Northampton Presbyterian Mission Trip - Day 3

Well today was a day full of excitement and energy!  We started the day with breakfast and devotions.  This team can eat!  I told them that I was glad to see that we were getting our money’s worth at the buffet.  Surprisingly enough though, we boarded the bus for Yungar, and in moments they were eating again!  Snacks, candy, whatever was available, they are eating it.  I told Erick, our interpreter, that he had better not stand still for too long, he might end up being eaten.

We arrived in Yungar and met with Pastor Fausto.  As always, I thoroughly enjoy introducing teams to this man.  He is a meek man of God who loves people and serves the children well.  I love to listen to him talk with the people and then tell us what they are saying.  Fausto took us to a number of houses, and introduced us to families that had children in the center, or people who needed sponsors to get their children into the center.  The team was obviously impacted as we saw the poverty and the neediness of the people.  We prayed with them before we left each house, and I reminded the team that we needed to keep praying for them when we returned home.

We headed back to the church and began preparing for the kids.  While we ate, we talked about what we had seen so far, and I love the sensitivity of these young people. They were touched by the needs of the people, and were moved to want to meet those needs.  Only God knows what the long term impact these encounters will have on them.

After lunch, the kids started coming, and boy were they anxious to see this team.  I had warned this team that the last time we were here the kids were a little “standoffish”, but not today.  They played with the team, talked with them, spent time with them, tried asking them questions, etc.  They were excited about something.  And this was probably the highlight of my day when I watched them all enter the church with their completed books from the last team that was here.  Their excitement was a direct result of having completed the task they were assigned, and knowing they would receive a certificate and a candy bar for their efforts.  Pastor Fausto pulled me aside and thanked me and both groups for doing this – the kids benefitted from it, their families benefitted from it, the church benefitted from it, because the kids were encouraged to get into the bible stories and study them.  What a joy it was to hear that.

The team presented a game for the kids to play that they used for a teaching tool.  The kids had to jump from plate to plate on the ground and attempt to cross a field.  It was intended to be impossible without the help of Anthony, and that is exactly how it played out.  It wasn’t until the kids were told that they had to ask Anthony for help that any of them made it.  Colin shared with them (at the end of the exercise) that the purpose was to show them that without Christ, all of their “good works” will not get them to heaven.  He did a great job presenting that to the kids – and as the week progresses, every team member will have the opportunity to do the same.  I am looking forward to hearing from each one of them.

After the presentation of the certificates, the team introduced themselves, the children asked a few questions, and we headed outside to play again.  What a wonderful day of watching the team interact with the children.  From jump rope, soccer, football, volley ball, Frisbee, etc.  they had a great time!

We returned back to the hotel and got ready for dinner. Kevin, Anthony, Erick and I spent a little time working out at the weight room.  Eventually we headed for the restaurant.   During dinner, we had a wonderful time of talking about the “hi-lo” of the day, and rehearsing what we saw God do.  After dinner we did some shopping and headed back to the hotel.  This is where things really get interesting.  A couple of English students at the local university stopped us and asked us to take a survey that they needed to do for their class.  We obliged and 2 of the team answered their questions.  From there they asked if we would be willing to come to their class.  Jeremy and I discussed it and we thought it would be an excellent opportunity.  So we went.  The team had a wonderful time as the table was turned, and no longer were they the ones who couldn’t speak the language, but rather the students struggled – and boy did they struggle – to ask us questions and try to speak with us.  The team was very gracious and encouraged these students.  We were able to share why we were here in Peru.  I pray that God uses this “touch” for future connection and who knows, maybe some will even come to know Him as a result.

Well, we have an early morning tomorrow, so it is off to bed.  Chiquian is tomorrow, and apart from house visits and some soccer with the teens there, I am not sure what all God will do, but I know it will be amazing.

Thought for the day: Oh, you are going to love this one…  This morning we were waiting for Erick to make it to the hotel, and we all had stepped outside the locked gate, and little by little the team made their way back inside, leaving me alone outside.  All of the sudden, this little boy (maybe 5 years old) across the street starts to pee into the street.  As if that wasn’t odd enough, an older woman (probably in her 50’s) was walking behind the boy, and he turned around and tried to pee on her.  As if that wasn’t enough fun to watch, she picked up her pace and continued down the street with the boy trailing right behind her peeing the whole time!  I couldn’t help but laugh.  This kid was literally trying to run and pee at the same time.  It was hilarious!

What thought does that bring to me?  Well, have you ever had such a bad day that it just seemed like nothing was going your way and the whole world was just dumping on you?  If you have, keep this poor woman in mind – at least you have never had a little boy chase you down the street trying to pee on you.

Seriously, no matter how bad it gets, as James reminded us in our devotions this morning, we have the opportunity to “consider it joy”, or rule over our emotions and thoughts and choose to find joy in every circumstance of life.  Even if a little boy tries to pee on us!

