Peru Project- Dec 28th-Jan 12th

This has been an incredible trip in so very many ways beyond the building of Hannah’s Hope. God has poured out His grace and brought two of our precious Peruvian friends to know Christ as their Saviour this trip, Silvia from Ola Grande and Gabriel. Please pray for them as begin their new walk of faith. Bienvenidos to the family of God! We have worshiped the Father together through construction, play, song and silence with new friends in Christ. Jesus’ love has shown through us to many children as we have served Him alongside our Peruvian brothers and sisters. The students from Penn State left at 3:30 AM Saturday morning; their are just a few of us left now. We went back down to Chinca this morning to worship with Pastor Rodolfo’s church. It was a very sweet time of fellowship in the halls between what used to be their Sunday School rooms (the church having been destroyed in the earthquake). Please enjoy some random photos of the last few days and raise your heart in thanks to God for His perfect plan!

(Click on thumbnails to enlarge)

I’ve had a lot of time to think about what I should say for this blog. But to no surprise I haven’t had that ground breaking idea I’ve been hoping for. I really want to capture what this trip has meant for me in this blog. And to understand that I think I should start from the beginning.

I came down to Peru knowing and expecting only what people had told me from their experiences. And from that… I hadn’t been expecting anything frustrating and I really hadn’t thought much about actually doing the construction.

But once I got down here, God really rocked my world with everything He had in store for me. You might be thinking to yourself right now about everything I’m about to say… but I think what has meant the most to me on this trip isn’t what you would expect me to say. You might expect me to say that every moment was a good one, that I had an easy time making friends and that everything that I wanted to see happen on this trip happened.

But to me, this trip has meant seeing God in every moment (i.e. searching for God when times get tough). There were frustrations on this trip, times of feeling tired, sore and unheard. But when I searched for God, when I looked for what He was putting in front of me to learn… I couldn’t do anything but feel that God is more awesome than I will ever know.

I won’t go into detail with what has been frustrating because I think most of them would be better off unsaid. I won’t go into detail about what an amazing experience this has been… because I want anyone who reads this to find out for themselves. But I will say that I thank God for His hand in this trip. From start to finish you can’t help but realize that our God is sovereign and we can all find rest in knowing He is going to take care of us.

So to bring everything to a close, I just want to stress that if you’re feeling like the world around you isn’t how you’d like to see it, that you can’t catch a break, know that there is a God that loves you and wants to answer your prayers…. all it takes is for you to open your mouth, open your heart, and to open your life to letting go and letting faith take over.

Joseph Walker

Some mission trips seem almost uneventful. Friends come back and their only description of their trip is that they worked hard and played with kids. For you parents, family, friends, and supporters that are anxiously awaiting the return of your son/daughter/family/friend; their response to your question of, “How was your trip?” will be quite different.

Sure, we have worked hard and played with kids, but that merely scratches the surface. Stories of how God guided college students through a foreign town late at night in search of a pair of socks for a local worker who did not own any; stories of two young Peruvian children neglected in the hot sun who found themselves in the arms of loving ChildReach staff with food, new clothes, and a clean bath; and stories of the blood, sweat, and tears poured into each hammering of each nail used to piece together the abstract boards, blocks and frames into a beautiful place some will call home…These are just a sample of the many stories that await you in just a few days.

In so many ways, this trip seems as though it were a movie scripted by God. The characters that have come and gone, the others that have stayed; all have been a part of this journey they will be spoken of for some time to come. The adventures through the desert, and hard times in the trenches have been the backdrop of a magnificent story…The story of how God inspired one man and gave him a dream to build a home…simply because he has one and others don’t. Dave’s story, and now ours as well, is one directed and blessed by God. It is my prayer that the smiles, tears, and excitement that you hear about become your story as well. A story of how God saved the day…just like everyday.

God is everywhere. He is moving through this country just as the wind rolls off the breezy ocean. He has certainly opened my eyes, softened my heart, and helped me to hear.

Tomorrow is the last day of work. Please pray for us as tomorrow is our last day. We are excited to come home, but more importantly, we are amped to charge hard with every last bit of energy that we have. The harvest is ripe and in this case, the workers are plenty. Stay tuned for all the excitement that lies ahead.

