Journal of Joy ~ Laughing Waters, Crying Rivers! ~ September 26 - October 8, 2002


​©Jennifer Lynn Easton Joy​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ / שמחה איסטון לין ינייפר
Beginning Prophetic Worship Glory Ring Workshops and Prayer Journey ~ Peru, South America
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September 26, 2002, Thursday ~ Before departing for Lima, Peru, the following Scripture was sent to me,
 
“How lovely on the mountains are the feet of the one who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’ Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, they shout joyfully together; for they will see with their own eyes when the LORD restores Zion.’” ~ Isaiah 52:7-8, NASB

Another person sent a prophetic word picture that the LORD was sending me to Peru as “HIS Fire woman in the spiritual realm.” 
 
Headlines in the Columbian Life Newspaper: IN WITH THE NEW! – Section D for Divine!
           
Departing from Portland, Oregon, USA International Airport (PDX), Gate D12 in seat 16F – Flight #669…because I graduated from high school in June 1969, (Flight 669) I understood that the Holy Spirit was metaphorically speaking to me that this ministry outreach was going to hold many challenging tests similar to finals week before high school graduation (Romans 5:1-5). The ministry that invited me to Peru paid for my airline ticket. One of the first tests of faith was to board the plane with $20 and the knowledge that if the LORD did not supernaturally pass me through customs I would return home immediately (Philippians 4:11-13).
 
During the layover at the Dallas, Texas airport I met people from England, Australia and the British Virgin Islands. A very beautiful young woman with a seven-month-old baby asked to join me at the table where I was waiting for the connecting flight. She was an extravagantly beautiful, slender and tall, a model from the British Virgin Islands who planned to move to the Hudson River area of New York. I enjoyed sharing with her my experiences in New York and boat tour on the Hudson River.
 
On the flight from Portland to Dallas, the man seated next to me was wearing a Jewish wedding ring with the Hebrew letters “I am my beloved and my beloved is mine,” which brought to mind the “I AM! For the Nationss of America and Israel! Prophetic Worship Glory Rings” the Holy Spirit inspired me to make for America and Israel. Then on the flight from Dallas to Lima, the man sitting next to me,  a professor from California State University Long Beach was wearing the same ring! I sensed the Holy Spirit speaking a double portion for the covenants of Israel and America (under the Bush administration from 2001-2009, America remained in a relatively positive relationship with Israel).
 
The flight from Dallas, Texas to Lima, Peru is six hours and 33 minutes in the air on a Boeing 757, which is fitted with a Rolls-Royce engine. A dream came true as I always thought it might be fun to ride in a Rolls Royce! The wingspan of this plane is 124 feet and the length is 155 feet 3 inches with a cruising speed of 530 mph at 35,000 feet elevation. Because the Holy Spirit speaks to me in the language of symbols, colors and numbers, a spiritual interpretation might look like the following.
  • 124: One is symbolic of unity and 24 for priesthood – YESHUA, Our Most High Priest, carries us on HIS wings (Deuteronomy 32:11).
  • 155: One is symbolic of unity and 55 for double portion of the grace, mercy, and favor of ABBA ADONAI hovering over us and HIS hand protecting us (Psalm 91).
  • 3: YESHUA, Our Messiah rose on the third day which is symbolic of HIS Resurrection Power.
  • 530: 500 is symbolic of 100-fold grace, mercy and Favor of YAHWEH and 30 is for the atonement of YESHUA (Judas betrayed HIM for 30 pieces of silver)
  • 35,000:  35 is symbolic of 1000-fold hope.
  • 757: Seven is symbolic of a completed work of HIS Grace. Glory to HIS Name!
 
I found a dime in the Dallas Airport and have learned that the walking with YESHUA requires immediate flexibility and one must always be willing to “turn on a dime” without tripping, falling over, stumbling or grumbling.
 
Flying over the Gulf of Mexico we saw the sun “breakthrough” through the billowy gray clouds…a parable of the Son of GOD, with HIS eternal light dispelling the darkness (Micah 2:13). Only YESHUA can bring such brilliant light and victorious breakthrough in our lives. As one who reverently drinks passionately the beauty of sunrises and sunsets, it was a sweet gift to see the sun set in seemingly slow motion at this elevation. As we drew closer to Lima, I became spiritually aware of the weight of grief, poverty, discouragement and bondage hovering over the city.
 
After 18 long hours in the air and airports, we arrived shortly after midnight in Lima, Peru. There was an uprising in the city the day before, so the airport was under strict guard by the Peruvian military. Tension and fear met us as over 600 plus passengers departed the airplane and walked uniformly towards the customs counter. Waiting and watching for over 2 hours as the 4 officers at the customs counter thoroughly checked each passenger’s suitcase and then demanded large customs fee. Then my turn came. I walked toward the counter, looked at the customs agent, then she paused, looked towards my direction and nodded me through. In one unhesitating moment, I gratefully smiled, nodded in agreement, and quickly pulled the two 70-pound suitcases through the area toward the gate. That was a miracle as the $20 in my pocket would have never met the custom fees, not even close! Lauree was standing on the other side of the gate dancing up and down because she also knew that it was a miracle. I met Lauree a few weeks earlier in Springhill, Florida through a divine connection with Maria who found our website and gave me a call one evening asking for prayer. Praise the LORD! Glory to HIS Name!
 
Angelica, a beautiful Peruvian woman who accompanied Lauree to the airport, immediately became my "Peruvian Angel" while we were in Lima, assisting with language translation, transportation and a myriad of other details. The LORD faithfully provided all that I needed even before I knew I needed it including the priceless gift of a translator. Expanding HIS Kingdom Ministries offered the invitation and provided airfare to Peru. They were the LORD’s true friend in opening doors for me to minister in this nation.

September 27, 2002, Friday ~ Beyond exhausted, I slept very soundly for a few hours on the tiny hard-as-bricks bed and awakened to the cacophonous sound of a city with a million horns as the hotel windows have a two-inch margin of open-space between the glass and the window frame. As the windows cannot be closed, the room was a very drafty 60-degrees because the hotel was not built with any form of electric heat and this was the rainy season. Gratefully, our rooms were only $25 per night, due to a missionary discount, which was a very reasonable price in the city. 

In the morning, we ran some errands for Lauree, then met Pastor Julio Cavassa Roncalla and Gonzalo Del Aguila Utia for lunch. There was an immediate connection in the Spirit with Pastor Julio and the Holy Spirit confirmed to me that God ordered this divine connection. Gonzalo was a gift from heaven as he translated our highly-energized conversation. During lunch, Pastor Julio, inquired as to what I saw over the city in the spiritual realm. I shared with him and he responded with genuine delight and pleasure, as though I was an answer to prayer. He said that it is what the LORD showed him, and that I was the first minister from America to see it. I believe the reason for that is that my anointing is generally not evangelist or pastoral but more along the lines of a prophetic seer. I believe the Holy Spirit was establishing a foundation of trust in our relationship, so the fullness of the LORD’s purposes could come forth. Eighteen years after this meeting we still communicate and HGRM has offered prayers and financial support to their orphanage in Peru. At this time, Pastor Julio is an evangelist pastor with Betesda Centro de Avivamiento Cristiano in Lima, Peru. As an American, I would refer to his anointing as a “Papa Eagle” and rather apostolic in nature, as he is one who builds and equips the followers of YESHUA (Ephesians 4:11) according to the mercy and grace of our FATHER GOD!
 
Pastor Julio was a bullfighter in Peru before becoming a pastor. His father before him was a bullfighter for 14 years in Peru. It seemed to me that bull fighting was perfect training for becoming a pastor. Waving that red flag before the bull could be considered a lesson in learning to walk fully in the boldness, conviction, courage of ABBA ADONAI! Hallelujah!
 
The Holy Spirit directed me to bring two cameras. The new one I was to give to my first translator and the second was for the photo journals of the trip. The first camera was an answer to Gonzalo’s prayer, as he had asked the LORD for a camera. Gonzalo is the age of my daughter, born only three weeks before her on March 10, 1977. It was a complete gift of the LORD to send this young man to me. There was an immediate trust in the Spirit between us. Gonzalo is someone I would highly recommend as a translator and interpreter for anyone ministering in Peru.
 
Pastor Julio, Gonzalo, Lauree and I spent four to five hours in the afternoon touring Lima, a city of eight million people. Lima is the eastern gate to South America where minimum wage was about 50 cents an hour and gasoline was $2.50 a gallon. Lima, named the City of Kings by the Spanish conquerors is the country’s capital as well as the main gateway to Peru, which was founded in 1535. As Peru’s official religion is Catholic, all Catholic holidays are observed. We prayed, walked, laughed and took many photos everywhere we went. We traveled through different districts of Lima including the historic main square known as the Plaza de Armas, in addition to San Isidro, Miraflores, Barranco, and La Punta. Pastor Julio and Gonzalo were faithful guardians as I was unaware of any surrounding danger that I might have experienced as a Euro-American female tourist. Each time I moved my camera to take a photo, they stood on either side of me, like guardian angels, to protect the camera from being stolen. Gonzalo explained that the crime rate in Lima was very high, yet the LORD was faithful to give HIS Glory as our protection (Isaiah 58). The city of Lima is very old, extravagant and beautiful, yet with some sections of tragic poverty as I have rarely seen in my life. Nothing prepared me for the stench of piled garbage in the staggering heat and the dead animals in the road. To see the city means to take a taxi, which is nothing like an American taxi. This experience was more like being on a roller coaster, the egg scrambler and bumper cars simultaneously at the county fair I attended as a child. A million raucous horns continually blasted with little, innocent children selling their wares between the bumpers of any stopped car, in the middle of six, what might be called lanes of traffic. The air pollution was suffocating. The vendors continuously pummeled us with sales pitches. The well-worn back seat of the tiny Honda barely held three of us. Undeniably, I was uncompromisingly concerned for the safety of the children on the streets. Gonzalo explained that they come daily to beg for money or food.
 
We stopped near the trash-littered banks of the Crying River, filled with debris and poured out “The Fragrance of HIS Aroma!” Holy Anointing Oil! The ancient river bed carried a historic trail of tears that spilled into the bleeding heart of the native city. The warm, brown, murky water barely moved as it was at record low. One could easily hear FATHER GOD in the spirit realm, crying over this city with so many people needing just one touch of YESHUA’s love!
 
At Barranco, we walked on the warm, sandy beach as the Holy Spirit made a way for me to pour out Holy Anointing Oil in the Pacific Ocean, on the coast of Peru. Who but God? I remained amazed at the sovereignty of the MOST HIGH GOD!
 
After touring the city all afternoon, Pastor Julio asked me to preach to his congregation that evening. This was a completely unexpected invitation, as this day was scheduled for rest before flying to Tarapoto in the morning. The only ministry outreaches on my agenda were two Beginning Prophetic Glory Ring Workshops to be held Tuesday and Thursday, in Tarapoto the following week. We were given a few minutes at the hotel to change clothes, followed by a sequel traumatizing taxi trip to the church service.
 
The worship service was freshly anointed and mellifluous in the Spirit. Familiar worship music with Spanish harmonies filled the air. The congregation was not large in number but fervently passionate in worship, in a way I had never experienced in an American church. Gratefully, the Holy Spirit prepared me in advance and I taught on the subject of eagles with Psalm 91 and Isaiah 40 as Scripture references. Gonzalo made my first time to minister with a translator very easy. As a Spirit-filled Christian, he easily translated not only the words I was speaking but the spirit of the message as well.  In Peru, to preach means speaking at least one hour, therefore, my American 20-minute sermon was a bit brief for them. Pastor Julio completely covered me and seamlessly finished preaching for 40 minutes after I finished. It was as though, I taught the introduction of the message and he preached the body and the conclusion. During my portion of the preaching/teaching the Holy Spirit released a word to Pastor Julio and Janet that they were God’s eagles in Peru and would have many spiritual children, that God would open doors for an orphanage and ministry training center, which has all come to pass since that time. God is faithful to HIS Word as HIS people walk in obedient, sacrificial faith before HIM.
 
After the teaching/preaching of the Scriptures, Pastor Julio invited the congregation to come to the altar for prayer ministry. One of my favorite parts of ministry is praying for my FATHER’s people. I find it very encouraging to participate as the Holy Spirit ministers healing, restoration, redemption, renewal, comfort, peace and love to HIS children.
 
Personally, I received a prophetic word from Martha Polina, a native missionary from Brazil, who was visiting Peru. She said, “You will go all around the world in ministry.”  This was my first prophetic word requiring translation from a foreign language. It was an amazingly full first day in Peru. A huge miraculous gift from my ABBA ADONAI!
 
September 28, 2002, Saturday ~ Peru is in the Mountain Standard Time zone, the same time zone as Montana. After checking out of the hotel, we proceeded to the Lima airport via taxi, to take a flight on Aero Continente to Tarapoto. Pastor Julio met us at the hotel and sent us with his blessing and prayer. Gonzalo and Angelica came to the airport to help us.
 
We enjoyed lunch together at the airport. Gonzalo ordered a Peruvian hamburger, which is made with a fried egg, a slice of Peruvian sausage, a slice of hamburger, tomato and lettuce covered with a wheat bun. Angelica drank a very purple drink made from corn. As for me, I bravely ventured past bottled water to Inca Cola, a very sweet, bright yellow drink.
 
The airport security remained intense with many military men in uniforms carrying loaded weapons, as there was a big uprising in the city the day before I flew in and the Peruvian military had been deployed. One learns quickly in Peru that the synonym for time is waiting, as we waited in four different lines for passport approval, ticket approval and two additional government taxes requiring payment before we were granted access to the boarding area. 
 
Finally, after some tedious delays we boarded the plane. When the engines started, and the airplane began to roll forward, I quizzically looked at Lauree and asked, “Will this plane fly?” She laughed, “As long as you pray!” With all certainty, it took a legion of angels to lift and keep the airplane in the air. The airplanes used by Aero Continente are not allowed in American airports, which I learned was very common for aircraft in third-world countries. 
 
There was a major miscommunication between individuals; therefore, Gonzalo was not welcomed in Tarapoto, which was very disappointing to me because his translation skills were exemplary. It seemed like obvious warfare because effective communication is essential in ministry and translation is extremely vital in a foreign country. I was extremely disappointed that he would not be able to translate for me while I ministered in Tarapoto because his anointing as a Holy Spirit filled translator was more than obvious. Gratefully, this miscommunication has been resolved since that time and all relationships have been restored.
 
The slightly more than one-hour flight heading east toward the Andes Mountains, the second highest mountains in the world, was beyond description. And yes, the lush, majestic topography was just as breathtakingly beautiful as every photograph ever published in travel magazines and coffee table books. We arrived in Tarapoto at 3:30 PM, and a van load of very kind, warm and gracious people including Pastor Jaime and Telma, Pastor David, Dino, Martin, John, and more met us. One man unloaded the luggage from the plane by hand (no conveyor belts) onto a large, non-motorized, two-wheeled, hand-built cart. Then he literally pulled the cart by his brute strength to the airport terminal and unloaded it. The luggage process easily consumed a couple of hours. As our suitcases were the heaviest, they were on the bottom of the stack! The temperature was about 25 degrees warmer than Lima, the elevation was 3500 feet higher and the humidity was above 80%. Welcome to the jungle!
 
The trip from the airport to Lauree’s home was a very bumpy ride in an old Volkswagen van filled with enthusiastic, warm, welcoming Peruvians. After being chauffeured to Lauree’s house in Peru, I heard a knock at the front door, and when I answered it, I was asked to meet with Pastor Jaime, Pastor David, Angel and Karen. When I went to ask Lauree to join us, I was informed that she was not invited and that I would meet with them alone. This brought a disquieting to my soul. I was very uncertain, as I am not fluent in Spanish and had not previously met any of these individuals nor did I know the purpose of the meeting, where we were going or how to return back to Lauree’s. I had no way to contact her (no phones). Trusting the Holy Spirit, I fervently prayed as the atmosphere within the Volkswagen van had completely transformed from welcoming love to rejecting suspicion. Ironically, they took me to a place the locals call “lover’s lane.” Angel and his wife, Karen, came from Florida and brought an untrue report regarding HGRM and me to Pastor Jaime.  The purpose of the meeting, which was truly an interrogation, was to reassure Pastor Jaime and Pastor David that the Beginning Prophetic Glory Ring Workshops and I were acceptable for the women of his congregation. Pastor David is the son of Pastor Jaime and Telma. Angel and his wife, Karen knew limited Peruvian Spanish, therefore the conversation was challenged by language barriers, like two cultural tectonic plates bumping into each other.
 
Although, I could see in Pastor Jaime’s eyes that there was no suspicion or doubt, nonetheless, he allowed Angel this meeting. After two long hours of questioning, Pastor Jaime announced in a prerogative manner that I would preach that evening at 7:30 PM and that Angel would be my translator. Angel politely acquiesced and masked his disappointment as he responded willfully to Pastor’s Jaime’s decision. The fear hidden beneath my peaceful countenance transformed into pure delight. It was as though Psalm 37 became a living, breathing word of hope to my soul and spirit.
 
They returned me to Lauree’s home at about 6:30 PM where I unpacked a few things and became acquainted with the outdoor bathroom including a toilet without a seat, which is common in Peru and the local ant hill inconveniently located at the base of the toilet.
 
Humorously I asked myself, “What is a nice city girl like you doing in a place like this?” Once again, I warmly welcome you to the jungle.
 
In the brief 45 minutes I had to prepare for the evening, the electricity in the house went out, which required Raquel, the housekeeper to run up the street to fetch someone to hot wire the house. Dare I say, this is not a common American experience.  Although, I had heard about the possibility of hot wiring a car, I certainly had not heard it could be done for a house. I now have a whole new understanding to the terminology, “Lights out!” I am forever grateful for the LORD’s Amazing Grace.
 
In the evening, which was still quite warm and sticky with humidity, we walked from Lauree’s house to the open-air church where I was to preach.  In Peru, women are required to wear a dress for ministry; this is part of their culture. Lauree had graciously informed me before my flight so I brought two dresses, one to wear for each of the scheduled Workshops on Tuesday and Thursday.
 
Following the worship time, I was escorted up a narrow ladder of four uneven rungs made out of small trees, not cut smooth and even like American steps, to a small, wood weather-worn platform without any rails. Gratefully, there was a small lectern on which to place my Bible and teaching notes. I was introduced as Jennifer Joy, a minister from Portland, “Oregano.” This was quite funny, and we all laughed at the parable of the LORD bringing “spice” from Oregon. The Holy Spirit chose Healing as the topic for the evening. Although, I was still a little shaken from the two-hour meeting before, God’s mercy and grace were present. Sometimes all that one has is the trust that God will do what HE said HE will do as we walk in obedience to HIS destiny in our lives. After the gathering, I was informed that it was youth night and there were about 200-300 people in attendance, which was the largest audience to which I had ever ministered.
 
September 29, 2002, Sunday ~ Startled, I awakened in pitch black, as the bedroom where I slept was without any windows or natural light. The single electric outlet above the head of the bed had a cord dangling from the ceiling with a single light bulb precariously swung from a frayed string. There was a two-foot square-shaped hole cut out of the bamboo ceiling with a section of chicken-wire screen placed across it for ventilation. Dirt was placed on the bamboo ceiling as a form of insulation. Directly above the ceiling was a slanted tin roof. Therefore, it was necessary to shake out the blanket each morning and night as it was covered with a layer of wind-blown dirt and sometimes chicken droppings and feathers. This morning holds my first outdoor shower, which is located in a privately fenced back yard. The small shower stall has eight bricks set on the floor to keep my feet above the standing water with dead bugs floating in it. The water supply is very limited and lukewarm. The small jumping black spiders although not deadly, greeted me happily as they love lukewarm water and human bodies. As one friend mentioned, “You are learning to be a slap-happy Christian, killing the spiders before they bite you.”
 
