Real Life Amazon Jungle: 5/29/09 - 7/29/09 - Making Disciples; Reaching Our World

Back in the States

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Just a quick update to say that the Amazon Jungle team made it back. Those that are staying over night and flying out in the morning are at the hotel and the few that are flying home today are at the airport waiting on their flights home.

Blessings,

Chad M.

Final Week

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Well, the team is headed into their final week which consists of their last days of ministry and debrief. The team continues to strive after "finishing strong" and taking advantage of every opportunity to be Jesus with skin on to the people they encounter.

As the team wraps up they are involved doing a lot of manual labor for one of the local pastors in Nauta. There is a large children's camp after the team leaves and they are doing all they can to help the church prepare for that. The team has been digging wells, doing landscaping, building shelters to meet and sleep under, and also helping to build a home at a missionary training center. Recently the team has also been involved in lots of door to door evangelism ministry, VBS/back yard bible clubs, and open air events.

Overall the health of the team is much better. There are still a few team members who are struggling with illness but are getting better each day. I know it seems I have mentioned health issues a lot on this trip. In reality, this has actually been one of the healthiest teams that AIM has sent to the Amazon Jungle/Peru. This particular area is just very susceptible to illness and this is typically Satan's greatest attack on teams trying to do the Lord's work. Teams in the past have struggled greatly with health issues so this team has actually been very fortunate and blessed to have overall had good health throughout the course of the trip. Praise God!!

The team asks for your continued prayers to finish strong and that the Lord would give them strength and physical healing. Please pray that they would stay engaged, end their time well, and have an incredible time on their debrief processing and reflecting on all that God has done.

Blessings,

Chad M.

Finishing Strong

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I just spoke with the Peru team and want to pass along their update. Overall, things continue to go very well. This is the last village stop they will be making before they go to Nauta for the final week of their trip and then debrief in Iquitos.

Recently, the team has had some awesome VBS ministry. They also had the opportunity to work in a one room school house for grades 1-6. It was just an awesome opportunity to go into the school and really be Jesus with skin on to the kids. The team has also led some great bible studies, topical studies, and gener specific studies. They actually had churches come from different towns and villages to take part in the studies that the team led. It was just a really cool picture of the body of Christ coming together to learn, grow, encourage each other, and exalt the name of Christ.

The biggest prayer need for the team is their health. As the trip winds down the team is very tired and more susceptible to illness. They just ask for quick healing for those who are sick and for continued good health for those who are well. While various people have been sick the team has really united together to help carry each others burdens and they are definiately follwing Christ's servant leader model.

The team also asks for prayer to finish strong. They will be leaving this last village on Friday and heading to Nauta. Their trip began in Nauta and that is where they will be wrapping up as well. However, when the arrive into Nauta they still have a solid week of ministry and they desire to take advantage of every opportunity. Please pray for continued strength, unity, and the desire to push through and finish strong.

Grace and Peace,

Chad M.

Something Cold

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hey there, I'm sorry I am just now updating the Peru team blog. My wife and I are leading a one week trip with AIM down in New Orleans and my internet time has been limited. I was able to catch up with the leaders of the Peru team today via the satellite phone and I have their update for you.

The health of the team has been much better since their mid-trip debrief. The leaders said there really hasn't been any illness over the past week or so. They will be in the village they are in currently until Thursday and then they have two more villages they will be visit for 3-4 days each. They will spend their last week in Nauta and then spend their debrief time in Iquitos before they head back to the States.

Some highlights from the past week or so are as follows:

Since the team has two Canadians on their team they celebrated Canada day (July 1). The team got some unexpected "fireworks" when a couple of lighters exploded because the cooks left them too close to the heat source. Everyone was startled at first but then had a good laugh when they realized what had happened.

The team also was able to celebrate the 4th of July with the 1 month Ambassador (high school) team from AIM. The sang the nation anthem and had a sweet time of prayer for our country. The biggest highlight for the team though was definitely the ice cream that they had. You have to understand, the team has not really had anything cold (ice, ice water, ice cream, anything frozen etc.) since leaving the States on June 3rd. Although the ice cream wasn't really all that good, everyone from the team had multiple servings because it was such an unexpected surprise. The vendor was also thrilled because of the amount of ice cream that he sold!

Another highlight was an beautiful place they found in the river where they were able to swim, chill out, and bath AND the water was cold there as well. Another interesting experience that comes from bathing in the Amazon River are these tiny little fish that nibble at your skin. Apparently it is a very interesting experience!

Last week the students hosted a soccer and volleyball tournament in one of the villages they were in. This was a huge hit with the locals and everyone wanted to win the "trophy" which were big 3 liter bottles of Coke. They also hosted an open air event in this village and 5 people accepted Christ!! Praise God!! While in this village the team also battle through some tough spiritual warfare and the Lord was victorious. The team has been learning the lesson that spiritual warfare is not something they have to be afraid because of the freedom and victory that we have in Christ.

One of the girls on the team built a friendship with a lady in one of the villages. On this participants birthday the lady wanted to give her a birthday present and this lady gave her a baby alligator and a baby turtle!! Needless to say, she accepted the gift and after having the alligator and turtle as pets for a few days the team was able to give them to someone else who could properly take care of them.

In the village the team is in currently they felt the Lord directing them to divert from the ministry opportunities that they had planned and to just trust his leading. As a result the team had a since that this village just needed an opportunity to experience and learn about joy. So, the team planned game events, skits, and one of the leaders preaches on the topic of joy. This was exactly what this village needed and they have seen lot's of fruit as a result of laying down their plans and following the Lords leading.

A final highlight for the team was that in the past week, they were actually able to put toilet paper in the hole in the ground that is the toilet. This is the first time in several weeks that the team has not had to put used toilet paper in plastic bags and dispose of it later. One of the leaders said that being able to use and flush a toilet is the thing he is looking forward to most when he returns to the States.

Well, I hope this blog has given you a better picture of what the team has experienced in recent days. The Lord has truly been good and continues to blow the team away with is goodness and all the ways he is working. Please continue to keep the team in your prayers and I should have another update in the next week or so.

Blessings,

Chad M.

