Walking….one foot in front of the other, one step at a time. Yep! We’re back to walking now that we’ve returned Peru. It’s interesting how easily we moved from one culture to the other without batting an eyelash while we were on furlough. We did enjoy many, many of the conveniences of America to their fullest. We did not complain one bit. Returning to San Juan de Lurigancho, with those conveniences nowhere to be found, we still feel at home and have settled right back into life here and guess what, we have nothing to complain about. Not even the walking.

Walking has given us the much needed exercise we need. It gives us time to see, up close and personal, what is around us, rather than passing by at 30, 50, or more, miles an hour. Walking provides us with time to talk to one another, to discover things together. We pace ourselves for the long haul and for the steps at the end of the trip. Walking shows us our weaknesses, physically. Our limitations scream out to us and we again realize we are no longer as young as we used to be. Walking gives us insight into the challenges the Peruvians have. Walking, carrying, (lugging) each step of the way, without any options other than paying a motor taxi or bus fare. Many do not have the coins to do so. They continue on walking.

Many times we comment our feet hurt, or my knees begin to feel each step on the concrete (Don’s are only 3 years old, so he doesn’t have the same problem!) or the hips are beginning to ache or Don’s shoulder hurts from the weight he carries in the backpack. These are now common to us after being gone for 4-6 hours a day on mission.

That’s the clue right there! We are on mission! We are moving forward. That’s what walking is. We do not stop. We may rest and recuperate. But we do not stop. Noah walked with God! In Genesis 6:9 we read he was a just man, and perfect in his generations. NIV says he was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time. Noah walked faithfully with God. This thought came to me today when Don walked to the money changer to exchange dollars for soles. I didn’t go as we are expecting a visitor. But Don continued on with the task before him, and walked to the destination and back. And our prayers were answered again, God was with him!

When we are walking there is so much we can learn about ourselves. We have to plan ahead for the time needed to walk from one place to another. There is no other choice. Peruvians may see a friend or neighbor and stop to talk along the way. Time is not important to them. Not as important to them as to Americans. Relationships are important. They will stop and visit with someone they know right there in the middle of the sidewalk. That’s what seems to be important. I often wonder what the Peruvians are thinking as the physical limitations and the burdens they carry take a toll on them. When one of them stops us to talk, we are smiling down deep because they cared enough to do so, but at the same time we feel frustrated. The conversation is a struggle for us, we feel bad we cannot totally understand them or make ourselves clearly understood, and time is running out and we forget to “think” Peruvian, not American!

As you walk the dog, the kids to the school bus, to check the mailbox, the mall while shopping, or the treadmill consider this…Noah walked faithfully with God. He moved from one place to another with God. We, too, can walk (live) by the spirit of God. Can this be said of me? When we get tired, stumble, need to rest, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us in our lives today. Instead we often grumble or complain about the circumstances. We try to find another way to go, or we simply stop. We quit. I want to be faithful in my walk. Pray for me!


On a separate note: There is a “Race for the Cure” in support of cancer victims and survivors scheduled in May. We are JAN’s FANS and cannot participate in Atlanta. However, we plan to walk here at home in support of the cause. Distance stinks at times. And this is one of those times. But we will not let it hinder us, and we will walk, and we will talk, and we will pray for those who have dealt with and are dealing with this disease. At this very moment, we have many friends who are in treatment and will especially be thinking of them and their families. They include: Jan, Karen, Pam, Paul, another Pam, Carol, Coleen, Lora, Lee, Tink, Carl and Rebeca’s Mom.