tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20762905924423514562024-03-13T08:21:54.853-07:00Peruvian PursuitsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2076290592442351456.post-45423458015149592812014-12-12T10:12:00.001-08:002014-12-12T10:13:52.862-08:00Five Months Ago...Five months and one day ago I celebrated my last day in the Bridge of Hope office in Peru. I danced and laughed and ate good food and reminisced about 10 months with those wonderful people. Today I sit in my room at Gordon-Conwell, done with finals and about to head back to Boise for Christmas break. Yet these are not two separate experiences. I think about Peru every single day. These people and experiences are part of the fabric of my life. They influence the way I think and the way that I relate to the world. Just yesterday I went to a short worship service where we ended the service by singing "It Is Well With My Soul." I was brought back to the post I wrote in November 2013 after a few difficult first months in Peru. God has worked in big ways since then. God was working in big ways even then. I see more and more clearly every day the amazing way in which He weaves the narratives of our life together.<br />
<br />
I was asked this month to write a short article about Fair Trade for the PC(USA) YAV blog. It was just posted a couple days ago. You can read it at: <a href="http://www.pcusa.org/blogs/year-service/">http://www.pcusa.org/blogs/year-service/</a>.<br />
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Thank you all for your continued support and prayer.<br />
<br />
Feliz Navidad. Bendiciones en este Año Nuevo!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2076290592442351456.post-40980174098438079382014-08-06T15:04:00.000-07:002014-08-06T15:04:10.772-07:00Evermore and evermore.<div class="MsoNormal">
DESPEDIDAS</div>
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How do you say goodbye to someone you really may never see
again? How do you tell someone how much she meant to you in just a few short
minutes? How do you cap off a year, a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">year</i>,
of life?</div>
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My last week in Lima I did what I could to answer those
questions. I went to several despedidas – goodbye parties – that were thrown
for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These include lots of
delicious food, dancing, some World Cup game watching, a couple of small gifts,
and lots of mini speeches and story sharing. My whole extended host family
gathered together to have a large lunch and watch the World Cup final. Daniela
and Karín planned two surprises for me – a lunch out of award winning ceviche
and a surprise party with many of the artisans from Lima. </div>
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In Peru I experienced goodbyes that wanted to create one
last good memory. Yes, there was plenty of time spent reminiscing on the year,
but more than that, there was time spent enjoying the comfort and joy that was
achieved in the relationship. I liked that.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole family gathered for my despedida (and the World Cup final)!</td></tr>
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PARACAS RETREAT</div>
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For our final YAV retreat we went to a little beach town
about 4 hours south of Lima called Paracas. There we reflected over this whole
year and, in good Peruvian style, also spend lots of time just enjoying the
relationships that had formed between us. We had long dinners and good
conversations. We adventured to the Ballestas Islands where we saw penguins,
sea lions, and flocks on flocks on flocks of birds. We went on a dune buggy
ride and sand-boarded on the expansive sand dunes all around. We ate lots of
seafood and celebrated the life that was found so far from home.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful sandstone cliffs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8QsNV6XPwEk/U-KjWx_HvsI/AAAAAAAADgI/z-NDUrYKosc/s1600/IMG_1360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8QsNV6XPwEk/U-KjWx_HvsI/AAAAAAAADgI/z-NDUrYKosc/s1600/IMG_1360.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crew after sandboarding.</td></tr>
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JUNGLE ADVENTURES</div>
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Blake, Mary Kate, Spencer, and I all took off the day after
the retreat to do some final traveling around Peru. We wanted to see the place
and community where Spencer had been all year so we headed to the jungle! We
spent about half of the trip in or near Moyobamba and the other half in
Iquitos. We traveled as simply as possible and enjoyed the freedom that came
from not always have plans set in stone.</div>
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In Moyobamba we got to spend a lot of time with the people
Spencer spent the year with: we had dinner with Jenny’s parents, we went to a
Mistura food event that Spencer’s colleagues planned for his despedida, we
participated in a march against bull fighting with his coworkers, we stayed for
free in a beautiful home that houses students from extremely impoverished
families while they attend college, we hiked the tallest hill around in the
dark to see the sunrise, we swam in waterfalls and hitchhiked back to town, and
we attended a concert where Spencer starred as violinist.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CR9dy9uMdcU/U-KjrnLN6DI/AAAAAAAADgU/zZOLbwrvkhk/s1600/IMG_1421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CR9dy9uMdcU/U-KjrnLN6DI/AAAAAAAADgU/zZOLbwrvkhk/s1600/IMG_1421.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfie in Chazuta.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LxjZJDpO6iY/U-Kj2F-h5VI/AAAAAAAADgg/1fGony3VMjE/s1600/IMG_1433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LxjZJDpO6iY/U-Kj2F-h5VI/AAAAAAAADgg/1fGony3VMjE/s1600/IMG_1433.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at the top of el Morro de Calzada.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M10nJn05xmU/U-KkF6JyjgI/AAAAAAAADg8/VgBpzdRvg5w/s1600/IMG_1513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M10nJn05xmU/U-KkF6JyjgI/AAAAAAAADg8/VgBpzdRvg5w/s1600/IMG_1513.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterfall #1. My skin hasn't seen sun in a while!</td></tr>
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We took a boat up the Huallaga River, which eventually
turned into the Amazon River right before arriving in Iquitos. We had to laugh
at the ridiculousness of the Peruvian time schedule as our boat left 31 hours
late. We also got woken up at 5:45 in the morning telling us to hurry and
gather our stuff because we were moving to another boat. Everybody on board
moved boats and then we sat in port until about 9pm that evening. Other than
that the trip went smoothly and we arrived earlier than we thought we would in
Iquitos.</div>
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While in Iquitos we did a three-day jungle tour. The first
day we took a boat for a few hours to get to the first campsite. Along the way
we saw pink and gray dolphins and stopped to let monkeys climb aboard the boat!
It was a beautiful sunny day – hot but pleasant with the breeze and shade
provided by the boat. We ate absolutely delicious food the whole trip starting
with a tamale and juanes on the boat. The only downside was the mosquitos! As
soon as the sun went down they were oppressive. You couldn’t swing your arms
without hitting several and they were biting straight through my jeans like
they weren’t there. But we went out on the water that first night to go look
for caimans (small alligators) and the mosquitos died down. The second and
third days we were based out of a small indigenous village and did some hikes
into the jungle. We found some creepy animals and learned all about medicinal
uses of plants. We swung on a Tarzan vine and learned how to make thatch roofs.
We concluded the adventure by swimming in the Amazon River itself and enjoying
a relaxing boat ride back.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cHedLzel_hM/U-Kj8aEvcnI/AAAAAAAADgo/fhYVAx4UwcM/s1600/IMG_1551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cHedLzel_hM/U-Kj8aEvcnI/AAAAAAAADgo/fhYVAx4UwcM/s1600/IMG_1551.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over the Amazon River.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DT7ETYOXJgQ/U-KkF_gXSsI/AAAAAAAADg4/EDv9aAzhqHU/s1600/IMG_1619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DT7ETYOXJgQ/U-KkF_gXSsI/AAAAAAAADg4/EDv9aAzhqHU/s1600/IMG_1619.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holding a caiman (baby alligator)!</td></tr>
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QUICK REFLECTION ON THE YEAR AS A WHOLE</div>
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Currently I am sitting in the Lima airport waiting for my
flight to leave this evening. It is a surreal feeling to be so close to coming
back. It’s been so long that I am quite sure I will feel uncomfortable in the
U.S. at least at first. I will throw my toilet paper in the trash and be blown
away by the fact that there are such things as drinking fountains and free
potable tap water.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I know that I do not have a full understanding yet of how I
have transformed and changed during this year, but I know that I have done so
in big ways. I am more comfortable in my own skin and more comfortable in quiet
and silence. I have learned to rely on God as my true and only source of
strength more than ever before. I have learned how to solve conflict in healthy
ways. I have learned self-discipline. I have learned thankfulness and
fearlessness. I have learned the power of accompaniment, a listening ear, and a
willing hand. I have seen incredible generosity and humility. I have seen the
power of family. I have seen</div>
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<br /></div>
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I just want to say thank you once again to each and every
one of you for your incredible support this year. I cannot wait to see the
actual skin on your faces and here the beautiful ring of your voices un-warbled
by cyberspace. Whether you helped me financially, supported me in prayer, or
simply read my blog here and there, I am indebted to you and blown away by the
amount of love I have felt from afar. Gracias. Gracias. Y gracias.</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Of the Father's love
begotten<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ere the worlds began
to be,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He is Alpha and Omega,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He the Source, the
Ending He,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Of the things that
are, that have been,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And that future years
shall see<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Evermore and evermore.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Christ, to Thee, with
God the Father,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And, O Holy Ghost, to
Thee<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hymn and chant and
high thanksgiving<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And unending praises
be,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Honor, glory, and
dominion,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And eternal victory</i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Evermore and evermore.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2076290592442351456.post-4075776883101495512014-06-23T17:56:00.000-07:002014-06-23T17:56:30.858-07:00Harvest Will Fill The Barn<div class="MsoNormal">
SETTLING IN…</div>
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The last few weeks in my life have been full of movement. As
I’ve mentioned, my host family has been talking about moving practically since
the day I walked in the door back in September. The last three months I have
been living out of a half-packed suitcase because I would be told, “This
weekend we’re moving.” And then we wouldn’t move. Then I would be told, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This</i> weekend. It’s really going to
happen.” And then we wouldn’t move. Then I’d be told, “We paid for one more
month in this house, but we’re going to start moving stuff over to the new
place slowly and calmly.” And then we wouldn’t move anything. Long story short,
I came home one night and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">it was actually
happening</i>! I packed up the rest of my stuff quickly and at 8:30pm we
started making trips over to the new house. We didn’t stop until 3:00am and
everybody had to work the next day. I just had to laugh. They were so proud of
themselves for supposedly packing so well and being so organized for this move
compared to others, but I was screaming internally at the disorder and chaotic
nature of it all. And almost three weeks later they still haven’t completely
finished. The kitchen stove, dining room table, and washing machine – all quite
essential items to a home – have not yet been moved.</div>
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I haven’t lived in one place for more than 9 months at a
time since I lived at home during high school. I thought I was going to break
that record this year, but we moved right at the 9-month mark. It was actually
a good test to see if I could fit everything in my suitcase (which I could!).
