Peru, to love people.

Covered in mosquito and spider bites. Itching ... ALL the time. An awkward sunburn because there's no way to hide from the summer sun of this desert. Dripping with sweat from the summer heat. Filthy all the time and covered in dust. Back and neck pain from sleeping on a bed that feels like a rock. Not really sleeping because its summer, and there is no air. The only way I slept was exhaustion.

How do people live like this?

God, why did you send me here?

How can I possibly help?

I have been praying for God to send me on a short mission trip for some time. When he lays something on our hearts, it'll happen in his timing. I had no idea I would be going to Peru. In fact, when I went - I knew absolutely nothing about the country. God opened the door and I just ... went.

God made my heart a real mushy one. The kind that carries the weight of the world. When I arrived, I thought - I'm not sure why He would send me there where ... sewage flows through the dirt streets. Children work in the dessert heat trying to sell fruit, gum, anything to help their family survive. Most homes are adobe with dirt floors. Forget about running water, there is a bucket out back. It is the 3rd highest infant mortality rate. Children are abandoned in hospitals, on buses ... some of them, I met. They held my hand. Hugged me tight. Called me "tia!" (auntie) after only knowing me a day. Fought over my lap and who I would carry. Begged me to put on a new shirt as if they'd never seen one, or change their pants when they'd had an accident. Puppies are skin & bone, out in the street and covered in filth. Armed guards walk the streets with guns, because the crime is outrageous.

It is one of those things you see on TV or online, and it breaks your heart. But, its almost as if it isn't real. Because sitting in our comfortable homes or apartments, we can see something like that and feel bad, but - it's so far away, and not something we've seen before, so we feel bad but then go on about our day. It's another world, someone else will help, I have my own problems.

Being there and seeing with my own eyes, the chaos, the poverty..., something happened inside my stomach. Then, getting to know the people ... something happened inside my soul.

I had pneumonia before going ... and my cough went away 2 days before I got there. Came back the day I was leaving. Talk about a sovereign God.

I woke up early every morning to go to Morning Star (the orphanage) / Strong Tower (the christian school) and took a taxi (a packed car - with no air conditioning), to a bus (a packed van - with no air conditioning) to a motor-taxi ... down a dirt road full of rocks. Definitely not a ride you'd find at Disney. It took an hour to get there, and I'm already exhausted from the heat, the dust, the adventure just getting there.

My days filled with helping teach english to children that only speak spanish. When I only speak english. I had no clue this is what I would be doing. I just showed up, ready to serve. Starting with the 3 year olds, many of whom cried the entire time. The 5 year old class, 1st and 2nd graders. 90-100 degrees and no air in the classrooms. We opened the doors for air, but then the mosquitos came in, and they were thirsty. So, we'd close the doors and teach in the sauna. Many of the children quickly stole my heart. They're the reason I woke up every day excited to make the journey... no matter how exhausted and sick I really was. It was the strength of God that got me up each day, and took me out to do it all again.

I found out that, the week I was there was the first week of school. Mark, the principal, had been praying for help in the classrooms since the first week is always the most chaotic. God sent me to help. Marks prayers were heard, God provided. He always does.

My afternoons spent playing with the children in the orphanage, and helping any way I could. Completely touched by how these kids open their hearts up and loved me. When they reached up and grabbed my hand, I almost melted inside. Or looked at me with a HUGE smile. Gave me a hug, so innocent and pure. I know what this is ... Gods love. Purely shown through innocent children. Spotting me across a field and running over "Tia, Tia!" Oh how I wanted to take them home.

Evenings spent making visits to villages. Checking on people. Loving them when no one else does. Showing them hope when they can't find any. One night Henrik (the missionary & his wife I stayed with most the time when I wasn't staying at the orphanage) and I went to Lluya. We made a visit to Valerie. Valerie was sitting in her adobe hut, in ripped clothing, barefoot. We asked how she was, and she cried out for help. I recognize this cry for help. It once came from inside of me. Henrik translated for me, I speak very little Spanish. Valerie's husband is an alcoholic. He spends his days working, lies about working late - goes and gets liquored up. Comes home and yells and insults Valerie and her children. Her oldest son, a Jr in High School, he yells at him most. He wants to leave. They feel like slaves... stuck. She feels alone. She is sobbing. The kind that comes from deep pain. Hopeless heart. I felt helpless, my heart literally breaking for this woman. The story, all too familiar and close to home. I felt God prompt me to go sit next to her. I hesitated, Lord what if she doesn't want me to? She doesn't know me. I don't even speak her language. I kept feeling that nudge. I put my insecurity behind me, and stood up, walked over and wiped her tears. Why? Because I know that's what Jesus would do for her. What He will do for all of us. She laid the bible Henrik gave her half on my lap, welcoming me. Henrik talked for a bit, praying for her. Then suddenly, I looked at Valerie, and I spoke. Well, rather it was God, because I don't think I could have found the words, or would have wanted to share my soul this way. Tears began to flood from my eyes, the kind of deep hurt - but then the kind of triumph, joy, and freedom. The kind only found in Christ. As I told Valerie of my growing up experiences, Henrik translated. Valerie looked at me and I knew, she knew she wasn't alone. As I told her she didn't need to go through this alone, that God is waiting for her to ask Him to take over. Told him what happened in my life once He did. I saw in her eyes, hope.

Since I couldn't understand Valerie, I'm not exactly sure what she said. All I know is, God send me clear across the world - just so that she didn't feel alone in her tribulations. To give her hope of a new tomorrow, free from bondage. To encourage her. To comfort her. I thought to myself, wow - God really loves this woman. Then I became overcome with thankfulness. That God doesn't waste our experiences, and in fact, they are gifts. For the first time in my life, I saw my struggles as a gift that I could share with this woman. God does not waste our experiences. He will use them all for His glory, if we just let Him. I also realized, if we ask to be used by God. & say yes when He calls us to go. He will use us. It was His hands that wiped this woman's tears. It was His words that comforted her. It is His story, His glory.

At supper the next night, Henrik told me that ... he felt I was sent here to encourage these people. When people go through something hard, it's as if they get a key. That key to someone else's hope and encouragement as they go through something similar. There's a connection. Someone clear across the world has gone through something similar, and God pulled her out and blessed her with His victory. Hopeless to hope-filled. Lost to purpose-full. Broken to ... well, bandaged up ;) but brand new.

The next night I went with Patty to teach some women to bake oatmeal cookies. Their diets consist of mostly rice and bread. Oatmeal has a lot of fiber. Patty asked me to share my testimony with the women. I have no idea what they were saying, but - they all welcomed me so warmly as if ... I had unlocked part of their hearts. They all praised God. It was, beautiful. This is the kitchen we baked in ..

That is why I feel God sent me to Peru. It wasn't full of beautiful scenery, & in fact just the opposite. I didn't see Machu Picchu as all my friends asked if I would. I didn't even get hardly any time of relaxation. Somehow still, it was the most beautiful trip. Because of the people. Their hearts. & learning more about the heart of God. Because, having God work through me to love others ... made me realize just how much God loves His people. I got a glimpse at His heart, and all He will do to meet our needs, even in our darkest hour, maybe not always in ways we can see it, but He's there.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe - Proverbs 18:10. 

If you have been considering adoption overseas, here is the link for Morning Star. I spent only a week with these kids and they stole my heart: http://www.morningstarperu.org/

In love,
Meagan