Luke 14:26

Remember this post when I had my first fight with homesickness? I sat in my room, cried, read my Bible, listened to sermons, prayed, and called my mom. I am so thankful to have a family that prays for me. A family that not only allows their daughter to move to a foreign country, but supports her in doing so, even though she decided to go a month before. 

My loving mother texted me Luke 14:26, and honestly, instead of helping me feel better, I became frustrated and confused. Naturally, I just put it aside. However, when God wants to teach me something, He brings it into my life again and again. I'm stubborn and He knows that very well. He knows that He needs to repeat lessons in my life because I just won't get it the first time. 

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - yes, even his own life - he cannot be my disciple"

Luke 14:26

Frustrating, am I right? It's hard being away from my family because my family loves me well. We love each other well (most of the time). I have been blessed with a very supportive family. And now, Jesus, you're telling me to hate them? How the heck is that encouraging? Thanks, Mom...? 

Yet, again, this verse popped up this weekend at the missions conference the church held. Pastor Eduardo Buldain explained that Jesus didn't mean to literally hate your family and yourself, but that our priorities need to be in check. For some this may mean that the cost of following Christ means the loss of family. Some families won't support the decision of following Jesus. And in this, we need to be willing to be rejected by our family. 

Praise the Lord, my family does not reject me for following Jesus, but they too are Christ-followers. What a blessing that is! 

Because that is the case, what am I supposed to do with this verse now? 

Jesus may not be calling me to literally hate my family members, but all other things and relationships need to come second to my relationship with Christ. Duh, Nicole. But, this is a lot easier said than done. I need to be ready to part with very dear relationships and the greatest enjoyments in my life, and with life itself, when Jesus calls for it. I'm not there to see my brother grow while he is at college. I'm not going to be there for Thanksgiving. I'm not with my family as we are growing and changing. I don't get to go on walks with my stepmom. I can't just hug my dad when I want, or call my brother and watch Jimmy Fallon videos online. I have parted with my family in this sense. And the closer and closer I get to coming home for Christmas, the harder it gets. 

This is what Jesus is teaching me through this verse. I need to love Christ so much that all other human relationships pale in comparison. 

Indeed, thank you Momma. More importantly, thank you, Jesus.  

On another note, tomorrow I am going out sharing the gospel door-to-door with a team that is hear from Argentina. And I'm super nervous. Door-to-door just isn't my thing. Some people have the gift of evangelism. That's awesome. I don't. I pray that my own anxiousness and worry would be thrown aside, and that God would use me in whatever way to bring glory to Him. I have no idea what that's going to look like, and that probably scares me a little bit too. Please join us in praying that God's presence would be made known in the town of Las Mercedes, that people would come to know Him as their personal Savior, and that they would be discipled. 

Happy Thanksgiving! Wait, Right??

We probably should have known. Collectively we've celebrated Thanksgiving over 100 times. But when the different stages of culture shock set in (that's what I'm blaming it on, anyway), and there weren't ever any decorations in the stores, nor are people talking about it because it's not on their calendars, and it's been almost 100 degrees the past week, and no one is wearing scarves, the leaves aren't changing colors, and no one is drinking pumpkin spice lattes, you guess. And we just happened to be a week off. 

But we went with it anyway. 

Because why not? We knew it was going to be a sort of make-shift Thanksgiving anyway. And really, we were the only ones who knew, and we all love a good laugh. 

Our Thanksgiving started about a month ago when Kendra, Charlotte, and I were emailing, texting, and calling Scott to bring different key ingredients that we knew we were not going to be able to find in Paraguay. Thankfully, before we went to Peru, he delivered those precious ingredients. Then the waiting began. 

We were just a little bit anxious. At least I was. I love Thanksgiving. Food, family, and football. What's not to love??

While we didn't watch any football (partly because no one really likes/understands the NFL in Paraguay, and mostly because we were celebrating on the completely wrong day), I would say our Thanksgiving was absolutely wonderful. So much so, I'll share some highlights. 

I took the bus out to Tobati on Tuesday afternoon after going to the store and trying to find frozen green beans, brown sugar, and marshmallows. None of which I found. Fresh string beans was the closest I could get. And we were going to make it work! Kendra and I almost immediately started on the apple pie. We had a little frustrations with the dough for the crust at first, but then we got it! Then we made brownies because we all know you can't just have one dessert on Thanksgiving. 

We took a break from making food for Thanksgiving because we needed to make dinner. Kendra taught me how to make empanadas! But sorry Mom, we didn't make the dough from scratch. If you want me to make them when I'm home, we might have to find the pre-made stuff, or just wing it :) 

We ended the night by making turkey hands and sharing what we're thankful for. We put them on the fridge, and called it a night. We had a BIG day ahead of us! 

