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Posted in General Posts by Carly Farver on 8/26/2010
Once there was 16 college students...
who left their homes...
and went to a land far, far away...
a land with crazy animals...
river baths...
new foods and places to sleep.
Once there was 16 college students...
who saw God heal the deaf, feed the hungry, a love the poor...
who met a people beautiful beyond description...
and made relationships that will last.
This land far, far away became reality. And the things they learned became REAL LIFE.
***Thanks to all my teammates for their wonderful photos: Candace, Jessie, Julie, Sarah R., Alethia and Emily (I think that's the group)
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Posted in General Posts by Candace Breaux on 8/14/2010
Dear Candace, What is this? This insane lie that you believe to be truth... Would you like to hear it: You are living exactly the way I want you to live. NO, you aren't. Candace, I didn't call you to complacency or comfort. I didn't call you to a sunday faith. I called you to be RADICAL. I describe a radical faith by making this simple request: deny yourself and follow me. Follow ME! I heard you say "YES!! I would love to!" You said it boldly. I Will follow him. When you said yes the angels rejoiced! I said it will not be easy for you but you said yes anyway. So why are you trying to earn Grace, and Love? Why are you trying to be Good, go to church, and do all the things that make you look Good? Candace, you are loving those who love you... and thinking... this is radical, right? WRONG!! Love your enemies, Pray for those who mistreat you, Give, GO and make my name known to ALL nations, Willingly lay down your life for a soul, forget your rights and stop expecting, surrender your life that is bound by chains and gain me! GainFREEDOM!! Make my name know! Pray in the name of JESUS and watch me heal the criple man and the broken hearted. Deny yourself!! Deny your precious little way of life. Deny your fancy little things. Your image. Your money, your life. Deny your FLESH or deny ME.. What do you choose? LOVE, Jesus So... I went. I witnessed MIRACLES. I prayed for those who hated me. I sat in a church with no walls and it didn't even phase me. I fell in love with Jesus! I overcame my biggest fears. I slept with very large bugs. I learned to trust. I learned the meaning of true Love. and I gave up everything and it was not easy.... BUT only for 2 months... now what? Jesus is saying... NOW WHAT? and nothing but radical ABANDONMENT and radical LOVE makes sense anymore.
Now... What do you do? what do you choose?
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Posted in General Posts by Carly Farver on 8/6/2010
There was a shift in the atmosphere when they carried him in. The festivities of a community meal where food made for 50 fed over 100, came to an awkward halt and it seemed like even the air didn't know what to do. And then the wailing began.
His name was Urelo. Our team had sent this 16 year-old boy only a day earlier to the city to be treated for a tooth infection. He died in the hospital.
As the woman wept over his body I found myself moving forward to kneel, grasping his feet I began to pray. Why? Less than a week earlier I had learned that my Grandma passed away from cancer. I was torn being away from home. I was confused to share in a grief that wasn't my family's. I was doubtful, despite seeing the deaf hear and the lame walk that this boy would be raised from the dead. So why did I shuffle forward and begin to pray?
I prayed because of what I would see in the next few hours. A group of young men and women from the States, who have been raised society that values only what you can see and hold, also step forward to pray. In the flickering candlelight as the community center became an overnight veil, families spread out blankets and passed around sweaters, they prayed, cried and prophesied over Urelo.
After eight years of knowing Christ for the first time I really understood what it meant to have faith that moves mountains.
We didn't see Urelo raised that night. Our team had spent the day receiving words from the Lord that he would be, and have since tackled questions to which there are no concrete answers. I myself have none; but I do know this. I have never been so honored to lead a group of people as I was that night. I know that this is the generation that will be given the title as "ministers of reconciliation." God will use their faith in the coming years to heal the sick, comfort the lost and, yes, raise the dead. My prayer is that they never forget the grace, love and authority that has been handed to them this summer; because the world needs it.  
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Posted in General Posts by Michelle McDonald on 7/27/2010
Here are a few stories that the team wanted to share with you!!!
Story One "The Man"
During ATL the team in Peru was praying for direction in Sepuena and was given visions, words and direction that lead them to a hut outside the maine village. When the team approached the secluded hut the vision was of an old women laying in a hammock. After talking with her they invited her and the family to an open air event. The women and this man ended up showing up from the family and that night they came forward for prayer and the man was in a motor car accident and his spine was displaced and it left him slouched at a 90% angle. He could not stand up straight and they prayed over this man and they felt the Lord healing his spine under their hands. After they prayed the man was standing straight and he left that night dragging his cain behind him. God not only worked in his life but worked in theirs.