-Matthew Case

P.S…I love you Mom, Dad, and Porsche

Yesterday we started a 3 day Escuela Biblica (Bible School) in a community called Lomas de Marchan; just north of Benjamin Scorza community where Pastor Jorge’s church is located. It is more or less a squatter village built on top of a dump. There is much sickness there; lung and skin conditions. We had a couple of groups out passing out flyers and inviting the families to join us for games in the morning and Escuela Biblica at dos y media (Bible School at 2:30) in the afternoon. My group met up with Jeff’s at a crossroads. There he had found two very small girls dressed in layers of fleece and caked with dirt–faces, hands, and feet, sitting in a bit of shade against an empty cistern.The older child offered a tiny timid smile after some coaxing, but the younger one had only an empty face, void of all expression.

(Click on thumbnail to enlarge)

A neighborhood child led us to their home, a little shack made of thatch and tarps. No one was inside. The neighbors were peering out their doors with very wary looks on their faces. They wouldn’t talk at all at first explaining that the mother gets very angry, curses everyone and had thrown the dad and little girls out; they were all obviously afraid of her. They explained that the girls were most often left alone all day, sometimes with their infant brother. They said that recently the shack was on fire with the children home alone inside. Not wanting to take the girls far from their home without their parent’s knowledge we gave them some water and crackers.

Soon the smaller sister wet herself. Terry and I went inside the shack and I looked for something dry to change her into and found the saddest conditions I had ever seen. There was a rusty single bed in the corner with sagging springs. There was no mattress; just a blanket spread across it. Flies were everywhere, especially around the large piles of dirty clothes. A small plastic orange bowl served as the toilet; it was not empty.

Our brother, Felix, from Hogar de Ninos had come by and went to get the community police. Before they came back; the parents came home with the baby. The mother looked to be in her forties (we later learned that she is just 26), and is blind in one eye. She came and squatted near the front door reaching for the kids; I quickly squatted with her and told her how precious her children were. I told her that mine were grown and that I was so happy to be hugging on her preciouso ones. This helped to melt her defenses a little bit, I think. She took the girls inside the shack with her and we left.

Before we got far the police came, along with Felix and Pastor Jorge. We learned that everyone knew that the children were neglected and every attempt at intervention was met with aggressive behavior from the mom. They asked me to go back with them and see if we could at least offer to bathe, feed, and clothe the girls properly. Their hope was to intimidate the mother a little bit, so that she would take better care of them. We went back to the shack to talk to their mother, her name is Mirka. The children’s names are Marialosangles, Viviana, and Lejandro. Mirka was immediately defensive and explained that she knew best how to care for the girls and no one was going to take them from her. Both police, Pastor Jorge, and Felix tried to explain we just wanted to offer some assistance, but she was not going to have any of it. I reached out to her and told her that from my own mother’s heart I knew that she was afraid and caring for her children as best she could. Please let us come along side you to offer some help today, we said.

Almost the next moment I was being ushered into the police car with both of the girls and our translator who commented that she had never been in a police car before and was a bit afraid. Felix and Pastor Jorge gently urged the parents to come along and we all went to Hogar de Ninos. We bathed and clothed the girls and their baby brother. The only time I saw sweet Viviana smile was just after I dried and dressed her; I picked her up and held her close and she smiled. It was such a gift!!! The cook at Hogar fed all of us and then we took them back with us when we went for afternoon Bible School, Mirka let Marialosangles stay with us and took the little ones home.

We went back this morning to see if they could come and play with us, but Mirka said the afternoon would be a better time. Shortly, though, she came and brought the girls to me saying that she would leave them if I promised to bring them back to her door, personally. She stayed awhile and talked with Pastor Jorge. Baby steps… She let me take some photos when I took the girls back home. Our translator explained that I only wanted to remember them and be praying for them. She let them come again for afternoon VBS. Viviana kept the same blank expression.

I gave her a duck and tried to dance and color with her, but could get no response. Both morning and afternoon she was so lethargic that she ended up sleeping in Jeff’s lap. We are sure that she is sick, as well as Lejandro.

I had a tough time sleeping last night knowing the conditions that those little ones are living in. In faith we will go back again tomorrow. Please be praying for this family, and for all of us. We need the Father’s wisdom and strength. As you know, Esperanza de Hannah or Hannah’s Hope is being built this week. The Father’s purpose through this is to offer a refuge and a HOPE for children like these three.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

~Tony Kay

As our days in Peru become numbered, and I begin to count each passing moment here as a blessing, I wonder how I will return to Pennsylvania and genuinely describe to friends and family how this trip has been a such monumental chapter of my life.

What words will properly illustrate the courage, faith and strength Peruvian people retain within a lifestyle that is quite honestly the antithesis of an American’s?

How do I explain the impact it has had on me?

