This month in Peru has been a one full of rest and adventure, at least, compared to the 2 months of construction in Ecuador. Here in Cusco Peru, a month of “manistry”, me and my team along side of our hosts Tim and Holly took part in small construction projects. Not nearly as routine or physically demanding as Dunamis, these projects were done mainly around the property, Tim’s father’s House, and the orphanage; which were all in close proximity of each other. We never got to work with the orphans but I was honestly fine with that. I’m more of a person who prefers to work in the background. The only day we did organized ministry that involved contact with locals was Wednesday the fifth, two days before we left. We all went downtown to the plaza and worked side by side with this woman named Tara Claudia of a non profit organization called One Touch. For about two hours we walked around town giving out meals to the homeless, feeding 30 people in the end. It was kinda awkward for me because there were two people taking pictures the whole time. Idk that’s just not something I’m about, if I’m going to give to someone I don’t really want people knowing. However the organization is fairly new so I’m sure they were just going to use the pics for fundraising/testimony’s.
Holy and Tim are great hosts who have poured into us constantly the whole month. They gave up everything to be where they are now. Due to some setbacks throughout the years they could not afford a car ever since they’ve been here; with 5 kids and an orphanage to tend too I can only imagine how hard it’s been. Through Josh however, God blessed them with five thousand dollars so they could afford a Range Rover. God put it on Josh’s heart that he needs to fundraise so that the Andersons can have a car, within not even 2 weeks, God provided. With just side projects to do, and plenty of adventure to grasp like Machu Picchu and Rainbow mountain, this month has been filled with self reflection and team bonding.
Despite all these positivity’s, a lot of “things we need to work on” were revealed in our team this month. With Elijah Bontregar (our team leader) leaving this month, I’m hoping that we can still be intentional with one another and continue to grow as a team. I recently watched the movie “Machine Gun Preacher” on the way home from Machu Picchu, a movie about Sam Childers, a missionary who still till this day saves children in Sudan and Uganda Africa from the LRA. He was a convict drug addict turned missionary who was and still is used by God. The movie really touched me deeply, the man went above and beyond to be hundreds of children’s only hope. He wasn’t afraid to take action and fight against evil. After the movie I prayed to God that if it be his will, send me to the places no one else would want to go, to be used by him to minister to others. I’m a man of action, this month I’ve felt more of a tourist than a missionary. Don’t get me wrong, I am extremely great-full for the ministry that we had here in Cuzco, I just feel that I can do more. Whether that be pouring into my ministry host, or doing street ministry, serving is why I’m here. I just felt like I haven’t been proactive enough, the movie reminded me of how much evil and injustice truly is in the world. Though our war is not of flesh and blood, evil and good are expressed both in the natural world and the spiritual. With Guatemala providing a whole new start, I’m hoping God will put me in more situations that make me uncomfortable. I pray that not only my team but I will not be prideful and stubborn when I hear his word. I trust he has my best interests in mind.
