…Houston

I don’t actually know what to say here… I don’t think that if I tried I could adequately express how I feel. That’s not to say that I feel horrible. But it does mean that I’ve got a mix of things going on and I’ve not yet been able to process it all. My brain is still in Peru. I keep opening my mouth to speak Spanish to people. I’ve gotten a few strange looks for that. Luckily, in U.S. airports the staff speak Spanish. But that doesn’t stop them from wondering why this very white Canadian is speaking to them in Spanish. Oh well… that’ll take time.

Last night the flight took off from Lima about 15 minutes late. The security was crazy. After getting through customs and immigration, airport security and passport checks, they then proceeded to search all of our luggage before getting on the plane in order to assure we had ZERO liquids. Even if they were bought inside security, they were prohibited due to the recent terrorist bomb attempts. Anyway, we got to Houston on time this morning and I got through immigration without a problem. I was asked where I was coming from, and what my job is. Once again, as soon as I replied that I am a missionary, they had no further question and just stamped the documents and waved me on through. Also the nice lady let me wait in the U.S. citizen’s line (which moves faster and is shorter) because she saw my passport and said, “You’re Canadian, you should just move on through to there.”

Anyway, today I have to spend the next 13 hours in this airport. It’s a nice airport, but 13 hours is a long time. Next stop is Vancouver, Canadian customs and immigration, and then I’m off to Abbotsford. I’ve got until the 6th in Abby… meetings with the mission. Then I’m a free man. Whatever that means… haha.

Well, I’ll post again when I can. Please continue to pray for safe travels that are complication free. God has been so very faithful so far… but I’m not home yet. I have faith that he’ll carry me through the rest of the journey  as he has carried me to this point.

God bless… for me it’s breakfast time.

The End is Here

So I’m sitting on my bed waiting for José to be ready and in the office so he can help me check-in online for my flights tonight. That’s right… my flights. Tonight. At 11:45PM I’m boarding a Continental flight bound for Houston, Texas. From there I’ll spend the day in the airport and on Monday evening leave for Vancouver, arriving in Canada roughly 22 hours after I left Peru.

It’s weird to think it’s the last day. Still doesn’t feel like the last day. I’m guessing it won’t feel real until the goodbyes are said, bags are checked, and I’m on my way through customs. Or maybe it won’t feel real until I board that plane and taxi out to take off. I don’t know. All I know is right now it feels like a normal Sunday. However, no matter how much it feels normal, I know full well that it is not.

I leave Peru today. It’s been a great year. This is not to say that it’s been without struggle. On the contrary. This year has been the single most challenging thing I’ve ever done. But with that said, it’s been one of the most rewarding. Today I leave behind great friendships, an awesome church, some amazing mentors, and a whole lot of good memories.

Today we have church as usual this morning. But after church is over they are making a huge lunch for everyone to sit and eat together. The whole church will be together to enjoy good conversation and to visit with me one last time before I leave. It’ll be a great opportunity to say goodbye to them all. Then this evening, after some final preparations, José and I will get in a taxi at 7:30 or 8 and head to the airport for the last time. It’s something I’ve done with José a half dozen times… but this time I’m not picking up/dropping off someone else. I’m dropping myself off. Saying goodbye to José will be hard. That’s the last goodbye I have to say today and I’m not looking forward to it.

Thank you God for this year in Peru. Thanks to all of you for your love and support that have, and continue (I’m not home yet) to make this experience possible. Please pray for safe flights, complication free check-ins and connections, as well as a complication free time leaving Peruvian customs, entering The United States, and finally entering Canada.

I’ll do my best to write you from Houston. Chau for now,

Nate

God of this City

It’s Sunday, October 17, 2010. Here I sit, in the church office, in the late afternoon, enjoying the relaxing silence after a busy morning. José sits across the room reading the news and just surfing the web, Esperanza just hung up the phone after calling Colombia to chat with her son, with the distant rumble of Sunday traffic out on the main avenue, and the noise of Roy washing his uniforms for the coming week, I know the end has come. Two weeks from today I will be boarding an airplane bound for Houston, Texas. After a day in the U.S. I’ll be homeward bound, or at least, Vancouver bound.

It’s here. A year has passed by. I remember recording a video and writing a post two weeks after I got here. It’s hard to believe that was just shy of one year ago. So much has happened in this time. I learned to speak a whole new language, I adapted to living in a new city and a new culture, I’ve made friends, gained family, served my God, struggled, cried, laughed, smiled, and most importantly, I’ve grown. Today I sit in this office amongst all the familiar sounds and activities of a typical Sunday, and I know I am not the same man who arrived in Peru nearly twelve months ago.

