Update

Last week we spent 2 days at our mid-project retreat in an area just about an hour outside Lima where we were able to rest and enjoy the beauty of a relaxing retreat center and take time to process all that we have experienced over the last 2.5 weeks. We spent time in silence with God, time studying scripture and praying together as a team, and also time enjoying nature and climbing one of the mountains nearby. It was really great to get away from the hustle and bustle of Lima and re-center ourselves before heading back into the second half of the Trek.

Our team continues to grow together and build close bonds with one another, which was evident on the retreat as we all enjoyed being together as a whole team for a change instead of at our separate site teams. When we arrived at the retreat we spent some time sharing our highs and lows so far on the Trek. The students at the Yaycuy site had just returned from their week at their homestays with Peruvian host families. These homestays went really well and all the families that hosted our students were tearful when they had to say goodbye to the students. Last week the students at Yaycuy also started one-on-one mentoring with some of the adolescents that Yaycuy works with. This program is called "Amigos del Alma" (Friends of the Soul) and is a unique opportunity for our students to help mentor and encourage young Peruvians who come from really tough living situations and extreme poverty. Last week at Paz y Esperanza we continued our service at the community kitchen and our home visits in the community of Mariategui. The students have really enjoyed visiting people in their homes and praying for the sick, and the people we have been able to visit and pray with have been really encouraged by these times. Most of the students expressed that they feel like so much has already happened on the Trek that it's hard to believe we still have 2.5 weeks ahead of us, and they're not sure what God has in store for us, but they want to continue to stay open and engaged to following God with whatever He has in store for us here. On the low side, we have some upset digestive systems and diahrea and some students with colds, and have put a couple students on antibiotics for their diahrea. This kind of sickness tends to happen every year on the Trek as our bodies are just not used to Peruvian food and the environment of Lima. Our team is taking good care of one another and our Peruvian hosts at our ministry sites are also taking really good care of us, so please don't worry, but please do pray for quick healing so those who aren't feeling 100% can return to full health as soon as possible.

Here are a few more specific prayer requests:

• For the students at the Yaycuy site team (Alicia, Andy, Jacque, Jeff, Walter, Sarah, Sean) to build deep relationships with the youth they are mentoring
• For the Paz y Esperzana site team (Amy G, Amy L, Brandon, Kelton, Laura) to find new and creative ways to serve and go deeper in their relationships with the kids and staff at the community kitchen
• For increasing sensitivity to the Holy Spirit to guide us in the remainder of our time here in Lima so we can fully experience all that God has for us here