With the blessing of my leaders, a peace in my heart, and ears tuned into the Whisperer, I take the next step of faith.
Well, here it is. The time. The time to "break camp and move on" (Num. 9:22). I've been trying to decide for quite a while now if my 14 months here would be enough time, or if I should stay even longer. Last week, all the prayers clicked together, and my answer arrived. So many of these big decisions of moving my life have been confirmed with that "peace that passes all understanding". I'm so greatful to God for that peace--- especially when the "understanding" is limited! I'm still unsure about WHAT'S NEXT, but feel it's time to pursue my passions through different avenues.
With the blessing of my leaders, a peace in my heart, and ears tuned into the Whisperer, I take the next step of faith.
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"Hello miss. Will you buy me a happy meal?" (since this was the closest restaurant)
"No" "Will you buy me a pair of pants?" (as he looked at my jeans with holes in them) "No" "Will you give me money?" (this maybe seemed the easiest to him) "No. Chao, chico." This conversation happened outside of McDonald's one day while I was waiting for Hannah. I walked away with Hannah, thinking "ahhh-- I never know when to act and when not to." That night I laid in bed thinking, "Adrienne, why didn't you just buy the kid something? I'm sure there was SOMETHING half healthy in McDonald's!" The next morning as I got dressed to work at the cafe, I decided to wear the exact same outfit--light, ripped jeans, a blue tee-shirt, and my brown suede boots. The thought actually crossed my mind, "if anyone sees me today who saw me yesterday, they'd probably recognize this outfit!" WELL, that morning was a slow morning at the cafe. I decided to go sit outside and people watch. Before I knew it, a little boy was walking toward me. He looked at me, then looked at my jeans and boots, and looked back up at me, with a look of surprise. I too, looked at him, and HIS same clothes and knew I was getting a chance to redeem myself. We chatted for a bit, him peeking inside the cafe. "Have you ever tried a waffle?" I asked. Head shake. "Do you know what a waffle is?" Head shake. "Would you like to try one?" Head nod. :) Franklin walked inside with me. I sat him at the table, him all smiles. I made him a banana and milk drink and delivered it to him, him all smiles. I then delivered him his waffle, him with a bewildered look on his face. Carrie, Emily, our chef and I asked him questions as he ate his waffle. He asked if he could take some waffle to his brother, so Emily bagged it up, he stood up, and said, "Chao!" Sometimes an act of kindness is just meant to be! Today is ONE year after arriving in Cusco to work with Meltdown Ministries! What a year! It was hardly ANYTHING I expected (this is life, isn't it?!)
What I did expect: - To be working in the cafe at my year anniversary. - That God would be faithful. - That I would learn more about God, missions, and life lessons. What I didn't expect: - To be here without Jed and Jaime. - To have had SO MANY visitors! - To have loved Keira as if she were my own daughter (the best I know how!) - To have seen SUCH struggles amongst Christian Missionaries. - To have made more WONDERFUL friends! - To be teaching an awesome kickboxing class packed out twice a week! It was fitting today, that on my one year anniversary, we got to talk with a couple in the cafe about God and Christianity. A couple from Peru/Holland came in with their baby, and the whole time they enjoyed their frothy coffee drinks and Chocolate Waffle, they talked with Emily and me! It was what I have imagined happening; people feeling comfortable to strike up converstations with the cafe employees! And about IMPORTANT things! Although it's been a year of unexpected things, I am still just as sure as I was when I came, that God brought me here for a reason. Although I don't know how MUCH of this next year I will spend here, I can see that God's ways are higher than our ways, and His plans more grande than ours. Although things have not gone "to plan", I trust in God's plan, for the present, and for my future. We had families, travelers, volunteers, and a ladies' bible study group partake in waffles, breakfasts, coffee and tea this past week. On Saturday, our biggest day, I got the chance to see if I could make 6 coffees at the same time---it was a success! We had costumers from Chile, Australia, and the US!
Check out the newest pictures on the "Photo Gallery" tab! Yesterday in the cafe we were TRYING to create a nice atmosphere inside. Smooth music, good smells--- a relaxing cafe! WELL....Welcome to Peru, where any day could possibly be a huge party!
We had TWO competing marching bands right outside in the plaza, people dancing with beer bottles in their hands, and fireworks consistently going off (with the shells landing on our glass roof!) The advice when you travel to Latin/South America is BE FLEXIBLE! Well this, for sure, is also advice when LIVING in Peru, running a cafe!! You may have heard what's been going on here in Cusco---we've been declared in a state of emergency! A week ago, floods and mudslides began, resulting in 23,000 homeless people, 11 people dead, and 1,800 tourists stranded at Machu Picchu.
Two nights ago I met and had dinner with four Australian tourists who were stranded near Machu Picchu for 4 days. Their stories of food rationing, running from a potential tidal wave, sleeping amongst hundreds on the floor of a community center, and watching the road literally break off before their eyes are CRAZY. Although lives have been devasted, hearing about the sheer FORCE of the floods makes it that much more amazing that there haven't been more deaths. Our church is blessed to be linked up with missionaries and locals who can helps us get out there to the ruined villages to deliver food, clothing and blankets. If you, or a group of people would like to contribute to the relief efforts here, contact me, and I'll get you plugged in! For many recent news articles concerning the flooding here, go to: www.livinginperu.com |