immediately noticed that the blind lady needed to cross the street again, but this time instead of someone coming up and helping her, she was on her own.  She blindly stepped off the curb in to the street where there were cars, buses, taxis all whizzing past. She had her stick that allowed her to feel a few feet in front of her, but that was all. One of the ladies that was with us went up and grabbed her arm. Immediately the blind lady picked up her stick and tucked it in her arm and walked confidently beside Tiffany. Once we had crossed, she was on her way again until the next kind soul decided to help her out. She was back to walking small, unfamiliar steps, that lead to who knows where. When I observed what had happened I was a little taken back, and a little astounded by how much trust that lady had in others, but I didn't really give it much more thought...... Until today. Over the past couple of days I kept seeing more and more of these situations.  Today I looked at Carissa and said, "Have you noticed that there are so many blind people here?"  She looked at me a little funny and said, "No, Not really." I thought to myself that maybe I just happened the see the total population of the blind community in the last couple of weeks, or maybe my eyes were being opened to something. Maybe there was something that God was trying to teach me. As I continued to think on it throughout the day it became more obvious to me.  This is such an example of what my life is like without Jesus. When I am walking through the busy streets, some days just doing my best to figure out what the next step looks like, I do well to not get hit by a bus. How can I walk confidently when I don't know where I am going? Or when I have never walked this path before? How do I know when the road curves or when to step over the next big pot hole? I don't.  I only have a limited amount of information as to what is around. However, when you allow Jesus to come and swoop up your arm things change. For me, my steps are a little more swift. My posture straightens up a little, and I can put my foot down with a little more confidence than I had previously. I KNOW....that wherever he takes me I will be safe. I know that he will not let me walk in ignorance.  He is guiding my steps and when I know that.... my posture is changed immediately, because I know who HE is. I know He is my father. I know that ALL (good, bad, and the ugly) things are working to bring me closer to him, and bring glory to his magnificent name.
The application to the lesson is endless.  Maybe He's speaking about your life? Maybe He is referring to this season, or maybe he is just talking about today and tomorrow? I do know what it looks like for you, but I know what it looks like for me.  I know that most days I probably walk around clueless as to where I am going, because I rely on my stick. I rely on what information I can gather from my surrounding, which are helpful, but not complete. I want to walk around arm and arm confidently with Jesus knowing that HE has a specific destination for me every single day.  He does and I don't want to miss out on that.
Some days, we are given the opportunity to take "the blind man"by the arm (literally or figuratively) and allow him to experience what it means to walk confidently across the street. He knows that there is danger all around, but maybe for just a few steps he can know what is feels like to walk through life confidently!

 You see, the ironic thing about all of this is this morning I was reading Jesus Calling, but I accidentally read the one from yesterday. Read what is said

 " Walk with Me along paths of trust. The most direct route between point A and Point B on your life-journey is the path of unwavering trust in me. When your faith falters, you choose a trail that meanders and takes you well out of your way. You will get to Point B eventually, but you will have lost precious time and energy. As soon as you realize you have wandered from your trust-path, look to me and whisper, "I trust you Jesus." This affirmation will help you get back on track.
The farther you roam along paths of unbelief, the harder it is to remember that I am with you. Anxious thoughts branch off in all directions, taking you farther and farther from awareness of my presence. You need to voice your trust in me frequently. This simple act of faith will keep you walking along straight paths with me. Trust in me with all your heart, and I will make your paths straight"- Sarah Young.  Jesus Calling

Isaiah 26:4 " Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, THE LORD, is the rock eternal.

Psalm 9:10 "Those who know your name will trust in your, for you, Lord have never forsaken those who seek you."

Psalm 25:4-5 " Show me your ways O Lord, Teach me your paths guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior and my hope is in you all day long."

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding In all of your ways acknowledge him and He will make your path straight."

 I hope you sense the urgency that comes with walking confidently. Our time here is short and we have an important task at hand.  Walk confidently and cover your ground.

I really hope you know that I treasure your prayers while I am here!  Keep them coming. !

-CR

Treading Steadily

    We are so ready to start our first FULL week of ministry.  We are entering into our fourth week of being here.I It seems like we have been here for a long time, but  it also feels like we still have a lot of work to do! One of my goals while I am here is to pick up on some scripture memory that I started a while ago.  Throughout the last week I have been saying it a lot, and something new stood out to me. Even though I have probably said it a million times..  it has never hit my heart this way before...

 "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, Greetings. 

Count it all joy my brothers when you face trials of various kinds

For we know that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness.

Let steadfastness have it full effect so that you may be perfect and 

complete lacking in nothing."  James 1:1-4

     Steadfastness that's the key!  This past week we finished our last week of "orientation", and I think that it was really easy for the four of us to think that it was a little unnecessary. However, not only was it full of really useful information, I think that it helped shift my mindset. The first couple of weeks that we were here we were running off of "Honeymoon" energy. I don't think that there is anything wrong with it, because it is really productive, but it isn't sustainable. I have moved past the excitement of the first week or two and then I hit this past week.  I no longer had that initial stamina that seemed supernatural, and I needed this week to know that it was gone. What do you do when you run out of Coffee (In a spiritual sense)?  This week forced me to dig down and really begin to understand that task set before me! I can't finish this with a cup of coffee.. or even a pot.

     I think this is what the book of James was trying to convey to us.  We must learn to be balanced, and let our roots grow deep... deep ... and even deeper into Jesus. Because regardless of how strong that pot of coffee was, it will never be enough to run the race of life. It will never be enough to climb mountains.  Don't you want to be perfect and complete lacking in nothing? I do. However, I also know that I am far from "lacking in nothing". So in order for my faith to be genuine and grow deep deep roots, it must be taken further than my pot of coffee will last.... And that my friends is why we can face all hard times, all defeated times, all stretching times with a confidence.We can be assured that is allowing our feet to be firmly planted in Jesus Christ, who is the only one who can provide any sort of stability in life, or overseas, or tragedy, or in overwhelming joy.

    So all that to say, I am thankful for this last week. Even though it wasn't what I thought was best, it is what was best. It allowed my caffeine high to wear off and my roots to start growing through the soil  in to the steadfastness that Jesus provides for his children. I am thankful that I can head into the next few months knowing that there are going to be some fabulous times, and some times when we feel completely overwhelmed and defeated. However, the steadfastness that we experience in him allows us to keep running, because it is never changing.

 Here is a brief run down of our schedule this week, so that you can be praying in specific ways:

 Monday- a day or preparation and planning our lessons for the week

Tuesday- We start Spanish classes, and we will be going to a village (VS) where we will hope to start some new work. We will be surveying and talking with the people in the village. Our goal is to train Advanced English Students to teach other students followed by a bible study.

Wednesday- Spanish, Girls home, and then we will be teaching English and having a bible study.

Thursday- Spanish, Teaching a health lesson, and English lessons downtown in a Quinta

Friday- Same as Thursday, just in a different Quinta

Saturday- Afternoon in a Quinta, and then hopefully we will get to go to a youth group and spend some time there!

Thank you all for your prayers! We are excited and expecting some great times this week! I am praying for God sized things to happen!

Psalm 62:8 " Trust in him at all times, O People Pour out your heart before him; God is our Refuge"

-Cayla