The Bridge Builder & the Water
José Quispe Álvarez, a man hardened by the sun and manual labor, has spent his life toiling for the benefit of those around him. At eighty-one years old, he and his wife are now recipients of the generous food donations you make possible through your giving each month. To understand how your generosity has blessed José and his family, we offer you a deeper look into José’s story.
In the small community of Paccarectambo—a neighboring village to Ccarhuacalla, and into which your giving extends each month—José grew up farming. He worked tirelessly on his land, growing wheat, barley, and corn. Poverty was a constant enemy, and José learned to precisely count the kilos of feed each animal on his small farm needed—a meticulous task that reflected his dedication and knowledge of the countryside. His life was a dance between the scorching sun and the fertile soil, a constant struggle to feed his family and ensure a future for his six children. Every grain of corn, every ear of barley was a step toward his goal: that his six children would receive a good education and escape poverty. The days were long and hot, and often discouraging, but through perseverance, José was building a bridge to a better future for his family.
But it wasn’t enough for José to consider only the future of his six children; he also wanted to bridge the gap of poverty for more children in his community. With that goal in mind, José became a municipal councilor in Paccarectambo and fought tirelessly for his people—a struggle that led him to make many difficult decisions in his efforts to improve their future. José knew that in order to bridge the gap between poverty and the escape from it, the children in his area needed a school of their own. The long distances children walked to reach a school in another community posed a real and consistent threat to their futures. His most cherished goal became the construction of a school for the children of his town.
But bridge-building is never easy; it is costly and exhausting. Bureaucracy was a relentless monster in José’s fight for the school. Promises of aid always got lost in the labyrinth of government offices, and soon the race against time seemed to narrow José’s options. Faced with inaction and burdened by the responsibility he carried for his community, José made a bold move. He met with authorities and managed to convince them of the urgent need for a school, claiming that a large number of students were already waiting—a “white lie,” as he terms it, which he concocted to get the project approved and moving forward. The tactic worked. The school was built, and José’s efforts to build a bridge to better education brought his community closer to overcoming the poverty that had plagued them for generations.
Though José had spent his life building bridges for others, little did he know the Lord had been busy building bridges for him. Now, at 81, José and his wife live alone. They no longer work the land as they once did, unable to provide enough food for themselves on a weekly basis. But José encountered a new purpose when he and his wife became acquainted with the ministry we do in Ccarhuacalla and its surrounding areas—made possible through your giving to the Home of Refuge. From the moment they began participating in the ministry and receiving help from us, they encountered Jesus, and José decided to fully surrender his life to the Lord. Your giving became the bridge José needed to cross over into new life and purpose.
His wife, too, accepted the Lord, and together the two of them chose to get water baptized—signifying the culmination of a long journey and the beginning of a new stage in the life of this man who had dedicated his life to building bridges, first in his community and then in his soul. Both José and his wife are deeply grateful for the ministry and for the food they receive every two weeks—a help that brings them comfort and hope. José’s story, a testimony of faith, perseverance, and love for his family and his people, is now also a testimony of the power of your generosity and faithfulness. Thank you, sincerely, for your support and love. We could not do what we do were it not for you.
As we close this month’s newsletter, we ask you to consider two things. First, what bridges does the Lord want to use you to build in the lives of those around you? Perhaps there is a relationship needing your love and forgiveness—a bridge back toward health and wholeness—that you can extend today. Perhaps there is a need that your involvement and leadership could help bridge for the betterment of those around you. Opportunities are, no doubt, endless. The question is: Will you become a bridge builder?
The second thing we ask you to consider is: What can you do to continue helping us build bridges to reach more people like José here in Peru? Your support, your encouragement, and your prayers are all part of bridge-building with our ministry. Together, we can bring Christ to those too far from Him to know His love. Together, we can close the divide and help them come to salvation.
Thank you for being involved and for remaining faithful! Until next month, God’s blessings rest upon you. We love you and appreciate you.
Grace and peace,
Tony and Rosa Rivera
Home of Refuge International, Inc.
