Peru 2009

Our team of 15 returned from Peru a week ago. It’s been a week of recovery. I got sick (flu-like sick) on the red-eye flight Saturday night. It was miserable ... the worst night of my life kind of miserable. By Tuesday I was over that, but still was in a funk. The re-entry (at least for me) is always so difficult. For nine days we work together, locked onto one goal, a team of like-minded people, living together, not worried about meals or transportation or anything else--just our mission. We’re so close as a team, feel so close to God, so connected to our friends in Peru, then we come home ... bills, jobs, screaming kids, excess, usual troubles at work, things you’d forgotten, emails, voicemails ... overwhelming. The desperation for God to work, for God to sustain, for God to receive glory fades and you fight it, you fight this world from taking over ... again.

I always look forward to what God says on a trip like this. I believe He spoke through my friend, Pastor Julio (pictured above), on Tuesday morning when we were feeding children in the hills of Chillon. It was 6:00am in the morning and he was wandering the hills waking kids to come get a warm breakfast. This happens on a regular basis--hauling buckets of soggy oatmeal and trash bags full of bread. I said, “Pastor, you’re such a good man. You are doing unto the least of these, and are doing unto Christ.” He said, “Rob, it is hard work.” And I resonated with that--compared to my 5-minute commute to our church campus in Williamson County. He said, “It is a privilege to serve Christ.” That was it. He walked off after that and left me standing on the side of the hill, staring through watery eyes. I don’t ever remember saying those words. My heart was in my throat. It is a privilege to serve Christ.

I’m feeling better, the daily thoughts of Peru are fading, but I pray those words continue to ring in my mind for years. I don’t think I’ll ever forget what Pastor Julio said--or what God said. I’ve reminded myself frequently since I’ve been back ... It is a privilege to serve Christ.

Comments

[Bronie Victory]

beautiful post. i frequently turn that privilege into a "chore." thanks for the reminder. glad you're feeling better. jay usually has the same "re-entry" issues when returning from haiti. it's reverse culture-shock... or something. miss you guys. :)