Ines Izarnotegui Lay

So I am here.

I have never really written about the Arequipa opportunity at all I think, so here it goes:

I have come to the city of Arequipa several times in the last years. Now, I’ve been in many cities in the last few years, but I have liked Arequipa a lot from the very first time I came.
This is the link to the photo album of my 1st trip:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1531&id=502479433&l=0363b60e09

Cuzco always gets all the attention when it comes to a city in the Andes, but that is exactly why I don’t like it as much… even though I have awesome friends there including about 4 I have adopted as my daughters. Is just so crowded with turism and materialism is taking over it too.
Arequipa is more relaxed, and modern at the same time.

Now, I have shared about the Girls’ Home. It is a place I got to know the second time I visited Arequipa. It was with some good friends that I got to go, and we actually started playing the family game being my friend Daniela (from Lima) and I the daughters, the Gunderson’s (Portland,OR) the parents and the Eld’s (Portland,OR) our grandparents. We visited the Girl’s Home called Torre Fuerte and got to ministry to the girls.

This is the link to the photo album of the second trip:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=19122&id=502479433&l=8681266fc4

After some visits the Director of the Home, Rick, extended an invitation to Daniela and I to come any time we wanted to. That really sounded like something we wanted to do and we talked many, many times about that possibility.  But still, no matter how much we wanted to do it, Daniela’s timing and mine as well as our budget did not allowed us to do it.
Last May, and offer came up on Lan, round tickets for prices as low as $59… I thought to myself I could not let this opportunity go…  After praying and sharing with the Gunderson’s and Grandpa and Grandma… I got a ticket and visited the Home for two weeks.
Daniela was (and still is) working for a mission of the govenrment of Japan in some massive projects for native communities in Peru, so she couldn’t make it.
I was told I would be spending time with the girls, holding devotionals and taking them on hikes.
When I got there, I was received by Reynaldo at the Airport, and he took me to the Home where everybody was asleep but 3 girls in my new bedroom, with the medianas (1st to 6th grade ages).
Next day, I found out that their “mom” (or tuthor) had been off for a month on vacations but her own mother just passed away two days before I arrived, so she was off for a week.
That meant, I, was the new mom… at least for a week.

Oh boy… I had to wake them up at 5:30am. Get them ready to go downstairs to have breakfast and send them to school. Oh! They were 20 girls by the way!
María Mercedes, Mayra Stephany, Xiomara, Stephany, Zulmira, Brittany, Gabriela, Tatiana, Lisbeth, Angie, Victoria, Joselyn, Karen Luisa, Diana, Delia, Lucero, Ruth, Monica, Mayra and Jesenia.

Fast forward: After spending two weeks there, I got a call from Rick while I was in Pucallpa. He wanted to talk about my experience and thoughts. He also shared he was looking for an assistant, bilingüal and at least 35 years old, and asked me to let him know if I had anyone in mind.
We met. I had a list of things to share. While I talked about my experiences, observations and suggestions Rick took note of eerything I said on his botebook. Then, he offered me the job.
He said he knew I was just 25 years old, but had pretty much what they were looking for.
We said we would pray and talk about it… and he had a team coming over (that I thought was a bunch of ladies… hmm, there was a surprise I did not see coming…) from Washington and had asked me to help him interpreting, so we were all off to Arequipa just a few days later.

I first thought it would be hard for me to connect with this group. I was staying at the Home, and they were staying at a Hotel, so we would not have all the chances to get to build relationship in only 10 days… Boy was I wrong! I got to know TOO much Too soon probably… I mean… an “ackward photography” contest and spandex and lots and lots of body hair stories… Who is that guy and why is all these people telling me about all this tremendous amount of hair he has???
That, would be Jake. Or Gatito, which is what he made me think of with all those stories Mark, Brennan, Micah, Nick, Andrew and Tatiana shared (like I said, I heard a bunch of stories before I even knew anything normal about him like his age or last name) Then, Lisa… happened to be… Lisa… as in the spanish meaning of the word.  hehe… And Sassy, who got physically close in record time… like causing pain tickling me or trying to STEAL MY WATER BOTTLE!!!
Oh well… then, one night… these THREE TALL GUYS cornered me downtown Arequipa… and started talking about the job offer. I didn’t say a word! Apparently Rick had!
I am really good at holding my tears, but it was hard that night. They said so much, I think I forgot most of what they said that night… but I remember something very clearly: That morning, I had asked God to help me be wise. Of course I wanted to take the job because I was staying at the Home, my heart was touched and all… who wouldn’t. Everytime the girls hugged me or called me Mami I felt like I had no option. But, I also wanted to be careful.
I was told once a word saying that good opportunities would show up, like several doors infront of me. All of them good and all of them would carry blessings. But I had to pray and ask God about the decision.

So I asked God to help me be rational too, and give me a confirmation from outside the Home. And that was it. The three american men, that represent everything BUT emotional right? Although… I am not seying they are not sensitive, I am just saying I really appreciated the clear straight to the point input they brought. Thank you guys!
Now that I think about it, maybe it was 4 of them… I think i even felt dizzy while they were talking to me… hahaha. Just kidding I love you!!!
This group really was not what I expected and have become great friends I can’t wait to see them again, and hope to work together soon!
God is awesome, this was a MAYOR divine appointment. Meeting them and serving with them was the BEST gift I could get for my 7th year anniversary working on short term Missions.

I am not in Arequipa along with over 160 people from the youth ministry of my Church from Lima. I am in charge of the drama teams and they are leaving on Tuesday.
Then, I will move to the Girl’s Home and stay there until September 2nd.
Apparently I will be facing bigger challenges than before… I am so ready for it… not!
But HE is, so I am, as long as I die daily… I think I can do that.
I am not being paid by the Home for my time here, but I do have support from Grandpa and Grandma and my boss from Frontline Peru has also told me that in case I get sick (like I did in May) I should let him know and he will help me with some money.

I am probably gonna have to raise funds for my salary. The Home has a financial deficit and they grew from 40 to 54 girls in a really short time. But my life belongs to God and that is my part of the deal… His is to provide… so that is His business.

There is more to say, but I have to lead street evangelism in the morning and afternoon. Another AWESOME thing about this city, my Church here! The pastor and his wife have become very good friends of mine and I don’t feel like I am leaving my Church, which is like my Home because it started in the living room of the house where I lived (my aunt’s) when I was 3.
So far… I have not found any reason to not take the job at the Girl’s Home.

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 26th, 2009 at 5:35 am and is filed under Missions, Torre Fuerte, Trips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.