THE HOLIDAYS IN AREQUIPA (month 2&3)

Hi from Arequipa. It's Sarah! This newsletter is from this Holiday season (Thanksgiving to New Years) and it contains my growth in month 2 and 3, so it might be a little bit loooooong.

Okay…Where to begin…well this season has been busy with A LOT of Holiday baking, preparations, and plans.  A great kind of busy, but very busy indeed.  So I decided to combine all of the Holiday-ness into one big newsletter.  

When I thought to myself about this newsletter I kept falling into these questions:  “what do I have to SHOW for these two months?  What has changed?  Have I grown? Even a little?”  At first I wanted to answer myself with a strong “NOTHING, NOTHING, NO, AND NO”  but for what reason do I think this way?  It’s easy to put pressure on myself and decide that I can’t do anything well. BUT…

  The real answers to these questions are more like “A LOT of learning, my whole life, and of course!”.  Though it takes the ability to step back, read the past, and process a meaning into the present to know that I have grown and learned.  AND/OR (strong OR in my case) it takes someone/something else putting my growth, change, learning, struggles, thoughts into words to understand these months more clearly.

 Even up until this week I have been wondering how to put into words my thoughts on the past two months.  I’ve been looking to everything that crosses my path for help since I have been praying to God for this very thing.  (I am a bit of a slow processor, so the writing of these newsletters can be a little challenging for me hehe) 

Anywho…I have been praying for help and BOOM there it was. Actually last night was when I fully realized it.

 Caily and I started reading two books aloud to each other maybe a week ago.  The book I chose is titled “Only The Lover Sings”, a book about art and contemplation.  And the other that Caily is reading to me is titled “Gracias” by Henri Nouwen.  A book about author and priest Henri Nouwen and his mission and living in Latin America (more specifically Bolivia and Peru.)  

The latter book spoke directly to me.  It said “Hi!  I am your help!  I am exactly how you are feeling at this point in your mission.  I am how you feel in life!”

We have only read the first part of the book, but the parts we have read will now help me to explain to you how I feel. It makes sense that the first pages helped me process, because this book is a journal of Nouwen’s time in Latin America and the first parts are reflections from the beginning of his time here! Also, he arrived in October like me heheheheh  (Shoutout to Jeremy and Katie for the book and to Caily for reading it to me :) 

From Henri Nouwen:  

“At this moment I cannot think of myself as someone who has anything to offer-I feel like someone surrounded by experts-but I am willing to live with the supposition that he who truly receives also gives.”

Thank you Henri!  Katy and Jeremy are experts, my spanish teachers Betty and Giovanna are experts, Caily is an expert, all of my new friends are experts.  And guess what, I have learned so much from all of them!  But what can I give back?  In terms of knowledge of Arequipa and the language, I can give nothing that they don’t already know. This much I know is true.  I have been learning to humble myself and to know that I am in the seat of the student right now.  I am the one who knows the least about Arequipa. I am the one who knows the least about Castellano.  This is okay.  But, I want to forever seek ways that I can give while also receiving so much.  Even if just a listening ear, compassion, love, a smile, and most importantly prayer-this I will freely give.  I pray to God for strength to do these things if I can offer nothing else.  

“A true spirituality cannot be constructed, built, or put together; it has to be recognized in the daily life of people who search together to do God’s will in the world.”

Life is a series of decisions.  As a Christ follower I want each of these decisions to be God ordained, but guess what…not all of them will be…the series will be broken by decisions that come from my own sin and my own selfishness.  But every day I wake up, pray to God for help with each decision, and try my hardest to follow through with Godly choices.  I am trying every day to lead a life as similar to Jesus’ as humanly possible.  In this time of struggle and dependency I have felt myself at times leaning into God saying “God please help me and please take over!”  In times of stress it’s easy to stray further away, but it can also be a perfect time to lean in.  I am having to choose to lean in every day, but it is not easy.  Prayers!

