Holly's story

!!!!! I had a quiz today, too, before I left! So I was BUSY, so I even made sure to eat right before I left ;D

I left my dorm just after two, and I got to the shuttle stop JUST as the 2:10 shuttle came. The actual rally didn't start until 5, so I knew if I caught the 2:40 shuttle instead, I'd be fine time wise, but I was super happy to have that extra time cushion :).

The picture of me was when I was leaving lmao, I was kind of like, "holy cow wtf am i doing" but I was kind of excited, too!

I got off the metro at McPherson Square at about 3:15-ish. I had already mapped out where I could go chill to kill time if needed, so I walked two blocks to Starbucks :D, where I recharged my phone, drank coffee, and sat for thirty mins until 4.

I walked back to the General Lafayette Statue to be there in time to get a good spot to stand :) Also!!!!!!!!!!!! This was my first time seeing the white house :O

In the pictures, you'll gradually see the crowd get a LOT bigger, looooool.

I stood right in front of the camera line during the whole thing :)

There were easily three times as many people behind the cameras, so I got a REALLY awesome spot. There's a huge corporate media blackout on this thing, it really seems . . . except for independent media outlets, who have been reporting on the pipeline a lot.

There were 9 speakers. I knew who most of them were, most of them were either well known Native activists or well known general social justice activists. In the pictures I'm showing you is Tara Houska, who was Bernie's Native American adviser during his campaign, two of tribal leaders from the Kiowa Nation who performed a drum song in Kiowa about what's happening which was really cool, and Jasilyn Charger, who's a girl from the Standing Rock Reservation (where this is all happening), who was an AMAZING speaker, and then ofc Bernie.

And after the last speaker finished, we all walked like 30 feet to in front of the white house!!!

Look at allllllllllll the people :O

 

More pictures from in front of the white house. And then at about 6:30ish, I ducked out to get back home cuz I didn't know how bad rush-ish hour metro would be! But it wasn't bad and I got back on my shuttle before dark :)

I really like the last few pictures I took when I started to leave because you can really see how big the crowd was.

Peru - Evangelism

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
"Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?"
Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." Isa. 6:8

Some missions trips focus on work, fixing up housing, building a school or church, helping people receive medical care, etc. The purpose of the Peru trip was evangelizing. This team gathered from four different churches in Virginia for several training sessions, were assigned two specific books to read, along with other activities in preparation.

They worked closely with the translators from the Bible college, and with the church in Arequipa. Much of their preparation in Virginia was learning and rehearsing a skit they performed at most of the locations they visited.

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common . . . Acts 2:44

They spent a total of six days in Arequipa, going out two to three times a day. They visited a large park downtown four times.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God. Eph. 6:17

With the help of the translators, they'd invite people to watch their skit.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Eph. 2:10

Afterward, the team would break into small groups of 3 or 4 and, along with a translator, go out and talk to anyone in the crowd wanting to hear more or who was willing to listen.

Holly said this was the only time they saw green grass.

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship,

in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:42

They visited Plaza de Armas twice.

And He said to them, "Go into all the world
and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples! Ps. 105:1

They helped with Vacation Bible School at El Mirador for three days.

"Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me;
and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me." Mark 9:37

Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Jam. 3:18

El Mirador, "the lookout."

And when they had come to Jerusalem,

they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders;

and they reported all things that God had done with them. Acts 15:14

They received permission to visit two public colleges. After performing their skit at one, they broke up to talk to the audience and were then asked to leave.

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. Eph. 2:8-9

They also went out to one high school

"As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world." John 17:18

and two elementary schools.

But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them;
for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 19:14

They visited one government-run orphanage that was our equivalent of a juvenile detention facility. They were kept away from the older kids; the whole thing was very difficult for many on the team, both kids and adults.

At the church's coffee shop one evening, team members gave English lessons to those in the church who were interested.

Holly's favorite part was the Christian orphanage.

"By this all will know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another." John 13:35

They brought plants for the children, and the children gave them tours--in Spanish, of course!

Therefore encourage one another and build up one another,
just as you also are doing. 1 Thess. 5

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;

and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8

"For where two or three are gathered together in My name,
I am there in the midst of them." Matt. 18:20

Peru - Land

Lima, the largest city in Peru, sits at sea level.


Arequipa, the second largest city, is at 7600 feet and considered a mountain desert.

Arequipa's International Airport is about the size of our Walmart

El Misti, an active volcano, provides a stunning backdrop from almost everywhere in the city.



It's ringed by other mountains in the Andes chain.


The historic Plaza de Armas, with its twin-towered cathedral, is the city's center.


The plaza is surrounded on three sides with colonial buildings


dating back to the 17th century.


Known as "The White City," Arequipa is famous for buildings made of ashlar, a white volcanic rock.



The park is in the center of the Plaza.



Further from the center of town.


As the city's grown, houses were built on the sides of hills.


Stray dogs are a common sight; many of the roads are unpaved.



There's a lot of traffic closer in. Several months ago, we found a youtube video of the crazy driving, which Holly confirmed was for real.


The kids received quite a bit of instruction regarding crime. While crossing a busy street, one of the girls had her backpack opened by a thief behind her, who was scared off when she began shouting at him.



The team was here during Peru's winter. Very arid, the highs at this time of year are in the upper 60s; the lows in the upper 40s.