Story 2
They were holding a church service in Requena. One of the team members shared a message that night to prophesy, to heal, to speak truth and accept what has given them as a children. Leading in the night God had been revealing a lot to the team member that not good actions were His thoughts, to make working of His goodness instead everything God does in them He does in His own love and mercy. The authority God has been blessing their team and the city with was nothing they work to achieve. That night they were approached by a women and daughter and her daughter was def in only one ear. After laying hands and praying for her. Her hearing was restored. Its been awesome for the team to begin to step in that authority as a whole that God has done and how He's used a group of imperfect people. I've seen more prophesy, healing, freedom in the truth from God then I once saw possible and God has done it all through the imperfect broken children of Him that I have had the priveledge of being surrounded by these 2 months all glory to God!!!
Story 3
In one village Florida we were all touched by the people. Florida is a village of about 25 families that we ministered to at the beginning of July after talking to the pastor and others in the village the team found out that the food supply for Florida was cut short and our team was able to help them out to provide food for all other families such as rice, milk, sugar and salt. As they left for the next village Nueva York some of us had a hard time and some of the women and children told us they would see us in the next village. We thought they were joking, but in reality we saw them again. They thanked God for the relationships that had been formed on this trip.
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Posted in General Posts by Daniella Leonard on 7/21/2010
Hey Everyone!
So I don´t exactly have a particular story that I want to share. I more just wanted to tell you about this boy I met in the village of Sapuena! His name is Carlitos. He´s 11 years old. And he´s probably just about the cutest kid you will ever meet. He is super shy and doesn´t ever really talk a whole lot. His favorite sport to play is fútbol (soccer) and he´s really good at it. His favorite colors are red and green. He has a little brother, Abel (also really cute), who he took just about everywhere with him. He always made sure that he knew exactly where Abel was.
This kid was awesome! God really blessed me through spending time with him. I even got to meet his family and share a meal with them! They were so sweet. And they gave me a gift of fruit. CRAZY SWEET! I really saw God in all of them.
Yeah, so there is more to share and I would love to talk with y´all when I get back to the States.
Love you,
Daniella
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Posted in General Posts by Candace Breaux on 7/21/2010
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So the last month has been one of the most amazing times in my life. I have seen God come alive in me in new and exciting ways, and I am learning so much. I have fallen even more in love with Jesus over the past two months than I ever thought I could, and I want nothing but to live out a radical life for his glory. That being said let me walk you though a month in the jungle of peru.
so a month ago we embarked out on our jungle journey. None of us knew exactly what that ment but we were all ready and willing to be used by God and to make his name known, and God blessed our willingness. When we were in requena I really began to seek the lord in new ways, and everyday I asked for more of him. One day we were sitting in a pastors confrence when Jesse was speaking on love. When jesse asked if anyone needed prayer one man got up and rushed towards me before anyone else. I remember thinking man whats the rush haha. When he got to me he asked me to pray for more love. As I began asking God I thought God I too want more of this love, and I asked God to just consume me and give me the words to say. He did alright. In that very second God consumed my words and my spirit started praying in beautiful tongues. I was blown away. God answers prayers.
we spent a few more days in requena before going onto yanallpa where the chiggers ate my ankles alive and I was introduced to the demon flies. Yeah It was the nicest name our team could come up with for the little blood suckers. haha. Yanallpa was the place I gave my first sermon here in peru. I talked about pauls prayer for the ephesisans and how my prayer was similar for the people in that village. All the other villages we went to had similar stories of God empowering me to do something or God using me to do something. I got to pray over so many people who needed physical healing, and God healed them. Not by anything that I did but because lets face it God is the bomb.com. I got to play with so many children and laugh as they would fight for the attention of the Gringos. I got my first headache. I learned alot about Godly anger. I got to hold a gator and a couple sloths. I got to go on a 5 mile jungle hike. I once fell in the mud up to my knees because... well thats a long story. I learned that sleeping on the floor is pretty fun and squaty pottys are pretty funny. I learned that candace is the hardest name in the world for peruvians to say. I learned the value of comunity and a family in Christ. I learned that I love quiet moments and just listening. I learned the power of prayer and how much God just wants us to communicate with him and how much he wants to communicate with us. oh and I overcame one of my biggest fears and I JUMPED of a 30ft. barge.... AMAZING.
