End of an Era

We wrapped up this first school year with a day of graduation and rememberance as we shared some of our favorite memories through out the year and the trip. We poked at our quirky/weirdness, wreckless driving, strange sayings, embarrassing moments and also how God revealed himself to us. I was so blessed to hear the students look back and see how God changed their heart or opened their eyes to things we've missed. A couple things the students have learned was that you never graduate from being a servant, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. They also caught a glimpse of God's heart for the nations and that's something that they will take with them.

Somewhere inbetween Iquitos and Nato, we were all on a bus heading to the river and I looked over at my students and palm trees were flying by their heads and straw huts were set in the background and they were reading their devotions and Bibles and God just whispered to me, "Look how far we've come." And it had nothing to do with our location, and everything to do with how much we've grown since the begininng of the school year. I was so blessed to be a part of their life in a small way and experiencing their changes. Thank you for supporting us and being a part of God moving, I know these students are world-changers!

I didn't quite finish the last part of the trip to Peru, but I'll just list some of my favorite parts of the trip: *In the city, the children kiss you on the cheek and say ciao when it's time to leave *Seeing people come to know Jesus as their Savior *Playing volleyball and soccer with the kids *Vacation Bible School with the kids *The kids *Chasing the kids on the flooded sidewalks as they yell "haylo!" *Taking baths in the Amazon *Walking out of the church, knee deep in water and looking up at the stars and upside down Big Dipper with the students *Worshiping in Spanish and English with a bunch of teenagers from Iquitos *Meeting all the crazy YWAM'ers on the base *The kids *Seeing God restore a village and a Pastor *Being a part of a baptism in the Amazon River and baby dedication *Dancing with the kids *Going bathroom on the boat, while it was moving (see picture below) *Getting out of my bed to drive 15 minutes by myself to find carlos and give him a Bible and tell him that God loves him *Trying to talk in spanish and use gestures to ask questions to puzzled spanish speakers *Learning to live dead *The kids *Talking about our strengths from our own tents at night as a group *Nightly church services *Finding a dead alligator on our boat as a gift from the community. *Knowing that God has confirmed that long term missions is something He has for me *Realizing that my passions are kids, sports and God and that I can combine all 3 of those on the mission field and feel refreshed and alive! *Our wonderful translator and guides who led us and cooked delicious meals for us as we traveled up and down the Amazon! *Eating alligator, fish eyes and worms *Trying to mime to one of the men in the village that we want to fish and then when we finally are out on the river, we realize we forgot our poles! *The kids

Even though you weren't there, please know that the people that were touched during our time there was because of you. Thank you for your prayers, your financial support, and your encouragement. Please continue to pray for us as Agora recruits for Fall semester and for our summer trip back to Peru in July. For more pictures, go to: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.700160650818.2104235.53701690&type=3 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."- Ephesians 4:1-2