Well Peru, you were nothing like we expected…and we love you anyway.
This week P-Squad is ending our all-squad month in Trujillo, Peru working with Savage Ministries. Living with 57 people in the desert has been nothing short of an adventure, filled with stray dogs and random sickness, and missing clothes…only to notice your squadmate is wearing that one shirt you’d been looking for all morning. Nevertheless, God has been so near and evident.
From preparing preschool classrooms for the school year, to English classes, sports ministry, and Vacation Bible School, P-Squad has felt the love for so many people here in Peru. The children have captured our hearts and their stories have changed us. In a culture where marriage is not common and rape and physical abuse are sadly common, meeting and loving children that flourish despite their circumstances has certainly made it difficult to not change.
As a squad, we realize we all love and receive love differently. While the five love languages could be brought up here, I think we realize that we communicate love through how we serve differently. For some, completing a task well communicates love while for others loving looks like giggles, cuddles, and endless pictures together with kids. Learning to love one another well has not felt like a feat, but a joy…and let it be known that P-Squad loves well.
February, the month of love, was an appropriate time to have us all together. The P-Squad men were sure to make Valentine’s Day special for the women by surprising all 46 of us (while there are 11 of them) with foot washing, foot massages, pedicures, long stem roses, and notes of encouragement. The women did return the favor and put each guy up front in the “hot seat” as we gave them words of encouragement and affirmation. Perhaps it was a little uneven in the giving (sorry fellas) but it was an excellent day, full of excellent surprises.
P-Squad, it’s been a good month.
