Tears for the hurting...
So last night I went to the barrio as planned with Jorge and Carola. It was a cold day and I was a bit tired and scared about being on my own again without Mike, Dani or their girls. But Jorge and Carola were great and helped me out as best they could. We went to a woman's house in Absalon Vasquez to have discipleship with her and two other ladies. It went pretty well from what I could tell. Afterward, Estela (the owner of the house we were in) asked if she could talk to Jorge and Carola, but without me there. So I went and sat in the truck and spent time journaling and reading. After about an hour Jorge and Carola finished and came out to the truck. We then took off to cross the highway and go into Alto Salaverry to have a meeting with some of the people there about the 3rd Way, one of our evangelizing tools used in the Project. It was an amazing night. 22 people showed up and 6 of them were new. Jorge and Carola were pretty excited. As the night ended we had to return to Absalon Vasquez because something was happening. It was hard for me to understand because everyone was talking so fast. But I got the whole story today from Dani who talked to Carola.
Most people in the barrios are squatters. Some of the land is owned by the government and the people are allowed to squat there and make it theirs after so much time. Well, other pieces of land are owned by individuals (supposedly). And a judge (so of course he has papers) told the people in Absalon Vasquez that he was the owner of the land they are living on and he was going to arrive at midnight to take their possessions and kick them out. Well that set everyone off. Every entrance into Absalon Vasquez was barricaded shut. And there were groups of people everywhere. We were able to get in and up to a house of a couple of families in the church. Jorge and Carola talked to them and offered to help them get to the church building in Alto Salaverry so that they could sleep and be safe for the night. One of the families did end up going. The others stayed. Well, the judge didn't show. But today things are still not good. I was supposed to return there tonight with Jorge and Carola for the ministry to families and house church (the house church where I was supposed to read the Bible story in Spanish). But Jorge called and said things are much too crazy and it's too dangerous for me to go even with him and Carola. So I am spending the day at Mike and Dani's working on some things for the team coming down in October.
Last night I wasn't able to understand fully what was happening. I was confused and to be honest I was scared. As we drove back to the city (Absalon Vasquez and Alto Salaverry are about 20-25 minutes outside of Trujillo), I was in the backseat and it was dark. And I just sat and cried. I was crying for the families who were (and still are) in danger of losing their homes. I was crying because of the injustice that politicians and city leaders show to the people here. I was crying because I didn't understand how one man could just say that he has papers and then force everyone out in an instant, out of the blue. I was crying because I was scared for the children of the families who didn't know if they would be able to sleep in peace for the night. I was crying because the people there were hurting and there was nothing I, a white American, non-Spanish speaking, 22 year old female could do. All I could do was cry and pray that somehow, someway God would shine through. And He did. He shined through Jorge and Carola. He was seen in the love and care and concern that they showed to the families in trying to find them a safe place for the night. In promising to return today to make sure they were okay. He did shine through. It was just hard to see and recognize in the dark of the night with the darkness of evil creeping in from every corner. It was a rough night. And one that I won't soon forget.
Most people in the barrios are squatters. Some of the land is owned by the government and the people are allowed to squat there and make it theirs after so much time. Well, other pieces of land are owned by individuals (supposedly). And a judge (so of course he has papers) told the people in Absalon Vasquez that he was the owner of the land they are living on and he was going to arrive at midnight to take their possessions and kick them out. Well that set everyone off. Every entrance into Absalon Vasquez was barricaded shut. And there were groups of people everywhere. We were able to get in and up to a house of a couple of families in the church. Jorge and Carola talked to them and offered to help them get to the church building in Alto Salaverry so that they could sleep and be safe for the night. One of the families did end up going. The others stayed. Well, the judge didn't show. But today things are still not good. I was supposed to return there tonight with Jorge and Carola for the ministry to families and house church (the house church where I was supposed to read the Bible story in Spanish). But Jorge called and said things are much too crazy and it's too dangerous for me to go even with him and Carola. So I am spending the day at Mike and Dani's working on some things for the team coming down in October.
Last night I wasn't able to understand fully what was happening. I was confused and to be honest I was scared. As we drove back to the city (Absalon Vasquez and Alto Salaverry are about 20-25 minutes outside of Trujillo), I was in the backseat and it was dark. And I just sat and cried. I was crying for the families who were (and still are) in danger of losing their homes. I was crying because of the injustice that politicians and city leaders show to the people here. I was crying because I didn't understand how one man could just say that he has papers and then force everyone out in an instant, out of the blue. I was crying because I was scared for the children of the families who didn't know if they would be able to sleep in peace for the night. I was crying because the people there were hurting and there was nothing I, a white American, non-Spanish speaking, 22 year old female could do. All I could do was cry and pray that somehow, someway God would shine through. And He did. He shined through Jorge and Carola. He was seen in the love and care and concern that they showed to the families in trying to find them a safe place for the night. In promising to return today to make sure they were okay. He did shine through. It was just hard to see and recognize in the dark of the night with the darkness of evil creeping in from every corner. It was a rough night. And one that I won't soon forget.
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