GREETINGS FROM:

ENGLAND,

SCOTLAND,

&

DUBAI!!

 

 

The past few days have been filled with nothing but laughter and exhaustion. 

There was a change in our travel plans heading to India. Which turned out to be a very welcomed surprise! We got to spend a day in London and Edinburgh and then a few hours in Dubai! It was a nice change of pace from the stop and go nature of life. World Race is not a vacation but one should take advantage of every opportunity to explore when they can. 

[I mainly only took video on during my time in the U.K. which can be seen on Instagram @calebl_dawson]

 

A few final thoughts on Peru 

I didn’t want to go to South America. When I would think about missions and serving around the world, it was always in the bush of Africa, small villages in Nepal, or sneaking bibles in China. I never thought I could be used in places like Medellin, Portoviejo, or Trujillo. I thought, “I just have to make it through 3 months and then the real mission work will start”. What is “real” missions work? What can’t I do in South America that I can only do in the bush? What was I waiting for?

I think, I was waiting to be proven wrong. I needed, longed, to see any fruit from our service. I needed something to hang on to. Why? Because I needed to see if what we were doing was worth it all. If it was worth the fundraising and leaving everything behind.

Peru changed a lot for me. Not that we were saving people everyday or casting out demons or speaking in tongues (though that would be a very cool experience). We’ve simply been coming alongside to help people who have been there longer than us and will continue to be there once we leave. And it was okay. I wanted a big, giant, EXPLOSIVE sign from God to show me that yes we are actually helping but what I got was much sweeter. I got to see children’s faces light up as we handed them school supplies, I got to share my story with a group of mothers and tell about how my mom has played a significant role in my faith, do manual labor jobs no one else wanted or had the time to do, and see the kids jump and sing praises to Jesus. 

Here we are with all the ministry directors we partnered with in Peru. We got to serve each one of them in new ways everyday. 

My theater director in high school would say something along the lines of: he didn’t want people only interested in wearing a jersey (referring to fans or people on a sports team who want recognition but refuse to put in any of the work). He wanted people who said “where do you need me, coach?”

“Where do you want me, coach?” sums up my time in South America. 

 

A few photos to end this blog right:

 

 

 

[floor ball was a way to bring locals in with a fun activity and then tell them about Jesus]

 

Photos I took from my hosts camera:

 

 

 

 

My favorite: