My
soon-to-be home for the next year! Girls’ rooms are closest on the right hand
side, then the kitchen and Dining Area. Paty, Joel and family’s home is on the
left and right beside them will be my room (Where the white van is)
…11 Days Until
Departure!...
This past
year, I have to confess, has been one of the hardest! I experienced extreme
lows, isolation and loneliness like never before. And to top it all off I was
working 2 jobs (60 hours a week) WITH shift work. It really did a toll! I am
glad that it is over! After lots of preparation, and Spanish-learning, I am
finally just days away from my trip! My goal for the year was to raise $15,000
for this upcoming year’s costs and I am SO HAPPY to say that: 1.God can SO be
trusted because (of course!) 2. I have received all my funding :) Thank
you everyone who has put forth support, financial or otherwise, for this trip.
I could not have gone without you! I truly believe mission work is a collective
effort of a community, and I am so excited to SHARE God’s story, and work, in
Peru with you all! I hope you will all follow my blog
(rachelmaesmith.blogspot.ca) and my newsletters!
I have yet to experience rainy season in a rainforest. Last time I was in Peru was May- August 2011 when rain came
every couple of weeks. BUT! I have my rain boots and a
semi- heavy duty rain jacket and am prepared to endure heavy rains for warm
temperatures! :)
NEWS ON LAS CHICAS…
Jesica – 17 years old
Last night one of the
girl’s from the home, Jesica, graduated from high school. Next she
will be moving on to career classes! This is one of the only girl’s
left at the refuge that I built a relationship with last year. Last night,
through text, I was able to tell her how proud I am of her! Another girl has graduated
into university and 2 others are now working in the city. I am so excited to be
able to be a part of such a life-changing ministry!
A note on the culture: The
invitations said 7pm, and it didn't start until 9:30, which meant that dinner
would be served at midnight!
Paty & Joel Labajos…
These extremely compassionate and lovely folks are the couple
who run the home down in Peru and whom I will be working with and helping
during my time there. This is their second girl’s refuge, which they have been
involved in, and they do a great job at it! They have 3 children: Samuel 9,
Cesar, 7, and Deborah, 2 (almost 3!). Both have been Christians their whole
lives and grew up in Christian families. I won’t divulge too much... that’s for
another newsletter.
When I’m There... These last couple months of
preparation, I have been discussing with the missionaries in Peru, Paty and
Joel, and the iProjects Board what my job description will look like when I’m
there. As per usual, I am sure that God will use me in more ways than what I
can come up with, but this is a good start:
MENTOR – For a young lady
named Nidia who is 22-years- old.
She works at the home, and has a 7-year-old boy.
RECOVERY –
The girls at the refuge have been in abusive and traumatic situations, and are
in need of healing
TUTOR – All the girls are
doing their studies through alternative education. During the week they
will be studying at home
“He
comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he
brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can
be there for that person just as God was there for us.” ~I
Corinthians 1:4
My Flight Trip Details…
January 4th, 2013
In a mere 11 days I will be departing from Toronto,
Ontario at 9:45AM and heading to San Salvador, El Salvador for
arrival at 2:00PM. From there I change planes and leave at 3:03PM for a 5.5
hour flight to Lima, Peru. At this point I have a 12-hour layover... yah
(can you hear my enthusiasm!? LOL) Finally, I depart from Lima on an “airbus” at
8:45AM. It stops in Cusco, Peru to let people off and on and then lifts
off again to travel to PUERTO MALDONADO! After just over 24 hours I will
be in Puerto Maldonado!
I will miss you all! Please keep in touch.
rachelmae2186@gmail.com
Rachel
“And I think that's
what our world is desperately in need of - lovers, people who are building
deep, genuine relationships with fellow strugglers along the way, and who
actually know the faces of the people behind the issues they are concerned
about.”
~Shane Claiborne,
Irresistible Revolution
