the hard things

I got to feed a seven day old today at San Antonio's.  As I was feeding her a bottle, with all the noise and chaos of at least 12 other babies under one year old crying and talking, she fell asleep. When the nurse told me to wake her up, make her finish her bottle, and put her back to bed, it hit me how different her childhood already is than a baby with parents.

Seven days old is not old.  If she were with her mom and dad, her life would not look like it does.  Instead of waking up to 12 other babies crying, she would wake up to a beautiful room prepared just for her.  At her first cry, her mom would come in a pick her up.  These babies are not allowed to be picked up unless they are being fed , changed, or bathed.  The theory is picking them up when they cry only makes them used to being held and will make them cry more.  They have to learn, even at the young age of seven days, to be strong.  After coming to pick her up because she is crying, her mom would change her diaper.  These babies get their diaper changed only a few times everyday, it dosen't really matter if they have a dirty diaper.  After getting a clean diaper the mother would feed her baby. She would rock her and feed her, singing songs only meant for her baby.  If she fell asleep, that would be ok; she's only seven days old.  Her mom would look at her, in awe of this tiny miracle.  My seven day old miracle has no one to sing to her, and no one to gaze at her and wonder at the miracle she is.

This seven day old is already learning hard life lessons that no one of any age should be made to learn.  She is learning that she is not special, she is not wanted, and she is not loved beyond all measure.  You may think that this is a little harsh to be saying, but it's not.  Think, where is it that we learn those messages?  Our dads are the ones who first tell us we are beautiful and that they will love us unconditionally.  They show us first so we can know the Lord's love for us later on, that He thinks we are beautiful no matter what we look like.  Our moms tell us we are wanted from day one.  They hold us day in and day out, never letting us our of their sight until they absolutely have to.

Why does this seven day old have to learn these hard things, why can she not be normal?  Why is it?

simplification...

We have moved from Elizabeth’s house to Lydia’s tonight.  I loved Elizabeth’s house for a few reasons.  Elizabeth and her husband have four children, a boy who is 19 and a girl who is 21.  Both are fluent in English.  Elizabeth and her husband both work during the day.  Elizabeth works at a hospital close to her home.  We think that she wakes up around 5:00 everyday, cooks our lunch, goes running, goes to buy fresh bread, and leaves for work around 7:00.  When she returns from work, she either sets out leftovers, or bread and another simple food, or cooks dinner for us.  She still manages to clean and make time to talk to us. 

I think what I have learned about living here for a few days is how simple a typical Peruvian’s way of life really is.  Lydia and her family do live differently than us, but with almost 15 volunteers in their house all the time, their way of living seems much more westernized. 

They live so much more simply than we do at home and are just as well off.  If you open Elizabeth’s kitchen, you will find some fresh vegetables, some butter, a bag of milk, eggs, a bottle of yogurt, and a few other basics.  They have no processed foods or snacks, no pantry full of foods that contain unknown numbers of chemicals.  They buy their bread every day from the bakery down the street, which has freshly baked it.  Another store just a few houses down, sells fruits and vegetables.  They always have a few bananas and oranges sitting out on their counter. 

The typical Peruvian eats a small breakfast (we eat bread and fruit at Elizabeth’s), a larger lunch (she cooked pasta yesterday with a white potato sauce, and then used the leftover noodles today and made a red pork sauce with sweet potatoes on the side), and then a small late dinner (past volunteers have had leftover potatoes, a roll and avocado, rice, etc.).  I didn’t get to experience this aspect of Peruvian life last time, since Lydia has Soledad, her cook, cook two large starch laden meals a day.  Like I said, she tries to make things at her house much more westernized. The trash can in the kitchen is tiny.  Literally, the size of  a tissue bow.  They do not produce any trash in this house.  Thinking about it though, most of our trash comes from processed snack wrappers, pre mad dinners, and bottled/canned drinks. They don’t have any of this here.  

