Thursday July 24

Today has been another day of rest for me as I have been suffering from stomach problems. The wonderful thing is though that I am allowed to spend more alone time with God. I was looking through the books left by the missionaries who live here usually but are home on furlow. It's a book called Valley of Vision and it is a collection of puritan prayers and devotions. I would highly recommend it as it has helped me find the right words at times when I am praying daily. I have even been inspired to begin my own book of person prayers (don't bet on it being published though). It's so tough sometimes when you have been called somewhere and then suddenly are stricken with aflictions. For me it's my stomach for others it's been migraines. Please pray for us as Satan is certainly waiting to attack. I know why I am hear and feel confident that God will use us all in an amazing way. I am learning what it will be like to be in a Christian international school and how I can serve those at the school, but I am also seeing how to show love to my roommates and recognizing their needs and not just focusing on my own. The joy of this that I can see Jessica my roommate doing the same. I praise God for her because she it the oppossite of me and is an inspiration to what I need to adjust in my life. I hope that I can repay her in return. I will sign off now with a prayer from Valley of vision:
O Lord of the oceans,
My little bark sails on a resless sea, Grant that Jesus may sit at the helm and steer me safely; Suffer no adverse currents to divert my heavenward course; Let not my faith be wrecked amid strorms and shoals; Bring me to harbour with flying penants, hull unbreached, cargo unspoiled. I ask great things, expect great things, shall receive great things. I venture on thee wholly, fully, my wind, sunshine, anchor, defence. The voyage is long, the waves high, the storms pitiless, but my helm is held steady, the Word secures safe passage, thy grace wafts me onward, my haven is guaranteed. This day will bring me nearer home, Grant me holy consistency in every transaction, my peace flowing as a running tide, my righteousness as every chasing wave. Help me live circumspectly, with skill to convert every care into prayer, Halo my path with gentleness and love, smoothe every asperity of temper; let me not forget how easy it is to occasion grief; may I strive to bind up every wound, and pour oil on all troubled waters. May the world this day be happier and better because I live. Let my mast before me be the Saviour's cross, and every oncoming wave the fountain in his side. Help me, protect me in the moving sea unitl I reach the shore of unceasing praise.

A puritan prayer

Church

Today my roommate and I got up for church and left our house around 9:40 am. We were visiting a Spanish church with one of the Spanish teachers from the school. Church began at 10 and ended after 1pm. No Sunday school that was just the service. Oh and did I mention it was Baptist? So all you clock watchers out there just know that Church in other places is an all day commitment. It was a great service and I really understood a lot. I have even been invited to a house this Friday for a girls night. The only difficulty was my roommate Jessica has been plagued with migraines since she got here. If you could just lift her up in prayer that would be great. I think I will go with her to the clinic if it doesn't get better. Other than that things are going very well. We are trying to get ourselves in a routine though because we have been feeling like tourists and we need to start thinking about a more long term routine. Please continue to pray for all of us here serving the Lord. It is going to be amazing I know but I also know that the adjustment has only just begun. Oh and pray for my ministry with the cab drivers. I've been able to witness to a couple of them and they were very open to hearing me out. And no mom I was not in the cab by myself.LOL. Love you all and praying for you all to. Hasta luego!!

The first official day!!!

I arrived in Peru last night and with relatively little trouble. The flight was long but I got through immigration and customs just fine. After getting to my house around 2 in the morning I was able to sleep finally in a nice comfortable bed. Today I woke up and met our maid. She is the sweetest person I think I've ever met. The only issue is that she speaks spanish at lightning speed and it was a challenge to keep up, but we did ok and she told me my spanish was good.LOL. Anyways later in the day my roommate, a friend, and I went to the store to buy groceries and other items we needed for our houses. Figuring out the exchange rate was a trick but luckily I have a roommate who is very good in math. Yay for math teachers!!! Now I am home and about to crash out after I organize my clothes a bit. Thank you all for your prayers for my safe travel it was a smooth trip. Pray for me tomorrow because I am going to walk to the store by myself. The only way to gain independence is to do something by yourself and I live in a safe neighborhood so off I go to investigate my new world.

The day before

Well everyone,

I am finally feeling the excitement like nothing before. I have weighed, reweighed, unpacked and reweighed again all of my luggage and I think that I will be let on the plane. Just a suggestion to those reading my blog. Even the most unmaterialistic people have a lot of stuff. I was just watching a couple of episodes of Little House on the Prairie and they were wearing the same things in both episodes. I can only come to the conclusion they were trying to be authentic to the time period. Perhaps we too should reduce what we think we need. Truthfully. I don't think I'll miss the stuff I had to leave behind. Well at least I hope not. I did make sure I had enough underclothes which I think is non negotiable. Anyways, I'm so excited as to what God has in store for the the future. I would encourage you all not to think of the mission field as somewhere you go, but something that is all around you. God has called me to Peru but he could have easily called me to somewhere in the states. Do not forget that many of those around us are living unaware of a Mighty God who desperately wants them in His fold. Pray for me that I will be effective in sharing His truth and I will pray for you that you will be bold and share with others around you. For those of you reading this blog who may not have a personal relationship with Christ, I encourage you to get involved in a local "Bible preaching" church, find a Bible, not to mention send me an e mail because I would love to share the Truth with those who are interested. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that who ever believes in Him will not be condemned but have life enterally with God in Heaven. John 3:16 (paraphrased).
God bless you all!! Pray for safe travels, and Have a great summer!!!
Love ya, Court

One more week

Well here I am posting my first blog and I have no idea what I'm doing. I am preparing to leave for Peru and life is getting crazy. I have to get so much done before I go but I am so excited about going and sharing Christ in Peru. I think God is going to do some amazing things this year. The Network of International Christian Schools (NICS) has a great group of people going into the mission field this year. I just spent two weeks in orientation with some terrific people who will do mighty things for the Lord. I ask for your continued prayers and I will pray also for you that you will be encourage during this coming year. (note: images were added and did not all happen right before I left. It is merely an example of what I left behind.)