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.   

     Touring Old Havana gave our mission team an opportunity to observe the beautiful, intricate carvings on buildings from the 1800’s.  Glimpses of grandeur, when Havana was a jewel of the Caribbean, are positioned beside crumbling facades and falling stones.  Laundry hung over ornate iron balconies in front of open, screenless, windows.  Disposable diapers swung forlornly in the hot, dry air trying to refresh themselves for a young child.  A barbershop was set up beside the dark, dreary staircase at the door of an old, decayed structure.  While walking the narrow, crumbling street, we stepped quickly to avoid being drenched by a bucket of cleaning water that was thrown over the balcony into the street.  Trash littered the sidewalks with the smell of sewage prevalent in some areas.  A few of the buildings had been renovated and showed their true beauty, but most displayed the scars of time which had caused ruin and disintegration.  We strolled the streets noting everyday life in a country that had gone from opulence to one of much decay and poverty.  Streets were filled with Cubans of all ages mingling with tourists from Canada, Britain, Germany, and Holland, but Americans were a rarity in the communist nation. 

     Tiny establishments lined the narrow streets as people attempted to earn some extra money.  Park squares of the city were filled with Cubans trying to earn extra money from tourists.  Elderly men hawked Spanish newspapers while old ladies smoking cigars posed for pictures.  Girls in brightly colored dresses held baskets of artificial flowers while requesting that pictures be taken.  Near the harbor, vendors displayed paintings, sculptures, jewelry, clothing, and crafts.  In the hot, muggy weather shoppers searched to find just the right items to take home.  Musicians strummed banjos and sang in restaurants, hotels, and street corners hoping for some tips.  Each group, as if on cue, would produce a CD hoping to obtain even more money.  Some related how they had previously worked as famous entertainers in various venues in Havana. 

     In a country where the standard of living has regressed and where freedom has been eliminated, people still display an upbeat spirit.  Lively music was heard down each street while people conversed, and children played stickball. 

      Cars on the streets made us feel as if we had been transported back to the 1940’s and 1950’s. The majority of cars were American cars from that time period with newer ones reserved for government officials and rentals for tourists.  They shared the street with bicycles, bicycle taxis, horse drawn carriages, and buses.  Camel buses were constructed from semitrailers and held up to 350 people who were crammed into the non airconditioned vehicles.  This was the mode of transportation for the majority of residents. 

      Havana is indeed a city of contrasts.  The buildings demonstrated what used to be and what is now.  People outwardly appeared to accept the condition of their lives and did not seem discouraged like I thought they might.  We saw many smiles and experienced much kindness with a  pace of life slower than at home.  Because of the way that the government had manipulated our mission plans, we received a small indication of what life was like for Cuban citizens.  All week we felt a sense of thankfulness to be Americans and a sadness for our neighbors in Cuba.