We walk the desert, uphill past a mama dog lounging under a gray sky feeding her pups. We climb past brightly colored homes made of wooden planks and sheets of plastic.
When we arrive at the house a little girl cracks the door and says, in Spanish, “I’m not mama.”
We wait for mama and when she comes she’s barefoot. Her hair is pulled back and her son’s sweaty face rests in the curve of her neck.
She opens the door and we walk through. Her house is a facade opening into a roofless courtyard. In the courtyard are laundry lines draped in grandmother’s hard work hung out to dry. And a room made of scrap wood, scrap metal, scrap plastic. Inside the room are two beds where three children, mama and her husband sleep.
[RSS subscribers, click through to see the video.] Press play on the video below and then click and drag the image to see in all directions.
Layla kneels before big sister, smiling, asking what the dog’s name is. “Mickey Mouse,” she laughs. And we laugh too.
Layla asks the best questions, really listens, asks some more. So she unearths the best story.
Mama was poor once – in every way. She was hungry, unable to feed her children every day. She was pregnant and sick. Her husband drank too much.
Then someone from a local church – Christ Leads Church – knocked on her door and told her about Compassion International. Soon she was seeing doctors, given the nutrition a growing baby needs…and wanting to know more about these people who were helping her. So she started going to their church; just curious.
And curiosity lead to faith. And faith spread to her husband. “Through prayer he no longer drinks and together our family goes to the church now.”
Mama smiles retelling it all; raking that sweaty baby boy’s hair away from his face with her fingers.
“Thanks to God,” she says, “we now have a better life. We live! We breathe! We eat!”
Later, I remind the team that Compassion’s goal isn’t to turn the poorest of the poor into middle class. If that were the goal? Then Compassion has failed mama.
The goal is to meet her most basic needs – physical, social, emotional, cognitive, spiritual.
And for Mama to give thanks.
When the offering was collected from Corinth for the starving in Jerusalem, Paul said he was passing the plates to bring help to the poor and thanks to God.
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us [this offering of yours] will result in thanksgiving to God. This service you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. – 2 Corinthians 9:11,12
This is why I have more than enough: I have been made rich so that I can be generous toward others so that they can live and breathe and eat and give thanks to God.
This is why Compassion serves the poorest of the poor through local churches in twenty-six countries: When God’s people give, He gets thanked.
We hold hands in a circle, bow our heads and listen as Layla prays. She asks God to bring work to Mama’s husband, to help Mama’s children become all she dreams for them. “Amen.”
“Gracias,” Mama smiles.
The two women kiss cheeks. “Chow.”
“‘Adios’ is goodbye forever,” the translator explains. “‘Chow’ is goodbye for now.”
Jill Foley says:
This is beautiful, Shaun. One post and the memories of my own trip to Peru two years ago are flooding me.
Is Layla the translator?
Jill Foley says:
Never mind the Layla question – I figured it out. I’m tired.
Shaun Groves says:
I made her name a link now so maybe that will help other tired readers connect the dots too ; ). Thanks for reading along this week, Jill.
Amy says:
Wow. The video adds so much that pictures just don’t do, Shaun. That is the real that I saw in Nicaragua, but the pictures couldn’t capture the reality.
Shaun Groves says:
So glad! I know it’s blurry and there’s so much dust in the air here (it’s a desert, technically) that the image is a little gritty too, but I sure hope it helps make this week a bit more real for you all. Glad you liked it!
Jacque Watkins says:
“When God’s people give, He gets thanked.” Him giving to us, so that we can give to them, us all giving thanks to Him together. Wow. Amazing. Praying for you, the entire team, and for the hearts of many to be moved toward sponsorship.
Shaun Groves says:
Yes, please pray! Thank you, Jacque.
Nester says:
“I have been made rich so that I can be generous toward others so that they can live and breathe and eat and give thanks to God.”
I love how part of your mission is rescuing us from our wealth too. Love reading your posts. The photo that got to me? The one you labeled “kitchen”.