Okay, now here comes a whole page and a half from Nouwen.  I am sorry, but it’s so good don’t worry.  Just read :)  

“True prayer always includes becoming poor.  When we pray we stand naked and vulnerable in front of Our Lord and show him our true condition.  If one were to do this not just for oneself, but in the name of the thousands of surrounding people, wouldn’t that be “mission” in the true sense of being sent into the world as Jesus himself was sent into the world?  To lift up your hands to the Lord and show him the hungry children who play on the dusty streets, the tired women who carry their babies on their backs to the marketplace, the men who try to forget their misery by drinking too much beer on the weekends, the jobless teenagers and the homeless squatters, together with their laughter, friendly gestures, and gentle words-wouldn’t that be true service?  If God really exists, if he truly cares, if he never leaves his people alone, who is there to remind him of his promises?  Who is there to cry out: ‘How long will you frown on your people’s plea?... Turn again, we implore, look down from heaven and see.  Visit this vine and protect it, the vine your right hand has planted…Let your face shine on us, and we shall be saved’ (Ps. 80) I feel that in a world rushing to the abyss, the need for calling God to the task, for challenging him to make his love felt among the poor, is more urgent than ever.  

“There were many wars, conflicts, and much poverty and misery in the thirteenth century, but we do not remember the political struggles and the socio economic events of that century.  We remember one man who lived in the midst of it and prayed, prayed, and prayed until his hands and feet were pierced with the wounds of Christ himself.  Who will be the St.  Francis of our age?  Many are asking themselves this question again.  WHO WILL LIFT UP THE WORLD OF TODAY TO GOD AND PLEAD FOR HIS MERCY? 

….When the Lord looks down on us, what does he see?  He sees his son Jesus in the faces of the few who continue to cry out in the valley of tears.  For Jesus’ sake he will save us from total destruction.

“Prayer is the ongoing cry of the incarnate Lord to the loving God.  It is eternity in the midst of mortality, it is life among death, hope in the midst of despair, true promise surrounded by lies.  Prayer brings love alive among us.  So let us pray unceasingly.”

Here are my unfiltered scribbles from the notes on my phone:

“Bring your ideas and wishes that are aligned with the Lord into this life.  into this realm.  you are not only the thoughts in your head.  not at all,  and thank God for that.  you are so much of what you do, how you love, and how you pray.  your actions.  What actions do you actually complete?  How many of those actions a day are solely for yourself? Selfish actions.  The want and desire and wish to help those in need is inside of me and has been for so long.  It can make me cry thinking about it, but can I make someone's soul feel God’s love and joy by actually doing something?  Through prayer?  Through action?

At times I can feel as if I wish to do nothing. Empty my brain and sit.  I feel so tired sometimes. but then I remember that there are people who are hurting.  hurting badly.  and I feel my heart. I physically feel my heart hurt.  Then I feel the want to move and to pray.  but I must start to follow through.  I must discern and put to practice. I must hone this skill of prayer. I must pray.  I must ask God for the desire to pray.  for the desire to come before him and lay it all out.  For the desire to move.  I must plead for humility.  every second.  For I am too selfish, and this selfishness is normally what stands in the way of helping others.”  

I feel as if I have grown so much but I have “nothing new” to show for it.  Have I started this? Nope!  Have I done that? Not yet! But is this really about me? Nada. On the other hand- have I grown? Absolutely!  Has God been whooping (humbling) me and bringing to the surface my downfalls? Haha, yes.  Does all of this take so much more time than I thought?  Yep!  So to those who wish that I would have “done more” by now (I may only be speaking to myself), I am sorry.  But if I could capture photos of the growth in my heart and download them to this newsletter I think your wish would be granted.  It’s happening!  It’s all happening, but not always in the way I expect.  And that’s okay because I’m not an expert, but I can pray!

Peace and love and smiles and joy, 

Sarita

Pray for prayer, language learning, those who are hurting, life starting back up, and that the hope the new year brings is felt by all. 

