A taste of Febuary

Some mornings when I wake up, I have to think for a min. and remind myself that I am here in Peru. It still constantly blowing my mind, and I LOVE IT! 

I am in a place of where I am more comfortable with my Peruvian Spanish, I know where I live and which buses and taxis to take to get me there, and I am overall beginning to feel very much at home. The rest of January was nice. I spent most of my time meeting different students from the CBU ministry that I will be working with and brushing up my Spanish with my tutor. A lot of students are out of town for summer vacation, so I have not even met everyone yet. 

I posted a video clip on Facebook last night of me on a zip line! The coolest thing about it is, that was in someones backyard! They are a ministry site for kids through a different missions organization. At the bottom you can see some more pictures. 

Now for February and the beginning of March you may not be hearing much from me in my blog. I will be at Campamento la Joya, which is a local Christian Summer Camp. I will be there from the 8th-12th. A lot of the students that will be there are 17-21 years old, and either just entering the university, have been there for a few years, or will be starting in a couple of years. I am so excited! Be praying that I have endless amounts of energy! :) 

Then on the 17th-21st I will be going with a local church to the beach for a retreat. It will be such a great time getting to know the people of the church better, as well as the leaders of CBU. (This church is the main supporting church for CBU.) 

Then on March 1st-9th I will be going to Lima to visit other ministries happening there. So I will be super busy. Prayers are so appreciated for my energy level over this next month. Here are a few pictures from this past month! 

Up until now....

Oh my goodness.

Can I say oh my goodness again? Hahaha.

The last week and three days have felt like a whirlwind.

From the moment I have landed I have not stopped. (Well, I have had some opportunities to rest, and I am thankful for that.) I landed in Lima at 12:30am on the 4th with just enough time to sleep for a few hours before I got up an went to Interpol to begin my application for residency. They checked my teeth and took my finger prints. Hahaha. I am thankful that I am able to already speak Spanish, because the process was much easier.

Then a few hours after, I got on a bus and went to the beach until January 8th. It was a wonderful opportunity to get to know the missionaries around me, who would be my Peruvian support and family. It was a great conference and so full of community and great messages from our German speaker!

I then had a few days in Lima to explore and relax, and then I headed to Arequipa. Our flight ran two hours late, so that was a little frustrating and crazy, but that is Latin America sometimes. I so love the culture, and I have to remind my North American brain that I am in Peru and the rhythm of life is so much different. I love it and nor is it wrong, just different.

I am in the process of getting settled in Arequipa, and it is a beautiful city. I still have much to unpack and I am learning where everything is. As excited as I am, there are moments where I am so tired, and have to force myself to rest. I have this thing called FOMO (The Fear of Missing Out) and have to fight myself for time to rest. That term btw was borrowed from Steph Lane. Such an accurate and good one.

For now, here are a few pictures of my last several days, and I will be getting out a more detailed update on how I am doing.

Besotes y abrazotes

Laura  

The Journey to Arequipa View this email in your browser

Update on The Journey to Arequipa - December 2015 - Hello! I hope that you and your families had a very Merry Christmas!

I am leaving THIS Sunday!  It is with great joy that I am writing this update. I will be boarding my flight to Peru this Sunday January 3rd. I cannot believe that the time has come! I am experiencing a variety of different emotions as I am packing and preparing to leave. There are moments of sheer joy and excitement, as well as moments when I realize the huge life transition I am about to experience. I am thrilled and terrified at the same time. In all these moments, I feel the overwhelming peace of God and His faithfulness. He will take care of me and has been preparing me for this transition.   Financial Support Still Needed It is also with great joy that I am able to say I am at 82% of my support, which clears me to get on the plane and begin my ministry. Thank you Supporters and Prayer Warriors! However in order to remain in Peru for my full term of two years, I still need to raise 18%, which is $459 per month. That means if I can have 5 families or individuals commit to $100 per month or 10 families commit to $50 per month, I will be at 100%. Please prayerfully consider financially partnering with me. I am so close to being fully funded!    - Prayer Requests -  | Pray over me this week as I am packing and wrapping up life in the states. | Pray for my emotions as I say goodbye for now to my community here in Rome, GA and to other friends and family. | Pray for the missionaries at the Spiritual Life Conference that will take place January 4-8, upon my arrival to Peru. | Pray that the rest of my support comes in. Only 18% more!!    - Praises -  | I am so thankful that I am at 82% of my support, and in awe of how quickly it came in over the last few months. | Even though I have felt these last few weeks have been chaotic, all is falling into place perfectly for my arrival to Peru. | I was commissioned at my home church on December 13th, and I felt so loved and cherished.  | I will be commissioned by the church I grew up in on January 3rd, the morning of my departure. What a beautiful way to be sent off!     Click the "Give" button below to set up your monthly, annual, or one time gift.  Missionary ID: 042156 Give

Stay in Touch My current Address: 111 Etowah Drive SE Rome, GA 30165   My Phone: 404-640-9476  My Blog: http://laurawaitt.blogspot.com/ My email: laura.waitt@sim.org

Update for the month of November!

