Pastor Angie's In-Spire-ations May 2018
Greetings! The theme this month seems to be about updates.
First, the ordination ceremony has been set for June 9th at 10:00 a.m. at the Indianapolis Convention Center. You are welcome to join us in Indy. For those who are able to come down, my amazing husband has arranged a celebration lunch at the Hilton Indianapolis Hotel & Suites following the ordination ceremony. Please see me for more details if you are coming.
The other update relates to the Peru Mission Trip. We currently have 8 people planning to go from Trinity. We are limiting the trip to 15 and we need at least 10. Now that we know all of the Trinity people who would like to go have expressed interest, we are reaching out to other United Methodist Churches and the district who might be interested.
The trip will be October 13-21. We will fly out of Chicago on the 13th in the evening and arrive in Arequipa a little before noon on the 14th via Miami and Lima. We will be in Arequipa for a couple of days visiting the Yanahuara School, learning about Peru and acclimating to the altitude. On October 16th, we will travel over the pass and into the Colca Canyon where we will stay in Chivay until the 19th at which time we will travel back to Arequipa to begin our journey home on the 20th. We will arrive back in Chicago around 12:30 p.m. on the 21st. We have been chosen for a special first of its kind mission.
There are about 70 children living at Casa Chapi. Although they live in the Colca Canyon, many have not been to Condor Cross to see the grandeur of the Andean Condors. They have not experienced the natural hot springs. Some have not been to the market place that is just a few miles away. Most have never had the opportunity to choose a new shirt or shoes. We will experience all of these things through the eyes of the children while giving them the joy of new experiences. While our students in the United States have opportunities to learn about other cultures, children from remote villages are not so fortunate. Their teachers have wanted to make this possible for them, however they have not had enough hands and willing hearts to make the trip to bring them this opportunity. I have assured Quechua Benefit that Trinity is a church that understands the importance of being present to others. We understand that BEING present and fully focused on others IS doing something.
I have been asked why we need to go so far away when there are people here who need us. Why do we spend money to travel that could be used here? We are all called to spread the love of Jesus and for some of us, that means a call has been laid upon our hearts to go to places that others may not be willing or able to go. Experiencing the mission field was a part of my call to full-time ministry. We go to serve because God lays it on our hearts to do so, but we also go to learn what God holds for us there that will lead to ministry with our neighbors right here. Rest assured, we will continue to love and serve our neighbors. Stay tuned and please be in daily prayer for our team as we prepare. God bless you.
Pastor Angie