Day 9

My time in Trujillo has been amazing and a passage that God has put on my heart is Psalm 146:5-9. He gave me these verses Friday night, just a few hours after my most unforgettable memory here. When we went to the garbage dump that day, my group got to talk with an elderly woman and what has stuck with me the most was that her smile never faltered during our conversation. We found out that she had been there for at least thirty years, and she said she would stay there until the Lord took her. Those few minutes with someone I will never meet again, gave me the perfect amount of motivation as I spent the rest of my time making and moving bricks for a wall which will surround the orphanage, trade school and camp. If there is nothing else that I am taking home from my time in Trujillo, I am definitely bringing back the necessity of keeping a positive attitude, no matter what. How can I not after what I have seen God doing here?
- Lila A.

 Hello how are you guys doing. Hope you guys aren’t missing all of us to much. So this week in Peru has really been something that has made me think. About both God and my own life. I came hoping to play with some kids and show them how much God loves them and what he can do for them if they fallow him. To find out we only got a short amount of time with the kids, and the kids were more filled with Gods love then us. I remember walking in and this kid just runs full force into me and puts his hands up in the air like he wanted me o carry him. I have seen peruvian kids who grow up in poverty. They dont run and give hugs, they run and drop kick your knee or think its funny to spit on you. That what I expected to get when I went in only to be shown differently.
When we were told that we were growing to be doing a lot of construction I was like a little mad because I wanted to work with kids but instead I had to shovel dirt, cut bars , and make cement. But then I remembered Jon’s word of having flexibility. So I jumped in head first with all the energy I could bring. I was then shown by the interns on how important the Albergue was. That it would house 70 something kids, give them skills to move on up in life, show them Gods love, And allow them to grow up in the proper environment. Then I realized we weren’t just shoveling dirt, we weren’t just cutting bars , and we weren't just making cement. We were building the foundation to a new hope for these kids and there kids and even those kids. Because it might just be 70 something kids now but they will grow up and hopefully prosper and then there kids will even prosper more. Some might become shoe makers and carpenters but compared to working in the trash dumps thats a much better job that can bring more opportunity. Also some of those kids might grow up to pastors and they will spread the love they received to other kids in all of Peru so that they can grow up to be men and women of God and hopefully not fall into a corrupted lifestyle. The construction is only a baby step to greater things. As long as we trust in God and love him how we all have so far. Inca Link will grow and prosper in his name
Going to the dump I thought it was going to be a humbling experience to just remind me that my life wasn't that bad.Only because I have seen a lot of poverty in Peru of ll sorts from my time in Peru already. So I went in just thinking I’m going to try and get these people to smile give them some fruit and then leave. I talked to so many people and herd there story. It got me sad to see how they got there. Most had no choice but to work there. One man worked construction all his life. But because he was old no one wanted to hire him. They much prefer to higher younger workers. Stories like that got me mad because it reminded me how unfair life could be. But I didn't do anything. I didn’t pray for him or any of the other adults I saw there, I felt like it would be awkward. Most of my time there was like that. On our way back to the bus’s I saw a family of three watching us and I went to hand them my last 3 pieces of fruit with David. Again we talked and conversed. But this time instead of awkwardly walking away I decided to ask to pray for them. What the lady said to me hit me so hard, she told me “de eso se trata todo , por eso estan aqi “. In english that whats it all about thats why you are here is it not. I felt like a light bulb went off In my head. It was God telling me you are here not to just hand out fruit but to spread my love. I wish I could of gone back and dine it right but I left with my mind refocused on what I was doing there in peru.
Everyone here is so great the interns have mentored us so greatly in this short time we have been here. The workers have been so patent and loving to us. The kids gave so much joy to us with there smiles, and the construction has allowed us to be apart of something great. I came trying to bring Gods love and had my plans and my thoughts on what I was going to do for God. Only to have God be like nope I need you to do this and learn this. So I did and I fell like I have grown. I plan on keeping in touch with inca link to see what I can do next year. But also with the ex president of Inca link. Who despite being the president was working along side everyone. He such a great man. Hopefully I can help him in his mission to rebuild his church in his home town in the jungles of Peru next sumer (which is where he is going to go after his term is over next month). But once again God knows what I need to do, so I can only listen and fallow, Trust in him and I will be safe.
-Dylan R.


In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah begins the 'good work' of rebuilding the temple walls of Jerusalem. "Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them."  Neh 3:1-2 (but please read the full chapter for full effect!).

It continues this way over two dozen times, with families and neighbors building alongside each other as "they laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place." For eight days I had the absolute pleasure and blessing of building next to 28 incredible 'neighbors.'  Today, on our last day of work at Albergue, we put our pick axes and shovels to the ground as we attempted to complete as much of the building projects as possible, keeping the goal of January 2012 at the forefront.  We annihilated another mound of dirt as we almost completed the leveling in the space by the cafeteria.  Throwing down the pick axe had much more meaning knowing we had but a few hours left of construction. The hardest part of today was putting the shovels down, turning off the cement machine and cleaning out the brick molds one last time, having to leave our unfinished work for the next group.  I'm not used to incomplete projects but have an unusual sense of peace that we have completed exactly what He had planned.

Ultimately I am so proud of our group and blessed to be part of it as I worked alongside each student and leader this week. They have been outstanding servants and have gone above and beyond in how they loved God and loved people in Peru. It is clear that when this group joins together God moves in mighty ways.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

Grace +Peace
Sara


This week has been life changing for me.  I have learned a lot, but what really hit me was that I have to start being appreciative for what I have.  Watching people with nothing, yet having big smiles on their faces really got to me.  They are digging through garbage and picking things out that they can eat and take home to give to their family.  It is truly heartbreaking, but they are doing all of this with a smile and I don’t understand how that works,  Another thing that got to me was when we had VBS the first day. We got there kids were jumping on us like we had known them forever.  I felt that God was showing His love through the kids.  Also, making bricks isn’t as easy as it looks and that’s what I was doing most of the time in construction. Those bricks will be used to make a wall around the children’s home where many abandoned kids will be living in.  I just love the fact that I was a part of this and that just by making those bricks I’m changing a kids life.
Thanks for all the support and prayers :)
See you guys soon!!!!!!
Isabella C.