<p>A little over two years ago I moved to Peru. Wow. Has it been that long already?</p>
<p>Looking back it's been a great ride. Actually walking through it...well it was tougher than I thought it would be. Looking forward - that is the excellent part. I have come to believe and trust that if you "Always give everything you've got" you have nothing to lose. So what if it doesn't turnout the way you thought? So what if it doesnt' always go so smoothly. That is how you change and grow. And that is how you become the beneficiary of new experiences and adventures. Things that you ever would have thought possible. </p>
<p>The past 2 years have been full of those types of experiences. Nope - wouldn't trade any one of them. Even the ones that really were tough. They each played a part in this ministry called Trinity's Angels. It is from those experiences that Trinity's Angels has become what it is. A ministry that reaches, touches and impacts the lives of many, many people. It is all because of the passion of a vision. Make sense?</p>
<p>I don't make New Year's resolutions. Somehow they just never seem to last longer than a few minutes and definitely don't make it past the first day. But this year - and it's April already - here is a "resolution" that I will continue to live out - "Always give it everything you've got." Anything less, you are cheating the people you serve and yourself. </p>
<p>So, when I write to you December 31, 2014 (and you know the year is going to fly by) I look forward to telling you humbly of course...this year I always gave it everything I had.</p>
<p>Giving it all in His Mighty Grip,</p>
<p>Stephanie</p>
<p><a href="http://www.TrinitysAngels.org" target="_self" title="http://www.TrinitysAngels.org">Trinity's Angels website</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.TheAngelsHousePeru.com" target="_self" title="http://www.TheAngelsHousePeru.com">The Angel House Peru website</a></p>
April 24, 2014
April 17, 2014
Don't do what is easy, do what's needed
This is how it starts.....
...The Eyes...
...The Look...
The children capture your heart. They draw you in and you cannot stop yourself from wanting to help in any way possible. They watch you, and follow you. How can you turn your back on them?
It's not easy to watch a child dig in the trash for food or pick up stuff off of the streets to eat. It is not easy to listen to the sound of their stomachs hungry for something to eat. It is not easy looking at their tattered clothes knowing it doesn't begin to protect them from the elements or insects. It is definitely not easy visiting them and actually seeing and "smelling" the condition of their homes.
Heading down the Amazon River this week, Easter week and I know it will be a tough revisiting the "Amazon" lifestyle. At the same time I have no doubt it will be amazing getting to meet the kids in 8 villages or so and enjoy their passion for simple things.
It is not easy and definitely not comfortable but it is what is necessary to make a difference. So, I challenge you the next time you see something that isn't "easy," stop and do what is needed. Stop and help that person that is right in front of you.
It's not easy in His Mighty Grip but it is what is needed,
Stephanie
April 14, 2014
Serving it Up
Most of you already have heard that we broke through our daily goal of serving 100 meals at the food kitchen. Many have celebrated that small "victory" with us.
April 11th was the day that my heart would soar. Maria and I started cooking at 8 am. Talking, laughing, washing fruit and vegetables, cutting up all kinds of things for soup, chicken and rice stew and salad. We measured out 100 cups of a sweet jello like dessert - mazamorra in preparation for meeting the goal. Several times in the past 2 weeks we had come close. 90, 96, 94, 96 meals served. Yet we kept coming up short.
As the people started coming and meals were being served up I watched the 100 cups of mazamorra dwindle. Half way through I knew that I knew that I knew we would hit the goal. It filled me with extreme anticipation and excitement.
When the last dessert was handed out I stopped. Immediately stopped and thanked God. This week I am heading out to the Amazon and won't be at the food kitchen. I didn't want to go on the trip because I wanted to be "there" when the goal was broken. It's not about me - I get that. Yet still.........I wanted to get to be a part of and see the goal fall. And I was granted that opportunity! Still flying in the clouds a day later.
We started out serving 60 meals a day and then 6 months later - BOOM - goal broken and a litte more than 100 were served. 102 to be exact. Onward to the next goal...to have served 10,000 free lunches to the seniors in Llama by the end of this year.
