No barriers to Love

By Hanne Andersen

On our second day in Peru, we began our service project. All of us were very excited, but nervous as well, as we had no idea what to expect. As one of the main Spanish speakers from our group, I was to assist my leaders and friends in their communication with the local Peruvians, as we built a classroom and taught the school’s children side by side. 

The organization we were working with gave us talks about the importance of cleanliness, coming into contact with germs, and special instructions about water, too. What’s more, the air had begun to feel thin and different to me. For a moment I doubted my strengths and praying abilities.

I had prepared metaphysically for the trip with quotes about fear from Science and Health and the Bible. But they really had not come through to me and shown their light until the morning I sat in our storage room with one of our class leaders, taking a break from the construction and trying to get a hold of things mentally. There was one moment where we were just being quiet and really praying, listening for God, and as I heard yells of laughter and love coming from outside, I thought of the Bible quote, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear” (I John 4:18).  