We’re called by God to be like children, and to me it’s obvious why we should associate this property with love.  Children have such a natural tendency to love that it overflows unknowingly into everything they do.  The children in the orphanage exuded love in many ways: from pouring water over our heads when we were hot, thru playing at vacation bible school, to simple interaction thru the curiosity of who we were. 

As I learned from my misfortuned childhood and as was reaffirmed from my former Guatemala missions trip, children most desired our attention and interaction, not the material items we have.  The Peruvian children had a great concern for the younger kids regardless of who they were.  They cared for the youth before themselves, placing them first in lines for food, games and crafts.  It was quite the opposite of our self-centered lives in the states. 

I also saw the love in the team members, both from the US and from Peru.  A willful desire to comfort and encourage one another throughout the trip… it was a sacrificial love, as we’re called to show to everyone.  It’s so easy to demonstrate Christ’s behavior to others when we’re already outside our comfort zone.  I wonder if I’m subconsciously bound to what others think or to the selfish desires of the flesh.  If I could put my finger on it, at least I would know exactly what I need to work on in order to become more Christ-like in the monotony of my daily life.