Why Peru? Part I - The story from my perspective

The Lord has really been impressing several things on my heart lately and trying to decide which one to share with you first has been hard but after much thought I want to start with our purpose. A few week s ago John shared his testimony as to why he moved here. He mentioned in his sermon that we all have different reasons, different stories. It made me think....what a great reminder of the reality of life. The truth is we have spent lots of time over the last few months establishing ourselves, trying to figure out what we will do to survive, the boys have been working very hard and finally have acquired a business and I have spent countless hours trying to figure out who I am in the middle of all of this...what is my role and purpose. As we figure out how life and work is done here, the realities are different then what we expected, although I'll admit I didn't have a whole of lot of expectations of this unknown country. As the boys acquire and build different businesses I start to clam up and, quite frankly, freak out because it is not ultimately why we move here. I realize though that I have to let go, continue to purse the call of the Lord, run after Him and just keep going....He will put the pieces of the puzzle together. To me, though, a part of the puzzle is remember our stories and that we all have one beyond the surface level things of this world. My hope is to get everyone to blog their story for you. No guarantees but I will try. Here is my story:

In December 2011 Virgil and I closed our salon business. I loved our salon and doing business and I was "traumatized" by having to close it. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that that was what we were suppose to do at that time but it was VERY hard for me. That place was my life. It took up many hours. I loved the people that worked for me and the relationships that had developed. I loved meeting new people on a regular basis, but after trying everything I could do to sustain the business, it wasn't the Lords will. So we sold it (that was  HUGE blessing to be able to do) and moved. on. At that time the Lord really spoke to me about not holding my identity in what I do and the things of this world but to really seek after to Him. To know and show that my identity SOLELY lays in Him and that there is nothing I can do can improve upon that. No amount of money I can make, no home that is perfectly decorated...nothing is better the Him. I also had to learn that I wasn't a failure. Those were super tough things to learn, but necessary for me to grow! I continued to seek Him on these things and for healing, because at the end of the day...I was hurt. We had loads of debt and I had broken pride to deal with. I was in a lot of pain. But the Lord is our healer and He really did a healing work in my life. In January John and Jenn told us that they had a family meeting with his parents and that Johns dad had asked him and and his brothers to consider moving to Peru to help him with some business stuff. The Lord spoke. As they told us their story He told me to be prepared, to consider and pray because He was about to challenge us...and then He did...would you go to? As John and Jenn spoke they proceeded to tell us that they felt the Lord was asking us to not only pray for them in their decision but to also pray and consider going also. What?!!?! Talk about the Lord's timing. 1 month prior we had a business and I would never consider walking away from it to move to Peru...but the Lord's timing is best...He closed the doors that needed to be closed and began opening the doors that needed to be opened. So we prayed.

Meanwhile, we still had loads of debt to resolve so after much thought, prayers and tears we decided we needed to sell our home. Downsize and live very simply until we could recover from our mess. Selling the house had nothing to do with the possibility of moving to Peru...we just knew it needed to happen. As Virgil and I talked about it I really felt like the Lord said we needed to put it in on the market for sale by owner by mid-April...which happened to be the exact same time Virgil would be traveling for work. With the help of our beloved friends we prepped and prepped the house. The Saturday before Virgil left for a week the house still wasn't "ready" but I knew it didn't matter. With urgency I sent Virgil to Home Depot to buy a sign and on Saturday we posted it. Long story short. A week later we got and offer and ultimately sold it for EXACTLY the number the Lord spoke to us. In a housing market like this...unbelievable! His hand was in it all. We sold almost everything we owned and 1 month later we closed and moved into the Guest House of a couple of friends (for whom we will forever be grateful for!) That guest house held alot of lesson for us that would prepare us to live in a place that was not our own when we moved to Peru. The Lord showing His hands again!

As we prayed I think that Virgil and I always knew what the answer was...we just wanted to be sure. We aren't big talkers in general and neither of us really like to say anything unless we are sure of what we are saying so we just continued to pray. Ultimately the answer was Go. Time and time again the Lord showed us how He would provide and a way to do that. In a situation like we had just been through with the business many would hang their heads but the Lord asked us to look up and He provided in so many ways. He is so faithful.

So why am I here? I am here because it was clear this is what the Lord was calling us to do. What does he want us to do? I'm not sure. I'm not sure that I have ever really known the exact details of what He wants me to do. I do know this though, the Lord really showed us a lot about community. About living outside the Christian box of traditional church. More then just going to church on Sundays and Wednesdays and your regularly scheduled Bible study nights. Its more then that. Its about having deep relationships with others. Its about serving your community for the Lord! Peru is not that kind of country. The Lord has challenged us greatly. Community is my heart. Sharing the Lord with others in Community is the challenge He has given me. How that will play out, I have NO clue. Do I worry sometimes? Yes. I did not come here to live the American or Peruvian dream. I came here to serve the Lord. In His timing He will reveal His plan. Until then I continue to seek His face and trust that all the details are in His hands. He provided for us IMMENSELY in the last couple of years and I know He will continue to do so.

That's the Peru story...so far...at least from my perspective.

...to be continued...
:)