The parable of Lazarus and the rich man from the Gospel of Luke was the lesson one day for InterVarsity’s Global Urban Trek team in Lima, Peru. After their visits to substandard homes on a hill overlooking the ocean and the richer parts of Lima, they found that the story of the poor beggar outside of the gate of the rich man had a new familiarity for them.
Peru
Haley, a member of the team blogged on Track the Trek, "It was absolutely ironic to be sitting in one of the poorest places in Lima with such a grand view. For this Californian, the ocean view was very comforting, but the contrast of absolute poverty within walking distance of wealth was disturbing.”
For ten years now, InterVarsity’s Global Urban Trek has offered an opportunity for students to explore what it means to be a global citizen, and what it means to love the world, through lives of self-sacrifice and service.
Philippines
In Manila, the Trek Team observed many broken families. Then they discovered that Carlo, a member of their team, had been born in the Philippines and left with his mother when he was one year old. Miraculously, Carlo was able to locate his father and introduce him to the rest of the team.
“Carlo told us he wanted his father to understand that it wasn't by any means other than his pursuit of Jesus earlier this school year that he was able to meet his ‘Pop,’” blogged Patrick, a member of the team. “Carlo didn't come here to meet his father, but to show his native culture Jesus and to experience Jesus through them.”
Egypt
In Cairo, Jamison blogged about the vibrant colors he observed in the sunset over the pollution filled skies, and the colorful rubber bands in the hair of a five-year old girl in his English class who wanted to sing a happy song. Through cross-cultural adjustments the team is learning much more than patience.
In Kolkata, in Mexico City, in Bangkok, as they teach English, play soccer, and eat exotic new foods, Global Urban Trek team members are discovering that God is at work all around them. As Patrick, one of the bloggers concluded, “We are still learning where God is present in this world and only beginning to understand how much praise he deserves.”
For further updates and blog posts from InterVarsity students in Global Urban Trek, go to Track the Trek.
