Life; an adventure, a journey with Jesus!

A friend to everyone!

We first met Richard many years ago when we were on a short-term mission trip coming to work in the church under the leadership of Pastor Gino. Richard is a small Peruvian young man in stature, but has the biggest heart you can imagine. His grin is huge! He has a heart for Jesus and is a servant.

He worked at the church back then, and every time the team came to the church for a meal or for ministry, Richard was there to greet us and help us in anyway. As I was struggling with the steps to the “soup kitchen” he was there to assist me. As one would be looking for something, he would jump right in and help them find it. Cleaning the church, wiping down the handrails, re-organizing the chairs in the temple or the dining room, carrying suitcases, moving to and fro Richard was always one step ahead of us, smiling and yet so quiet one would wonder where he came from and how he completed the task at hand so quickly. He always enjoyed making the midnight run to the airport to welcome the Americans, help with their luggage and effortlessly carried many, many suitcases weighing close to 50 lbs each without any problem, any complaining, and with a big smile.

Over the years Richard has remained a good friend. When we moved to San Juan de Lurigancho, he was at the apartment ready to lend a hand, helped us move in, and accompanied us on trips to the Mercado to buy many of the necessities for the apartment. He has done us numerous favors, helped Don find his way around the local ‘man stores’ in the Mercado and just continued to serve us in every way possible. He helped Don restore an old trunk into a piece that graces our bedroom and our blankets and other off season items are stored there safely. He took some drawings Don had done for a plant stand, and returned a few weeks later with the piece of furniture completed; fixed Don’s desk, hung mirrors, and repaired the water faucet! He also had a shelf made for our kitchen from some of Don’s drawings and proudly carried it up 5 flights to put it in place just as we had pictured it would fit! He’s a great guy, with a servant’s heart.

During this past year or so, Richard has been working for the Lord in the jungle. He buys coffee from the jungle and sells it as a part time job. He is also a painter and handyman. Recently he gave the inside and outside of Pat’s Place a new look with fresh paint and vibrant Peruvian colors chosen by the house director. His brother is a pastor of a church in the jungle so he spends as much time there as he does here at ‘home’ in SJL. He works with the youth and their band at the church. He is interested in us starting an AWANA club in his brother’s church.

Today our intercom buzzed and sure enough it was Richard. Totally unexpected; a surprise visit. We learned that he had been back home (in SJL) and landed a job painting a house for a man. While here he didn’t get out to church because the man said he couldn’t have the day off, but needed to finish the job of painting his house. Richard was so disappointed he had not been to church and had not seen Papa Don that he came by to say hello and goodbye as he was heading back to the jungle for an undetermined length of time. To travel to and from the jungle it is a 10 hour bus ride and of course sets him back a little with finances. But he didn’t come to ask for anything. He just wanted to be in Don’s presence. His firm embrace indicated that upon entering our apartment!

We shared a glass of juice with him, spent about 45 minutes talking, and it was really good to see him again. Before he left, I gave him one of the “Total Integrity in Christ” tee shirts from Crosswave and he was thrilled! He has great memories of the Crosswave Team. What a blessing Richard has been to us and many others.