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Update on The Journey to Arequipa - November 2015 - Happy November Everyone!

The Final Push!  I am so excited to announce that my plane ticket to Peru is OFFICIALLY PURCHASED! I will fly out of Atlanta into Lima, Peru on January 3, 2016 to make the Spiritual Life Conference I previously spoke about. There is however, one condition for me to get on the plane. I have to be at 100% of my financial and prayer support. I have many one time gifts coming in, and for that I am so grateful. This has helped so much as it goes towards my monthly support. But I am still short $2,082 per month. If I have 21 families and individuals give at least $100 per month, I will be at 100%. I would love it if all my funds were in by December 11to give me several weeks to focus on packing and spending time with local friends and family during Christmas before I leave. Please prayerfully consider giving monthly or sharing about my trip with friends and family. Many missions organizations offer a holiday catalog of ministry opportunities this time of year. In a similar way, supporting my ministry opportunity in Peru would be a beautiful way to invest in the work of the Kingdom for the 2016 year.  Health Update My final MRI was this past week and I am all cleared! Praise God! There were no areas of concern medically. I have another follow up scheduled with my doctor at the end of December to confirm that the medicine he has prescribed for me is doing its job. Then I will officially be released from his care. I have however been 100% cleared to leave for Peru!! - Prayer Requests -  | Pray over my last two months in the States and that my time is used wisely. | Pray for my time alone with Jesus and that my soul continues to rest in Him. | Pray for refreshment for the missionaries currently in Peru. They will be preparing their ministries to transition in the upcoming summer season. (Their summer is our winter.) | Pray that at least 21 families and individuals are able to give $100 a month in monthly support by Dec. 11.   - Praises -  | Praise Him that my plane ticket is purchased and my visa application process has begun. | I am so thankful that I have been able to workout this last month and have noticed an improvement in my overall health. Click the "Give" button below to set up your monthly, annual, or one time gift.  Missionary ID: 042156 Give

Stay in Touch My current Address: 111 Etowah Drive SE Rome, GA 30165   My Phone: 404-640-9476  My Blog: http://laurawaitt.blogspot.com/ My email: laura.waitt@sim.org

Update for the month of October! 

The Journey to Arequipa View this email in your browser

Update on The Journey to Arequipa - October 2015 - Hey everyone! I am so excited to update all of you!

A slight change of pace... First of all, please forgive me for not being able to get an update out until now. Beginning in May of this year I began developing odd medical symptoms. Three months down the road I was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis. This was a result of several vaccinations that I had received in preparations for Peru. Essentially I had a small virus in my spinal cord, and caused me to have to slow down my pace of heading towards Peru. I have had excellent medical care from my Dr. in Atlanta, and praise God I have been recovering well. I have one more follow up appointment in November for an MRI to make sure that I will not have any further issue as I head to Peru. With this slight medical set back, Jesus has used this season to draw me nearer to Him, and create deeper dependence on Him. It has been difficult to see that the timeline for leaving that I had in mind was not the same as God's. But His timing and plan is perfect. I now will officially be leaving on January 4, 2016. Once a year all SIM missionaries in Peru gather for The Spiritual Life Conference. This is a time of worship and fellowship for everyone, and this so happens to begin the day that I arrive in Peru. It will be a perfect transition as I will get to meet all the SIM missionaries in Peru and then get settled in. In other news...   Throughout the duration of my medical issues, I was able to continue to nanny and am still doing that currently as I am raising support. Now that I have made progress with my health, I have been cleared to begin working out at a slow pace. I am so thankful for that because it will be so healthy for me mentally.  Current Support Needs   With a concrete date of departure, I need to be at 100% of my support by January 4th. I am so blessed by the team of supporters that God has raised up around me and I am thankful for those of you who are walking with me. Currently I have 25% of my monthly support based on monthly givers. My biggest need financially right now is monthly supporters. Please prayerfully consider joining my support team if you have not already. - Prayer Requests -  | Pray as I continue to reach out to local churches to consider partnership with me and that my words are not my own. | Pray over rest for my heart and soul with Jesus as I am preparing to leave.  | Pray for relationships to continued to be fostered between the Arequipa English ministry students and staff.  | Pray for my support team to continue growing and that I reach my 100% goal by January 4th.   - Praises -  | Praise God that my health has improved and that I am able to begin to work out. | Praise God that I now have an official date for departure. | Praise God that His timing is perfect and that I am able to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family before I leave  in January.  Click the "Give" button below to set up your monthly, annual, or one time gift.  Missionary ID: 042156 Give

