Why I Love What We Do.

This past Saturday we went to Chosica, a town about an hour away from Lima.  It is a tourist spot, mainly for sunshine and warmth.  When I say tourist, I really mean Peruvians that live in the city and need to get away for a bit.  We went because Amanda was doing her first ever photo shoot.  She was going to take some pictures of our pregnant friends Carlos and Cherish.  (Pregnant friends never sounds right to me, but evidently that is the way pregnant couples are supposed to be described).

As we were leaving we found out that some other friends were coming: Carlos, Roxanna, Valentina, and Gustavo.

Cool!

 Then I found out we were going to cook some meat on the grill, which I am always a big fan of.  We were still going to take some pictures, and maybe swim in the pool.  As long as I was back by 6pm I was good to go.  (We were having soccer night for the youth, and since I was setting it up, I wanted to be there on time).

Then we got to Chosica, to a beautiful home,(it was really breathtaking);  and we found out we were going to baptize Gustavo and Cherish!

Don't know about it but SWEET!  We're down for it!

So we started doing that.  They are in the pool getting baptized.  Two German Shepherds running around barking like crazy.  Amanda is singing praise songs to Jesus.  I am taking pictures.  SPLOOSH.

It wasn't Cherish or Gustavo.  It was one of the dogs...

He fell in and could not pull himself out.  He could not figure out that he needed to swim to the other side.  We are in a serious moment, someone is about to get dunked, I am taking pictures, and this dog was about to die.

So I put on my cape as I started laughing, I ran over and pulled the dog out.  Really good stuff.

Gustavo and Cherish got baptized, Praise the Lord.  No dogs died, Praise the Lord again.  We took some pictures, grilled some meat, hung out, and prepared to leave.

As we were preparing to leave, we found out that the caretakers lived on the property.  So we gave them some grilled chicken.  In our conversation with them we found out that they had a mentally handicapped 13 year old son.  So we asked if we could go up and see him, and pray for the family.

When we went up there we had no idea what God had in store for us or the family.

Carlos and Carlos began to talk to the family about Jesus.  We could see that there was so much love in the home, but they were still hurting.  The father, the mother (who is a step-mother), and the sister were pouring out so much love on this young man.  They heard the message of Jesus, and they broke. They all accepted Him as Lord and Savior.  AWESOME!

But, it did not stop there.  God began to put things on each of our hearts to minister to the family.  Carlos began praying for them and the mother.  Amanda began singing a song for the mother.  Roxanna began praying for the women, and giving them hugs they so desperately needed.  The other Carlos began speaking to the father in ways that were very loving, and his heart began to crumble.  God was bringing restoration into their home immediately.  Not a few weeks from now.  He was healing that home, and their hearts.

I got to sit back and watch it all happen.

I was late for soccer.  No one seemed to care.  I was a little stressed because of the responsibility, but it all worked out.

However, when I look back and think about the time I can't help but feel overwhelmed.  When I woke up, I thought we were going to take some pictures and call it a day.  That is why I love what we do.