We "planned" everything out and decided that something needed to be in the oven by 9am. After slowly waking up, sharing coffee, donuts (!!!!!!, not exactly the same, but the closest I've seen in Paraguay), and our morning devotions, we were a little behind. But thankfully, we were on Paraguayan time! And we decided to not attempt sweet potatoes. Mostly because we didn't have marshmallows, brown sugar, or sweet potatoes. I think it worked out in our favor. 

We continued to make green bean casserole, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, the big bird (chicken, not turkey), apple cider (Sprite and apple juice did the trick), and cranberry sauce (taking it out of the can that traveled from the US counts as making it, right?). There was just one thing missing. Ice cream. You can't have apple pie without ice cream. And if you've ever had ice cream from Amandau, you would know how important it was to get ice cream. That stuff is seriously so good. Charlotte and I got a ride into town with Pablo as he went to pick up some of the girls from school. We walked right up to our favorite ice cream placed - closed. Dang. Okay, plan B.. not as good but still yummy - El Heladero, just a couple of blocks down. Closed. Bummer. Big fat bummer. It was 11:30, why aren't you open!? Anyways... Pablo picked us up after making his rounds and we sadly delivered the news to Kendra. I'm glad she likes ice cream as much as I do because she was not going to settle for not having it. Around 1, we headed back into town. It better be open this time! And praise Jesus, it was. We picked out our flavors to fill up one kilo, and we were so stoked. The whole ice cream ordeal probably took up two hours of our day, and it was so worth it. 

By the time we waited for the bus, and got back, Luis had also gotten back from school. We were ready!!! Luis said prayer, and we dove right in. We all sat in silence eating. The combination of emotions from being exhausted, hungry, enjoying the food, and missing home. All at once. We didn't feel the need to talk. We all knew. 

This was Luis' first Thanksgiving ever. This was the first time Kendra and I had cooked Thanksgiving without the help of our mothers. And Charlotte, bless her heart, was not feeling well, but was the biggest help. 

This was a Thanksgiving I will never forget. And I am so incredibly thankful. 

Peru!

I know I have been a little MIA recently, but it's all for a good reason! Last week, I had the blessing of an opportunity to go to Peru with my stepdad, Scott, Alcides, and Jeff (he was part of the James 127 team this summer to Paraguay). 

We spent the first couple days in Cusco. I know exactly what you're thinking. Kuzcotopia. 

Uh huh. Uh huh uh huh uh huh. Boom baby. While we did run into some llamas (thankfully none of them were demon llamas), Kronk was no where to be found. Neither was the waterslide. But I had the best time. Cusco (the real one) is a beautiful old city. Cobblestone streets, tiny alleyways, old architecture, and plenty of tourists. The first day we spent exploring the city, getting used to the elevation of 11,200 ft (that's about twice the elevation of Denver).  In order to adjust to the elevation, they drink Mate de Coca - it's a tea that is derived from the same plant they make cocaine from. When any of us made a mistake from then on, we knew exactly what to blame it on. Here's a picture of Cusco at night. 

The next day, we left super early to catch a bus, then a train, then another bus to go to Machu Picchu!! Incredible. I hardly have any words to describe to you the beauty up in this mountains with the ruins. Thankfully, I have a few pictures (and of course, they don't do it justice). And you know what they say... So here's a couple thousand words. 

The rest of the week was full of meetings with different people to discuss the real reason we went to Peru in the first place. A big problem in Peru is teenage pregnancies - sometimes as early as 12 or 13 years old. Once these girls get pregnant, many of them chose to abort their baby. We went to Peru praying that God would reveal His plan for the idea and vision many people share. We would love to create a home for these young mothers who have chosen not to abort, but, for varying circumstances, can't return to their own house. This place would be a refuge for them, where they would learn motherly skills, and hopefully be counseled, and they would learn about Jesus and how to have a relationship with Him.

It was so clear that God is working in Peru. He is doing big things. We met Evelyn Stone who opened a prenatal clinic in La Molina, right across from the university. We met David and Gina, missionaries to Flores de Villa, who are serving the Lord through a medical clinic and boys and girls homes. We met the Kennedy family, who opened an orphanage. We met Jessica and Rebeca, who volunteer at the prenatal center and both have a passion to see change in the lives of pregnant teenagers. All live in different areas, all have different ministries, but all have recognized the need for a home for teenage mothers. 

These are just a handful of the people we had the opportunity to meet this week in Peru. I think I'm still processing it all. Maybe that's why I don't exactly know what to say. It's hard to sum up such a time. I do ask, though, that you would join us in prayer for this country. Pray that the Lord would fill us with His wisdom and guide us in how to approach this issue. Pray for the families, couples, and individuals we met - that when they feel discouraged that God would remind them that their work is not fleeting. They are working for the King. 

This is a view of the town we are praying about working in. 

Thank you for reading my little blog. It's so encouraging to receive texts and emails saying that I need to update. And I'm coming to realize that fall is in full swing states-side. Please go to Trader Joe's right now and pick up a box of pumpkin pancake mix. And when you make them on Sunday morning (because that's the morning for pancakes), add chocolate chips. You won't be disappointed.