Month: October 2016

Consecration – setting something aside for a special purpose. The team – Americans and Peruvians – is being set aside for God’s purposes this week. What an awesome day! This morning, we attended church where a wheelchair was ceremonially presented. (This is not necessarily the actual chair. The actual chair, with any necessary modifications will be given at the actual distribution.) 

The chair being replaced…

After an afternoon of sightseeing and an awesome dinner at Villa Chicken, we had a consecration service. We worshipped, had a hand-washing ceremony, and shared communion.

Now, off to bed. The day starts early tomorrow. Prayer at 6, breakfast at 6:30, and on the bus at 7:15. So excited to see what God has in store for us!

Mary Beth and Melina had a couple of interesting experiences in their travels to Lima. Before leaving Chicago they prayed for God to bring them divine appointments – and for the sensitivity to recognize them when they happened.

At the first stop (Houston) a young woman overheard them talking about the ministry and started asking questions. She was so interested that she hung around with them until the next flight and is hoping to come and observe a day of the outreach.

The second also happened in the Houston airport. When Mary Beth and Melina disembarked from their first flight, they waited and waited for Mary Beth’s chair to be brought out. When it didn’t come they were told that it had probably been sent to the next gate.

When they met the rest of the team waiting at that gate, they were informed that the gate had just been changed – back near the gate they had just left! They started heading back and saw a woman being wheeled  toward them in Mary Beth’s chair. She quickly told Melina to stop and explained the situation to the woman. After some discussion, she had her chair back. As she says, “We’re here to donate wheelchairs…” but she hadn’t intended to donate her own personal chair!

Today we met the Peruvian half of our team. After worshipping together and playing an icebreaker game (stretched my Spanish for sure), we were entertained by a couple of folk dancers

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The chairs and other equipment is at the church, ready to be unpacked and distributed!

 

 

The team and ALL the luggage has arrived! Shortly we will be having breakfast and a team meeting. This afternoon we meet with the Peruvian team and scope out the area where we will be ministering. More to come later…

Team member, Carolyn, tells us, “Here is a picture of my wonderful Sunday School Class at Light of Christ Anglican Church in Heathsville Virginia. They are supporting this outreach faithfully, financially and prayerfully. Gloria a Dios!

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The countdown has begun! Two weeks from now, we will be in Lima. Ever wonder what the team does to prepare? Most importantly, much prayer goes into each outreach. Being spiritually prepared is the most important thing. If you are reading this and you are praying for our team, you are essential to its success!

Physical preparations are also important. While most of us think of this as raising support, packing our bags, getting those needed vaccinations, and making sure our passports are current, the team members from Albuquerque have taken it to a whole new level. Apparently they have started training together. Here are a few pictures of them hard at work. (Does this mean that they will still be raring to go when the rest of us reach exhaustion? I’ll let you know in a couple of weeks.)