Real love requires the courage to drop our defenses

It’s currently 3:30 AM, and I am writing this to you from a pitch-black, silent bus winding its way through the Andean mountains toward the Colca Canyon. Every single teenager on board is fast asleep. They are exhausted, proud, and completely transformed by what has transpired over these past nine days.

I won't sugarcoat it: last night was a tough one. A few of the kids made some foolish, classic teenage mistakes after hours. We addressed the situation immediately, took the necessary disciplinary steps, and made sure they understood the weight of their choices.

This morning, the mood at breakfast was muted and dazed. But before we started work, I gathered the entire group in the courtyard. I reminded them why we are here in Peru. I told them straight: What happened last night was a mistake, but a single spot does not erase all the incredible good you have done here. You have one last day to pour your hearts out and finish this mission on a high note. 

With heads down and hearts focused, they got straight to work. We had a roof to finish!The concrete mixer roared back to life for its final performance. The kids fell into a rhythmic, relentless workflow: while the crew loading raw ingredients into the mixer worked, the team on the roof carried heavy concrete, and vice versa.They pushed through the fatigue, took a quick banana break, and kept going until the machine finally fell silent. The roof was officially finished! The main construction goal of our mission was complete.

There was no time to celebrate alone, because we had planned a massive farewell feast with our abuelitos. The volunteers immediately sprang into action, setting up a long, beautiful banquet table right in the courtyard, complete with tablecloths and fresh flowers. They arranged the seating so that residents, local construction workers, and volunteers were all sitting side by side.

The kids served the residents first, patiently helping them eat. In a hilarious turn of events, several stubborn elders flat out refused to eat their lunch until the volunteers sat down to eat with them! For lunch, we surprised our volunteers with their absolute favorite dish one last time: Arroz Chaufa.

After lunch, two of the resident abuelas, Benita and Josepha, stood up to speak on behalf of the home. The word they repeated over and over again was simply: Thank you. "Thank you for the time you gave us. Thank you for taking care of us. Thank you for building us a new dining hall. Thank you to God for sending you to us." They then surprised every single volunteer with a wrapped gift: a small package containing a group photo, a rosary bracelet, and a blank journal, a reminder for the kids to keep writing the beautiful stories of their lives. Then, Joaquin spoke on behalf of the foundation running the care home. He shared something that truly hit home for our teenagers: for 12 long years, the home had been hoping and praying to build a proper, dignified dining hall for these abandoned elders. Because of your volunters’ sweat, blisters, and determination, that 12 year dream is now a physical reality. They haven't just built a room; they have given these people a beautiful, dignified place to spend the final chapter of their lives.

Back at the retreat house, we held a quick briefing to prep for our trip to the Colca Canyon. What was supposed to be a 5 minute meeting quickly turned into a hilarious "interrogation under torture." The kids peppered me with relentless questions: "How cold is it going to be?" (asked at least 6 times), "Are we sleeping on the ground in tents?!", "What about the altitude?!" My ultimate revenge came when I announced our departure time for the next morning: 3:00 AM sharp. The sight of all the jaws dropping simultaneously was priceless!

Before dinner, we gathered for our fourth and final personal reflection of the mission, centered on the theme of Love. We began with a profound text by C.S. Lewis:

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one... Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket... it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable... The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell."

We challenged the kids to see that "to love" is an active verb, not a passive noun. It requires effort, sacrifice, and the courage to drop your defenses. We also tackled a tough concept for teenagers: accepting that you are worthy of being loved just as you are.When we ask them about unconditional love, do you know who is at the very center of all their answers? You, their parents. Seeing them recognize and appreciate the unconditional love they receive at home is a beautiful, quiet victory.

As if the day hadn't been eventful enough, I received official news in the evening that the long awaited cargo truck carrying our 2,200 donated jackets was finally pulling into Arequipa! Even though it was too late for us to organize the distribution for tomorrow, a few eager volunteers and I hopped in a car to welcome the truck. But in true Peruvian fashion, just 2 kilometers from the warehouse, the truck’s radiator burst, bringing everything to a screeching halt! Despite the minor setback, the kids returned to the retreat house victorious, and consolidated their grief with massive late night burgers and fries (yes, despite having already eaten dinner!).

And that brings us to right now.

We packed our bags, boarded the bus at 3:00 AM, and as soon as the engine started, every single teenager collapsed into a deep, peaceful sleep. They are heading toward the towering peaks and soaring condors of the Colca Canyon. They are healthy, safe, immensely proud of what they have built, and coming home to you very soon as wiser, kinder, and stronger young adults.

You have every reason in the world to be proud of them.