Isolation.

“Welcome back from Peru! You get to spend the next 14 days by yourself in isolation!” Not exactly the plan we had when the WLA Youth team began their adventure to Peru. Not that this was anyone’s plan. The comforting matter of it all is that none of this was outside of God’s plan and foreknowledge.

Self-isolation has looked different for many people. For some on the Peru team, they have been reunited with their families and are experiencing self-isolation similar to much of our current society. For many others, it has been a quiet time in bedrooms and trailers, small interactions with family members and spending most of their time communicating through social media and video platforms. For me, it has been a time filled with both silence and a lot of noise. Technology has given us the amazing opportunity to connect with others at any moment we choose. I have spent many hours over the past week on the phone and video calls with friends, family and Mission Peru team members. But if I’m not talking or playing music, there is no sound to preoccupy my mind with. This has led me to many moments of silence and reflection.

How much time do you spend a week in genuine silence? I mean no background music, no group phone calls or podcasts, just silence. I think it’s fair to say that in our society we don’t always feel like we have time for silence, and when we do, it’s uncomfortable. The time I have these two weeks has given me space to actually reflect on my day to day experience, my relationships and the lessons God is trying to teach. I often feel like I don’t take enough time to genuinely listen to what God has to say. When was the last time you stopped to just listen to God? Not pray or worship, but to listen.

As a Peru team, we have been studying 1 Peter which has been a well-chosen book for the times we’re living in. Throughout the letter is the theme of suffering. I wouldn’t say that as a team we ever felt outside of God’s hands or were lacking, but it was a time of unknowns and we were confronted with our decision to either trust in God or to not. To trust in God means to put our hope and faith in him, the known and unknown. It means to rely on our Creator with the knowledge of who he is and know that when we surrender our situations, it’s not beyond his control, power, wisdom or authority.

Students and leaders on our trip experienced daily reflection time both individually and as groups. For me, it came down to the fact that if I say I trust in God, I need to know the God I’m putting that trust into. I need those times of quiet, listening and reflection. Isolation has been a sweet time to continue that both individually and over calls with the Peru team, but we know how quickly we can get caught in the busyness of life again. Taking times of solitude and quiet can be difficult and awkward initially. However, it’s in those times that we can truly reflect on the God we serve, come to greater knowledge of who He is and what that means for our lives.

Prayer Points:

• Thank God for the many ways I (and our team) have felt and experienced your prayers both in Peru and at home.
• Thank God for our church community who have provided meals and supply runs for team members in self-isolation.
• Thank God for the courage our youth have had these past weeks and time they’ve been given to reflect outside of regular routine because of school cancellations.
• Thank God for the healthy return of our team and continued health this first week.
• Join us as we pray for continued clarity, guidance and understanding. Both students and leaders were impacted on this trip and are looking at how it impacts both our immediate and long-term plans. May we have attitudes of surrender and humility.
• Join us as we pray for those who may be feeling lonely during this time of isolation and missing the face-to-face connections with family and friends.
• Join us as we pray for integration back into a society that is still unsteady. May we be lights in the dark, encouragement to those around us and people of prayer.