This month has been all squad month in Peru. All 57 of us have been living under the same roof, well, kind of. Some of us are sleeping in our hammocks in the courtyard, some of us are in our tents on the roof and most of us are sleeping on bunk beds that may or may not break twice a week because they are made for 10 year old Peruvian children. However, we are so thankful for a safe place to sleep and for the option of a mattress. We are in the slums in the desert of Trujillo, Peru where you are warned about things that you think you would only see in movies and where you actually see things you may see in an incredibly intriguing movie much like We are the Millers. Fear not though, we are in wonderful hands and I have not once felt in danger. The people in the neighborhood know why we are here and know who we are partnered with and have much respect.
Our hosts, Joel and Maria Savage have blessed us immensely. Joel is all about getting to know us and learn about our hearts and always wants to hang out. Maria is so beautiful inside and out and works so hard to make sure we have wonderful meals. She is so full of the spirit and has such a kind, willing heart.
I’m sure you could only imagine what it is like to be living with 56 others for an entire month. What you imagine in your head might look like people constantly jumping down your throat, late night pillow fights, people up talking till wee hours of the night, clicks, and stuff just everywhere. This month, life is none of that. What life looks like this month is pretty peaceful for the most part, occasional dance parties and throw back tunes, shower lines, hairballs on the shower walls, running out of toilet paper when you go to the bathroom, clothes being borrowed, hand washing laundry and hanging it on the line, constant interruptions, always having somebody to talk to, taking walks to get Casino cookies, church every night, church day and night on Sundays, manual labor, teaching English class, going to play soccer in the park with the Peruvians and so much more.
Yes, all of this sounds exhausting, and it sure is. However, I would not trade one moment of it. This month the Lord has shown me some incredible things. The biggest one is truth. It is hard to get lost in the lies of the enemy especially when you are out trying to change the nations. We are on the spiritual battlefield at this moment in time and it is hard. There are days where, even though you are surrounded by an outrageous number of people, that you feel lonely. There are days that you just want people to go away because they are always around but all of those feeling lie behind the truth that you are speaking into your life. I know that I believe lies when I feel alone; I know I believe lies when I just want people to go away.
I have been so encouraged this month to anchor myself in the truth and to let the Lord be my anchor and only surround myself with His truth. If I do that, I will stand with arms high and heart abandoned. If I don’t, I will be floating without any direction and without any sense of what the Lord wants for my life. He calls us to be uncomfortable and to do things that we may not want to do. The best part about this all is that the Lord would not give us anything that we can’t handle. The fight has already be fought by Him and now we just need to follow and trust in His plan.
