Do you remember hearing about Magaly from House of Mercy in Lima? Here is what I wrote after camp almost 2 years ago…

This is the day when we first met Magaly… 

Joy & Laughter at Camp!

Because Magaly knows hunger, she often cries incessantly when there is food present, probably her body’s attempt to store it up. As we arrived at camp in March at a country house outside of Lima, Magaly’s usual cries for food, even after being filled continued. She was agitated, full, and tired from all of the stimulation. However, once settled in her tent (yes, a tent) with new friends who enjoyed girly giggles (none of them speak) and snuggling, she began to smile and listen. The second afternoon, we noticed that for the first time in the year we’d known her, she wasn't asking for food. She finally knew she would be fed the next meal! Magaly began to engage. She laughed. She “danced” as her foot moved back & forth in her wheelchair. The sight of her finally experiencing joy moved us to tear filled laughter. I’’ll never forget getting her into the pool, her complaints and shouts “no water” that subsided to a very content smile as she floated through a pool full of laughter and splashing friends. When it was time to get out, we changed her, fed her lunch, and took her to rest in her tent. As I laid her down, she looked me in the eyes and clearly said “Tia, agua. Vamos, a bañar.” I’d never heard Magaly request anything other than a bed or food, so, we did it again! Changing her diaper and into the suit and back to the water.

An honored guest at our Peruvian wedding…
she sat in the front row with her friends!

Magaly knows that her mother’s suffering, loss, and disappointment with Magaly’s brothers and physical pain from years of scoliosis and carrying Magaly make her a heavy burden; perhaps not intellectually, but emotionally, she is aware. The messages at camp were about “finding the treasure” ended with a discovery of a treasure box of invitations with each kids’ name invited by their heavenly Father to a banquet. Magaly held up her invitation saying “Papa, Papa.”  She began to grasp a loving heavenly father! Each of our campers who indicated a profession of faith received a “certificate of adoption” as a child of God. It was an emotional moment to watch her take her certificate & cradle it to her chest as though she knew she finally belong to someone. I could write for hours about the beautiful things God is doing in Magaly through Capernaum’s House of Mercy. But for now, suffice it to say, thank you! You made this possible for her!

-Julia Chuquitype, Magaly’s leader in Lima, Peru and House of Mercy Director

Do you know what happens when the body of Christ goes to dark places, builds relationships, teaches a family that their child or family member with a disability is valuable, created in God's image, precious, and minsiters to the practical and financial needs of that family?  This happens… they belong!  THE FAMILY MOVES FROM ISOLATION TO BELONGING TO BELIEF…. They become part of a family, their lives are transformed. AND GUESS WHAT!!??  Magaly, almost 3 years after we met her, was baptized this week!  Her whole family; mom and her two children were there, celebrating and embracing what has become Magaly's adoption by her Heavenly Father and witnessing her public confession of her commitment to Christ.