Lima Peru - Summer 2006

Peru Journal Entries.

I would first off like to explain some of these entries I had felt inspired to write. Some I did not, hence some are better written than others. So please exscuse that, and enjoy.

June 13, 2006

“1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8… Again! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8!”

Ah to be in drama training once again, I never realized how annoying counting could be until today. Well our Peru team will be performing two dramas this year. Ragman and Freedom. I am very familiar with Ragman; I had been cast in that for the past two years.

Well the results of casting should not have surprised me; I was yet again placed in Ragman. I mean I love the drama; I would just like a change sometimes. I was cast as the lame person.

We trained six long hours in the generous Texas heat and sunshine. Finally passing, we continued into the night for some sessions and dinner. Oh I loved dinner tonight! You know, I never realized how much I loved food until I go on these trips. Then I remember very well, I love food.

So I would say so far, I like my team. Though what I miss is how when in Botswana I was so easily able to connect with people. So far though, I am very thankful for them I have three amazing friends. They are just beyond amazing, and I thank God that I had the chance to be with them. Our team is already trying to come up with a nickname to call the four of us, since rarely people see us apart.

Well I must be off to bed; my muscles are aching for a goodnight sleep, especially my right leg. All of that dragging in the drama hurts more than I thought!

June 14, 2006

I have bad news for today. I think this trip is going to be much more difficult than I had thought. I am pretty homesick, something I have never experienced on the past two trips. But I am not home sick for home….so to say… I am homesick for Botswana. I can’t handle seeing the Botswana group, it just feels like I should be with them and to tell you the truth I want to be. I know it’s sad but I just think I might have made a mistake going to Peru in place of Botswana. Botswana is where I belong, and I just feel… wrong.

June 15, 2006

Today we left for Peru at 3:30 a.m. Well actually we drove to Houston for five hours and it was quite interesting the positions Sarah (my seat buddy) and I found ourselves in. BTW I love this girl, I never thought I could and would connect with someone so much, she and I are so much alike and she encourages me so much. I really think I would have tried to sneak onto the Botswana bus if it had not been for her.

Well when we finally reached Houston, we immediately got on a plane and headed straight for Mexico City. I was the only person on the plane who had no one sitting by them. But a couple, who I do not believe spoke English soon came and took the two empty spots next to me. I was surprised though to see that the husband did speak English, not too well though.

I got to know him very well and we talked about al aspects of life. Finally he asked what our team was doing and where we were going. I told him all about us and the Christian faith. I was personally surprised how easily he listened and took to heart what I said. He also educated me on Catholicism.

Finally he started asking about being a Christian and what it was like. That was my signal I had to freedom to now minister. First off to tell you this was one of the most sincerely nice men I have ever met!

He agreed with much of what I said, but what truly surprised me was when he took my Bible to flip through it and read some. He pointed out versus he liked, I showed him some of my favorites.

One thing I had no idea about what that my entire team was sending whispers to each other to pray for me, because they overhead the conversation. It was so nice to have the back up!

So finally Louis, and Anna Maria gave me their e-mail and they wanted me to send them pictures and testimonies. He also told me that if I were to ever be in Mexico City again to bring my family and they would throw a fiesta in our honor.

Well to end this long entry, they did not accept but definitely a seed was planted. I got to share my testimony with the group and my leaders said I had officially set the pace for the entire trip.

June 17, 2006

First day of ministry!

I guess you could say that my leaders wanted to start me off with a bit of a shock. In all of about two minutes, I was made a MIG leader, a demon in the drama Freedom (as well as acting in Ragman), and the first to give their testimony. A little bit nerve racking right? Yeah, you’re telling me!

In my MIG I am in charge of Caleb, and Allison. But I am definitely getting some tension from Allison, because she thought she should have been placed in the position and not me. Also to add to the fire, Allison is two years older than me, and so is Caleb. I was a little intimidated.

But to tell you the truth, I think for all of the craziness of today, I handled it well. I adjusted to everything and my testimony was great!

June 18, 2006

There I was lying in my bed wondering what I could have done to stop this whole thing.

Why couldn’t I be faster, stronger, or even braver? Why did it have to be me? Why couldn’t it have been someone else on my team? Wait… What will mom and dad say? They told me not to bring it. Oh my gosh I am in such huge trouble. Whatam I going to do?

So I laid there replaying what happened over and over in my head…

We pulled up to a site (our 3rd site of the day) and immediately something came over my team. Something was seriously wrong here. So I took my MIG (Ministry Group) and we went out to invite people to come to our drama. On our way back someone we had talked yelled down the street some very unmentionable curses to my group.

“What the heck?! What did we say to him?” Caleb asked me while being a little than more ticked off.

“I don’t know, don’t pay attention to him and just keep walking,” as I told my MIG to go back to the site.

That should have been my first sign.

After the drama, the prayer, we went out to talk to people. My friend, Heather and her MIG went to one woman to pray for her. As they were praying she collapsed. She had told them that she was having demonic dreams and she couldn’t sleep at night. My MIG joined them for support. We realized soon enough that she was demon possessed. We began to cast out the demon, but something was telling me to go else where. I turn to see her daughter on the steps freaking out.

My MIG came with me to talk to the young girl. I set my expensive digital photography camera in between my legs and was stepping on the strap and I always do when I set it down. As we continued to comfort the girl it happened.

It felt like I was out of my body watching this at first. A man walked up and flat out took my camera. I got up…

“HEY!!!” I immediately ran after him around the corner.

I never felt so fast in my entire life. I caught up to him and grabbed on the back of his shirt, he turned to hit me and I pulled… I don’t know what you call it… I guess a Matrix move. Then 5 of his other friends came and I didn’t take the chance.

Watching these men run away with my camera was extremely hard for me. As you guessed my natural reaction is to fight back. But my team caught up with me and pulled me away.

I broke down right there, it was my camera!!! My digital photography camera!! So I got back on the bus and sat down. Then as I looked out the window, they had the nerve to come back and laugh at us on the bus. I immediately jumped off the bus in rage and ran after them again.

I think I probably scared my team to death. Though, I think any of them would have done the same if it were their camera.

Finally getting on the bus for the final time I just sat, almost in a daze.

I bounced back I guess you could say. We had two more sites. I wasn’t going to wallow in the fact that it was actually gone. Yeah, I deserved some time to be sad, anyone does.

So that night I realized something. What I had left in the camera case.

I had a Spanish Bible, a how to lead someone to salvation card in Spanish, and a small statue that I was holding for my friend Sarah that a small girl gave her. It read…

“God Hasn’t Forgotten You,” in Spanish.

I had finally come to my senses and knew for a fact that that man, who took my camera, was going to be saved and he was supposed to have it. I think the main thing I was the most upset about was that all of my pictures were gone. I had taken some amazing pictures too, I’ll tell you that much!

I guess this is a true story where you can say it all really is in God’s hands, and He knows what He is doing.

June 23, 2006

“Now I would like you to meet one of my good friends who would like to talk to you for a couple of minutes.”
That was my cue.

One deep breath in and out trying to blow out the butterflies that consumed my stomach. I don’t know why I was so nervous. I had done this before.

Come on Lindsay, you can do this, it’s easy. No problem.

I take the microphone from Tracy, turn and first I see Francisco waiting for me with wide eyes. Then I turn to the crowd, a very large crowd. School kids, they were just like me. There were in uniforms with navy sweaters, a golden school crest on the chest, and khaki bottoms. They were in the ages of 7-18. I was in my grey sweatshirt and my black scrubs; my hair is a messy, curly bun. As I said, they were just like me. Just it was 500 of them and one of me.

“Hola,” I could have sworn I heard a cricket chirping.

“Que Pasa?” There was another chirp.

God Help me.

One last…long deep breath as I put the microphone to my mouth.

“My name is Lindsay, I am 15 years old and I would like to talk to you a little bit.”

There it was. The rest just seemed to flow out of my mouth so smoothly you would have thought I had been throwing the net the whole trip. Even with many technical issues during my net I kept going. I thought…

Good thing I have a loud voice.

“Who would like to make the choice to be a follower of Jesus Christ?” At first there was a pause and no one.

What did I do wrong?

Then one hand went up. Then around 400 others rose simultaneously. Almost like the wave you see at sports games. I would have never thought to see this kind of reaction.

Thank you God.

“Dear Lord,” and the echo that followed would have shaken anyone in the area. It’s a feeling you never want to forget. It is unexplainable…Yet at the same time unbelievable.