A late Update #4 - 10/08

Welcome Back

Hello everyone, thank you all for stopping by one more time. It's a blessing to get to write for you all, that being said. I apologize for my delay in posting another update, these past couple of weeks have been quite busy. I pray that you all are doing well, I have been following a little bit of what has happened with Hurricane Helene. Once again, thank you all for reading, and for your prayers.

What I have been up to

The last update I gave was very quickly written before Calvary Chapel's International Mission's Conference was hosted here at Calvary Chapel Trujillo. The conference was wonderful, it was a lot of work with very little sleep. But through my weariness, the Lord taught me to draw my strength from Him. We also had a great mission's team from Calvary Chapel Wildwood, they were a big blessing. After the conference we went through Calvary Chapel Distinctives with several pastors who had stayed a couple extra days to teach us. It's always wonderful to go through what makes Calvary Chapel unique and different. After distinctives we got three days off to relax and rest, and boy it was needed. This past week we went through the book of James, and that was convicting. The Apostle James spoke to my need to better my speech and conduct. This week we have started a two-week class; this class is on the book Self Confrontation by John C. Broger. It is a book focused on discipleship, and how to disciple others, I need to become a better disciple of Jesus Christ myself. I've heard it's intense, so, I'm looking forward to it.

Fun Stuff

Aside from my academics, I've gotten to do some fun things these past three weeks as well. There's a restaurant here that serves a pretty good American breakfast, and the blueberry pancakes were absolutely killer. I've also been down to the beach several times, although I usually make it to the beach a few times a week. My route for my runs takes me right to the Pacific Ocean, but on Monday's which is our day off. We usually go get a meal or sit in a coffee shop in Huanchaco, which is the name of the beach town that I live in.

I have gone surfing twice in the past week. It's a lot of fun, the water is cold, and the waves are rough. But I need to get pretty good so I can go visit Joel in Kaua'i sometime. There's this open-air market that's huge inside the city of Trujillo, it's called 'Air Melinda". It has tons of fruit, vegetables, meat, and all other sorts of stuff. There's a whole alleyway dedicated just to bananas! Bananas as far as the eye can see, one might even say it's bananas. I have also tried Cuy for the first time, and I'll let you look that up as to not gross anyone out.

Encouragement

The Lord has been showing me I need to continue becoming a better servant of Him. Matthew 20:28 speaks of this, Jesus our Lord and Savior came to be a servant. How much more should I be a servant, or you as well. We should all seek to be a better servant. And also, that my words and actions should prove my faith in Jesus Christ. As James would instruct us.

Prayers/Farewell

For those who desire to pray for me. Please pray for our upcoming Mission's trip to Lima, it will be a lot of love. But I know it will bless the Lord. I also ask for prayers for diligence these next two weeks. Self-Confrontation is a big book, and we are going through all of it. I love you all, I pray that God keeps y'all in His Will, and that you may be found blameless till He comes.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9