We have enjoyed having a team here from Norfolk, VA -- Trinity Presbyterian Church. They also had 4 members from Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, one of which is going to stay for a week and be a part of Fellowship Porgram -- Welcome to Heidi McDonald! This team was a two pronged team -- we had a medical team and an English Class team.
The English Team conducted English workshops each day and forged many new friendships with their Peruvian counterparts. The week was a huge success and both the Peruvian students as well as the American teachers could not stop talking about how incredible the week was and what an impact it had on everyone! Praise be to God for His goodness and mercy that covered that project!
Additionally, the medical team held 4 incredible clinics. I worked in the medical clinics all week. Each day we saw many Peruvians and were able to minister to their physical needs as well as the emotional needs. I think we counted that we saw almost 400 people this week. The last day we went to an area called Buenos Aries. We had a very good day, but it was especially touching when one of the team members made a connection with a young girl. Her name is Valeria. She was there alone and just was an amazing little girl. I think she is 9 or 11. Her parents are separated. Sometimes she is with her dad and sometimes her mom. Melissa McCormick made such a connection to this young lady and was able to minister to her despite the language barrier. Valeria is a very bright and capable young lady. We introduced her to one of the deacons from Larco that was there that day and made sure she met me. We invited her to church and talked about meeting her parents and maybe talking to them. Melissa had given her a Bible that was in English and Spanish. it was a child's story bible. Melissa wrote her a note in the front in English. As the day closed, we were all on the bus getting ready to go back to our hotel when the deacon came up with Valeria. She was in tears. He explained that she was very emotional and had been touched by our love for her and what she had experienced this day and asked would I please introduce her to everyone on the bus (she had only met a few of us) and express her gratitude. Through tears and struggling to speak in a clear voice, I boarded the bus with Valeria and did just that. Everyone was able to hug her and tell her how much they love her and how God loves her and that we would be praying for her. It was a little while more before we could leave and I saw her talking to the deacon so I went over. I was able to translate the inscription that Melissa had written in her Bible and make sure she knew we wanted her to come to church on Sunday. And the deacon prayed for her and with her. It was truly a moving end to a moving week!
We are still praying for Valeria. She was not at church the next Sunday, but we know her parents are not home and both work on Sundays so it may be hard for her to come to church. We are not giving up. We are praying for her and ask that you do the same!
What a week of sharing God's love with the people of Peru. Friendships were made through English class, many people were treated in a medical clinic, but it all boils down to the fact that the Lord loves us. He sent his son to die for us. And because of that love we are saved and can then love one another. And that love was shown to a little girl who wandered up to a medical clinic because her parents were both working and it was interesting. God moves in mysterious ways!
