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| Security patrolling in Yurimaguas. |
Philippians 1:21
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
This is a well know verse.
Many people have it on their walls or on a coffee cup. But how many people believe
it? How many people live it out?
We are today on day 90 of our quarantine and it has not been
easy. The city has been on military enforced shutdown and curfews. Most people here
live day to day, and not working for 90 days has taken its toll. Many people
are struggling to meet basic needs. If a family is in need
they can hang a flag on their house indicating the need for help.
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| Flag demonstrating need. (Photo credit: Ryan Rivetto) |
We have
started working with local pastors and believers to reach these people. To date, with the help of our teammates Ryan and Rebecca Rivetto, many generous donors and the kids at the children's home, we have assembled
and handed out over 400 bags of food.
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| Packing food bags |
One of the pastors living out Philippians 1:21 is our friend and neighbor. We
buy our propane from him and one day he told me of the needs he'd encountered while delivering propane during quarantine (he has a special pass since his services are considered essential). He began using the proceeds from
the propane sales to help needy families. I told him we wanted to help also and since that time we have been working together. He has worked tirelessly visiting
the sick and elderly and helping with food and medicine. He contracted COVID-19
and he and his entire family became sick. During his self-quarantine, he came down
with dengue fever. After five days of high fevers, he had to be admitted to a local
clinic for re-hydration. He also had his motorcar impounded by the police while trying to help an
elderly neighbor get to the bank (his special pass did not allow for such assistance, only deliveries). Yet he hasn’t stopped. The best part is his desire to share the gospel. As a result of his efforts 40
people have come to Christ! He is continuing to follow up with and walk through difficult times with these new believers.
While delivering food bags, he has come across additional needs. This is the story of a man with COVID-19 and his crippled wife. Upon delivering the food, he learned of their needs. Since becoming ill, the husband hasn't been able to work and buy diapers for his wife. She is also confined to a bed which consists of wooden boards on a bed frame. Learning of the need for a wheelchair and hoping to receive financial assistance from local believers, the pastor posted a picture of the woman and her need on Facebook. Many people shared the post but he received little response in terms of financial assistance. The response he did receive though was surprising and beautiful. He began to receive phone calls from around the country of people who were willing to donate wheelchairs they were no longer using, some having belonged to family who passed away due to the virus. Two chairs were shipped from the next closest city, one was delivered to her, the other will be delivered Monday to a young man crippled in a motorcycle accident. A woman from Yurimaguas also reached out after having seen the picture, not with a wheelchair though. She was touched that this woman didn't have a mattress on which to lay and donated one. She invited the pastor to come to her store and pick one out to deliver to the family. She donated bedding and other good as well.
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| Praying over the blessing of food. |
This pastor inspires me. I know Christians here in Yurimaguas that
are hiding in their houses in this time. Scared to go out, afraid of contracting the virus. Yet perfect love casts out fear. We can
choose to hide in our houses in fear protecting ourselves and our families or
we can choose to love our neighbors even if it brings a personal risk. But if
we really believe that to die is gain then we have nothing to lose.
