Stretching...

Some of you know some of you don't... this past week has been a hard one for me... I finally found a new home for my puppy (she was quite a handful and I had realized I really just wanted my Cor boy back)  well  I found Cor and I got to spend 2 amazing days with him :)   he was looking pretty skinny/flee infested/ with some sores.  But I got him cleaned up and with a full belly. It was nice to have him back on the third morning Cor jumped from my apartment and after an ultrasound discovered his liver was destroyed from the fall. Sadly I had to put him down it was one of the hardest days of my life. God is good though and he's taking care of me.

Last Thursday and Sunday services I was able to lead worship for the first time with the help of Don Brower (THANKS!) lol It was a blessed a time. Although I am extremely nervous playing/singing infront of people I am glad to and I will be doing that for every service now.

Saturday the youth group went out to do some evangelism we got to have some really cool conversations  and will be starting a class on evangelism soon!

English classes are going well and growing!

Ryan and Nicole are in contact with an orphanage that hopefully will allow us to go there every other week (please pray for that to happen! and for healing and confidence for me.)

Those are all the updates for now I appreciate your prayers!

Week 1

Alright so my first week back in Peru :) so cool....  It was a little hectic at first.... searching for apartments and for things I need like mini refrigerator, mini stove top,  water boiler/purifier.... all that fun stuff.  Now I am more situated and while I still dont know how long I will be here or what exactly God has in mind it is exciting none-the-less. I had my first scary moment this morning!!! (okay well actually my second the first one being the tarantula in my clothes drawer!!! pictured above) So I got up at about 7 to let the puppy out on the patio but she started to go back inside so I quickly shut the door not realizing the door would latch leaving the puppy and I locked on the top of a third story apartment in the RAIN! Not cool.  So I looked around for something to see if i could get the door open... then I shouted over the balcony!!!  Someone heard me but couldn't help because the Landlord who has the keys wasn't there. So I ended up staying out there for an hour before finding a plastic outlet cover that was partially broken so I ripped it off the rest of the way and used it to wiggle the latch! *THANK YOU JESUS!!!  I don't know how long I would have been stuck up there....also thanks to Celestino who showed me how to do that!!!!   Anyway it has been an adventure already!

But I really wanted to share about somethings I'm involved with.  Every Wednesday at Refugio there are free english classes. It was so awesome to be a part of it and you could see how much the Peruvians enjoyed it as well. Alright thats all for now... :)

Why I am in Peru.

A lot of people asked me why I was going back to Peru and honestly I didn't exactly have an answer; only that I knew God wanted me to be there. I started having major doubts about it. Seriously just ask my parents!  As  I was in Florida about to board my plane to Lima I was talking with my Dad and saying, "I don't know what I'm doing.... I should just come home now." Feeling so stupid I was wondering if I am a fool? Will I spend all my savings on staying in Peru and them come home broke? But I couldn't turn back after all I was already on my way.

the Bus!

 That was only 5 days ago and wow how things have changed. I stayed in Lima for 2 days before boarding my 16 hour bus ride up to Cajamarca. In Lima I was still doubting but as soon as I got on the bus I had a crazy peace. It was as if I remembered that this is where I am supposed to be. I love this place, the people, the culture, the ministry.... And while I'm still uncertain of a lot, like how long I will be here, finances, etc.. I am absolutely sure He wants me here and that brings such a joy and peace. And so now without anymore words I want to show you why I am in Peru....

Heart Melting!!!

and believe it or not this is the same day as the photos above!!!!

Four Months!

 
It’s hard to believe four month passed by so fast! And now that I’m home, well honestly I can’t wait to go back. Peru has a way of capturing your heart that’s for sure. The culture is just so inviting and they are ready and willing to hear about Jesus. While these last four months have not been what I expected, they have opened many new opportunities. Originally I thought I would be working on starting a hydroponic garden system and a small farm for a Bible college, well God had different plans. At first I was really upset about not doing what I had been looking forward to, but in the end I’m glad it worked out this way. I spent the last few months helping out the college in other ways like building pathways, hauling rocks, and starting a compost pile. It was hard work but I was glad to do it. I also started getting involved in a church called Refugio or “Refuge”. It’s a small church but it’s sincere and that’s what I love about it. Recently I was asked by the Pastor to serve there helping with worship, children’s ministry, and maybe even starting an after school program. I’m really excited for this opportunity! In Oswald Chamber’s “The Utmost for His Highest” he speaks of gracious uncertainty and I feel I'm beginning to understand that more and more. Although I’m unsure of what the future holds I’m certain of who holds it and in that I rest. I will be headed back to Peru January 7th not knowing how long I will be there or what will happen next. But in the mean time I wanted to send out an update and just say thank you so much for all of you who made this possible. I can’t express how grateful I am. I pray for you that this Christmas would be a time of remembrance of all that God has done in and through your life. Merry Christmas and God bless!

~Brandy~

Psalm 117

It seems like so much has happened since I last wrote. Well first things first Cusco… Wow… God definitely stretched us all on that trip. The beginning was extremely hard. If there’s one lesson that God drove home on that trip it’s simply this…. “Daniel” the meaning of Daniel is “God is my judge” In other words God knows my heart and no matter what other people think of me I can rest in that.

