Im lovin it...more than a mcdonalds slogan

Hi friends!

we made it here to moyombamba. (and so did our 36 checked bags, is that a record?) i apologize in advance for any spelling, grammar, or capitalization problems. the keyboard here is much different than the ones in the states.

i had the most clever blog post all typed out yesterday and before i hit publish the power went off in the internet cafe. so im afraid you all will be forced to read this one instead.

id like to first introduce you to the team
highpoint tea:

alexis
stephanie
april
rhonda
jay
sara
eileen
erin
karen
john
taylor
bob


burlington people:

justin
dr pringle
genie
ken
doris
myra
mary

day 1

we arrived in lima late friday night about 11 pm. we spent the night at the golden towers and got up at 4 am for our flight to tarapota. we arrived inb tarapota around 10 am and then made the 2 hour ish drive to moyobamba. we spent that afternoon (saturday) catching up with the vargas family and resting. that night moyobamba did a power ration and the power was off from 6 to 11. part of our group went for pizza and part of them stayed at la casona and enjoyed fellowship. it definitely made the night more interesting with no lights. alexis (my new bff and roomie) and I had fun doing basic tasks by candle light.

day 2

today we rested and enjoyed moyobamba. we woke up early and got ready for church in casalda (im pretty sure I´m spelling that phonetically) and then headed out to the university site. we enjoyed a lunch where taylor and jay were brave enough to try the guinea pig. they said it tasted like chicken. haha

we then headed over to the water hole. it was a great place to get great photos, slip and slide on the rocks, and laugh (a whole LOT!)

our group already seems to be in sync with each other. tonight alexis and I walked into la casona (the hotel) and everyone was sorting through several bags of medical supplies trying to get ready for tomorrows clinic. it was lovely to see everyone doing their part and working as a team.

tonight, as we did our devotional, we decided that instead of waiting until the end of our trip to decide if we felt like we had given more than we had received, we wanted to make it a point from this point forward to give. give give give, and love love love. the vargas family is so welcoming and would give anyone the shirt off their back. when I saw victors face light up as we arrived at the airport, it was a look of pure joy. he LOVES us. I want to love like that. I cannot help but see Gods love when I look at the vargas family and how they have completely opened up their home to us. ken, doris, alexis, and I are actually staying at the vargas household. today as we were heading to meet up with the group, victor asked me to ride with him on his motor bike, and without a second thought I hopped on. my mom always told me not to ride on the back of a motorcycle, but I know she makes an exception for victor. I have complete trust in him and know that he cares for this team as if it were his own family.

this trip is about building a partnership with the people of peru. i have never once felt like we were just putting a quick bandaid on the suffering we see. I like to think of this as a mutual relationship. we have been reading Luke 16 and talking about Lazarus and the poor man. God chose to reward the poor man. Gold and riches dont mean anything to him. We also talked about how the people have nothing smile because they know something is bigger than material things. I have the highest hopes for this trip already!

now along for a few funny stories:

ken and doris miscommunicate about one of their bags. everyone was seperated on the flight from miami to lima and ken had done a good job of securing his moms luggage a spot near him in the back of the plane. when the flight is over just as doris is finished telling genie how glad she is that ken is taking care of her this trip, doris sees ken lift a bag (she knows this black bag that rolls MUST be hers) out of the overhead bin. ken and doris arrive at the baggage claim and doris asks ken where her bag is. ken says he doesnt have it. doris laughs and thinks he is pulling a prank on her. ken immediately runs back to the plane. WE DID EVENTUALLY GET THE BAG!

this morning rhonda was enjoying her second cup of coffee from la casona when genie pointed out the sugar she had been using was filled with ants. so the rest of the day rhonda joked that if she was wiggling around, it was all the ants she had swallowed.

various people (including yours truly) will stand up and annouce they have lost their bag or a passport and then it will be right in front of their face. I think its what we call the tired travelers syndrome.

im sure ive missed some things but i will be back tomorrow.

psalm 4

Blessings,

Morgan