On a recent trip to Lima, Peru, Lisa Umina, local author and owner of Halo Publishing Company went with an organization called "Isaiah's Promise." Isaiah's Promise visits different countries and brings money, supplies and mostly love to the less-fortunate people of the world. Before leaving, a group gathered supplies, food, toys and money that were donated by friends and family who supported our mission. ?I was fortunate enough to spend time with many beautiful families on my visit to Peru and my heart was very moved by what I saw.? Lisa comments.
Umina visited some of the more impoverished areas in Peru where many of the children have no mother or father. The children are abandoned and forced to live on the streets. Some of the babies who are abandoned are placed in what they call "holding cells," a place where they are just waiting for someone to hold and comfort them. They live in filth and have little to eat if only one meal a day.
The mission group made a special visit to a family of nine who lived in a three-room home. They had one meal for the day and, in their generosity, shared what little food they had with us. ?the family had their home decorated for Christmas and although the family had a small tree and a wreath to celebrate my mind kept wondering back home and reflecting on the way we Americans live. If we could only live on less and give more.? Umina said. When it was time to leave, the entire family came outside to wave good-bye and in their hands was the Christmas wreath to give to the group.
Later, the mission group went up into the mountains to see yet another desperately poor community. The homes were made out of old wood and metal with shower curtains for doors. ?I will never be the same person after seeing this nor do I ever want to be.? Umina continued. ?God showed me poverty, He showed me need. Not just material need, but a need to be loved and cared for. Many children live on the streets, their beds being the street itself. The babies are crying from hunger and long to be held and nurtured. When you look into their eyes, you see such desperate need. It broke my heart and each night my prayers to God were filled with tears. I don't have the words to express what my heart has seen. Words are locked inside of me because there are simply no words.?
The main mission in going to Peru was to help to get children off the streets by building an orphanage that will house ninety children. A lot of the money that was donated from families and friends went for building supplies for this orphanage. The last day we were there, we handed each child a toy for Christmas and their eyes told us how much our small gifts meant to them. ?I remember one little girl who was no more then four, who, when handed a stuffed animal dog, said 'no, I don't deserve this.' She did not know how to accept my gift because she has likely never received one.?
Halo Publishing Company is based in Independence, Ohio. For media kit, review copy, excerpted articles, or to arrange an interview with the author, contact Lisa Umina. 216-642-0861. For more information visit http://www.halopublishing.com. Milo with a Halo is available at bookstores nationwide.
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