A Missed Opportunity and a New Friend

Meet my very dear friend, Telmita and her family. Telmita grew up in the selva (jungle) in Northern Peru speaking a tribal language called Awajún. There are over 30 different languages spoken in Peru!

I met Telmita in Bagua Grande within my first month of arriving in Peru. I was standing outside a corner shop awkwardly waiting for Sarah. Telmita came up to me, probably noticing how much I stood out as an extranjera (foreigner) and introduced herself. After we parted ways, I was so sad I didn’t get any information about her. I’d been praying that God would send me a friend during this transition, and I felt I had missed this opportunity.

A couple of days later, I needed to buy a light bulb for my new lamp, and Karen brought me to the hardware store. Sure enough, Telmita’s in-laws own and live in this store. And Telmita and her husband own the store next door! From that moment on, I began dropping by her tienda during my trips into Bagua Grande, and we quickly became friends!

God heard my prayer and answered it with a sweet, sweet friend! These are just a few photos of different visits to Telmita’s home. She’s cooked me almuerzo (lunch) now 4 or 5 times. And she’s an INCREDIBLE cook! I was blessed to be able to meet her mother and some of her siblings (see first photo) who made the 12-hour boat-and-bus ride to visit Bagua Grande. Her mom brought food and homemade bowls from the selva.

It’s amazing how much the Lord calls us to hard and challenging things, but ALWAYS provides what we need, and even spoils us in the meantime. I am so grateful for this friendship God has blessed me with in a very short three and a half months in Peru.