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Billy, Kate & Will in Perú

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calling

Calling

Posted on Thursday, January 27, 2011 1 Comment

Segundo & Tercero

Martin & Ronal

It’s faces like these that reassure me of my calling to work in Peru.

Every day during the 2010 summer, something reminded me of my calling to leave my life in Dearborn and move to Peru to work with Scripture Union. It might have been something small, like being greeted by 40 smiling boys when walking into the dining room in the morning, to something more noticeable like receiving thoughtful letters from some of the older boys when I left Puerto Alegria, to even the most direct, having visiting volunteers tell me how much I truly care for this ministry and how it shows through everything I do.

To me, this isn’t a job. I have one of those – it is purely to make money so I can put gas in my car and be able to live. While it had its great days (like a $5400 sale, or being top seller for a straight month), it definitely is not my calling and some days I simply just do not want to go into work. But regardless of how I was feeling, I was there, prompt and fulfilled the task at hand.

This “job” is the complete opposite of everything I felt before at the store. I wake up in the morning excited for what the day will bring. Most days are the same, meals with some combination of rice and chicken, translating, helping with homework, making adobe bricks, but regardless, I can’t wait for the following day’s activities.

It’s about the people – not just the Girasoles, but the house parents, support staff, schools workers, directors, and medical staff that make this so much more than “just a job.” And that’s just the people I work with at Scripture Union.

I can’t begin to describe the number of conversations I have had with taxi drivers, people on the street, and fellow plane/boat/bus passengers all wanting to know why this gringa is traveling alone (or leading a larger group of gringos) in Peru. Each one of these conversations is an opportunity to share what Scripture Union and, more importantly, God is doing in their country – not just with abandoned boys, but in the schools, through medical clinics, camping programs and the deaf.

Being able to spend summers with people like Segundo or Tercero, Rosa, Augusto, Roger, Sixto, Pepe, Jose Abel, and Nancy has reassured me that this is what I am supposed to be doing.

Posted in: Peru | Tagged: calling, Peru, photos, Scripture Union

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katebruder

When your uncle comes to visit, you wear your matc When your uncle comes to visit, you wear your matching shirts together (with a flashback to his last visit in January 2020) #littlewilliamnoah
Explored Arequipa, the white city, for the first t Explored Arequipa, the white city, for the first time all together and spent many hours outside under the blue sky. #littlewilliamnoah
The @monasteriodesantacatalina is one of my favori The @monasteriodesantacatalina is one of my favorite places in Peru. There is beauty around every corner and the colors, sillar streets and potted geraniums along the walls are just amazing. This trip we were able to visit as the sun was setting and see the former monastery in a new way. #littlewilliamnoah
Spent a few days outside under blue skies in the C Spent a few days outside under blue skies in the Colca Canyon #littlewilliamnoah
Just a small glimpse into what we did during July Just a small glimpse into what we did during July in 60 seconds #littlewilliamnoah
Celebrating Fiestas Patrias with dancing los capor Celebrating Fiestas Patrias with dancing los caporales 🇵🇪 #littlewilliamnoah
Ready to perform la danza de los caporales with hi Ready to perform la danza de los caporales with his classmates at @coloringdreamsperu to celebrate Fiestas Patrias 🇵🇪 #littlewilliamnoah
All of the people in these photos are now Peruvian All of the people in these photos are now Peruvian! When I first traveled to Peru in 2001 at 15 years old, I never expected that one day I would be a living here as a citizen. After 11 years of living in Lima, I have joined @wngreenman and @greenmanbilly with dual citizenship! 🇵🇪 🎉 🇵🇪 #littlewilliamnoah
We spent the morning with the llamas of @llamapack We spent the morning with the llamas of @llamapackproject and community partners from Cancha Cancha learning about how llamas are used for social development within local communities and to conserve and protect the environment in the Andes. #llamapackproject #littlewilliamnoah
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