Along with the amazing moments came the hard times. The times where I had to cling to the fact that God is so Good and he will work all things out for his will. For example, just a couple days ago we had to witness the grief of a community after a 16 year old boy died from a treatable tooth infection. We had to mourn with the family and hold the crying family members. I have had to deal with the frustrations of not understanding the language and the frustrations of not feeling as physically healthy as I usually do. In this time, I have had to cling to the reality of who God is and rest in his peace during the hard times. But something I have learned is that God is Good. God is Love, and God has a plan.
I am sad that this time is ending in just a couple weeks but I´m so excited to see what God has for me next and to be obedient to that calling.
LOVE you all
Candace
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Posted in General Posts by Rachel Martin on 7/21/2010
This is now my new life verse. I cant recall how long I have been attacked by lies, but I can honestly say I HAVE BEEN SET FREE! I AM FREE BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB and there is nothing that can stand in the way of me getting to my Savior. I truly believe this now and know of Gods faithfulness when He says He has more for my life. Im sure you all want to hear the story of how this came to happen, so heres just a little bit of it. Throughout the trip, I have battling lies of worth and acceptance, but when we hit Florida and Nueva York at the end of June or beginning of July, God was speaking truth saying---despite hardships and trials, I can still live in His truth and declare truth that I am His. However, I would declare truth and the harder I felt attacked. But honestly I will be able to stand in front of you and tell you that Satan has no power over me, because I am a child of God and he cant take that anyway from me. The more truth God reveals, the more joy I find and the more I am able to share with the nation of Peru. I know this isnt a crazy sweet story of God healing people (even though, those are real and will definitely be sharing those with you), but it is of God healing me and my heart. Instead of that despair and pain, I now have peace and joy and am starting to embrace love more than before. I have so much to share with you all once I get home, but be expecting God to prove Himself real with the crazy things I will be able to testify to. I love you all and look forward to seeing you when I come home. As I mentioned before, this is definitely where God is calling me to as I love these people and can relate to their simplistic lifestyles. Love you and I will definitely talk to you soon, Rachel
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Posted in General Posts by Sarah Robertson on 7/21/2010
Our time in the jungle has flown by! We have experienced the Lord in countless ways, drawing closer to Him, one another, and the people in Peru. One thing that God has amazed me with is the love and hearts of the women in the villages. In several villages I have met women who poured love out to me, when I felt like I didnt even do much to gain their love. So often I would want to minister to women and build relationships with them, feel like I hadnt done anything, and then be blessed with women who come to me in love.
One example of this was in the village, Florida, I met a woman named Rosio who is 21. We talked one morning and played volleyball that afternoon. She was so wonderful. But honestly, I didnt feel like I had done very much to love or minister to her. The last night in Florida, however, she told me how happy she was while we had been there and that she was going to follow was when we went to Nueva York (our next village on the river). When we were packing up to leave the next morning, she ran after me with tears in her eyes, and helped me carry things down to the boat. She stayed by my side the whole morning helping move things to the boat. Her love and passion amazed me. The next day when we were in Nueva York, we were sitting in a church, and I turned around and there she was! I didnt expect her to actually follow us! I was so excited to see her! Not only that, but she also gave me a gift of fish that she had caught in the river that morning! Her love and giving heart amazed me.
Another time, a woman I had met came and gave me a bag of gifts- bracelets and things she had made. I gave her some beads and yarn. We were leaving for another villlage that day. Two days later she showed up in the village we had traveled to, and she gave bracelets she had made with the yarn and beads to all the girls on our team. It was awesome.
These women who have nothing and so eager to give to us and love us fully. God is so good in blessing me with these women and their love. I cant believe how many gifts I have recieved from them, when they have nothing to begin with. God is showing me that its not up to me, that he works through me and i just have to follow him. Even when I feel like I havent done anything, he is working in their lives through me. I may never know the impact I have had on their lives, and in return they probably dont realize the impact they have had on me.
