Reaching Out to the Young and the Old
“Why this time around do you have it in your heart to build a home for the elderly? For over 20 years you have always worked to build homes for children; what happened to expand that vision?” That was the question asked of me last week while I sat around the lunch table with some of my children and grandchildren. Unsuccessful in holding back my tears, I began to answer their question with the following memory that has both haunted and compelled me ever since the time of its occurrence. I want to share it with you now.
It was 11:00 at night in Cusco and terribly cold. My daughter (Rosa Pelham) and I walked quickly, not eager to spend any longer than necessary in
the bitter weather. Passing near an alley, I heard a faint voice and glanced in the general direction from where it came. It was dark, and being so late into the evening I was definitely not expecting to see an old woman, crouched low to the ground, begging for a piece of bread. “I’m so hungry,” she muttered, “Please…can you give me something?” I bent down to look into her face—weathered by age and stress—and I took her hands within mine. They were dreadfully cold! My heart was already breaking that an elderly woman who should have been comfortably asleep in a warm bed was begging and hungry so late into the night (and in such weather), but as I held her icy fingers and peered into her face, I saw in her the face of my own mother! I felt such love and compassion for her. I reached into my wallet and took from it the largest bill I had. Pressing it into her hands, I longed to say, “Come with us; we have a place for you”, but I had nowhere to take her, no home I could offer. She looked at the money I had given her and she kissed my hands repeatedly, all the while saying, “God bless you. God bless you. God bless you.”
Early the next morning, my daughter and Rosa and I were up and on our way about the city when again I heard an elderly voice pleading for food. 
This time it came from an old man lying face-down on the concrete, both arms extended upward and palms open. “Can you please help me?” he asked, without raising his face. Once more, I knelt low, desiring to look into his eyes and gain an understanding from his gaze. But there was no opportunity for such an exchange, and it soon became apparent why he hadn’t lifted his eyes to meet mine, for when I gently raised his face in my hands I was shocked by the realization that he had no eyes…only empty sockets. Such suffering! In that moment, I understood from the Lord that an opportunity was before me. It would not be enough to rescue the children while the elderly lay dying of hunger in the streets. They, too, have nowhere to go and no one to help them.
I am to build a new home that will become a “Home of Refuge” for the young and the old. Since that day, I have resolved that this is the second of the big construction projects ahead for us in Peru. Will you help us? There is an important connection I need you to keep in mind: when you give an offering to us, you are building a house for that woman who was freezing on the Cusco streets, and for the man who wouldn’t lift his face to meet my gaze, and for the countless others whose dignity has been robbed from them as they beg on every corner, no longer able to work, deemed worthless by their very own adult children and by society. My friends, these are the faces of JESUS. It doesn’t get any more “Christian” than to provide food for the hungry, to invite in those who are on strangers and in need of care, and to take care of widows and orphans. THAT is where your dollars are converted into eternal riches far beyond your perception. I told my children and grandchildren that day at the table that I, too, am now an elderly beggar. I will beg anyone I meet to help me, so that those elderly men and women in Peru will no longer be begging on freezing nights. I ask you, “Will you help me build a home for Jesus one more time?”
The church in Cardompata will soon be finished. As just mentioned, the next big goal is the home for orphans and elderly. Please pray for me (Tony) because I am currently in need of knee replacement surgery, which has been set for September 4th, Lord willing. Pray that both of our physical bodies (Rosa and myself) are strengthened for the work ahead of us.
On July 18th, there will be a group from Georgia and Miami going to Cusco, which will include our son Manny, daughter-in-law Victoria, and 2 of our granddaughters (Calysta and Cheyanna). We are very excited to have them partake in the ministry there.
As I close this newsletter, I leave you with this Scripture to ponder: “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to Me.’” (Matthew 25:40)
In the Grace of Christ,
Tony and Rosa Rivera
Home of Refuge International, Inc.
