wow....

this is the view from my apartment window!

Talk about crazy! haha things have been going great here and time has been going so fast! Cajamarca is the capital in Peru for Carnival (a festival that last.... forever haha  or so it seems) anyhow being so it is expected to get drenched with water balloons, squirt guns, buckets, and whatever is near throughout town for about a whole month... I most definitely experienced that! (being a "gringa" foreigner you are a sure target) It can be really fun! especially getting them back when they least expect it haha! But also during the celebration comes  1 to 2 days of PAINT throwing!!!! Fortunately I missed out on the paint but got some pictures!

On March 7th we had our first visit to the orphanage. It was so incredible! (on my next post ill have pictures from the Orphanage!) We started out by playing with the kids, I got a soccer game going of course :) and then we did some songs a puppet show and a lesson on creation. The kids were really into it and asked some great questions. It was such a blessing to be with them... We will be going again on March 28th I can't wait! The other ministries have been going really well, bellow are some pictures from Carhuaquero and a new ministry in Incanllada (im pretty sure thats not how you spell it but i will get the correct spelling next time! haha) I especially feel bonded to these kiddos :)

:)

Potatoes!

Meet Cynthia and Rosia... <3

Stealing my hat was their favorite game! lol

I will be posting another update soon! (It's been too long!)

Ministry

Last saturday we got to do some ministry with the kiddos in Carhuaquero. I love going there! The people are  so sweet, before we start they lead us into worship in Quechua I recorded a bit of it below! (Isn't it beautiful?!?)

Afterwards we do a sunday school class for the kids but this time an older lady named Miranda came too. When I first met her she kept asking me to teach her to say her name. I was so confused? She said a lot of other things too but so fast I couldn't understand so I asked Don to help translate. He also was wondering why she was asking us so he told her that her name was the same in English as in Spanish then she rephrased her question it wasn't that she wanted us to teach her how to say her name....  she wanted to learn how to write her name....

I was shocked I don't know why... I mean I should understand this by now that these people don't learn stuff like writing, or reading. They don't have a need for it... but that doesn't mean they don't have a desire. So in that moment I got a crayon and one of the coloring pages we had for the kids and wrote out her name in big letters at first it was really hard for her to copy but within a few tries she was able to. It was so neat. Before I knew it it was time to leave but  I wasn't ready to go! We only come every other Saturday so it will be a while before I see her again but I am looking forward to it.

Before we left they wanted us to eat with them so for lunch it was boiled potatoes with green sauce :) hehe yum! It's kind of fun to eat because you peel the potatoes by hand and then throw the peels on the ground or to the dogs. I really feel so blessed to live here. And I'm not sure I can imagine leaving... But again I want to thank all of you who have helped me to be able to stay here. God is faithful to provide.  As for updates things are going well. My apartment is looking a lot more like my home (but still has a long way to go). Leading worship is still very stretching for me and sometimes I just want to give up but all in all I am so glad to be able to serve in this way.
Psalms 25:4-7

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
    teach me your paths.
5Lead me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation;
    for you I wait all the day long.

6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
    for they have been from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
    according to your steadfast love remember me,
    for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

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.