Nineteen sleeps until Peru.

It is so wonderful to read what all of you are learning and experiencing already this summer. I miss you dearly!

So I listened to the Piper message on Monday. It was so challenging. I'm taking a sociology course right now as well and today we talked about American culture. It's amazing to see how many things we think are just normal are really cultural. My teacher was lecturing and she suddenly mentioned an example that made me perk up. "For instance, grieving. How long should it take to get over something?" I have actually been thinking about this recently, because I am still struggling a little with something that happened almost six weeks ago. I was (am?) concerned because I didn't want people to think that I was wallowing or complaining. Societal norms may say I should be "over it", and I brought this before the Father and He simply asked me to wait on and trust in Him. I think we just get so impatient sometimes. The fire can take a while to purify the gold... and Piper's message about suffering comes to mind. I heard a song on the radio today... "How can I know morning unless I've known midnight?" It makes us realize how truly blessed we are, yes... but also, I have experienced the depth of the Father's care and love that I never knew a few years ago. Suffering grows our mercy so much. I could never look on the pain of another with as much love as I do these days, now that I have experienced pain of my own... suffering simply grows us. Like flowers that need sunshine AND rain. Hm.

I am starting to get excited about Peru. :) I believe God is answering prayers for love for these people! Our BSM director e-mailed me after I sent out my prayer requests, and she said that sometimes it's not about zeal, but about obedience. This really encouraged me, and I thought I would share because we are so human and I'm sure other people struggle with this. This trip was not really one that I got super excited about. Go Now said they urgently needed people to go, and this trip worked into my schedule. That's pretty much it. But God has demonstrated through that availability, everything going so smoothly, the opportunities, providing the funds... that He has opened this door. And goodness, He is humbling me with this. He's bringing the Quechuans to my mind more every day.

I still don't completely understand or know, and I don't need to... I just feel like God is going to teach me a lot through this mission trip... pray for an open heart and mind and spirit. That I would hear His voice and be His hands and feet.

I realize I am a rambler... :)

-Rachel.