The Hike up The GIANT MOUNTAIN

This is from yesterday...

Today, we woke up at 4am to go climb the tallest mountain in Huancane. We wanted to see the sun rise so we set out! It was dark and cold as we began our ascent. As we just started the altitude really began to hit me. My heart was pounding and would not stop racing. It was very hard to breath. The locals walk it to pray to the cross. There are stations of the cross although the people here claim to be Catholic but they worship the actual cross and other idols. They don't know the truth so they hike the mountain to try and gain blessings. As I continued to hike I wondered if I would make it up to the top. It was a struggle rocks were about half the size of me and I could not stop breathing heavy. As I hiked I began to talk to God. I knew it was only his strength and encouragement that would get me up the mountain. I had no one else to lean on because all of us started hiking the mountain at our own pace. So it was just me and Jesus on the way up. He kept telling me that I could do all things through him, the son by Third Day, Mountain of God and kept praying through my head "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". This hike was the hardest thing I have ever done physically. Yet, it was one of the best times I have ever had with my Lord and Savior. Feeling his strength, being in his creation was amazing. I finally reached the top and the view was unbelievable. There was a huge white cross at the top overlooking the mountains. You could see Lake Titicaca the biggest Lake in Peru and the city of Huancane. The surrounding mountains, lake, and city were beautiful. We prayed at the top for the people of Huancane as a group. The hike was hard and a struggle although as John the missionary here said that is was a good analogy to our summer and how it is going to be hard and a struggle at times but what the Lord does through us is going to be so worth it. It was a life changing experience hiking the Huancane Mountain.

After hiking we had simple church where 4 team members shared their testimonies. It was beautiful to see how the Lord has moved in their lives and it brought tears to my eyes. God is really uniting us and making us a family and I am so grateful.

WE then had to say goodbye to Tim, Mindy, Jessica, and Jeremy as they left for Moho. We really are going to miss them and will be praying for their work in Moho.

We then had some lunch and then took a nap because we were exhausted from the hike.

Then we met with Sonia and figured out some things for our ESL classes. We will be teaching a kids class and young adult class twice a week as well as a VBS at the preschool here.

Here are some prayer request:
-Building meaningful relationships with people here in Huancane
-ESL classes and that people will sign up
-VBS at the preschool
-Medical Clinic (starts Sun in Moho and goes to Tues and then we will help with one here in Huancane Thursday and Friday next week)
-Language Barrior- I will be telling Bible stories in Spanish and also just talking with people in general here in Spanish

Thanks so much for the prayers! I love you all!!