We have arrived!

It´s 3am and we have arrived!! Severe weather in Atlanta delayed all flights flying in and out of their airport therefore we were grounded in Cincinnati for a couple hours. This gave us the opportunity to spend time as a team with great conversation, team bonding, and fun games. Thanks to Mary for bringing the games. When we arrived in Atlanta it was questionable as to whether we would catch our connecting flight to Lima. Our patience was tested as we raced to the gate. With prayer and much determination we all made it. It appeared to be a scene from the show "Amazing Race". Everyone is red eyed, however is in good spirit as we settle into our rooms. All is well, thank the Lord. Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for good health, good rest, and a determined heart.

All for now, as we need to get rest.

Jeanette and Matt

I can never get to sleep.

Well, I'm with Jack. I should be sleeping, but of course I didn't start packing until at least 10pm and before you know it, its 1:30 am and you need to be at the airport in 7 hours. I think most things are checked off the list and ready to go. I've had a whirlwind of a summer leading up to this point and its difficult to wrap my head around the fact that in less than 24 hours I'll be walking out of the airport into the distinct smell of Lima, Peru. And while I can't believe its here, I'm so glad it is.

Thanks to everyone who has aided us in the preparation for this trip, we didn't get here alone, that's for sure. Please continue to pray for us as we travel and arrive and set out to do whatever work is placed before us. Pray that relationships would be built quickly and that we would be able to be more of a family than a team, that we'd walk together as one in the next two weeks. Pray that weather and labor conditions are favorable, that we would get where we need to be. And also pray that our words, often our translated words and lessons and discussions, would be blessed and honest, that we would convey our love and excitement so clearly and that the people of La Merced would know that we are committed to walking beside them as they do great things in their community and shoot towards their full potential, because they have worked hard and learned much, not because anyone from Blackhawk did anything.

ciao for now,
laura

Finally Departure

I should be sleeping but am restless, should not worry as that is only time consuming, should just say a prayer and give it all a rest, but my mind is on each of our team members and leaders. Its 10:30 and all is quiet in the house, bags are packed, trying not to forget anything, yet have to stay under the 50# limit. Gots lots of messages to bring along, hope the security at the airport is short and simple, that is always so stressfull. Am thinking of my family left here at home, my friends who supported me, my life group-what a super group of prayers. Just tons of stuff going through my mind, too tired right now to be excited, but tomorrow morning I will be excited, and the adrenaline will flow.

We are leaving at 10 A.M. and will get into Lima at 10:30 tomorrow nite. Lots of bonding will take place as we travel, good time to prepare for our adult workshop talks. Mine is on Hope. A big thanks to Michelle and Laura and Jessica at Blackhawk for all their help in this program. Lots of praise to Ben and Sara Zimmerman for their sharing of thoughts and time for our group. To all of your who have never had this experience, you should do it just once in your life time. It is hard to describe what happens to your insides. You are never too old to go and God really will not tell anyone your age anyway????

So here we go, follow us on the blog as we journey into cool and dusty Lima, and then transfer into the heat and humidity of Pucullpa. Then ride the muddy road to LaMerced, and stay in the 5 star Hostela. We have gourmey meals everyday, ride in the comfort of a six tire bus, beats walking, mosquitos do not have a chance, and the food is really quite good. Never will you be hungry.

I am excited for our new team members, for the church to be able to have such mission groups, for the new hearts that will come home with a whole new perspective on the world. Just hear them out, they will be full of conversation. Its all God's Plan. Plain and simple.

Jack Mlsna

Packing 16 old suitcases with our supplies. Gotta make sure they aren't over 50 pounds!

Laura, Kate, Matt and Susan at one of our planning meetings with one of the last children that could be chosen to sponsor. And yes....we have 100% sponsorship of the children in the LaMerced Food for the Hungry program! Yay!

So thankful!

I want to take a moment to thank all our supporters. Around 10am Thursday, July 10th our journey in serving the Lord on the field of LaMerced, Peru begins. This would not be possible without your financial, prayer, and spiritual support. A huge thank you goes out to all of you. Are we excited to serve? You bet! The team has spent months planning and praying for this time to come and now lets go. There may be some anxiety and fear, however the Lord is leading us and we put our trust in Him.

While on the mission, please continue to follow us on our blog. LaMerced does not have electricity; therefore updating the blog may be difficult. If you do not hear from us for a few days, be at peace as we are working in the community. We will give you updates as often as possible.

Please pray for safe travel, spiritual growth, wisdom, open hearts, team strength, good health, peace, joy, determination, and our work to be glorifying to the Lord.

Thank you family and friends!!

All for Him,
Jeanette

Preparation

As I race around town trying to prepare for every situation we may encounter in Peru, it becomes easy to lose focus on our true purpose for going there. Putting some of the preparation into God's hands seems to reduce a lot of stress. I must remind myself that having the best sandals and moisture wicking clothing (although helpful) is not going to make the difference while we are in La Merced. What is going to make the difference is whether or not we can open our hearts to the people and humble ourselves to God's plan. So I guess I would ask that people pray that our team remains centered and focused during this stressful yet exhilarating time of preparation. 4 more days!!!! : )

Open minds and open hearts

I feel so blessed to be allowed to be a part of God's work in La Merced once again this year. As we are making our final preparations and becoming frantic making sure we are "ready", I am reminded that we should constantly be mindful that God already has a plan for what He wants to accomplish there and our preparations aren't that important. What is important is that we are open to the fact that His plans for the trip may be very different than ours and, of course, much better than our best laid plans. We found this to be oh so true last year. He will bless us equally as much this year if we follow His plans as He reveals them and easily let go of our own plans. Keep La Merced in your prayers and also pray that the team has open minds and open hearts to see and follow God's plan for this trip.

In Christ,
Laura Lucey

I've finally got it

After several emails back and forth with Matt, I finally learned how to post on here! :) You'd think with me being 19 I'd know all this computer stuff! Our time is getting so close and I personally feel so unprepared. I haven't started my packing list because I have no idea what I need! I suppose that is why we are making our packing lists, huh? I'd just like to ask everyone for their prayers. I'm sure others of us are getting the jitters about going and whether they be excited jitters or nervous jitters the need to be God focused jitters.

"DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING...."

These last few days before our trip I need to remember this passage in Philippians 4:6 more than ever. I need to finish work on my devotional, my contribution to the marriage workshop, complete necessary shopping, and I'm sure there's something I'm forgetting!! Life hasn't come to a halt, though, so there's caring for my grandchild, keeping up with my gardens (Lord, stop the rains!), maintaining business bookkeeping efforts, Stephen Ministry involvement with a care receiver who needs my attention, and again, I'm sure I forgot something!!

But I hear God calling me to this passage and into quiet time with Him who is in charge of the outcome of this trip. Yes, I need to be prepared but not anxious. Use my time wisely and in that time I MUST do as Jesus did and go off by myself and commune with my Heavenly Father. If I don't, then why am I doing this? Is it for me; how I will look to my teammates or is it for the HONOR AND GLORY OF GOD???

This immediately puts me in a place of more peace, more focus. It's a good place to be!!!