This year I’ve seen my God do amazing things in this nation, this city, and in this local church. I know that I’ve been used to work in the lives numerous people. The chances the Lord gave me to serve his church in the Amazon, the opportunity to work with the northern churches, and the countless relationships that were built all because of God’s grace, were used to further his kingdom here in Peru and in this world. I can’t say that every moment has been to his glory. I can’t even say that I worked every moment for the harvest. There were times of trouble, times of failure. But I know God uses it all for the greater good.

Last week I decided I’d go up to the roof and read my Bible for a while. I started in James 1 and before I knew it had read the book. I spent some time in the Proverbs, 1 Chronicles, and finished by reading the book of Daniel. It was amazing to read words of wisdom, encouragement and stories of men, like Daniel, who served their God in a foreign land with courage, passion, and determination. At one point I looked up and just began to survey the cityscape before me. What I saw was Lima in a light that I hadn’t seen her before.

Lima is a city of 43 districts, nearly 10 million people, it’s very disorganized, polluted, and not many people like it. But in the midst of my reflections on this year in Peru, and the work that’s been done, I began the think about the work that is yet to be done. I looked out to the left at the district of San Isidro, a financial/commercial district filled with tall office buildings that look like New York meets Tokyo. And then I gazed to the right and saw nothing but houses and small businesses. It was then, in that moment that a song came to my mind. In the midst of this reflective moment, with the contrast of my views from left to right, and the memories of all that’s been done in this year. “God of this City” by Bluetree began to play in my mind. There are two verses in the song with a chorus that’s repeated. It goes like this:

“You’re God of this city, you’re the King of these people, you’re the Lord of this nation, you are… You’re the Light in this darkness, you’re the Hope to the hopeless, you’re the Peace to the restless, you are…

For there is none like our God, there is none like You, God!

Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city! Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done here.

You’re the Lord of creation, The creator of all things you’re the King above all kings, you are… You’re the Strength in the weakness, You are Love to the broken, You’re the Joy in the sadness, you are…

For there is none like our God, there is none like you, God!

Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city! Where glory shines from hearts alive with praise for You and love for You in this city.”

It was then that I thought of the future. I began to sing the song playing in my head and in that moment I made the same declaration that the lyrics state. I was at a Bluetree concert a year and a half ago. The lead singer told us that they wrote this song right before playing it at a show in India. They were in a city with a rampant sex trade. I believe it was Calcutta. That night they were scheduled to play in a venue that doubles on weekends as a brothel. And it was there that they declared, “You’re the God of this city!”

The other night when I sang those words and stared at the skyline I knew, my God, is the God of this city. He’s the God of these people. He’s the hope to the hopeless, the light in the darkness, and he’s the Lord of this nation. And when I thought of this year and all that God did in it, I knew that “greater things have yet to come, and greater things have still to be done in this city!”

Two weeks from now I will board that plane. The plane will lift off, fly over Lima, and head for home. And I leave, knowing in my heart that great things happened for the kingdom this year, in this city. As I leave this ministry behind physically, I know that my prayers will still be here, and they’ll be for this city.

This morning we sang in church a song with a line that says “Toda la tierra canta a tu nombre… toda mi vida canta a tu nombre… y toda Lima canta a tu nombre.” It means, “All of the Earth sings to your name… all of my life sings to your name… and all of Lima sings to your name.” I like that declaration. Because greater things will come, greater things will be done, and someday, ALL of Lima, and the whole world with it, will sing praises to the name of our God.

Because there is no one like our God. He’s the Lord of creation, the creator of all things, the king above all kings, and the God of this city.

If you want to hear the song, click here.

Last Updates from Arequipa

So I ran out of time with internet and such in Arequipa, but I had been recording updates. I even made a video… but we don’t have the right cables to get it from the camera to my computer. So maybe I’ll post that when I get back to Lima.

Anyway, these next two are from my last two days in Arequipa.

I have a shout out from Cuzco… but that’ll have to wait until tomorrow to post.

Tomorrow we’re off to Machu Picchu at 6AM! If you’ve enjoyed these, like I hope you have, then watch for an update from Machu Picchu.

Audio Update From (insert drumroll) AREQUIPA!

Hey so I’m traveling for a few days with my friend Italo. I’ve decided to do some audio blogs from various locations… too bad I haven’t got a video camera. Oh well… I hope you enjoy!

Greetings from Arequipa!

Nathan

Prayer : 1 Peter : Encouragement

I sent out an email just yesterday night to all of those on my support list about a specific prayer request for safety. As of late, Lima has been increasingly tense. It’s not a tension of conflict but more of security. I knew before I came to Peru that I was coming to a place that was not as safe as others. I also know that God does not guarantee we will be safe either. But lately things have felt worse than normal and I’m not sure if it’s just paranoia or actual security needs. What I said in my email I will also say again here. This is not cause to worry. I repeat, NOT cause to worry. But it is cause to trust in the Lord, have faith, and pray for his protection. Anyway, I’ve gotten numerous responses to this email from many of you and feel loved, cared for, and encouraged by knowing that I am being placed before the throne of God in prayer.

