Peru Recollections: Take Me Back

"Take me back!"

"Hey guys, let's go back to Peru"

"Do you remember in Peru when-"
"And then _______ (insert person) did __________ (insert action most likely dumb)"
"Macchu Picchu was amazing!"
"Peru, take me back"
I would hear this often. In fact, many times I'd be the person saying those words. There was a lot to remember from that tropical paradise, yet one memory always stands out to me.
~
Pastor Troy calls me over one morning after a delicious breakfast. The guy seems very serious. Though experiencing a little fear that I was in trouble, I knew it wasn't likely since I did a lot of supervising for him during The trip.
"Do you remember a specific time when you met Jesus?" he inquired of me.
I gave PT (Pastor Troy) a yes, along with a silent sigh of relief.
"Great! You can share that for VBS (Vacation Bible School) tomorrow!" the soon-to-be-father responded enthusiastically.

Too soon to sigh for relief. It's not that I didn't want to do it, I'm actually quite comfortable up front, and I love to talk of my Savior. It's just that if you know me and what I write, a lot of it isn't ever really lighthearted or kiddy, especially at this time (to see what I wrote at that time, look through my January to March 2015 posts). I mean it's appropriate, it's just kids would probably get bored because it's supposed to be deep.

The little pink community center and our bumpy bus

Photobombing Kenyo (I mean paying attention)

You see,the first night of VBS went extremely well. The kids paid attention, maybe were a bit sheepish, but as the week went on, the kids started to open up their shell. We were struggling to get them to pay attention, and they became so loud they could barely hear our efforts. Then it came to the point where we were struggling to pay attention ourselves. The worst part was that my testimony was to be shared the last night, resulting in the kids going out of control. The language barrier didn't help at all, and neither did the games, as it just encouraged their hyper-active kid behaviors. And yes, Mrs. Z was probably the only one who tried to keep the peace. 

The next day was the night where I would share for VBS. PT and I were talking to one of the translators, whose name was Kenyo, and told him how the next day was planned to play out.

I asked him, "Are you going to be my translator tomorrow?"
The young Peruvian informed us that he  wasn't going to be there the following night, as he needed to leave to somewhere else the next day.

As we were leaving to VBS the next day, I was surprised to bump into Kenyo again. He tells me that he is my translator today. So I think nothing of it and eventually we get to the community center, where we held the VBS meetings. People are trying to give me tips, and some asked me if I was nervous, etc. Some people actually helped though, and Bruce and Karen were willing to video tape it for me.
Eventually, it was my time to get up and start talking. But as I opened my mouth to speak, I felt... strange, almost like a trance.

So I finish with prayer, and the kids disperse trying to play a game with our students. Emphasis on trying. Kenyo was still translating and the kids aren't listening. I noticed that Kenyo was crying. I thought he sobbed because the kids were too much (I mean I cried when I went door-to-door, there were a few really rude people), and I couldn't help but empathize for Kenyo. I mean, the whole time I was upfront talking, I was thinking, Man these kids. If only they'd listen. Perhaps Kenyo felt the same.

~
"Peru, take me back"

I got home, plopped on my bed and thought I wonder how that testimony went. I open my IPad to the Google drive app, and tap the file entitled "VBSsermon.mp4".

I observe myself opening and reading from my Bible to the kids in Iquitos
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." (Matt13:44-46)

I'm watching myself act it out, using my body to illustrate the words. I hear myself stress that God gave up everything in the world for them, that everything He had was the value that He put on those kids in Peru.
"Wait hold up Jesus, You can't mean me" I start pleading in front of the children.
I'm messed up. I'm gross. I hurt people. I'm not worth that. Jesus you can't mean me."

I took note that I repeated some of these phrases, because Kenyo had stopped translating. This time, I realized that he was already choking on his tears. I told those in that community center, over all the noise by those kids, that Jesus was saying to us, "You are worth everything to Me"... and the beautiful thing is Jesus knows just how messed up I am"
No he wasn't crying because of the rowdy kids, I thought to myself. The young Peruvian almost missed the opportunity. The opportunity of clearly hearing Jesus saying "I love you. And I'll never stop."

