I cried this week. When I wasn’t allowed to run outside, when we went to a hospital to pray, and because I’m so backed up from a diet consisting primarily of rice, I cried. I cried watching others worship at church, when I found out I could have coffee everyday, and when sweet Valeria gave me this picture:
Friday I was feeling a bit exhausted and useless, and just asked the Lord for renewal, refreshment, and to be able to serve the kids who come to the church after school program. That picture by Valeria is a testament to His faithfulness. Valeria is a girl that lives in La Victoria, and came to the afterschool program this past Friday. She’s PRECIOUS and I could hug her for days I’m pretty sure. In a time of feeling low, she brought me so much joy and love. We were coloring for a while, and she drew this picture of me and Jodi
This month our team is living on the fourth floor of a church’s outreach center, the Dream Center. It’s in the middle of La Victoria, a slightly sketchy and dangerous district of Lima. The windows have bars, we aren’t allowed outside without a male escort, 100% can’t go outside at night, and have a watchman/guard, who is the most stoic of creatures. I just watch him from my barred window, my older friend chillin on the street, locking doors and protecting us. He’s amazing, I’m obsessed with him, and he has never said a word to me. Yet.
There is a dude named Angelo living with us who is our little guardian angel. He helps us get taxis, worries incessantly about our safety, and speaks very little English. We frequently sit around playing charades in attempt to understand one another, and play cards while weakly attempting Spanish. He’s awesome, and we would actually would be so helpless without him. The language barrier and being so dependent on people within the community for ANYTHING is so so so humbling. I can do nothing on my own, none of us here can.
Although I have been going a little crazy being inside the same building so much, the ministry and people serving through this church have really made this experience. In the mornings we clean/help cook lunch/do tasks that the church needs us to do. Afternoons consist of us helping with the after school kids program, it’s awesome. We also do other things around the outreach center such as working in the boutique, a free thrift store full of nice clothes for people in the community that cannot afford clothes. The other night we helped prepare meals, then brought them to a hospital to hand out to the families in the waiting area. Families sleep outside of this hospital for days because they cannot afford the commute, sacrificing food, sleep and warmth. We got to hang out and pray with them. Even though most people could not understand my English, prayer is prayer. This church does SO much. Wheelchair repairs, kids ministry, english classes, sewing classes, clothes give away, church services (obvi), medical services and more. And everyone who serves here is so joyfully and willfully giving their lives away, I want to be more like them, and ultimately more like Jesus. Great start to the race!
