December 2012 Newsletter

 

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