I think I can tell them about a friend I made here - Andy. Andy is a seven-year-old Peruvian boy living amongst the type of poverty I have seen in pictures and television adopt-a-child ads, where scantily-roofed, three-walled shacks are what families call home; what Andy calls ‘casa’. Remove him from this environment, and with the amount of energy in his bones and love in his heart, one could never guess the inhumane living conditions that are Andy’s roots. He smiles at me and asks me to carry him; he holds my hand as if I’m his older brother, and it lets me know how much love God has stored in this boy’s heart. I teach him the chicken dance, and he laughs when I mispronounce his attempts to teach me Spanish.

Then, after a day of time together, I have to leave Andy. The most difficult part is knowing that I have had my only opportunity to impact his life and his faith. Have I helped plant a seed of the Lord in his heart? Could I have done more? Will anyone ever reach out to Andy again?

If I had not helped him with his walk with Christ, he certainly helped me with mine. He gave me a degree of love I’ve never felt, and showed me a degree of strength I’ve never seen.

How do I explain to people the impact this trip has had on me? I believe the growth in faith I have received through this trip is the answer, which is what I hope to share.

Adam

This entire trip so far has been filled with memorable and somewhat life-changing experiences, but yesterday I had an experience that will most likely stick with me for the rest of my life.

I was standing on the loose gravel outside our temporary Peruvian home covered in sand and grit from a recent trip to the beach after a great day of work at the job-site. My feet and legs were filthy and so I was trying to figure out how to go inside without bringing my filth with me. Just as I had given up hope of keeping our room clean I looked behind me to see a young Peruvian standing next to me. He must have been 15 or 16 years of age, and in his hands he held a small bowl of water.

At first I was somewhat startled and being constrained by the language barrier I was not sure what exactly he wanted from me. The young man did not say a word but simply bent over and began to wash my filthy, sandy feet with his water. I stood there kind of shocked at this guys willingness to serve me, and I could only manage to muster a “gracias” as he walked away. It took me a few moments to realize what had just happened, but when it did hit me I could not help but be amazed.

Unfortunately I doubt if the young man realized the spiritual implications of what he did for me that day, but regardless of his faith or lack of faith, his actions were an amazing blessing blessing from God and an ultimate lesson in humility.

-Kyle Horst

The funny thing about construction sites: everyone works hard at all times, but some days seem faster than others.  We did a lot of sowing today, prepping for tomorrow when all our groups will be on-site, instead of sending some out doing ministry.  Which means less reaping.  I am consistently impressed with the good attitudes and cheerful servitude of all the volunteers and the locals working on-site.  I haven’t gotten out for VBS yet but those returning back reported on upwards of 150 kids, most of them cheerfully greeting the returnees, eagerly singing along and participating. 

We had a chance to reflect on God’s providence today, due to the slower visible progress.  The joists were mostly up and we were passing floorboards up (”hey look, we made shade!”), and it’s amazing that something that started as a concrete slab not one week ago is now visibly “inside.”  But most of the day seemed to be more emotional and reflective, thinking of God’s protecting hand on us doing some relatively challenging physical work, and on how far God has brought us to get us on this trip here.

Personally, it’s been challenging to so quickly become so invested in a community I know I have to leave soon.  In the long scheme of things, two weeks is not long to be in the lives of some very troubled children; and yet, time seems to only look as far as tomorrow here in Peru.  So maybe we are having an impact, after all.

God bless, and many thanks for all your prayers and love,

Kristen Zeiber

I never believed Peru would become a true reality to me. Even though we’ve been here five days I still have moments where I feel like I’m in the same place as I began; the same place I starting believing. And maybe I am. Maybe I am still at home. I’ve discovered some amazing truths in my few days here. Living in the same time zone has provided comfort and has also served as an eye-opening adventure. As I wake in the morning, my sister wakes. As I drink my strong cup of coffee, my daddy sips his. As I breathe in this salty air, my mom let’s our dog out and takes the same refreshing breath. My brother sleeps soundly as I sleep soundly. This falls even deeper though. Each morning I wake up and find myself standing on this earth. It is the same earth everywhere. Are we really so different? Although their words seem strange to me, they lift up praise to the same amazing God. Their inspiration is mine. No matter where I stand I gaze up into the same starry sky, clinging to the same hope. God has never seemed more real to me than He has here. The people here sing with an uninhibited confidence. I long to know how this feels. I long to feel my God grab my heart so tight that I may sing so loud the world shakes. My heart is beginning to learn how God can become real on a whole new level. In America we are handed so many solutions through textbooks, people, and technology. The people here really know what a dependent life looks like. I can learn from these things. It’s so easy to get swept up in a life of answers. I am so blessed to know that one day these endless days of questions and answers will lead me to a life of fluid motion, doing exactly what I’m doing now. Spreading the Love. Learning the Love. So blessed.