I’ve gotten settled here and am actually enjoying the new arrangement. The TV
is now in the living room instead of one of the bedrooms, so we have actually
spent a lot more family time together especially now that the World Cup is
happening. My true soccer fanaticism has come out, and I fit right in.</div>
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SOME SAD NEWS</div>
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Two weeks ago I was traveling with another group from the
PC(USA) that came to visit the Joining Hands Network and a few of the associate
organizations. I went with them to Huancayo. We left on Thursday morning early
and got back Saturday afternoon. On Wednesday night before I left, I came home
to a pretty visibly upset host mom. I sat down next to her and asked her what
was going on. She explained to me that her sister Violet, the one who had a
stroke about a year and a half ago, had a really bad day. She’s been on the
decline for the past few months, but I did not realize how bad it had gotten.
She lost a ton of weight, wasn’t really able to eat or keep down any
medication, had an infection that started in her kidneys and then spread to the
rest of her body, and now was having trouble even breathing. We sat and she
cried a little and talked in a roundabout way about the probability of her
sister passing away. The next day, on Thursday morning after I had already left
on my trip, Violet went to be with the Lord. They had the funeral the next day,
which I also missed, and a mass a week later, which I was able to attend.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The death really hit my host mom and the whole family hard.
They had been more or less expecting it, but it came so fast. They had all
thrown their time and energy and money and hope into Violet’s recovery and to
see that all come to an end was really difficult. Please be keeping them in
your prayers.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
…AND WRAPPING UP</div>
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<br /></div>
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Here is a quick itinerary of what I have coming up! I have
three weeks left of work and living with my host family. They are really big
into doing goodbyes here, so I will get an official “despedida” from my host
family, office family, and YAV family at the end of these three weeks. Then we
have one last YAV retreat in Paracas where we will spend time reflecting on the
year as a whole and what it has meant in the trajectory of our lives. We also
get to do some fun stuff like dunebuggying and touring the Ballestas Islands!
After the retreat I will spend 2 ½ weeks traveling into the jungle with the
YAVs before flying back to the U.S. We will get to see where Spencer has spent
his year, take a boat up a tributary of the Amazon until we arrive at the
Amazon itself, and tour around Iquitos – the “heart of the jungle” – before flying
back to the U.S. on August 6<sup>th</sup>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I feel at a good place of being ready to be done but also
knowing that it is going to be insanely hard to leave and say goodbye. It is so
strange to think that I am almost done. I am a year out of college now and
almost a YAV alumna!</div>
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<br /></div>
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I also just published my first Partnership Program update
that I will be writing monthly throughout my time at Gordon-Conwell. If you
want to check it out, here’s the link you need:
my.gordonconwell.edu/partnership/amiller5</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cEBL0x0MoOk/U6jKnD3faXI/AAAAAAAADew/SbcWcNOesvk/s1600/la+foto+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cEBL0x0MoOk/U6jKnD3faXI/AAAAAAAADew/SbcWcNOesvk/s1600/la+foto+1.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A look over the valley in Chupaca.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oAIYTQzgdsc/U6jK-H_mP0I/AAAAAAAADe4/9l0xItFljAY/s1600/la+foto+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oAIYTQzgdsc/U6jK-H_mP0I/AAAAAAAADe4/9l0xItFljAY/s1600/la+foto+2.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful blue skies!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VHY4W62kn-c/U6jLUOX6w6I/AAAAAAAADfA/wHEy_hf-N6M/s1600/la+foto+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VHY4W62kn-c/U6jLUOX6w6I/AAAAAAAADfA/wHEy_hf-N6M/s1600/la+foto+3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sugarcane.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5g2Vo5iwyEE/U6jLjJ3rmuI/AAAAAAAADfI/2wQvRLLVKfk/s1600/la+foto+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5g2Vo5iwyEE/U6jLjJ3rmuI/AAAAAAAADfI/2wQvRLLVKfk/s1600/la+foto+4.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A compost project - they can turn methane gas from decomposing cow manure into gas used with a normal gas stove!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1M4-8YZitLk/U6jLlhhTRJI/AAAAAAAADfQ/SHwUZn-6aSY/s1600/la+foto+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1M4-8YZitLk/U6jLlhhTRJI/AAAAAAAADfQ/SHwUZn-6aSY/s1600/la+foto+5.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tiniest and cutest kitten I've ever seen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“X” by Wendell Berry</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Whatever is foreseen in joy</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Must be lived out from day to day.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Vision held open in the dark</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>By our ten thousand days of work.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Harvest will fill the barn; for that</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The hand must ache, the face must sweat.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>And yet no leaf or grain is filled</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>By work of ours; the field is tilled</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>And left to grace. That we may reap,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Great work is done while we're asleep.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>When we work well, a Sabbath mood</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Rests on our day, and finds it good.</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2076290592442351456.post-3206422035696722312014-06-01T13:27:00.000-07:002014-06-01T13:27:27.291-07:00Cause to Celebrate<div class="MsoNormal">
This month we celebrated two major holidays here in Peru:
Labor Day and Mother’s Day. Labor Day was on May 1<sup>st</sup> and meant a day
off work. For a long time my coworkers, Daniela and Karín, and I had been
talking about visiting EcoTruly Park just north of Lima, so we finally made up
our minds to go. I was under the impression this place was an ecological farm
where people lived off what they could grow on the land. It was that, but it
was also a religious center for the Hare Krishna religion that Daniela is a
part of. There was really beautiful architecture – tall adobe cone-shaped
buildings – and most of the buildings formed part of the central temple. It was
quite a surprise and an interesting experience to see first-hand the deities
and idols that they worship and to learn more about their beliefs. I have many
more thoughts on this topic if you want to talk more.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gaaz5DYV2Gk/U4uIV251Q_I/AAAAAAAADcE/0wdJOkB9KvQ/s1600/Hare+Krishna+temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gaaz5DYV2Gk/U4uIV251Q_I/AAAAAAAADcE/0wdJOkB9KvQ/s1600/Hare+Krishna+temple.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IR6_iwfblCI/U4uIYd1vl1I/AAAAAAAADcY/rWd0oMIkWJ8/s1600/conic+structure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IR6_iwfblCI/U4uIYd1vl1I/AAAAAAAADcY/rWd0oMIkWJ8/s1600/conic+structure.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Mother’s Day I celebrated with my host mom and all of her
sisters. We spent the afternoon together and shared a big lunch. But exactly
one week later, I got to see my real mom in person! My family came to visit me
for 10 days, and we had all sorts of adventures on Lake Titicaca, at Machu
Picchu, and here in Lima. We had a dinner with (almost) all my YAV people and
lunch with my host family. It was wonderful for them to be able to see my
context and meet the people that have become so close over this past year. It
was sad to see them go, but it’s crazy to think that it really won’t be much
longer before I am back in the U.S. and will get to see them again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wS_eTxGuaTk/U4uIVA678UI/AAAAAAAADb4/NbrVSLPHEOs/s1600/Dad+%2526+Abby+with+cuy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wS_eTxGuaTk/U4uIVA678UI/AAAAAAAADb4/NbrVSLPHEOs/s1600/Dad+%2526+Abby+with+cuy.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad and I trying cuy (guinea pig) for the first time!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-acwHWntZvPQ/U4uIaczS_gI/AAAAAAAADck/2IHfD3SrQ4A/s1600/floating+island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-acwHWntZvPQ/U4uIaczS_gI/AAAAAAAADck/2IHfD3SrQ4A/s1600/floating+island.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The floating reed island of the Uros people that we visited. 6 families - 21 people - live there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7bV0kOQ-j4k/U4uIXo2S8iI/AAAAAAAADcg/ilmHQBPV05o/s1600/Uros+women+with+musket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7bV0kOQ-j4k/U4uIXo2S8iI/AAAAAAAADcg/ilmHQBPV05o/s1600/Uros+women+with+musket.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The women on the island dressed as they dress every day. Look at that ancient musket that they actually use to hunt birds in the reeds!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c3sco1UbULs/U4uIa6XkIEI/AAAAAAAADco/miepCSbAycU/s1600/on+the+reed+boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c3sco1UbULs/U4uIa6XkIEI/AAAAAAAADco/miepCSbAycU/s1600/on+the+reed+boat.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got to take a short ride on their reed boat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rf-QiPS9miQ/U4uITRNAwGI/AAAAAAAADbw/f-69biyBse0/s1600/Amantani%25CC%2581+hike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rf-QiPS9miQ/U4uITRNAwGI/AAAAAAAADbw/f-69biyBse0/s1600/Amantani%25CC%2581+hike.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the island Amantaní where we stayed the night with a local family.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JeqCJHS2zhI/U4uITOD-zvI/AAAAAAAADbs/SmMtjiHYOQU/s1600/Amantani%25CC%2581+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JeqCJHS2zhI/U4uITOD-zvI/AAAAAAAADbs/SmMtjiHYOQU/s1600/Amantani%25CC%2581+sunset.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sunset from the highest point on Amantaní.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_QUyTfMFtqA/U4uIXBD-tyI/AAAAAAAADcM/EjT_adH6PbU/s1600/Taquile+textiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_QUyTfMFtqA/U4uIXBD-tyI/AAAAAAAADcM/EjT_adH6PbU/s1600/Taquile+textiles.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the island Taquile where they are famous for their textiles. The women weave and the men knit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pd-AdglEae4/U4uIW6VNt2I/AAAAAAAADcI/A4hIlvCWx78/s1600/Taquile+dancing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pd-AdglEae4/U4uIW6VNt2I/AAAAAAAADcI/A4hIlvCWx78/s1600/Taquile+dancing.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad and I got roped into doing a dance with them. I'm a little lost.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LzZroVQLNKY/U4uITEtMzgI/AAAAAAAADcU/EWdxpSVjMGI/s1600/Black+Coffee+cards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LzZroVQLNKY/U4uITEtMzgI/AAAAAAAADcU/EWdxpSVjMGI/s1600/Black+Coffee+cards.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After our tour of Lake Titicaca we had some time to kill in Puno. We camped out at Black Coffee and played some cards for the afternoon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4uneJW3dZ10/U4uIWc26_2I/AAAAAAAADcA/YGWWqZy0i4w/s1600/Huayna+Picchu+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4uneJW3dZ10/U4uIWc26_2I/AAAAAAAADcA/YGWWqZy0i4w/s1600/Huayna+Picchu+top.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Almost) to the top of Huayna Picchu. The very top was super crowded.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OEDqezK5cOY/U4uIUpK8I_I/AAAAAAAADb0/0TSQlVFc5ps/s1600/Dad+%2526+Abby+Machu+Picchu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OEDqezK5cOY/U4uIUpK8I_I/AAAAAAAADb0/0TSQlVFc5ps/s1600/Dad+%2526+Abby+Machu+Picchu.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gorgeous sunny day at Machu Picchu!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Although not a holiday, this month we also “celebrated” our
