Field Trip: Fortaleza Real Felipe

Better late than never... Way back in April, the 5th - 8th graders went on a field trip to Fortaleza Real Felipe a historical fort along the Pacific Coast in Callao, not too far from Lima. The students learned study about the events that took place here in their Peruvian History classes, and then got to come and see it all first hand! Here are some picture from the day:

 

Below: Mr. Madison, the 6th grade teacher, loved hiding in the dungeon and scaring the kids as they walked through the dark tunnels. 

Where I'm At

Update:
February. March. April. May. June. July. August. September... Wow! I've now been living in Peru for more than 7 months. At times it seems like forever, yet in other moments it feels as though I just arrived. 


When I think back on the year so far, I'm reminded of both joyous and difficult times. 
Learning the culture: greeting everyone in the room, and doing the same before leaving, living in a city of 9 million people, taking taxis and busses, and of course the language! I'm still learning at least one new word a day (today's word sobre de jugo = literally envelop of juice, actually Kool-Aid packet). 
Some of the challenges: missing my family, missing many friends' weddings, missing my friends and knowing how to interact socially in my own culture and language, being robbed on the street, missing a whole Iowa summer (including Grandma's pool with the cousins & time at Twin Lakes Bible Camp). 


Above all, His great blessings: Fantastic roommates, teaching with 40 Christian co-workers, 17 students to greet each morning, teaching Bible everyday, becoming part of a great church family, huge improvements in Spanish, having a great support base lifting me up in prayer back home (Thanks Again!!), meeting many other missionaries and being encouraged by their heart for God and for the lost.


My time here has been a time of growth, and I trust and know that God is using this time to prepare me for what He has in store for the future. 


The future...A popular question here, "How long are you staying?" followed by my memorized response since I arrived in February, "I'm committed to stay till December, but I'm praying that God would show me his will beyond that." 


The first several months I think said this more because I thought it was the "correct response," not that I wasn't actually praying, but I was praying more for my will, God please bless this year and use me here, but please don't have me stay another year, away from my family. Then as I continued praying, God worked in my heart and allowed my prayer to change to, Lord, if you want me to stay, please show me clearly, if not I will plan to return home in December and serve you there. It was during this time, that God used many people both here and in the states to encourage me to stay and remind me of how God was working in and through me here. The thought of returning to teach for a second year in Peru at MCS, changed from being an anxious thought to a thought filled with excitement and peace. My prayer has now become, Lord please show me if you do not want me to teach another year in Peru, otherwise I will plan on continuing to teach for another year at MCS. 


I write all this with two purposes: 1) To share my heart with you ad thank you for your support and prayers thus far. 2) To ask you to pray that God's will would be done in this decision. I hope to decide  by the end of September if I will be returning for a second year or not. Please being praying that I will be seeking God daily and that I will be in tune to His leading. 

Some of my awesome co-workers at MCS!

Cultivating Hearts for Missions

Update:

Every June at Monterrico Christian School is Missions Month. We hope to instill in our students from a young age, the importance that God places on caring for others and spreading His word and His love! 

Matthew 25:40

The King will reply, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of min, you did for me."

The 5th and 6th graders went to a near by orphanage to plant sod around the kids play area. Here are a few pictures...

Please Pray:

- These students will grow to have a heart for missions. That they will look out not only for their own needs but first to the needs of others. 

Family Time!!!

Update:

I LOVE MY FAMILY! In case you didn't know, I was greatly blessed a few weeks ago by having my family come and visit me in Lima! Yes, not just my parents... but surprise! Loren, Aly, & Joe too! Well, I may have had a "small" hint about 24 hours before they arrived, but you can ask my dad about that ;)

In front of the President's Palace in the Plaza de Armas, for the parade
on July 28th, Peru's independence Day!  

In "Chinatown," more like China street, also in the Center of Lima.

Aly with her new Peruvian friends! She has a natural knack  for languages, and enjoyed learning phrases in Spanish! Most used phrase: "¿Puedo tomar una foto?" (Can I take a picture?)
Loved having her here!

Together at the water park!

Family dinner :) Yes, the whole gang! It was a treat for both
my roommates and I to have home cooked American food.
Thank you Mom! I still have one frozen meal left in the freezer too :)

After taking a bus tour through Miraflores, we had lunch, almuerzo,
at a shopping mall on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.

We got to spend an evening with the Frerich's at Chili's! 

The boys, and I, even got to spend a morning fishing! It was quite the experience...

1 hour trip on 3 buses, quaint fishing town, tiny boat, plenty of fish, and a little bit of sea sickness...

