Rebecca Carpenter

            After traveling across the city of Peru, we arrived at the home of six elderly ladies.  The house had been donated to Gloria’s church by a family who had purchased another home.  The church had initially used it for needy children and when they outgrew it, older ladies became the residents.  They were capable of taking care of themselves but needed a safe, secure place to live.

            The tidy, concrete home consisted of several floors and was very clean but in need of some repairs.  Three ladies greeted us enthusiastically with hugs and kisses when we entered walled courtyard.  We were led into the living room and prepared to set up for our various activities.  Mary plugged in her clippers, brought out the scissors, and began styling the hair of a delightful, gray haired granny.  When the style was complete, Mary then proceeded to give her a manicure with colorful polish.  When Stephanie posed for us to show off her new look, you would have thought she was Miss Peru.  Her joy and antics made us all laugh and smile.

            Before we got there, Mary had been concerned that no one would want a stranger cutting their hair.  However, her fears were quickly dissolved when she observed the happiness that she had brought to the less fortunate.  When we use the skills God has given us, He can produce magnificent results.  Whether it is at home or in a foreign country, we need to be open to sharing what we have been given.

           Our diverse team was comprised of members with a wide variety of experiences from three churches in two states.  The eight team members included two career missionaries, a hair stylist, a Disney bus driver, and four retirees-a policeman, an insurance manager, a nurse, and a teacher.  We had not met as a complete group and only came together as we assembled in Peru.

            Our gracious host family, the sister’s family of our leader, lovingly shared their home with us after entertaining another team the previous week.  Each small bedroom was wall to wall beds to accommodate four people.  They had given up their rooms to enable us to have room.  One bath served our team while the family normally used a small bath in the adjoining tailor’s shop.  It was amazing how well it worked to have so many people in a small space.

            Out of the tiny kitchen delicious Peruvian food was prepared for us every day by the lady of the house.  Her infectious smile and servant’s heart ministered to us as she selflessly made sure that we were taken care of.  Her husband was a local policeman who worked twenty-four hour shifts so we did not see him each day.  He let us know through an interpreter that his house was small and simple but that he wanted us to feel that it was our home.  Their two sons, aged ten and five, added spark and smiles to the house.  The fourth grader was eager to practice his English and also helped translate.  His Saturday English classes were definitely assisting him in learning the language.  The five year old was a bundle of energy and loved to show us his skills.   Each family member was eager to help us and enjoyed sharing what they had.

            The family’s welcoming attitude and nurturing care enabled us to reach out to those less fortunate in the area.  Even though their lives were totally disrupted by eight adults filling their home, they remained cheerful, helpful, and extremely hospitable.  Before we went to minister, they had first ministered to us.  What an important lesson that is–especially when we feel that we are not able to do much.  We just need to be willing and let God do the rest. 

               Volunteering for the day was rewarding to me as I saw the interaction between homeless residents of our area and local volunteers.  There were smiles, conversations, and genuine caring from both groups.  Without the red t-shirts, it would have been difficult in many cases to distinguish the helpers from those needing assistance.  I worked with lively teenagers, enthusiastic young parents, friendly middle aged adults, and wise senior citizens.  Everyone was serving those in need with gladness and a servant’s heart. 

            There were so many stories which demonstrated God’s love.  A lady with a walker was taken care of as she waited in line.  She was told to stay in one spot and when it was her turn, she moved to the front.  A flow of drinking water was supplied to everyone while we were in the hot sun.  A caring, elderly man told me that I should get out of the blazing sun and tried to give me his seat several times.  Another client gave up his seat to a female volunteer.  One lady refused the services at the spa because she said there were other women who needed them more than she did.  As I worked, I was in contact with hundreds of people who were all showing graciousness and love to each other.

            When each person left for the day, they were given a backpack of food and hygiene supplies to take with them.  Their problems were not all eliminated by spending the day at Northland and having access to all sorts of services, but everyone had received some type of aid.  Throughout the day, I observed the contagion of love and hope spreading from person to person.  I do not know how anyone, homeless and volunteers, could have left without knowing that someone cared about them.  When you are blessing others, it is very difficult to avoid being blessed in return.   

 
          Sporting bright pink shoes, a pink shirt, and white capris, two year old Emily grabbed hold of her pink, three wheeled, Dora scooter. With a grin she confidently stood on it, but nothing happened. She lunged her shoulders forward hoping to coax the scooter into motion which also did not make her move.  Helpful instructions came from her parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Reluctantly, she placed one foot on the ground and tried to move the scooter like her sister who was zooming past on her two wheeled scooter. Deciding that the technique was not satisfactory, Emily again put both feet on the scooter and hoped she could glide effortlessly. Grandpa saw her plight and gently pushed her. However, her steering skills were similar to her pushing ones so she kept ending up in the grass. After several tries, he was able to propel her a short distance on the sidewalk. She smiled at her accomplishment of riding like Ashlyn.
 

          After grandpa stopped, she tried a few more times to ride by herself but soon gave up. We all laughed when we observed her lying prostrate on the sidewalk with her sweaty head resting on the footrest of the scooter like a pillow. She had attempted to ride the scooter on her own, it was difficult, she was tired, so she quit. I am sure that the scooter and sidewalk were uncomfortable, but to her it must have been preferable to the hard task of riding.
          Adults also face instances when it is easier to quit and face uncomfortable circumstances instead of working harder to accomplish a goal.
 