third YAV retreat. We went to a retreat center run by the cutest little nuns
just outside of Lima in a town called Chaclacayo. Besides the nuns, we had the
place to ourselves. It was a beautiful oasis of green grass and vegetation in
the middle of a desert. The theme of this retreat was finishing well. We spent
some time looking back on the year and reflecting on both big social justice
type issues and interpersonal issues that we don’t want to cast aside without
fully addressing. It was a great exercise that motivated me to continue
investing in relationships and my work here even as the year is drawing to a
close. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLsUAYedh1U/U4uMRCHRzoI/AAAAAAAADdE/atpFZnVI2ss/s1600/10357241_10152126728401009_2388734485127902738_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLsUAYedh1U/U4uMRCHRzoI/AAAAAAAADdE/atpFZnVI2ss/s1600/10357241_10152126728401009_2388734485127902738_n.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spencer, Blake, Mary Kate, Abby, and Emma</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Right before the retreat, this quote was posted by a friend
on Facebook and the phrase “redemptive memory” kept coming to mind as I spent
time reflecting:</div>
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“How can we engage the present moment in a redemptive way?
How can we remember the past in a way that frees us to live – truly live –
right now? It starts with redemptive memory, which enables us to remember the
past differently – not as an ideal to which we would like to return or as a
regret we would like to reverse, but as one chapter in a larger redemptive
story we continue to live out in the present moment. God is in the past,
however ideal or horrible; he rules over the past and promises to use the past,
as it is, to work redemption. He makes all things serve his plan and fulfill is
redemptive purpose. There is no Golden Age to which we must return, no hellish
experience that consigns us to a lesser life. There is only God writing his
story, a story of redemption.” Jerry Sittser, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Grace Revealed<o:p></o:p></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2076290592442351456.post-85458220438533067552014-04-21T08:42:00.000-07:002014-04-21T08:42:47.604-07:00Let's talk about fashion...<div class="MsoNormal">
PERU MODA</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">fashion: a popular trend,
esp. in styles of dress and ornament or manners of behavior; the production and
marketing of new styles of goods, esp. clothing and cosmetics<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I never thought I’d be able to say in my life that I have
been to a fashion show, but I have. Peru Moda. I went with Daniela for work. It
really was like entering a different world. Along the abandoned coast just
minutes from my house, huge white tents were set up. We entered walking on red
carpet and were given an official-looking badge naming us as “Buyers.” We also
were given huge heavy-duty felt bags to store all of the pamphlets and business
cards we were handed and all the merchandise our nametags told us we were going
to buy. Once inside the tent the red carpet became gray, but I still nearly
forgot that right underneath was dry dirt. Inside the white tents there was
luxury and excess and wealth and fashion. Just outside and underneath there
were dirt and lawn maintenance staff and brown ocean foam and normality. I came
in wearing brown corduroy pants, my most stylish cotton shirt that I brought to
Peru, and Toms shoes. I saw around me tight, short dresses, stiletto heels, and
as much jewelry as tastefulness would allow.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We spent the first part of the day wandering from booth to
booth checking out the latest styles and designs. We found a potential client
and a couple potential artisan groups to add to Bridge of Hope. But at the end
of the day we went to watch a show of several jewelry collections on the
catwalk. It was freezing in the room because portable air conditioning units
were getting a run for their money. It was one of the few places I’ve been in
Lima that has air conditioning. There were five or six designers that had their
jewelry collections, their models, and their music selection. It was quite
exciting actually, although most of the collection consisted of totally
outrageous and not-for-daily-use items (anyone want a silver Roman-style
helmet?!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t really know how to respond then and still don’t
really know now. Although there was a very small section of Fair Trade
companies (though all of them very large) and a small section where smaller
artisan groups could display their products, the majority of the people in
attendance and the majority of the producers come from large companies and
corporations. I couldn’t help but think that we were supporting by our
attendance this fashion ‘entity’ and all of these huge corporations that really
have made it much harder for our artisans, and other small organizations or
artisan groups, to market their goods. But at the same time, we do have a lot
to learn from them.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
JUEVES SANTO & EASTER IN GENERAL</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">fashion: a manner of doing
something; in the style associated with a specified place or people</span></i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Catholic Church, especially when it comes to holidays,
shapes much of the culture in Peru, at least in part. Although it is probably
true that in most places around the world, church attendance skyrockets on
Christmas and Easter, it is definitely true here for all of holy week. It is
tradition or the fashion, if you will, to attend a Palm Sunday mass,
participate in various activities during the week, “fast” on Friday by eating
tuna instead of another type of meat, and attend an Easter mass.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The mid-week activity that I participated in with my host
mom was on Jueves Santo (Holy Thursday), or Maundy Thursday as we would call
it. It is tradition to do a sort of pilgrimage and visit 7 churches that night.
To start the evening there was a longer mass where they did 12 foot-washings of
various people in the congregation. There was also a lot of singing, one of the
priests did a lot of throwing of the incense smoke at the congregation, they
gave communion, and there was a short biblical reflection. From there, a solid
group of about 100-150 people set off from the church to walk the circuit of
churches. The first mass started at 7:45pm and we finished the route at about
12:45am. In each church we went inside to see the altar with Christ’s body, in
the form of bread and wine, inside. The priest who came along would say a few
words and give time for prayer and reflection. Then we’d get up and continue
on. The whole time there was someone carrying a full-sized cross at the front
of the group. They would rotate people, but the idea of visiting 7 churches,
according to my host mom, is to remember the 7 falls that Jesus apparently had
as he walked to be crucified.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The evening wasn’t really a somber occasion as I was
expecting it to be. True, when we arrived at a church there was silence and time
for meditation, but the bulk of the time we spent walking. As we walked there
was a taxi that followed us with two huge megaphone speakers on top and a
wireless microphone sound system. The priest had the mic and led everyone in
children’s songs and occasionally in the repeating of the Lord’s Prayer and
other prayers to Mary. We quite literally were walking the streets of Lima,
blocking traffic, chanting: Give me a C. C!! Give me a R. R!! Give me an I. I!!
…. What does that spell?! CRISTO!! Cristo! Cristo! Cristo! Cristo! That had to
be one of the most ridiculous thing I have ever done in my life. Although I’m
not quite sure chanting “Cristo” in the streets is the best form of evangelism,
it was cool to see the number of people that this event attracted and to be a
part of a tradition that has been around for so long.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The sense of being a part of something so much bigger is
something that I have often lost in the Protestant church in the U.S. Yes, I
understand that there is the church universal. Yes, I know that there are Presbyterian churches around the globe. Yes, I know that the Protestants formed out of the
Reformation. Etc. etc. But the Catholic church is so much older! It is so interesting to think that an entire
culture, for the most part, decides not to eat meat on Fridays because of a
church tradition. Or to know that across the world in Catholic churches, they
hold to the same practices and liturgies and daily offices on the same days. I feel more aware of the greatness and vastness of the God we serve.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ukrainian Easter egg decorating!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2076290592442351456.post-92023478080433182372014-03-29T12:09:00.000-07:002014-03-29T12:09:01.651-07:00Artisan Gathering, Moving, and News!
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<div class="MsoNormal">
ENCUENTRO DE ARTESANOS</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On March 18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup>, Bridge of Hope
artisans from across Peru came to Lima to celebrate the International Day of
the Artisan and to participate in the 10<sup>th</sup> Annual Artisan Gathering.
It was a fun time of collaboration, community, celebration, and recommitment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We started both mornings with a short theological reflection
that I gave, first on the importance of teamwork and working together as a
whole body (1 Cor. 12:14-25) – whether that be in the family, community,
particular artisan group, or Bridge of Hope – and second on the value of
artisan work and it’s place in society (Jer. 18:1-6). From there we spent time
reflecting over the past years struggles and successes. It was a time of
honesty and encouragement. Another important part was the time we spent making
goals for this coming year. Each put their “signature” – their handprint – on a
document to show their commitment to growth and solidarity moving forward.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the afternoons we did the celebrating! We had a small
“fashion show” where the artisans showed off some new products for Spring 2014.
We visited Lima’s famous Parque de las Aguas that is full of gorgeous and
massive fountains and reveled at the water “art.” And finally, we visited an
exhibit on the history of Peruvian art in the National Museum. The artisans
were fascinated by the way their different trades have developed over the years
and were excited to be a part of a tradition that has lasted thousands of
years.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fBSr0wxrkpQ/UzcXkeVpFkI/AAAAAAAAAkU/LqSXBg74c_0/s1600/DSC02980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fBSr0wxrkpQ/UzcXkeVpFkI/AAAAAAAAAkU/LqSXBg74c_0/s1600/DSC02980.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giving a theological reflection.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4RkfKBH7Pv4/UzcXqeo8AmI/AAAAAAAAAkk/wQWl5NPLDE0/s1600/DSC03015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4RkfKBH7Pv4/UzcXqeo8AmI/AAAAAAAAAkk/wQWl5NPLDE0/s1600/DSC03015.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The artisans at Parque de las Aguas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lyPSfrEmWPU/UzcXmTHNv2I/AAAAAAAAAkc/ZqR2W_jpKbs/s1600/DSC03087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lyPSfrEmWPU/UzcXmTHNv2I/AAAAAAAAAkc/ZqR2W_jpKbs/s1600/DSC03087.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dionisia putting her handprint signature.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IEFwJRqdsaU/UzcXsbVE5VI/AAAAAAAAAks/t7T-3HcqVEg/s1600/DSC03111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IEFwJRqdsaU/UzcXsbVE5VI/AAAAAAAAAks/t7T-3HcqVEg/s1600/DSC03111.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victor showing off a new scarf and hat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8JvowSGlJzo/UzcXtEbfleI/AAAAAAAAAk0/6ScVjHRjBXk/s1600/DSC03120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8JvowSGlJzo/UzcXtEbfleI/AAAAAAAAAk0/6ScVjHRjBXk/s1600/DSC03120.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Claudia and her daughter, Mayte, who's sporting a new hat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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WE’RE MOVING AFTER ALL<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I just got word last week that the house my family is living
in has finally sold. I was kind of hoping we’d continue living there
indefinitely as the house was on the market but no such luck. The current word
is that we have 20 days to move out, but they are talking to the real estate
agent today to see if they can stay for another two months while they look for
a house. It is now a reality, though. I will be moving before my time in Peru
is over. Please be praying for the whole situation, though. The price of houses
and apartments has skyrocketed over the last few years, and it is going to be
difficult to find something affordable in the areas where they want to live
that are close to work, family, and friends.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’M GOING TO SEMINARY</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Other big news: I am going to seminary in the fall! I will
be attending Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary starting in September, which
is just a little bit to the NE of Boston and only a few miles from the ocean.
What an adventure! I was offered the Partnership Program scholarship, which is
a full-tuition matching scholarship. I am raising support again to fund about
half of my seminary education. If you would like more information or to support
me in some way (financially or in prayer), please let me know.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
STORIES FROM YAVs</div>
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Jenny and Jed have been visiting the United States during
the month of March, and one of the things they are doing is visiting churches
and sharing about the YAV program to raise support. They put together this
video of us each telling a story about our time here so far. It’s really well
done, so check it out:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/P-MCZuEuwn8?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
READING</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week I have been devouring <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Genesee Diary</i> by Henri Nouwen. It is a really insightful
account of his 7-month stay in a Trappist monastery and has offered much
encouragement to me. Here are a couple quotes that are from very different
periods of his time in the monastery but go well together:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It requires a great act of faith to accept the love that is
offered to us and to live, not with suspicion and distrust, but with the inner
conviction that we are worth being loved. This is the great adventure… to
really believe that God loves you, to really give yourself to God in trust,
even while you are aware of your sinfulness, weaknesses, and miseries” (140).</div>
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<br /></div>
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“When we have found our own uniqueness in the love of God
and have been able to affirm that indeed we are lovable since it is God’s love
that dwells in us, then we can reach out to others in whom we discover a new
and unique manifestation of the same love and enter into an intimate communion
with them” (68).</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2076290592442351456.post-81261812772244079792014-03-10T11:06:00.000-07:002014-03-10T12:08:00.691-07:00I've hardly been in Lima recently...<div class="MsoNormal">
VISIT FROM WOMEN OF HUDSON RIVER PRESBYTERY (NEW YORK)</div>
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I spent a week and a half traveling around with six
wonderful women in the middle of February. We also had the pleasure of
welcoming two men, who were visiting from St. Louis to attend the annual
Joining Hands Network Assembly, from time to time as well. We basically had the
same itinerary as what we as YAVs did during our orientation here in Peru, and
it was fun to visit some of the same places and people that I hadn’t seen in
months. I did make a quick detour when we went to La Oroya and Huancayo to
visit our artisan groups there, so that allowed to me to get to know that area
better, but other than that I was there to help translate, offer a different
perspective, and provide some calmness when things got stressful or a little
overwhelming. These women (plus me!) represented every decade of life from a
20-something all the way to an 80-something year old. It meant we had quite
differing perspectives, but I was impressed with the sincerity and commitment
they brought to each interaction. We had many conversations about the
overwhelming nature of many of the problems we can see in Peru and how/if they
could make a difference when they return. I am excited to see how they continue
to be involved with the work we are doing here in Peru!</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HBKeF9Ivy8A/Ux38w1WG4YI/AAAAAAAAAio/uVdJHqzmz0w/s1600/Hudson+River+women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HBKeF9Ivy8A/Ux38w1WG4YI/AAAAAAAAAio/uVdJHqzmz0w/s1600/Hudson+River+women.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wanda, Norma, Susan, Joy, La Sheila, Lori, and Me (in order of age)!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
YAV RETREAT 2</div>
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<br /></div>
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The last week in February we took off from Lima in a Cruz
del Sur bus to head 20 hours up the desert-y coast of Peru to a private house
right on the beach. There we spent the week enjoying the warm and
oh-so-beautiful beach, soaking up some rays, eating and cooking delicious food,
and playing Frisbee practically nonstop. It was a glorious time of relaxation
and community and worship.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We spent the mornings having a time of worship, Bible
study, and reflection together. The passage we focused on was Micah 6:8 – “What
does the Lord require of you but to seek justice, love kindness, and walk
humbly with our God.” It was good to look back on these past months and
evaluate how my life has or has not reflected those principles and also to
think ahead to how I can re-center and recommit, especially in this time of
Lent as I look back and remember who my God is and all that he has done for me.
The rest of the day we would spend laughing, eating, sharing, playing,
swimming, singing, and tossing the ‘bee.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QFIA6_joZcg/Ux38wQEje7I/AAAAAAAAAiw/a4j3jQdP0YY/s1600/YAV+sunset+in+mancora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QFIA6_joZcg/Ux38wQEje7I/AAAAAAAAAiw/a4j3jQdP0YY/s1600/YAV+sunset+in+mancora.jpg" height="322" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Kate, Blake, Me, Spencer, Emma</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dym5hbf03xM/Ux38z_uxz3I/AAAAAAAAAjg/ggXr8pQWwS4/s1600/nuestra+torre+gemela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dym5hbf03xM/Ux38z_uxz3I/AAAAAAAAAjg/ggXr8pQWwS4/s1600/nuestra+torre+gemela.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our house and beach furniture.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwuB3BcCXVk/Ux38xegBoVI/AAAAAAAAAjU/RUqvi_QjotE/s1600/beach+babes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwuB3BcCXVk/Ux38xegBoVI/AAAAAAAAAjU/RUqvi_QjotE/s1600/beach+babes.jpg" height="292" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful days on the beach!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-naf5NK1QMc0/Ux38ytLueeI/AAAAAAAAAjI/hO9d1OxRVYE/s1600/hammocks+and+pool+-+mancora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-naf5NK1QMc0/Ux38ytLueeI/AAAAAAAAAjI/hO9d1OxRVYE/s1600/hammocks+and+pool+-+mancora.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a pool and hammocks as well.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-82lPR0tmvJw/Ux38yjPMRqI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/B3LDB-iUKAY/s1600/inside+moto+taxi+-mancora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-82lPR0tmvJw/Ux38yjPMRqI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/B3LDB-iUKAY/s1600/inside+moto+taxi+-mancora.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Travel to and from the house was in moto-taxis.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9zlo_5I8VaM/Ux38zbL8gfI/AAAAAAAAAjc/MH9ES3g-1FY/s1600/night+out+in+mancora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9zlo_5I8VaM/Ux38zbL8gfI/AAAAAAAAAjc/MH9ES3g-1FY/s1600/night+out+in+mancora.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A night out in Mancora.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-39kMcsIJKoA/Ux38xmOeW9I/AAAAAAAAAi4/Si0VcVgHzdc/s1600/guitar+and+campfire+-+mancora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-39kMcsIJKoA/Ux38xmOeW9I/AAAAAAAAAi4/Si0VcVgHzdc/s1600/guitar+and+campfire+-+mancora.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonfire and songs on the beach.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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ARTISANS</div>
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<br /></div>
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I have now finished visiting all of the artisans. Of all the
things I have done so far this year, these visits have definitely landed at the
top of the charts. It was fun to adventure around to new places and see where
each of them lived and worked. They each have such a different reality, each
challenging in its own way. I loved hearing their stories. I loved making them
laugh or smile. I loved making them feel uncomfortable as I pulled out my
camera and captured them on film.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It was encouraging to hear the stories of success, and the
ways in which their participation in Fair Trade has positively affected their
lives and the lives of their family. Each one had one of these stories of
success and growth. But each also had stories of struggles and failures and
difficulties, both presently and in the past. There are stories of economic
insecurity, of constant battle against a chauvinistic culture, and of lack of
running water in the home. What amazed me was the hope that they all showed.