Team Update

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I have another update from the leaders of the Peru team. The team overall continues to be doing great and is just blown away by all that God is doing. One of the leaders said it's hard to verbalize the things they are seeing and experiencing. Here is just a small picture of how they are seeing God move:

The team saw two men who struggling with homosexuality accept Christ as Lord and Savior and turn from that lifestyle.

In one village the guys from the team did a lot of ministry with men on how to be leaders in their community, how to be the spiritual leaders of their homes, and how to better love their wives. While this was going on the girls from the team did a lot of ministry with the women on helping provide a godly home and raise godly families. In the midst of this there was lot's of discipleship and encouragement that went on.

God placed team members in the right place at the right time to help a man who was choking to death. After performing the heimlich maneuver on the man and making sure he was ok, he gave his life to the Lord as well as his daughter.

The team prayed over a man who was on his death bed and had not walked in over three months. The Lord miraculously healed him and he got up and walked!!

The team is seeing lots of people come to know the Lord for the first time, others re-centering their lives on Christ, the guys are doing a lot of preaching, and the team just continues to be amazed with all that the Lord is doing. On average the team is spending 3-4 days in each village that they are in and what the Lord does in that time is so awesome.

The leaders asked that you pray specifically for the health of the team. It seems the strongest attack Satan is waging on the team is slowing them down due to illness. They ask that you please pray for strength, strong bodies, deep rest when they sleep, and that when they do get sick for very quick healing and recovery.

I wish you could hear the excitement and joy in the leader's voices because of all that the Lord is doing in and through the team!! You should be so proud of your students because the Lord is clearly using them in mighty ways.

Blessings,

Chad M.

Time of Refreshment

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I just spoke via satellite phone with the leaders of the Peru team. The team is doing very well and will be headed down river to a new village in the morning. The leaders assured me that they are safe and have not had any problems do to the unrest in Peru.

Earlier in the week the team was in a village that was very challenging. The team experienced a lot of spiritual warfare, challenging ministry, had some minor illness, and really just struggled with keeping positive attitudes about the weather, food etc. However, the team has spent the last few days in a different river village. While in this village the Lord has given them a time of refreshment, rest, fruitful ministry, and a renewed focus and joy, despite food, weather, mosquitoes etc. This is exactly what the team needed as they near the end of month one in the Amazon Jungle of Peru and head in to month two.

The team asks for your continued prayers. They desire to grow deeper in their walks with the Lord, to continue to pursue rich community with the team, and that God would tune their hearts with his and his plans for the people they encounter.

Grace and Peace,

Chad M.

Messages from the Team

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The internet is always a funny thing over-seas. The team couldn't get their blog posting to go through so they sent it to me to post for them.

Blessings,

Chad M.

Tuesday, June 16

We're in Requena and leaving for Yanallpa on June 17th. When we first arrived in Requena, we felt the spiritual and physical darkness. The people were not welcoming and the weather was dark and gloomy. In spite of all this, there is no doubt that God is moving in this town. We have seen God work through healings of both physical and spiritual nature. On Sunday night we had a church service outside as the inside was too small to hold all of us. Deacon preached on God's power to salvation, and then we asked if anyone would like prayer for healing. Three people came forward and all were healed right there! Then five young men received Christ and came by the place we're staying today to get a Bible. Later that night as we were debriefing, we had the chance to help out a neighbor who had a severe head injury - he also received Christ today... his name is Angel, please keep him in your prayers.

Yesterday in the morning five members of the team held a conference for the pastors in the area and each shared something from God with these servants of God in Requena. Jesse Boldt, Bethany, Jesse Newton and Isaac shared about grace, unity, a pastor's responsibility to their family, and shared a good word against religion. At the end the pastors here were hugging one another and asking for forgiveness... it was beautiful! We are looking forward to hearing what God does here after we go! Yesterday was also a hard day emotionally for some members of the team who met a family who had just lost their 3 month old baby, but we were brought comfort in the form of a beautiful rainbow. It started off as only part of the arc, but as the sun shone through the clouds brighter and brighter, the full rainbow appeared. The colors were weak at first but they grew stronger as the clouds parted.

God is breaking our pre-conceptions of what church should look like, who He is, and who we are in Him - I am grateful for all that He is doing here, though it seems a bit messy at times, He is without a doubt in control, and it is such a privilege to be part of His work and see Him use your sons and daughters in such powerful ways to bring the truth, light and healing of His kingdom to the hearts and bodies of the people here in this place. (Crystal, team leader, with help from team)

God is continuing to break us, but through it he strengthens our team's bond. We have truly become a family. We look out for each other, and care for one another, to any extent. No matter how small a problem or situation is, we always turn to the Lord first. I want to thank you all for your prayers. God is definitely showing off here in Peru and it is amazing! He is continually breaking my heart for the people here, and teaching me the compassion He has for all. Please pray for us as we continue traveling and sharing God's love. I miss you all very much! Please don't forget to pick me up at Charlotte at 9:30 on July 29th :) Love Ashley

Mom and Dad (mom mom, pop pop) I'm alive and doing wonderful! God is good and He is doing big things! IM iss you, kid! Aaron - I'm praying for you and I miss you! Amanda Mike and the Gibsons - thanks for the prayers, love you all! - Ana

Jill and Greg: Everything is great. I smell foul. Haven't stopped sweating since I got out of the car in Gainesville. Bathing in the river tomorrow. No toilet seats, but also no holes. Love you and I'm staying with the team on the 28th so figure something out - Eric Schneider (son)

Dearest mother and family, (Karen Smith)

I have much to write you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete (2John 12). Love you and miss you...