Here’s a quick run through of our days in Cusco…   6:30 wake up, Breakfast, Devos clean house, then we would head to a school to help teach English until lunch. After lunch we would head out to the plazas to perform dramas or simply talk with people and invite them to church… come home around 6-7 eat/clean then do it again!

 It was such a blessing to be able to help teach English, and doing the dramas was pretty rad as well! The first night we went out, after we performed we walked around and asked people if they understood or if they had questions. One of the girls in our group was able to share her testimony with a girl named Jackie who then accepted the Lord as her Savior. They ended up meeting up later on in the week and brought her to Wednesday night Bible study. So cool! The funny thing about this trip is that we went to Machu Picchu. (which I think in general is how we got dubbed tourist) lol but anyway on that trip we were given so many divine appointments to talk with people. God is so very good! On the train each of us where assigned seats separately so we got to sit with people from all over the world literally... Kyana got to sit with a guy that was from Mexico, Amy got to sit with a guy from France, and I sat with a lady who originally was from Peru but lives in Venezuela. It was so neat to talk with these people and encourage them. What was even cooler was that we got to see them later as we walked around Machu Picchu. Davy who I sat next to ended up seeing me right before we were leaving and we got to continue our conversation about the Bible. She was catholic and although she owned a Bible had never read it for herself. (she didn't think she needed to) so as we said goodbye she told me, "I will read John as soon as I get home!"  I was so excited.

It's just so cool how God works. It doesn't matter if you have a sermon set out, or even an incredible drama to do.... what really matters is your heart and where it's at. Are you willing to take the opportunities that God has given you in your daily life? I know I have not been so faithful in this but I am trying hard to take every moment and use it for his glory. He is faithful and if you are willing he will do crazy things through your life. God is so awesome!

that windy path is the road for the bus!

He is faithful!

Psalm 117

1 Praise the Lord, all you nations;
    extol him, all you peoples.
2 For great is his love toward us,
    and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord.

Cusco

Today 4 friends and I set out on  a journey to Cusco. We are so excited! It's crazy to think that I've already been living in Peru for 2 months. As of now I'm not sure what God has in mind.... whether I come back after Christmas for 1 more semester or whether I get more settled maybe in the city of Banos Del Inca. I don't know I have been praying so much about where God would have me and how I can serve best. For now its just being patient and seeing what God does.
On this trip we would ask that you pray for us to be bold in sharing our faith. That we would be a blessing to the missionaries living there and that as we teach English at the local schools we would have the right words to say. Pray for the hearts of the people of Cusco and all the tourist. We are looking forward to the divine appointments that God has for us.  :)  Thank You all so very much hopefully I will be able to update this again while in Cusco.     

^{This morning I got up a little early and begin to read. It seems to be a rare occasion when I am able to read without any distractions but this morning was/is so peaceful! Such a blessing! Last week went pretty well I was able to work on the walk ways between buildings before the rain comes. I also got  to clean the student’s housing with the help of some friends. Sometimes it’s hard for me to feel like I’m of much use especially when I look around and see so clearly all the gifting of others. But God has been speaking directly on the matter.  Because it’s true I can see other's gifts and my own failures but that doesn't matter… I can come before God with nothing with just my hands and  feet and He will use me. Here’s the thing… God wants us to have a humble and contrite heart, to be obedient and that is better than sacrifice or some grand ministry. I’m not sure what it is in my mind that makes me think I need something more, bigger, or better service to Him? What it comes down to is this if I see a need around me then I should meet that need. If it is in m ability to do, then do it! We serve a marvelous God, a HUGE God, but when it comes to how we serve our lovely finite minds like to complicate things. But as Jesus said all the laws, the prophets, and everything said in the scriptures can all be wrapped up in 2 things, Love God, and love others. The simplicity of it all…..  So those are my thoughts for the week  and I wanted to add some of my reading from the day also some prayer request at the bottom (please feel free to send me message if you have any prayer request as well because I would love to be praying for you)} 

^{Jeremiah  7:9-11} “‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury,^[a] burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, ¹⁰ and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things?11 Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord.

^{I feel like this verse is a warning to me and to us all. Not that we've been stealing or murdering, but that maybe  in our hearts we know the good we are supposed to do but haven’t been doing it and then we come before God as if it’s okay… but He is watching. I know I am guilty of this and I’m praying hard for the change in all our lives.}

^{Colossians 2:13-15} When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you^[d]alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴ having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.^[e]

^{Being reminded of this; of our freedom in Christ, it’s so awesome… All that condemns has been nailed to the cross. It is Finished! So here we are ready to live, to love, to serve not under any guilt or compulsion of works “to be righteous” because we know Christ is our righteousness, but simply out of grateful hearts... How good is our God?} J

 Prayer request: October 21-Nov. 1^st is mission’s week and there are a few teams going out to different cities. My team will be going to Cusco, we are so excited, and prayers for boldness and guidance are much appreciated. Again we want to be used in any way He would have us whether it’s talking to people we meet or picking up garbage on the side of the road. But as I lead this trip I would ask for wisdom first and foremost; especially for decision making. Thank you so much!