Today I was reading my Bible and the Lord brought my eyes across a few passages in 1 Peter. I want to share them with you and what was going through my head as I read them.

1 Peter 3:13-17

¹³Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? ¹⁴But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” ¹⁵But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ¹⁷It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

I really felt very strongly as I read this that the Lord is saying something like this to my heart, “You are in my work, and doing good for my kingdom. Who should you fear if you are my servant? Don’t have fear like those who don’t know me. Because even if it is my will that something should happen, I am with you.”

The second passage was 1 Peter 5:6-11

⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ⁸Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. ¹⁰And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

I have begun to feel strongly that what’s going on here is largely spiritual attacks. The enemy that we know we have in this world is working hard to put obstacles in our way, bring us down in motivation, discourage us, and put us on edge so that we cannot complete the good work that we are called to. I love the reminder to be self-controlled and alert, but to also trust in the mighty hand of God because “he cares” for me.

Basically, living in an environment where you don’t feel safe can be exhausting and stressful, but through the prayers of you guys, the encouragement you send, and God and his word, I feel confident and safe in his arms. I have faith that the Lord has placed a barrier of his protection around our house and each one of us.

God is good. Doing his work is good. And I know the Lord is forever with me. It is on those promises and assurances I live day-to-day.

If you did not get my prayer request email and would like to please contact me at nathanbrandes@gmail.com. If you would like to be on my email support list email me the address I should be contacting.

Blessed by ACTIONs

So let me fill you in on the title. ACTION is a short-term missions program run my MBMSI. On July 10th an ACTION team from Winnipeg arrived in Lima. I was at the airport at 2am waiting to greet the team and help them around the city for the following two days. Anyway, to make a long story short, they left Lima and were in Piura (a city in northern Peru) for 1 month working with the MB churches in the area. Well they arrived back in Lima last Monday morning while en-route to Canada again.

The time that they were here in Lima I was able to just relax, let my hair down and be Canadian with a group of University age people. It was like the biggest breath of fresh air that I have breathed since my parents were here in March. We didn’t do anything super special. We shopped, drank coffee, saw some sights, and walked, ate and most importantly laughed. We laughed a lot. It was just for two days. But two days was like medication for 4 months.

When it came time for them to leave and go up to Piura. I wanted to go with them. But I know my work is here and my relationships are here, and well, let’s face it, this is where I was called to. But one can still dream. Anyway, they returned and were in Lima for about 12 hours. So we spent the day together again. It was wonderful! We got connected with a Canadian family working here in Lima for the Embassy and they fed us too (thanks so much Friesens!).

I guess what I am trying to say is that I felt super blessed, refreshed, and energized by the Peru ACTION Team. Way to go guys (That’s Jeremy, Amber, Dave, Carolyn, Matt, and Miriam).

I have about two months and a half left here in Peru. This weekend I leave for my last trip up to Piura. I’ll be there visiting the church, participating with Otto and Lidia Funk in their ministry, and visiting some good friends. It will be nice to see them again before I go home. And I welcome the chance to travel and get out of Lima for a few days.

Anyway, thanks for your love and prayers everyone. God bless,

Nate

Peru in August

So I know I haven’t exactly been the star writer lately. I feel like I keep waiting for something to happen. I keep waiting for a new event, trip, or change in ministry that I can report on or write about. But it would seem that waiting like that only serves one end: You, the supporter/reader never actually know what’s happening until something big comes along.

Therefore I write you today with no news. Nothing is happening. Well, at least nothing new and big to write about is happening. Let me give you the low-down on a week in the life of Nathan:

Monday:
- During the day I usually try to catch a sermon on iTunes (either from my church back in PG or from some other famous preacher–or sometimes both). I like to work worship music into the process too. It makes me feel like I’ve gotten a small taste of church. Church is one of the biggest things I miss from home. I never expected it (because I work for an MB church right now), but I miss it a lot.
- Monday is also the day I grocery shop and do my laundry (I figured you needed that information).
- Every Monday night I go with José Manuel to a bible study/small group that meets in the home of one family from our church.

Tuesday:
- This day is usually filled with whatever it is that I happen to be working on at the time. This can be anything from the latest sermon, bible studies, personal writing projects, reports for the mission, communication with home.
- Tuesday nights at the church is the weekly bible study that José Manuel teaches. Basically he has invited the whole church but specifically the leadership to come and study doctrine, church function, ministry, and other valuable things about ministry life.