–Sami Melonas

Today was our third day “on mission,” and it was another incredible day! It has been such a blessing to change ministries each day. Our jobs so far have included knocking on the door of Peruvians and sharing Jesus with them, canvassing neighborhoods to gather children for VBS and conducting VBS, asking them for prayer requests and praying with them, sorting clothes for Hannah’s Hope and Hannah’s Home, taking donated clothes to Pastor Jorge for his parishioners, and INTENSE construction. While I normally am the type of person who would want to stay with one job until it’s finished, I have thoroughly having my faith stretched and changing on the fly.
I should mention that my wife and I strongly felt the Lord calling us to bring the 11 and 13 year old members of our family with us. In addition to the fantastic adults that are on this trip with us, we are really enjoying the presence of a bunch of AWESOME college students! These students have blessed each of us and our children in a way they won’t be able to understand until they have their own children. Today I found myself continually wishing I could stand up in front of them and say, “Hey, guys, please don’t ever let society change you! You all have given Amber and I so much hope for a generation that has grown up in a culture that is so much harder to live a life the way you guys live yours! Please don’t ever let time or people change you!!” I see so much Jesus in each of you.  We work with high school kids in youth groups all the time, and you’ve given us so many stories to encourage and challenge them with.
We’ll see what tomorrow brings. We can’t wait to get on the bus tomorrow to see what the Lord has in store, even though we have no idea which direction we’ll be going, or what job we’ll be given. We are eternally greatful to our heavenly Father for derailing us from other mission trips for two years…just so we could go to Peru with Child Reach!
HIS,
Jeff (Amber, Hayden, and Allie)

It’s 7:30 am, and the hustle and bustle outside of our four-person bunk room heightens to a roar. The loud stomping of hungry college students signals to me that it is time to worship our God, to worship Jesus. Quickly my roommates and I rush to join the moving crowd onto the beach while listening to the calming, soft roar of the ocean in the background. The view is astounding; the waves crash down beneath the morning fog which is the sole provider of this areas yearly precipitation. The birds swoop down finding breakfast without any problems. They are blessed to have a meal every day, and it reminds me that I too am blessed to have meals every day. It was a wonderful introduction to the worship that we were about to engage.

In the height of worship, our worship leader Cody York introduced the popular song “Blessed Be Your Name.” He reminded us that this song is his favorite because of these lyrics:

“Every blessing You pour out I’ll turn back to praise, and when the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord.’”

Satan grabs hold of each of our lives in some way. When somebody is sick and can’t go to help build the orphanage, it is because of Satan. When one of us does Vacation Bible School and does not ‘feel like’ being enthusiastic about the music or playing with kids, Satan is crippling us. When our attitudes become negative, Satan damages the progress that we could have been making towards finishing the orphanage. But Cody reminds us, that we always need to come back to praise. We always need to declare the majesty of our Lord.

After worship we ate breakfast, and I was reminded how we were blessed just like the birds swooping over the ocean because we had food. Afterwards, we boarded the bus and headed to Hannah’s Home where many of us would endure a grueling-hot day where the sun would pierce even our SPF-50 sun block.

Today I did not work on the orphanage. My group had the privilege of working with Vacation Bible School in the park at a community nearby. The memory verse that the children received was:

“Dios quiere que todos los hombres sean salvos” - 1 Timoteo 2:4

God wants everybody to be saved - 1 Timothy 2:4

Even though the verse was for the children, doesn’t it still ring true for each of us? We all have our own goals and we all hope to accomplish something big in our lives, but first and foremost we should keep in mind what God wants. God wants everybody to be saved, and as simple as that sounds, we should still strive to apply it to our everyday lives.

Coming back to the hotel was difficult because we had to leave the children who became attached to us in no time at all. Even now I am reminiscing of Gabrielle and his little sister Meylin chasing the bus as we left wishing we wouldn’t leave just yet, or ever. When we got back to the orphanage we noticed just how much work actually got done while we were away. Joists were up, more rooms were started, and flooring was set aside nicely, ready to go. Again we were blessed by the huge accomplishments that our groups had regardless of the harsh sunlight, in addition to the blessings we received in the relationships that we built at VBS.

Every blessing You pour out I’ll turn back to praise…

I would like to personally thank ChildReach Ministries for the wonderful opportunities that you have given to further our own relationships with Jesus Christ through service.