I’m slowly starting to realize that blogging while on missions is probably one of the hardest things I have forced myself to do. Which is interesting, since i’m a huge blogger. I feel like moments at home, or when I am abroad for just travel, I have more things to say and show people. Maybe it’s because i’m doing ministry here everyday, or… that I don’t get to sit at my desk at the end of the day to blog, but it’s def been a challenge. Which I am SO sorry about, since you all have supported me and are probably curious about what exactly you have been supporting.
Currently my whole squad is located in Trujillo, Peru. All of P Squad has joined together to partner with Savage Ministries which is ran by a couple that we have come to love so dearly. Joel, from the United States, ended up marrying a beautiful Peruvian women named Maria. Together they are running a school and a church. Since this compound is located in a very poor area, they have opened a school where children are able to attend for “free.” They do have to pay a very small fee every month for government purposes, but compared to other schools where they have to buy their uniforms, school supplies, and other necessities, the price that they have offered is very affordable. If even that price is unable to be met, they also help families meet those needs. This school is basically sustained by supporters! It’s awesome to see a couple so in love with each other and Christ. (Especially at such a young age! They’re only in their early30s) They desire students that attend their school to be equipped by the Word of God and to show these children what it looks like to have a purpose for their lives. (For some of these kids, being a taxi driver is probably the best thing that can happen to them in the future) They are hoping to help families make a sustainable living by helping them farm turkeys and other animals. They are also praying for more churches to be planted and build houses that help families that are coming out of poverty &/or girls that are being trafficked. Every time I talk to one of them, I feel so inspired by their heart for the lost and drives me to pray harder for bigger visions even in my future life.
So… what have we been doing??
The past couple of weeks we have been involved with going out into the neighborhoods and gathering children to do VBS, English classes, and Youth Encouragement. We literally walk around the neighborhood screaming “Party! Party! Come join the Americans! Wake Up! Party with Jesus!” & they run to join us (some even barefoot!). Grabbing their siblings hands and their friends, they come out of their houses and they follow us back to the compound. The first week was filled with VBS in the morning and English Courses in the evening. For some of these children, it is such a treat to get free schooling. Some children have even come to accept Christ through our VBS sessions & Sunday services! Praise the Lord that His children are coming into His Kingdom! I can literally imagine the angels and other believers in heaven party as these children hear the gospel and accept Jesus into their hearts! This gives me so much joy… because the youth and children here come from such a dark place. Many come from broken families, and there are endless stories of young girls that are molested and raped. There is heavy drug use and alcoholic families. & sometimes… walking around the neighborhood can be so overwhelming. It’s so easy to ask God… “why? why do these innocent children have to endure and be exposed to such darkness? why do these women think that giving up their body is the only way they can be loved? Why is drugs and alcohol chosen before the care of their wife and children?” But… it brings be back all the stories in the bible… That God doesn’t do this.. but sin. In our sinful nature we choose the things of this world that look like they are more satisifying than God. One desire leads to many other desires… and the story could just end there. But God has sent out workers to be the light unto this world that they don’t have to endure it anymore. That there is hope and a new life that can been offered to them in Christ Jesus. The kingdom is slowly coming to this neighborhood!
After the first week, we began doing some construction around the compound. As they get ready for the new school year, we were able to spread out new gravel, paint the bathrooms and classrooms, find some tires outside and paint them to start an entrance to the building. We have continued english classes durning the evening and started building relationships with the youth of the church. Last night we had a youth conference with a couple of other churches and some of the youth have decided to live as a players in the Christian Life rather than a spectator! (Soccer illustrations are the best for these kids)
Each and everyday God is revealing himself to me through prayers, reading, and doing life with the peoplei’m surrounding myself with. He is challenging me to work heartily for the gospel and is growing me to love his children. It’s so easy to look back on past mission trips wishing I was able to do more and speak more to the locals. So I have decided that I will literally use all my soul, mind, and my strength to serve the Lord in every way that I can, and God has been so so good to me.
Pray that Jesus will be known in Trujillo, Peru. That the children who have attended VBS and English Courses will go back home and share the verses and stories that they have learned. That the people here will see hope and joy that comes from the Lord. That these children will grow to be a generation of believers and break free from the bondage that they can so easily fall into. Pray that the Savages will continue to be a light set upon the hill and that more people will hear about what they are doing and support them. That with all that has happened, is happening and will happen… be all for His Glory & Him alone.
Ciao.
The next time I blog I will probably be in Bolivia! Time is flying! I will be posting up pictures + stories of people and places that I will never want to forget.