Elizabeth’s family does not have a washer like Lydia does, so all laundry is done by hand.  Like Lydia’s we wash the clothes out to dry.  There is also one bathroom for the four of them and the volunteers they have staying with them.  They do have hot water, but you must turn it on at least ten minutes before you want to shower so it can heat up the water.  Like Lydia’s they do not have air conditioning or heating.  In the winter they just wear a jacket around the house. 

Their house is one floor, probably about the size of the upstairs of my house minus the dining room and sunroom.  But, it’s enough room, we are together, see each other instead of all being home but being in different rooms.  They also do not have a car, but walk or take the bus anywhere they needs to go. 

I really love the simplicity of this family.  They were so welcoming, stopping to talk to us when they are home.  Elizabeth even is going to take us to the YMCA, and wants to keeps in touch if we ever come back to Peru. 

Enough for now…tomorrow we are taking the kids from San Milletos, the orphanage for children with special needs, to a play of some sort.  I’m sure I’ll get some great pictures!

The mural some of the volunteers painted, I got to help finish it and see it sung up.

just a few thoughts...

Peru feels like I never left.  I love it just as much as the first time. I can still get everywhere and remember where everything is.  And, I sill get whistled at.  Anthough this time, I’ve learned how to whistle back.

I do keep forgetting that toilet paper dosen’t get put in the toilet here…why even call it toilet paper then?

My Spanish is much better, but it still needs a lot of work. I can understand Aboo (the grandmother)most of the time.  Last time I was here, I couldn’t understand one word she said.  Katie and decided to talk in Spanish as much as possible, even if we give all the Pperuvians on the bus a good laugh.  Oh and I can roll my “r”s now. 

I got to see Joni, the little boy I fell in love with last visit, he is as sweet as ever.

Katie and I are going to the YMCA on Monday with our house mom, Elizabeth.  We stayed in her house the first two nights because Lydia didn’t have room.  We move to Lydia’s tomorrow though.  Elizabeth is super sweet, hopefully we will get to see her more. Who knew there were Ys all over the world.

I’m meeting with Jocelyn, the one Jade is good friends with, on Sunday.  Please continue to pray for her!  We’re planning on going to lunch.  Pray for my Spanish too, it’s going to be rough conversation.

Sandboarding may be in the picture for this weekend…maybe.

Next week there is a for day national holiday Lydia keeps calling “Peru Party.”  I don’t know what that entails, but it sounds fun.

More to come later!

Hasta Luego,

Maemie (not Maybe, the name I am destined to be called by all in Peru)

2 hours and 45 minutes

She only had 5 hours of sleep last night...

the waiting game has begun...

Katie and I arrived safely to the Fort Lauderdale Airport, and are waiting for our plane to Lima.  It leaves tonight around 5:30.  We should arrive in Lima, if all goes well, around 10:00pm tonight.

                                                                                              Five more hours!

Even though we have only been sitting here waiting for maybe three hours, I have realized how much I hate waiting.  Thinking about my life, I can see that I don't wait.  If I decide I want to buy something, I got to the store right then.  If I want to do something, it happens as soon as possible.  This waiting is really testing my patience.  I want to be there, not here.  The game is no fun.


As I was thinking about this, I realized how blessed I am to be waiting for something that I know will come.  I am only waiting for 8 hours.  After that, it's over.  All these children that Katie and I are going to love on in the orphanages, they are also playing this waiting game.  And for them, it's really no fun.  It is a painful game. 


All these babies are also waiting, waiting for a family.  For someone to love them and hold them and tuck them in at night.  Waiting for something that they may never get.  I can't imagine how they must feel.  I've never truly waited for anything compared to these babies.  


For me, the injuries of the game are a little bordom and maybe a few dollars lost on food bought.  For them, the injuries are feeling unwanted, unloved, and not good enough. Worst of all, this painful game they are in is not even their fault.  It's nothing they have done that has made them the unwanted children of society.  


My waiting?  Maybe it's not so bad after all.

