Saludos de Arequipa Peru!
This past week has been one of the most emotional and profound weeks I have experienced so far. I have never felt such peace sustaining me as I have in these past few days. It is also an indescribible feeling to know that I am exactly where I am suppose to be and to feel at home with people I just met and a country I haven't even been in for more than four days!
I joined my new family in L.A. on the 31st of January and we began our Peruvian adventure together. We went through four days of training and orientation; both cross-culturally and specifically with Extreme Nazarene. I had the opportunity to spend some time with some dear friends of mine, Joel Tooley and Rachel Kuhn. Both of them had a huge impact on my journey in following God's call to missions in my life. During our time in L.A., I learned so much about myself and the way that God had been preparing me all along for this journey. It was encouraging to talk with my new teammates about their stories and how God had called them to also be a light in the darkness. Eventhough we come from various walks of life, we have all bonded and united with our desire and passion for the people of Peru.
We left L.A. on Friday the 5th at 1a.m. and arrived in Arequipa, Peru 16 hours later! It was an exhausting day, but we made it through without any problems. I had my first leadership opportunity using my Spanish thrusted upon me in the airport in Lima. Since I was the only one who was able to speak well enough, I was asked to represent the entire group and get them checked in to our flight. It was overwhelming at first, but I was thankful I was able to use my Spanish to help my new family. I was also able to witness for the first time in Spanish on our flight from Lima to Arequipa which was really exciting and encouraging! We were greeted by several of the Extreme staff who had been working and helping us in getting to this part of our journey. It was such a beautiful sight to be welcomed by so many, it really felt like I was coming home. That night we went home with our Peruvian families and settled in to our new homes. I am rooming with my instant friend Cailyn who is also from Ohio and will be going to Cusco with me. We have a wonderful host family who enjoys spending time chatting with us and are interested in our beliefs and our mission!
On Saturday, I woke up to the sounds of the city and felt as though I was in a different world! We took a short tour of the bus system and then were treated to lunch by the director of Extreme. He then challenged us to go to a market and try jugo de rana (frog juice)! I had seen a video of this before and was sure that I would never do something so disgusting in my life, but I stepped up to the challenge, as did the rest of my team, and drank liquid frog! I am now offically able to eat or do anything "extreme". I have a video to prove that I actually did it so you will all have to check it out!
We also had our first church service on Sunday which went really well and I understood a great part of it. All of our team is split among the 4 churches that are here in the city so that we can all be equally involved. The message happened to be about loving your neighbor as yourself which is obivously something that I need to grasp since it continues to come up! We started classes yesterday and they are going really well. We live 4 minutes from the school which is wonderful! Most of the material is just review for me and not challenging at all, but I am hoping that it will pick up soon. We also had a day of prayer and fasting followed by a time of lunch with the entire Extreme staff which is something we will continue every tuesday.
Sorry that these post have been so long! Thank you all for reading them and sharing in this experience with me and for your comments! I love to hear from you all! I promise to write more often so that my post are more like short novels! I hope you all are doing well!!!
In Him,
Brandi
Monday, February 8, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Oxygen mask
Greetings from sunny California!
These past several months have been filled with many changes, emotions, and an overwhelming sense of God’s provision and love. I had the privilege of working with Rachel Kuhn with the Extrememoble and promote the work that Extreme is doing in Peru. I enjoyed the many churches and camps that we visited and the connections that we made. It was a great opportunity to begin working with Extreme and to feel a part of God’s plan for the people of Peru.
During my last semester at Mount Vernon, I learned the beauty of Godly friendships and that every season in our lives must come to an end so that another one can begin. Though it was difficult for me to leave the beautiful Christian community that God had formed during my time at MVNU, I knew that it was necessary for me to leave so that I could touch even more lives. I graduated in December with a degree in Social Work and Spanish. My experience at MVNU was truly transformational and has prepared me for the work that God has called me to in Peru.
At the end of December, I went to a prayer conference that I have gone to for the past few years. While there, I encountered God in a way that I never had before and he revealed the need for me to love myself and find rest in him. I had been so caught up on serving others and putting their needs before myself that I was getting burnt-out. He challenged me that if I want to “love my neighbor as myself” then I needed to first find love and worth in him and allow him to lavish that love on me so that others could also experience that same love.
