We are a little over a week from departing for Peru and we couldn't be more excited about God is going to do.  Wanted to share a brief thought with you all about our theme verse for the trip.  James 2:18 says "but someone will say 'you have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works and I will show you my faith by my works."  As a group we want the things we say and things we do to line up, we want to be believers who not just talk the talk, but truly walk the walk.  As Christians, we have a hope that lives inside of us because of the grace and love that Jesus has shown us.  Our response must be with actions then, not just words.  That's the nature of why we are even going on a trip like this.  We do it because God has done something inside of us, loved us, and we want to express that love to the world.  Understanding this then, our faith is defined by our actions, by the things we do, not the words we say.  The heart of Jesus' message to the world was to take care of poor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and heal the sick.  Many of Jesus sermons, including his first and last that he ever gave, were about taking care of the poor and needy.  Something that was this important to Jesus, should be that important to us as well.  We are excited that we get to go and be the hands and feet of Jesus to people that need hope and need to hear of his love for them.  We cannot wait to see all the many wonderful things that he is going to do!!  We're excited to share this trip with you!