Stay in Touch My current Address: 111 Etowah Drive SE Rome, GA 30165   My Phone: 404-640-9476  My Blog: http://laurawaitt.blogspot.com/ My email: laura.waitt@sim.org

The Journey to Arequipa                                     View this email in your browser

Dear Friends and Family, What exciting news I have to share with you. The Lord has opened a new door for me. At the beginning of January 2014 I was accepted as an associate missionary with SIM. What is SIM? SIM is a multicultural missions organization that is dedicated to going into different areas of the world by responding to needs, proclaiming the gospel, and equipping the church.  SIM is based out of Charlotte, NC.  Where am I off to now? After being accepted as an Appointee I was faced with the task of prayerfully considering different locations of where I could potentially go and participate in SIM´s vision. I knew without a doubt that I wanted to return to South America. The South American culture and people had previously captured my heart, and I wanted nothing more than to be there. I also knew I loved working with college students. The Lord ultimately led me to choose a city called Arequipa. Arequipa is located in southern Peru, and it is the second largest city. SIM currently has a full team working there, and I plan to join them in January 2016 for two years.     What will I be doing?  My role will be to partner with the local church to disciple and mentor university students and participate in already existing university ministries. I will have opportunities to help students plan Bible studies on their campuses, organize various fellowship activities, and work with Arequipa English, which is a group that provides advanced English classes focusing on Bible Studies, pronunciation, and conversation classes.  How can you be involved?  My ministry cannot happen without your involvement. I need prayer and financial supporters to stand with me as I continue to obey the Lord's leading in my life. I would like to invite you to partner with me on this journey to Arequipa. Nothing would be more exciting than to have your partnership with me in sharing true life with these students. Will you prayerfully consider how God is asking you to get involved? *** I will be contacting you within this next few weeks to follow up.***  Below I have included a chart and specific information of what my prayer and financial needs are. Prayer Needs Prayer Team  I need a minimum of 200 prayer warriors that are committed to partner with me, cover me, and the work that the Lord is doing in prayer. I will on a regular basis send out prayer updates with specific personal and ministry related prayer requests.  Current Requests Please pray for God to provide a team of supporters in the way that He chooses, and that I trust in Him in that process.  Pray that I am intentional with my daily time with Jesus, and that I am able to avoid distractions. Pray for the Peruvians that I will be building relationships with and that their hearts are open to Jesus Christ.  Financial Needs   Click "give" below to securely give your monthly, annual, or special gift. Missionary # 042156. Give Can't give online? Send check's to: SIM USA, PO Box 7900, Charlotte, NC 28241 Remember to write my account number in the memo line (042156). Bendiciones (Blessings),                                        Laura Waitt Stay in Touch My current Address: 111 Etowah Drive SE Rome, GA 30165   My Phone: 404-640-9476  My Blog: http://laurawaitt.blogspot.com/ My email: laura.waitt@sim.org

Can we say whoops?

Hahahah. Ok. Well my failed attempt to keeping a blog for my whole time here in Argentina doesn´t surprise me sadly. I think it is because I get stoked to keeping the world updated on my adventures, and then once things get going I tend to forget, or I remember, but when I do, I don´t even know where to begin to update you people on my life. :)

It has been a crazy, beautiful, wonderful, challenging, hard, difficult, growing and learning experience. I can say with full confidence that this adventure has been the grandest of them all so far in my life. That is not to say that this adventure here in Argentina diminishes my other ones, but I think it has been in this time my eyes have been opened to many many things, and I do not even know where to begin.


I think I am going to hold off for now in going into details of all my adventures here, and wait until I am state side to process them all and then relay it to the blogging world. For now I just want to say that I am completely amazed at How good God has been to me. Even when I am silly, even when I am stuck in my head, even when I run the other way. 


Recently, and when I say recently, I literally mean as in yesterday, I began to see that I need to renew my definition of what true love is. Naturally 1 Corinthians 13 is the source I am using to renew my definition of true Love. 


Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self seeking, it is slow to become angry, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8


So in this I took this: This is the way that I am loved by God, this is the way that I should love myself, and this is the way that I should love others. 


Bam. Thats truth. Truth that I pray to cling to. 


Ok well, I wrote something. Finally. :) 


Peace


Bendiciones a todos.