June 14: Dos and Don'ts - Risks

Part 1
I feel that the most dangerous aspects of our trip have to do with the diseases we can easily get and safety because these are things that we are going to have to deal with all day during our time there and that we need to be conscious and careful about. Those aspects are not things we are not familiar with. In fact, we are. It just gets to be a lot more dangerous depending on the area we are in.
Of all the Do's and Don'ts that I read, I didn't feel extremely neither somehow uncomfortable with any because I know those are guidelines for us to make our trip go as smooth as possible and avoid having any problems. But I did find certain things that are going to be difficult for me which were checking our shoes before putting them on and keeping our rooms and everything clean. I tend to be forgetful or just leave things as they are the majority of the time when I'm in a hurry so it's going to be something I need to work on from now on before the trip to get used to the habit.

Part 2
The way I would summarize their point would be: There are risks everywhere. Some will come to your way but there's no need to try to find them if they haven't. We just need to learn how to manage the situation in a wise way and enjoy the trip even if there's a risk.
I strongly agree with risking but on things that are worth it. In my opinion, this trip itself is a risk because we are ignorant of what would happen in our way there and in Peru because things change all the time and something different always happen. But it's worth it because we are going to be servants of God and of the locals and we will have God working through us in people's lives. And that's worth the risk.

Part 3
Well, I came to realize that we should expect some risks for this trip and that we have to find ways to manage it well but we don't have to be extremely conscious of it because it can get to a point where we won't even enjoy fully what we are doing for people and viceversa for having so much focus on it. It is always good to be cautious but it's good also to keep it at an extent that won't take away our focus or main purpose for the trip.
Reading the Dos and Don'ts, and Risks helped me to have a better idea of what things are likely to happen so there won't be any surprises. And also a couple of advices to know how to deal with the situations was good. I hope I can get to learn a lot more about this and be willing to ask for help or anything if I don't know how to act or what to do.

June 7: The African Planter

When it was asked to the african about his vision for model of missions, he said how it strucked him to realize that David was not only planning to live for his own generation but for the next one as well. And I believe that this one can apply not only to our peru team but for everybody else. Because most of the time we have fixed in our minds that we are doing things for God, and we think of it in the present. But we should think beyond that! We should serve and live for God in a way that can impact the next generation, that our efforts and desire to pass out God's will would not be meaningless and that would produce fruits in people's lives so that can be carry on to further generations that would do the same for their next one. Because it is very important to keep this moving in a passionate way and not let it be dormant.
It is true that for an American can be really shocking to face the poverty in Kenya and that for us in Panama it might not be much of a difference what we will see in Peru because we see similar things everyday. But I still think that it applies to us to learn a lot more about the background of Peru and any other country we might go to as missionaries later on. Because it's important to have a good understanding, and be prepared so we can have a better approach to people.
We sure know in a sense how poverty can be because we see it sometimes in the streets in Panama but that does not mean that we clearly understand how it is like to be poor, to live under such conditions. And it's only through a experience that we can have a better insight of it. So it's good to know very well at what extent poverty can get and be a just a little familiar with it to not have any unexpected surprises.
I had never been in a short-mission trip but it never crossed my mind how the locals can see us because of the way we approach everything. The African basically said how we can take control of everything. And that's not the way we should be seen. We are to make friends, to create a familiar environment and it's hard when people feel that they are at the command of others and there's not really that sharing of opinions and the opportunity for the locals to be of help if they willingly feel like it. I don't know if it's been like that in the past missions trips. Maybe not. But it's certaintly something that can't be let happen ever.