Dave and Cam's Peru Adventure

Hello again!  This time we write as professional missionaries (haha).  We are half way through our second week of training here at the Learning Center.  We started with 2 days of moving out of our house and into the ILC and all the pesky projects that seemed endless.  But they are mostly done:) and we have settled nicely into our little apartment here.  I have been running the heat full blast since we got here! What a luxury;)  Our building has four other units- 2 families and a single guy.  A total of 7 kids!  We were concerned about that- not being used to living so close to them, but they have been really fun and they really are great kids.  We are mostly in session all day from 8-3 or 4.  We've had a lot of overviews about missions and this time here and several just great Bible study times.  How is it that we are being paid to have Bible study?  Also on the schedule last week was a personal retreat time.  Time set aside for us to be with God for 3 hours.  That was amazing as well.  I went down to the South Anna- and was reminded that God doesn't just reveal Himself through His creation to those who have no other way to hear about Him (see Rom. 1) but He continues to remind me of His excellent greatness by showing me His creation.  This week has been spent studying spiritual warfare so far and tomorrow we move on to the development of the early church.  We've also had an interesting session on malaria- that scared most of the group half to death:)  We feel that God has really affirmed our call to those HIGH mountain places (where there are no mosquitos).  But anyway- the purpose of us being here is not just to remove us from our culture, but to really train us for the field.  I think I am beginning to understand a little more of what this calling is about and why we need this "spiritual boot camp" before we go.  We are also training physically, for the altitude, rough living, and just so that we will be healthier and able to minister more effectively.  When we aren't in session- we are usually eating (which takes a lot longer when every meal is shared with several families- and you can't leave until about an hour has gone by!) working on assignments- ok yes, its homework basically, catching up on the reading we should have done before we got here-oops, working on Spanish, running, talking to the people in our quad, learning bible storying, and hey- reading the Word, praying, journaling and generally seeking after the Father.  

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement- they are a sweet aroma, not just to us, but to the Lord.  Please continue to pray for us in these specific areas:

1) That we will strive for excellence in our time here and not just get by

2)  That we will develop our strengths and work hard on our weaknesses

3)  That we will create patterns here that will carry us over into the field

4) For physical and mental rest as we get back into the school type life, and for me as I struggle with sleeping well - pray that God will reign over my dreams as well.

5) For the Quechua people of Peru

6) For our marriage- that we will strengthen and mature our relationship deeper every day and remember to put each other above our own selves.

Thanks to all of you!  Please keep us updated on what is going on in your lives, and how we can pray for you.

More to come...