I never really experienced culture shock when I first arrived in Nauta, Peru. There were a lot of different things that I needed to adapt to, but those things became normal a lot quicker than I expected.
Walking down a slippery, muddy, dog infested, mosquito filled, street multiple times a day was definitely new. But that didn’t mean I didn’t get used to it. Children saying “Hermana! Jugar!” While you’re trying to have quiet time with the Lord was something you just needed to get used to.
Eating white rice and chicken everyday was something we needed to get used to. Hearing dogs fighting all night was something we needed to learn to ignore. Riding moto cars over wood plank bridges was something that we needed to see as a normal thing. Roosters crowing, music playing, and Jurassic park birds screaming at 5 in the morning was just another thing we needed to adapt to.
The list goes on and on, but nothing really seemed to shock me or throw me off. That is, besides the absolute joy and love shining through these people even though they have a harder life than I could ever imagine.
I’m not saying I was shocked to see people happy, I’m pretty much saying that I wouldn’t have that same joy and happiness if I was in their shoes. Seeing 5 & 6 year olds carrying big buckets of water on their shoulders all the way to their house was one of the many things that shocked me. The fact that they did it with a smile shocked me even more.
Yeah, you can argue that they don’t know any different and they’re just doing as they’re told, but they can easily do it with a bad attitude… And they don’t. Witnessing people wake up everyday before the sun comes out to work in the market all day and then do it again the next morning was new to me. And they do it with a smile because, hey, they have a job. They can provide for their family. They’re alive!
The faith they have in Christ is so different than the faith we have in the states. Maybe I should actually say the lack of faith we have in the states. We ask for things from God, but do we really have complete faith that he’ll grant those things? Or do we just say what we want and hope for the best? Better yet, do we only go to God when we want something? I know I did. I went to God when I was in desperate need of something. Or when I was scared, worried, or in trouble. I didn’t go to God to thank him for waking me up in the morning. For providing an unlimited amount of clean water, for warm water, for a bed, for air conditioning, etc.
These beautiful people just wake up and thank God. They thank God for trees, for rain, for fruit, for air, for life. They have faith that God will grant them what they ask for. The amount of times I’ve seen healing happen and these people act like its no big deal. It’s because they already know it’ll happen. They have complete faith that God is going to keep them safe from anything and everything. Even if their house is halfway under water. They have faith that God will provide they’re families with food and water everyday. They’re faith is stronger than anything I’ve ever seen.
Life here is truly eye opening. Coming from someone who complained that her room was too far from the router and her iPhone wouldn’t connect to WiFi, life in Peru is beyond eye opening. I’ve adapted to seeing people picking lice and people peeing on the streets. I’ve adapted to waking up and just being grateful. Grateful for the little things.
Everything is normal to me now and I’m grateful to be alive.
