Doin it, doin it and doin it well

Ok God I get it……….Forget the past.

The past is the past.

Move on from the past.

The past tells people who you used to be and not who your striving to be.

Let the past be a testimony.

Tonight (Wednesday the 20^th) was our last night for our cell group.

And we, the Cusco group, will be moving to Cusco this weekend!!! Woop Woop.

It is definitely Bitter sweet. I am soooo excited to be able to follow up on people and start the real work. At the same time I have made some amazing friends and I am really really going to miss them. They are my new family. And I am not excited to have to say good bye to people I love one more time. But I get to find new people to fall in love with all over again.

Julio has a very special place in my hear. We have our cell group at his house and during our time there we have been able to see him change, each and every time we have gone. He was first getting discipled from another pair. When my partner and I got back from Love Extreme 2 we misses a whole lot and we didn’t have a cell group. So we took over the cell group with Julio.

The first month or so there was only 2 people each and every time. We showed a movie and 19 people were there, and that didn’t include me and my partner so in total there was 21 people… CRAZY!!!!

As the weeks progressed the number went down but we grow to having 4 people each time. And now we have had 8-10 people each and every Wednesday night. God is doing amazing this in that house. And changing radically.

There are about 15 or so that live in there house. But along with all the people there are a lot of problems as well. There is alcoholism, Julio drank and smoke, others didn’t believe in God at all, and others had a lot of health problems. Oh man did that bother me. I never ever thought that God was going to move the way that he did. It was just so frustrating, but I looked closer and saw God doing a wonderful thing.

And not only did Julio teach the lesson for the first time, but one of his other family members prayed for the first time as well. This is a big thing for our cell group. I’m givin Julio props for being able to teach a lesson.

After we had our God time we sat around and talked about what we are going to be going and just had good fellowship time. And his family taked about how much Julio has changed and how amazing it is. So without Julio even realizing it he is writing his story, his new story, his testimony.

We sat around and talked, ate this pudding cake thing, and drank some coffee water drink and crackers (the best part was the crackers). Not only did they show us hospitality but they also gave us some shirts. Julio’s job is to make shirts, nock offs, and we got one. And my says “Living Outdoor World” and I love it.

I love that family.

I love the things that God is doing.

I love that they opened their home.

I love that they listened.

I love what God has done in that cell group.

Its a heart break warfare

As a missionary we have to miss things that are very important in our lives. Things that we have been waiting our whole life to see. Things that only happen once in our lives.

We miss Birthdays, graduations, funerals, weddings, family gatherings and more. Giving up these things are just part of the Job. We can’t look at the things we are missing and be too down about them because we are doing some thing so much bigger and better.

Easier said then done.

When we are told about the important things that we are missing no doubt they are going to hurt and we wish we were back in the states and able to be there.

But God didn’t just call us here, he called us to give and leave everything we have.

Just because I am not there does not mean that I don’t want to be or that I don’t care. I know that God will take care of me and that his plan is more important then the things of this world.

I love you all and miss you all a ton. And I will be back home before you know it.

27 months is only a short time in our lives. We choose how to handles things, like to make the relationships work or let them fall apart. I don’t want them to fall apart, I want them to become stronger and worth more then just surface relationships. It takes more work but so much better in the future.

I just never realized how hard it would be to miss those important times.

But in weakness there is strength, find your strength and hold on to it. Don’t let your weakness and distress take over.

Its a love, hate relationship....

So we all know the saying "He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me. He loves me not." Well how about "I love Peru. I don't love Peru." That is how i feel about some of the things in South America.

Now this is not a post to bash my new home, or say that I hate it here and I wish I wasn't here. In fact I have never been happier or more co

ntent in my life. So all in all here is the love, hate relationship.....