One question I asked every group was what their vision or goals were for the
next five years. Almost without fail, they replied that they wanted to get more
orders and find more customers. That was more or less the response that I was expecting
to hear. But what they said next was what really made an impression on me. They want
more orders and more customers not primarily so they can have more money for
themselves and their families, but rather so they can employ their neighbors.
They want their neighbors to know and experience what it is to be a part of a
team, to have a voice, to have a vision, to dream again. Bridge of Hope
provides so much more than just an income for these artisans; it provides a new
way of life. A way of life that is fair and just. One in which the women stand
up for themselves and begin to share equally with their husbands. One in which
they can say proudly that they are sending their children through college
because the children were able to stick to their studies and graduate high
school. One in which they value the work that they do.</div>
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<br />
The website is now done and just needs to be published. Check back in a week or two to see the new design! <a href="http://www.fairtradeperu.com/en">www.fairtradeperu.com/en</a><br />
<br /></div>
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I also put together a short video to allow the artisans to
introduce themselves. As you will see, they are awkward and funny and unique
and so loveable!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jA3LsBSWUdk?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></div>
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<br /></div>
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And now I leave you with this:<br />
<br /></div>
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"We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself." --Dietrich Bonhoeffer</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2076290592442351456.post-35842041700794361142014-02-06T18:53:00.002-08:002014-02-06T18:53:09.752-08:00What?! I'm 23 already. When did that happen?<div class="MsoNormal">
MINI UPDATES (to make up for my long blogging absence)</div>
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CHRISTMAS DAY</div>
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<br /></div>
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Although everyone says that
Christmas Day is the 25<sup>th</sup>, I almost don’t believe them. The
celebration starts on the evening of the 24<sup>th</sup> and carries into the
early morning hours of the 25<sup>th</sup>. Many families goes to mass in the
evening, bringing their baby Jesus from their nativity scene. Baby Jesus has
been covered in the nativity because he really shouldn’t be in the scene yet,
but for the mass he lies uncovered on a table with dozens of other baby Jesus’s
and waits for the priest to come bless him after the mass. He then disappears under
a cover again until midnight. I think my family really sought to understand the
last hours of Advent because after mass ended at 8:00pm – ¡¡8:00pm!! – we sat
bored out of minds in various places around the house and waited until
midnight. I figured the TV in the living room didn’t have cable because no one
turned it on. I came to find out at about 11:30pm that they did indeed have
cable, but like I said, I think they were just subconsciously seeking to
understand the waiting period of Advent. At midnight we all wished each other a
Feliz Navidad with kisses on the cheek and then ran famished to the dinner
table. It was finally dinner time. I ate about four different kinds of pureé
(mashed potato, mashed sweet potato, apple pureé, and pineapple pureé), a
seaweed salad (or something that looks like it), and turkey. We toasted with
about an eighth of a glass of sweet wine. Dessert was my beloved (not!) panetón
with hot chocolate. Then came presents and chatting. But by 3 or 4:00am on
Christmas Day the celebration was over and everyone was sleepily rubbing their
eyes and starting to wonder whether they’re going to try to find a taxi to get
home or just sleep on the living room floor under a blanket. My theory: I think
those wee hours of the morning still belong to the day before.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
I met my host mom’s sisters for the
first time at our Christmas celebration, and all jokes aside, it was a
difficult experience to finally meet her sister who had a severe stroke a year
ago. She can’t walk, has difficulty moving her arms and hands, and only
recently has been able to form a few garbled words. The hardest part is that
she is very much there mentally. There has been some damage, but she
understands everything going on around her. She is extremely frustrated with
her physical limitations and verging on depression. She broke down in tears
twice while I was there out of embarrassment and shame I think. It is beautiful,
however, to see the way that the sisters have come together and sacrificed so
much to take care of her. It has cost a lot emotionally for them though. Prayer
would be very much appreciated.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
CUZCO & MACCHU PICHU</div>
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<br /></div>
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Because of the fact that Christmas
Day has shifted to the 24<sup>th</sup> of December here in Peru, Blake and I
were able to head to Cuzco on the 25<sup>th</sup>. I got a few hours of sleep
before I had to get back to my house to shower and pack really fast before
heading to the airport for a 1:00pm flight. The 10 days I got to spend in Cuzco
were just what I needed. It was absolutely wonderful to get to spend quality
time with my YAV friends and meet some new friends as well. We spent a lot of
time relaxing around Cuzco and trying out the different worldwide cuisines that
I’ve missed even while enjoying my host mom’s cooking. My favorite was some
deliciously spicy falafels. It was the rainy season, so it was relatively
chilly and poured down rain most afternoons and some mornings as well. We spent
a lot of time shopping for sweaters for Blake and long sleeve t-shirts for
Spencer and hiking to the top of all the hills for me. The highlight of the
trip, though, was the Salkantay trek that we did. We spent three days hiking up
and over a 4,600-meter pass and then the fourth day enjoying Macchu Pichu
through the fog. There were so many great moments but hopping from rock to rock
to avoid probably a mile of thick mud, crossing a river on a little cart
connected to a cable, having great conversations when there was room to walk
two-by-two, and making it to the top of Macchu Pichu mountain stand out. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d1ewS9VF9xY/UvRFL7XAhuI/AAAAAAAAAcU/eVvN-noAEx0/s1600/panorama+of+Cuzco.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d1ewS9VF9xY/UvRFL7XAhuI/AAAAAAAAAcU/eVvN-noAEx0/s1600/panorama+of+Cuzco.jpeg" height="160" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panorama of Cuzco.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2giW9Fho8gY/UvREnx5CoBI/AAAAAAAAAbA/y0_tQUqbusE/s1600/IMG_0682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2giW9Fho8gY/UvREnx5CoBI/AAAAAAAAAbA/y0_tQUqbusE/s1600/IMG_0682.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying out the cuisine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X7wlHV6uYq0/UvRFDaymlwI/AAAAAAAAAbg/x6o8zWZuuSk/s1600/IMG_1655.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X7wlHV6uYq0/UvRFDaymlwI/AAAAAAAAAbg/x6o8zWZuuSk/s1600/IMG_1655.jpeg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole group.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1onIVQt2jww/UvREixe6vFI/AAAAAAAAAaw/BI_jeLshf9s/s1600/IMG_0665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1onIVQt2jww/UvREixe6vFI/AAAAAAAAAaw/BI_jeLshf9s/s1600/IMG_0665.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture with the llama!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9ATrQm9vKY4/UvRFIq1zc_I/AAAAAAAAAcE/xx8e6od59Yw/s1600/crosses.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9ATrQm9vKY4/UvRFIq1zc_I/AAAAAAAAAcE/xx8e6od59Yw/s1600/crosses.jpeg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crosses at the top of the hill.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pYvKuvmfAQA/UvRFFW5XqeI/AAAAAAAAAbw/WdSZ9DZvDWI/s1600/IMG_1703.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pYvKuvmfAQA/UvRFFW5XqeI/AAAAAAAAAbw/WdSZ9DZvDWI/s1600/IMG_1703.jpeg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Salkantay Mountain in the background.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UCcuAkB9sAM/UvREnuDZHgI/AAAAAAAAAa8/1kDJQgelouc/s1600/IMG_0749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UCcuAkB9sAM/UvREnuDZHgI/AAAAAAAAAa8/1kDJQgelouc/s1600/IMG_0749.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made it the pass - 4,600 meters! (Our guide Abel is on the far left.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i2A6vtjcKKI/UvRE2IP9AOI/AAAAAAAAAbI/V2WDKm5AfMQ/s1600/IMG_0756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i2A6vtjcKKI/UvRE2IP9AOI/AAAAAAAAAbI/V2WDKm5AfMQ/s1600/IMG_0756.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch site Day 2 of trek.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vn3sYtobzB8/UvRFEuhC5sI/AAAAAAAAAcY/Xqc-ASUH4SY/s1600/IMG_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vn3sYtobzB8/UvRFEuhC5sI/AAAAAAAAAcY/Xqc-ASUH4SY/s1600/IMG_0774.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the river.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qD9c_Uz5iqA/UvRE5DwL3sI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/U7kmzckt2VA/s1600/IMG_0848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qD9c_Uz5iqA/UvRE5DwL3sI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/U7kmzckt2VA/s1600/IMG_0848.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were stairs like this all the way up Macchu Pichu Mountain.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hAIPyEDSZ0E/UvRFBTwYrnI/AAAAAAAAAbY/yLSiiVlE_Fg/s1600/IMG_0858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hAIPyEDSZ0E/UvRFBTwYrnI/AAAAAAAAAbY/yLSiiVlE_Fg/s1600/IMG_0858.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of the mountain. It was too foggy to see the ruins except for a short 30 second glimpse!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8DMy7JMAxZ0/UvRFFgoAhaI/AAAAAAAAAb0/AcFoWJVfi60/s1600/IMG_0884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8DMy7JMAxZ0/UvRFFgoAhaI/AAAAAAAAAb0/AcFoWJVfi60/s1600/IMG_0884.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It cleared up a bit in the afternoon. So impressive.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
BIRTHDAY</div>
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<br /></div>
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Birthdays here are such a big deal!