I’m sure if you have ever flown before you are familiar with the instructions to first place the oxygen mask on yourself before placing it on others. This used to always aggravate me and I would think “how selfish is that to not help out your own child or an elderly person sitting next to you”? I wasn’t just going to help myself and let them die. I now understand why that was so hard for me to grasp because I always put others ahead of myself, even at the cost of my own well being. In order to serve and love those around us, we need to make sure that we are getting enough “oxygen” and intimacy with God. I knew this was something that God wanted me to grasp before going into the mission field. It wasn’t until I had a forced time of rest after a sledding accident that I realized the value and importance of proper self care and rest.
Also during that time, God showed me how much he wanted me to go to Peru by providing in abundance for my trip. The week before my accident I was $2000 short of reaching my goal. The week after my accident, I was told that I was $800 over the amount that I needed! The money has continued to flow in and I am humbled at God’s provision through his beautiful and obedient servants!
I left my home in Ohio on Thursday and am now spending some time with my sister in California before heading to L.A. to begin the exciting adventure with Extreme. It has been difficult to leave behind my loved ones because I have been so blessed and have such a strong support system. However, I know that this life is not my own and that Jesus, my betrothed, is calling me to follow him wherever he leads. Thank you all for your continued prayer and support! I can definitely feel God’s peace and comfort sustaining me during this time and I know it’s because of your prayers! I hope that you all are doing well! The next time I write, I will be in Peru!!!
In him,
Brandi
If any of you are interested in sending me mail the old fashion way, here is my address in Peru:
Avenida Lima 110
Yanahuara Arequipa
Arequipa, Peru
These past several months have been filled with many changes, emotions, and an overwhelming sense of God’s provision and love. I had the privilege of working with Rachel Kuhn with the Extrememoble and promote the work that Extreme is doing in Peru. I enjoyed the many churches and camps that we visited and the connections that we made. It was a great opportunity to begin working with Extreme and to feel a part of God’s plan for the people of Peru.
During my last semester at Mount Vernon, I learned the beauty of Godly friendships and that every season in our lives must come to an end so that another one can begin. Though it was difficult for me to leave the beautiful Christian community that God had formed during my time at MVNU, I knew that it was necessary for me to leave so that I could touch even more lives. I graduated in December with a degree in Social Work and Spanish. My experience at MVNU was truly transformational and has prepared me for the work that God has called me to in Peru.
At the end of December, I went to a prayer conference that I have gone to for the past few years. While there, I encountered God in a way that I never had before and he revealed the need for me to love myself and find rest in him. I had been so caught up on serving others and putting their needs before myself that I was getting burnt-out. He challenged me that if I want to “love my neighbor as myself” then I needed to first find love and worth in him and allow him to lavish that love on me so that others could also experience that same love.
I’m sure if you have ever flown before you are familiar with the instructions to first place the oxygen mask on yourself before placing it on others. This used to always aggravate me and I would think “how selfish is that to not help out your own child or an elderly person sitting next to you”? I wasn’t just going to help myself and let them die. I now understand why that was so hard for me to grasp because I always put others ahead of myself, even at the cost of my own well being. In order to serve and love those around us, we need to make sure that we are getting enough “oxygen” and intimacy with God. I knew this was something that God wanted me to grasp before going into the mission field. It wasn’t until I had a forced time of rest after a sledding accident that I realized the value and importance of proper self care and rest.
Also during that time, God showed me how much he wanted me to go to Peru by providing in abundance for my trip. The week before my accident I was $2000 short of reaching my goal. The week after my accident, I was told that I was $800 over the amount that I needed! The money has continued to flow in and I am humbled at God’s provision through his beautiful and obedient servants!
I left my home in Ohio on Thursday and am now spending some time with my sister in California before heading to L.A. to begin the exciting adventure with Extreme. It has been difficult to leave behind my loved ones because I have been so blessed and have such a strong support system. However, I know that this life is not my own and that Jesus, my betrothed, is calling me to follow him wherever he leads. Thank you all for your continued prayer and support! I can definitely feel God’s peace and comfort sustaining me during this time and I know it’s because of your prayers! I hope that you all are doing well! The next time I write, I will be in Peru!!!
