Holly Pearson

I have no idea where to begin this blog post. There are really no words to decribe the kind of emotions I am experiencing. I wrote a post before we ever left to come to Peru, about feeling like it would be harder to leave Peru and come back to the states than it would be to come down here. I was definatly right, but for different reasons. I thought that I would have a hard time coming back to no house, no job, no—well you get it, but the hard part isnt coming back to nothing, but instead, its leaving everything. I would have never imagined that I would fall in love with Peru to the extent that I have. I was excited about coming here, and I knew I would love being here, but this is now a different kind of love, a burden and a heart ache about leaving.

Friday was my last day in Language School, and needless to say, I shed a lot of tears. We had normal classes until the last 2 hours, when we all got together, they suprised us with a cake, and everyone took turns saying some of the sweetest things I’ve ever been told. The teachers here are some of the most amazing men and women you could ever meet. Ziada and I are definatly two in the same, because of all the teachers and students, she and I took turns making each other cry. Zaida has made the biggest impact on my life over the past few months, and I could never thank her enough for all of her hard work, patience, and testimony. She really does reflect the Lord in her life, and she taught me so much more than just Spanish. I’ll post a seperate post about her later.

Today was our last service at Omega…and it was a beautiful way to end our stay here. I could have filled a bucket with the tears I cried, what an great testimony for Omega Baptist Church. I have seen God move in this church, and use some great men and women to do some wonderful things. I am sad to leave them.

I got to enjoy one of my favorite things today, and watched several futbal games…dont ask me why I love it, but I have a strange facination with it

So, we leave Arequipa in just a matter of hours, and I am still thinking of ways to get out of getting on that plane. I have learned so much about myself here; humility, patience, and dependency to name a few. I have made friendships that go beyond words (literally, in Spanish or English) I have reached my goal that I set for myself in the language, and I have been given a burden so strong, that tears are my only responce to the thought of leaving.

Thank you to everyone who had a part in helping us to get to Peru, and please continue to pray that the Lord would lead us as we work on getting back to Peru as soon as possible.

Here’s a quick update for my family, so I dont have to email it 100 times …

Went to the doctor on Monday, he was not able to tell me much because he wanted to have some tests run on me first, but after telling him my history, here was his initial treatment plan (until I got back the other results):

“I need more sun (to which, I laughed in my head thinking” no sir, I am always this white “)

Drink water-baking soda

-Take cranberry pills (when I told him that I do take them, he asked how many I took a day. I told him 2, and he said “well then, take 3″ when I, being frustrated at this point, I said didn’t feel like it was going to help, considering all the meds that havent helped for all this time, he told me some of it was in my head …. I mentally punched him in the face.)

I had the ultra sound done yesterday, got some cute little pictures of my “normal looking” kidneys and not much more.

I go back to “Dr. Need more Sun” tomorrow to give him the results.

We shall see. In the meantime, Im going to go lay outside for a while. (gonna be hard to get more sun when we go back to GA next month …… hmmmmmmm)

Alright, here it comes,  Its been a while since a post has come with a ”read at your own risk” warning, but I really need to get some emotions out.

I dont know if I want to cry, beat my head against a wall, or just go to sleep and wake up hoping that my kidneys have magically been fixed. I went to the doctor today, praying that the Lord would give him wisdom to understand the problems I am having. I have begged God to heal me, and I understand that there is a purpose in His plan, and I am working hard at learning to be content with His design for me. I also know that there are plenty of people who would gladly trade places with me right now, and I shouldnt be complaining about a silly kidney….But, in the spirit of being honest, Im having a hard time.

One of my fav. verses in the Bible begins by asking a question that I have asked myself many times lately.

 ”Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted with in me?”