Serving it up In His Mighty Grip,
Stephanie
April 07, 2014
An Original
She was an original. Flora. Born in Llama, she lived there for 78 years raising 4 children along with her husband. Their home...humble. Their life...humble. Her attitude...humble.
For the entire time that I have known her over the past year she has been fighting a tumor that kept growing and taking over her kidneys and finally her body. Her children decided not to tell her about her condition. I am not sure why and honestly I don't know that I agree with it. Yet ... I wasn't in their shoes so I really shouldn't weigh in on the subject.
She fought hard. The pain racked her tiny body and daily she lost weight and hope. It was hard to watch the light go out in her eyes. When she passed away I was in Chiclayo getting ready to head to Lima for a women's weekend retreat - Tres Dias. Maria called to say that Flora had taken her last breath. Sad and yet at the same time my prayer was that she had really accepted Jesus into her heart and that would bring a smile to my face.
That afternoon I took a bus back to Llama to pay my respects to the family and to Flora. There were so many people that came and went, in and out of the house. Meals were prepared, condolesences said and tributes made. It actually was a very sweet gathering and I am so thankful that I felt led to go back if only for overnight.
As I came back down the mountain the next day heading back to Chiclayo I was looking through some pictures on my computer and came across a very short video that was recorded when she gave me a poem for my birthday last year. I thought I would share it. This is the Flora I will remember, not the one I said goodbye to recently.
Click here to watch Floras video
The words she is saying......"Between the sun and the stars while looking for the moon, you will find precious pearls but like you there are none!"
Florencia Saavedra Rojas - she is my friend. She is an Original.
In His Mighty Grip through both the good and the bad,
Stephanie
February 20, 2014
Flora and a private moment
A couple of nights ago I went to visit Flor. At 75 years of age, more or less, she is suffering. Pain is her constant companion. She has cancer. Advanced cancer. Her children have not told her that is what she is suffering from. Honestly, I am not sure what she thinks is wrong with her. Or maybe she knows.
When I first arrived she was in good spirits. We laughed and joked about dancing in the streets when I return from Pucallpa. Ok for me it was not a joke but more like something for her to "hold onto" during the times of pain. Once before when she was in a really bad state we made the same promise and it did happen. She did get better....for a few weeks....and we did dance.
This night I witnessed something that words cannot express. The care and love of 2 women at her side. Tending to her. One was a life long friend that Flor told me she considered more like a sister than a friend. Flor's eyes were lit up with deep love and affection for this woman. The kind you just have to experience to know its depth. A bond shared only between the two of them.
I hate to say it but I don't even know this woman's name. And really are there names for angels in human form that help you, encourage you, love you, cry with you and walk alongside in the good and not so good times of life?
This woman rubbed Flor's cold, bone thin and aching legs and feet with intensity as though she was pushing the pain right put of her body. It was as if this woman was on a mission to rid her of the poison that had overtaken her best friend. Flor would point to another part of her aching body and this woman was right there rubbing with strong, sun browned, wrinkled hands. Several times I caught this woman's gaze. Her round precious, deeply wrinkled face spoke of sadness for her friend. No tears could I see in her eyes. Yet I know they were there.
A short while later the other woman helped Flor sit up and rubbed her head and back with alcohol. She combed and braided Flor's long, thin black and gray straight hair into a tightly woven braid. In that moment Flor looked both peaceful and beautiful. Short lived as the intense pain racked her tiny body and her muscles seized up and she shook uncontrollably. With tears filling her black, tired, sunken eyes, she cried out over and over , "Oh Señor, God help me." I did all I could to fight back my own tears.
It was a sad and yet precious time if that sounds right. One I wish I could have captured with film. Not in a sick way. It was just extremely selfless on the part of these 2 women. But not the appropriate time for pictures. Just not. And again I found myself looking in on a life event just as I had several weeks ago. Read about it ... A Private Moment.
Life is one moment, and sometimes one private moment, strung together. Priceless.
Experiencing private moments within His Mighty Grip,
Stephanie
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