This weekend we had the opportunity to travel to the small city of Huamachuco to put on a VBS and encourage the church. We did a 3 day VBS with the kids, attended several small groups, and did a few house visits. As expected, the weather was freezing at night, but we managed to keep warm. I truly enjoyed the beauty of the city and the generosity of the people at the church as they continually opened their humble homes to us to feed and house us.
The City of Huamachuco
VBS!!
Enjoying a little free time!
Here are the top 10 things I learned in Huamachuco:
10) I am never late in Peru. Even if I am five minutes late, everyone else is sure to arrive at least 20 min. later
than me.
9) Everything is itty-bitty in Huamachuco…and I mean EVERYTHING! For those of you that understand Spanish, they
add –ito to the end of every other word, making it challenging to translate pretty much anything. (Ex. Vamos a
tener una oracioncito a nuestra Padrito Jesucristo antes de comemos el cenito. = We’re going to have a little
prayer to our little father Jesus Christ before we eat a little dinner.)
8) I still hate clowns.
7) Toilet paper is a luxury. Whenever you eat a meal where napkins are provided, be sure to stick a few extra in
your purse. You never know when you’re really gonna NEED that paper!
6) Bathrooms that consist of a hole in a tiny cement room can also function as a shower. How desperate are you to
bathe?
5) Sheep intestines are not agreeable to my stomach…nor do they taste good!
4) Altitude sickness is real.
3) When it’s cold outside, I prefer to sleep in a tiny room packed like sardines.
2) Guinea pigs live on the kitchen floor…not as pets.
1) Our living God still shows up in many unexpected ways!
Allow me to elaborate on the last point:
For our first night in Huamachuco, we attended a small group in which they asked me to preach with less than 10 minutes to prepare (not the first time this has happened). Because I’ve been reading in Genesis lately, I quickly decided to speak about God’s relationship with Abraham vs. his relationship with us. I talked about how amazing it was that God was constantly revealing himself to Abraham and guiding his path. I thought about how amazing it would be for the One true God to reveal himself to us and guide us, but then I realized: He does. Maybe we don’t get to see his face or hear his whisper in the wind, but He is truly alive, moving, and always ready to make a connection with his beloved children. I encouraged them to pray for big things, because our Father promises to answer in big ways. Everyone seemed encouraged by the message, especially me.
Sunday after church, we went to visit a 35 year-old man who had been bed-ridden for the past year. Señor Rodriguez had back surgery and was slowly but surely regaining movement in his body. We were told that He had just recently become a Christian and was struggling through rehab in his home to be able to walk again. My first thoughts were filled with eagerness to encourage him and pray for healing. I was ready to pray for big things and ready to see God move in big ways. As we entered his home, he greeted us with a smile and offered us a seat. We sang worship songs, read scripture, and encouraged him the best way we knew how. Then we gathered around him and asked our Heavenly Father to do his work. When we finished, I asked the man if he would mind trying to walk, so he willingly agreed. His father and another man from the church helped him up and assisted him as he struggled around the room. Tears streamed down the face of nearly every person present, and we continued to pray as he limped on. When he finally sat back down on the bed, we prayed over him again. I was so sure that the Lord would show up and relieve this man of his suffering, but there was no improvement in his condition.
As we were leaving I thanked him for the way he had encouraged us and told him that the Lord had great plans for his life, no matter what state he was in. The truth is, our Father was there the whole time. As Mr. Rodriguez stumbled across the room, he seemed to be the only one with a dry eye in the room. In fact, He never stopped smiling and praising the Lord. He explained to me that his Father was strengthening his spirits daily and helping him grow into a stronger man of faith. After one year of never being able to leave my own bedroom, I’m not sure my faith would still be in a state of growth. That day we walked in with the intentions of encouraging and healing this man. It wasn’t until after we were gone that I realized, God still heard our prayers. He is present, 6still alive, moving and working in the ways we least expect Him to. When the time is right, He will show up and heal our weakened bodies, but even when we forget, He is always here strengthening our Spirits and encouraging us to persevere through Him.
Waiting outise the Rodriguez house
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.” 2 Chron. 7:14–15