Last night of VBS

I remember the first time I found out how much Jesus valued me. My eyes watered in the same way my translator's eyes had. There is much worth remembering from our exotic two week excursion away from our academics. Throughout any part of you life, I hope you keep those precious memories with you, when you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was present with you.

Healthy Literature Evangelism

"I like to eat a lot of steak, um, and you know meat."
Standing in the doorway was a big man, and he wasn't very interested in my cookbook.
Well this book doesn't seem very right for you, I thought to myself.
I told him about how the Naturally Gourmet was really health oriented, but didn't bother to mention that it was a vegetarian cookbook
"Yeah, I'm not really into health," the big man said.
Oh great, it's time to show him another book.
He flipped the cookbook, perhaps thinking for the last time, and turns to the page entitled Trusting in God.
"Wait, why is this cookbook talking about trusting in God?" he was extremely puzzled.
"Oh it just goes a little bit into why God values our health," I answered, "Are you Christian?"
"Yeah I am," he replied.
I could tell his mind was exploding with the idea of God actually caring about how healthy we are. We talked a little more as he flipped more and more in the cookbook
"Yeah we also have this short one. It's a great devotional that helps you get to know God better as a friend, and it's a really good one to read with your wife too," I told him as I put the Peace Above the Storm in his hands.
"I definitely want this one," he said as he took both books.

Discouragement

"I really have to go," she said to me as her alarm went off.

I quickly handed her the little Hapiness for Life book. It was a short one that helps build a relationship with God. 

"It just helps you deal with the stress and many problems of life. Whatever you feel like giving helps me go to school."

She pulls a dollar out of her wallet.

"Don't get discouraged," she told me, "I'll be praying for you."

She reached into her wallet once again and popped a few gift cards to Cold Stone into my hand. Sixty dollars worth of gift cards.

The nice woman left, and I continued to knock on the next houses. I should've listened to her. 

But I got discouraged. I shrank at the door. I lost confidence, not only in myself, but also in my God. I just couldn't really hold a conversation with most people. I almost cried on my friends shoulder.
Many times things like this happens to us. I don't know why, but even when we are told to stay positive, told that people are praying for us, we forget about their encouraging words. It becomes too easy for us to lose heart. Who knows what testimonies I could have shared that day if only I had continued to trust Him? After all His word says "Fear not, for I am with you" (Isaiah 41:10). So let me, like the woman who gave me Cold Stone gift cards, give you another reminder to continue to trust in Him.

Also, if you want to see much more exciting stories from going door to door, visit this page down here. There are some awesome experiences there, and I helped write many of them!

https://www.facebook.com/LiteratureMinistries

River of Life

Spontaneous inspiration from the Amazon that resulted in me writing a poem in one night. These are the surprising results.

I saw the river 

And on either side

Was lush spots of flowers

Amidst the greeny leaves reflecting their light

Watered by the river 

Called the Giver of Life 

I saw the river

Roaring with all its might

There was a woody sliver

Carrying goods for good as it made its flight

Pushed by the river

Called Sustainer of Life 

I saw the river 

Struggling in its strife

A lack of filter

As we polluted this amazing sight

Taken by the river

Called Sacrifice of Life 

Peru Adventures pt. 2

Day Uno (I don't know Spanish)

So far today we have...
Eaten good food
Rode in a motor-tricycle carraige thing in crazy traffic
Visited the market
Tried new fruit
Met some people living in the city
Got lost on the way to our service project

Walked in the rain to get our service project
Got really muddy digging trenches for our service project (for the foundation of the patio for a POPP's new clinic)
Met and entertained the kids at VBS

So its been eventful. I'm sure Pastor Troy and Mr. Bokov and my classmates have been keeping you posted on many of these. One of the things that stuck out to me was in the market. So many different and new fruit, plant noodles, weird merchandise, the meat market, and the jungle pharmacy were only the items on sale. Add in a whole section of water streets with little kayaks, a whole other language, and a drunk man stumbling over the steps. Also the booths were literally just a table. In many places tarp was laid overhead as a canopy for the sun and rain.

