Peru Mission Trip: Final Goodbyes

It's the final day, I'm packed and ready, and our flight leaves in under 5 hours (Lord willing). It's still not the time (nor do I have the time) to go into all the details and thoughts of the week, but I think that's ok. Mission trips are life-altering, and you don't write out a 3-5 paragraph blog to cover all of that without taking some time to dwell on it.

But as for today, it started out bittersweet. Of course we're all ready to go home. Two of our team is able to do an exciting adventure now. The rest of us had a simple day of some touring and shopping. I think that was supposed to be a day to unwind before heading home. But the reality is, several of us are sick in various ways.

But I'll highlight one particular part of the day, and a thought I had about it while there.

We visited a monastery and catacombs in Lima. Now I am most certainly Protestant, and I'm not trying to pick a fight with Roman Catholics, but my beliefs are very much around Scripture as the final and ultimate authority on life and godliness. I don't believe we're given anything in it to warrant the use of icons and statues in worship in the way that other beliefs do, such as my Roman Catholic friends. I say that to say, I found the place a little unsettling. Very interesting, but uncomfortable.

But I also enjoyed learning more of Lima's history. And regardless of my beliefs, it's still part of church history as a whole.

But underneath were catacombs. At first, my response was "But, are those bones REAL?"

They, of course, were. I know, ignorant comment.

But while thinking on it, I realized something; though there were countless bones (mostly arm and leg bones, and skulls), the people buried there, those who believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, would one day be reunited with their bodies.

It was a strange realization. Just like we're heading home to our earthly homes here soon, one day we will be glorified and prepared for our eternal home.

It's an aspect of our salvation that can sometimes be overlooked. Not only do we have forgiveness of sin, but sanctification (the lifelong process of victory over sin), but we have a future glorification, where we will be absent from the presence of sin.

What a day, glorious day, that will be.

Now, to hopefully relax some, before the final push. God bless!