We will start with the things I love:

The Churros:

Well what is a churro? Well it is a little taste of heaven that is a churro. It is sold on the street, (p.s. we were told not to eat street food, but it is deep fried so its all good. Also, I have not gotten sick yet.... so I good with it.) deep fried, coved in sugar and has this caramel something in the middle. Not only does it taste amazing but it is cheap, cheap, cheap. Well it is only 0.06 centimos, but that is without the exch

ange rate so really only 20 cents. Now that just blows my mind!!! Goodness only for 20 cents? YES PLEASE!!!

My new family:

Man, I can't stop talking about

how much I love my team! They are my everything, and I don't know what I would do with out them. Even though I have only known them for 8 months I totally feel like I have known them for years or even my whole life! I just love them sooo much and I couldn't imagine my life with out them, and when I do think about that my world is crushed. But in just a week the Cusco team will be leaving part of our family behind in Arequipa. It is definitely a bittersweet ending but this group of people will be in my life forev

er (wether they like it or not).

The People of Peru:
I have always loved other cultures, Africa has a huge place in my heart, but there is a difference in living in the culture and just visiting. I have been praying for a true love of the people and I have it. I am in love with the people. I love it soooo much here.

Movies:
So living here some of the every day items like clothes and movies (real ones) are expensive so we do things differently down here. We go and get movies for like a $1 each. And I love it!

Markets:

So Markets = AWESOME. In these markets you are able to find anything you can imagine. Like anything from, tooth paste to clothin

g to movies to cow tongues or heads. There is so many things there and it is just a whole different experience.
Packed combi's:

Ok first off what is a Combi? Well it is the public transportation here in Peru. Really they are just like a public bus system. Now why would I even like a packed Combi? Well early in the morning or late at night, like 9 o'clock at night, the Combi's are packed, packed, packed!!!! Like there are people hanging out of the door, and when you want to get off you are litterally birthed out of the combi. And you can just forget about comfort zones on combies you get up close and personal with people. And all I can do is laugh.

Spanish:

Some days I hate the language, but it is only because I wish I was better at it. On my list of a husband, yupp I have one, being able to speak spanish is on there. I just think it is beautiful!



Ok now to the things I hate (Dislike)........

The Coffee:
Ok so in the states we have Starbucks, Cups, and even gas station coffee is good (ok that is stretching it). But seriously most of the coffee here is instant, now I don't have a problem with that but when it tastes like tar, and you add 12 spoons of sugar to it... I hate to say it but it is not coffee at all. Like even the coffee shops here use instant coffee. It just breaks my heart. Like I always thought that South America had good coffee.... Boy was I wrong.

Rice and Potatoes:

Ok, ok I don't hate all the food here but when we have rice and potatoes every day almost 3 times a day I just don't like it so much. There are so many things you can do with rice and potatoes... Oh how I miss the variety.

Internet:

When it takes all day to load something or just waiting for

10 minutes for a page or some pictures to load on the internet its a wee bit slow. It just I am so used to having things instant and fast internet and here that is just not known. I just simply want to Skype with family and friends but the internet connection is not good so it isn't even possible. Oh the life of a missionary.

Driving and Side walks:

So we all know the rules of the road... well that doesn't exist here. Not only do they drive crazy they walk how they drive. And there is no rhyme or reason to any of it. So when we take a taxi or walk down the street it is like a game... and when you are having a bad day... it is not a game you want to play.


In saying all of that I totally love, love, love Peru and this is my home, and I don't want to be any where else. And in all reality the things that I hate just brings joy and laughter into my life.

I’m a Pyro!

Hebrews 12:1 ( NLT )
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

Growing up we constantly burned branches and stuff from the yard and I didn't think to much of it. I have always liked fire (to play with it mostly) and have been amazed by it as well. But I don't understand how something destructive could be so intriguing and beautiful.

Is it intriguing because it does both, it destroys and creates something new and beautiful?

Isn’t that the way we should see God? Seeing God amazing and beautiful changes everything that we know.

God wants us to be whole and realize that there is a better life we just have a give him everything. Well that is a scary thing to think about. How can I give God of all people everything I have? Im not worthy, I’m afraid of how it will change me, I’m comfortable. Those are all the things that go through my head. But that is not God speaking that is the devil. But when it comes to things in my past the devil had a louder voice.

