21st birthday!!!!

I’m officially 21!!!!!!!! Now I was born on St. Patties day + 21^st birthday = danger (or it could).

Well I hate to disappoint some people but my birthday didn’t involve drinking, clubs or a raging crazy party. But we fasted……. Boring huh.

Wrong Again

As a group we decided to do the Daniel Fast. It a fast for 21 days. Where we can only eat veggies, fruit and whole grains. So no meat, no sugars and nothing with preservatives. So really it is like a vegan diet but with more rules.

For some people this sounds awful and for other people it sounds like a challenge. It really depends on how you look at it, and how you go about it.

The first week was a little tough, because there are a ton of cravings and temped just to break the fast. But in the middle of the fast it became pretty normal and towards the end we were just counting down the days until we are done.

Amy and Ty did an amazing job with the food that they prepared and the lack of resources here.

So I decided this way it is more memorable to do this then to get trashed.

And in all reality we didn’t decided this to be something for my birthday but when I looked at it I am counting it for my birthday. It was more of a coincidence.

Blah Blah Blah

I have a new address!!!!

Emily Rattle
Correo Central Cusco
Cusco, Peru

And I think I win for the most boring blog in the world.... but that is ok I am still a winner!
Any ways there it is.

VBS

VBS

So a few weeks we held a VBS at they church for our neighbor kids from 9-11 every day of the week and at the end of the week they presented what they learned.

We had crafts, fun and games, a snack, music and a clips of movies.

The thing that blows my mind is the parents just let their kids go. I was out inviting all the kids I saw to come to our VBS. Some of the parents asked where it was going to be at and others just said bring them back when it is done.

The first day we had 20 kids and the rest of the week we had 15 or 17 kids.

Even after the VBS most of the kids come to church every Sunday to participate in Sunday School.

So now all the kids in the neighborhood know the “Gringos” that live here. They say hi to us as we walk by and when they come to church they always make a point to say hi.

Granted it is easier to get kids to come but they are just the start. They go home and tell their parents what they learned and hopefully it will encourage them to come to church and get saved.

We just decided to start with kids and poco a poco their parents will come. Its just a different way to plant the seed.

Hospitality

There are a lot of words that can describe the people of Cusco, but the first word is hospitality.

In Mattthew 25:35-40 says:

35 For when I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you incited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you can to visit me.’

37 “then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and fees you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 when did we see you a stranger and incite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the lest of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Can you think of the last time you did that for a stranger? I don’t think I can…. and I am a missionary! And of course as a missionary I should be a notch higher then everyone else, right up there with a pastor. Well here comes the bad news…..I’M NOT. I am not better then the person next to me, or spiritually better then the person next to me. I will make mistakes, I will judge someone, I will sin more then 10 times a day (without even thinking), I will lack in my spiritual life. I don’t have all the answers.

But when people think of missionaries they think of them as more hospitable, that we are going to help people with money getting clothes and things like that. Granted that is some of the things we do but the real thing we should be doing is furthering the kingdom of God, and not so wrapped up in everything else.

So when the Cusqueños ask us what we are doing here and part of our response is “We are here to help with whatever we can.” And they ask us “Can you help me financially?” We simply ask them “What is more important, growing a relationship with God or having money?” And we get different responses but in the end we tell them we will go work in your fields all day, we can help you cook, carry you things to your house, go to the market and help you spiritually as well. And some times that isn’t what they want to hear, but we tell them anyways.

As we are out and about helping how ever we can, I am just amazed at how they are willing to give and share anything and everything they have. We have been gifted potatoes, corn, jelly, and bread. We have also been asked to come and eat lunch or dinner with families or when we just stop by to say hi they offer us something. And we are complete strangers to them. And they are willing to give.