Peru Compassion-July 5th-12th

As I return home and log on to my e-mail this morning, I am welcomed with a note of encoragement from Amy Banta to all of us. I think it important to post a portion of what she shared with us: ”I wanted to thank each of you for your willingness to be a part of God’s work here in Peru. I’ve found that God challenges you not only during your trip but also when you go home, where its so easy to fall back into the same routine. I pray that the fire and passion you felt here doesn’t fade away and your experience here is only the beginning of a long journey walking hand in hand with God. I’ve shared an experience with all of you that I will treasure forever, and made friendships that will last for eternity. Thank you for your continued prayer and support.”

How refreshing it was to read this. Amy’s words remind me of the letters Paul would send to the seven churches encouraging them to persevere, to stay the course and finish the race. We all started something with our experiences in Peru, I pray we all will have the strength and commitment to continue our repective ”enterprise” work for God’s Kingdom, as He uniquely created in each one of us.

Larry Ray

So as much as I hate to say it, it looks like it’s time to wrap this week up. It seems like only yesterday we arrived in this crazy land of parasitic water and toilet paper trashcans. Unfortunately though, tomorrow night at this time we will be on an airplane back to the good ol’ USA. If someone would tell me to sum up this trip in one word… I would laugh at them. It simply can’t be done.

One of the topics we discussed here every night was where we saw Jesus that day. I can safely say that I saw Jesus everywhere. Firstly, I saw Jesus in our leadership. Considering the relatively inexperienced group of people they got, I’d say we got a lot accomplished (even if most of it was cramming styrofoam into walls).

I also saw Jesus in the rest of our group. Even when things got extremely frustrating (specifically, the bits where we were cramming styrofoam into walls), there was always someone there to say something funny (or sing a song) to cheer everyone up. I was fascinated at the way our group bonded so quickly.

Finally, I saw Jesus in the children. One day I was working on a particularly frustrating task (cramming styrofoam into a ceiling for a change of pace), and I found myself starting to forget why I was doing what I was doing. It just seemed pointless. Afterwards, we headed across the street to play with the kids, and we were greeted with that insane excitement that can only be found in young children. As I was carrying kids on my shoulders, watching them trying to ride goats, and swinging them from their pantlegs, something hit me. It felt like God had just pointed at them and said “This is why you went through that frustration today. It was so kids like this could have a nice place to call home.”

It saddens me that I’ll soon be back in the United States. It’s not just that it feels like there’s more to be done here, even though there is. It’s more that I feel like I have so much more to learn. I have more to learn about God, I have more to learn about serving people, and I have more to learn about myself. I came here to change the lives of others, but my life was changed in the process. I came here to help kids that I’ll never meet live a better life that I’ll never know about. Even so, I feel privileged that I got to be a part of it. Even if that part happened to be cramming styrofoam into walls.

-Seth “El Jefe” Forney

6 months ago i knew nothing about Peru let alone where it was. Now looking back on my experience here in a developing country I strongly believe that i have learned so many lessons that i am going to take back to America with me. My trip to Peru has opened my eyes on so many different levels. I have never been around much poverty in my life, but the first time we drove to the orphanage my mouth literally dropped. my first thoughts were oh great what did i get myself into, these people must be miserable and they probably will not be very pleasent to be around. I was completly wrong. I have never seen so many happy and greatful people in my life. I received the most hugs this past week from adults that have never met me, that is one of the main differences between America and Peru. There is no judgement here, people are so greatful for everything, you can not do something so small without hearing a thank you from atleast 2 people.

