God uses ordinary people, like you and I, to do extraordinary things.  Our first step is to be willing and available. On Friday June 24^th, 18 people from different back grounds, religious affiliation, mission experiences, ages and parts of the U.S gathered in Miami to board a plane for Lima, Peru. 

 

Our commitment was to provide shoes and God’s love to several shanty town communities and churches in and around Lima, Peru. 

 

In less than a week’s time, the Samaritan’s Feet team worked with over 30 Peruvian local church volunteers and interrupters to present new shoes and the love of God to over 1000 children and adults in Peru. 

 

Our journey started with our first shoe distribution site, which was at an all boys orphanage.  We had a fabulous time treating the boys to McDonald’s happy meals, birthday cake, singing, dancing and games. After washing their feet and giving them new shoes, many of the boys sat and shared with us their life stories of living on the street and adjusting to life in the orphanage. Many lives were touched and transformed that night. 

 

Brena Community Center on the outskirts of Peru was our next stop.  Here we had the opportunity to play soccer, sing, share the message of hope, along with washing the feet and providing shoes to children and adults. 

 

Pastor Samuel, the local Pastor we worked with, became a friend to many within minutes of meeting him.  He had a way of breaking through the language barriers and welcoming you.  Sunday, we visited his church for a powerful worship service.  The church congregation embraced us with open arms and made us feel right at home. They were a blessing.  Later in the week, we had the opportunity to go back to the church and provide shoes for many in his community. 

 

Our hearts broke into a million pieces as we visited an all girls orphanage for girls who have been abused, raped, beaten and forgotten. We played and colored with them, loved on them, gave them shoes and told them about God’s love.  As we said our goodbyes there was not a dry eye to be found. Their lingering hugs and kisses would leave us gloriously ruined forever!

 

Pachacutec, an impoverished shanty town village just outside of Peru and a satellite church of Pastor Samuel’ s, was our last and final shoe distribution; it was also our largest.  We had an incredible day listening to life journeys of those lost, hurt and feeling forgotten, and then being able to bless them by washing their feet, giving them new shoes and sharing the love of God with them!

After blessing over 500 children and parents we left only to find there were twice as many still waiting for shoes.  It was hard to leave, knowing that we could not meet their needs. 

 

The team members did not know one another before the trip, but soon became friends and united as one, spoke the truth and shined bright for all of Peru to see.  There was hope, love, peace, healing, joy and laughter in the place where anger, hurt, bitterness and darkness once resided. 

 

The team has made a pledge to raise $20,000 in donations that will go towards building a feeding and community center in the impoverished shanty town community of Pachacutec. Once built, church members and volunteers will help the kids with school work and service projects. 

 

Will you, too, take the first step and say “YES” to join Samaritan’s Feet on an international trip?

 

Lori Shrum

OutReach Coordinator

The Cove Church