So many things happened in Peru. I can think of a month full of activities and places to tell you about. But I know that is not what God wants me to tell about. He wants me to write about what He did in my life in Peru.
It's actually really funny. Every time people ask me what is my favourite country, the first thing I think of is what God did in every place. My favourite countries are not based on what we did there, but what God did there in me.
What did God do in Peru? There's a lot of different things.
1. I learned that even though a friendship ends it doesn't make it less authentic. Previously in my life I would be so upset when a friendship ended and I would be mad about the time we were friends because I felt it was a lie. I thought that a friendship wouldn't end if it was real. Now I know that God is the only constant and I am thankful for every moment I had in the friendships. This takes so much pressure and expectation off of friendships.
2. God has been working with me on the root of rejection. At the beginning of the year God removed a huge root of rejection. Now He is true to His word that He will finish the good work He has started in me until the day of Jesus. I have been feeling that I don't measure up. Then God asked me: Measure up to whose standards? And I knew that once again I set limits and standards for myself. Jesus already died to remove the standards. We are part of the upside down Kingdom where the qualified for God is the unqualified for mankind.
3. I asked God for verses in this time in Peru. Mainly about what and where God wants me to be. Because I tried to measure up to something  (number 2) I felt exhausted trying and just rather stopped, but God has never stopped.
My verse for my life is Isaiah 6:8. God has given me this verse at the age of 14. It is about God asking who He can send and then Isaiah says "Send me."
All the verses God gave me has one thing in common. All of them has the word "send" or "sent". Romans 10:13-15, Isaiah 61:1-3, John 20:21. I also got the verse in Luke 7: 22.
When I say I 'got' the verses I mean that God would continuously brings them over my path. For example with Romans 10: it appeared 5 times in a week and a half. A girl in our team asked about it, I read it in the Bible 'by accident', a man prayed it and in two different churches it also was the Scripture used.
Actually, I still have no idea where to go, but man I am excited because God is in control.
4. Boasting in weakness. Sho sho sho. Have you ever had the opportunity to stand in front of people and tell them how bad you are? I never thought that I would talk this freely about my weaknesses and things that makes me vulnerable, but it shows to God. We met a pastor today, who really didn't like God after his mother died. God completely swept him off his feet and now he is one of the coolest and funniest and most lovable pastors that I have ever met. His testimony blows you away, because it points to God.
I have always tried to hide those things that makes me a bad Christian and then when other Christians talk freely about where they were before God or what they struggle with while they know God, I am like: "What?! Not just me?" There is so much power in our testimonies. If my weakness shows another person that God will save, no matter what you did before, then people, Â I will proclaim it to the nations! (Oh wait, we already do).
5. He never leaves us. As I said previously, I was a little bit distant this past month in Peru. God taught me more that He is the Shepherd.
In Juncun we had 15 minutes to prepare for a school ministry. God gave us the idea of a new drama and so we discussed it and couldn't practice. It was great. The drama even worked with our pride when 5 of us was crawling on the floor and "Bleh"-ing like sheep. The shepherd even used the broom stick as a staff with which he hit us. Great. When the one sheep got lost the shepherd left the rest of us 4 to go after that one. Not only did God tell me that He will go after that one lost sheep who had his way but lost it, He also taught me that Jesus comes to where you are and fetches you there. He leaves (left) His safe space to find you in the wilderness. He left heaven and still today He doesn't require you to come to Him perfectly. O no, He goes to where you are.
This is just half of what God worked in me with. And how funny is it not that I felt far away this month? Do you see the treasures God has placed in my life? This is just prove once again that He meets us where we are at.
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