Thinking Back

I really did mean to do a sort of final Peru post.  Starting back work plus busy weekends has slowed me up on that.  But I decided to sit down this eventing a go ahead and do that.  After our thankfully uneventful flight home and landing in Houston we drove back to Vidalia.  On that drive home I spent time thinking about our time in Peru.  It was unavoidable because there was so much to think about.  So much to sort out.  So much that I never want to forget.  I remember thinking about the people we met.

• Parts of our team 

Dan and Charla

Aaron and Marla

Paige

 Amber (On the right)

Very sweet people wanting to make a difference.  Wanting to share Gods' love.

• Abundant Life Ministry Team

Trent (Matias) (In the red "jacket" cause its WINTER!) 

His wife Shawn and their children.

His nephew Nathan

Courtney and Andrew

(This is Courtney leading the way)

(And Andrew with sweet Teddy)

Nedi (On the left)

Michael and his wife    (He was our very capable interpreter)

Rudolpho and his wife   (Thats not her...)

and many others

They have given up their lives.  They literally are living new lives for God in a new country away from the ease and riches we have here, and have made an entirely different life now with orphans and others who they know are so important to God but who society seems to be able to throw by the wayside.  

• The safehouse guys

Todd called them the Safeway guys  :)

Former addicts who have been rescued from the streets by God through Trent and his team.  They have been loved on and shown the love of God.  Their lives have been made NEW.  Now they are serving God and the people they previously lived among.  Addicts, prostitutes, and the poorest of the poor.  They are showing them how God can change, and save, and rescue, and love, and protect.

Jonathan
Gustavo
Marcos
William
William the Chef

• Jessica House Girls

Dolly
Louana
Johnnie  (Thats Johnnie beside me in the yellow)  What a story she has.

A new place of hope for them.  A safe place to go and bring their kids where that team will show them Gods love and forgiveness and help them find freedom in Christ from all those things that have kept them bound for so long.  A new world for them so different, seeing people who really care about their lives.

• The Peruvian children

Their dark beautiful shiny eyes

Their dirty faces and clothes

Their little hands reaching for yours a little hesitantly - not accustomed to seeing a white face.  Not used to seeing an adult smile at them or want to play with them.

Shalom
Abrianna
Christina
Marco
Javier
Rico
Christian

And so many names I couldn't understand.

Pastor Danny asked us a few times what we were bringing home from Peru.  It was a lot to think about and couldn't be answered for me simply.  I still may not know it all even at this point months later.  But this I know

• Showing Gods love is KEY.  His love, his kindness brings the needed change.
• What Trents ministry is doing is important.  It touches many and requires a lot of energy, time, money, people, effort, and love.  We should help.  
• We need to open our eyes to see the hungry and hurting around us.  Don't turn a blind eye.  Smile, speak, get out of that comfort zone.  Put an arm around someone.  Talk to them.  Love them.
• Love is an action!
• I certainly have a comfort zone.  I have never denied that.  I like it there. It's, --well, comfortable.  God though, doesn't really call us to be comfortable.  He calls us to lead those he loves to the only one who can bring real comfort.

" Love looks like something.  What does love look like?"

 Trent Rolfzen