In the last couple of days I have had the opportunity to see a lot of the modern city of Lima up close as well as one of the many villages in the outlying areas. The part of the city where the mission office is located - Miraflores district - is really just as nice, clean, and busy as any of the larger cities in the states. It borders the ocean, has beaches, nice parks, tall buildings, markets, malls (expensive).. with all the trappings of US culture. You can find most familiar restaurant chains - fast food and otherwise - here from Tony Roma's to McDonalds. Mercifully there are a couple of Dunkin Donuts nearby and the coffee tastes just as good. Friday morning and night I walked for miles around town with Solomon, a Peruvian national serving with the REAPsouth folks, a got to see much of the rich, modern city nearby - that was one side of Lima.
At a welcoming dinner a couple of nights ago I met one of the newer full-time missionaries, John, here in Lima serving the urban poor. He, his wife, and four small children have just recently made the committment to dedicate their lives to serving this population group. John is a great guy and he expressed a need in one of his villages to construct a new home for a lady, Cristina, who has been active in their new church. Cristina has four small children and they live in "hut" about 10x15 with dirt floors, thatch walls and blankets for doors. The volunteers loaded up his van and headed to her place this morning and we had built and put up most of the walls by dusk. The pictures you see will give you some idea of what the vast majority of Lim
a looks like - the other Lima.
This is Cristina's place - she and her kids are watching over the construction. The walls in-progess are sitting in the front "yard". The barrels in the foreground are the days delivery of water - for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and bathing. You can't see it, but the hills behind in the distance are covered with dense "villages" exactly like this.
I had to add this picture of one of Cristina's beautiful little girls. She was tending to the family's new members.. about 8 puppies!
Watch for more post!
In Christ-
Greg
Greg,
ReplyDeleteWe are praying for you, the other missionaries, and the people you will encounter. Donnie is going to share some of the pictures on Baptist Men's Day. Please list anything we can pray for specifically...the men's group, ladies' prayer groups, and Sunday School classes will faithfully pray for these requests.
We love you. May God bless, strengthen,and keep you.
Donnie & Andrea