Peru felt like a short, quick pit stop on my world Race journey. It didn’t feel like roots were planted and deep relationships were built.
While reflecting on my short time in Peru, I wondered why God placed us there. I felt useless, but He showed me otherwise.
I love how God takes our thoughts and feelings and transforms them into something beautiful.
December 7, 2019 -arrived at Pacasmayo, Peru after a very long overnight bus ride from Ecuador.
December 27, 2019-departed Pacasmayo, Peru going on a very long overnight bus ride to Lima, Peru
20 days.
The impact Pacasmayo had on me in 20 days.
The impact I had on Pacasmayo in 20 days.
Day 1: Answered prayer.
On our first day, we went to the church that our host pastors. I knew it was going to be in Spanish, and let’s face it, services are pretty boring when I can’t understand anything. So that morning, I prayed that somehow, someway that the service would be something I could understand. And guess what… God still answers prayers. We showed up to church and there was another group from the US there. The pastor with them gave them gave the message IN ENGLISH! I mean that’s how quick God is. I love putting my trust in Him. I can count on Him every time to deliver what I need.
Day 2: Moving Mountains
We discovered Martha the turtle, which was cool. We also got our schedule this day, and we were feeling pretty overwhelmed with everything we were assigned to do for ministry. It seemed like a long day of blocked out times from 8 am to 8 pm. However, God showed us how to divide and conquer. He made our mountain feel like an ant hill.
Day 3: Unity in the Spirit
God gave me a passage to give the new team leader and the “new version” of our team since we were choosing a team leader the next day. The passage was Ephesians 6:11-22. It is about putting on the armor of God for the building up and defending of the Kingdom of God. Later that day, Stacy shared her daily devotional with the team (I might add- it is not a common occurrence that she shares it). I’ll just leave it here below, but wow God again!! Come to find out, I became the team leader so that passage was actually for me, which was cool to share with the team to empower them too as my first act as leader!!
Day 4: Daniela and family
We met Daniela and her daughter at English class. She eventually invited us over for her Christmas Eve celebration at her house. God knew this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Daniela and her family were such a blessing to our team, helping us to feel at home for Christmas celebrations. God gave us family away from home.
Day 5: Trujillo + the comforts of home
Trujillo is a town about a hour from Pacasmayo. It is a bigger city and even has a mall!! Day 6 God gave us comforts of home like Starbucks and Chili’s at the mall. The long bus ride also gave us a chance to have some deep one on one conversation time with our teammates. God was just being too sweet on this day.
Day 6: After School Program
We got to meet some really cool kids. We played soccer and helped with homework. These kids don’t come to this after school program because they have perfect home lives. They need love. God showed me there are so many people out there who need love.
Day 7: Street Evangelism
Today was our first time doing “assigned” street evangelism. I was very nervous and our team felt very ill-equipped since we have 2 Spanish speaker among 8 of us. But then, here comes God again! He gave us another translator and a Spanish speaker so we were able to break into small groups and go out into the streets to speak to the people He guides us to. This led us to getting to answer the question “If God is good, why is there bad in the world?” to an unbeliever. We planted lots of seeds that night and prayed over lots of hurting people.
Day 8: Spiritual Gifts
We had a team worship/empowerment session. Rachel led a Bible study on Ester and how the community around her helped her see her true potential. Then, each team member wrote down gifts they see in others. It was a beautiful time for our team to be encouraged in what God has given us to edify His Kingdom.
Day 9: Whistle while we work
This day, we cleaned and cleaned and swept and cleaned some more. There was a thick layer of dirt/dust on everything in this storage room. We found rat bones, dead spiders, and lizards. This day, I know the Lord protected us from getting diseases and sickness from the gross things in this building. Thank you, Lord!!
Day 10: The Family program
The kids do not have after school program anymore because they started their summer/Christmas break. However, there is a group from an organization that came in to throw a Christmas program for the parents and children. The parents listened to sessions while we babysat the kids for them. This day, God reinforced to me how important the family unit is. How the parents need to guide the paths of the children, and sometimes the parents need a little encouragement too.
Day 11: Papas rellenas
This day our team was hard at work cleaning a couple of houses that had to be clean for the Christmas program on Saturday. Amidst our sweeping and mopping, Valentina, a Venezuelan from the church stopped by and blessed us with some papas rellenas from her work!! They are cheesy stuffed potatoes that have been deep fried…all of my favorites in one haha. By Valentina giving us that snack, God showed me how sweet it is to bless others unexpectedly.