Northampton Presbyterian Missions Trip - Day 2

How nice it is to start a trip with a good night’s sleep – or at least 5 hours.  I slept fairly well, and it seems that the team did also.  I roomed with Jeremy last night, and he woke himself up talking this morning.  He started saying something and then started getting a little louder, and then all of the sudden he “startled” himself awake.  It was rather amusing.  Anyway, I got up and checked the time and told him it was only 6 o’clock.  He pulled his blankets back up over his head and went back to sleep.

We gathered around the front door at 8 and prepared for our breakfast at Palermo’s – Jose’s favorite breakfast place (which he will not go to on Saturday because he won’t eat meat during lent).  Anyway, Kevin is still struggling with what he thinks is motion sickness – he threw up a few times last night, but said he slept well.  I love his attitude – regardless of how he is feeling, he seeks to do right and  have a positive attitude.  He is very impressive.  Anyway, we went to breakfast and had pork sandwiches (Kevin just ate a very little) and we headed to the bus station.  Kevin started getting sick again – I was praying that he would feel better – this is a very difficult start for him.

As we waited for our bus, we played cards, Jeremy and Colin made up a tennis ball game, and some read and journaled. Eventually we boarded the bus and headed to Huaraz.  Kevin was doing better, but still had a way to go.

The team excitedly took pictures as we drove through town and then out into the northern parts of Lima. They took pictures of each other, of the scenery, all kinds of stuff.  We are going to have a lot of pictures when this week is over.  We finally arrived at Cheto’s for lunch, and boy, can this group eat!  They ate everything we ordered.  Even Kevin got in on the action – although I must say, Anthony can put away some food for being such a skinny kid!  Everyone seemed to be doing very well.

Mid afternoon was more of the same, naps, pictures, listening to music, talking, riding in a bus for a total of 8 hours.  About 6 hours in we reached the pinnacle of our driving – right around 13,000 feet.  Many of the team members were “complaining” about head ache’s, feeling nauseous, generally not feeling well.  I told them to drink their water and they would feel better soon.  When we dropped back down to 11,000 feet they were all back to normal, playing games, laughing and just waiting for the ride to end.  We arrived in Huaraz shortly after 7, and met with Erick, headed to the hotel and unpacked.  It was nice to finally be settled – the team was thankful to have arrived.

We met in the computer “conference” room and apart from Kelly knocking a picture off the wall and breaking the glass, we had fun.  We talked about the past 2 days, we talked about tomorrow, we discussed how we were going to do things, what the team should expect from the kids, and what Jeremy and I expected from them.  I know this team will do an excellent job – they are doing such a great job of encouraging one another and helping each other.  They truly are a wonderful representation of their church and families back home.  After the meeting we headed to rooms for the evening – we have a long day tomorrow, and the first day is always the most difficult. 

Thought for the day:  As I drove through the mountains today, I saw rocks cut in half by the path of water as it flowed down the mountainside.  Deep paths have been carved into these monstrous mountains of rocks.  What was probably once a smooth surface of stone has now been  forever changed by the constant flow of water. Water is nothing compared to the toughness of a boulder, but given enough time and allowed to continue, the rock can be destroyed by the water.

In the same way, our lives, no matter how strong and durable, can be forever “marred” by sin that is allowed to careen across our lives day after day.  How important it is to stand before our Creator and ask, as David did, “search me, oh God, and see if there be any wicked way in me.”  Left unchecked, our lives can and will be destroyed by unconfessed sin. 

Northampton Presbyterian Missions Trip - Day 1

Well, the day has finally arrived, and I am traveling with a group of high school students on spring break to Peru for a missions trip.  We met as a team back in February, and since then have added one team member (who took the place of another who had to drop out).  I have been looking forward to this team for a few reasons.

First, many have never been on a missions trip before, some haven’t even flown before – so seeing the experience through the eyes of the “newbies” is always fun for me.  I love to hear their excitement and amazement with things that have become common place to me. 

Second, this is a follow up trip from the Cedarville group, and I am looking forward to seeing how many of the children met the challenge to finish their coloring books.  We brought over 350 candy bars and 400 certificates, so I am excited about handing them out to the children.

Finally, the youth pastor is excited about the possibility this trip could bring back to the church as the team develops an enthusiasm for missions and carries that back home with them.  I love when young people catch a vision for how God can use them, and often they are the fire that reignites the embers of our souls as many of us “older” people have lost the energy and passion they share so quickly.

Well, we met at the airport in Newark – my day began at 4:30 in Chattanooga, driving 2 ½ hours to Nashville, flying for 2 hours to Newark, but that is when the fun began!  Somehow I passed Kevin as I was heading to gate 127, but he saw me and pointed out the team.  We waited to board the plane (yes, we were group 5), and the adventure began. 

