Our route is somewhere in-between a traditional route (where Racers have planned hosts/ ministry in every place) and an expedition route (where Racers don’t have any planned host/ ministry). Thus, we were told by leaders in Adventures In Missions to go to Peru- they picked the country for us, and then to ask the Lord where to go and what to do there.
Team Burrito had it placed on our hearts to spend all of our time in Cuzco, Peru. And so, we went.
When we got there, we immediately asked the Lord (ATL ministry) what He was already doing in Cuzco, what He had in mind, and what He wanted us to do.
It was a rich time of ministry, and here are some highlights of my experience with ATL ministry:
Letter writing.
God revealed to me I have a gift and a passion for writing letters. He has had me write many letters, for hosts, for strangers, and for people I’ve gotten to know. The most notable one in Cuzco was when He called me to write a letter, in Spanish, to a stranger about Him and His love for her. It was so specific and beautiful, and I carried that letter with me for days waiting on the Lord to show me who to give it to.
When I found her, she looked nothing like what I had imagined. She was much older and wasn’t in traditional Peruvian clothing… But I knew it was her. So, I gave it to her and as I walked away, I asked the Lord how I could know she was actually the right person. Very quickly, He replied, “well, did you see the magazine article in her hand that she was looking at?” And I realized… unlike the majority of the local population, she she was LITERATE. I hadn’t even noticed the article until after I had given her the letter. I don’t know how that particular letter was received by her mind, but I know what the contents were… and so I am confident if nothing else, it reminded her just how loved she is.
Worship in the plaza.
One day, we took a guitar, and a large group of us went to the central plaza in Cuzco and we started singing worship songs. Kids’ curiosity peeked as they were drawn to us, older women stopped to appreciate the sounds as we prayed over them, and even traveling musicians (Nico & Thomas from Argentina!!) came over and wanted to play with us. We were out there for hours just publicly loving on the Lord and those around us.
Fasting, handing out food.
One day. In Cuzco, two teams (Team Burrito & Strategically Placed) were called to fast and spend our day’s food money on a stranger. I spent the day with Riley. She immediately knew who she was supposed to feed: this wonderful disabled man confined to a wheelchair who begged on the same block every day. Many of us had stopped and prayed with him, but on this day, Riley and I had a chance to feed him a large lunch. He was smiling so largely, and we were so excited to have made him as a friend.
I kept waiting on the Lord to tell me who to spend my money on. All I heard was “5pm.” 5pm rolls around, and He told me to go to this small shop and buy a bunch of cookies and chips and candy to hand out. So, I did. And at the end of it, I’d fed many people: construction workers, mothers and their kids, disabled people, tourists, locals… but I didn’t feel like much ministry had been accomplished.
I asked God what type of lasting impact I had made, given that all the interactions were so short… and He replied, “don’t you get it? Your ministry today was to the shop owner, Simeonea.” OHHHH! I then understood. Needless to say, I visited her shop every single day after that as I got to know her… and when I left Cuzco, I left her with a letter full of love and Scripture and an artesian rose.
Hiking to Cristo Blanco. Twice.
God called me early one morning to hike from my hostel to a nearby mountain all the way up to the Cristo Blanco by myself. It was breathtaking (the hike and the view!). On the way down, He had me notice two women and thus I started a conversation with them. They were absolutely lovely ladies from Seattle, Washington, and we talked about Peru and God, and all of our adventures. They then continued up the mountain as I walked down.
That night, I told God that I had wished I had gotten their names and contact information. The next morning, God tells me He wants me to hike up the mountain again, but this time to wait until after my team meeting. I ended up, in almost the early afternoon, hiking up the mountain again. And wouldn’t you know it? They were hiking down as I hiked up. WHO DOES THE SAME EXACT HIKE TWO DAYS IN A ROW AT RANDOM TIMES AND RUNS INTO PEOPLE DOING THE EXACT SAME THING TWICE? How absolutely unlikely is that? It was awesome. Needless to say, Valerie and Angela, if you are reading this, hello! I am so incredibly glad you all are in my life now and I hope your hike to Machu Picchu went seamlessly. 🙂
Our time in Cuzco, Peru was so neat. I got to meet and love on SO MANY different types of people during ATL ministry. God led me to such wonderful hidden gems in Cuzco, and I couldn’t be more thankful for being able to spend a part of my life with each of them.