            This weekend, my parents celebrate sixty-three years of marriage.  When so much in our world is temporary and fleeting, it is remarkable to have such an enduring marriage, but they join several of their brothers and sisters in longevity of marriages.  Some were over fifty years, and three were also over sixty.  In fact, one couple just celebrated their sixty-eighth year. 

            My parents related stories of hardships in their early years when there was little money.  Since rationing was in effect in 1945, someone loaned them tires so that they could make the trip to the family lakeside cottage for their honeymoon. They both worked hard to make ends meet and to put my dad through college.  He used his education degree for forty-two years as a teacher, coach, and principal. 

            With meager wages from teaching, they began a family with my mom staying home to raise three children and manage the household.  She sewed many of our clothes, tended a garden, canned food, and found other ways to run the home with frugality.  Each summer my dad earned additional income by painting houses, barns, and schools. He also took graduate classes at a distant school at night for his master’s degree.  Classes had to be arranged around a coaching schedule too.  When he became a principal, an extended calendar enabled him to give up his summer painting jobs.

            When I was 10 or 11, my mom started college part time to also get a degree in education.  It took her many years to obtain her degree because she could only take a few classes at a time.  Also, we did not live near a university so she had to travel in the summer and at night for the classes. After a while, she was able to take day classes and graduated a year before I started college.  She also continued on and received her masters before I graduated.  Looking back, I wonder how she was able to juggle all of her duties at home while going to school.

            Our needs were always met, but I realized when I was older that money was tight.  Instead of having a lot of luxuries, we spent time together as a family and with friends.  Each summer weekend found us at a small, family lake cottage in northern Indiana.  It was very simple and for years there was no running water or inside plumbing.  We carried buckets to a community well where we would pump water and slosh back to the cottage.  A metal dipper was used to get water for drinking, cooking, and washing.  Eventually, we had a well, electric pump, and a bathroom but no tub or shower.  When we needed a bath, we took a bar of soap to the lake and soaped up as we swam which was great fun.  We did not feel deprived because of the lack of facilities but privileged to have so many exciting adventures. For entertainment, we swam, boated, fished, and played games with our extended family.  There was no television or phone so we talked and enjoyed nature.  For years, our only boat was a wooden rowboat that my grandfather had made.  We were elated when we finally had a motorboat and learned to zoom through the water and to ski. 

            Several times we moved as my dad changed jobs and moved up to principal.  It was sad to leave friends but exciting to find new ones.  In each new location, one of the first things that my parents did was to find a church where we could attend and become involved.  Each week we dressed up and went as a family which helped form who we were. 

            Their faith enabled them to overcome trials and stay committed to each other. They have been a positive example to me and many others as they have shared their love with family and friends.  I feel blessed to have them as my parents. 

          Curious looks, giggles and stifled laughs greeted my husband, Alan, and me as we crossed the parking lot. One driver stopped, smiled, gave us a thumbs up, and waved us across in front of him. All eyes locked on us as we stepped into the crowded, lunchtime eatery. I immediately scanned the lines of customers and was relieved to find more of our herd. A huddle of five stood at the counter, three were chewing at a booth, and a few stragglers were scattered among the wary customers.
           “Oh, no!” I exclaimed with a laugh. “There is someone that I know.” We had just discussed that we hoped that we would not see anyone familiar.  I greeted her as she whipped out her camera to take my picture. So much for being nameless. We had traveled farther from home so that we would not be noticed.
          We advanced to the counter to complete our mission—a free lunch. The manager indicated to our server that we would get the combo because we were decked out in a full costume from head to toe. Our white t-shirts with black spots, black ears attached to black caps, black pants, black shoes, and black gloves completed our cow costumes. As we ate our free meals, we talked to other cows and engaged non-cows in our conversations. I am sure that some thought we were slightly crazy, but it was fun making people smile and talk to each other.
          Empowered by our success, we decided to stop at the food court in the mall, which we had previously avoided, on our way home. Stares followed us in the parking lot, through the doors, and past the line of restaurants. Many eyes quickly looked away when we saw them gazing at us in disbelief. A few could not suppress their laughter at seeing two adults dressed as cows parading by them. I scanned the food court for other bovine, but unfortunately, there were none. A terrible thought occurred to me. What if that restaurant was not participating in the promotion? Thankfully, at that moment a group of silver balloons caught my attention. They were printed with an invitation to dress like the cow mascot. What a relief!
          Teen aged workers smiled as they filled orders and gave us takeout meals that we could eat later. Confidently carrying our white bags of food, we strolled past diners who appeared bewildered by our dress. Even a tough looking biker nodded at us with a trace of a smile.
          Next to our car, a vehicle parked and five cows exited.  The teenagers all wore cow costumes similar to ours and informed us that it was their third Chick Fil A of the day—one for each meal. To complete our day of free eats, they stated that 7-11 was giving away free slurpees to celebrate the company’s birthday. That would be a perfect ending to our adventure.  We stopped at a store near our house. We were the only cows but enjoyed talking with patrons and workers.
          We laughed on the way home about our silly but fun excursion. When we were working as a teacher and insurance manager, we would not have even thought of dressing like cows and going out into public. However, retirement has made us less inhibited about our images.  Now we spend more time having fun and striving to touch the lives of others. We saw many people smile and laugh at us that day which I hope was an encouragement. Several talked while waiting in line and maybe they just needed some interaction. We had no idea who we reached or how they were touched, but hopefully, someone had a better day because of two amusing cows.