And Layla? I am not surprised she asks the best questions.
Pam OBrien says:
Yes! I like that part, too.. “your mission is rescuing us from our wealth, too.” Our American culture is so gluttonous. And that “kitchen” picture… I studied that one for a while in disbelief.
Shaun Groves says:
Thanks for that recommendation, Nester ; ) Layla’s a rock star out here – people open up to her and just spill their story. Now,we’ve got to get the two of you together on a trip some day!
Kelli says:
Thanks be to God, indeed. Miracles and hope in the desert.
Michelle ~ Blogging from the Boonies says:
The “kitchen” shot got me as well. I realize I’ve had more efficient and sturdier kitchens while camping for fun.
My laptop is slowly dying, but hopefully I will able to get the video to run. I’ve enjoyed the videos I’ve seen from past trips!
Praying for the team and looking forward to the next posts!
Pam OBrien says:
Shaun, thanks for what you do for them through Compassion and for blogging about it so we can follow along and get a sense of what it’s like. The video is stunning.
I’m praying for the folks you’ll meet, for open hearts and revelation of His great love for them; and praying for you and the team, for wisdom and grace.
Teena says:
Wow…. your words, your stories, your real life faith… draws me closer to Him. Closer to what reallly matters. Giving thanks. Thanking God.
Reading and praying….
Grace
Shaun Groves says:
So appreciated! Especially the praying. We’re all well now but we’ve had some brief bouts of motion sickness. Keep praying! Thanks, Teena.
Beth says:
This trip really hits home for me. Our daughter Katie moved to Lima, Peru 5 years ago. She and the Lord have had an amazing journey loving and serving the families of Peru. I’m pretty sure she is serving as one of the translators for your team this week. I hope you will get a chance to meet her and hear her story. The people of Peru are beautiful and I know you will be truly blessed. Praying for your health and safety, but most of all that your eyes will see clearly each unique person and situation.
Shaun Groves says:
Beth, your daughter Katie is the best translator I’ve ever worked with. I’ve been to ten countries with Compassion and no one comes close to Katie and her friend Kristen. Not only does Katie translate well, but she oozes curiosity, joy, encouragement…Jesus.
I want my girls to become women like Katie. Thank you, Beth for letting her move (and take a bit of your heart with her) to Peru. God is using her here. Not just to translate for our little trip, but to meet physical and spiritual needs in her own ministry to Peruvians. What a remarkable daughter you raised. She must have a remarkable mother.
ROse says:
Moving post. I enjoyed the video. What faith to rely on God each day for your daily bread. I sponsor 2 children and enjoy following the Compassion bloggers. I’m wondering, do they have a tarp or something that they put up when it rains?
Shaun Groves says:
Rose, this is crazy: It rains here once every fifty years! It is humid, being on the coast, and sometimes it will mist. But they don’t get a true rain often.
There are tarps in every house I’ve been to here. I assume they use them to keep out the water on the rare occasion they need them.
This is a desert by the sea.
Kris says:
Just feeling overwhelemed here, gratitude for my life, and praise for how God moves through others, through Compassion…. through any who are willing to hear His voice. Thanks for going, Shaun–for going to the hard places and bringing it out here for us to see, to know, to be changed by it as well.
God be gracious to His children, to the people of Peru…
Shaun Groves says:
It’s a privilege, Kris. Thank you for reading along!
Teena says:
Now, showing all the my kids… and my husband. So full after reading. So thankful we are able to *go along* with you on the blogger trips.
Keep sharing!
grace~
Tracey says:
Hearing the poorest of the poor giving thanks moves me out of the American dream and into the knowledge of every good and perfect gift coming from above.
Thank you, Shaun.
Elwin van Eede says:
Thank you for this beautiful blog. I love the GoPano video, makes it more real. Brings back memories of my sponsor trip to Peru a year back. I will be following the bloggers.