Well I am sick of hearing that voice in my head. I am sick of letting the devil control me and not let me live and have the relationship I want with God.

But one thing I don’t understand is why it is so easy for us to hold on? Why is it so much easier to write the things we are struggling down on paper and throw it into a fire but we can’t just give everything to God?

God is our fire, he is all that we need.

Over the past few weeks I have been struggling with the things I have done in the past and my relationships. It is difficult, I want to be free, I don’t like all of the extra things, but I am comfortable.

We are called, in the Christian life, to be uncomfortable. Throughout our lives we are going to have to do things that we do not want to do. We are going to be in situations that make us uncomfortable.

So I am coming out of my comfort zone. I am taking everything that I am dealing with and throwing it in the eternal fire. I am letting God destroy what I was and let him make me into the person he wants me to be.

I will not be giving God rubies, or gold. My god doesn’t need that he just wants all of my sorrows, sins and all of the ugly I carry with me. My God already has all the jewels that he wants. The only thing that he asks of us is that we give him everything that we have, and some times that is more the all the jewls in the world and harder to give.

But let us step out on faith, rise from the ashes and give god what he deserves…. EVERYTHING WE HAVE!


Romans 3:23-24 ( NLT )
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

The waiting game

Free week of school! This is a perfect time to go up to Cusco to help with a short term trip and get to work in our city. Because each and every day we are getting more and more excited to move to Cusco and get things going. We unfortunately have to wait till the end of October to start our work here in Cusco. So the Waiting game continues.

We arrived in Cusco at about 7 in the morning, and there wasn’t much time to rest we were put to work right away. We ate breakfast with the short termers and then off to sort e-bags. As we were going through all the e-bags we were totally over whelmed with their generosity. I mean were filling suitcases and other boxes with food and clothes and it was over flowing with items. I mean this groups goes way up and beyond what they were asked and not only with what they brought but there attitudes and the willingness. It just blows my mind.

While were were in Cusco for a short term project, and thought we were just leading impact events, we are also thrown into situations that we are not ready for but we have to jump in with both feet. In church we thought we were just going to enjoy the service and just be a part of the crowd.... but not true. We were asked to preach!! WHAT! Well we had 10 minutes to prepare, so we just read a verse and talked a little with it and then decided we should just let the pastor preach the rest.

We read a passage in John 12 that talks about cutting all the unwanted and unneeded branches, the ones that hold us back and don’t let us reach our full potential. And not only is that good to remember as we are doing work but also for the short termers. Because this is not only a short term trip, this is life changing if you let it do so. It can change how you look at things, how you interact with people, and so many other things. That passage really spoke to me, because this past week has been really tough for me and it applied to what I was going through.

So life changing.... scary right? That isn't the case for everyone... I mean for me sometimes yes it is. But why is that? Why are we afraid to give God everything and let him work in our lives? That a simple answer if you think about it. I mean as we grow up, in the states, we are taught to plan our lives, to have a lot of money, and be known in the world. Whether it is where you live, what brand of clothing you wear, or what list you are on for clubs or restaurants. How sad is that, I mean we let the world control us, decide who we are and how we feel about our selves. But no matter how much you have here on this earth you can't run away from you problems and its going to be just junk when you die, so whats the point, why strive for things in the the world. God has called each and everyone of us to something bigger and better! To live in the world but not be a part of this world. Yeah that sounds easy right?

