Where the known ends and the unknown begins, that is when we truly begin to live.
So we made it to Peru! The
journey can seem so long and so short at the same time if that makes any sense. Crossing
the border into Peru was actually pretty easy except that where you are
supposed to check out of Ecuador was not marked so when we got to the Peruvian
side, they sent us back to Ecuador a few miles to check out. No one knew where
the office was, which seems weird, but eventually we found it. A few days
earlier they had confiscated four semi trucks full of fish because of some
document problem, so I’ll just let you imagine the wonderful smell that loomed
in the air as we waited for everything to get cleared.
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This is what the villages looked like scattered across the desert.
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Knowing the roads were poor condition and travel would be slow, it was a little daunting to see a
big sign indicating we had over 800 miles to go to Lima, but we just sighed a little, laughed a lot and, accelerated on. A short distance in, the
road ran right along side the ocean, and it sure was nice to see its beautiful
shores. Honestly I had never read much about Peru, but for some reason I always
thought it would be green, hilly maybe in the jungle. But as we begin to drive
through desert upon desert I realized I have no clue what this country is going
to be like. There were places where as far as you can see it was endless sand,
not a good place to play, “I Spy”.
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A lot of the land suffers from drought.
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Some places the ground was all cracked and
looked like a scene from lion king. One town we drove through asked us to pray
for rain because their crops are dying due to heavy drought. Then we came to
places where town were built on the sand dunes, all scattered on the hills. It
is what I imagine it to be in Africa or somewhere in Egypt.
We came to one town by the ocean where there were so many
fishing boats they filled the port as far as you could see. It was really cool.
We camped a few places right by the ocean and saw some beautiful sunsets. Every where we camp we try to at least get a sense if it is going to be quite at night by asking things like, "how many dogs do you own" ecs. This one place we camped I couldn't keep from laughing as I yelled to my brother, "Josh, ask her if the monkeys are very loud at night". Not kidding, as I was setting up the tent, I look in the back of the property and see a few monkeys, besides the pet toucan, macaw and a few turkeys. Down here, normal, goes out the window but hey, I wouldn't want it any other way.
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A large port in Peru
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We stayed at a big city in Peru for a few days to minister. I got pretty sick from being down town but I'm sure it won't last long. Small price to pay in the big picture.They have a
big plaza right in the middle of the city where we wanted to perform since it
is the busiest place and we want to reach a lot of people in a short amount of
time. It’s a long story, but we found out that they never give permission for
that plaza to any performers or artists. After a long morning of talking to all
the city officials and authorities, we were able to talk to the guy highest up
who said they would make an exception just this once and just in our case. He
extensively thanked us for the work we are doing and said he was glad he could
help us. Like I said it’s a long story, but the point is that it was kind of a
miracle to get this permission on such short notice, and I believe God worked
on our behalf. When we are not going to be somewhere very long, the plazas we
go really matter in how much we can effect a city and this was as good as it
gets.
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A funny skit we do with our frog and lion (we all take turns).
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Sometimes we stay out really late because it's so busy.
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We performed here three nights each time for a really big
crowd. There were so many children we did a lot of things especially for them.
Even kids as young as ten or twelve really listen to our message and some are
mature beyond their years due to things they have already seen or suffered in
their lives. So many stories I could tell you of so many individuals. There is just no greater joy then letting God use your life to touch another. I tell you it is magic my friends, if you forget about yourself, and care about someone else, your problems and struggles get resolved.
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Staying in our tent along the way, we usually try to ask if the dogs are quite, here we also had to ask if the spider monkeys would be loud in the night. I
think they were, we didn't notice because the mosquitoes were eating us. |
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Nice safe, small, well balanced and secured load flying down the road.
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Some cities use taxi's lie this due to high gas prices.
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In the middle of nowhere we were driving up a steep incline, when we begin to loose power. I mean no one and nothing around except tuns of sand. Thanks be to God,
we were able to stay in second gear and slowly make it to the next town. Our
alternator went out, so it was not charging the batteries. My brother took a
taxi in town and was actually able to find a new battery even though it was
Saturday and everything is usually closed. We got the old battery charged and should be able to make it until we can find an
alternator. Hopefully they will be affordable. God is so good, He always looks after us.
I put more pictures on the "Photo Gallery" page.
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This was a town right inside Peru where we stayed.
I went for a run in a little village and talked to some cool people that live there.
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Best way to relax after an extremely stressful day....sunset. Whatever you are dealing with, if you can get some where and watch the sun set, it would be the best medicine for you. Take a deep breath and just let it go. Watch the sun sink down and know that God is good, and waits to help the humble in spirit.
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