Overall, a great time that ended in a small fish fry!

What a blessing my family is! I am so excited to see them again in December! Love and miss you! Thanks for coming and seeing a glimpse of life here in Peru! 

Please Pray:

- Thank God that our Internet is back "up to speed," so once again I'm able to update my blog! I should be able to fill you in on the last month and a half little by little over the next week or so :)

- Thank God for family! Not only your own family, but also for the Family of God! 

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God "  

John 1:12

One for the One!

Update: There are many thing that I love about teaching at MCS, but one of my favorite things at school has definitely been being able to teach volleyball! It really is a blessing that God allows us to use the things we love as a ministry. Each age group has their own set of joys and challenges, but I've enjoyed watching all of these students improve their volleyball skills and learning to work together and encourage each other with good sportsmanship! I also want to give a Big Thanks to Jaycee Shirk, Kari's sister, who visited for the last six weeks. She currently plays volleyball at Baptist Bible College. I loved having another competitive player on the court and the students really benefitted from learning more tips from a hitter and blocker :) Here are a few snapshots: 

Jose Antonio, aka Joseph, started the year out with a few basic skills, and it has been awesome to watch him improve and learn so much about technique and the game. 

Enjoying a little 2 on 2 game!

Working on hitting and blocking...

Here's the 4th-6th grade girls, they're full of energy and chatter...

Camila one of my 5th graders, takes a swing at the ball!

Chiara, another 5th grader has become quite the defensive player.

Praying together is part of the normal practice routine, I'm so thankful for my years of NWC volleyball and learning how incorporate my faith into sports! 

Of course we can't end a practice without a team huddle and cheer. Their favorite cheer is "One for the One!" because we are One team, and we play for One God!

Group picture of the 4th-6th graders on Jaycee's last day!

Prayer for: 
- Wisdom as I encourage sportsmanship with the students, especially the junior high boys.

- Thank God for the ability to play sports and use them to bring Him glory and honor! 

New beginnings...

Update: 

I could write pages about the last month, there has been so much going on here in Lima, but instead of writing a whole book for you I'll tell you through pictures...

Kari, Cecilia (our Peruvian sister), and myself surrounded by 2 of our new roommates...

Jaycee (Kari's sister who's visiting for 6 weeks) and Amber (the new 3rd grade teacher)! 

A third new roommate, Samantha, has also arrived safe and sound! 

Last week was the Peruvian Presidential Election. Señor Roberto, the 

math teacher, let the students do a mock vote in class, the students were 

excited and took it pretty seriously. Above Camila is casting her vote. 

Here's the ballot the students used, which I think is almost identical to the actual ballot. 

Although the official count isn't in, the new president has been announced 

Ollanta Humala, pictured above left. He will take office on July 28th.

During this time at school we were on the unit on obedience and talking 

about how God appoints rulers over us, and my students and I were 

reminded to pray for our leaders, both her in Peru and all over the world. 

Elections are always on a Sunday, and there are no morning church services, 

so Kari, Jaycee and I stayed the weekend with the Frerich's kids.  

Joseph, Jessica, and Justin helped us pick out all the best Peruvian candies to enjoy!

I can't remember if I've mentioned it yet, but I have picked a church here in Lima. 

Iglesia Bautista Vida Nueva de Chacarilla... and I thought 

Evangelical Covenant Church was a long name :)

The people at Chacarilla have been a blessing to me and I am

grateful that I'm able to build friendships and get involved here.

I've started helping with NAP, 9-12 year old group, which meets every 

Saturday at the church. It's been so great to work in this type of a setting again;

I miss working at Twin Lakes Bible Camp and helping out in the youth group back at ECC.

Here were playing a new version of "Rock, Paper, Scissors" it's "Samson, Delilah, Lion." And I even got to explain the game and the instructions in Spanish. Everything at church is in Spanish, and I was a little nervous about being a youth leader because of the language, but it's been a great learning experiences and the other leaders love practicing their English and helping me out.

Cristi is one of the great girls I've become friends with at Chacarilla! She's so sweet, I usually practice explaining games to her before I speak in front of the whole group. I'm so thankful for her :)

Pray for: 

- I would continue to learn to look and listen for where God is working and join Him in His work

- My roommates & I, we now add up to 6! And pray for Gail, another teacher who has yet to arrive, she's been trying to come for the last 3 months

- Peru's new president, and the future of Peru as a country

- God's grace & strength to flow in and through me, especially as I try and teach my 17 5th graders to love & respect each other as brothers and sisters in Christ

Thank You so much keeping me in your prayers!  

by His grace, 

natalie