And my response is “I am tired of not understanding, and tired of doctors not searching for an answer, instead, just throwing any old treatment at me, and hoping it will be the one that works….but always finding, the answer is no”

The next part of the verse, is the part that brings me back to reality, and convicts my heart to trust Him more, it says:

“ hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God”

Who am I to question Gods plan? I am not saying that I have perfect peace about my situation, in fact, Im struggling. I want to feel better yesterday, and I wanted an answer for this a long time ago as well. But in that, I have the knowledge of  a Savior, who designed me this way for a reason. He is my health, and with out Him, I am nothing. I am trying to focus on Him, and not my selfish wants…I want my countenance to reveal Him to others. I know that this blog surely doesnt do that…

It says “I will yet praise him”……I want that to be my testimony. I find it so easy to praise Him for the good things He has done for me, but I am still learning the “YET praise him” part.

Pretty sure Im going to regret posting this for everyone to see how unspiritual I really am…But its whats on my heart.

I will YET praise Him….though Im not sure I will always know how, or understand why…He is a good God, who loves me, and is worthy of all praise, for ALL things. Including the things that are hard for me to bear.

Well thanks to everyone who prayed for my test this morning, but I didnt get to take it.  I woke up this morning, with quite a bit of  blood in my urine, and my kidneys feeling like they would explode at any second. Please be praying that I can get an appointment with the new specialist soon. We only have 25 days left in Peru, and I would really like to enjoy them without dealing with my kidneys. Thanks for your prayers in advance, I try to stay quiet about my health issues, but I really need the prayers right about now.

Tomorrow I have another test…pretty unsure about this one. It will be the longest test I’ve taken so far, and I am not so certain that I totally understand the lessons. For example, Im still having a hard time figuring out if someone is saying “I am sitting on the cat” or “I am feeling the cat”

Pretty big difference

Poor cat.

You can go ahead and count on several of my next posts being about how sad I am about leaving in a month. Today we had an awesome time at church, heard two wonderful messages, (of which, I really did understand quite a bit) spent some time with friends and reflected on the things I have enjoyed about Peru.

After the service tonight, a group of us went to Saga to eat…thats when it smacked me. I have woken up for the past few days with a sick feeling in my stomache knowing that we were one day closer to our departure…but tonight while sitting around the table, I realized that we have less than 30 days remaining. Like a little girl, I cried.

To top off the night (and to give me one more reason for not wanting to leave) I heard that there was a salvacion decision made after service tonight at Omega. Our God is so good, and has been showing me his blessings and strength in all situations. The work here is incredible, and you’d have to see it for yourself to understand why I dont want to leave.

Well, its been a while since my last post…and a lot has been going on here.  Everyday is a new adventure, and everyday closer to December 15th adds a little more sorrow in my heart about leaving. To be honest, when we first got here, I was undoubtedly excited about being in Peru, and I loved it…but as time has gone by, I find my self realizing that I love it here more and more everyday. I have gone so far as to ask Andrew to change our tickets, just to have a few extra days here (dont worry mom, he wont do it)

Dont get me wrong, I am looking forward to being back in the States with my family and friends, but in the strangest of ways, my heart longs to stay in Peru. I do not know what the plans are as far as returning, we are still seeking the Lords will on that matter, but I know that what ever the outcome, the Lord has the ability to cause one to love in a way that is unimaginable. Who would have thought, that in a few short months, I would fall so in love with a country.

The night we arrived in Arequipa, we were in a taxi coming down the dirt road to the Bible College…It smelled horrible becuase of all of the livestock farms, and it was dusty, dirty, and inconvienient. Now, that road takes me “home” and those things that were so obvious before arent so much anymore. The countdown has begun again…only this time, I am wishing the time would slow. 32 more days…

Please be praying for the Gardner family. Charles Gardner (my pastors father) passed away this morning after suffering from a stroke. Im not sure of all the details at the moment, but it looks like David and Katie will be flying home soon for the funeral. Please pray for them as the travel, and the family as they mourn.

I get to take my test over again tomorrow…ugh…the great part is, that I got nearly all of the questions correct, I just cant spell in Spanish. Oh who am I kinding, I cant even spell that great in English Haha.

I guess I’ll be practcing my spelling tonight