Day 12: Fake Christmas
We had to have our team Christmas celebration on Dec 19th because our team leader, Kaylin, was leaving the next day. The weather was warm, there grocery store had nothing that we would normally cook on Christmas, and we are ballin’ on a missionary budget for gifts. But, God showed me that just being together on Christmas and spending time with each other is fun, regardless of those other expectations we have about that one day of the year.
Day 13: Bye Bye Kaylin!!!
Our team leader, Kaylin, left us on Dec 20th *still crying* God showed me this day that different seasons are for different reasons. My season learning from Kaylin as our leader came to an end, but I will always remember the things she taught me. I feel like this day God reminded our team of our confidence in Him and not in man, even if Kaylin is really awesome!!
Day 14: The Christmas Program
Dec 21st is a day we had been preparing for. The after school program staff prepare an all day family program. There are various pastors that come and speak, the families have lunch and Panettone (Peruvian fruitcake-just as gross as fruitcake back home), the kids have various activities, and the kids get gifts at the end. God taught me patience during this day. It is part of Peruvian culture to not start on time. Kids do not like to sit and listen to people talk all day. Little boys do not like to dance, instead, they like to play soccer. 24/7. Little girls like to be pushed on the swings. 24/7. Bisculpame!!! Means “push me” in Spanish. Babies do not like being away from their moms. Also, they like to scream. So yea….patience.
Day 15: Church Christmas Service
God reminded me during the Christmas service at church that Mary and Jospeh were normal people. They were probably freaked out because they were going to have a baby. They were excited and nervous, like any other expecting parents. They probably did not have a cute little, fluffy donkey to ride on to Bethlehem. They rode a stinky animal through the desert. Mary was pregnant. It was hot. I am sure she was frustrated and sick and complaining, just like any other woman would be in that situation. It was just a reminder that obeying God is hard. It is not a story book fantasy, as many of the stories of the Bible have been portrayed as. Radical obedience causes discomfort.
Day 16: Fasting is beautiful
This day, I felt led to fast. I felt a sudden urgency for those who are lost, especially my grandpa who is sick right now. I had so much more time with the Lord and freedom in how I spent my day since I was not eating. This day connected me to the Lord through worship and prayer.
Day 17: Christmas Eve
At home, Christmas Eve means last minute wrapping, making food, and being with family, which there is nothing wrong with. However, this Christmas Eve was slow and easy. We watched the sunrise on the beach, ate Christmas Eve breakfast, watched cheesy Christmas movies, and read Luke and sang Silent Night. It was a beautiful day to remember why we celebrate and who we celebrate. We also attended a midnight Christmas celebration…very tiring but very fun! Everyone hugged at midnight (similar to New Year’s), which was super fun and reminded me how love impacts Christmas so much.
Day 18: Christmas!!!
On Christmas, we slept in after the late night before. We had WiFi to talk to our families, which is a Christmas miracle in itself! Then, we went to our hosts home where they blessed us with pre-lunch card games and a lovely meal. They never opened presents while we were there. God showed me how presents are not even necessary to feel the love and happiness that Christmas is about.
Day 19: LDOM (Last day of ministry)
We washed a gate and sorted meds. Washing the gate was disheartening for me because I knew with all the sand, that it was just going to get dirty again. However, God showed me how He washes us clean and then we get right back dirty. One minute we are asking forgiveness and the next we are living in the flesh again. The thing about God is that He never gets tired, frustrated, or disheartened when we get dirty again. He just cleans us back up and makes us shiny and new!
Day 20: Packing and leaving
Dec 27th was our last day in Pacasmayo, Peru. We packed, cleaned our house, exercised, and rested for our overnight bus ride. Tidying up and packing reminded me that things have to get messier before they get organized. The Lord takes care of our mess and helps us since He knows the end from the beginning. He loves us through our mess and when we feel like we have it all together.
Wow…
To be honest, I started this blog with the title “Stuck in a rut” because I did not feel ways that God used me this past month.
Instead, He decided to have me type out each day, and He has showed me how He was actually with me and teaching me every single day. It was more about me acknowledging His presence and less about His absence.