Well if we are called to that then why is it when we go on missions trips we do so much out of our comfort zone and give so much but in out home countries, we don't? Is it because we are some where where people don't know us, our past and we will never see them again and we are looking for something to change us? Ding your correct!!!! Like how hard is it to just go to the hospital and pray for the sick in the afternoon just one day a week, or go play with kids in an orphanage or instead of just giving our clothes away to Good Will or the Arc we have a message and tell about the gospel as we give the items away. Not only does it make an impact on the people you know but for the strangers that you gave the time of day to. It makes more then an impact, it changes lives. Now just think about how many lives we can change in the States if we start living in the world but not be a part of the word and if we start living out lives out loud and realizing our full potential. Free week of school! This is a perfect time to go up to Cusco to help with a short term trip and get to work in our city. Because each and every day we are getting more and more excited to move to Cusco and get things going. We unfortunately have to wait till the end of October to start our work here in Cusco. So the Waiting game continues.

During the week in Cusco that is exactly what these short termers did, they lived their lives out loud! And it was just little things that did it. Like blowing the 40/40's minds with the amount hard work and generosity.

During this time they were able to see people saved, people with nothing being joyful, preschoolers struggling to play musical chairs, and women and a prison being thankful to get their backs and necks rubbed.

Little things like that changed lives and planted the seed. Now it is just a waiting game, waiting to do God's work where the Devil has full control of but that is not going to stop us. We are going to over come, change lives and put the Devil in his place, and plant more then 3 churches each and save lives!


During the week in Cusco that is exactly what these short termers did, they lived their lives out loud! And it was just little things that did it. Like blowing the 40/40's minds with the amount hard work and generosity.

Peru? Why and How?

Have Any Questions?
People ask me a lot of questions about Extreme Peru, and I love to answer them! So let me post a little Q & A session right here on my blog, and if you have any other questions, let me know!

What is Extreme Nazarene Ministries?
Extreme Nazarene Ministries is a freestanding non-profit charitable organization and is governed by a board of directors. Extreme’s purpose is to seek and deploy people into an extreme expansion of God’s Kingdom. Extreme has partnered exclusively with the global Church of the Nazarene to seek out underserved needs within mission of the Church of the Nazarene. Extreme engineers solutions to those needs in conjunction with our field charters that are governed by Extreme and Nazarene field executives.

What is Extreme Peru?
Extreme Nazarene Ministries and the leadership of Peru and South America, together have formed the project, Extreme Peru. Extreme Peru exists to seek and deploy people into the darkest parts of Peru carrying the light of Jesus Christ so that minds, hearts and souls may be radically transformed in Him and to break the chains linking them to their dark Godless world.
Extreme Peru is a 4-year project commencing in 2008 and ending in February 2012. At the completion of the project, the goal is to have 120 new community centric mission churches planted in 7 geographical regions of Peru (Arequipa, Cusco, Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado, Pucallpa, Puno & Tacna).
The strategy to plant those churches is two-fold: the 40/40 strategy and short-term volunteer strategy.

What is the 40/40 strategy?
Extreme has developed a new missionary model that seeks to deploy 40 North American singles and 40 Peruvian singles into a 2-year church planting campaign. Each North American will be paired up with a Peruvian of the same gender. The pair will go through 6 months of job training, then 18 months planting 3 churches. 40 pairs, planting 3 churches each will result in 120 new churches planted.

So can I come down short-term?
We have opened up over 800 spots for volunteers to come to one of the 7 cities to assist the 40/40’s in their church planting work for 13 day periods. Short term volunteers are critical to the success of the project for many reasons. Mainly, short term volunteers provide highly skilled volunteer labor for construction, evangelism, discipleship, leadership training, compassionate outreach and mega-events coordination. 13 different events for short term volunteers are planned between July 2009 and June 2010. The energy and impact generated by these events will propel the 40/40’s forward further than they can reach alone.

Where will I be going?
I will be in Cusco.
Let me tell you a little bit about Cusco:

At an altitude of 3,393 meters (11,203 feet) above sea level and a population of 320,152, Cusco is an anchor city of the high mountain plains (Altiplano) of Peru. The dozens of small villages dotting the mountains surrounding Cusco are fertile grounds for the Gospel. Many of these villages, filled with beautiful people who still speak their native Inca tongue have not yet been granted the opportunity to hear about their Savior Jesus Christ.
The famous Machu-Picchu ruins of the Inca Empire is just a short ride from Cusco making it the tourism capital of Peru by many respects. The influx of tourism spending affords Cusco nice streets and a developed and safe downtown life. While the high altitude takes some time to adjust to, it does not stop the thousands of visitors every day from coming.