Wednesday:
- This day is also used (as are most days) to work on whatever projects I have on the go.
- Often I hang-out with one of the three guys I am informally discipling.
- Wednesday nights are currently free for me. So they usually are filled with Skype calls to friends and family back home, phone calls (yeah, I still use the phone), and occasionally I spend the night relaxing with a book or trying to watch TV/A movie.

Thursday:
- I usually consider this day to be one for whatever happens. Things are quiet in the church during the mornings on Thursday. And so if there is nothing chaining me to my desk then I try to get out and go to the park, grab a Starbucks, or sometimes I also use this time for those discipleship relationships.
- Thursday nights are also free for me and therefore often fill with communications from home.

Friday:
- Friday is my admin day. Or at least I try to make it that way. I usually try to handle any lose ends from the week on Friday. Sometimes this means finances, other times it means emails, and sometimes it even means blog posts (today I’m ahead of the game)
- Friday night is the church’s weekly prayer night. So I spend my time with a group of people who come to pray and then afterwards we visit and swap war stories from the week.

Saturday:
- I try to sabbath on this day. It’s a hard thing to do here. But I feel a strong need to do this. Normally I am very extroverted. But in Peru I am very much the opposite. This strongly plays into my need to sabbath. So on Saturday I try to sleep in, rest, and not do much. But occasionally that doesn’t happen.
- Every last Saturday of the month at 10AM is our church leadership meeting.
- Some Saturdays something special is happening and I try to be around for that.
- Saturday night is the youth group.

Sunday:
- Of course in the morning we have church.
- Church is usually followed by lunch with people from the church and then we spend the afternoon visiting, playing cards, or doing something special until evening… or sometimes until late.

That’s a typical week in Peru. But keep in mind, this is Peru, so a lot of things happen that change my week and keep my on my toes.

Anyway, there you have it. Nothing is happening. But now you know exactly what nothing looks like.

…LONG delayed Jungle Report.

So it’s been far too long coming for this update. I’m really sorry about that. It took a while to get back into things here in Lima, then I spent a week writing a sermon for the 18th, and then I had all this weekend hosting a short term missions team from Canada. So I apologize if you have been waiting for this update for a while.

I just want to share with you a few words and then I will post some pictures.

This trip was nothing short of a divine appointment. I went with Ronald (a young fellow from the church) to Tampe on an unplanned and kind of random trip. But, when we arrived in the Amazon community we discovered the church there was in distress. Three major issues had sprung up since the last time we were there in January. 1) Due to some poor preaching, and coincidental new government programs, the church was convinced that the Anti-Christ would be arriving in Perú (and bringing with him the mark of the beast, “666″) in the coming weeks. Some of them were so scared by this that they had stopped working and were ready to run to the mountains and hide. Some had even heard that a rapture or the Rapture had happened in the United States. 2) Other jungle churches were calling this church a sect or a cult because they are Mennonite Brethren and these other churches had not heard of the MB’s. Therefore the MB’s must be a new sect or cult. Now the church members problem was that they knew they weren’t a sect, but did not know how to explain why. 3) Disunity in the leadership team. When we arrived it started almost immediately. One leader would come to us and explain how what another leader was doing was just awful, and then another would come and say the same about the other.

So when Ronald and I arrived in Tampe, it was the perfect time to have us there. We spend a lot of time doing teaching on Revelation, Church/MB history, and also working intimately with the leadership team (in reference to their dynamics and communication). We taught them about John’s writing of Revelation and to whom and for what. We taught about the symbolism and assured them that Revelation is not meant to inspire fear for Christians but rather to encourage them that yes, Christ is coming back, and the end of this world’s brokenness will come. We taught the difference between a sect or cult and an established church in history (which is what the MB’s are). And we taught the need for unity and for confrontation in love rather than gossip and hushed accusations.
It was an intense time of ministry that showed major results. God worked a lot through us there and I was so encouraged, excited, and energized for ministry by such a hands on and practical time.

Other than those things we also did a bible study series on encounters with Christ and how they changed the lives of biblical characters (Zacchaeus, Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman) and how an encounter with Jesus can impact us. I did some preaching and teaching, we had kids clubs, and did a lot of visiting with the brothers and sisters in the community as well as playing with kids.

The trip was a blessing to me and I know to Ronald. And I believe that God really used us in that very crucial time. It was, as I said, a divine appointment.

Now, check out a sweet slideshow that Ronald put together with some of his and my photos from the trip. It’s the link found in the post below this one. Unfortunately I have had trouble getting this link to work in this post or to even appear in my blog. But if you click on it you will find it. The text is in Spanish. So here’s a chance to practice your Spanish or your Google Translate skills. Either way all it says is a little about some of the needs of this community and the purpose for our visit. All of which I’ve already explained. Enjoy!

Slideshow Link

Viaje amazonas junio 2010

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