The LORD graciously instructed me to pack protein bars and beef jerky, which became my breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner for the next week. Lauree asked Raquel to keep bottled water on hand, for which I was very grateful. One might acquire typhoid and other nasty diseases from the local water and food. There was considerable opportunity to praise, worship, pray and walk in faith daily.
 
Although the house had a washer and dryer, the electricity was not connected, which meant that I would wash clothes by hand each morning. When packing for the trip, one suitcase was intentionally filled with things for Lauree and the other suitcase was three-fourths filled with Glory Ring Workshop supplies and one-fourth for my clothing.  Ahhhhh, the things one learns on her first journey to another hemisphere.
 
Sunday Morning, Lauree and I walked the short distance to the open-air church, Mision Cristiana Esmirna del Peru, which Pastor Jaime Gomez Garcia and his wife Telma, oversee. Pastor Jaime invited me to greet the congregation this morning along with other visiting missionaries. Open air means the floor is packed dirt and there are simple unfinished wood benches for seating. Most of the children come barefooted and wear simple clothing. The spiritual atmosphere is one of gratitude, reverence and awe of God. A simple sound system was set up against the backdrop of a row of banana trees full of ripe yellow fruit.
 
In the afternoon, Lauree and I were invited to Pastor Jaime and Telma’s humble dwelling place for lunch. We were served fried bananas, rice, chicken, broccoli/green bean salad, and chicharon – a fruit drink. Amazingly, there are more than 10 different kinds of bananas in Peru, which are served in a variety of ways. In this home, many posters with Scriptures adorned their walls. Immediately, I noticed Hebrews 4:12, one of my Life Scriptures. I felt the LORD’s warm welcome to this place with the comfort of HIS written word. In the small master bedroom, over the bed, hung the Prophetic Worship Glory Ring for Peru! Some how they understood the sacredness of the worship instrument that we created for Peru and the Glory of God.
           
May 2000 ~ For the Nation of Peru! ~ GOD’s Inheritance Restored! ~ Sent to: Lauree Rudolph, Springhill, Florida, USA. Given to: Jaime and Telma Gomez, Misisn Christiana Esmirna, Tarapoto, Peru – December 2001. Scriptures: Deuteronomy 8:7-9; Luke 12:4-7. Handmade by Betty Leach and Jennifer Lynn Easton Joy
           
Then, I was given the privilege of meeting and talking with Pastor Ken Troutman, missionary from Memphis, Tennessee. This was an unexpected delightful gift and divine appointment of the LORD.
 
Pastor Jaime decided that instead of two full-day Beginning Prophetic Glory Ring Workshops on Tuesday and Thursday, the Workshops would be split into two half-day sessions.  Monday through Thursday, from 2:00 to 6:00 in the afternoon – after the women finished their domestic work in the morning and prepared the noon meal for their families. It didn’t take me long to realize the Workshops would be held in the heat of the day, in an open-air environment without air conditioning. Only the grace and mercy of God could sustain me at this elevation, humidity and heat.
 
At 4:00 PM in the afternoon, we returned to Lauree’s for a meeting of her ministry team including Belen, Inez and Luis. The LORD opened a door for some ministry time, as is HIS way for His people. There is nothing quite like the Holy Spirit moving with the power and grace of God! The Holy Spirit is the perfect translator for the message of God’s power.
 
Pastor Jaime asked me to preach again, which is a very generous term for the simple teachings that I offer. That evening was evangelistic night at the church my sermon topic was “The Life Goals of Jesus.” There was about an hour of heartfelt, passionate worship before I ministered. The worship music was wonderful and included guitars, Peruvian flutes and drums! The translation by Angel went much smoother than the night before because I had given him copies of my notes, so he could practice translating.  Even though the translation had some glitches, God moved upon the hearts of HIS people and twenty came forward to accept Jesus Christ of Nazareth as their personal LORD and Savior for the first time. I also gave an invitation to come forward for prayer and the response was so wonderful! More than 100 people moved into the aisle and came up to the front for prayer. I loved ministering in prayer with the tangible presence, power and glory of the LORD. Some were slain by the power of HIS Spirit, falling onto a wet mud floor. After a time, they would get up, return to the end of the line and wait to be prayed for again. I have never witnessed such a hunger for the presence and power of God. Luis, who facilitated the video and sound system, became the translator as I prayed over the people. Watching God touch HIS people with HIS love, joy, deliverance, kindness, restoration, healing and light! Glory to HIS Majesty! More than 600 attended the open-air church with dirt floors and a patchwork tent for a ceiling.
 
After church, Lauree invited Luis, his four-year-old son, Pierre and me to dinner at The Real, a local restaurant. This required a ride in the motorcar - a motorcycle hitched to an open-air, two-wheel buggy without doors, seat belts or windows. The roads in Tarapoto are mostly unfinished, quite bumpy, some dusty, and quite interesting for travel. I loved riding in the motorcars and laughed hilariously each time we ventured out!
 
The Real is one of the recommended restaurants where Americans may eat and not become ill the next day! Praise the LORD! We enjoyed open-fire-cooked chicken, fresh tomatoes and rice. In this part of Peru, they make exotically refreshing fruit drinks. One of the drinks is made from cocoon, a jungle fruit mixed with peaches, papaya and pineapple. The word to the wise was not to touch the ketchup, mustard or mayonnaise, which sat on the tables for days (no refrigeration) -  I strictly observed any suggestion regarding food and drink while in Peru.
 
Then Lauree and I went to Cybercafé, a place to use the internet, as the phone lines in her house were not yet functional. The cost was .50 cents per hour including cramped quarters, hardwood stools and intermittent connections after a long waiting line.
 
September 30, 2002, Monday ~ In the morning, we went to downtown Tarapoto, to acquire airline tickets for the flight back to Lima the following Saturday. We stopped by one tourist shop and purchased some honey for Lauree and a Peruvian drum, flute and Rainstick for me to take home for our Worship Gatherings in Oregon.
 
In the heat of the afternoon, we took a motorcar to the church office building, climbed to the third floor on unfinished cement steps of various widths and heights, where we were holding the first Beginning Prophetic Glory Ring Workshop in Peru. We were on the third floor of an unfinished building without electricity or water. A tin metal roof was overhead with unfinished cement walls along the sides that decoratively matched the unfinished gray cement floor. Although scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM, we began about 3:00 PM because most of the women do not have clocks or watches. They were invited to come at the time of siesta. The entire city of Tarapoto is closed from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM for the noon meal and siesta.
 