In Him,

Jason

Hey y'all! :) Thi sounds cheesy, but honestly I can't put in words what God is doing here and I definitely cannot put it on paper. It's been difficult but so beautiful at the same time God is alive in Peru! Mom - I'm still alive :) Dad- you were right, you would love it here. Grandma - your letter blesses me everyday. To the chirren - I'm working on your jungle souvenirs! Love and miss all of you and to my prayer warriors - keep fighting! The Lord is hearing and working. Be blessed and see you all soon! - Amanda

Dear Brenna, Mama and Daddy,

I'm not married to a Peruvian man yet, but the prospects are looking good! Just kidding! :) I'm doing well physically and emotionally - I still miss you, though. God is definitely working in this place. The children here have won my heart. Please continue to pray for me and my team... Speaking of the team, I love them! We are becoming a real family. Not that I'm replacing you all or anything. I honestly feel very safe - we girls constantly love on each other and the guys look out for us. In closing, here are some verses that bring me comfort: I Corinthians 15:58, Hebrews 11 and James 1:2-4. I LOVE YOU! (Give Missy and Romeo a love for me) - Molly

Liz: I lvoe you. Mom: I love you too. Everyone: I miss you. Having lots of fun! - Isaac

Hi Mom, Dad, Jessica, Tyler and Jordan,

I'm still alive, no worris. Gos is good and see you soon! love, Bethany

Hey Mom, DAd, and Marcus - God is moving in Peru! Can't wait to tell ya all about it! - Chelsea

Hi mom and dad, I am alive and impetigofrec. Christina remember that rain you talked about. It happened here and it made me happy. Love, Jon

Howdy family and friends, Peru is Awesome and God is Amazing! I'm learning so much and experiencing things I thought only happened in the Bible. Praise to God! Love y'all, Sharina

Hey everyone, I'm alive and doing great. I'm actually getting pretty tan... who would have thought?! love, Alex

"Hola!" I wish I could tell you how much God has been moving through this trip! He's amazing! Thank you for all your lvoe and prayers! Love you all! Josh K. :)

Thank you for all your prayers, God is doing big things down here. Family, I lvoe you so much and thank you for being so amazing. Bing, if you get to see this, I miss you a ton, I am praying for yor summer and I love you! Deacon

God has definitely been showing up in pwoer down here. He has done too much to try to describe with words. The only thing I can say is that God is here, and He is at work. I thank you all for your continued prayers. God has already changed almost everything in me, praise be to His glorious Name. There is no need to worry as God is protecting us all. - Chris

First Week in Peru!

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Buenas tardes from Nauta! For all of you concerned mothers...we're all alive! After a long flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Lima, we hopped on a plane to Iquitos, where we stayed for a few short nights. And we have now been residing in the city of Nauta (Crystal's home town) since Friday. Tomorrow we will be heading out on the river to the next village.

The Holy Spirit is moving in mighty way throughout Nauta. Although our time here is short, our team has broken up into different zones all over the city, looking to the Lord to lead us to people who either do not know the Lord, or people who simply need some encouragement and love. Each day, different people come back with amazing stories. On the first day of street ministry, a couple who had lost a baby just three weeks ago came to know the Lord, praise God! Also many people in the city are suffering from illnesses, and we have jumped in to pray for them. It's amazing to see how a simple game of futbol (soccer) can show God's love to the children. We can also see God's presence in that he is breaking the language barrier. Some of us are being stretched outside our comfort zone, speaking a language that we are not completely comfortable speaking, and others are quickly learning bits and pieces of the language. However, there are many places in Nauta that are in desperate need of the Lord's intervention. I am in awe of how you can walk through one neighborhood and feel the love of the children, and then you turn down another road, and there is evident darkness. Please pray for the people of Nauta, as we will be leaving them soon.

The team would also like to tell you all how blessed we are to be here. On one of the first days in Nauta, we led a children's program, and during the program there was a downpour of rain. So what do we do? We grabbed the kids by the hand and played in the rain! However, it didn't stop there. The inner-child in ourselves came out in full force...we got a little muddy---well that's an understatement, we got extremely muddy. And we may have been having more fun than the children at times...but it was a blessing to just "be a kid" an laugh with the children. One of the things that touched us the most was that, after playing in the mud, the little girls followed us to the well so we could clean up, and they were so kind and focused on getting us clean. I will never forget the girls' hands wiping my face and fingers going into my ears to make sure the mud was completely gone. Also, we've had many interesting food experiences: alligator (it's awesome to most of us), chicken, fish, lots of rice and eggs. It's all amazing---although some are ready for a nice American meal. But we will survive. Also, one team member (Eric) celebrated his birthday this week and the cocineras baked a birthday cake, which was very delicious. They are a blessing.

The team continues to draw closer to each other. So many victories were won at training camp, and more occur each day. God has truly brought us together for a reason, and it's not accident that each member is here. We thank you for your continued prayers, and can't wait to share more experiences with you soon.

Addressing Safety Concerns

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As some of you may be aware, there is a bit of unrest in Peru at the moment that is making the news headlines. Myself and other AIM staff have been reading up on the news and want to assure you that your students are safe and far from harms way.

According to news reports, most of the unrest is in the western part of Peru, in the surrounding areas/regions of the city Chachapoyas. Our Amazon Peru team is in the northeastern part of Peru near Iquitos. A large mountain range and jungle region separates where the unrest is from the area where the team is located. In general terms, this would be like something going on the west coast of the U.S. and our team being on the east coast.

The safety of our teams is a primary concern of ours. Please be assured that we remove any team from harms way as quickly as possible. We have the support and help of local people who are in tune with what is going on and who are a valuable resource and help to us.

I should be posting an update from the team later today.

Blessings,

Chad Mustain

Team has Arrived!

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We have heard from the Amazon Jungle team and they have arrived safely. We praise the Lord for that.

The team was met by our host and Crystal, our full time missionary stationed there.

They have settled in and are anxious to start ministry.

Training Camp

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hello parents!

With training camp well underway and students chomping at the bit to leave for their countries, I thought I would share a little bit of what God is doing in their lives.

Their daily schedule looks the same, wake up, pray, eat, pray, listen to some great teaching, and then pray. God says that where two or more are gathered He is there, and He is making himself known this week! All though students know what to expect, God seems to have this funny little way of giving them what they need, not what they expect. The difference between this mission and any other is that they come knowing no one, this is not youth group or school friends all going on a trip together, this is exactly where God wants them.

God is taking them from a group of individuals, and forming them into an unstoppable team. Each day they have had "team builders" that are stretching and growing them, forcing them to communicate, and be real with one another. God is bringing them to a place of realness with themselves, their team, and with God. One of the things that this team has expressed as a struggle is communication. I have seen them grow in a few days from not being able to make a decision, to loving each other enough to respect who is talking and being willing to let go of their agenda for the better of the team. This has made for a communicating team that is willing to serve one another.

