A Caring Community

Photo: Looking out the window of our clinic

Photo: Patient registration with Bridgette

Photo: Dra. Tanya - she is the absolute BEST!

The HBI team is back in Lima and all is well. We are safe and have been completely unaffected by the 6.7 magnitude (the North American press is reporting the quake as 6.9 and the Peruvian press are reporting a 6.7) earthquake in Ica. Equally fortunate is the fact that the community of Ica has made it through the high impact quake with little destruction and damage.

This week has been a fantastic opportunity for our team. Staying at the Girasoles house has been an immersion for many of our team. For many of them, this has been their first chance to really immerse themselves into the lives of the street boys that we work with through our partnership with Union Biblica. For many of the people on the trip this immersion has made a huge impact in their lives.

The lives of these young boys have been filled with trauma and pain. The resilience they demonostrate in their smiles and laughs is a testimony to all of us. The other night I was in the main dining room with the team and noticed a little boy sitting at the end of the table by himself. I ask Billy Greenman (an absolutely amazing young man of gigantic character) about the boy. The story he told me was fillled with abuse, neglect and emotional trauma. The challenges the young boy had in his early development should have been too much for him to fully overcome; and yet, Billy told me the "new" story of a young boy who is recapturing his life.

The love and affection that Union Biblica del Peru puts into serving and supporting the boys in their care is an example to all of us. Duirng times of trial and tribulation in my life, I have to remember that all things are possible through the faith, hope and the support of a caring community. And so, this is my greatest lesson of the 2011 Kusi Outreach Trip.

Thank you to all of our supporters. Your help and generosity are a great blessing to our work.