Luis invited a friend, named John to videotape the first session while he and Nila translated. Less than a fourth of the teaching was imparted because of the cultural differences in time and having two young people who are just learning English translating. We laughed a lot. This is one of the best translation bloopers. While I was explaining the symbolic meaning of the color purple, Luis thought I was saying a Peruvian slang word that means belly button (navel). He kept looking at me so oddly. I repeated the word, purple over and over. He was completely overtaken with laughter. Finally, I explained, “colore’ rojo and colore’ azul (the color red and the color blue) mixed together make the color purple.” He then understood the color purple and we moved forward after much laughter. Of course, my English accent did not help at all.
 
Before the week closed, I fully adopted both Luis as my Peruvian son, and his son Pierre as my Peruvian grandson – in my heart. Abuelita Gozo is Grandma Joy in Spanish, which is how Pierre addresses me. Luis is the age of my oldest son, Shawn and much like him in personality, talents and anointing. I pray the LORD will open the doors for Luis and Shawn to meet someday.
 
After the Workshop, many women asked for prayer ministry, and Luis was faithful to translate until each woman received ministry. One woman asked for the healing of her extended liver, which looked like a small football attached to the side of her body. I put my hand on her liver and prayed, “Be healed in the name of Jesus Christ.” It was like a vacuum sucked the infectious swelling out of her liver and it immediately became normal. We were both crying with joy. Then her friend asked for healing of ulcerated open sores on her legs.  The Holy Spirit extended extreme grace to me as I am not one who handles well any form of body fluids and the things those in the medical field experience on a daily basis. Once again, I prayed, “Be healed in the name of Jesus Christ.” She came back the next day and her legs were normal without any scar tissue. I have never witnessed so many miracles before.  The LORD healed every person who asked to be healed. We prayed for two hours after the Workshop was finished. I was completely undone. We began the Workshop with three women in the afternoon and there were 15 women when it ended. After packing up in the dark by flashlight, we navigated our way carefully down the three flights of stairs and took a motorcar to Lauree’s home. The sun had set and then I realized that most of the women walked home in the dark and some walked in the dark through the jungle to their huts.
 
When we arrived at Lauree’s house, it was filled with smoke, as it has no glass windows. Nothing is sealed, just openings with chicken-wire screens. The neighbors had unsuccessfully attempted to prepare an edible meal. It obviously became the evening sacrifice, which included charcoal burning and produced a lot of unpleasant smelling smoke. The unwelcome vapor invasion happened daily sometimes two or three times a day because often garbage is torched as a means to start a fire. Ahhh….the joys of the jungle. Raquel made macaroni and cheese for dinner, only she misunderstood the difference between the measurements of ¼ cup and ¼ teaspoon.  And ¼ cup of salt is truly too much salt! Oh, Thank You, GOD for granola bars!
 
There was a major thunder, lightning and rainstorm this evening. The lightning ricocheted across the horizon as the rain unabashedly danced on the tin roof. It was extravagantly beautiful and intensely powerful! The Holy Spirit spoke to me through Luis, “You are the Daughter of Thunder and Lightning!”  I love it when God speaks through the purity of a soul and spirit. There is no way that Luis could begin understand the multiple implications of the message. He does not know anything about the “Cabbage Soup” story from a visit to Lacassas, Tennessee! Only God!
 
October 01, 2002, Tuesday ~ In the morning, I met Javier who translated my book, Have Glory Ring will Travel! into Peruvian Spanish, which was a huge task and great blessing to our ministry. I was given a brief moment to visit with Pastor Ken from Tennessee, USA then off to the church office building to setup for the second half of the first Prophetic Glory Ring Workshop. Once again, up the three flights of cement stairs without any rails, to the third floor without finished walls or windows, air conditioning, carpeting or electricity. Since this writing, the building is completely finished with a school for the children in the identical place where we held the Beginning Prophetic Glory Ring Workshops.
 
Again, we began an hour late because the translators did not arrive on time. It was essential to simply trust the Holy Spirit to translate spirit to spirit. I found it very challenging to give prophetic words when two people attempted to understand what I was speaking and then translated it into Peruvian Spanish. All week long, I noticed that it would have been much easier to have Gonzalo translating and much easier to communicate what the LORD purposed for each one. Unfortunately, I had no choice of translators. The only choice was to trust the Holy Spirit to translate supernaturally.
 
When I was giving the prophetic words over a Prophetic Worship Glory Ring, a woman took a ring off her finger and placed it on my right hand ring finger, she spoke to Luis and he translated, “Silver and gold have I none…” Tears welled up and slipped down my cheeks as it was the Acts 3:6 Scripture that the LORD gave me when HE asked me to give up a successful career and to walk this life of faith.  In this brief moment of time, I understood the Holy Spirit was encouraging me not to give up even though the heat was unbearable, the humidity suffocating, the language barriers insurmountable, the accommodations beyond challenging and so much more. I did make a commitment to my FATHER GOD that I would say, “Yes!” - and go willingly wherever HE sent me not expecting or asking for ministry/speaking fees or five-star hotel accommodations.
 
Luis who normally did the videotaping, sound systems and photography was thrown into the task of translating, which he handled extremely well considering the circumstances.  After the Workshop, we went to The Real again for dinner. Lauree turned in early and I stayed up and watched the movie Joseph, understanding that there was something the Holy Spirit desired to impart. The heavens offered another glorious thunder and lightning storm from midnight until about 2:00 AM, which was a very different experience with open windows and a tin roof! Glory to the LORD!
 
October 02, 2002, Wednesday ~ Finally, my physical body has adjusted somewhat to the altitude and the heat. I readily and gratefully received this small portion of encouragement. We ran errands for Lauree in the morning regarding her visa to live in Peru and then went to the local grocery store, which was quite an experience. The only grocery store was about the size of a mini-mart in America for a city of 100,000 people. Most people in the city shop at the open-air market, which I will have the privilege of experiencing on Friday morning.
 
In the afternoon, we held the first half of the second Beginning Prophetic Glory Ring Workshop. Nila was not present, which meant that Luis was responsible for the entire translation. He arrived late because of another meeting where he was detained. His friend, John, offered to operate the video again. We blessed God and moved forward. Twenty-four women came to the second workshop, many sitting on the floor because there were not enough chairs. The floor was unfinished cement, not exactly what Americans would call comfortable. One woman walked two hours in the jungle heat and humidity to attend. Most had put in a full day’s work before attending. This depth of devotion is largely unknown in America.
 
Their grateful hearts deeply touched my soul and spirit. The Peruvian women were extremely kind, loving and affectionate. In their culture, it is common for each one to kiss the other’s cheeks when they greet. It was a week of a thousand kisses and hugs. My heart was sad over not being able to provide more worship instrument supplies for them. Words are not sufficient to describe what it meant to them. To rent a single room, (not an apartment) for a month, in Tarapoto costs $30 US. When the average wage is .50 cents an hour, it takes quite a long time to earn this much money. HGRM gave more than $500 of ribbons and supplies for the Workshops and it was all received with great delight and joy. They genuinely love and passionately desire to worship the LORD and are very teachable. It was a pure delight to give to those who not only have genuine needs but received with open, gracious, kind, thankful hearts and spirits.
 
