Privileges

 

Often when I am walking to the Casa J large passenger planes take off, heading North, high in the sky, overhead of the dusty dirt road.  It is one of those stark contrast moments that happen often for me here in Peru:  the technology of First World meets Third World setting.  And every time, I am reminded of how privileged my life is and has been.  How thankful I am.  For life, situations, opportunities and experiences.  For a husband, family, friends, church and support.  For things that make life easier!  That I can even take a plane from one continent to another.

I often try to imagine myself having grown up in a simple mud-brick home in the Andes, or a slum in Lima, or to be that child who has never been outside of his rural community, but watches tourists trekking past his land with their strange clothing, language and hair.  Put your feet in other people’s shoes- I highly recommend it!  The street guy sitting on the corner downtown, the struggling single-mom in your church or at work, even that annoying next-door neighbour.  When we put our feet in other people’s shoes we see things from a different perspective.  It gives us a door to understanding.  It helps us to love.

 

The Root

I don’t remember when I first had the thought that I would like to volunteer in an orphanage, but I know it was some years ago.  And I account that desire in my heart to love on the motherless to God’s formation of Him in my life.  Even before I had chosen to follow Jesus (after I turned 25), I look back and can see so many moments of Him at work.  Patient.  Calling.  Beckoning.  Waiting.  Sending different people or experiences to help me to understand over time who He is and the decision to be made.

The truth is, I didn’t give up my good stable job, sell my car, dirt bike and most of my other worldly possessions to come to Peru because I am some really good person.  I felt a higher calling to something that was instilled in me by reading His words.  I had been reading more and more about Jesus’ time on earth in the gospels (Mathew, Mark, Luke & John).  His purpose.  His walk.  His heart.  Those are the things that convicted me to do more than just work to make a living and to have more things.  It was the scriptures talking about upholding justice for the poor and the fatherless that just spoke to me so directly.  After all, it’s through God’s people loving, following and serving that the injustices, oppressions and wrongs in the world will be made right.  Although God could miraculously fix all things, He has given man dominion over the world (Gen 1:26 & 28), and though man's made a big mess of a lot of things, He also allows us the opportunity to work with Him in making a difference, and in that becoming more and more like Jesus.

Experiences of Less

Finally, it was the fears of the unknown, of change, and of finances that I gave over to Him, and He took completely- filling me with peace, paving the way for my path to living in a third-world country and helping orphans.

I have adjusted to a lot of walking and packing into public transport to get around.  I am forced to exercise daily!  And it is so much cheaper and easier paying other people to drive and maintain a vehicle.

I have been given a period of time to wash clothing by hand.  I thank God every time I use our recently bought, second-hand washing machine!

I am getting used to being in an apartment with a few issues.  We have running water, a real toilet, an electric-powered hot-water shower!

Homes in the high-altitudes of the Andes don’t have insulating or heating systems.  But, when it is only 5-15 degree C, we have more than one electric heater, piles of blankets and warm clothing...we have ELECTRICITY!

Meeting Needs

With so many needs around us here, it is hard not to want to get involved in more projects or want to do more.  One of the things I have really admired and respected about my husband since the start is his generosity.  His travel business has been built around the focus of helping people, whether it’s purchasing dozens of plastic chairs for a community’s Cultural-Tours program, rounding up church members to donate used clothing for needy children, or providing work for rural natives thereby supporting their families and communities.  Even when tourism has taken a plunge, he is ready to help with various needs, putting others’ needs first.  I am proud of him for not being money-focused, but people-focused and love-based.

You don’t have to travel to another country or work with orphans to realize the privileges in life or to make a difference in the world.  The needs are all around.  It reminds me of the verses instructing us to "love our neighbour as our self".  It's the people closest to us that we sometimes don't see; the needs closest to us that we neglect.  In a recent conversation with a dear friend from the Yukon, she was talking about how she’s felt this need to do more, to show people their worth, that they are loved.  She is thinking of ways to work with young single mothers through her business, showing them their value and that they are loved.

The Greatest Privilege

At times I just have this overwhelming feeling ... sometimes accompanied by a moment:

• the lyrics of a song (listening to Shine FM online)
• or witnessing some sweet thing in nature (the striking sound of a singing bird fluttering between dry corn stalks)
•  or a unique experience (a Quechua lady reaching across language and cultural barriers to show her interest in and welcome to me in her remote community). 

But it’s more than the privileged moments in life - of having things, experiences or education:  it’s the knowing that I have made so many mistakes, done so many stupid things, am so undeserving and yet God loves me with an everlasting love that is greater than I can imagine.  That He called me and loved me first, just as He is calling or has called you.

It’s a feeling that just fills me with love for my Saviour, with tears in my eyes, and an overwhelming thankfulness in my heart.