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Posted in General Posts by Josh Hill on 7/21/2010
This trip has had no shortage of adventure. Everyday there´s a new experience; from catching sloths, machette-shopping our way through the thick amazonian brush, encounters with an oscelot (jungle cat), catching an iguana while swimming in the river, playing with monkeys, getting bitten by crocediles (cool scar, but no worries mom I´m totally fine), braving the local food, paddling a log to the middle of the Ucayali River, or fishing for pirhana. Life here is an adventure... But that´s not why I´m here.
Cool adventures and stories are neither the reason I got on the plane nor do they enter my mind when I think of the coolest things that have happened on this trip. As radically different as those things are from "normal life," what´s far more radical is the what I´ve seen God do in this past month and a half or so. I´ve seen God work through my small faith to see backs straightened, chronic migranes released, urinary problems eradicated, an ear opened, stomach, head, back, and face pain all relieved. I´ve seen people recieve truth and freedom and prophesy. I´ve seen faith to raise the dead. And what I believe now more than ever is that although those things are incredible miracles done by God for His glory and as a display of His love for His children, what is greater than that is the love and faith that I´ve recieved and that I´ve seen evidence of in the people around me. What God is doing in the hearts of His people is mind blowing.
On a more personal note, God has shown me the confidence that I can have in my identity as His son. How much God blesses my life or my ministry has nothing to do with how good of a job that I do. I went into this trip basing a lot of my identity on my performance as a Christian. I thought I needed to do miracles, give good sermons, speak deep biblical truth all the time, and have it all together for God to bless me in what I was doing. Those things have nothing to do with it. Nothing at all. It´s only once I surrendered the idea that I have any righteousness or worth or goodness in my life aside from God. I had to surrender control and pride and ultimately the part of my identity that was rooted in how well I performed. As I´m continuing to learn how to do that, God is continuing to bless my with more intimacy with Him as well as more manifestation of His Spirit and His presence in my life. It´s basically th most flipping amazing thing ever.
Although, I do have to admit, those adrenalin-pumping moments have been absolutely amazing. So real quick:
In one of the villages a local found a 3-foot long cayman (basically a crocedile) and gave it to Susan who brought it to our team. Everyone thought it was cool and passed it around. While being passed it started clipping out and was dropped. My TV watching past was enough training to immediately try to catch it by picking it up by the tail. It then whipped around and wrapped its mouth around my hand. I tossed it, we recaught it, then released it... So now he has a memory and I have a scar. Yaayy!!
2 days later...
We were in between two villiages on a 2 or 3 hour boat ride when we spotted an iguana swimming across this really wide river. Odd sight. So we stop the boat and turn around to see if it will grab on to a stick, as it turns out iguanas are pretty good swimmers and as soon as it was 2 inches underneath the muddy water it was invisible. My first instinct... jump in after it. So I find myself in the water swimming in the water after an elusive iguana when it finally gets tired out and I palm it all the way out while narrowly avoiding its sharp tail and claws. Shortly after getting it on board we released it.
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Posted in General Posts by Katie Coddington on 7/21/2010
We spent the last month (since iquitos) out of communication with our biological families while turning into our own little family unit. We all thought we were so close back right after training camp, but little did we know we still had alot of our team left to meet and love.
When we first got to the airport in Iquitos I met Cesar. I was carrying my purse, my big packand my hard case guitar. This ´strange´ peruvian man came up and tried to help me with my guitar, and my thoughts were thiscrazy peruvian is going to try and run away with my guitar. So i replied No and avoided eye contact (mama would have been proud of my stranger danger awareness.) I later found out he was one of our translators and would be with us the whole trip.
Our other translator we met in Iquitos at Johnnys, and found out a week later that she would also be with us the whole trip! :)
I met crystal (our peru contact) at the airport, but fell in love with her in requena. Mom if i ever run away from home she said I could live with her.
Also in Requena we met Lilia and Esther. While in requena they cooked us catfish and jungle rat, YUM. But for me i spent the majority of my time in bed and i was sick with a spiked fever - so as per crystals suggestion, I tried a jungle remedy. So esther and I got to know each other very well as sherubbed me down with this lemon and leaf water. Despite the language barrier she has become a peruvian mother to me! i love her!
Lilia was a four for one package deal with her husband (pastor Jose) her son (jair) and his wife (Narani) in nueva florida we found out narani is 3 months pregnant! :)
I have many stories of how God has moved in my life and in our team and in the jungle community. I want to share my new life with everyone back home. I love you all so much thank you for all the prayers and support!
Love Kat
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