Truthfully it was uneventful – the flight wasn’t all that smooth, but then again, it wasn’t all that rough either.  The pilot turned the seatbelt sign on a few times, so we did hit some rough air, but we made good time and were in Lima by 9 PM.  However, our ride to the hotel was a little late, so we waited for them for a little while.  No big deal when you are dealing with kids – we split up our stuff for the rest of the week, we played hacky sack, we talked, we laughed, we got to know each other.  This is going to be a great group.

We were at the hotel by 11:30, and ready for bed by 1.  Most of the team was probably asleep before 12:30 – but you know how I am – up last at night, up first in the morning…

Well, tomorrow we are eating breakfast at Polermo’s and then heading to Huaraz.  We will see how the day goes…

Thought for the day:  Northern Rude vs Southern Rude.  Three times today I spoke with people who were from the north married to someone from the south, or vice versa.  Amazingly enough, the differences in the cultures were felt by all of the couples.  The speed, abrasiveness, task oriented north versus the slow, overly kind, relationship oriented south were highlights of the conversation.  It was fun to talk about the differences.

As I thought about that and crossing the cultures here in Peru, I pray that the differences we experience as a team can be balanced so we can minister to the people here and be received  the way we desire to be received.  This can only happen as we allow God to go before us and do the work for us.  In our own strength, in our own wisdom, we will see their differences as strange, but in His love and wisdom, we will see them as people He loves dearly and the differences will only be uniqueness’s that make our cultures our own.

Cedarville University Peru Trip - Final Moments

Well, it was a great trip - it ended rather abruptly as our time in the airport wasn't all we had expected it to be.  We had planned on 3-4 hours in the airport, sitting around, talking, laughing, doing our 2-18 sessions, etc. but God had other plans.  Instead we ended up spending about 30 minutes walking to our car after being at the water park.  We spent 45 minutes driving to the airport.  And then when we arrived, we ended up spending 2+ hours in the check-in line.  We arrived at the gate with just minutes to spare before we boarded the plane.

I don't know why God allows these types of things to happen, but for some reason, He wanted the end of the trip to be kind of "open-ended".  We had things to finish.  We had conversations that still needed to be had.  It was frustrating, but I know God knows what He is doing.

The "frustration" didn't end there though.  When we arrived in Atlanta (15 minutes late), we headed down to get our luggage, only to be delayed longer.  With a 2 hour layover, I thought we would have plenty of time, but instead, by the time we got all our bags and sent everyone through security, the team had just minutes to get to their gate and I caught my ride home with a minute to spare!  We didn't get to say goodbye face to face, but rather waving at each other from opposite sides of airport security.

Not my way to end a trip, but again, God knows why this team needed this type of departure.  I contemplated it on the way home, but I am confident that God is going to use these kids in amazing ways in the future.

Now I am beginning to turn my attention to the team going March 23-30.  A team of teenagers from Philadelphia are doing the "follow up" to this teams work.  I think both teams will be blessed as a result of working with these kids.  I don't know what lies ahead, but I thank God that He does, and that I can be confident that it is Good!!

Cedarville University Peru Trip - Day 7

As we started the final day of ministry here in Peru, the team was a little groggy and some were not feeling well.  We got up and went to the church for breakfast and talked through the remainder of chapter 2 in James.  James tells us that faith without works is dead, and our challenge for the day was to make sure our works were based in faith – not in our own strength and ability.

We headed off for the center, and traffic was light – which made driving easier, but also kept the car a little cooler.  We stopped off at Metro (a Walmart type store) to purchase more water and powerade for the day.  Staying hydrated is a little difficult when the temperatures are so high and we are so active. 

The center was full of children when we arrived, and we went right to work.  The kids mingled for a little bit with all of the children, and then we did the dramas that we have been doing all week.  The kids were young – maybe 4-10, and they really seemed to like being involved in doing the dramas.  We followed that with handing out the books for the kids to work on, and the kids began coloring and writing in them.

We served lunch, and sent the kids on their way to school.  Some of the team took time for lunch while others were visiting with the older kids that were arriving.  After about 30 minutes or so, the team had all eaten, and most of the kids that were coming had arrived.  Apparently 2 of the grades at the high school had to stay to help clean, so we missed some of the kids.

We ran our regular program and then gave the kids the booklets.  Again they loved working in them.  I pray that 3 weeks from now many of them will have them finished.

We spent much of the rest of the afternoon playing Frisbee, American football and soccer outside, while others worked on a puzzle inside.  The group did a great job of connecting with the kids wherever they could in whatever capacity best related to the kids they were interacting with.

We headed back to the hotel, got cleaned up for dinner and headed to the “chicken place” as Jose calls it.  He loves the food in this restaurant, so we all had dinner together there.  Noah was not feeling well, so I took him back to the hotel.  I pray this will be a short illness – much like Levi’s was yesterday (gone today!).  We followed dinner with some ice cream and said goodbye to the Apon family.

