Cold Showers and Warm Embraces

:: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 :: Ventanilla, Peru :: Weather: um, hot ::

Cold Showers and Warm Embraces

Dear Family and Friends,

Hola! Greetings from Ventanilla, Peru! I hope you are all well - I think of you often.Wow, where to begin? Peru is so amazing!! I think it is finally sinking in that I´m actually here and fulfilling a dream. I am so blessed to be here, and the peace and joy of the Lord is so evident. The Peruvians are very welcoming - after only one week, I have been ¨adopted¨ into three families, complete with five sisters and three brothers (who are all somehow distantly related in some way, shape or form...) We´ve just returned from Ventanilla CFO camp, (February 6-10,) and had a really good time there. My fourth day in Peru was deffinitely the hardest in a new culture...this was my 3rd day at camp, so I was really feeling the language barrier, but God was so faithful (as He always is) and I´ve been able to learn a lot of Spanish in a very little time.

Life in Peru: Morning showers are very fun...there is no hot water, (this is normal in Peru,) so one wakes up feeling quite alert after their shower. Actually, it is so very warm here just under the equator, that the cold water is quite welcome, even in the morning! I often wonder if my body will climatize so that I won´t be in this unending state of sweating. (Now aren´t you all wishing you were here? Tee hee hee) Peru is so beautiful, and I can´t wait to show you my pictures later on.There has been some sickness amongst the team members, and my health was also a little shaky during the first week - a cold, followed by some sort of stomache flu (amongst other things). But last night a few of us had some prayer time together, and I was instantly 98 percent better! Today I am very well - thank God for His peace and healing! Please pray for bettered and continued good health for the team members and myself.

What´s happenin´: The dates for CFO in Iquitos have been finalized; Feb. 21-24th, and we begin teaching English classes tonight, so I look forward to rejoining many of my new friends from the last CFO camp!

Thanks!! ...to everyone who has written with thoughts, prayers and encouragement! I appreciate all of you so much, and am greatful for your support in so many ways. May you each be blessed in a personal way today!

Love and hugs to all, Katie

Post Script! Thought for today: ´´He said to them: ´´It is not for you to know the times or dates that the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and and you will be My witnesses....to the ends of the earth.´´ ´´ Acts 1:7-8 :)

More info: www.lifeembraced.org