Hello again, from Peru!
My team and I have been in Lima for a little over 2 weeks. I’m going to attempt to fit as much info into one blog post as I can, but we will see.
We are serving with a church called Camino de Vida. We’re in an area of Lima (which is ENORMOUS) called La Victoria. My team and I are mainly serving at the churches Dream Center called Casa Alcance. We clean, do children’s ministry and basically anything else they want us to do.
Peruvians are warm and welcoming. They always greet each other with a kiss on the cheek, which I love because it makes me feel so loved. However, you can imagine how that works out for Americans who aren’t accustomed to that. There have been LOTS of awkward moments when someone comes in for a kiss on the cheek and it takes you a little off guard. BUT we love it and it’s been the sweetest thing ever!
One of the most humbling things this month so far has been the language barrier. It is so hard to not be able to communicate with those around you. I am embarrassed to say I took 3 years of Spanish in High School and 4 semesters in college, and while I am amazed at what is coming back and how much I can understand, I am realllllly wishing I would have paid more attention in class! Haha! (shout out to Coach Cavasoz and all of my Spanish speaking friends that always helped me! haha)
I have been so amazed and encouraged by the Church here in Lima. Their volunteers literally live to serve. The church is completely fine without us, however they have invited us to serve alongside them this month, and I love that. We’ve had the opportunity to go to a few of the church services and although we aren’t fluent in Spanish, we are able to feel the Spirit of God there. It’s so awesome to be reminded that God is everywhere and language barriers don’t exist with Him. Jesus is ALIVE in Peru. That’s for sure!!!
We’ve got to go out and explore here and there, and it’s always so much fun. A couple nights ago, some of the locals took us to a district called Barranco. It’s kind of like the “artsy” district here in Lima. It was so beautiful. I also ate a Peruvian favorite called Anticucho…which is cow heart. I totally thought it was steak the entire time I was eating it. I found out after I was finished that it definitely wasn’t steak. That was fun.
Ministry this month has been refining and stretching. I am learning more and more that ministry looks different in each place/season we are in. And that’s okay. Serving Jesus doesn’t necessarily have a neat little cut out of what it’s “supposed” to look like. I’m learning that more and more every single day.
So, here I am. In Lima, Peru. Acclimating to the culture very quickly and learning to live with dirty feet all the time. I’m learning to let God move and move ME to do whatever He has or whatever He wants. And I’m actually completely okay with that. I’m learning every day to be more flexible. It’s so hard, but so worth it.
Until next time… Ciao!