I was ready to pass the day with a few “Happy Birthdays” and maybe a special
lunch, but it turned out that the festivities stretched for about a week and a
half. People kept expecting me to have big plans and worried about me when I
said that I was okay with just having a chill day. Here’s a glimpse of the
activities… Friday before: Lunch out with my coworkers followed by singing
(first Happy Bear-thday in English, then two or three Spanish versions) and
apple pie and ice cream. Jan.12: Brought gifts by my host mom and brother at
8:00am. Delicious shrimp pasta lunch with host family and Jed and Jenny. The
movie <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Frozen</i> with my host mom. Over
the next week: Birthday donuts with Emma. Delicious nut pasta with host family
and Emma. Two homemade and beautifully decorated birthday cakes from Aunt
Fabio. Cake (1of 2) and singing at Ada’s sister’s house. Birthday cake (2 of 2)
shared with the office. Receive gift of German pretzels and coffee. Birthday
cards in the mail. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Thank you everyone for making me
feel so extremely loved and taken care of!</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zcGgZmPkmX4/UvRFJBELvKI/AAAAAAAAAcM/fp1XA1BJfWs/s1600/family+at+birthday.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zcGgZmPkmX4/UvRFJBELvKI/AAAAAAAAAcM/fp1XA1BJfWs/s1600/family+at+birthday.jpeg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fam. (My host mom is on the far left.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gdh9W5Cq2vw/UvRFHwrdzkI/AAAAAAAAAcA/2-77N3e0WLs/s1600/blowing+out+candles.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gdh9W5Cq2vw/UvRFHwrdzkI/AAAAAAAAAcA/2-77N3e0WLs/s1600/blowing+out+candles.jpeg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blowing out the candle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7K5MsrNziPI/UvREbiCKxOI/AAAAAAAAAao/Okyc1zklVUk/s1600/Cake+%25231.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7K5MsrNziPI/UvREbiCKxOI/AAAAAAAAAao/Okyc1zklVUk/s1600/Cake+%25231.jpeg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cake 1 of 2.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u32dkFsXow4/UvREbpp-Y9I/AAAAAAAAAak/IBO0_6L4B5E/s1600/Cake+%25232.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u32dkFsXow4/UvREbpp-Y9I/AAAAAAAAAak/IBO0_6L4B5E/s1600/Cake+%25232.jpeg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cake 2 of 2.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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UPDATE ON WORK</div>
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<br /></div>
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Since the end of the year I have not been working for CENCA
anymore. With my YAV coordinator, Jenny, I decided for many reasons that it would
be better to focus my time and efforts on my Fair Trade job. So since getting
back from Cuzco I work full-time with Bridge of Hope.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The decision was a good one. My time has been well occupied
over this last month with Bridge of Hope. Over the past couple of years there
has been a lot of changes in leadership and because of that, there has not been
good follow-up as far as updates go. We get emails all the time wondering if
our organization still exists because the website hasn’t been updated at all since
2010. Because of that, we are working on getting up a whole new website in both
English and Spanish. I am more or less the point person on that project. I
visited all 8 artisan groups in Lima to work with them a little on design of a
new “product line” for 2014 and to get new pictures and information to update
their profiles on the website. I have been rewriting and translating the group
profiles and meticulously posting and adding titles, captions, etc. for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> of the products that we sell –
that’s a lot of products! That project should be done pretty soon. I will post
the link on my next (hopefully!) blog so you can check out all my hard work ;)
The one thing the artisans always ask of us is to find them new clients so they
can get more orders. Many of them depend on this work to provide for their
families, so when there is a slow year, like this last one, they struggle to
get by. We hope that with this new website we can attract some new customers.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once the website is up you will get to see some of my
pictures, but if you’re interested in getting a sneak preview of the group
profiles, check out my drafts in the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_TX_TCFlIetdW5RdzR5cFliZ0k/edit?usp=sharing">Google Doc</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
COMING UP</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next week a group from the Hudson River Presbytery in New York,
which supports Jed & Jenny’s ministry, is coming down to visit Peru and see
first hand the work that the Joining Hands Network is doing. Jed is leading the
visit, but I will be accompanying them the whole trip to help with translating
and a few logistical things. We will be doing things like visiting a few of the
members of the Joining Hand Networks, visiting an artisan group, traveling to
La Oroya and Huancayo, and seeing a few sights around Lima. That’s from
February 13<sup>th</sup> – 22<sup>nd</sup>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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On the same day that I’m finishing up with this visit, the
22<sup>nd</sup>, we are taking off for our second YAV retreat. (I can’t believe
it’s here already!) We have a 16-hour bus ride to get to the far north of Peru
to Mancora. We are staying in a house on the beach. I am so ready to spend some
time soaking up some glorious rays with my lovely YAVs! We have to jet up to
Ecuador to renew our visas, but other than that we are just relaxing on the
beach and spending a lot of time in worship and reflection. We arrive back in
Lima on March 1<sup>st</sup>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
FOOD FOR THOUGHT</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Christianity is not first and foremost a concept. It is, above
all, a fact.” – Gustavo Gutierrez, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Theology
of Liberation</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come
alive, and go do it, because what the world needs is people who have come
alive.” – Howard Thurman, theologian</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2076290592442351456.post-6465426689481722892013-12-21T13:58:00.000-08:002013-12-21T13:58:05.562-08:00My Travels in the Andes :: The Christmas Season<div class="MsoNormal">
THE PROVINCE OF HUANCAVELICA</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xqd9mghNJ10/UrXltSTUMpI/AAAAAAAAAU8/bNpE76QtQSY/s1600/huanca_loc.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xqd9mghNJ10/UrXltSTUMpI/AAAAAAAAAU8/bNpE76QtQSY/s400/huanca_loc.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I got the opportunity to travel to the province of
Huancavelica a couple of weeks ago now, leaving on Sunday, December 8th, at
7:30pm on an overnight bus and arriving back in Lima on Sunday, December 15<sup>th</sup>,
at 5:30am after traveling all night. I went with Daniela, my coworker with fair
trade, to visit the artisan groups that live in this area. One of the groups
lives in the city of Huancavlica, and the other three groups live in the tiny
district of Yauli, about 40 minutes by car from the city of Huancavelica. The
purpose of these visits was to get to know the artisans face to face, since we
only ever get to talk to the leader of the groups on the phone or through
email, and offer workshops for the groups to help them think about how this
past year went production-wise (quality control, efficiency, timeliness, etc.)
and make suggestions for how they can improve in this next year. I led the more
social aspect of the workshop and did a couple activities to help them
construct what it means to be a part of a team and be a leader within the
group.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-azT4_-6f9Wo/UrXnb6NQ2CI/AAAAAAAAAVo/EW42yhRl3tY/s1600/IMG_0524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-azT4_-6f9Wo/UrXnb6NQ2CI/AAAAAAAAAVo/EW42yhRl3tY/s400/IMG_0524.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Mercurio. Huancavelica.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CcQka3p8JiE/UrXpdP9WBlI/AAAAAAAAAWE/ZS1qicPNbM8/s1600/IMG_0554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CcQka3p8JiE/UrXpdP9WBlI/AAAAAAAAAWE/ZS1qicPNbM8/s400/IMG_0554.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sumacc Ruraq. Yauli.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xlnM0Zf5bfk/UrXrOeMWCxI/AAAAAAAAAWo/CDWij39Z2XQ/s1600/IMG_0564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xlnM0Zf5bfk/UrXrOeMWCxI/AAAAAAAAAWo/CDWij39Z2XQ/s400/IMG_0564.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tupac Yupanqui. Yauli.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yXgLGJ4pZZw/UrXuNQPj0fI/AAAAAAAAAXU/-OYF8kXaqUQ/s1600/IMG_0601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yXgLGJ4pZZw/UrXuNQPj0fI/AAAAAAAAAXU/-OYF8kXaqUQ/s400/IMG_0601.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A possible new group: Achkamaki. Yauli.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a much to different experience than being in Lima,
both in working with the artisans and in life in general. I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">loved</i> it though… especially Yauli! Here
are some notes on my experience:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
LANDSCAPE/WEATHER: We were high up in the Andes Mountains - more
than 3,600 meters (>13,000 feet). I’ve traveled to this altitude several
times now so I don’t feel it too much, but the lack of oxygen in the air was
definitely noticeable as we did a little hiking around. It is gorgeous here!
They are in the rainy season there (somehow it works so that certain areas of
the country are in winter even while Lima is entering into summer), so
everything had a soft coat of green grass. There were lots of open pastures for
sheep and cows scattered around and people had squares of farmland where they
grow mostly native potatoes. This region of the country is known for its
potatoes. There are supposedly more than 3,000 varieties of potatoes grown
here! The weather felt like a mix of fall and spring in the northwest. The days
were chilly and crisp with the sun peeking out and offering warmth here and
there, interspersed with a fresh rain that nourished the rich soil but also
made everything muddy. We had to expect any and all types of weather at all
times.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s2EoXsfyOZ4/UrXmlQZlpyI/AAAAAAAAAVM/2UTcinHmyNM/s1600/IMG_0460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s2EoXsfyOZ4/UrXmlQZlpyI/AAAAAAAAAVM/2UTcinHmyNM/s400/IMG_0460.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old church in Huancavelica.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QHeDocXkBPg/UrXnFoF-WNI/AAAAAAAAAVU/XuXMhh7F2Mw/s1600/IMG_0509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QHeDocXkBPg/UrXnFoF-WNI/AAAAAAAAAVU/XuXMhh7F2Mw/s400/IMG_0509.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View up the river in Huancavelica.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2z4A1hbaXCU/UrXoTpVbRYI/AAAAAAAAAV0/77GbHqgdYt8/s1600/IMG_0531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2z4A1hbaXCU/UrXoTpVbRYI/AAAAAAAAAV0/77GbHqgdYt8/s400/IMG_0531.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the mountains in Yauli.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P9tS1lJL9Qg/UrXsX_yqB0I/AAAAAAAAAWw/OdxhRL1WaFQ/s1600/IMG_0592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P9tS1lJL9Qg/UrXsX_yqB0I/AAAAAAAAAWw/OdxhRL1WaFQ/s400/IMG_0592.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful little waterfall and cow pasture next to the river in Yauli.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S3BX_vtKc3o/UrXtxDdPq8I/AAAAAAAAAXI/zwZu61Lk4YM/s1600/IMG_0597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S3BX_vtKc3o/UrXtxDdPq8I/AAAAAAAAAXI/zwZu61Lk4YM/s400/IMG_0597.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute little runt pig!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
LANGUAGE: In this area of the country pretty much everybody
speaks Quechua. In Huancavelica most people also speak Spanish fluently and for
many it is their first language. There were still a couple artisans we worked
with that could not respond to us in Spanish. They understood everything we
were saying but would respond in Quechua and someone would have to translate.
