“The tiny seed knew that in order to grow, it needed to be dropped in dirt, covered in darkness, struggle to reach the light.” ~ Sandra King

What a strange time this has been where an act of love is to smile through a mask, keep our social distance, and stay home doing our best not to burden healthcare systems around the globe. Selfishly, we want to commune, to travel, and to embrace each other. These have always been our actions of love and wonder. And how strange it is to perform actions that feel opposite of our true nature. 

Most certainly this has been a time of darkness for us all, many experiencing great loss. Our hearts ache for what was. We yearn for a sense of stability. Yet, the gift we have right now is the present moment. The power we possess is how we choose to respond creatively using the tools we have. The way through darkness is to seek and grow toward the light. With faith in our hearts, we put our energy and attention toward what we have and for that of which we are grateful.

Travel doesn’t have to mean the literal physical sense. The journey of the soul lies within us, deep within our hearts. Mother Nature has created a time for us to go within and touch the deepest part of our being. So that when we emerge, the gifts that await us shine even brighter. And while our normal way of life has been altered, Mother Nature has whispered an invitation to reconnect to her beauty and grace. To remember who we truly are. And to remember we are connected through this intricate web of life. 

What waits for us on the other side is potentially greater than anything we could have imagined. Maybe we’ll see the world with a more profound appreciation. Evolution and transformation come with struggle to give our wings strength. As the proverb says, “Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.”

We will travel again. And the journey of the soul travels far and ever near. 

Written by Angie Parris-Raney

There have just been too many coincidences in these past couple of projects that I just have to talk about Divine timing. I’m not particularly religious, but I do believe we are spiritual beings and there is a Divine energy we dwell in and co-create with in our human experience. I believe we have the power of free will and choice and it is our own free will if we choose to act on upon opportunities that present themselves. There are signs all around us. We just have to be paying attention and choose to engage.

Let me also say that whenever I’m working a project with my friend Saul, the experience teaches me about surrender. As the foreigner, I have to surrender to the experience and let go. I put my faith and trust into my friend who has the tools of language and persuasion, a knowledge of his surroundings, and an equal passion to help. And I put my faith into a Higher Power that whatever we need, whomever we are supposed to help, it will unfold before us. Here are two stories that convince me of this.

The North Coast of Peru

In January 2018, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Southern Peru in the Arequipa region leaving a few dead and many injured. Again, we’re not the Red Cross, but we knew we wanted to help where we could. A month after the earthquake, Saul and his sister, niece, and friend set out to go to where the earthquake had made its impact. The journey turned out to be much longer than expected with an additional 10 hours of driving after a one-hour flight to Arequipa. Wondering how much longer this was going to take, they began to really question if this was worth the journey.

When they arrived to Bella Union Town, it appeared to be a ghost town. No lights. No cars. Homes were completely broken down. They felt a lump at the bottom of their throat and questioned, “Did we travel this far just to find out everyone has left?” It was nightfall and at this point, there was no turning back. They searched and found the only hostel in town. Upon checking in, they were told to not fall asleep too deeply because they are still experiencing smaller earthquakes—two to three time per day. It was necessary to be ready at any moment.

The next morning after breakfast, Saul decided to step outside to take a few photos of the town. He noticed a young woman across the street, the only soul who was out and about in what appeared to be a vacant town. He crossed over and asked for her help to see if she might know who had been the most affected by the earthquake and who could use a little help. As serendipity would have it, she knew precisely who needed help as she knows just about every family in this community. She agreed to help our cause. There were no cars, no drivers to be seen. Thankfully, she had a friend and called them, arriving with a 4 x 4 truck. When the whole group went to the local store to buy water, there were hardly any supplies left. Once again, this young woman announced she had a friend about 30 minutes away who owns a store with many more supplies. Saul and company bought as much as they could fit into the truck and off they went to visit home by home, families who needed help, nearly 60 families in total.

This young woman was essential to our project and had Saul stepped outside only 30 seconds later, she might not have been there. I am convinced there are angels all around us and working through us. Once again, I am reminded that when you let go and surrender and allow life to unfold before you, magic happens. What you need exactly in the moment will present itself to you. But you have to engage and choose it. As Saul says, "God is Big." And indeed He (She) is.
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We couldn’t be filled with more humble gratitude to everyone who supports us along our journey. Thank you so much for being a part of the mission and for spreading your sunshine with us!

For those of you familiar and new to Project Inti, one might wonder what the word Inti means. Inti is a Quechuan word that means Sun and it is a very important symbol in Inca culture. Anyone who visits Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley cannot help but be surrounded by Inca history and the impact it has left behind on Peruvian culture today. 

Quechua is the language of the ancient Incas and is still spoken today by nearly 8 million people living in the Highlands of Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador. Like many indigenous cultures, the Inca saw parts of nature as gods. Inti, Father Sun, was one of the most important gods as part of creation. Pachamama, Mother Earth, is another important god. Together, they joined to create life. Inti is an important symbol of the people we serve in Peru.

We are a small organization and have chosen this slice of life to help and make a small impact. We may not solve all the worlds problems, but our goal is to help spread a little sunshine where we can. Change begins with ourselves. We know the power of a smile and the warm loving energy it emanates can make a small impact and maybe even have a rippling effect. Together we can help spread a little sunshine to those in need. 

Ayni is a Quechuan word symbolizing helping each other. It’s often illustrated with one hand to give, one hand to receive. It’s a powerful word and image that truly conveys our ONENESS – that we are all a part of this journey together. Sometimes we are there to help a friend through a difficult time, and sometimes we need to lean on another to help us heal ourselves.

Every person we meet is a mirror reflecting back to us some part of our own human experience. Each of us plays teacher and student to each other. Giving a lesson and receiving one in return. When we can approach the most difficult of situations with an open heart, we can begin to see that love really is the pathway to healing. All we need is the courage to love. Loving others IS loving yourself.

Ayni…let’s help each other through this human experience.