Fifteen days til Christmas…what were you doing? Shopping? Baking? Partying? Decorating? I’m sure you are busy, aren’t we all? We received a call from our friend Amalia the other day, asking if we would help her and Evelyn (from the USA) take a few things to the neighbors of the Hope House family in Jicamarca. Evelyn had some money given to her by friends in the states to use for others on her trip. When she visited Hope House with us last week, and saw some of the neighbors, she knew what the money would be used for. Today was the day. We were to meet them at the local Metro at 9:30 a.m.
By 10:15 a.m. we were checked out of the store with nine bags of groceries! They had brought with them a carryon suitcase of toys and a large bag of new clothes all for some of the neighborhood families as well as the groceries. They had purchased some goodies for the Hope House family including a bingo and an UNO game. We got a taxi, loaded up, and headed to the Mercado for fruit. There they were able to purchase 20 kilos of oranges for 19 soles and a couple of hands of bananas. Now it was off to the orphanage.
We arrived unannounced and surprises are the best because they were very happy and excited, and it’s always good to bring that kind of joy to someone else. We know it is better to give than to receive. And, today it was exactly that!
After unloading the taxi and paying the fare, we had the help of many hands to bring all the things into the dining room. At that point, it was explained to the Hope House family that we brought things for their neighbors and needed their help delivering the items. We unbagged all the groceries and sorted the milk, juice, oil, tuna, spaghetti, rice, lentils, split peas, sugar and oatmeal into piles and were pleased with the girls willingness to help. Evelyn wanted to take a picture, and couldn’t find her camera. Finally, in a little panic, she admitted she must have left it in the taxi. Amalia took Basillia (one of the older girls) and returned by bus to Metro. It is quite a distance, so in her absence, there were tears of sadness and yet Evelyn still wanted to move forward with the plan and the girls received their gifts of games and we began to play games with them to pass the time. About 40 minutes later Evelyn got a phone call that Amalia had her camera. The taxi cab driver had it in his hands waiting for someone to come and retrieve it. Praise God! This was an answer to prayer. Evelyn is not a believer so we were thrilled that God heard our prayers and favored us. But now there were tears of joy. Evelyn’s tears for finding the camera, and ours for God’s faithfulness! Since that time, we have seen the taxicab driver at Metro and he remembered us and chatted about the camera. I guess we are easy to recognize being two older Americans!
When Amalia and Basilla returned there were more hugs and tears and soon the preparations were underway to take 9 bags of groceries to the neighbors in need. Carmen, Roberto and the girls pitched in and we were soon off to make some home visits. The first house we stopped in, had 4 mothers and more children than I could count. These children do not go to school, are barefoot, hungry, dirty, and most likely long for friends. Outside the house were three 50 gallon drums of water which leads me to believe they do not have running water in their homes. Their mothers were quite surprised someone would come and give them food and clothes and toys….just because. Amalia shared with them that these were gifts from people who loved Jesus Christ and that Jesus loved them as well. After a 40 minute visit we meandered up a hill and stopped at two other homes. One had two mothers and 3 children. They said they were ‘evangelicals’ when Amalia began to share with them about Jesus. The other home we visited had two children and mother said they attend the Catholic Church. It was nice to be able to give and watch these mothers and children receive with both surprise and gratefulness! At each home, Amalia shared a little about the love of Jesus and pointed them to the local Baptist Church as it is the closest evangelstic church to where they live.
The Hope House family cannot afford to give to their neighbors. They are barely getting by themselves. This was so much fun for them to help carry the bags and give to others. They were very happy to have this opportunity and loved being helpers. They hugged the little children, and showed them how some of the toys worked, tossed balls with them, and just had such a good time. Don and I were privileged to introduce Evelyn to Hope House when we had our Christmas in a backpack painting party. From that visit she was burdened to make today’s visit but wanted our help in pulling it off.
After a dinner of rice with some spinach and carrots for extra flavor, red onion and tomato salad, and juice, we bid our farewells, while the family returned to playing games, we trudged down the hill from the house to wait for the public bus, and were feeling pretty tired, but very grateful for such a wonderful day.
Once again, it was a TEAM effort, where as “Together, Each Achieves More”! We believe it is a privilege to be Conduits for Christ in bringing people and opportunities together.
