I hope everyone has been surviving with our infrequent blog updates. The internet situation has been a bit trickier than we anticipated. This past weekend was a great time spent doing some construction projects, visiting the Elim ministry at the garbage dump, going to church and having fun at the beach!
Saturday started us off with some light construction projects of scraping, scrubbing, and painting the children’s home. Some of the previous paint had started to bubble up and was not settling nicely. Some of us went around and scraped and wiped down these areas to prepare them to be repainted. We then got to paint one portion of the side wall to create an accent wall by painting it green! It was exciting to know that one day there will children here who are able to enjoy this someday.
Later in the day we went to the Elim ministry that is just outside of the garbage dump. When we got there, we played with the children there as we gave them some Frisbees that they got to toss around. We even got a quick football (soccer) game going too! After singing and a skit by the Port Charlotte team about the Good Samaritan we split up into our separate classrooms where they did a craft learning about how Jesus can fix any broken heart. Afterwards we had some free time where we got to visit the Mom’s ministry that goes on simultaneously and we got to support them by purchasing some handmade purses and bags. It was sad to see all these children that seemed to be so less fortunate in such an environment where they own next to nothing. However, there is so much joy in that place. It is truly amazing to see. The simplest things can keep these children entertained and happy. They are so happy to just see these “Gringos” (foreigners) show an interest and that we want to actually play with them.
In the evening after we got back to the Alberque, we got the opportunity to support Brenda and Christine’s ministry with the work that they do with the local girls as they had baked chocolate earlier in the day. They had chocolate covered peanuts, raisins, and manjar (caramel flavoured) treats for $1 (USD). It was awesome to see their excited faces every time one of us came up and asked to purchase one! They were absolutely adorable.
Sunday is the day where we go to church and get to spend some relaxation time at Huanchaco. Church was spent at an Alliance church called “America Sur” which was where we had went to on a nightly basis for dinner on our Peru STM trip in 2012. It was awesome to see just how global God’s church reaches out to.
When we got to Huanchaco, we joined Joca’s kids as he took them skim boarding and we got to join them. Afterwards we went around to some of the shops around there and got to do some shopping. For dinner, we were treated to some Chinese food! Peru actually has a very large Chinese population and the food was actually very authentic and tasted just like home. It was great to just relax and rejuvenate our bodies and minds from the things that we have done and seen.
God has been so obviously present here that it has been amazing. The work that Inca Link does here is so encouraging to see the impact that it has on all the people here. They run so many different ministries and each one makes such a visible impact on the groups of people that they reach out to. We have been able to all continually grow closer together as a group and also closer to God as he has opened our eyes to so much while we have been here. Please continue to pray for our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being as we still have half our trip to go and that we can keep focused on Him and to fulfill our contracts with Inca Link while we are here:
- Give 110%
- Be Here Now!
- Challenge by Choice
- Choose Joy
- Love Covers All.
Love, Orion