Another thing that God is doing through all of the great speakers here is removing their masks. Most 18-25 year olds hide behind something. Good looks, great talents, fear, anger, it goes on and on. I have seen God removing these masks in this team all week. I have seen "realness" and a desire to really dive into Jesus with everything they have! I am so excited about what God will continue to do in their lives in Peru and the Amazon Jungle. Please keep them in your prayers!

Grace and Peace,

Peru Leadership Team

7 days and counting!

Sat, 23 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hello my amazing brothers and sisters in Christ! So we are supposed to give updates every month and I feel like it has been way more than that with all that's been going on, but either way, here is where i stand......

7 DAYS AND COUNTING!!!

The Lord has just blown me away with all He has done. As far as money goes, the Lord has provided over and above what I need! Thank you to all who gave anything whether that be money or camping gear or your time on your knees in prayer! (that however, i still do ask for) :) All of the logistics of the trip are done and I am hittin the skies in a week!

Right now, my only worry i guess would be how in the world i am supposed to fit all of this stuff in one measly camping backpack. but hey! if God can provide this opportunity and the provisions for it, I'm sure stuffing a backpack is a piece a cake and I got nothing to worry about. Although I do gotta admit when my dad told me i needed to start "practicing" my packing now, I chuckled....(word of advice...dont laugh at your father's instruction..you'll end up looking like an idiot because infact, he's always right.) lets just say i'm glad i used to help my mom with those 1000 piece puzzles or else i wouldnt have the slightest clue what i was doing! it really is a giant puzzle!

anyway, on a more spiritual level, the Lord is already growing me and teaching me alot. Not only about the Peruvian culture, but about how to best reach that culture. Every culture is different and has different ways of doing things. I'm learning alot about how the best way to evangelize is not teaching them "American Christian tradition" but teaching them Jesus through what is familiar to them. I could go into lots of detail, but just know the Lord is already teaching me so much not only about what I am going to be doing and saying, but how I should go about doing that. I AM SO EXCITED!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

- still spanish! i know i'm not going to be fluent when i get there, but i dont want to be lazy in my learning.

- God to prepare the hearts of the people we are going to be talking to and to prepare our hearts!

- unity in my team (about 19 people - leaders are Jesse and Christal)

- protection while there and wisdom in decisions

THANKS SO MUCH! I found out I will not be able to personally write while out in the jungle, but my leader will be able to post updates a couple times. You can read those from this blog website. I will however write as soon as i get back and share ALL of the amazing things the Lord did!

love yall and appreciate each one of yall!

Be blessed!

<><Amanda<><

Details on Training Camp

Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One Week to Training Camp!

Can you believe that? Here are a few details that you will want to know.

Sleeping:

You will be sleeping in either Cabins or Tents. The Cabins have mattresses but the tents do not. So if you are assigned to a tent you will want to bring a pad to sleep on. If you do not want to take the pad to country, you can leave it at AIM and we will let the next group use it.

Here is how we divided the sleeping arrangements:

For the Girls the breakdown looks like this:

Tents:

Nicaragua

Swaziland-One Month

Kenya-One Month

Central American Expedition Team

Cabins:

Amazon Jungle

India

Kenya-Two Month

Swaziland-Two Month

Philippines

For the Boys you will all be in a cabin together.

Everyone will want to bring a sleeping bag and a great idea is to bring a sheet as it does get hot in GA and for some, it gets hot in country. Most of you will want to sleep on top of your sleeping bag.

Food:

You will not be able to take food in the cabins or the tents. The ants are horrible here in GA and they will get
in your sleeping bags and they will bite. So no Food! There will be a place to put food inside so make sure it is marked well with your name.

Cell Phones:

A friendly reminder that you are not to have cell phones while at Training Camp. You will be able to call your parents upon arrival if you would like to.

Laundry:

This is the largest Training Camp ever! Count on not having your laundry done while at Training Camp.

Extra Luggage:

You can only have one suitcase in the cabin or tent. All your other items will be put inside in one room. Count on not getting to that luggage as your may be on the bottom of the stack.

Items you will DEFINETLY want:

The two most common items that individuals do not bring are a flashlight and a toothbrush holder. It is dark on our property with very limited outside lighting.

Your toothbrush and toothpaste will not be kept in your cabin; you will want to put your toothbrush in something to protect it from germs.

Rain:

It is forecasted to rain most the week. Plan accordingly! The dirt in GA is red clay and will ruin your shoes and clothes to the point that you will want to throw most of the them away at the end of Training Camp.

Final Paper Work Past Due 1 Week

Thu, 21 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Your final paperwork is past due!
This was expected to be in the office. If your Account Page does not show that all is in; you need to get that done today, NO EXCEPTIONS!

You need to mail ALL the documents to:

Adventures In Missions
Admissions Department

6000 Wellspring Trl

Gainesville, GA 30506

Joshua Kaufmann

Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Okay, I'm really sorry this has taken me so long to put this up, but here we go. My name full name is Joshua Albert Von Kaufmann. I am 19 and I am from Plymouth, which is in the Detroit area in Michigan, Aka "Motor City" - the only problem is I know nothing about cars! I am the second oldest of 5 kids. There are four boys and the youngest is the only girl. From oldest to youngest: Kyle, Me, Isaac, Luke, Esther. We were all homeschooled out whole lives.

My family has two cats and a Chihuahua. One of the cats is Dust, who is our family cat. The other is my own cat name Yoda (I'm a big Star Wars fan as you'll find out). The Chihuahua is my sisters dog. We used to live on a farm and at one time i had 9 of my own animals. 6 chickes, 2 geese, and my cat. I raised all of them from babies. All of my pets had Star Wars names :)

When I was 14 I started being dually enroolled at a local Community College (which basically means I was in High School and College at the same time). I first started going there for Computer Graphics classes, then I started taking other classes too, and now this fall I should be done with my Associate Degree from there and a certificate in Computer Graphics. I was also a Computer Graphics tutor at the College starting when I was only 15.

I am a very big Star Wars fan, so don't mind me if I sometimes refer to it. My othe favorite movies all seem to be from series too - they would include in no particular order: Pirates of the carribean Trilogy, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and Indiana Jones. Some other movies not exactly in series (yet) that I love would inlcude Transformers, Serenity, and of course Iron Man! As you can tell, I love epic/aventurous movies, but I also love comedies and movies such as Napolean Dynamite & the original Pink Panther movies - such classics. I will finalize this by saying, I love movies. I also love to costume; I have an indiana Jones outfit, Jack Sparrow, a Jedi, and I'm working on a couple others including a Stormtrooper.

