Well I guess it has been pretty much forever since I have last posted something. As most of you know, I have safely returned back to the United States all in one piece, much to the relief of my family. I have only been home for a month now, yet it already seems like Peru and all that I was blessed to experience was so long ago. Returning to life back here in the States has filled me with mixed emotions. It is so wonderful to be back home with my family, sleep in my own bed (which seems so incredibly huge, not to mention soft and clean), and be able to talk and communicate with friends and family a lot easier than through emails, unreliable internet calls, or calls from phone booths that had weird and often inconvenient hours. To be able to actually communicate in person or be able to just pick up your cell phone wherever and whenever and call still is crazy to me, despite my almost religious and obsessive use of my cell phone up until the day I left to go to Peru back in July. It's crazy how you just get used to not using things, because I'm still having to get used to having my cell phone around and that the weird little jingle that registers in my sub-conscious is actually a cell phone ring and not a taxi-driver honking his horn down on the street below my apartment in Pucallpa.I arrived safely back home and the first thing my family and I did after leaving the airport was head to Taco Bell. I don't know what it is about the place, because Taco Bell is not exactly the best representation of fine Mexican food, but whatever the case, those burritos tasted simply amazing! Nothing like craving mexican food, and especially Taco Bell for the last 9 months and finally being able to bite into a delicious burrito from a fast-food chain store. It's not like I hadn't had enough beans and rice during my time but, I have realized refried beans are completely different from those beans down in Peru, whatever they're called.
Other novelties such as having hot water, electricity and light past 6p.m. (this whole sunset at 8:30pm thing is really confusing for my inner time clock), being able to actually blow-dry my hair, walking barefoot on carpet floors, simply throwing my clothes in a washing machine followed by a dryer and the whole process taking only a couple hours, sitting on chairs and couches that are padded and actually comfortable to sit on, being able to just get in my car and drive wherever (though the extremely high gas prices have seriously discouraged me from taking advantage of this opportunity), visiting the local grocery store and purchasing everything in one place (though I kind of miss the bargaining, not to even mention the more delicious, fresher, and much cheaper fruits and vegetables available in Peru), having a wide variety of foods to choose from (aka NOT having to eat rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner). And this is only a partial list of things that I have quickly re-acquainted myself with over the past month.At the same time I am experiencing all these "new" and exciting things, I realize that so many of the people I have just returned from interacting with are at this moment working under the hot tropical sun, trying to earn a living for their families, which amounts to about $5 per day. And the mother of the household is spending her day, as she does almost everyday, washing, scrubbing and wringing out her family's clothing items, almost all of which have permanent dirt stains and holes throughout. Between that, she is slaving away at the open fire next to her simple home, cooking rice, and frying up fish for the noon meal. These things and so much more make up a simple lifestyle that I have been able to experience firsthand for the past few months; but as I have recently returned to the States and been adjusting back to a lifestyle filled with school, work, career searching, friends, and all the other responsibilities and stressors that are placed on young adults like myself; not to mention the seemingly “luxurious” opportunities (at least that’s what it seems like in comparison) that living in the U.S. allows, I can’t help but feel a bit guilty. This is definitely the “land of promise” and no wonder so many people want to move to the U.S. and pursue the “American Dream.” How did I become so blessed to be born in a country where there is the opportunity to pursue whatever I want if I just put my mind and energy to it?
These past nine months have been an interesting and eye-opening experience. I have learned so much not only about myself, but also about different cultures and peoples, and how to live and work with others all with a common goal of service for others. I have been pushed to new limits, seen my strengths, realized some things I need to work on, and been so incredibly blessed to have worked with a group of young people who everyday challenged me to become a better servant of Him. I feel so privileged to have lived, worked, laughed, and cried with these people who have become more than just friends to me.
Looking back at when I first arrived, with all my expectations and ideas for what this experience was going to be like, I realize that it was all so much more than I could have imagined. Of course, if I had known everything that would have happened, all the challenges and struggles we were all to face, I don’t think I would have been able to handle it all. But God is good and realizes our apparent limitations and helps us along the way, giving courage and strength to faces the challenges and trials that come our way.
I think the greatest challenge yet best memory and greatest joy was taking care of Hector, the little Peruvian baby plagued with malnutrition who turned out to be HIV positive. Many a night I stayed up with the little guy, not able to get much sleep because of his crazy medicine-taking schedule, and quickly getting a taste of the heavy responsibilities placed on young parents (wow!!). I struggled with lack of patience with the little guy at times, but one night I finally prayed to God to give me the patience and energy to take care of him and give him all the love I could because he deserved the best! A peace came over me and I was able to care for him with patience and love. Ever since then, he has had a special place in my heart! Taking care of him was a full-time job for our team; thankfully there were usually lots of willing people to take care of him so Jenni and I could actually get some work done. Saying good-bye at the airport was one of the hardest things for me. Because of his condition, I just didn’t know whether he would last a few days or many happy years. Of course, we all hoped and prayed for the best, but in the back of my mind, there was always a reminder of the “statistics.” And realizing I didn’t know when I was going to be able to return to visit Peru, made it even harder. I still remember as I kissed him good-bye that last time, he had a little smile on his face, which of course just melted my heart. I had to turn away and wipe the many tears streaming down my face. Why did I have to say good-bye to so many people especially little Hector, such an amazing experience, and a place that I learned to call my home, all at the same time?!
Coming back to the States and seeing so many other little babies, some with cries terribly similar to Hector, I am constantly reminded of him. And just a few short days after my arrival back in the States, Hector celebrated his 7-month birthday, which is amazing! God is incredible!! However much I wish I could say this little baby boy is still continuing to grow strong, I cannot. Hector passed away in his sleep in the wee hours of Sabbath morning, May 31. The little baby boy, the one who we had all laughed and cried over, the one who we had all had our share of sleepless nights trying to take care of him, was gone. Despite this incredibly deep sadness that we are all feeling and experiencing through this, I and the rest of my fellow team members know all of the time and energy spent caring for him was not in vain. Showing love and care towards this little bundle of joy was the most rewarding experience for me, one that I will never forget. This baby was completely innocent, knowing no wrong and living with no knowledge how much the odds were against him. Our whole team was dedicated to caring for him in the best way we knew how, showing him all the love possible to make his life as special as could be. My time down in Peru is done for now. I am heading back to Southern in the fall to complete the courses required of me for my degree. But this doesn’t mean my mission is done. Instead it is just taking on a new front, among my peers, classmates, friends, and family. I am excited to share about my experience and also be able to witness for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And though I am terribly sad about leaving Peru, this country that became my home, and all the people that I was blessed to meet, especially little Hector, I can know with faith I will be meeting these people, including my precious little baby Hector, in Heaven very soon!! For Jesus promises that he will return soon again. I like how His return is spoken about in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” I can practically hear the loud shout right now! We can be comforted in the knowledge that when this day comes, Hector and everyone else with disease and pain will be given a new body. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Rev. 21:4). I can’t wait for this day!! I pray that each one of us will be ready for this glorious day to meet our Savior in the Heavenly clouds!!
