The Elliott Family Blog: Day 2: 6/19/2015 Travel Day and Runa Simi

Friday

We woke up at 6:00 am and had breakfast. Breakfast was a roll with butter and jam as the options for toppings and instant coffee was available.
The taxi drivers, who were the same drivers as the night before picked us up, loaded our luggage and drove us to the bus station. We were a little bit late though. We drove from Lima, Peru to Chosica, Peru, about a 2 hour drive. The bus was leaving at 9 and we showed up a little after 8:45. We had to check in and check our luggage in still, and the reps at the desk were hurrying as much as they could, but like I said before, none of us spoke Spanish so it was a little hard to communicate. Our drivers though, they were so sweet and stayed with us the whole time. Even though, they didn't speak English and we didn't speak Spanish, they made sure we were taken care of. Once we got checked in, we started heading down to the bus, we made it to the door to see it driving off.
We were at the bus station for quite sometime after that, trying to figure out how we were going to catch another bus, our tickets had been paid for by the funds we had already raised and Inca Link made the arrangements. We hadn't exchanged any money yet in Peru and they didn't take american money. So the first thing we did was stop to pray that this would all be worked out. Two people on our team had an international plan on their cell phones and we tried to call Josh, our missionary leader at the church. He got in touch with our contact, Brent, from Inca Link, who talked to the bus station to buy more tickets but the problem was, the bus station didn't have any available seats, as it was fathers day weekend and they were all full. So our drivers took us to another hostel. We are finding out though, this was part of God's plan and Josh kept telling us for months to be flexible. You can plan everything but some things just come up. So we were all prepared to follow God's lead.

It was around 12:30 or 1 when we arrived at the new hostel in Chosica, Peru. Upon arrival, we met Tawa of Runa Simi Quechua Missions and his missionary group he was hosting. They all spoke English which was nice to communicate with them and learn what they did. It was their last day and they were going to eat lunch and head out about 2:00. We joined them for lunch and took a tour of the hostel and their home. Lunch was potatoes with shredded chicken on top, covered in an avocado sauce and an olive served with a side of white rice. This was our first real meal in Peru. A lot of us had a hard time eating it. It was okay but it was a large serving. Zack, the only guy in our group ate most of our plates that afternoon.

This place is beautiful. They have so much outdoor living space since the weather is so nice here. It actually never rains. If they have a few sprinkles, they consider that pouring. Our room was one large space with 7 beds in it, and they had 2 rooms upstairs that the other 3 people on our team slept. They had 3 showers with hot water and a large dining area.
There was a house on the site too where Tawa's mother lived. Beautiful home. We learned so much about their ministry. They are connected through Inca Link but they have their own ministry and organization called Runa Simi Quechua Missions. Pablo and Kusi are married and have 2 sons and Tawa is Kusi's brother. Their Dad and he started translating the bible to quechua so that they could reach many more people in the indian tribe and surrounding areas. Today his family is continuing that work. I will post a link for more information about how they got started and where they are now. This was one of my favorite parts of the trip. It really opened my eyes to how many people are in this world, how many are led to do God's great works and how many people are being saved.

That night, we had chicken soup for dinner and Kusi, her sons, Gabriel who is 4 and Andre is a little over 1 and Kusi's mom joined us. Gabriel reminded me of Nick. He spoke English so well. He knows spanish and quechua as well. He wanted to show me the crickets and the grasshoppers that were on the ground. :-) He was very sweet and asked lots of questions and showed me everything about the place he lived! Shortly after dinner we had our team debrief and went to bed so we could make our bus the next morning.

Our word for the day was: Energy

Reading: Colossians 1:29, Galations 2:20, Matthew 11:28-30, Mark 6:31

Col 1:29 (NIV) To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

Gal 2:20 (NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Matt 11:28-30 (NIV) 28."Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Mark 6:31 (NIV) Then, because so many people were coming and going that htey did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

Hanging out at Friends Place waiting to go to the bus station: