We made our way to Cusco, Peru on the evening of September 10th and arrived September 11th. I wish we would have been able to spend more time with the girls in Arequipa but I have stayed in touch!
In Cusco, a few teammates and I stepped out in faith and prayed with a man whose son was in the hospital. On the first day, I also met a local artist named Julio. His work was amazing and I ended up buying a small painting from him. I was able to strike up a conversation with him and learn about his family and passion as an artist.
*Some of Julio’s work*
Some of us took a free walking tour in Cusco and learned about the Incan history of Cusco. It made me think so much of the Guatemalan community in Tuscarawas County and their Mayan heritage that I have come to learn so much about.
Fun facts:
- Pachamama is the name of the goddess revered by the indigenous peoples of the Andes. She is also known as the earth/time mother.
- Tupac, yes the American rapper and actor, was renamed after Túpac Amaru II, the 18th-century Peruvian Revolutionary was executed after leading an indigenous uprising against Spanish rule.
- Lately, the Quechua language, is experiencing a true revival and often you can hear it being spoken on the streets.
On a separate day, I took one of my teammates to see Julio, the artist, and he greeted me with a hug and kiss on the cheek. He even let me choose one of his smaller paintings to take with me as a gift. He wrote a personalized message on the back of the painting 🙂
I, basically, crave cheesecake anywhere it is available so I bought some and then purchased and extra piece to take to Julio. I went back to visit him and met his wife, Lidia, and their grandson, Benjamin. She gave me a knitted beanie 🙂 They were so sweet!
Of course, being so close to Machu Pichu, we had to go. We made our way walking to the small town of Aguas Calientes (Aguas Calientes in a small little town at the base of Machu Pichu) with our small day packs for 6 miles following the train tracks. I should not have packed as many snacks as I did! I was sweating like it was my job by the end of this walk. I was exhausted once we arrived in Aguas Calientes.
*Cute painting on the wall at our hostal in Aguas Calientes*
During this walk, we unashamedly played worship music over a portable speaker. Often, when the force of the train traveled by us and with the weight of one outfit, snacks, and my water on my back, I thought of the stories I have heard of those who have abandoned their homes to seek a better life. The wind coming from the train…the scary reality of the danger of being so close to it made me think of those who risk it all on La Bestia. The weight of my stuff on my back triggered me back to the day I sat with a former student in the library, helping him with an essay on his experience to the States, and he paused and he looked at me and said, “Miss Frieda. My backpack was so heavy.” And then he went back to writing.
I missed the kids and families the most during these days and times.
Our last night in Aguas Calientes, I dreamt that I was being spiritually attacked. In my dreams, I even woke up two of my teammates to pray with me but that did actually not happen.
There has only ever been one time where I felt a spiritual attack this strong where you are just consumed in darkness and that happened the Summer of 2017.
Because it was a dream, I sort of brushed it off but it became apparent as the hours went by that the attack was still present. I struggled for a few days after that with a darkness that sent me straight back into a depression God had freed me from at the beginning of the Race. We made our way back to Cusco from Aguas Calientes.
*6 mile walk*
As our team prayed together the next day, my spirit could not contain the sadness within me anymore. I couldn’t control the tears. I am lucky that my team loves me well and Sarah held me while Shea prayed for me.
It was our last full day in Cusco and I was going to just stay in the hostal and rest and heal. However, I got a call from a squad-mate who had slipped and fallen in the shower and had some cuts on her legs. So, I spent my morning trying to love my squad-mate through helping with interpreting at the local hospital. Unfortunately, because of this, I was unable to say goodbye to Julio and his wife, Lidia.
But, if you plan to visit Cusco, I can tell you about their neat little shop you should stop at!
On September 18th, we left Cusco and traveled to Lima, Peru. The almost 30 hour bus ride to Lima was the roughest travel experience for me, yet. Not only was I still dealing with the spiritual pain but I was nauseous and tired BEFORE we even got on the bus.
Up to this point, all other travel days had been a breeze for me. I don’t know if it was the bathroom that could only be used to urinate in without toilet paper, the lack of a place to throw the toilet paper in, no water to wash hands, the uncomfortable seats, me feeling sick, or me feeling spiritually attacked but I was pretty miserable. I tried to laugh some of it off, but there was a part of me that was letting all these little things sink me deeper into depression. I started thinking things I haven’t had to deal with for a while— “what if I just didn’t wake tomorrow.” I just didn’t want to deal with the pain, the hurt, the grieving anymore. And then I got the message from a mentor back home, “Well, did you hear that I’ve been diagnosed with leukemia? I’m at Cleveland Clinic.”
Satan was on a roll with the punches…
We arrived to Lima, Peru on the 19th of September to begin Leadership Development Week. More info on what Leadership Development means of the World Race.
Some pictures at Machu Picchu:
