8:37pm. January 1st, 2010. Happy New Year! A few staff celebrated with a bonfire and fireworks at the bonfire site at Twin Lakes. The trip began as early as 4:15am the next morning for some of the team – with a hearty breakfast of Twin Lakes biscuits, sausage, orange juice, and of course, Community coffee! By 6:15am we were on our way to New Orleans.
Praise God for smooth travel on the way to the airport. With stops in Crystal Springs and Brookhaven, we picked up a few team members. The parking lot of Grace Presbyterian Church served as the first stage of summer camp in Peru – we joined hands in the biting wind and went before the Lord as a group to ask that His will be done through this trip.
All passports were remembered, all bags fit the weight requirements, all immune systems are in working order, and all of us are on a Boeing 767 heading towards Lima, Peru. God is good! Everything has gone according to plan! But please pray that we would remember that perfect logistical actualization is not a necessity for God’s will to be accomplished through this trip. Pray that we would be mindful that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness and even in our trials. So whether it’s a small detail or a significant change in itinerary – pray that we would be humble and Christ-like in our responses.
This week we are pointing the kids towards Christ through the story of David and Goliath. How beautiful that God shows His own glory through weak vessels! How amazing that God can accomplish great things through the unfit, unqualified, and undeserving! In a world of appearances, praise God that though man looks on the outward appearance – God looks on the heart. Through Christ’s work and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, He has made a way for our sinful hearts to be something beautiful to look at once again. I hope that we can proclaim this message boldly in word and in our actions this week.
Quickfacts:
- So far, Mary Palmer’s favorite things are airport security and oatmeal chewies
- We enjoyed serenading the airport terminal with Twin Lakes musical arrangements for mandolin and guitar of Pachelbel, Canon in D, Miley Cyrus, and great hymns of the faith.
January 2nd Morning Update:We are eating breakfast in our hotel in Lima! Most of us were able to get to bed at around 2:00am. Two bags were lost – pray that they would be found before we leave Lima. About to head to the Indian Market here in Lima for a day to get to know the culture of Peru.