Another bus ride… although, this one was quite enjoyable! We had comfortable seats and slept most of the way. However, when we got off in a hurry I, of course, didn’t check a third time for things I might have forgotten and realized when we got to the bus stop I had left my Beats by Dre behind. I am not as upset as I feel like I should be or am on the inside and I just hope that the very expensive headphones ended up in the hands of some less fortunate child since all I could think of when we first arrived was ‘wow, this place is desolate’!
Iglesia La Antorcha
We have been living and working in a repurposed orphanage. During the day there is an after school program and at night we are teaching English to Venezuelan refugees and other church members.
The children in the after school program range from six to eleven. They love to either play soccer or chase and catch butterflies, we also love to swing on the swings together.
The English class is so hungry to learn it is a sweet feeling to be able to give them what they so desperately want. Losing my Beats and meeting these people has given me a new appreciation for what I have and what I don’t have.
Street Ministry is something new to me that I am growing in to. When we were told we would have to go out in the night to minister to people, of course, I voiced my opinions about not going. Our team leader Kaylin decided to bring her ukulele along with some blankets and children’s toys. The pastor gave us ‘tracks’ to hand out as well. Once we got to the town circle we sat and sang. It was very busy at seven o’clock at night. We gave the toys to some kids, the blankets to a homeless man and as Katlyn and I were walking a woman stopped me! Speaking perfect English she asked what we were doing. She asked for one of the tracks for the address to the church. Katlyn and I looked at each other since just before we noticed our tracks didn’t have addresses on them. Miraculously though the one we handed her, the only one, had the address on it! God WILL use you in his plan whether you really want to be used or not, submit, and something beautiful can come.
Machu Picchu
A few girls and I decided month one of the race that we wanted to go to Machu Pichu, welp, we made it happen. We were told that it was a long shot by many… and it was, a long journey as well!
A couple of buses, planes, trains, taxis, and a hike we finally got to soak in the views that were hidden from the world for so long. Soaked them in literally being as it rained the whole time. Still, the trip was well worth all the effort. It is incredible what one can or will choose to endure with people they haven’t known long to do something they REALLY want to do. Then again, that IS the whole World Race experience, quite remarkable.
The time we spent at Machu just so happen to also be the 30th anniversary of Adventures In Missions or AIM, the organization that created the World Race, and other mission trips. How wild is it that people trusted God enough to go with random people and a new organization to the ends of the world?
I told my friend that had I not lost my Beats this would have been the perfect month for me, but God’s plan IS perfect, and everything belongs, even loss.
‘Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ (Mark 10:21)