I have a soft spot in my heart for children, but i did not expect myself to get so attached to one child. Her name is Cecila, she is ten years old, she is one of the orphans. She was the first child to hold my hand, first child to jump up in my lap, she was the child that made me cry. Cecilia was so patient with me, i know absolutly no spanish, well other than hola! haha but that wont get you very far. She showed me that it does not matter if you know the other persons language to show how much you care about them. Her smile made me feel so fulfilled, she made me feel wanted. Cecilia would be the first child to hug me everyday, i loved that. I looked forward into going to play with the kids every morning, i mean come on i had to have something to look forward to at 7 in the morning! The children were amazing, every single one of them. For some reason the children really have a way of making a horriable day into the best possibly day. These children have so much love to share but they need people to share it with. The hardest part of this trip for me was saying goodbye to the children. Cecilia asked me if i was coming back and all i could say is i hope so but no promises, she had a tear roll down her face while i had a river of tears pouring down my face.

this experience has changed me and my goal for this next year is to put aside money and figure out a way to come back here because my work is not done yet, i have so much more to give to these children and this community. God bless

-kelly

That is, I am an American. So I probably should have brushed up on my Spanish a little bit before I came on this trip, but I’ve been getting by. This was a trip of firsts- first time out of the country, first time on a mission  trip without any family, first trip where I have truly experienced how God can touch my life in so many ways. Everything I have done on this trip has been for God and I have never been on a more fulfilling, fun, yet challenging trip before. I’ve dug and “undug” ditches, stood on the ledge with a 10 foot drop to drill wood for a roof, stuffed stryofoam into walls for insulation and made lunch for 15 some people. And I can’t think of a better way to spend my time..oh wait, yes I can.

Playing with the kids at Hogar de Ninos has been the absolutely best part of this trip. These kids love you automatically and you can feel their excitement when we walk through the door. They have complete trust in us and the language barrier disappears as we play and laugh. Even something as simple as swinging them in a circle makes their faces light up. I have never experienced such joy and love before, in adults or children. It makes me wonder, if all people were as open, loving, and faithful as the people that we have met here are, how would the world be different?

This trip has truly been a life-altering experience. My faith has grown tremendously and I have found a purpose for my life. I plan on going to medical school to become a doctor and once done my training, I will help people in underprivileged countries. I believe this is what God is calling me to do with my life. He has led me to come on this trip to find the next step in my path. I know He is in complete control and I can’t wait to see where He will lead me next.

~Heather

I can’t believe tomorrow’s already Friday! This has been a great week!  We normally begin our day with breakfast at the hostel and then go to the work site with our daily tasks and then in the afternoon after working, we go to the orphanage across the street.

Something very different about the Peruvian people is that they are extremely open and welcoming.  The first day we went to visit Hogar, a little girl, Talia, slipped her hand into mine and walked alongside me as we took a tour around their orphanage.  She would just look up at me and smile :)   They welcome you with big hugs, complete strangers, with such a warm embrace.  There is really a sense of acceptance of everyone no matter who you are or what you look like.  When we go over and play with the children, they are so nice and playful just like all children are; but it’s hard to think that after we leave, they don’t go home to parents.  When I look at these kids, it reminds me of the children who will be living in Hannah’s Hope.

The work we have been doing on the job site is tough at times, but definitely fun with all the other team members..and certainly worth it.  With God all things really are possible.  I was putting in styrofoam insulators in yesterday, and today I was putting drywall in the ceilings with a drill.  I’ve never had building experience past the required Tech. Ed. class in school, but I’m able to learn how to do all these things.  Before we began working today, we had time to write different Bible verses on the styrofoam walls which is very cool to think that those words are going to be in the walls of Hannah’s Hope.

Other than constructing the orphanage and visiting the kids at Hogar, on Sunday we went to a church service, and last night we also went to visit another church.  The services are a little different, but they people are the same warm and loving people.  Not only are the new people we meet here friendly, but our entire team is very nice and here for the right reasons: we’re building an orphanage for children, but ultimately everything we do is for God’s glory.

<3 Serena

So, this trip has been so much more than I expected. The people, the tasks, and of course the kids. Before coming, I was a little worried about being far away from home with people that i hardly knew. But everyone is incredibly cheerful and funny and so compassionate about what we are doing out here. It blows my mind how quickly everyone has bonded and how well everyone works together. I just love working with people who I don’t really know and having fun with them while putting styrofoam into the walls. So, my point is is that everyone here is awesome.

