"I will give thee rest"

March 17, 2011

Having been cared for and watched after on our long journey to Macchu Pichu and back, we left Cuzco,  Peru.  We went inland toward Lima the capital.  The bus stop and surrounding area was so dirty and uninviting, however, that we decided to leave immediately without even staying the night.  We simply caught the next bus out and continued on our way.

By this time Austin and I were exhausted.  Each stop, every single day had been carefully planned out in order to make the most of the few remaining days until our flight back to NC.  We were exhausted.  Having been in high elevation, cold, and rain ever since leaving Mendoza, Argentina, we finally rode the bus to lower elevations and warmer climates.  God kept showing me this verse. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give the rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29.

We had traveled and see God's wonderful creation.  We had learned of the vile history of mankind and how sin had corrupted everything, even the spreading of the gospel, using it instead as an excuse to gain riches and fame.  It was now time to rest and this rest came in the form of Mancora!

We arrived at Mancora a few days ago.  A small surfing village at the northwestern corner of Peru.  The Pacific Ocean was fantastic, and has never been more inviting than that week after spending nearly a month in the cold Peruvian/Bolivian Andes Mountains.  The Pacific was cool, and dark and the waves tall and rough, so different from the warm, quiet, gentle waves of the NC Atlantic coastline.  It was a fantastic experiences as surfers, boarders, and well sun-worshipers internationally gathered in this desert town to lounge by the sea.

Our hostel had a large pool, so after baking beside the salty ocean all day, we simply wandered a few dozen yards and relaxed on our lawn chairs beside the sparkling pool.  The plan was to only stay a couple of nights, but the sun was so warm and inviting that we finally decided we simply must leave on the 5th day.

And so we left Mancora behind after nearly a week of seafood, local fruits, sun bathing, and beautiful sunsets (being from the east coast I've only ever seen the sunrise over the ocean).  We traveled north and upward back up into the mountains entering country #11 Ecuador.