November Update from Peru

It's November in Peru, the days are getting longer, it is getting warmer, and soon summer will be here, and as usual I am overdue in giving you all an update.  Over the last few months we have been continuing to adjust to our lives back in our second home. It has been challenging at times but the Lord has been faithful in his provision and care for our family.

Caleb and Liana are continuing to grow up too fast. They have been enjoying going to school, playing with friends, and cheering on Peru in its quest to be able to play at the World Cup next year. In August I had a trip for work to Washington, DC for a planning meeting at the Food for the Hungry office, and I brought the kids with me to visit their cousins. We were all blessed by their amazing Auntie Alison who hosted the best "Cousin Camp" ever. 

Grandma reading to all the kids at cousin camp.

Crazy cousins even dress alike :)

My big boy turned 5!

Crazy swinging at the park

harvesting broccoli in our community garden 

loving our new little friend (the new baby of our former nanny)

At futbol practice (soccer)  

Go Peru!

I have been very busy these last few months of service with Food for the Hungry in both supporting emergency response projects in Guatemala, Houston, Bangladesh, South Sudan and Kenya as well as in my role as the Risk and Resilience Coordinator. October 13th was the International Day for Disaster Reduction, and in celebration my colleague Josh Ayers wrote a blog that describes the type of work Food for the Hungry does to help communities prepare for, mitigate and recover from disasters that can so often keep people locked into poverty.  "By addressing those forces like drought and conflict that threaten to dismantle any development progress the communities make, FH is helping to ensure that communities not only get out of poverty, but that they stay out" 

One example of this work that I have been supporting this last year is a resilience strengthening project in Kenya. One activity of the project has been to to start self help groups which are groups of people who meet together to save together and also give out loans to each other. Through these groups women have been able to better provide for their families during the severe drought of 2016-2017 by being able to access low-interest loans from their own savings to meet specific needs like school fees, health emergencies, and purchasing food in bulk together with the rest of the group members. One group also requested to be trained in soap making. By working together to purchase materials the group has begun a small cottage industry. In a recent report one member said: “I am very happy our soap making project is running well, and so far, we have made three sales totaling 68 liters.  Every liters sells at KES 80 (0.8 $) and for every liter sold we make good profit which goes back to the group as savings. In addition to the training on soap making by  the trainers gave us a link where we got the materials to start our venture. We are now looking forward to increasing our production in future and also explore new markets.” 

I am so blessed to be able to contribute to the work of Food for the Hungry that is sharing the gospel in tangible ways, helping equip mothers and fathers  to deal with the hardships facing their lives and families like disasters and conflict. Thank you for your prayers and support that make possible my service with Food for the Hungry.

Please continue to pray for:

• God to be the center of our marriage and family
• God's protection over our family, for safety for me and my family as I have several trips to Africa and Asia in the coming months
• That God would help Cristian and I as we continue to grow and learn to be good parents

Blessings,

Lauren 

-->

Responding to the Call

Responding to the Call

When I moved to Peru to serve with Food for the Hungry more than 10 years ago, I didn't imagine that I would stay for so long. Like many traveling young people, I left several boxes of treasures from my childhood in my parents home. Finally, last year since we were living with my parents in the US, I had the opportunity to clean out several boxes of those collected treasures. In one of them I found a sealed envelope written in my 10 year old hand "To: God in Heaven." This is the letter I found inside:

When I usually tell the story of how God called me to work in Peru and with Food for the Hungry, it usually starts of with my first overseas mission trip when I was a freshman in college. Finding and reading this letter, I realize that the story started long before my university years. In 1988, I prayed to God to please let me help people in need (facing conflict and starvation). God has been faithful to answer that prayer (a prayer and a desire I have no doubt He placed in the heart of my 10 year old self).

Today, prolonged conflict in Syria, South Sudan, Yemen and other locations along with a severe drought in East Africa have created a crisis situation where millions of people are facing starvation. The UN believes this is the worst humanitarian crisis since WWII. When I hear about this suffering my heart breaks and I a moved once again to call out to God for his mercy and love to reach these hurting people. Food for the Hungry is responding to this suffering in the world through projects to meet the needs of people in South Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen, and support refugees in the Middle East and Northern Uganda.  In my current role serving with the Relief and Humanitarian Affairs unit of Food for the Hungry one of my jobs is to support these emergency response projects by helping to write proposals and review and edit reports. I am blessed to be part of a team of fellow servants who are reaching hundreds of thousands of people in need.

When I was 10, God gave me his heart for those suffering in the world,  and He began to call me to His service. Today because of the support of churches and many individuals  I am able to respond to that call as I serve with Food for the Hungry.

May the Lord continue to give us His heart for those who are suffering, and may we continue to respond to that call, each as the Lord shows us.

Blessings,
Lauren

Matthew 25:34-40

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’

Home again, home again...

Home again home again...

It has been a while since my last post. In the last three months, we Cristian, the kids and I have been in transition mode as we adjust to life back in Lima. By God's grace we finally starting to feel at home again here as we figure out new routines, connect with old friends, and even make some new ones.

First day of school in Peru

First day of school - Peru

Planting plants with neighbor kids

Celebrating Lauren's Birthday

Caleb and Liana dressed up for Día de Campesino (Farmer Day in Peru)

Thank you for your prayers and support as we transition back to Peru and as I continue to serve with Food for the Hungry.

Blessings,

Lauren, Cristian, Caleb and Liana

Back to Peru

Almost a year ago we came to the United States, ready to explore new opportunities the Lord might lay before us. During this time, we have been challenged to grow in faith and trusting God in ways that we could not have imagined. For certain, we have seen God's hand at work in our lives, using our time in the US to grow us closer as a family and closer to Him. We have been blessed by good gifts and challenges over the last year, and we have all felt at home in this new place.

Caleb and Cristian reading together

Yet as we continued to pray for God's direction for the next step, the doors began to open for a return to our other home, Peru. So after much prayer and consideration we are trusting God once again as he leads us to return to Peru at the end of March. We are still uncertain if this move will be permanent, but we are stepping out in faith that this is the right move for at least the time being for our family and the plans God has for us. 

Caleb and Liana exploring the woods in the back yard

While we are sad to say goodbye, we are also at peace with the way God is already providing for us in Peru. Cristian will be returning to his former work, and I am so excited to be continuing my ministry with Food for the Hungry, providing support to our global programs in emergency response and disaster risk reduction. This year my role will require me to travel more (to Asia, Africa and Latin America) and God has blessed us with an amazing support system in Peru, with family and friends to help Crisitan with the kids while I am away from home.  

Caleb and Liana enjoying a snow day 

There are still several details that need to be worked out to make our transition smooth, so please pray with us that God will continue to work out and provide for those needs.

Thank you all for your love, prayers and support.

Blessings,

Lauren, Cristian, Caleb & Liana