Its been too long since I have written, there really is so much to catch up on. BUT I wanted to share one of the humbling things I am learning still….

“Poverty is dressed up pretty in the brick and mortar here, maybe not as ugly as the shanty towns out there.”



One of my good friends and a leader for Capernaum in Lima made this comment to me. Poverty does not strike me the same way it used to. When I pull into a neighborhood in the hills on the outskirts of Lima, it does not have the same effect it once did. I am comfortable there. It seems normal to me to have the huge hose pulled from house to house to fill trash cans with water for daily use, to see kids sitting and playing on a sand floor, to be offered a brick to sit on instead of a chair. I am aware that the little electricity they have is shared between neighbors and whoever has a TV has all the neighbors over. The soup kitchens called “comedors” where kids bring their own plate, are served a meal and head home seem as common as the lunch room when I was in school. Perhaps its horrible that I am so comfortable with this, perhaps its good. All I know is that this is the reality of many people whom I deeply love and respect. It is their life and knowing them and meeting them there is an honor…..



Now, I live in the north of Lima, in Callao on the border of San Martín de Porres. I will admit its not the fancy part, often one will go through 5 taxis before they find one willing to come out here past 8pm. BUT, the little neighborhood where I live I love! Its “gated” (you all would laugh if you saw my “gated community”) and a little safer inside that a couple of blocks away. Where I lived for the first year, about 12 blocks from here is not quite as safe, but feels like home to me too. Everyone has real houses with cement and brick… From the outside, most are painted some color. All have electricity at least for a light bulb, some have phones and even internet. But, my friend was explaining something to me that is hard to comprehend… those are masks. The houses are masks. Over the years families have put everything they have into building a home for the next generation and continue building up story by story for the generations to each have a “home.” So a house looks like stability, but its not. All too often many of these people, and many of my friends do not even have 1 sol (about $0.35) to buy bread for their family or take the bus across town to work. I think I forget this.



Our Capernaum team for the most part comes from these homes, this community, and this humility. I would not have it any other way as these people are my close friends, my family here in Peru and incredible servants with talents and gifts that blow my mind. However, poverty is dressed up well in their lives and the mask only comes down once in a while… sometimes leaving me with my foot in my mouth and embarrassed. We joined a large group of our students at a zoo outside of Lima for the day a couple of weeks ago to be extra hands and help for the school and to have some good time getting to know kids and parents. The cost of entrance to the zoo was a special price 5 soles… about $1.78. Think the Monterey Aquarium in prestige. Nice place. Super cheap. So, I asked the team to each cover the entrance and if they each put in 5 soles for gas for the van and we would be covered. I made lunch and brought for my team.

Little did I know that the 5 soles for park entrance was no small thing. I am still learning how families work here. If a young person works and lives at home, his/her salary goes to the family. They can ask for money when they need it to buy food (not like a coke or starbucks, more like a piece of bread) or for their bus fare to and from school. Ministry and volunteering is not seen well by parents who just want to see their kids get ahead.. its seen as a waste of time and resources, as a thing from their teen years to be let go. So, the fact that the team had gotten together 5 soles for a purely “fun” event as seen by parents was no small thing.

But here comes the gringa… asking for their 5 soles to cover part of the gas. I have been encouraged by board members and friends here to be sure to charge people their part. “DO NOT let them get accustomed to you paying for everything” I hear constantly. Don’t let them take advantage of you comes the warning. The van is a whole ordeal as I have been warned to make ministry pay their 1 sol/kilometer. So, I did as I was asked and later my friend explained to me how harsh my request was. His family was all out of money. Nothing to eat that day. 5 soles could feed them at least bread and milk for a day. Another leader was in a very similar situation as she looks for work to maintain her aging grandparents and schizophrenic mother. I am left feeling like an idiot and wondering once again how to balance this, how to make them responsible, teach interdependence and not dependence but also to be merciful and care for my friends, help with the resources entrusted to me.



I am not done learning about this culture… what I lack in knowledge seems greater each day. I am grateful for gracious friends and teachers, but, man, this can be hard!

It leaves me wanting to see…. what is it that is hidden behind the brick and mortar of other homes, behind careers and success in other, behind smiles and laughter in others, what is hidden in me... It leaves me longing for heaven where we will all be what we were made to be and where the pain and need will be gone as we are sustained and satisfied by our Heavenly Father!

So, I am reminded "blessed are the poor in spirit, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them." And I just wonder what the homes of these will look like in heaven for my friends who have struggles through homes like these...