We made it! Prayers for a smooth travel schedule and details to work themselves out were answered as we moved as a group of 14 from Jackson to Atlanta. We met our final Twin Lakes team member, Emily Sutton, at our gate in Atlanta and were excited to finally have her with us. Flights were smooth and morals up for the duration of our travels to Lima and throughout the wee hours of the morning, immigration and check-in process for our domestic flight on Sunday morning. We checked in to our hotel around 2:00am on Sunday morning and caught a few winks until it was again time to head back to the airport around 7:00am. Our arrival in Trujillo allowed us to reunite with all of our belongings and supplies, as well as meet up with Alleen McLain Tomas, our missionary contact and all-around amazing friend! We made quick drive by our hotel to drop off bags and then were off to Cristo Rey for church. Singing and worshiping our Savior in a culture and language not your own remains one of the highlights of this trip. What a joy to share with our hermanos and hermanas in Christ! Pastor Jaime Avellanda spoke on the truth of Christ being our only source of salvation – a clear presentation of the Gospel as the last Sunday morning message of 2014.
The Dale Ellison family hosted both US teams and the Peru Mission families for a delicious lunch at their home in Huanchaco (minutes from the Pacific Ocean). We are thankful to each of the missionaries for the opportunity to come and serve in such a worthwhile way. By 4:00pm we were prepped and ready to have camp counselor orientation. Games, singing and camp details kept us alert and encouraged as we eagerly await beginning camp in the morning. Close to 60 total individuals are volunteering this year to help run camp for 160 children. What a blessing to see the enthusiasm to serve through the ministry of Christian camping here in Peru. Some of our Peruvian staff were campers during the beginning years of this camp in Trujillo and now serve because of the impact that camp had on their lives.
We worshiped together again on Sunday evening at Cristo Rey where Albert den Oudsten led us in a study from Luke 2. We again enjoyed the opportunity to join in the study of God’s word with our dear friends in Peru. The whole camp staff (all 60 of us) headed to a family style dinner of Peruvian Chinese food like no other…Delicious! What a great time of fellowship and camaraderie!
An American team meeting on our combi ride back to the hotel and some last minute prep in the common area of our floors has us all ready to pass out, but SUPER excited about the week ahead together! Though the title of this post doesn’t necessarily reflect the physical aspects of sleep on our adventure thus far, our spirits can rest in the fact that God has promised us that He will supply our every need. The lyrics to another hymn of the faith have resonated throughout the last 48 hours and hold especially true as we look forward to heading to bed on our first night in Trujillo.
Jesus I Am Resting, Resting
Jesus I am resting, resting
In the Joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power
Thou hast made me whole.
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
O how great Thy loving kindness.
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O how marvellous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings;
Thine is love indeed!
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Ever lift Thy face upon me,
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ‘neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory,
Sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting;
Fill me with Thy grace.
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.