People are beautiful creations.
We are loved by a creative God.
We are loved by a creative God.
He is doing something incredible in the world today. Bridging gaps with love.
Building relationships not despite of, but because of.
Despite of the difference of race, language, culture, habits, beliefs, government structures.
Because of the difference of race, language, culture, habits, beliefs, government structures.
Building relationships not despite of, but because of.
Despite of the difference of race, language, culture, habits, beliefs, government structures.
Because of the difference of race, language, culture, habits, beliefs, government structures.
I have done something that has completely wrecked my heart.
Wrecked.
Like when something crashes hard, becomes broken.
And a creative God loves to rebuild, complete in his creativity.
Wrecked.
Like when something crashes hard, becomes broken.
And a creative God loves to rebuild, complete in his creativity.
I did something that many people don’t have the opportunity to do.
I made friends with the people that I came to help.
And suddenly, they weren’t “the Peruvians” anymore.
They were just my friends.
I made friends with the people that I came to help.
And suddenly, they weren’t “the Peruvians” anymore.
They were just my friends.
They invited me in.
Into homes, small and humble.
Into bathrooms without the luxury of running water.
Into hearts and dreams that were so much like my own.
And the hearts bridge the gaps, sharing a meal and laughter with a people created by God.
Created with destiny.
Into homes, small and humble.
Into bathrooms without the luxury of running water.
Into hearts and dreams that were so much like my own.
And the hearts bridge the gaps, sharing a meal and laughter with a people created by God.
Created with destiny.
I have a friend here with beautiful almond colored skin. Her hair is dark and straight.
She has the most beautiful voice and dreams of being a singer.
Her mama cooked lunch for me and made my favorite pasta.
I wash my hands in the 50 gallon drum filled with the water that their family uses. There is no faucet on her sink.
We crowd together in the small living room, and 4 people from her family stand while we eat lunch because there aren’t enough chairs.
I feel at home here.
We all laugh together at stories told, and then listen to her niece sing us all a song at the top of her lungs, delighted in.
The neighborhood isn’t safe for me because I am a Gringa (white girl), so they walk me to the taxi and send me home.
She has the most beautiful voice and dreams of being a singer.
Her mama cooked lunch for me and made my favorite pasta.
I wash my hands in the 50 gallon drum filled with the water that their family uses. There is no faucet on her sink.
We crowd together in the small living room, and 4 people from her family stand while we eat lunch because there aren’t enough chairs.
I feel at home here.
We all laugh together at stories told, and then listen to her niece sing us all a song at the top of her lungs, delighted in.
The neighborhood isn’t safe for me because I am a Gringa (white girl), so they walk me to the taxi and send me home.
I wonder at my feelings.
How I can feel so at home here in the slums, in the ghetto part of town in a third world country.
I wonder at myself, because I don’t feel the difference.
The difference in her house and mine. In her mama and mine.
Because there is something so familiar about a mama whose smile lights up a room.
There is something so cozy in a home that is filled with love.
How I can feel so at home here in the slums, in the ghetto part of town in a third world country.
I wonder at myself, because I don’t feel the difference.
The difference in her house and mine. In her mama and mine.
Because there is something so familiar about a mama whose smile lights up a room.
There is something so cozy in a home that is filled with love.
And this love that crosses oceans and unites two girls who grew up in different worlds
is the same love that died for us and gave us this gift. The gift of speaking face to face with the Creator of it all. The gift of sharing a meal with a family that is not so different from my own.
is the same love that died for us and gave us this gift. The gift of speaking face to face with the Creator of it all. The gift of sharing a meal with a family that is not so different from my own.
I listen to the words of the girl with the almond skin,
How she loves to bring love to the girls who have never seen real love.
And I marvel at how much we have in common, this girl who grew up in the slums of Peru and this girl who grew up so privileged in the United States.
How she loves to bring love to the girls who have never seen real love.
And I marvel at how much we have in common, this girl who grew up in the slums of Peru and this girl who grew up so privileged in the United States.
We walk together into the darkness to bring light to the ones who need it most.
We fight this battle against human trafficking together.
Her heart is called by the King and my heart joins alongside hers and we are friends, sisters.
Because love bridges every gap.
It smears the lines that we draw to keep ourselves separate.
It paints a new picture of family, of truth.
Love crosses ever border, breaks down every boundary.
We, from different countries, with different skin colors, with different backgrounds. We, with hopes and dreams and love. We, who are united in the great love of Jesus. We are two who join with many to bring love to this city. We are connected by the bridges of love.