I also love performing arts which would include: singing, dancing, acting, and musical instruments. I love theater and especially musical theater; I have been in over 45 or 50 productions and plays. I can play a couple instruments (However, I have only taken lessons for one of them. i play by ear or tought myself most of them.) Guitar, Mandolin, Piano, Ukulele, and very little banjo (very very little).

So yeah, this is pretty much what I can think of right now. I have lots of other interesting things that I love to do, and I can't wait to get to know all of you as you get to know me!

See ya' all soon!

A few more things

Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Just wanted to fill you all in about Host gifts. We will be giving out gifts to the local missionaries and hosts that we will be working with. If each of you could bring a couple things, that would be great. Things that are easy to pack, like T-shirts, hats, and things like that would be best. Also, here are a few thoughts from Crystal about the packing lists and some of the questions you've had-

It DOES get rather chilly here sometimes, especially at the end of June. I had a 20 degree bag last year (I left it at home this year) and there was about a week when I would have been grateful for it. Just some thoughts.

Also, there might be times when everyone has to sleep on the floor (that's happened when we had to stay in a school for example, and not at someone's house), so some kind of padding is always nice, especially on concrete. I know in Nauta, the chances of us sleeping on a wood floor and not everyone in hammocks is much greater. The key is flexibility (and a happy heart regardless! :))

Electricity will be sparsely available as far as I know - it'd be worth it to bring chargers for cameras, ipods, etc - and look for opportunities to take advantage of them, as well as expect there to be times when they won't be available. If you have a battery op. camera, extra batteries are for sure adviseable.

Letter From Crystal

Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hey Everyone!

This is a letter that Crystal sent me to pass on to you guys. Being that she's in Peru right now, it is very hard for her to communicate on a regular basis. But as you will see, she is very excited to meet you and to spend the summer with you. Just think, soon we will all be together and headed to Peru! Until then, "..let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix or eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Peace, Jesse

Dear amazing amazon team,

Greetings to all of you in the beautiful Name of Jesus. I hope that as you get this email (letter?) you are enjoying the peace of Christ's presence in the flurry of finishing up the school year and getting ready for two months an a faraway land. My name is Crystal and I am currently living in Nauta, Peru - not far from where you'll be living and ministering in the time you're here. I've been here for more than a year and know God has big plans for this area of the world, just as He does for every tribe, nation and people with no exception. I am excited for you to come and share a bit of that vision with the people here - of God's unbelievable love for us and provision for reconciliation with Him.

As you get ready to come to the Amazon, I want to share some of my heart with you and my heart for you. First of all, I know that it is so easy to get caught up in what needs to be done - there is so much it is overwhelming at times. But I want to remind you of what Jesus said to Martha about Mary - "you are anxious and troubled about many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42). Don't forget to chose that one thing that IS Necessary in your day. The enemy has many tactics to steal, kill and destroy what good gifts the Father of Lights would like to give us - and busyness is one of them. Don't give in! May you make time to seek God's presence daily, to rejoice and be fed in His word and to just sit at his feet and listen to Him. May Christ's peace rest on you in this preparation season.

That said, as you get ready to come here to minister to the people and to one another, I would like to encourage and exhort you to prepare your hearts as well as your backpacks in some specific ways. It is my hope and prayer that while we're together, that you'll be able to submit to one another in love, and particularly to Jesse and to me as the leaders of the trip, trusting that our hearts toward you are good and that we are seeking to serve you as we follow God together, looking out for your best interests in the physical and emotional, as well as in the spiritual realm. I as a leader, am excited about the great privilege and honor to get to know you and to see where God is moving in your lives as well as in our ministry here in Peru. May Christ be glorified in how we as leaders serve you, and how you for your part can trustingly submit to us in love.

I also encourage you to start praying now for a sincere love for one another and for unity as a team. This is a miracle that comes from the same Spirit in each of us, as we seek the mind of Christ for one another in love for our Savior (read Ephesians 4:1-4, Philippians 2:1-9) May these passages be our prayer for a not-at-all cheap grace with one another as we seek to receive one another even as Christ has received us... different talents, personality traits, differing backgrounds and quirks aside. The goal is not to tolerate, but to love one another even as Christ has loved us. There are always those one or two people that we have a hard time understanding and connecting with - may our love not be measured by how well we love those easy to "click" with, but by our determination to love those that we find most difficult to understand. Psalm 133 carries with it a promise that as we seek unity in Christ that God will send blessing and eternal life. I don't know about you, but those alone are worth the struggle against my flesh for me in seeking a sincere unity with my brothers and sisters :).

Lastly, I encourage you now to start to pray for those people down here who need to know of the amazing Grace that God has for them in Christ. Remember that we have no reason to be ashamed of the gospel, as it is the power of God for salvation for all who believe, and that God did not give us a Spirit of fear, but one of power, love and a sound mind. Remember also that He promises that if you ask, you will receive, and if you seek you will find. Let's start asking to see God glorified among the sick, the blind, the deaf, and most of all, the ones still enslaved to sin here in this part of the Amazon region. Glory to His name!

I am looking forward to meeting each of you, and am praying for you by name here in the jungle of Peru.

with love and

Grace and Peace to you in Christ,

Crystal Reitsma

The Prayer of St. Francis

Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is dispair, hope;

where there is darkness, light; and

where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much

seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and

it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

AMEN

How I was called into the missions field

Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To begin my story I first have to tell a little bit about my journey in coming back to Christ. Growing up, my mothers side of my family were church going Christians, my fathers side were not. I went to Church up into the point when my parents got divorced. During this period in my life, I saw my mom less and less, which meant that I stopped going to church. The divorce finalized by the time I was in high school. It was the first time in my life where I actually decided that I want to go to church. I loved the people there, because they were so nice and I made a lot of friends. I also loved hearing about Jesus. It was pivotal for me because some Christians go to church their entire lives not knowing why they are going and when they receive freedom to make their own decisions, they don't go back. I did go back during high school and really enjoyed it.