But I think the thing that stood out to me the most was the dogs and cats. Living in America, we are accustomed to having and keeping these creatures as pets, some almost to an obsession. Yet here in Iquoitos, they seem... forgotten. But us tourists, we see this tiny little kitten about the size of our feet, and say, "Oh so cute! I want to take you home!" We saw about 4 cats and 20 dogs in that market. Some sick. Some starving. Some shooed away. All wandering. All ignored. All forgotten.

Later on the way to the work site the next morning, we saw two dogs, just rummaging through the garbage like... dogs? It was sad. A friend had told me that as they were walking through the market, they saw a little kitten curled with its tail, everyone around it hustling by, almost stepping on it. For us tourists, our compassion had filled up. One of my good friends even went so far to ask, "Why do we care more about the animals than we do for humans?"
The only reply to break the silence was heard as, "We tend to humanize animals, but dehumanize humans."

Jesus often walked in the market. He probably saw some of the very same things I did, though I'd like to think their sewege system was much better. One thing I know He saw that I didn't was the sacrifical market. Caged birds and lambs and goats. So many of them forgotten after they were slaughtered at the temple. Perhaps this is what prompted Jesus to say, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And one of them will not fall to the ground without the knowledge anr consent of your Father. And even the hairs of your head are numbered! Therefore do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows" (Matt 10:29-31, LEB).

Of course God cares for that kitten whose body was almosted stomped to the ground, and for the starving and sick dogs, and even for the sparrows, just as we do, for they also are His creatures. Yet many times, like Iquoitos has done for their animals, we have forgotten about God's creation. But this time, I'm not talking about pet species or meat species or even endangered species, though they are important as well. I'm talking about those whose hairs are numbered. Too many times we forget about our brothers and sisters, whether in Peru,or Indonesia, and even back in the States. Especially those who are our neighbors. We forget about them. We forget they struggle, that they have issues, that God is working to have them back. By the time we leave, some of us will forget the people here, what God has done here. We forget, like the priest and the Levite, about the wounded we pass by.

Josh's Good Samaritan impression 

Too often we forget to be the good Samaritan. Too often we pass by those who hurt, who we know are hurting, but we still step over them like that little kitten. But Jesus won't pass by. And I'm glad that we all can find comfort in that.

Peru Adventures (otw)

I know this isn't the regular poem, but lately my poems have been pretty dark. Because I am currently on a mission trip in Peru (yay!) I decided to jot down a few experiences with with the intent of sharing with you :).
My first experience actually wasn't even when we started mission work. It was on the plane. I was reading this book that my dad had given to me to read. It's called The Green Cord Dream, by Alex Bryan. This specific chapter is about The Great Controversy, a term many of you may be familiar with. It pretty much refers to the much bigger conflict between God and Satan. This is the part that stuck out to me.

Munson just for kicks

This is the passage that brought me to tears. Not just teary eyed. Sobbing, blinding tears. How true is it! The number one thing we long for as humans is to feel loved, to be loved and to belong. Satan has been trying to take this basic part of humanity away from us in anyway possible, by accusing God's commands as unjust and restrictive, using our sufferings as proof that either God is distant and doesn't care or that He doesn't exist at all. And finally, the one I personally have been struggling with recently, Satan points to my sinfulness and my flaws. He reminds me of how messed up I am and tells me that God can't love me, that His mercy has limits. Satan's basic, simplified, universal arguement is and always has been that God DOESN'T love me. And far too many times, I believe him.

When doubt of God's love for you presses upon your mind, Satan's "evidences" may seem possible, even likely. But do you know what's the one thing Satan will NEVER tell you as fact?
That Immanuel came to earth, to suffer as one of us, to die just so that He can have us.
No, Source of Life... gave up life just so that He could have us?
Wait, the Father and Spirit, gave up Their Son, literally a part of Them, the closest Being to Them, given up... to have me?

Go ahead. Tell me my God doesn't love me.