After the teaching session, many brought friends and neighbors for prayer. One glance into the doctor’s office caused one to completely understand why they come for prayer. The doctor’s office was like going back in time 100 years. Therefore, in Peru, it is much easier for YESHUA, Our Messiah to heal you than to get a prescription filled. That is for sure! A little boy with a fever, a woman with asthma, and a woman with liver disease...the line was long. Many who were healed the day before brought friends and were willing to stand in line for more than two hours. Who is YESHUA? HE is our King! And HE is our healer. Humbly, I watched as YESHUA touched every single person who came for prayer with HIS love, grace, presence, healing and mercy! Their faith is so simple and pure (Acts 5:16; Matthew 12:15)! Miracle after miracle after miracle after miracle…Glory to YESHUA!
 
Following the Workshop, I taught at a cell group of about 50 people for an hour or so, and then we went to dinner at The Real again. The LORD was very clear about what to eat and what not to eat… and I walked in strict obedience to HIS direction.
 
The Holy Spirit is always so gracious in giving me information on a need-to-know basis…HIS need for me to know. I cannot begin to imagine how I would have had the faith to come to Peru knowing in advance that I would minister seven times besides the Workshops. I felt comfortable about the Workshops because I had held many before and was well prepared. Preaching, on the other hand, was a newer ministry experience. Gratefully, I knew about each ministry opportunity only a brief time, before so there was only time to pray and prepare. There was no time for fear or anxiety to set upon me.
 
In the late evening, I watched a movie called Jeremiah, The Prophet. The Holy Spirit is teaching me about ABBA ADONAI’s overt mercy and patience. The earth reverberated with another thunder and lightning storm tonight. HIS Glory is without measure!
 
After retiring, I arose in the middle of the night to venture outside to the toilet. Slipping on my sandals which I kept on the bed, I stepped down and crunched one large cockroach. As I clicked on the light, the eerie sound of a million cockroaches scurried to the dark corners. The terror-filled sound of my own scream careened into the outer darkness. With palpitating fear and trepidation, I moved cautiously toward the back door and slowly turned on the kitchen light. I beheld the kitchen wall, which was jet black with a million ants as the housekeeper had left something on the counter. As I looked at the floor, I was careful not to step on any more cockroaches, because I simply could not stand the sound of their crunching under my feet. I noticed a very large spider, and heard my voice screaming once again, “Jesus! Help me!” Sleep does not come easily following such traumatic events (1 Peter 2:17-22).  This evening’s trauma motivated me to discontinue drinking any water late in the day, even though I was thirsty because of the intense heat. Determinedly, there would not be another late-night performance with 2 inch black-brown cockroaches, jet-black ants and white spiders larger than a golf ball.
 
October 03, 2002, Thursday ~ I awakened abruptly when dirt mixed with chicken droppings falling onto my face and into my eyes, as cats fought on the bamboo ceiling above my bed. Immediately, I arose to take a shower to wash the dirt out of my hair, but the tiny hot water heater stopped functioning completely. Obviously, I was already a little stretched beyond my own comprehension as the entire kitchen counter and sink was jet black due to the army of ants covering it, not to mention the cockroaches and the jumping spiders. The truth is most of us can endure slight inconveniences for a few days. It is those who choose to live without modern conveniences for the sake of the Gospel, for their whole lives that I truly admire.
 
In preparing for the trip to Peru, the Holy Spirit spoke clearly to me that I would leave most of my personal things in Peru: a pair of earrings, a wrist watch, a bath towel, two dresses, the red worship dance dress, the fire scarf, etc., and HE arranged the divine appointments for this to happen for HIS Glory. I anticipated returning home with the clothes I was wearing and the three Peruvian worship instruments Lauree purchased for our Worship Gatherings in Oregon.
 
We went to Pastor Jaime and Telma’s for lunch before the Workshop. Telma introduced me to her daughter and her eight-month-old grandson, Joshua. Mercy, Jesus! I really miss my grandchildren at moments like these. I also had the privilege of meeting Telma’s mother as she was cooking over a wood fire. I am continually grateful for all that we have in America. Thank You, ABBA ADONAI!
 
The afternoon Workshop was very full with 24 women sitting in the hot, humid weather. We did not finish until after 6:00 PM and it was completely dark by then. Nila translated the teaching notes from the Workshop into Spanish. We will send them to Peru for distribution once they are typed, edited and printed. Please pray blessings upon Nila for her act of kindness and obedience to the LORD.
 
After the Workshop, Luis asked me to accompany him to meet and minister to one of his friends. When I arrived back at Lauree’s at about 7:30 PM as it was long past dinner time - God was so right about those granola bars! Daily the LORD’s preparation was a gift to me. In our American way, we often take for granted three meals a day, which most third-world countries rarely, if ever, experience. Thank You, Jesus!
 
October 4, 2002, Friday ~ To somewhat adjust the cold-water shower, I heated six large coffee mugs full of water in the microwave to help rinse the soap out of my thick, curly hair. It was quite a picture. Six large coffee mugs lining the miniature shower stall. Desperation is one of the greatest motives for creating a solution.  During my prayer time this morning, I remembered that my dad died two years ago today. He is in his mansion of perfect climate conditions and light in heaven, where he can easily stroll down streets of gold and go to the beach along the crystal sea, and here I am in the jungles of Peru.
 
We spent the morning moving all of Lauree’s things into one bedroom for organizational and safety reasons in preparation for our return trip to Lima. As her visa had expired, she would also be leaving Peru for a few days while the government processed her visa. Then we went downtown to the open-air marketplace in the late afternoon as Lauree had promised to take me. The open-air market place was crammed with many small booths, the hungry eyes of children, the haunting looks of the elderly and crippled children. The Holy Spirit orchestrated a way for me to pray with a little girl in a makeshift wheelchair. Detestable flies touched everything in the open meat market that had no refrigeration. With the $20, I purchased a Peruvian machete – a prophetic worship instrument to clear the pathways - and some Peruvian scarves for Prophetic Worship Glory Rings.
 