Going to college in a new place, I searched for a church home In Boulder. I went to several and did not feel that they were the place God wanted me to be. They were not a place were I felt comfortable in connecting with God. Out of frustration in failing to find a church home in Boulder, I stop searching and going to Church entirely. The absence of a church and God definitely showed. My freshman year was a very dark period in my life. Going home for the summer was a rejuvenating experience for me. It was nice being home and spending time with my family.

At the beginning of my sophomore year, I began searching for churches once again. I had lunch with one of my friends and she randomly invited me to a campus ministry called the Annex. The Annex serves as a place where I could praise, pray to and worship God with my peers. It is an amazing place to connect with Christians who can push me towards God. It was the end of the semester where I was studying with a friend, Jess. Jess asked me if I had ever thought about doing missions work. I laughed at her, and said that I just came back to the Lord and that I wasn't ready. I told that if I were to go on a missions trip that I would take it seriously and I had to be "rock solid" in my faith. Following that conversation, three guys in my small group went on an 11-day missions trip to Cuba. When they got back, the stories of how God moved in them and through them were amazing. I was fascinated on how much growth my friend Ethan experienced. So the next Annex, they announced this program, called messenger that sends students for two months in the summer to various countries in the summer to do missions work. At first I was definitely interested however not completely sure that I wanted to spend my entire summer going to another country. I asked my small group members to pray that God would grant me discernment of his will for me to go on this trip or not. A week later, I told them that I was going on the program. And Now I will be going to Peru! ☺

Reimbursements General Facts

Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Once your entire trip and airfare is paid for, you may submit your additional trip
expenses to us for reimbursement from your account. The allowable reimbursements
are those expenses which you incur as a direct result of your participation on this trip.
The IRS limits us on what can be reimbursed - things they consider direct expenses for
this trip.

The items you can submit for reimbursement are:
Airfare tickets
Medical insurance
Shots needed only for this trip
Passport and Visa expenses for this trip only

To be reimbursed for these expenses, you MUST submit your receipts to us prior to
training camp. The original receipt is the only form we can accept. WE CANNOT
ACCEPT CHARGE CARD STATEMENTS OR A COPY OF A CHECK.

We will process those receipts and reimburse you only if you have the amount to cover
the cost in your support account. We will provide a partial reimbursement if the funds
left in your support account do not cover the entire receipt after your trip is complete. We process reimbursements:
After you leave on your trip
Mid-Way through the trip
Upon completion of the trip

Sometimes in the summer months it is difficult to keep up with the demand of
reimbursements. Plan on your reimbursement check taking about a month to process
from leaving on your trip to a month after the completion of your trip.

Any additional money which comes in after your trip is complete will go toward covering
any trip deficit you may have, but cannot be used for reimbursement of expenses.

When submitting receipts to us, please fill out the reimbursement form that you can find
from your Account page.

Again, ALL REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO US PRIOR TO YOU GOING OUT.

Directions to Airport and Gainesville

Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Directions to the Atlanta Airport :
MEETING AT THE AIRPORT: When you fly into the airport you are to meet in the Atrium, located right outside security. It is a huge gathering room with lots of sofas, food court etc. We will be there to meet you . Look for us in our Aim t-shirts and big smiles :) .

Directions to Adventures In Missions Gainesville, Georgia

From Atlanta, Hartsfield Atlanta Airport and the South:

Take the Connector (I-75/I-85) northbound until the two interstates split just north of Midtown. Though I-85 heads northeast and would appear to split off to the right, be cautioned: I-85 is a left exit and only the left three lanes will take you there safely! Stay northbound on I-85. You willl pass under the Perimeter (I-285) at Spaghetti Junction. Continue northward on I-85 until you reach exit 113, which is the beginning of I-985. Take I-985 (also a left exit) northbound for 24 miles until you reach exit 24. Exit there. Take a left at the end of the exit ramp, towards downtown Gainesville. You are on U.S. Hwy 129. It takes just under an hour from downtown to get to this point.

Continue north on Hwy 129 (you will turn right about a mile from the interstate and another right at a T in the road). You will cross over Lake Lanier at two points: the Chattahoochee River fork and the Little River fork. A few miles beyond the second bridge you will come to a traffic light. You will take a right at the light onto Nopone Road . Follow Nopone for 1 mile to Bogus Road ; turn left onto Bogus. You will see our sign about a mile in on the left hand side (but you won't see a building). Turn left into our driveway and you will come to our building.

From Greenville/Charlotte and the Eastern Seaboard:

Take I-85 southbound from Greenville/Spartanburg until you cross the Georgia state line at Hartwell Lake. Continue southward until you reach exit 137 ( Gainesville/ Jefferson). Exit there, turning right at the end of the ramp, towards Gainesville. You are on U.S. Hwy 129. Travel for about 17 miles until you cross over I-985, then follow the instructions in the second paragraph above.

From Chattanooga/Nashville and the Midwest or Appalachia:

Take I-75 (or I-24) southbound from Chattanooga until you cross the Georgia state line. Continue southward on I-75 until you reach exit 312, which is State Hwy 53. Go east on 53, being careful to stay on 53 as it goes through some small towns and makes a few turns. After going through the town of Dawsonville you will come to a major intersection with GA 400. Go north (left) on 400 to the very next traffic light and turn right on Harmony Church Rd. You will come to a stop sign a the jct. of 136 ( Price Rd. ). Turn right on 136. Travel on 136 for about 10 miles and it will end at Rt. 60. Make a right on 60 ( Thompson Br. Rd. ) and then a left at the very next light which is 283 ( Mt. Vernon Rd. ). Take 283 to the first stop sign and turn right on Jim Hood Rd. After a few miles you will come to a light - US 129. Go straight and the road becomes Nopone Rd. Go about a mile and turn left at the top of a hill on Bogus Rd. Go a mile on Bogus and you will see the sign for Adventures in Missions on the left. Turn there and follow the road to the end and you have arrived. Note: This is a 2 lane, windy road and is about 80 miles across, taking about 2 hours from the I-75 exit.

Alternate Route via interstate. Take I-75 south to I-285 and go east on I-285 to I-85. Go north on I-85 to exit 113, I-985. Take I-985 north to exit 24, US 129. You can then follow the directions above in coming from Atlanta. Note: This way is much longer mileage wise and sometimes much longer time wise, depending on the time of day and the Atlanta area traffic. But it's all interstate until you get to 129 (the last 10 miles).