In him,
Brandi
If any of you are interested in sending me mail the old fashion way, here is my address in Peru:
Avenida Lima 110
Yanahuara Arequipa
Arequipa, Peru
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Answering the call
Welcome all!
This past year has been one of the most difficult and growing years of my life. I have experienced much loss and heartache, but through the pain I have experienced the power of God's grace and peace that he offers to all that call on him. Through this season of shaping and growing, God has been calling me to enter into a deeper relationship with him by leaving everything behind and following him wherever he leads.
I will be graduating from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in December with a degree in Social Work and Spanish. I had no direction where I was suppose to go after MVNU, but I knew that God had been working on me to surrender my all and had placed a burden on my heart for his lost sheep. At the church where I am doing my internship, I first heard about a new project through the Nazarene church called Extreme Peru. I thought that it was awesome what God was doing there, but it wasn't for me. I had plans to graduate and go back to school to receive my MSW. However, God had different plans.
On March 5th, I met with Rachel Kuhn who works with Extreme and also attends the church I intern at. The meeting was for my best friend who was interested in Peru and I was going as support. I had my mind set that it was a waste of her time to try to convince me to go. God quickly transformed my thinking and pierced my heart during that meeting. I didn't know many details of this adventure, but I knew at the end of that meeting that I needed to be apart of it. After several days of crying and pleading with the Lord, I surrendered my will and gave him a weak, but definite yes.
Since that day, I have joyfully accepted this new journey, went through the interview process, and have been approved to leave in February. I will be serving as a 40/40 in Cusco, Peru where I will be paired with a Peruvian and we will partner together and begin three churches in an 18 month period. I am now preparing for the work that we will be doing. I know that I will not be able to go on this adventure on my own and am inviting all who want to be apart of bringing light into this dark world to partner with me both in prayer and financial support. Thank you for your interest and support. I know that many sons will be brought to glory through the work that God will be doing in Peru!
For more information about Extreme Peru , 40/40 model, and my information visit extremenazarene.org/courts
Please check back for more posts as this journey continues!!
In Him,
Brandi
This past year has been one of the most difficult and growing years of my life. I have experienced much loss and heartache, but through the pain I have experienced the power of God's grace and peace that he offers to all that call on him. Through this season of shaping and growing, God has been calling me to enter into a deeper relationship with him by leaving everything behind and following him wherever he leads.
I will be graduating from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in December with a degree in Social Work and Spanish. I had no direction where I was suppose to go after MVNU, but I knew that God had been working on me to surrender my all and had placed a burden on my heart for his lost sheep. At the church where I am doing my internship, I first heard about a new project through the Nazarene church called Extreme Peru. I thought that it was awesome what God was doing there, but it wasn't for me. I had plans to graduate and go back to school to receive my MSW. However, God had different plans.
On March 5th, I met with Rachel Kuhn who works with Extreme and also attends the church I intern at. The meeting was for my best friend who was interested in Peru and I was going as support. I had my mind set that it was a waste of her time to try to convince me to go. God quickly transformed my thinking and pierced my heart during that meeting. I didn't know many details of this adventure, but I knew at the end of that meeting that I needed to be apart of it. After several days of crying and pleading with the Lord, I surrendered my will and gave him a weak, but definite yes.
Since that day, I have joyfully accepted this new journey, went through the interview process, and have been approved to leave in February. I will be serving as a 40/40 in Cusco, Peru where I will be paired with a Peruvian and we will partner together and begin three churches in an 18 month period. I am now preparing for the work that we will be doing. I know that I will not be able to go on this adventure on my own and am inviting all who want to be apart of bringing light into this dark world to partner with me both in prayer and financial support. Thank you for your interest and support. I know that many sons will be brought to glory through the work that God will be doing in Peru!
For more information about Extreme Peru , 40/40 model, and my information visit extremenazarene.org/courts
Please check back for more posts as this journey continues!!
In Him,
Brandi
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