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.                                                   -Psalm 40:1 

He will hear their cries, I believe it.  He has great rewards stored up for them for their waiting.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for you to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"                                                                  - Jeremiah 29:11 

 There is a hope for them, and I think it's in us.  The everyday normal people who God has blessed beyond belief.  He has given me much more than I will even need, and He didn't give it to me so I could keep it all for myself.  He gave it to me so I can show others His love.

ten days & ten hours

Just ten days and ten hours until I am on a plane back to one of my favorite places.  Home and the lake are probably the only other top contenders (and maybe Disney i guess).  But, I will not be sitting on this plane alone!  Nope, guess who is coming with me on this trip...one of my dearest friends, Katie Hobbs.

After a suggestion given by my mom, in passing conversation, that she should come with me, Katie bought a ticket!  Seriously guys, I think she had it just four days later.  Talk about easy going!  I think that she is excited, but I am ecstatic.  I had thought about asking around to see if anybody wanted to come with me when I started planning the trip.  But, after thinking about the trouble it could cause, I decided not to, thinking that God would have it under control if He wanted someone to come.  And was I right?  Amazing, that guy upstairs isn't He?   

So now, I am left wondering about all the amazing things He has in store for this trip.  There must be some pretty big things if He's already shown Himself this much:)

I've been preparing slowly since I got moved out of my room and onto the ping pong table(a long story, I'll spare you).  A suite case has been opened and clothes have been haphazardly thrown in; gifts have been bought for people back in Peru, and Spanish has and still is being studied.  I am packing much lighter than last time that's for sure.

I do have something to ask of you though, I would really love it if you could pray for a few things.

- For Joselyn, that she will email me back so we can meet.  I really would love to know if she's all  right.  She moved out of the house that I volunteered in last time, and hasn't been answering my emails/facebook posts.

- For the other Joselyn.  She has been in contact with Jade (my Colombia traveling buddy).  She is living in another house (the same type as the one I volunteered in, but more permanent).  She is having a hard time right now, and really needs a community she can be a part of.

- For all the babies in the orphanages we will be working in, that they will know of God's great love for them, even though they haven't ever felt it in their parents arms as we all have.

- For safe travels for Katie and me.

Thanks!

round two

I’m going back to Peru! I think this blog was a really great way to keep in touch with everyone back home the last time I went, so I’m going to use it again.  Although I’m paying my own way this time (working for a semester paid off, literally), I never would be in any position to do this if it weren’t for everyone who sent me last August. I feel like you all deserve to be shown what is going on down there, since it is because of you I am there again.

Since being home, the reality of my life has really sunk in. I have a great life.  I may be paying more than ever for food and gas right now, but my standard of living is higher than many many many people in the world. This is one of the reasons I’m returning to Peru.  Seeing all the blessings the Lord has given me, I’ve had to ask myself, why does he give them?  Why am I here on this earth? What is my purpose?  I think it is a question many ask, and a natural question for people my age.

What is my purpose?  The best answer I’ve come up with so far is simple, love.  I was made out of love by God. He gives me everything out of love. He gives, so I may love others in His name.  Nothing that I have is mine to store up, it is all His. His that he has blessed me with so that I may, in turn, give.

I have no reason to keep the things He has given me. These things will not get me to my ultimate goal: Heaven. Giving will. The more I give, the more I learn to love. 

I’ve been asked by a few people why go back?  Why not go somewhere else? Truthfully there is no simple answer.  I love Peru.  I love those babies, I love the girls I worked with in the girl’s home, I love the kids I taught.  It’s not so much about the places I will see, but about the relationships I will build.  Those kids don’t have anyone to hug them and show them God’s love 99% of the day. 

How can I not fall in love with these faces?

These are the faces of Christ.  This is Christ, who has had no one to tuck him safely in at night; he get to cry themselves to sleep. This is Christ, who has no one to make sure his belly is full; he goes hungry if he doesn’t eat all of his meal at mealtime. This is Christ, who has no one to hug him when he falls over or kiss his knee when he scrapes it.  This is Christ, who has never been told he is special, that he is loved unconditionally, that he is worth something. 

How can I not go? 

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him.

And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

 Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'

Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'

And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'