Then I met with Luis to meet some of his family and pray with them. It was all God ordered and very divine. More time in those delightful motorcars! We stopped by his mother-in-law’s wine shop, where they were surprised that, as a Minister, I would step inside. My faith allows me to follow GOD, wherever HE takes me, including a wine shop. Luis was faithful to translate as I inquired about wine making in Peru, her business and then asked if I could taste some Peruvian wine. Dinah asked what kind of wine I would like, and I asked her to choose. Graciously, she poured less than an ounce in a glass and offered it to me. When I asked her the name of it, she answered, “The Blood of Jesus Wine.”  The Holy Spirit knew that I missed taking communion with HIM each evening therefore I am certain HE brought me to this wine shop to have a moment in time, a moment of communion with HIM, Luis and Dinah. It was a divine co-union, a moment in community. Complete unity with YESHUA and HIS people. It was exactly like HIM! As Peru is primarily Roman Catholic, it was not acceptable by most cultural standards for me to drink wine during the day, nor to accept wine in the form of Holy Communion from a female shop owner instead of a Catholic priest. After we left the wine shop, the LORD provided a brief opportunity to meet, Melissa, Luis’s wife. Our visit included a meaningful, yet ever so brief, time of prayer.
 
Upon returning to Lauree’s, I prepared for my last evening to preach in Tarapoto. I planned to close with a worship dance. It is very rare for me to dance publicly in front of a congregation, therefore this was a stretch for me; yet I knew it was the Holy Spirit’s desire to teach by way of demonstration. Before leaving for Peru, Carolyn Davidson, a dear friend gave me a bright red worship dance dress, which I gave to Mama Telma before I left Tarapoto. The LORD asked me worship to HIM in dance to the song, “This is the Air I Breathe,” in Spanish. It is very encouraging to see the angels surrounding and hovering where we are gathered when one is ministering. The Glory Cloud of the LORD filled the place. The presence and power of the LORD was tangibly present, ushering in unity and harmony. When I finished ministering in word and worship movement, I invited others to worship dance with me, and many came up and danced and worshiped the LORD GOD including Pastor Jaime, Pastor David, Mama Telma and others. It was just like something GOD would do! Many worshiped with their Prophetic Worship Glory Rings. The end of a very long week with a delightful celebration of worshiping our King Jesus!
 
After the evening service was finished, we went to pray for a woman in a local clinic who was dying from cancer following an unsuccessful surgery. She was not expected to live through the night. We arrived at the clinic after it closed but they allowed us access through a side door. Although she was still in the clinic, she had died and would be transported to the morgue in the morning. It was barely a moment of prayer and touching the feet of the woman lying dead in the hospital bed. In the morning, she was living again! Just one touch of YESHUA! Glory to ABBA ADONAI!
 
October 5, 2002, Saturday ~ After another six-coffee-mug-shower in the morning, Luis and Pierre came by Lauree’s house at 8:30 AM and took me to the city of Morales, where we anointed the Cumbaza River with Holy Anointing Oil. There was an extremely large latex tree by the river; which is the source of latex that is used in American factories to make tires and other rubber products. This was my first time to see a latex tree, truly an amazing masterpiece of our Creator.
 
Then we went to the city of Banda-de-Shilcayo and anointed two rivers, the Choclino and the Shilcayo. The rivers are often used for bathing and laundry purposes. I observed two fully-clothed women bathing in the muddy river. They used a bar of soap discretely under their clothing and then dipping under the water to rinse off the soap. Another woman knelt on the rocks along the riverbank washing clothes. I wondered what it must feel like to come to the river for such personal needs. I thought to myself, if it is their cultural norm, then surely they could not feel embarrassed about their poverty. And then I wondered if I use cultural norms to excuse my own discomfort.
 
It was just pure joy to spend time with Luis and Pierre and have time to pray for the cities and over the rivers calling forth the River of Life (Ezekiel 47:12; Revelation 22:1, 2) in Peru.
 
Belen came by Lauree’s house about 10:00 AM and we traveled to the Catarata de Ahuashiyacu ~ Laughing Waters Waterfalls, which were one and half hours by motorcar up a very bumpy, narrow dirt road in the Andes Mountains. Since I could speak very little Spanish and Belen knew very little English, mostly we laughed and prayed in our Spiritual languages all the way up the mountain. The motorcycle overheated a number of times and I really did wonder how long it would take to walk down this mountain. The LORD was faithful to start that overheated engine many, many times. While traveling up the road, a large truck randomly came barreling around the corner and the motorcar driver turned quickly and drove head-on into the edge of the dense jungle as it swiftly passed by. This was an unprecedented faith building experience.
 
When we arrived at the trail head to the falls, the green, thick foliage was extravagant beyond belief. Truly, it is just like the photography books without the moist fragrant air and the gentle breezes. The butterflies were beautiful in brilliant neon blues, oranges and greens ranging in width from four to six inches. We climbed up many hand-hewn rock steps of various sizes and shapes, across two wooden bridges with rails and thatched roofs, and then we came to a single wet board (2 inches depth by 4 inches width) crossing the river. I heard the sound of someone screaming and then realized it was my own sound rupturing the harmonic rhapsody of the Peruvian Jungle sounds. Belen laughed as she ran across the board like an Olympic gymnast, which I am not! So, the motorcar driver walked back across the board to help me. He also laughed at my hysterical fear of falling off a narrow wet board into a river bed of rocks. Belen stopped on the other side to watch and cheer me on. The motorcar driver stood in front of me as I tightly gripped his shoulder with my right hand, then he graciously led me, slowly and kindly across the wet narrow board. HA! Then I could breathe again.
 
As Belen lept up the mountain like a goat, I remembered my childhood years, when bounding up mountains was so effortless. We arrived at the waterfall in about 30 minutes. It was beyond beautiful. It reminded me of the waterfall gardens that I had visited in the heavenly realm. There were some people swimming in the cold, mountain water and others sitting along the edge on the dark green moss-covered rocks. Rainbows danced in the cloudy mist as sunlight filtered through the thick jungle forest. The leaves of the trees dripped silently with humidity. The sounds of many jungle birds formed a melodic symphony overhead. The water poured thunderously over the cliff edge cascading white waves into the pool below. I am grateful for this brief moment in time, keenly aware that it is a precious and beautiful gift from my FATHER GOD. With humility and awe, I poured Holy Anointing Oil into the waters, and prayed that the Anointing of YESHUA would run down the mountain touching everything and everyone along the way. The entire experience was truly miraculous.
 
There was not time to stay and fully enjoy this priceless gift. We needed to return to Tarapoto by 1:00 PM for lunch with Pastor Jaime and Telma.  The intrepid descent down the dirt mountain road was noticeably much faster. Mud and dirt flew in all directions, as we raced and bounced through the center of every single pothole. Belen and I laughed until our sides ached. A very large green snake crossed the road and Belen yelled, “Verde! Verde!” which is the color green in Spanish, along with very descriptive hand motions of a large green snake. Fortunately, it was on her side of the jungle, my side just had beautiful blue, yellow, orange and green “mariposas”  ~ butterflies. The trip to the rivers and the waterfalls was an amazing gift of the LORD’s grace, joy, majesty, beauty, adventure, delight and fun.
 