Peru Exit Information

Thu, 7 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Peru Exit Information

To be able to exit Peru you will have a $40 exit fee. Everyone is to bring a $20, $10 and 2-$5's with them in US Dollars. You cannot bring the cash in any other form.

We will collect this from you as you register for Training Camp. We will issue you a receipt for the cash and you can fill out a reimbursement form for that fee if you have the extra funds in your Support Account.

When you exit the country, we will give you the cash to pay your fee.

Updated Packing List

Thu, 7 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hey everone,
Here is an updated packing list. Hopefully this will clear some things up for you guys. If you have any questions or comments about anything please let us know. Bring everything you NEED, but remember to pack as light as you can since we have limited space and we will be moving around alot! I hope you all are doing well and that you are diligently seeking to spend time with Jesus everyday. This is so important, because there are gonna be some things that He wants to deal with in our lives before He sends us out. I know He does with me before every trip. I encourage each of you to take time to enjoy this whole experience. I know that it can be stressfull at times, but I promise you; if you you seek the Lord in each little part of it, He will show up in ways you never imagined! He is not a God that plays hard to get, it's His desire to reveal Himself to you. You just have to have eyes to see. I pray that His grace and love abounds in you more and more everyday! Those of you that haven't heard from me yet, expect a phone call sometime in the next week. I can't wait to talk with each of you! Also, Crystal Reitsma(our female leader) sent me a letter to pass on to you, so I'll be emailing that to you soon. I am so glad that we have her with us on this trip! As you will be able to tell from her letter, she loves Jesus and she loves His people. I'm so excited for what our amazing God has in store for us this summer! Jesse

No luggage! Backpacking packs are the best.

Bring for sure-

sandals - like chacos
no nice shoes, except guys should have something rather decent for church nights
2-3 pair of long pants (mosquito protection)
2-3 skirts and ankle length leggings/ knee length ones too- good for mosquito protection under skirts (girls of course)
3-5 shirts (not including drime clothes)
1-2 long-sleeve shirts (good for mosquitos, cool nights)
2-3 pair of shorts (not too short) or capris
at least a weeks worth of undergarments
1 sweatshirt or sweater - hoodies are great
drime clothes
nice shirts for church
socks for sports and long socks for mosquito protection
sleeping bag
small sheet - protection from mosquitoes and for the warmer nights
small pillow
two water bottles (one for sure!)
headlamp - make sure it works!
extra batteries
your Bible and a Spanish Bible (if you can)
2 different journals (one for Jesus time and another for journaling about your daily activities)
toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, lotion, contact stuff, razor and shaving cream, etc.) Girls - no makeup
plastic bags (ziploc-like) of varying size (put any bottle things in there when traveling in case they explode/ or roll clothes and put them in plastic bags to save space)
anti itch ointment
random medicines - for stomach problems, headaches, cold medicine, sore throat, etc. - cipro, fiber, ibuprofen, imodium, airborne, etc.
band aids and antibiotic ointment
baby wipes
plenty of mosquito spray
duct tape
zesty seasoning salt, taco seasoning, etc
peanut butter (I know space is tight, but try to at bring at least 1 large plastic jar if not more)

Recommended -

letters from friends, and pictures
sunglasses (cheap ones would be best)
rain gear is optional (poncho or light raincoat)
a long book or two
iPod (definitely optional - remember the music should be something that doesn't take your eyes off Christ)
tweezers and nail clippers
pocket knife (Do NOT pack in carry-on!)
tissues
dryer sheets- put them in your pockets to keep the mosquito's away
vitamins, calcium chews, fiber chews
drink mixes
candy and gum - ration them well
chap stick
gold-bond powder or tinactin
athlete's foot lotion
thin rope or thick string for hanging clothes, etc.

PERSONAL ITEMS:

These are some things that we CAN get in Iquitos

1. Toothbrushes, toothpaste

2. Shampoo, soap, conditioner

3. Hammock, mosquito net

4. Poncho (cheap trash bag-like)

5. Rope and string

MINISTRY SUPPLIES

These ministry supplies we CANNOT get in Iquitos, so we need to bring these things and try to fit them in with our personal stuff (if you can think of other things we should bring, that is cool). The number next to each item indicates how many people need to bring some of that item. Please post a comment letting us know who is bringing what. Since there are 17 of you, each person will need to bring 4 items. Check the comments so that you will know what your team members already listed and you can bring whatever is left:

1. Popsicle sticks (8)

2. Construction paper (10)

3. Sharpies, markers (8)

4. Stickers - esp. Jesus-theme ones, foam stickers (10)

5. Paper bags (6)

6. Animal balloons (10)

7. Balloon pump (4)

8. Duct tape (8)

9. Air pump and needle (4)

These ministry supplies we CAN get in Iquitos, so you won't need to bring any of this unless you already have it (but please bring some extra money so that we can purchase them when we get there):

1. Balls

2. Craft floss

3. Yarn

4. Markers

5. Glue

6. Neon paper

7. Scotch tape

8. Regular balloons

9. Scissors

10. cotton balls

Journey Reminder

Mon, 4 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Have you started your Journey?

If not, do so today!

Final Paper Work Due in 1 Week

Mon, 4 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

PAPERWORK - Check on your Account page and see if you have all your paperwork marked as being in. If NOT, then read the next paragraph.

In one week ALL your paperwork is due in the office. If you do not have your physical scheduled, then do that TODAY! If you have not looked into securing insurance, then do that TODAY! You cannot put this off any longer. To process all the papers and get you ready to go out is a BIG job and we NEED your paperwork!!!! You will NOT be able to go on this trip unless it is all turned in

50% Goal is Past

Mon, 4 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

50% Goal is Past!

If you do not have this much in your account, you must call in and talk to someone in the Admissions Department. The number to call is: 877-811-0210

We are praying that God provides all you need this week! Remember, we are here to talk and pray with you - call us anytime.

Alex Macdonald

Fri, 1 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hola!...I don't speak Spanish but since we are going to Peru I figured I would give it a try. :P Anyway, I'm Alexandra Macdonald but people usually just call me Alex ohh yeah and of course there's Alex Mac, Big Mac, and Old Macdonald. I'm currently 19 years old but I'll be turning 20 on June 30th! I'm from VA Beach, VA AKA "beach with no waves".

