Bye, Bye Arequipa!!

Saturday, March 12, 2016

It has been a wonderful time spent in Arequipa, Peru with the Messiah Track & Field group.  During our week away, we had the wonderful opportunity to form great relationships and many new friendships with people there.  Spending time throughout the week to engage in many hands-on projects, such as construction work projects at El Camino church and New Hope Children's Home has been a fun way to learn and work together.  Additionally, the group helped to run a track & field clinic for the children in the orphanage home, as well as the children in the local community.  Teaching them about some of the basics of our sport was another way that we could connect with the little ones and share the Love of God with them.

[Saturday morning | 4:00am]

It was very early in the morning, and our group had been going on very little sleep for the past few days.  Still tired from last night's bonfire and other activities, it was quite difficult to get ourselves out of bed and already packed for departure.  We sure were going to miss this place at New Hope Children's Home, where we had been staying for the past week.  Although the darkness of the night was still upon us, a group of little boys were waiting outside for us, ready to give hugs and say goodbye. We all agreed that this gesture of love was so sweet, as it was still the middle of the night and they had woken up specifically for us.

Going back to America was going to be a long couple of flights home, and we were all reminiscing about the week we had just experienced.  Although it was extremely hard to say goodbye and hug those children one last time, we knew that our time there had made a difference.  As much as we had hoped coming into the trip that we would make an impact on these children, they too, had changed our lives.

We want to extend our gracious thanks to all of our supporters and donors.  For those who have partnered with us for the week, we thank you for all your care, love, and generous hospitality.  We want to send our our appreciation to all those, who had so willingly contributed to our experiences through the powerful act of prayer.  All of these gifts -- both materially and spiritually -- that you had given to us made a real difference on our time away, and even now as we continue to process our experiences and reflections of the trip.

We are happy to say that the group has safely arrived back in the United States, ready and eager to share about our time in Arequipa, Peru with all who express an interest.  We are continuously thankful for the mighty ways that God uses His People to love, learn, grow, and serve... and together, we were able to do just that!