"Home" Again

Friends and Family,

I am so sorry that it has been so long since I have updated you on my life. I have been in the village of Lampa since October 13th and I returned to Lima the day before Thanksgiving. While in Lampa my teammates and I looked for opportunities to disciple believers and to also evangelize. We showed two different movies in the Municipal Theater in order to present the gospel. We had many youth come to these movies. We probably had 100 at the first movie and around 60 at the second.

We had Bible studies on Sunday nights and Tuesday nights each week. We had a steady group of 4 or 5 who were either believers or persons who were very interested in learning more about the Bible. We also talked on the local radio three times a week in order to teach more about the Bible. We taught on the radio every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I spoke each Monday for about 30 minutes. Some of the topics we spoke about were Salvation, Following Christ, Love, and many others. We had many people tell us that they listened to our radio show and I really think it was a great way to get the word out to the people.

We also visited a couple more remote communities/villages each week. We visited one village named Huayta Central where a man named Juan and his wife Rosa and children live. Juan is a strong believer who is studying his Bible and sharing his faith with others. It was an encouragement to be able to share with him and encourage him each week. We also were able to talk with a group of men in the community of Tusini Grande about 3 different Saturdays. There were a couple of these men who were very interested in the Bible and had lots of good questions for us. Pray that a seed has been planted among them and that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in their lives.

Continue to also pray for Senor Mendez (our hostel owner and prospective leader of the church in Lampa), as well as Carlos (a local teacher and coach), and a young man named Alex. We also had a lot of interest from some young people. One young lady named Damaris and a young man named Alejandro. I believe that both of these young people really understood and desired to truly study the Bible. It is always difficult to leave a place because you have to trust that the Lord is in control to continue the work that was started.

I have several other prayer requests for you also. While I was in Lampa my stomach began acting up again. I talked to my Doctor through email and he put me back on some medicine. I also went to see him as soon as I got back in town. As a matter of fact I went to see him at 9 on Thanksgiving morning. We talked in his office for a while then he issued some tests for me to have run. I had my blood drawn that day. The following day he called and said that I would need to have further tests done on my Thyroid. I had those tests done on Friday and Saturday. Currently I am waiting for the results of those tests. I will most likely talk to my doctor again on Monday... at the latest Tuesday.

I had planned to go with my team to Nazca for a training event; however, my doctor informed me on Friday that I would need to stay here. So instead of going I will be babysitting my Boss' dog and resting until I hear from the Doctor.

This latest episode with my stomach is making it more clear that I will probably not need to continue traveling the way I have for the past several weeks. We have all but decided as a team that I will not continue traveling as I have been doing. Instead, I will have to be placed somewhere where I can find the foods that I need to have a consistent diet. I'm not exactly sure what this means for my future. My boss is working very hard to find something for me to do here in Peru. The most important thing, however is finding the source of the problem.

Please pray that my doctor will be able to tell me what is going on with my body. Also, pray that my boss will have wisdom as to where I should work for the next 6 months before my term is over. Pray that we (my boss and I) will be open to the Lord's will no matter what that means.

And finally, do not think that all this sickness ruined my Thanksgiving meal! It did not. When I got home from the doctor on Thursday I made a green bean casserole! I think the thing I was most thankful for this year was CANNED GOODS! Last year I had to make my green bean casserole from scratch, but thanks to volunteers and my mama I had all my ingredients in a can! It was amazing how much smoother the cooking went this year! We had about 50 missionaries together at my Boss' house for Thanksgiving lunch. The food was amazing- just like home! My doctor told me to go ahead and enjoy myself because he knew it was Thanksgiving, but to start a more bland diet after that big meal. I have been doing my best to eat smart, but I have always loved food that is not so good for my insides. Pray that I will have self-control to eat the things my body needs.

Thank you all for your prayers. Please do not worry about me. I have a great doctor and a great team who are taking care of me. The Lord is in control and I am trying to take each day at a time and learn everything the Lord wants to teach me through this.

I love ya'll,
Lane