Hello World!
I just wanted to give a quick update about my month. As previously mentioned in an earlier blog, my team has been assigned to Unsung Heroes ministry this month.
We spent about 50 hours on a bus over the course of 8 days traveling to get to the YWAM base in Lima, Peru. We had a few stops along the way to rest, and were blessed to be taken in by a family in Trujillo for a few days… they were truely a breath of fresh air.
More about Unsung Heroes. Before we arrived in Lima we had already found 20+ potential contacts for AIM to partner with in the future. In my mind, we were going to have a jam packed schedule going around and meeting all these potential contacts and I thought that we might not even get to visit/meet all of them because there would be too many. However, that was not the case. Most of the people we tried to contact did not respond. This was kind of frustrating in the beginning, especially because I am a doer. I don’t really like to just sit around and do nothing… with the except of playing games, but that is kind of doing something, 😉
Anyways, we spent the first day just resting. The next day we sent out more e-mails in hopes of connecting with the ministries that we had found to possibly set up a visit. Friday, 8/14, we set out to meet our first contact, Susan. My team leader actually knew her from back home. Susan married a Peruvian man and now lives in Lima, Peru. She helps out a a center, Casa Gloria, that is for teen girls who are mothers. There are currently 5 girls living there with their children. I can’t begin to imagine what it would be like to be a teen mother. Honestly, I can’t imagine what it would be like to be a mother now at age 30. During out visit, we played Monopoly and Spot It! We also had a time of getting to know each other and encouragement time. I pray that the things that we were able to impart on the young ladies that day will put into practice.
Another day we had the privilege of going to visit another contact that we met through Calvary Chapel. We attended and assisted during two meetings. The first one was for children and we led them in songs, coloring, games, and snacks. Later, some of us were able to share parts of our testimonies with a group of ladies who had come to a Bible Study led by a woman named Lorena. Lorena is a pastor. She is part of a group called Christian Community “Words of Life”. She travels to different parts of the city on a daily basis.
While on the bus home that evening, a middle-aged woman got on and was clearly upset. She had tears in her eyes. Lorena offered her her seat and immediately started praying over her. It was pretty powerful to see. I asked later what was wrong, and Lorena said that the lady has many problems, but I don’t know any more specifics. I think the lesson that I learned here is that there is always someone you can encourage/pray for, even if you don’t know what is going on. The Lord knows and wants to comfort us.
Today is the 20th and we will be heading to Arequipa this evening. I am told it is a 16 hour bus ride. Prayers for safety and good sleep on the bus tonight are appreciated! Thanks!
Will write more about the rest of my time in Peru doing Unsung Heroes later!
Keep Lookin’ Up,
Misha
