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FEBRUARY 2014

KA RA S E RVI NG I N PE RU

Another great month

Hello friends and family,
February has been another
great month for me here in
Arequipa. I cant believe that I
am already writing this
newsletter, though! The time
is flying by. But, I am so
incredibly thankful for my time

LLAMAS WE SAW WHILE ON A

WALK

here studying Spanish. I have

made so much progress, and
have found a new confidence
when speaking. However,
there is still much to learn,
and I plan on giving
everything I have to learn as
much as possible in my last
weeks of school. This time

DRAMA AT CHURCH FOR THE

FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT

THESE ARE MY WONDERFUL HOST

PARENTS- JULIO AND MIRIAM!
THEY HAVE TAKEN SUCH GOOD
CARE OF ME, AND HAVE TRULY
MADE AREQUIPA FEEL LIKE HOME.

has been invaluable as I know

that now the language barrier
will not hold me back from
whatever the Lord leads me to
do in Cajamarca. Thank you
for supporting and praying for
me in this time!

WITH FRIENDS AT A BIRTHDAY

PARTY

What is happening
at school?
I could not be more pleased with the
school I am a9ending. I have
incredible teachers, and I absolutely
love going to class every day. In my
prac?ce class we have started reading
and discussing Bible stories and
applica?ons in Spanish. We have also
worked on praying in Spanish.
Some?mes I walk out of class and
wonder if I really was able to just have
that kind of conversa?on in Spanish! I
am surprising myself. Lately, I am also
nding myself thinking in Spanish,
which is a good sign! My prac?ce
teacher is tough, but great. She
corrects every single mistake I make,
but she allows me to correct myself
when I know how to, and that
encourages me that I am able to speak
correctly, and I just need to slow
down! She takes every opportunity to
teach me something new, and she
explains it all so well. Something I love
about this school is the interac?on we
have with the teachers even outside of
class ?me. I go to church and Bible
study with some of the teachers, so
they are able to help me and correct
me when we are in dierent
situa?ons. The students and teachers
have a great rela?onship. When we
get together with other students,
some of the teachers come and we all
just hang out as friends. It is an
amazing environment for learning.
Another thing I love about this school
is that their main purpose is to equip
missionaries with the language. I have
met so many people from all over the
world who will be working in dierent
areas of Peru. I love to see their heart
for the Peruvian people, and to hear
their stories of how God has brought
each of them here.

T R I P TO B I B L E S T U DY
Last week I w en t w i th S a ra h to B i bl e S tu d y, b u t i t w a s a t a
hous e we h a d n o t b een to befo re. The po wer h a d g on e o ut a l l
ove r the c it y, so we wer e tryi n g to f i nd o ur way i n t h e d a rk .
We t ho u g ht w e ha d f o un d the c o rrec t bu i ldi ng , s o we t r i e d t o
en ter . S i nc e t he po w er was o u t, the d o o rb el ls to en t e r w e re
not w o rk in g . S o , a m a n l et u s i n. W ell, w e en d ed u p be i n g i n
the wr on g bu i ld i n g . H o wev er there i s a g a te, a nd s i n c e t he
pow e r w as o u t we co u ld n o t g et o u t wi tho u t a k ey, whi c h w e
obvio u sl y d i d n t h a ve. W e were s tu c k i ns i d e, i n the d a r k , fo r
abou t 10 mi n u tes . Pr a i se to G o d that a la d y ca me a nd o pe n e d
the ga te, s o w e w ere a ble to g et o u t. W e co n ti n u ed wa l k i ng
down the st reet i n th e dar k, when I h ea rd m y na m e. W e ra n
int o s o m e o the r g i rl s we kn ew, an d w ere abl e to g o t o t he
corr ec t p lac e wi th th em ! I t i s a f un n y sto r y no w , but I
pr omi s e it w as no t fu n ny th a t n i g ht!

C ARNAVAL TIME!
Well, this time of the year is carnaval (that is how it is spelled here in
Peru!) time in Arequipa. Many of the young people like to go around
throwing water balloons, or dumping buckets of water on innocent people
passing by. It must have been my lucky day, because well, I got a little wet
on the bus ride to school one day. One young boy was standing in a park,
and as our bus passed by, he threw a water balloon in the door. He had
really good aim, and needs to put that talent to a better use! The balloon
hit the floor of the bus and burst open. I happened to be sitting close
enough to get splashed just a little. I am glad to have experienced that part
of Peruvian culture, but I am now more aware of teens gathering together
at this time of the year. Although, it did give me a good story to tell in my
practice class!

During my rst few weeks, I remember thinking, what have I go9en

myself into? I was already coun?ng down the days un?l I could go to
Cajamarca. Now, I am not ready to leave. I have made great friends,
go9en connected with a great church and group of believers, and have
come to truly enjoy my ?me here in Arequipa. But, I know God has not
called me here. He has brought me here for a ?me, and that ?me is
coming to an end. I am ready to see Him work in my life as I move to
Cajamarca in just a short two and a half weeks. God has tremendously
blessed my ?me here, and for that I will forever be thankful. He has
lled me with His Spirit, His presence, His Word, and His joy, and now I
am ready to be poured out, so that others may experience His
greatness. And, I believe I am even ready to do that in Spanish!

L I F E I N A R E QU I PA

TRIP TO THE BEACH

THIS PAST WEEKEND I WENT
TO THE BEACH WITH 2
FRIENDS FROM SCHOOL. THE
BEACH IS ONLY A 2 HOUR
BUS TRIP FROM AREQUIPA.
WE WERE ABLE TO GO FOR
A DAY TRIP, AND HAD A
GREAT TIME RELAXING ON
THE SAND. WE DID SWIM
SOME, BUT THE WATER IS
ABSOLUTELY FREEZING!
THANKFUL FOR THIS
OPPORTUNIT Y TO
EXPERIENCE MORE OF
GODS GRAND CREATION.

PRAYER REQUESTS AND PRAISES

* I had a successful trip to Lima to submit all of the documents
required for my resident visa. The process went smooth. Now, I
am waiting for them to approve my application, so that I can
return to pick up my resident visa card. Pray that this will be
completed soon.
* I praise God for how much I have come to enjoy my time here
in Arequipa. I have great friends, a great church, and have grown
close to the family I live with. I did not think it would be difficult
to leave, but now I know I will miss this place and these people a
lot. Please begin to pray for my transition to Cajamarca.
* My Spanish has improved greatly, which is a huge praise. But,
please pray that I would be able to learn much more in my last 3
weeks. Pray that speaking would come easier and more quickly.