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Por una vida digna para los niños del Perú
Toward a dignified life for the children of Peru
The story (of how it all started), to God be all the glory!
We were at a church leadership meeting where our missions secretary asked if we as a church could support a girls orphanage by paying for replacement of some broken windows as it was cold and the wind blew right through the house. Yurika asked for the cost and was told that the price was 31.25 Dollars. Her immediate response was: “We will pay for it.” In one sense the story is that simple, but of course there is more to it.
A couple of weeks later we were invited over to the orphanage to see that the windows had been installed. We were received by 26 sweet girls and their “mama Carmen,” the daily leader. They were curious to find out what strangers had paid for the wind to stop blowing through their home, or for the windows if you please. At that visit we found out that the home had no hot water. The water heater was broken. These girls had to shower in cold water in the cold and damp climate that Lima has during winter. We were shocked!
On the way back we discussed this and went straight to a construction store to check prices on water heaters. We could not afford it, but decided to get help. An email to family, friends and former colleagues took care of that. Money for the water heater was collected and only weeks later the new heater was installed. On the day of the installation Torben was told that they hadn’t had hot water the past five years, but that there simply were not enough funds to take care of situations like this one.
As we worked with the orphanage we found out that they had much more needs. Yurika found out that they only had two soup plates for the 26 girls and that they lacked a ton of things that we normally take for granted in a home. What is more, we also found out that there was a boy’s home with even bigger needs. And there is another one in Callao, the port city that today has grown together with Lima and there is one more in Chosica, a suburb of Lima. They all have needs and these four are only the top of the iceberg.
Well, actually the story goes further back. Way back to 1995 when God spoke to us about Peru and, believe it or not, about children’s homes! Timing wasn’t right back then, but here we are right in the middle of it with a vision that keeps growing and needs much larger than ourselves.
Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families. Psalms 68:5-6
If you think the story ends here you are wrong. What follows is a testimony to how wise God is in directing ourt steps without us knowing it. Apart from our Lord Jesus placing this vision in our hearts long ago, he also equipped us to enter into this task. As we look back, we now suddenly understand how the Lord has taken us through various job types and mission organisations over the past many years. We have gained esperiences that are very useful for us now. Through previous career experiences and the network we have, we have been prepared to enter into this task much more prepared than we could ever have imagined. Now we have to continue to be faithful to the direction God is giving us and trust that he will continue to provide to bring the vision to the next level.
You can be part of this ministry too from wherever you are by prayer and your financial support. We thank you for being the family to the fatherless. May the Lord Bless you!
Yurika & Torben Kristensen