I'm currently a student at James Madison University. I'm a SMAD major which is Media Arts and Design. I'm a photographer and I work as a photographer at Photography Services at JMU and I'm photography leader at the most awesome church ever, Aletheia. I guess you could say photography is a big part of my life. I also love to swim...in a swimming pool...in a lane. haha No judging Jon. Music is also something that's a big part of my life or has always been. I played the viola all through elementary, middle, and high school. I had the opportunity to play at Carnegie Hall in NYC but I didn't go because I thought going on a mission trip to Zambia, Africa would be more fun...it was. Oh I also play the guitar!...kinda. lol

I grew up in a non-Christian home. I know we'll probably talk about our testimonies in Peru so I won't really get into that. I will say that I accepted Christ when I was 16 years old! The power and love of Christ is just sooooo amazing. He healed my life in more ways than one and I've been running after Him ever since!

Okay enough about me, I'm soooo stoked to be going on this trip and I'm so excited to meet all of you! Mission trips are the most awesome experiences one can have and I'd much rather be doing something major for God this summer than working at Olive Garden. I'm so excited to see how He's going to change our lives through this experience and how He's going to use us to change the lives of others. :)

How I was called into the mission field

Fri, 1 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Randomly...THE END.

haha Umm a year ago, the church that I go to in VB, Wave Church, was planning a trip to the Hillsong conference in Australia and I really wanted to go. The trip was around $2000 and lasted only four days. After deciding it wasn't worth it, the random thought of a mission trip popped into my head. This was extremely weird because I had never really thought about going on one before so the thought was extremely foreign. I then proceeded to search online for hours for mission trips but I found myself coming up short. Soon after that, I expressed my interest to a friend and he told me that his church provided a lot of mission trip opportunities. So, I attended his church the next Sunday and found the perfect two week trip to Zambia, Africa.

When I went to Zambia I had no idea what to expect. Evangelism was something I had no experience or knowledge in. Regardless, it turned out to be such a groundbreaking experience that catapulted me towards God. My heart melted every time I came in contact with a child. They all seemed to lack personal attention and more importantly love. This became clearly evident from them clinging all over you after giving them one second of attention. When we were there we did children ministry in the morning and adult ministry at night. Loving on people and leading people to Christ was the greatest feeling ever.

In a nutshell, after my experience in Africa I was sold to missions. Then when I came to JMU and joined my church, Aletheia, they equipped me in ways to effectively convey the gospel. It is so weird and awesome how God has a purpose for everything. This year in January when I went on a mission trip to Jamaica, God used me to lead a group of girls at a girls home to Christ. It just totally blows my mind how God can take someone from another part of the world and use their past as a way to connect and lead people to Him. I don't know what everybody on the team has done or been through but I do know that God will use you!

Leader Update

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hey everyone,

I hope you all are doing well! I can't believe that in a month we will be together in Gainesville, I can't wait! So, I just wanted to update you on a few things. As you probably saw, there are some changes to how many bags we can bring. I have included the details of this at the end of this blog. Regarding personal items and ministry supplies, I will be posting an updated packing list soon. If you haven't started collecting ministry supplies, then hold off for now. If you have, hold on to what you have. We plan on trying to fit some of the things that are difficult to find in Peru, the rest we will have to purchase when we get there. Also, I want to give each of you a call soon. If you could leave a comment and just let me know when would be a good time to call and the best number to reach you at, that would be great (if you've already given that number to AIM, then I should have it). Make sure to start thinking of any questions you might have. Hopefully I will have answers for you and if not, I'll do my best to find out. I hope this helps clarify things a little. I look forward to talking with each of you. May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus be with each of you! Jesse

Carry-On Baggage:

One (1) carry-on bag permitted

Maximum weight is 40 pounds (18 kg)

Maximum size is 52 linear inches 24" (L) + 16" (W) + 12" (H)

In addition to one carry-on bag, passengers may carry one of the following: a handbag/pocketbook, small laptop computer, overcoat, wrap, umbrella, walking stick, camera, binoculars, reading material for the flight, or food for consumption en route.

Checked Baggage:

Maximum weight is 50 pounds (23 kg) / Maximum size is 62 linear inches (L+W+H) overall.

Expectations for my Mission Trip

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As far as expectations go, I am fairly confident that God will amaze me in ways that will surpass and demolish any expectations that I may hold. But In general these are my expectations...

God

I except God to be the never changing, solid foundation I can at anytime rely on in Peru. Regardless if I'm at the lowest point on my trip, I expect that he will be there when I stumble and need his guidance and help. Pretty plain expectation but with God being the way he is, it is pretty easy to realize what to except from him.

Peru
I except to see and do things that I could never have dreamed about in Peru. I except to see amazing wonders, miracles and the beauty of God's creation in the Amazon Jungle. I expect to be quite uncomfortable with the heat, humidity, insects, sleeping arrangements and so forth, but I also expect to go to God with all those things and for him to give me strength and perseverance.
Myself
I expect to be stretched in all aspects of my life and my faith. I want to emerge a stronger person in mind, body and spirit when it is all said and done. Coming out of the trip a different man is definitely what I except to happen. I don't know how exactly but to have a different outlook on life and more of an appreciation of the life that I have been given by the creator. I want to learn to put myself aside and for the better of other people.

The People of Peru
I except to come across all different types of people in Peru. From all walks of life in their faith but I expect to help them in whatever way I can. To love on the children and the people there and to learn as much as I can from them. To see their love for the Lord and what I can learn from it.

My Team
I expect to be able to rely on my teammates physically, emotionally and spiritually thoughtout the trip. I expect some of us to at some point not get along very but realize why we are in Peru and putting our differences aside for the furtherance of God's Kingdom (which is far more important). I expect to be in constant prayer with the entire team, because in my eyes this I going to be essential for this trip. I expect for my team to hold me accountable in my actions and vice versa

All in all

I expect to having an amazing summer that I will never ever forget. I expect to make friends of a lifetime both on my team and in Peru. I expect to grow in my faith than I ever thought possible and to further develop into the Man of God he calls me to be. I expect to make my Heavenly father proud of me.

-Kevin Beltran