Peru Mission

This past January I was blessed to be able to travel to Peru with a mission team from GSLC. I saw God's hand in this mission every step of the way. There were MANY God Sightings I would like to tell you about, too many to list, but here are a few. Yes, we completed our list of things we went down there "to do." Such as supporting an art studio, painting a church and community center, running dental, 1st aid and sun protection clinics. We spread the word of God by running a VBS with the children and adults of the village, but nothing was more rewarding than the bonds of friendships that we made with the people of Peru, and each other. In the beginning of the mission, I was so focused on completing all of the "things" that we had set out to do and accomplish in Peru. However, as the trip progressed I felt as though God was pulling me aside and telling me to concentrate more on the relationships with others, than the list I thought we had to complete. It reminded me of Luke 10:38-42 where Martha is complaining to Christ that Mary is just sitting at His feet while she is distracted with all of the preparations that had to be made. Christ said to her, "Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41) You see, I didn't need "to do," I needed "to be." Be with the people, and let God's love flow freely. I met a young blind man, and since my Spanish is not too good, our conversation was very limited. However, when there really wasn't much else to say, and there was silence, Roya, the young man, would call out my name. With a gentle touch and a calling of his name, I would reassure him I was still there. I wasn't doing anything, I was just there, feeling the Spirit at work. What an AWESOME feeling that is!!! Another area I saw God at work, was in my dear friend, Sandy Park. By watching her, I learned the true meaning of giving. You really saw Christ's love in her and her actions. Whether it was her big smile, warm hugs, or happy attitude, everyone that came in contact with this woman, fell in love with her. She spoke that universal language of Love, and she spoke it well. At the end of our trip she gave away most of her belongings, whether it was her shoes, her watch, her clothes or her money, she gave. I told her, by watching her, I learned what it meant to "give." She replied, with tears in her eyes, "I thought I knew what it meant to give, before I came on this trip, but I had no idea! I think I was able to give so freely, because others gave so freely to make it possible for me to come on this mission." You see, she had friends that sponsored her, along with a scholarship from the "Spirit of Titus," that made it financially possible for her to go to Peru. Yes, this was a place where I witnessed the power of giving, come full circle. Now when it comes time to contribute to the "Spirit of Titus" it will come from my heart as I remember the love that it spread in Peru, and not from a place of "to do." from Kari Duensing