I’m sorry that I have not kept better
updates. So much has happened since my last post, not really sure where to
start. Well, here’s some exciting news to tell, last week two of the girls from
Morning Star Children’s home were able to leave with their families. Claudia
was blessed with a great couple from Italy who, after spending a week here in
Peru with her, were able to take begin their trip to her new home in Italy on
Monday. I was blessed with an opportunity to speak and pray with her before her
parents came to take her home. It was a special moment that I am very grateful
to have gotten as well as the opportunity to have gotten to know her during my
time here. Please be in prayer for this family as they adjust to living with
each other and grow in their love for each other. Rita is another girl that
through a series of events ended up at the children’s home but the court
approval came through and her parents (who live in the mountains and had sent
her down to Ferrenafe to receive an education) walked the four day journey down
the mountain (this is the only mode of transportation for getting down the mountain
they live in) to pick up their little girl. An exciting part of her story as
well is that during her time here she professed to know Christ as her Savior
and wanted to be baptized. Thankfully she was baptized on Sunday because she
was reunited with her parents on Tuesday as they embarked on the four day journey
back up the mountain. Please pray for Rita as she returns to her life in the
mountains, that the transition would be smooth and that she would be a shining
light in her community.
So I was talking to someone the
other day and I said something about my day to them and they found it
interesting, even though it was something I now think of as ‘normal.’ So I am
trying to look at Peru with new eyes once again in order to give a better view
of life here. So here are just some random thoughts: 1) Sidewalks. Peruvian
sidewalks are a disaster waiting to happen for clutzy people. They are uneven
with random holes perfect for falling into. No joke, I have seen more of Peru
while looking down than I have of it looking up. Without fail every time I look
back to talk to someone, I end up tripping over something. 2) Dogs. On the
fifteen minute walk to the compound there are about 100 dogs that loiter the
streets (ok so maybe that number is a little high but it sure feels like it sometimes).
Usually they keep to themselves but once in a while they get a little feisty. I
have had many of them run after me barking and growling (thankfully they are
scared of getting hit by rocks since that is what everyone does to them when
they attack. So usually all you have to do is bend down like you are picking up
a rock and they back off. However, I have been in situations with a dog nipping
at my heels when all I had in my hand was a coffee mug, he got the message. And
so far my ankles are still intact). 3) Blue eyes. Never in my life have I been
complimented so much on my eyes. People will just stare at them and say how
much they like them. My favorite was when this cute little three year old boy I
was sitting next to (during a service at my friend’s church) leaned over his
grandma to ask me what my name was and tell me that he thought my eyes were
beautiful.
And of course I love my kids at the
school! Still not convinced that teaching is my calling (though it is for this
particular time in my life) but I love just getting to love on the kids. My
favorite part of the day with my three year olds is right after their Spanish
class when I am sitting down (one of my only chances to do so during the day)
and everyday Jhon will start a hug dog pile that ends with all twenty-two of
them joining in. They just want someone to love them and spend time with them
and I am privileged to be that person. My other favorite part of the day is
after school and classes when I can just talk with my third graders and the
other kids at the school. Some of them “walk us home” since their houses are on
the way to where to I live. It starts as a big group from the school and then
dwindles down as they each get to the street where they live. They talk and
talk, even though they know that I don’t understand half of what they say, they
just want someone to listen and to care. There such a need here for God’s love
to be shared in a community of poverty and broken homes.