The evening was wrapped up with a game of Rage.  It was a good day.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:  Red lights, painted lines, and speed limit signs – what do they all have in common?  In Peru they don’t mean anything J.  I was driving today and the thought occurred to me – why do they even waste any time on painting lines?  They really don’t seem to matter.  Red lights – are more like a suggestion to stop unless nothing is coming (or at least nothing close enough to you is coming).  Speed limits – I saw signs, but no one was driving that slow – not even the bigger trucks.

Chaos and mayhem ensue when rules are not followed.  The lights, lines and signs in Peru are the “rules” of the road, but the real rules seem to be the ones that people have adopted.  For instance, the bigger the vehicle, the more rules it can make!

I long to live a life that has purpose, direction and impact on others, but without the guidelines of God’s word at work in my life, I am limited to chaotic and sporadic living.  God has given me certain instructions to make my life simple, but I want to make my own rules and that often complicates the process – often causing me to wreck.

I need to choose to walk according to His word, in His way, with His strength under His guidance.   

God help me do it.

Cedarville University Peru Trip - Day 6

Today really started last night as we drove all night on the bus, but I really don’t sleep well on vehicles.  I did however sleep a little – enough to do what needed to be done today.  The team seemed to sleep rather well, but I know they are looking forward to a good night’s rest tonight.

We had breakfast and devotions at the church at 8:30 in the morning, and by 10 we were heading off to the Buen Pastor child care center.  Pastor Jose tossed me the keys and asked me to drive – a situation I have been looking forward to.  The only problem was I didn’t have a horn, so I couldn’t be a genuine Peruvian driver.  Oh, and I stayed in my lane, so I guess that would limit my ability to be genuine as well. 

We arrived at the center and went on a couple of house visits.  First we visited the home of Juan Carlos and Milagros – their mother’s name was Natividad.  They have a thin walled home where 5 people live – the total area is not much more than an average living room.  They have 3 chickens, 2 rabbits, a dog, a cat and a duck.  The house is divided into a sleeping area and a kitchen.  Not much room to hang around in.  However, the view outside is amazing!  They overlook the desert lands of Lima with patches of green grass where the government keeps some roadways looking nice.  Houses everywhere – it truly was an odd sort of beautiful.

On our way to that home, I caught view of Norma (our sponsored child) at her home on the side of the mountain.  She had moved homes, but I saw her – and she saw me.  We exchanged waves, and after the first visit we went to see her home.  She lives in a rented room with her mom and brother.  It is hard to see as I have seen closets larger than the area where they live.  I hoisted Norma on my shoulders and carried her to the center.  We crossed paths with her Aunt along the way – only God knows why that encounter took place.

The day was filled with much of the normal things – we gave the kids books, we did skits, we helped kids color, and eventually played games with the kids.  The big difference today was we were tired from a long night (but not too tired), it was hot (we haven’t experienced that all week), and everything – even the kids – was dirty.  The team did an excellent job loving on the kids, playing with them, pushing through the difficulties of heat and dirtiness.  I was very proud of them.

As we packed up to go, many in the team did not want to go.  The kids connected so quickly with them, that it was much like leaving a family member.  I watched as they teared up and didn’t want to say goodbye.  Actually I hope that was the problem and not their fear of realizing I was driving them back to the hotel J.  Seriously, they loved the kids well today.

We arrived back at the hotel – rested, changed, and got ready for dinner.  We walked to an Italian restaurant just down the street and had pizza for dinner.  Levi was not feeling well, and eventually got sick, so after dinner we wrapped everything up and headed back to the hotel.  Levi went to bed and the rest of us played Rage.  I love how this team enjoys spending time together and bonding.

Tomorrow is more of the same – except with 3 times the children.  I look forward to another great day!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:  What is the real purpose of a car horn?  Here in Lima it seems to be used for saying hello, telling people a taxi is available, alerting people to danger, informing others that the light has changed, insisting on other drivers to move… It has many purposes.  I am not sure that most of the purposes listed here, or the many other purposes I am certain it is used for were originally the intent of a car horn.  Yet, it has become such a norm that you can really honk for no reason and still fit right in.

We were designed for a reason, but the world has skewed that purpose so that we can get caught up being used for so many useless things that our original, and ultimate, purpose is never realized.  When all the horns are honking – it is so chaotic you can hardly concentrate.  When the world is pushing us in so many different directions, we can become double minded and fruitless as it relates to the Gospel.

Lord help us stop the chaos in our own lives and quite ourselves long enough to see the direction and clarity of living a life directed by His Spirit.  Help us distinguish between the noisiness of busyness and the single mindedness of holiness.

I don’t want to be a blaring horn that eventually just gets ignored by the world around me.  I want to sound out an alarm that moves people closer to God.