Last Day in Arequipa.

This morning I was reading in James and wanted to remind people about some truth in James 1.

"If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless." -James 1:26

If you are on leadership or attend THE CHILL or if you go to church all the time, but you gossip, slander, and use offensive/profane language, you are useless to the Kingdom of God. Obviously you may slip every once in a while and gossip or maybe a "bad word" comes out, repent and move on. However, a lifestyle that glorifies such behavior sends your friends down a path to hell. No great leaders for the movement of God have ever used profane language regularly that we know of, what makes you think that you are better than those? I am ranting a little today just because I can, but it is a serious thing, so what if using profanity doesn't offend you, that does not matter in Christianity, its not about us. I know of several people that do not go to NewSpring youth service because they say that they hear to much profanity, in the youth building! I pray for any of you that struggle with these things and pray harder for those of you that have been blinded by Satan to think it isn't a big deal...you will get angry reading this, thats how you will know if you are blinded :)

Ok...now for the last day in Arequipa. Yesterday was Sarah's birthday, she is an amazing woman of God that serves here in Arequipa (tough life) and teaches English at a Church, she also does Bible Studies in town. So, the Ayaviri Village Team, one member of Chupa Village Team, ESL Arequipa, Research Team, and Oruillo/Barnabus Team are all in town to celebrate! We went Horseback riding in the mountains for about 3 hours and I am feeling that today...wow. Well, Beth and Claudia both fell off there horses and Jared of the Ayaviri team got kicked by a horse in the ankle. Beth had a tooth chipped and Claudia had some minor bruises. Please pray for all of them.

Then, most of us went to Gauchos for dinner. Gauchos is a steakhouse...and for 30 soles (10 dollars) you get a HUGE steak, all you can eat fries and salad, the steak was one of the best I have ever had, it was great! Then, we went back to Sarah's apartment and watched a movie and ate some more, then we left. It was a good day and another lovely "vacation" day. Today we are going to the movies and shopping...I am gonna buy a few things here, but everything is a little more pricey here than in the State of Puno.

This is it, the last day :( I LOVE THIS PLACE. I WILL RETURN AT SOME POINT IN MY LIFE! Tonight at 7, we leave for Ica, it is a 9 hour bus ride...I think. Then, after a day in Ica, we will travel 1 1/2 hours to Nazca for Mid-Summer Retreat! By the time these days are over, I will be geared up to work in Oruillo!

I WILL GO
Chase Culbertson