We established new relationships and strengthened existing ones, constantly striving to build bridges of love, compassion, trust, hope and understanding between diverse cultures.
But the annual mission trip is far more than the tangible items that are built and shared, even more than the human relationships that are established and strengthened.
The mission trip is also about exploring and strengthening one’s relationship with God.
God, as only God can, has found a way to reveal Himself to me during each mission trip on which I have participated. Sometimes subtly, more oftentimes not. Each trip is different. Each trip is unique. Each trip is special. I would like to share with you just one of the ways God made His presence known to me this year.
My story began during the 2012 mission trip (August 9, 2012 to be exact) when I took this photograph of this young Peruvian family, members of the small Presbyterian church in the community of Chula. Chula is situated in the mountains above Huanta at an elevation of 10,000 feet. The church there left a lasting impression on me in part because of two very special rooms that were part of the church, one where members of the community could seek comfort and care when ill and another filled with food and clothing for the less fortunate.
During earlier mission trips to Peru, I have taken a portable printer to print photographs “on the spot.” But more recently, I have dutifully sent images off to Shutterfly for prints to be made after the trip and shared during the following year’s trip. So was the plan for this photograph, a hope of visiting Chula to deliver the photograph to the family personally or meeting someone from the community who could deliver it.
Unfortunately, the mission team did not visit Chula in 2013, nor did we meet anyone from the community that year. The same is true for the 2014 and 2015 trips. When packing for the 2016 trip I wondered if I should take the photograph along. A visit to Chula wasn’t planned for 2016 and Ayacucho is not very close to Chula. Fortunately, photographs don’t weigh much or take up a lot of space. So back in my backpack the photograph went with the hope, well, just a hope for 2016.
Imagine my joy when one of the men who traveled to Ayacucho to work alongside us this year was a resident of Chula!
With Brenda Paredes translating and my fingers crossed, I showed the photograph to this man, explained that it was taken in August 2012, asked if he recognized the family and if so, would he be willing to deliver it to the family?
He studied the photograph for a few moments then responded that the photograph was one of his brother and his brother’s family. He would be happy, even honored, to deliver it to his brother. But he also stated that when his brother and his wife saw the photograph, they would most certainly cry.
The name of the little girl standing in front of her father is Linda Flor de la Cruz. By the way, Linda in Spanish means “beautiful” or “cute.” Linda was indeed appropriately named! Just a few weeks after the photograph was taken, Linda and her family were at the river near Chula when Linda saw the family dog struggling in the water. Linda waded into the river to assist but lost her footing and was swept away in the rapidly moving water. While the family dog made it safely back to the river’s edge sadly, Linda did not.
The man from Chula then stated that the photograph, the one he was now holding, the one I had taken almost four years earlier and which I had diligently tried to get to this family since was the only known picture of Linda and her family.
I am struggling to comprehend these events. I pray that God’s steadfast love has brought peace to this family and that the photograph has brought some comfort and joy to this family, not a painful reminder of the child they lost.
I am occasionally asked why I participate in Sharon’s mission trip to Peru each year. It’s a fair question. After all, planning and preparing take many hours, understanding the spoken and written language is a struggle, drinking/ingesting the tap water is a “no-no” and showering in cold or lukewarm shower is more typical than not.
It is truly a calling. Admittedly, stronger in some years than others. But a calling nonetheless. I am convinced God called me to serve in Peru this year because of this photograph, a simple but now hopefully treasured image on a piece of glossy paper, a mere four inches by six inches. A photograph created by a chance meeting high in the Peruvian Andes nearly four years ago.
I am reminded of God’s grace and mercy even (and especially) in the most difficult of times.
Randy Ross