We arrived at Pastor Jaime and Telma’s and enjoyed a brief time of table fellowship. Telma gave me a pair of earrings and palm-olive soap as gifts. As I looked at the soap, I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit. Before arriving in Peru, I had just finished a study on the word, “palm” which is symbolic of the LORD inscribing our names on the palm of HIS hand and the palm branches used to worship Jesus Christ of Nazareth, when He rode the donkey into Jerusalem (John 12:13). During this last season the LORD has held me in an olive press; this week was certainly like an olive press, squeezing every last bit of me... making more room for HIM and less room for me. A palm-olive branch week for sure!
 
Then Lauree and I were taken to the airport for departure back to Lima. Pastor Jaime and Telma invited me to return to Tarapoto. They oversee 98 churches in the Peruvian jungle and would like to take Spanish versions of the Have Glory Ring will Travel! book to their churches and teach them how to make worship instruments. Glory to God! Tarapoto was plenty close to the jungle for me. In the real jungle, there are white spiders the size of your fist and thousands of cockroaches, bugs and other delightful crawling things. AHHHHHHHHHHH!
 
Belen, Luis, Pierre, Luis’s parents, and others came to the airport to send us off with a Peruvian blessing. Belen gave me a friendship bracelet and Luis gave me a cherished photo. Mercy, these Peruvians have so captured my heart! We boarded Aero Continente again and the LORD graciously sent another legion of angels to carry us to Lima for a safe landing. Angelica met us at the airport and acquired a taxi that took us on another reason-to-scream adventure through the streets of Lima to the hotel.
 
Gonzalo called Lauree to invite us to a pastor’s conference where he would be translating in the morning, Lauree decided to stay at the hotel, but the Holy Spirit directed me to accompany Gonzalo. It was in my spirit to intercede for him while he translated for the conference.
 
October 6, 2002, Sunday ~ I looked forward to a hot shower with great anticipation. Even though the shower stall was of miniature proportions, the hot water would be well worth the inconvenience of the cramped space.

Amazingly, the hotel did not have any hot water in the morning. Is this a test? Fortunately, it was repaired quickly so that I could prepare for the day. Oh, by the way, the American hair dryer electrical connections do not fit the outlets in Peru, so fortunately the woman at the front desk of the hotel loaned me a hair dryer. These are small but meaningful things when one is traveling so many miles from home. Of course, it would have helped to know the language so one can ask for such simple things.
 
Gonzalo stopped by the hotel at about 9:30 AM and hailed a taxi to the prophetic conference with Key Ministries in Pensacola, Florida. About 200 pastors attended the conference hosted by Mision Cristian Apostolica. It was a very powerful meeting of many prophetic words, words of knowledge and much healing and restoration. The guest speaker, Kevin, preached on Exodus 31 and Jeremiah 29:11. Exodus 31 is the Scripture the Holy Spirit gave me when HE inspired me to make the first Anointing Oil in 1999 - “HIS Remnant Bride!” And Jeremiah 29:11 was the Scripture of my graduating class from Northwest Christian College 1994. It was a sweet, yet simple confirmation of the LORD’s favor.
 
At the close of the meeting, Kevin released a word of knowledge for anyone who had been physically or sexually violated to come forward for prayer and a healing touch from God. More than 30 women came forward. Then Kevin invited me to come up and pray over the women. Yes, God! Freedom from shame and humiliation! I shared briefly my testimony with Kevin. He then asked the senior pastor of the conference if I could have a few minutes to share. The LORD opened a door for me to share a five-minute testimony of how God transformed my life and healed me from childhood molestation, rape as a young woman and as an adult. It was so God! As the women gathered around for prayer I raised my hand above them and Kevin unexpectedly clenched my wrist and said, "Don't hit her!" I was stunned. I looked into his eyes and said strongly, "I don't hit, I pray!" Fear painted the faces of the women who gathered. Gratefully, Zalo was beside me to calm the women in their native language as I assured Kevin I would not be hitting anyone. Then he said, "We heard of a woman from Oregon who hits people." I answered, "I know of her and I am not her!" Then he let go of my wrist and allowed me to pray.  The women were very encouraged and came up afterward for more prayer, hugs and encouragement. Later I thought about how reputations precede or follow people and how it was assumed I would hit someone because I am a woman in ministry from Oregon. Mercy YESHUA!
 
The meeting closed around 2:00 PM and then Gonzalo and I traveled via taxi to La Punta, to attend a birthday dinner for another Gonzalo, Angelica’s son who celebrated his 15th birthday. It was a lot like an American birthday party with food, fellowship, singing and gifts! In the evening, we attended church with Pastor Julio and Janet and I had the privilege of meeting their beautiful daughters Claudia and Deborah. Pastor Julio invited me to minister again followed by another season of praying over God’s children.
 
October 7, 2002, Monday ~ This morning, Gonzalo invited me to join him on an extended tour of the city of Lima and on a tour bus ride up the Way of the Cross to the Cross of Light that overlooks this magnificent, historic city. There were 14 stations on the Way of the Cross, winding up a very narrow, partially paved mountain road. After a week of countless stairs, taxis, motorcars and walks, my right hip gave out and I fell up the stairs while at the Cross of Lights. It is more than a miracle to me that my physical being survived the last 10 days, as I am still overcoming extensive connective tissue damage in my right hip from two vehicle wrecks in 1994. Gonzalo was very gracious in helping me climb the stairs just one more time. It was a delightful day of having a thousand questions answered and taking many photos.
 
We met Lauree and Angelic at 2:30 PM for lunch and then took a taxi to Angelica’s. We strolled, walked and toured through La Punta, The Point, and Peru’s naval base enjoying the colorfully painted houses and lavishly adorned gardens. We leisurely strolled along the warm beach and delightfully embraced a magnificent sunset, infused with colors of gold, red, orange, yellow and pink, over the Pacific Ocean. We returned to the hotel by 7:00 PM to finalize preparations for our departure flights. I was returning with the clothes I was wearing and a single suitcase carrying the three Peruvian worship instruments, so my luggage was considerably much lighter.
 
We arrived at the airport by 8:00 PM as Lauree’s flight left two hours earlier than mine. Gonzalo and Angelica stayed with me at the airport. Then Pastor Julio joined us at about 10:00 PM to visit and share until my flight departed at midnight. He invited me to come to Peru again for a three-day seminar instead of just a couple nights of preaching. It is always an honor to be invited somewhere again. I arrived home the next afternoon at 1:19 PM (Psalm 119) still completely in awe of what the LORD had orchestrated in one ministry outreach to Peru. It was the most preaching I had ever done in my life.  The LORD opened doors for HIS eternal delight and glory! I pray the LORD will open the doors for me to return to Peru at HIS divine timing.
 
All Glory to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!