No matter where I live or what the circumstances are, I know The Creator is with me, loves me, and goes before me. That is something pretty amazing and my motive for serving Him. 

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.  -1 Peter 2:21

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. -Ephesians 3:17b-19

To me this music video really fits today...

Christmas Boxes for Easter

Well, this is a bit of 'old' news for us, though maybe new for you, and things I thought worth sharing with a few photos...

Back in February, Walter and I were invited along with other Sunday School leaders and teachers in Cusco to attend a two day session to involve teaching strategies and materials. We found out later that it was to be put on by Samaritan's Purse, and involved two days filled with children's attention-attaining and prayer ideas, songs and a detailed program for carrying out the actual event and post-program of delivering the Samaritan's Purse Christmas boxes (we had previously signed our children up for in November). 

I have packed those boxes in years previous in Canada, but had no idea the amount of work involved in delivering the boxes and the gospel focus to their program.  The S.P. team actually puts a heavy emphasis on keeping the news of the boxes from reaching the children before they actually receive them, and a detailed list of procedures must precede and follow the special Sunday School event where the boxes are actually revealed.

In the two day 'course' they shared some very heart-touching stories from past years in which the boxes were given out:

True Stories

A couple of years ago, the Christmas boxes were delivered to a group of children in a poor community near Puno, Peru, where they had previously been asked, if you could receive any gift, what would you want? 
Each one said: a pair of shoes. 
Well, the workers with S.P. knew that the likelihood of each child receiving a pair of shoes in just their size, would be near impossible, yet they prayed over these simple and humble requests, and some weeks later when the boxes arrived with the grand reveal to this group of children- guess what each child found in their box? 

A pair of shoes. 

 

Each exactly the correct size.

 

Another story involved a girl (I believe they said from Romania) who had also been asked previously, and with no knowledge of the S.P. Christmas box suprise-to-come, what kind of gift would she like if she could have anything.  She was an orphan, living in an orphanage, and her answer was: a mom and dad. 

Well, the Samaritan's Purse workers knew that this was not an answer that they could fulfill, but prayed nevertheless, and hoped that whatever she received it would be something special.

 

When the Christmas boxes arrived, the little girl recieved some of the normal gifts of hygiene items, paper, stickers and crayons, and a personal note with a photo of the giver. 

Some months later, the woman who had packed that box arranged to visit the orphanage where the little girl lived.  Having just been married, she and her husband desired to adopt.  They met that little girl and bonded with her, and some time later started the adoption process, eventually bringing her home as a child of their own.

 

What a powerful reminder: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 

- Matthew 19:26

 

Our Class Receive Their Boxes

 

 

 

The older children from our class in Wimpillay were strongly encouraged for a few days before, to invite 1-2 friends with them to a very special class to be scheduled that Sunday, consequently Easter Sunday.  When our Special Party got underway, we ended up with 30 children- exactly the number of boxes that Samaritan's Purse had sent.  We were short one for a girl age 7-10, but gave her the remaining boy's box for age 7-10 (the S.P. representative quickly and discreetly ripped off the label).  We were all happy, and admittedly a little relieved, to see that when she opened her box, the things inside were not gender-specific, and she was as happy as the rest to receive her gifts!

 

All of the kids were given their boxes at the same time and instructed not to open them until the 'O.K.'.  They then all opened their boxes together. 

I watched one little boy, SO excited, open his box, look at the things inside, then close his box, then open it to see what was inside, then close it, then open it, then close it.  He was SO excited, giggling the whole time.  It was an inopportune time for my camera to fail me, but I captured one fuzzy photo of his extreme excitement (see below).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the kids had never received a wrapped gift before in their lives.  Our Sunday School regulars said that the last gift they had received were the ones we had given them before Christmas (not much more than brown paper bags filled with fun bouncy-balls, stickers and candy).

 

But, as fun as the actual gifts are, S.P. makes a big emphasis on the TRUE GIFT.  We put on a special visual lesson, and had children come to the front to unwrap large fancy boxes enlettered with some of the special gifts that God gives (peace, love, joy, forgiveness, eternal life, etc.).  The kids receive a special story in each of their boxes, and those age 7-11 an invitation to a 12 week discipleship program with gifts of Bibles to be given at the end. 

 

Walter teaching

 

What gifts does God offer? (The regular Sunday School Teacher)

 

 

"PAZ"- One of God's special gifts to us (Peace)

 

 

We are a little sad that our time with the Wimpillay class has come to an end.  Some friends of the regular Sunday School leader have offered to help her out regularly.  But, we are happy that she will have the help from her friends, and pray that she will continue with energy and motivation with this growing class, and for their understanding of the special gifts God has to offer each one.