However, among the people I met in Yauli, I think everyone’s first language was
Quechua, and if they spoke Spanish, it was something they didn’t begin learning
until later. Many people still didn’t understand Spanish well let alone were
able to speak it. The accent of Spanish I heard in Yauli was really strange as well
and made it difficult for me to understand at times. (For example, a lot of the
‘e’ vowels in Spanish end up sounding like an ‘i.’ Also, most of the r’s that
come at the end of words sound more like ‘rsh.’) I joked with Daniela that I
was having a hard time distinguishing even when the artisans were speaking
Spanish and when they were speaking Quechua because their accent was so thick.
They also had a harder time understanding me than most people I encounter in
Lima. It was interesting trying to navigate this difficulty.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DRESS: There was not a single woman that was from Yauli
itself that did not wear traditional dress. Some wore more elements than
others, but at the very least everyone wore their outer skirt with deep pockets
to hold their knitting. Most wore everything: their leather shoes, leggings,
leg warmers, multiple skirts, multiple sweaters with a button-up sweater on the
outside, a manta or special decorated cloth covering their shoulders and pinned
in front (or the manta tied with a load or child on their back), two braids in
their hair tied together in the back, and a hat with flowers tucked in. As if I
didn’t stick out enough as a tall, white gringa already, without the
traditional dress I stood out even more in Yauli and literally drew prolonged
stares and dropped jaws with every step I took.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GW5p1b5-tU0/UrXnMKN3r2I/AAAAAAAAAVg/D7xmFYrFvxE/s1600/IMG_0525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GW5p1b5-tU0/UrXnMKN3r2I/AAAAAAAAAVg/D7xmFYrFvxE/s400/IMG_0525.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the women from Sumacc Ruraq.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yFBXCfNJsGg/UrXu2YnNIgI/AAAAAAAAAXc/Y0_mkybQCE4/s1600/IMG_0603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yFBXCfNJsGg/UrXu2YnNIgI/AAAAAAAAAXc/Y0_mkybQCE4/s400/IMG_0603.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selling potatoes in the main plaza of Yauli.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
LIFE: I love the simplicity of life in Yauli and the way
people work hard and walk long distances and end up looking weathered and like
they’ve put in their time. Most of the houses are constructed out of big chunks
of rock held together by mud and have a tile roof. Some of the houses have a
little cement, but mostly they are made out of natural materials. They have to
be sure to have a good roof, though, to protect from the rain and to keep the mud
from rewetting and washing away. The floors of the houses are often dirt.
Walking down the street during the afternoon when it wasn’t raining, I saw in
front of nearly every house at least one woman sitting on a stool or on the
curb knitting. They lined the streets. At first when we would ask the artisans
what they liked to do in their free time as a hobby and they would respond by
saying knitting, I didn’t think they had understood the question correctly. But
upon seeing that the pastime of women in this culture really is knitting, I
found that assumption corrected. It is standard practice to offer guests
something to eat. When we went to visit a group, they would provide us
potatoes, which you are supposed to peel by hand, cheese, and a hot (really really)
sweet tea. Even though they barely have enough resources to keep up with all
the kids that are running around, hospitality is top on the list of priorities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UJTZ_a1vckE/UrXqy6r082I/AAAAAAAAAWg/9786gqgXEyM/s1600/IMG_0566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UJTZ_a1vckE/UrXqy6r082I/AAAAAAAAAWg/9786gqgXEyM/s400/IMG_0566.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The house of Ezequiel and his family from the group Tupac Yupanqui.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-82uB_qlAdnY/UrXtZSho-CI/AAAAAAAAAXE/gbrR77UjPGo/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-82uB_qlAdnY/UrXtZSho-CI/AAAAAAAAAXE/gbrR77UjPGo/s400/IMG_0579.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An older woman leading her sheep home in the evening.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fx1kR92rOLI/UrXtRIJWJrI/AAAAAAAAAW8/fbV_nF9U4w4/s1600/IMG_0584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fx1kR92rOLI/UrXtRIJWJrI/AAAAAAAAAW8/fbV_nF9U4w4/s400/IMG_0584.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They came right past us!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
OTHER PICS FROM HUANCAVELICA:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j3AxmG-r_wE/UrXmiwok8rI/AAAAAAAAAVI/g5mKqgU86U8/s1600/IMG_0449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j3AxmG-r_wE/UrXmiwok8rI/AAAAAAAAAVI/g5mKqgU86U8/s400/IMG_0449.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luz. One of the children of a woman from El Mercurio.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IQj5HeBiAVM/UrXnv7YMXHI/AAAAAAAAAVw/pSjeGbriBOk/s1600/IMG_0526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IQj5HeBiAVM/UrXnv7YMXHI/AAAAAAAAAVw/pSjeGbriBOk/s400/IMG_0526.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The workshop of Sumacc Ruraq.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9JBYNVUmo2Y/UrXpjFx5LkI/AAAAAAAAAWM/stuQ5iHkBO8/s1600/IMG_0548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9JBYNVUmo2Y/UrXpjFx5LkI/AAAAAAAAAWM/stuQ5iHkBO8/s400/IMG_0548.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jon Alex. The son of some of the founding members of Sumacc Ruraq.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rk0SL0h7Wz8/UrXqFXQKByI/AAAAAAAAAWU/sT1_eFaYUUs/s1600/IMG_0557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rk0SL0h7Wz8/UrXqFXQKByI/AAAAAAAAAWU/sT1_eFaYUUs/s400/IMG_0557.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girl from Sumacc Ruraq.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
CHRISTMAS CRAZINESS</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First thing you need to know and understand about Peru at
Christmas time: panetón. The word literally means ‘big bread.’ I like to
describe it as that fruitcake that people always joke about old people serving
at their house. Peruvians are obsessed with their panetón and crave it like it
there’s no tomorrow around this time of year, although I still get that
fruitcake sensation every time I eat a piece. It is basically a fluffy cake
with raisins and red and green chunks of “real” dehydrated gummy watermelon. It
is common for people’s work to gift them a panetón for Christmas. Right now we
have three sitting in our house. Apparently all the bakeries stop making
regular bread on Christmas Eve and only sell panetón because they can make so
much more money by doing so and that’s all anyone wants anyway.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4hyfN0Vdl4/UrXwo8M3cmI/AAAAAAAAAYM/vkn-YHsC1yE/s1600/IMG_0648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4hyfN0Vdl4/UrXwo8M3cmI/AAAAAAAAAYM/vkn-YHsC1yE/s400/IMG_0648.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three different brands of panetón. D'onofrio is probably the most popular.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coming back from Huancavelica I was thrown into the
Christmas craziness. This past week has been jam packed with activities and hot
chocolate and panetón. The thing to do around here is have what they call
‘chocolatadas.’ It is something that NGO’s or other organizations put on for
kids in poorer areas of the city. They have games, dancing, hot chocolate,
panetón, and usually a gift and/or a little goody bag for the kids. Bridge of
Hope put on a chocolatada for the kids in the neighborhood where the artisan
group Ima Sumacc yesterday. It was absolute chaos trying to coral these
sugared-up kids and be vigilant for the moms who don’t have money to buy their
kids a present and therefore are hiding their kid’s present so they can
hopefully get another. We were filling up baby bottles with hot chocolate and
kids were walking around double-fisting their panetón. My favorite age to
observe was the little toddlers!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XsvOC3kJ-9Y/UrXu-RDAnfI/AAAAAAAAAXk/4FUiwnj-ohc/s1600/IMG_0615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XsvOC3kJ-9Y/UrXu-RDAnfI/AAAAAAAAAXk/4FUiwnj-ohc/s400/IMG_0615.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole group.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sRIWe6f0jyo/UrXwJJaCXLI/AAAAAAAAAX8/QH3602xdM4c/s1600/IMG_0640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sRIWe6f0jyo/UrXwJJaCXLI/AAAAAAAAAX8/QH3602xdM4c/s400/IMG_0640.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys team for one of the games. They tried hard...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SCF_VNtJ2qY/UrXwUK1YdAI/AAAAAAAAAYE/aiaAZykr81c/s1600/IMG_0641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SCF_VNtJ2qY/UrXwUK1YdAI/AAAAAAAAAYE/aiaAZykr81c/s400/IMG_0641.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">but the girls pulled a win!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3usJUczyD5Q/UrXvUhRNvqI/AAAAAAAAAXs/DUH5r4Uv2Mg/s1600/IMG_0620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3usJUczyD5Q/UrXvUhRNvqI/AAAAAAAAAXs/DUH5r4Uv2Mg/s400/IMG_0620.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our little "gordito."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-38_KN8F-hxE/UrXwCZSmpZI/AAAAAAAAAX0/TnU771cviJA/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-38_KN8F-hxE/UrXwCZSmpZI/AAAAAAAAAX0/TnU771cviJA/s400/IMG_0631.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutest kid at the event hands down.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For this event I went shopping in the center of Lima where
all the cheapest things can be bought. It is block after block of stores and
markets selling anything and everything. Each street is more or less designated
for a certain product, so you have to know where you are going. To name a few,
there’s an electronics area, kitchen, Chinatown, shoes, clothing, and where we
went, toys. There are Black Friday crowds every day fighting to get to the
front of the mob to buy 12 plastic toy cars for 24 soles or 12 plastic
Barbie-type dolls for 32 soles. Everything is sold in bulk and people
(including myself) are walking around holding black plastic garbage bags full
of toys over their heads trying to squeeze through the tiniest gap and advance
through the walkways of the market. The lowest level is the hottest (my guess
would be right around 105<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">°</span> F), but in none of the four levels do you ever stop sweating.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That being said there is MUCH less emphasis here on gift
giving. Kids do not expect huge piles of expensive gifts and the holiday has
not reached the levels of commercialization that it has in the U.S. The
tradition instead focuses more on the aspect of being together as a family and
sharing a good meal together. As long as there is something on the table and
someone to share it with, it is a good Christmas. Instead of presents being the
focus, the nativity and the coming of Jesus is still what takes center stage, as
it should.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I wish you all the merriest of Christmases and pray that God
may provide for you abundantly in this coming year. May there ever be enough
food on the table and good company to share it with!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2076290592442351456.post-83336409812597608752013-12-15T08:32:00.002-08:002013-12-15T08:32:30.563-08:00Time is moving fast.<div class="MsoNormal">
(Disclaimer: This was supposed to be posted a week ago, but time slipped away from me. I just had a week full of adventures in the province of Huancavelica that I will post about with lots of pictures soon!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
GLIMPSES OF THE LAST MONTH</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I went to La Oroya for the second half of the workshop.