P.S. I am so happy to be here with Caily!  I do miss everyone in the US lots but I miss my little sister Natalie the most…sorry everyone else.  I love you all!  Please let me know how you are doing!!!!

CHECK OUT THESE PICS:

OUR CHICKEN CHRISTMAS TREE TOPPER

tiny nativity

Caily's Nativity. It is so beautiful.

our nativity featuring a lion and two mini sheep. Baby Jesus is covered, because when this picture was taken he wasn't born yet...duh

I found this guy on the sidewalk and he became our elf on the shelf.

Our homemade Advent candles, our stockings (thanks Jeremy and Katie), and our thermos

The huge nativity in The Plaza de Cayma (the plaza of our neighborhood)

Christmas cookies that Caily, Paty, Iza, and myself made and decorated for a bake sale for the orphanage.

we had so much fun!

banana bread.

It's summer break!!! We took a trip to Mollendo to camp with our friends Adres, Fabrizzio, and Noemi.

The sunrise in Mollendo

The bus ride there! The bus broke down, but I say it's better this way because it's more unique and memorable.

Fabrizzio doing a headstand

talking about life early in the morning. I am so happy to be making such rich friendships.

sheep here

sheep there

New friends who work in the Plaza de Armas. We shared cake and stories together.

the ceremony of the giant guagua. Guagua (wa-wa) is a quechua word for baby. I think that this needs a bigger explanation than a measly caption, so ask me about this if you want to know. or I can include it in another letter. Anyway, my teacher Giovanna and I went to this and it was so much fun.

Art show! Caily lived with a Peruvian family last year and their son's graduating class was celebrating the end of the year with a HUGE performance and an art show outside.

I liked this fox guy

The plant nursery (vivero) where Caily and I searched for a real Christmas tree

The Christmas tree we ACTUALLY ended up finding in Avelino market. we also took this home on the combi.

MY BESTIE CAILY! She teaches me a lot about patience. Not because I have to be patient with her, but the other way around lol

OUR LILI I LOVE HER SO MUCH! Lili is the best fashionista ever. We decorated cookies with her before Christmas.

Lili and Señora Rosa.

acting "natural"

MAMI

okay I'm a bit out of order now, but this was our wonderful group for Thanksgiving! We had all of the essentials (turkey, broccoli rice cheese casserole, sweet potatoes, cream corn, rolls, you name it)

We celebrated at Sybil and Fernando's house (the two people at either end of the table). They are pastors of a church in town!

The big ole apple crisp fresh out of the oven.

Caily and I were so so happy to host church in our house before Christmas break. We had hot chocolate and panetón. We can't wait to host church again. It was really such a blessing to host and serve these women.

said panetón. Essentially fruit cake, but way more awesome.

mine and Caily's tree! so cutie! Yes we actually made it home with this thing!

smiles all around in this combi.

Zenet. Our mama of Peru. Zenet owns a beautiful hotel named El Castillo where she hosts study abroad groups from Harding each year. We were lucky enough to get invited over for Christmas dinner.

baby Hanz. The last time I saw him was in 2020.

Zenet's tree

Zenet's nativity

The Christmas turkey

Christmas dinner was delicious. Thank you Zenet!!!!

Zenet's family. Hanz opening his gifts at midnight!

Celebrating Paty's bday in December.

My teachers Betty and Giovanna singing karaoke at our Christmas party of four!

The beautiful Peru jerseys from Katie and Jeremy

In the market with a coconut monkey

beautiful early morning market run

More market pics because....I love the market

I got to see my friend Cort and his family, because they traveled to Cusco for Christmas. It was such a blessing to spend time with a family and with such a sweet friend. Thank you to the Chambers family for letting me be their daughter for a few days. much love.

no newsletter is complete without a sunset picture

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

The beautiful Misti. All of the rest of the pictures are from a roll of film I shot when I first arrived. Some of the pictures below are from "Señor de los milagros" that I mentioned in my first news letter.

little bird

BYE LOVE YOU ALL