Christmas

it is my first Christmas away from home. yet I am amazed at the amount of blessings that have been poured upon me this holiday season.
I am thankful for the recognition that our God is a big and miraculous God. that he can and will bless those that love him.
I have an amazing family. one that i remember every time i listen to i'll be home for christmas and can't help feeling a bit sad.
an amazing group of friends that know me exactly. that confirm my calling. that pray for me.
An amazing church family that sent gifts, that lifts me up in prayers, that i can call home.

I have a home in Peru. I have a family in Peru.
I have dreams for Peru. I am so blessed to be here.

This christmas I am remembering the many ways I am blessed.

Love Leanne

the desert.

As I start to write this blog I have many thoughts filling my head.
thoughts of confusion, of homesickness, of discouragement.
and yet the one that is overpowering all of those is hope and calling.
The Lord is close to the broken hearted.
The Lord is good.
the Lord is filling me with his joy in turmoil.
I will stand firm in the truth.
I will stand firm in the creator.

there are people that love and pray for me. I was incredibly blessed by christmas packages sent by people in my church back home.
another thing I have realized is how amazing and wise my parents are!

I am learning. and for that I am so thankful even if the process is through sacrifice, through pain and through challenge.

Leanne

1 month!

it's hard to believe that one month ago i landed in this beautiful place called Arequipa...
more and more i have been starting to pick up spanish... today as i was waiting at the post office (which by the way, there is 1 for 1 million people and it is only open 3 hours a day) and i was able to have a conversation with some of the ladies there.
i am missing home and my friends,
but i really am growing to love many people here.
i am so very blessed to be on this journey with alyssa...
in 1 month we will be in puerto maldonado doing a big impact project!
thank you all for your support...
i really do appreciate it:)
Leanne Bennett
please pray for:
continued safety,
continued speed on picking up the language

PS some of you have been asking for my address...
it is
Leanne Bennett
Avenida Lima 110
Yanahuara
Arequipa, Peru

my first 2 weeks in Peru

I have been in Peru for almost 2 weeks. It is hard to believe because these 2 weeks have been the hardest/yet 2 of the best of my life.
I am living in Arequipa, Peru with a local family here studying the language.
I am working for extreme nazarene in the planning of an event called familyzone, an outreach for families in Cusco.
I am meeting many new amigos! People here are nice, even when I mess up my spanish! :)
Upcoming Events:
I will be going to Puerto Maldonaldo (the jungle) for a 2 week impact project the 3rd week of October. There we will be showing the Jesus film, playing with the kids, praying for people, and doing whatever needs to be done! Please pray for me to learn the language quickly!
Please Pray for:
language training,
my health (already been facing the flu)
safety
thank you for all your support!
Leanne

beginnings.

i have recently been thinking about mediocrity.
i cling to areas of black and white whereas i find we are drawn to the grey areas.
things like not doing what you love, settling to ensure you'll never be alone, never fully allowing yourself to dream bigger has been a way of life.
but i wonder,
what if we dreamed bigger?
what if we challenged more?
maybe that is what Peru will be for me. My hope is that I will go beyond the daily routines, to find myself pushed to the point of exhaustion yet also to true joy.
to learn a new culture, way of life.
but more importantly to learn of kingdom culture.
where we give more than we take.
where we become something other than just us.
less than 2 months.
i'm excited,nervous,scared,details overdrive,
the usuals.