Secondly, the things we are doing here are waaaay different than what I thought. I actually got onto the roof and was screwing in big shingle type things. It was such a great experience, and it was something that I  never thought I would do. The past two days I’ve gotten to do different tasks and work with different people, and even though I’m not always the best at it, people are patient and the job gets done. I have been thinking a lot about the children who will be in living in the orphanage we are building, and it is just so satisfying to know that they will have a safe place to live and they will be able to hear the message of Christ.

And, at last, the kids. There is so much I could say about the children from the orphanage across the street. The are the cutest, happiest, most playful kids I have ever met. Even though I haven’t gotten the opportunity to play with them all, I love every single one of them. I don’t know any Spanish, so it’s hard for me to always know what they are saying, but just to sit with them or hold their hand puts a smile on their faces and mine. There is one girl who I have spent the most time with named Milagros. Today we spent a good amount of time putting glue on our hands and then peeling it off. The joy that I got from just hearing her laugh at that was priceless.  I see God’s love in these kids every single day. The joy the get from the littlest things is such a blessing to me, and it is a lesson that I will take with me back to the United States. I could really just go on and on about these kids. They make the aches and pains from working all day totally worth it, and I hope that I can have as much of an impact on them as they have had on me.  I am so thankful for this wonderful opportunity and I just pray that God would continue to show me more and more amazing things on this trip.

–Simone

Hey everybody,

The first few days in Peru have been great! I never thought I would be friends with any Ohioans, but as it turns out, Kelly and Corey are pretty cool kids (at least, as far as freshmen go…). The children at Hogar de Ninos are truly amazing to me- you would never know that they were all orphans, given the abundance of laughter and smiles. Every one of those kids has had a great tragedy in their lives, and yet they all carry on just as happily as the happiest one of us. What really strikes me is the source of their joy. It’s not Christmas morning, or a payday, or even a Friday that brings out the most happiness in them; it is having visitors. Fellowship and friendship with others. I wish that I could honestly say the same for myself. Way too often I find myself so invested in material things that it disrupts my relationships with others… how messed up is that? How do we ever value inanimate objects over people? I don’t really know, but it happens all the time. So I guess my point is that if we are ever to “be imitators of God, as dearly loved children,”(Eph. 5:1) then we maybe should take a cue from these orphans, and get excited about people; new friends, non-Christians, extended family members, or just total strangers… If we could truly value relationships with these people more than we value ourselves and our possessions, then I think we would all be one step closer to what God intends for us to be- “imitators of God.”

Espero que estan divertiendose durante el verano!
- Colin

The message at church this morning in Chilca really spoke to me as we began our week working on Hannah’s Home and Hope. Titled ”Measure of Faith”, the pastor cited faith is what transforms us into what God has planned for us … what it is he wants to do through us to build His Kingdom on earth. He said each of us is an “enterprise” for the Lord.  Here we are on a missions trip in a poverty stricken area of Peru and the pastor is talking about enterprises. Our faith is what brought us to Peru, where we heard a pastor tell us we were being transformed into enterprises designed to help one another.

I’m remain in awe of the wisdom of the Word, no matter where in the world you hear it. We truly worship the same God.

He went on to say it’s a matter of responsibility. As we’re transformed by the faith manifesting in each of us, we become leaders to others to be transformed by faith, thus futhering His enterprise …. furthering God’s Kingdom on earth. One of the supporting passages we read was Hebrews 10:35-38 … we are to persevere so that when we have done the will of God, we will receive what He has promised.

After church and a great seaside lunch, we moved our collective enterprises to Hogar de Nino where we played with the kids for a few hours. I pray our transformation will serve to advance their budding enterprises for the glory of His Kingdom.

Oh, and did I mention we had fun?!  Can’t wait for tomorrow!

Larry Ray