I can’t believe how fast my time in Peru is going. I feel like we just arrived and now we are already talking about plans to Bolivia. And I can’t believe it is already September. I am usually home from summer mission trips by this time, but I have to remember that :This is no summer mission trip. I still have 9 more months before this trip is finished. And on that note, going to Europe and Africa and then Asia is almost unfathomable to me. I am so comfortable in South America, I almost feel like I am home, that I know when we switch continents, it will be pretty tough for me.
Our ministry in Peru has been great. Tuesday through Saturday, in the morning we work. Varying jobs. Moving sand, digging trenches for walls, making concrete, leveling out different areas, painting rebar. All the ‘simple’ stuff is our work. I use simple as a loose term, there are days we work out butts off. Okay most days we work super duro (hard). Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon we also work. Those are long construction days for us.
Thursday afternoon we go to the daycare. IncaLink had to open a daycare before they were allowed to begin the children’s home. So we go there to spend time with the kids and love on them, but that is a task in itself. They are loud and rowdy, but we love them anymore. Most times.
Friday afternoon we do evangelism in Porvenir. We plan a little program, with songs, a bible story and a message and then we invite the neighborhood and then perform at the cancha (soccer field). It reminds me of past mission trips which makes me love the ministry even more.
Playing Senor Lobo with the kids in Victor Raul
Saturday afternoon we do ‘garbage dump’ ministry. We travel to the garbage dump where people actually live. The workers used to live in the dump until laws were made, and now they live outside the dump, which is not much better if you ask me. Their job is to go through the trash and find valuables. Can you imagine? We go to the houses outside, gather the kids and sing songs, do a bible story and a message and then play games with them. These kids are almost the lowest of the low and I know Jesus would be out there showing them love, so why shouldn’t we??
Sundays we go to church. This is one of my favorite times of the week. Just to worship and be in fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ. In Spanish too. Then after church we go to the beach. Not much to do there, too cold to swim, but it is a good relaxing afternoon.
And Mondays are free day so who knows what that entails. My first free day I hung out around the house, went grocery shopping and then to the market. The past free day I went to a town called Pacasmayo which is where I did missions last summer. It was good to see friends and be back if only for a day. And my next free day is planned in Trujillo with more friends I have.
But soon we leave for Bolivia and there will be a new schedule, a new ministry and a new lifestyle.
**And since writing this blog. We have changed ministries. Now more slower paced. Interesting how God works like that.**
