Adam & I on Pepe´s Navy boat in Lima
the boat
Adam and PepeOur Dearest Friends & Family –
The time is finally here!! It has almost been an entire year since we were given the opportunity to be a part the Xtreme Team – can you believe it!!?! When we accepted the job we knew that upon our arrival in Peru we would have to spend three months in the jungle for intense training…. Well the day has arrived and we begin on Tuesday!
After so much time thinking, laughing & joking about it – it is hard to believe that we are actually going to do it! It would definitely be a lie to say that we aren’t nervous but we are excited and ready to see how the Lord is going to work in us and prepare us to be used on this team.
Here is what we know about the next three months (which is May 26 – August 26). We will have no contact with anyone, except those involved with the training. We will be hiking 16 miles with our backpacks into the jungle to our training location. Once there we have to build a ‘shelter’ which is a wood floor and a thatch roof where we will put our tent and sleeping bags. I am the only girl, because this is actually a ‘guys’ training… but the good news is that there is a girls team training nearby for a month while we are out there and I will be able to spend some time with them. We will be eating lots of oatmeal, rice & beans … and we will be next to a stream so we can bathe … however, apparently there are electric eels there … so that’s a bummer, lol. Fortunately they have built some kind of screen net thing to keep them out …. Lets hope that holds, shall we!?
We will be taking classes on house church, storying etc. Memorizing stories in Spanish & learning how to use specific stories for different people groups, men, women etc. Oh, one other important thing is that the entire training, all day long, will be in Spanish & since 6 out of the 10 people are nationals that will be easy for them … however, for me it will be pretty difficult, especially for the first few weeks. Adam and I will be able to speak English in the evenings when we are alone, so that is good at least.
At some point we will start going into villages during the weekend and practice what we have been learning. I am really excited about that part. Adam and I will go out together and stay with a village for two or three days, just spending time with them, observing and hopefully telling stories.
I am pretty sure that there is a lot more to it than that but for now that is all we know!! We will definitely be coveting your prayers during this time, because no matter how crazy you are, living in the jungle for three months just wont be easy!!
The time is finally here!! It has almost been an entire year since we were given the opportunity to be a part the Xtreme Team – can you believe it!!?! When we accepted the job we knew that upon our arrival in Peru we would have to spend three months in the jungle for intense training…. Well the day has arrived and we begin on Tuesday!
After so much time thinking, laughing & joking about it – it is hard to believe that we are actually going to do it! It would definitely be a lie to say that we aren’t nervous but we are excited and ready to see how the Lord is going to work in us and prepare us to be used on this team.
Here is what we know about the next three months (which is May 26 – August 26). We will have no contact with anyone, except those involved with the training. We will be hiking 16 miles with our backpacks into the jungle to our training location. Once there we have to build a ‘shelter’ which is a wood floor and a thatch roof where we will put our tent and sleeping bags. I am the only girl, because this is actually a ‘guys’ training… but the good news is that there is a girls team training nearby for a month while we are out there and I will be able to spend some time with them. We will be eating lots of oatmeal, rice & beans … and we will be next to a stream so we can bathe … however, apparently there are electric eels there … so that’s a bummer, lol. Fortunately they have built some kind of screen net thing to keep them out …. Lets hope that holds, shall we!?
We will be taking classes on house church, storying etc. Memorizing stories in Spanish & learning how to use specific stories for different people groups, men, women etc. Oh, one other important thing is that the entire training, all day long, will be in Spanish & since 6 out of the 10 people are nationals that will be easy for them … however, for me it will be pretty difficult, especially for the first few weeks. Adam and I will be able to speak English in the evenings when we are alone, so that is good at least.
At some point we will start going into villages during the weekend and practice what we have been learning. I am really excited about that part. Adam and I will go out together and stay with a village for two or three days, just spending time with them, observing and hopefully telling stories.
I am pretty sure that there is a lot more to it than that but for now that is all we know!! We will definitely be coveting your prayers during this time, because no matter how crazy you are, living in the jungle for three months just wont be easy!!
Here are some specific prayer requests for while we are away:
1. For Jess and her Spanish as we all try to communicate with one another.
2. For team unity – we are going into the jungle with 8 guys that we don’t know. They will be our team once training is complete. Please pray that Adam will be a good leader to them and that we will grow close during our times of trial and hardship.
3. Pray for good health, especially on the weekends while we are in the villages eating their food. Also protection from the ants and mosquitoes!!!
4. Pray that we will learn all that the Lord desires us too … that we will be patient, understanding, open and willing to be used and stretched by Him. That we will be sponges soaking up His truth and that as the new couple on the team we will be able to add to the team dynamic.
5. Pray that Adam and I will be good examples and will be nice to each other. That the Lord would strengthen our marriage as we go into the unknown, because I am quite certain that there will be days if not weeks that we don’t want to be there or are struggling - and during these times we don’t want satan to win, but the Lord. For Him to win not only in our relationship but also in our relationship with our team.
6. Adam’s sister Amber just got married this past Saturday!! He was able to talk to her the night before which was such a blessing and definitely a praise. My sister, Sarah, will be getting married on July 18th. Our boss is going to let Adam and I come out of the jungle and call her the day before, just pray for my family as we go through this time, I have never missed such an important event in my life and it kills me that I will be missing it, but I am so thankful that I will be able to talk to her on the 17th. Just pray that our conversation will be full of joy.
7. On that same note, my good friend Tammi will be having a baby boy while we are in the jungle and I will miss the birth, it is so hard not to be able to be there for your friends and family and so please just pray that we will be strong and that when we miss them we will just pray harder.
I don’t know what we would do without your support, but we are so blessed to have it and we will be clinging to it during these next three months. Thank you so much for being a part of our lives!! We look forward to sharing our adventures and victories when we return!!
Love Adam & Jess
Psalm 18: 30-34
God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock? God arms me with strength and he makes my way perfect. He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights. He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
1. For Jess and her Spanish as we all try to communicate with one another.
2. For team unity – we are going into the jungle with 8 guys that we don’t know. They will be our team once training is complete. Please pray that Adam will be a good leader to them and that we will grow close during our times of trial and hardship.
3. Pray for good health, especially on the weekends while we are in the villages eating their food. Also protection from the ants and mosquitoes!!!
4. Pray that we will learn all that the Lord desires us too … that we will be patient, understanding, open and willing to be used and stretched by Him. That we will be sponges soaking up His truth and that as the new couple on the team we will be able to add to the team dynamic.
5. Pray that Adam and I will be good examples and will be nice to each other. That the Lord would strengthen our marriage as we go into the unknown, because I am quite certain that there will be days if not weeks that we don’t want to be there or are struggling - and during these times we don’t want satan to win, but the Lord. For Him to win not only in our relationship but also in our relationship with our team.
6. Adam’s sister Amber just got married this past Saturday!! He was able to talk to her the night before which was such a blessing and definitely a praise. My sister, Sarah, will be getting married on July 18th. Our boss is going to let Adam and I come out of the jungle and call her the day before, just pray for my family as we go through this time, I have never missed such an important event in my life and it kills me that I will be missing it, but I am so thankful that I will be able to talk to her on the 17th. Just pray that our conversation will be full of joy.
7. On that same note, my good friend Tammi will be having a baby boy while we are in the jungle and I will miss the birth, it is so hard not to be able to be there for your friends and family and so please just pray that we will be strong and that when we miss them we will just pray harder.
I don’t know what we would do without your support, but we are so blessed to have it and we will be clinging to it during these next three months. Thank you so much for being a part of our lives!! We look forward to sharing our adventures and victories when we return!!
Love Adam & Jess
Psalm 18: 30-34
God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock? God arms me with strength and he makes my way perfect. He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights. He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
6 comments:
John 15 ... Remain in HIM! We'll be praying for you. We head north to our residence in a week as well. Remain ... Remain ... Remain!
Know we are PRAYING for you. Love the verse - His ways are perfect! Oh, and by the way, the boys said - YOU GUYS ROCK!
Rest in knowing we are in constant prayer for you. The Lord will be your ever-present help, so lean on HIM. We look forward to hearing from you in August!! Live it up in the jungle!
wow, what an incredible journey you are allowing God to lead you on. trust that he will do just that...lead!!
bless you both during this crazy and amazing time
We're still thinking of and praying for you. Will definitely be praying for those electric eel nets/screens!! :-)
hey Jess, it's your old roomie from good 'ol Teton National Park :) Becky gave me your blog address, you are so adventurous and I am glad I can see your journey here!
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