In January 2008, the church of the Nazarene sent its first missionary, Herbert Barco, to Cusco. Pastor Barco arrived on scene with nothing more than his family, his well worn Bible and a prayer that God would pave the way. Barco entered Cusco and did just as God guided him to do; he set out to love his new neighbors. In the first three months, Pastor Barco exceeded original goals by initiating discipleship classes with 20 new Christian adults.

When Pastor Barco first arrived on the scene, he quickly identified a critical need that he wanted to help remedy. He has formed partnerships with two different after-school homes for elementary school kids who live in extreme poverty or broken homes. Pastor Barco and his congregation regularly staff the homes, prepare healthy meals for the kids and conduct Bible studies with the kids. Extreme Nazarene has agreed to assist the church with their outreach to these kids in need by funding additional meals (current budget only allows 1 meal per week) and a kitchen remodel of one of the homes.

What will you do on a day-to-day basis?
40/40’s primary job is to build relationships with the community. They will be meeting people, connecting with families, playing soccer, starting Bible studies, doing VBS camps, feeding the hungry, etc. The end goal is to develop a church congregation in a community sharing the love of Christ.

Where will you live?
40/40’s will be living in the Cluster housing provided by Extreme Nazarene. In the cluster housing they will be living with other sets of 40/40’s and a cluster support family that will be their primary host and support.

How can we support you?
1. Prayer! Sign up to be a prayer partner online. You have no idea how much I appreciate your prayers!
2. As a volunteer missionary, I have to raise all my own funds. This means I am responsible for raising more than $15,000. Now that sounds daunting, and no, I do not have it all yet. But you can help. If you choose to donate $5 a month over 27 months that turns into $627! Not so bad when you break it down like that. You can make a one time donation, or sign up with a monthly pledge at www.extremenazarene.org/stevens. Please partner with me to plant three churches in Peru, and be a part of expanding the kingdom of God, on earth as it is in heaven.

When do you leave?
I leave home on January 31, and fly to Los Angeles for orientation. Then we fly to Peru on February 5.

LOVE EXTREME 2 IN CUSCO

For Love Extreme 2 I was in Cusco while the rest of the group was here in Arequipa doing visits and consolidation. I was so excited to have my family here during Love and to be able to spend a ton of time with them as well. We were all here for the big event and then after that my family, my partner and me, along with the other short termers, to Cusco.
Even though I was so excited that my family was here I was really upset that it was just my partner and I that were going to Cusco. I knew I was going to miss them but I didn’t know how much I really was going to miss them. I have gotten so close with the people in our group and they really feel like family.
When we were in Cusco we did kids festivals, medical clinics, and other impact events. When I look back on Love 2 the verse that I think of is Romas 8:28 – “and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose.” There were a lot of things that went wrong but there were also some very powerful things as well.
Some of the things that we did was go to a all woman's jail. We have little manicure and pedicures and one of the ladies gave a very powerful testimony that really spoke to the ladies in the jail. Most of the women in the jail were in there for drug trafficking, or some type of abuse that they have received and they retaliated. We asked if any of them would like to accept Jesus into their hearts and every single one of the ladies stood up. We then handed out bibles and little self care kits as well. One of the ladies approached me and she was from South Africa and spoke english as well, asked me if when we moved to Cusco if we would come back and do a bible study with them. We also made another visit to the young women home another time and did quite a few medical clinics as well.
Then there was time to be touristy as well. We were able to explore the plazas, and even visit Machu Picchu!!

I had a wonderful time with my family and with all the short termers as well, it was 2 weeks that i will never forget. God is amazing and doing amazing things here, but we will never know or could even fathom the plans that he has for Peru.