Mission Peru

by Sarah Khosravi-Fard, Bramalea Alliance Church

Before coming on this trip I didn’t know necessarily what to expect in terms of the children. I didn’t know how much exposure they had to the world outside of Peru. I didn’t know if any of them knew English or even attended school regularly. When I got here, I quickly learned that no matter the specific circumstance of each child (or how much they knew from school or about the world), the one universal truth of God’s love was present and always prevails. Most of the children here know that there is God who loves them; they just struggle with always feeling it. One moment in particular, on July 1^st, we had a big barbecue at the compounded and invited nationals from Elim (people from outside the garbage dump). They came and brought their children and we spent the night playing and enjoying conversation together. I had recognized a boy named Victor from earlier in the day, roughly around 4 years old. He seemed to find joy in the simple things, and didn’t mind playing alone. But when he did get attention from someone, he loved it. Always giggling, and throwing his little hands up every time we laughed at something he did or said.  It was amazing to watch how he had so much joy. He was living in what seemed to be a very difficult lifestyle but was so happy. I really understood then how every child is God’s child. In any country, at any time, and throughout any life situation, Jesus cares for all his children. He wants them to know about his never ending love and about the promise of his salvation for all. In the Bible, He often uses children to show everyone how we must be and how we must act in this life. In that same way, he showed me personally how to have unconditional love for others and all the children I was blessed to meet. In Matthew, chapter 18 verses 2-6 say this,          “Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said ‘I tell you the                 truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into     the Kingdom of heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest   in the Kingdom of heaven”.

Experiencing the children in Peru, and Victor specifically, has opened my eyes to the type of love that Christ has for everyone. Every single child here in Peru is special to Him. Working with them and playing with them has taught me the humility Jesus spoke of; to serve them is to serve Him, and to love them is to love Him. My time here has been spent understanding God’s love. Getting to spend time with the kids has provided great opportunities for everyone here to show that reality.