Greater Grace

While in Peru I have come across more things that drive me absolutely crazy, discovered things that I cannot stand, come up with many cultural things to rant about, and at the end of most days I sit back at the kitchen table and say, “Peru, I just don’t understand you.” However, when the dog bites and the bee stings, when I’m feeling sad I simply remember my favorite things, then I don’t feel so bad. (Note: I have not been bit by a dog or stung by a bee while in Peru, but I have had a dog pee on my foot, been sick several times, and had a translator totally mess up a class I was teaching, all of which are just as bad.) Now, the mountains of Peru do not have anything fancy like raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mitten, or brown paper packages tied up in string, but I have come to realize that it is the simple things every day here that get me through to the next.

It is chocolate de taza every Friday night.

It is walking down the road to get fresh bread.

It is Humberta’s kitchen.

It is the smell of eucalyptus.

It is when Alizee calls us “hermanas”.

It is the constant view of the snow covered mountains.

It is Emy’s laugh.

It is watching Peruvian futbol games with Felipa and Diego.

It is the walk from Utcuyacu to the bridge.

It is Jerfry’s smile.

It is Gloria’s service.

It is a hug from Dina.

These are a few of my favorite things here in Recuay and it is through these that the Lord has shown me His great grace. I may leave Peru still questioning what my purpose was here and if I accomplished anything, I may wonder if we will be remembered any more than the last group and what will happen to our ministry when we leave. However, the thing I have come to rely on most here is the grace that the Lord provides everyday. I have learned to walk in faith despite my questions, doubts, and extremely human tendencies to not rely on my heavenly Father. As I walk forward in those questions and doubts and tendencies I wake up each morning in Peru getting out of bed solely to see what new grace the Lord wants to show me each day. I have chosen to become more aware each day of the presence of God, not the absence, and I have chosen likewise to become more aware of grace than sin.

But He gives greater grace.

James 4:5