Brandi says:
Just had my children do their reading homework by reading the blog posts…sitting at my desk crying, and praising God. Compassion is so important to our family. I am so thankful for these trips to open our eyes to how God is working. These posts are better than a history book anyday! I travelled to Ecuador with Compassion last spring and look forward to going again! You are all being prayed for in the Name of Jesus and we are believing He is using you in great and mighty ways! Blessings from Whitehouse, Texas!
[email protected] says:
I will never read those verses in 2 Corinthians 9 the same again. Thank you for bringing Scripture alive in a fresh way for people here … and for making God’s Word real right THERE, in actual lives in Peru.
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
And thanks be to God.
~ Jennifer Lee
Margaret says:
So excited to follow your trip to Lima. It brings together 2 of my favorite things-the love of Christ shared through Compassion, and my daughter Christen who is translating for you.
Sarah aka MainlineMom says:
Oh the video!! It honestly makes it so much more…real. It’s like taking us there, which I know is your goal. Thank you for that…for this.
Lisa Auter says:
Shaun,
I’m a long-time reader of your blog and tonight God gave me the best idea. I became a Christian 2 years ago and my stepkids are still being introduced to God. I tell my 3 stepkids how blessed we are and about the 3 kids we sponsor (oddly, all through different organizations and I have yet to convince Hubby that we need to add a 4th so I can finally say I help Compassion, in particular) all the time. My oldest stepdaughter, and my husband, and I even visited our oldest sponsor child in Honduras this past May. Didn’t impact the stepdaughter the way I hoped, but still praying. Anyway, I decided to sit the younger two (almost 9 and 6) down tonight and read them this blog entry and show them the video. The almost 9 year old has shown a devout interest in God and has already devoted her life to God and wants to get re-baptized. I am loving her enthusiasm. Anyway, I told them “my friend Shaun” (because how do little kids understand blog followers?) was in Peru writing about his visit to children who are sponsored and talking about poverty. We read and watched and talked about all sorts of things. I want to thank you so incredibly much because all my talk about gratitude for what we have – it couldn’t have shown them how it really is out there. The almost 9 year old’s heart bleeds for children who die of malaria and she wants to do something so watching this video made her really see what life in poverty can be like. And yet they saw the joy people had. They saw how grateful people were to have next-to-nothing. And how that nothing – through our Lord – can be made into the biggest Something. By God’s grace, this blog post rocked my kids’ world tonight. And I thank you. I pray for continued success on your trip. We will keep up with your blogs at bedtime.
Ugochi says:
Hmnnn… I like that Mama gave thanks too, basic needs are met and God is thanked. I am working and planing hopefully soon I will join hands with Compassion International to meet someone’s basic needs too. Well done Shaun and your team. God bless!
Yvonne says:
What an amazing testimony that mama has, to give thanks for having enough for her family and that she knows where her help comes from. Praying for all of you!
Kelly Willie says:
“This is why I have more than enough: I have been made rich so that I can be generous toward others so that they can live and breathe and eat and give thanks to God.
This is why Compassion serves the poorest of the poor through local churches in twenty-six countries: When God’s people give, He gets thanked.”
I love this! I received in the mail today a new picture of my little girl in the Philippines whom I have sponsored for 3 years. Compassion is such a blessing to her and she is such a blessing to me!
One day I hope to make a trip with Compassion. That is my dream! Thank you all for everything you do and letting us live through your blogs.
Jennifer Dougan says:
A good reminder, Shaun. We give, serve, love, send so that God gets thanks. Amen.
Jennifer Dougan
P.S. I lived in Peru for the summer when I was thirteen years old. That was ages ago, but it changed me.
amy in peru says:
shaun, i wish i would’ve known you were going to be here in peru! i haven’t been able to keep up with blogs in the last months, or i would’ve known. anyway, i’ve often wondered how one would go about helping out with compassion international, or making connections at least… i wonder if you could help me there? we know of TONS of needy families and i don’t know if compassion already has connections in our part of the country but… ? anyway. just thought i’d take the opportunity to say something now. 🙂
amy in peru