Instead of a rainy and snowy day a bright and hot sun greeted me. The kids were
full of energy, which was both great and tiring. I was so encouraged by Esther
once again as she spoke to me about how important learning about hope and the
biblical worldview is in the lives of these kids. Most of them don’t have a
Bible of their own, and if they do have a family Bible, many of never cracked
it open. Pray that some seeds were planted these two weeks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I went to the post office to pick up a package and was
confronted by a hectic and confusing scene. It took me over an hour to finally
get my package. Here’s the basic process: walk in the door and go to the
processing desk, show passport, get a small stack of papers, walk to the
parcels area and show papers to the guard standing there, walk to a window and
show papers to the man on the other side, write down address, show passport,
receive more papers, sit in waiting area, hear name called, go behind a glass
wall, watch while your package is opened, show passport, give them your papers,
return to waiting area, wait for name to be called, go to window to get more
papers, go to another window, give papers, show passport, sign document, pay
processing fee, pay a tax if items are valued over $100, and finally receive
package.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With Bridge of Hope Fair Trade, I was given an order to more
or less run by myself because there was a big Christmas rush. It was an order
from a Peruvian woman who is now living in France, and she ordered a few things
from 13 different groups. I was in contact with her by email and with all of
the artisans by phone. I understand so much better now the complexity, and
sometimes frustration, of running an order. The client would ask for colors
that the artisans didn’t have or try to order new things halfway through the
production process. The artisans would be grumpy about having to get a
certificate of origin for their products or wouldn’t turn them in on time. But
it was wonderful to be an integral part of the whole process and to have phone
calls coming in and artisans dropping by for me. I stayed late in the office
one night with my coworker tagging and packing up a ton of items while watching
Megamind in Spanish and laughing and getting to know each other.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Last week we had our first retreat with the YAVs in
Lunahuana, a beautiful desert landscape along a river. It was a beautiful week
of vulnerability and challenging conversations but also of creativity and
laughter and good food. We got to do a little white-water rafting on some Class
3 rapids, and although the river wasn’t super high yet, it meant we got to get
out of the raft and float through a little section! We also felt an earthquake
(5.8 ??) whose epicenter was right in the area where we were. Coming back from
Lunahuana, we celebrated Thanksgiving at the house of another missionary
couple, Rusty and Sara, with all the YAVs and some people from the office of
the Joining Hands Network. It was fun to celebrate with a couple people who had
never before celebrated Día de Acción de Gracias! We also ended the retreat by
lighting a candle for the start of Advent. Although I have been reminded of the
physical distance separating me from my family and friends during this season,
and many times have found myself wishing I was able to be home to celebrate
with them, I am ever grateful and comforted by the fact that there are these
traditions that hold us together, no matter the distance. As you prepare your
hearts during this time of Advent, know that you will always be in mine.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2076290592442351456.post-33099732123494034202013-11-09T11:50:00.000-08:002013-11-09T11:50:01.646-08:00It Is Well With My Soul<div class="MsoNormal">
I am well. I am content. Pull up this song and enjoy while
reading: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG525x2mUTU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG525x2mUTU</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
SUNDAY IN SJL</div>
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<br /></div>
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One Sunday morning in October I woke up early, got on a bus
at 7:15am, and arrived out in San Juan de Lurigancho by 8:30am. I met up with
Katty, a 23-year-old journalism major who has been working with the young
adults out in SJL to create videos about the realities – both the good and the
bad – of their neighborhoods, and Abilia, a 30-something woman who lives in SJL
and has been one of the bridges between CENCA’s work with adults and young
adults. Our goal: to get video footage to enter the young adult program in a
countrywide contest through a government program that promotes groups of young
adults and women. Our method: walk between the six different neighborhoods and
interview people in each site. We took a bus as far into the area as a road
goes and then proceeded to walk up steep dusty roads and stairs to find each
neighborhood. It was the first sunny day Lima had in a while so pretty quickly
my sweatshirt and hat came off and found their home in my bag. It was great to
finally get to see where the young adults that I’ve been getting to know on
Wednesday nights actually live and spend their time.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a bike ride into Miraflores the next day, one of the
richer and more touristy areas of Lima, I wrote this in my journal: “Miraflores
is such a crazy change from what I saw yesterday in SJL. There are things I
like about both. In SJL I loved the sense of community and togetherness that I
felt in a few of the pueblos. I loved the fact that all of them were outside
working and getting dirty and building things. Kids were running around playing
together. I loved that you can ask anywhere where a certain person lives, and
they can point you to the house and tell you if they are home or not at the
moment. They call each other ‘neighbor’ and know all about each other’s lives.
They are starting to put down roots – literally planting trees and bushes and
flowers – but also working to put in their own infrastructure that the government
has not provided. In Miraflores I love the organization. I like that the
traffic is slightly less crazy there and that you can buy fresh fruit and
vegetables. I like the plants everywhere and the green grass and the
cleanliness. I love the corner cafes and the well/thoughtfully dressed people.
I like that people are out going on runs and walking around. I like the
convenience.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5XPquO_HYK8/Un6IaOTjQoI/AAAAAAAAAP0/LWZUgkey2vY/s1600/IMG_0282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5XPquO_HYK8/Un6IaOTjQoI/AAAAAAAAAP0/LWZUgkey2vY/s400/IMG_0282.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To the right of me are Katty, Jon Carlos, Abilia, Shakira, and ??.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iTRPwJTtoFs/Un6IQSWjWzI/AAAAAAAAAPs/-pFWJJyGrAg/s1600/IMG_0294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iTRPwJTtoFs/Un6IQSWjWzI/AAAAAAAAAPs/-pFWJJyGrAg/s400/IMG_0294.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road they're building to reach their neighborhood. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0c_RYc2PVp4/Un6Jc34K3cI/AAAAAAAAAQM/AVsBrsZZ1Xk/s1600/IMG_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0c_RYc2PVp4/Un6Jc34K3cI/AAAAAAAAAQM/AVsBrsZZ1Xk/s400/IMG_0304.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The neighborhood Portada de Belén meeting together.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eXktMyKKP6c/Un6J0ovciwI/AAAAAAAAAQU/eUk7PTiHlBM/s1600/IMG_0307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eXktMyKKP6c/Un6J0ovciwI/AAAAAAAAAQU/eUk7PTiHlBM/s400/IMG_0307.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of one of many hillsides.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PRgsZsZQLSk/Un6JZlfPEpI/AAAAAAAAAQE/hVwnvxuit9c/s1600/IMG_0334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PRgsZsZQLSk/Un6JZlfPEpI/AAAAAAAAAQE/hVwnvxuit9c/s400/IMG_0334.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some green vegetables growing from the hard dirt.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
TINGO MARIA</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past weekend I took advantage of a Friday holiday to go
on a little vacation in Huánuco and Tingo María. Emma and I took an overnight
bus into Huánuco, met up with Mary Kate and her housemate/coworker/friend Ana
who is from Brazil, and headed into the central jungle of Peru. We ended up
hiring a driver to take us to and from Tingo María and drive us around while we
were there. It was really cheap and also turned out to be fun to get to know
our driver, Carlos. He is a 26-year-old guy whose full time job is
transportation. He used to work selling chicken, and his goal in the next
couple of years is to open up is own shop to sell pork.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We got to hike through the jungle to see the waterfalls Las
Ninfas (The Nymphs) whilst getting eaten by bugs, sliding around in the mud, gawking at the
“mari-posers” (mariposa = butterfly), sweating in the humid heat,
and trying fruit that Carlos found for us. We drove through crazy long tunnels
that had no lights inside and barely enough room at some points for two cars to
pass. We got a picture at La Ducha del Diablo (The Devil's Shower) while at the same time getting a
shower from the downpour that was currently coming down from the sky. We swam
under El Velo de la Novia (The Bride's Veil) despite the fact that it was still raining outside.
We visited an incredibly impressive cave filled with owls - La Cueva de las Lechuzas. We tried new fruits
like guaba (looks like a long bean pod and has fluffy white fruit inside around
massive black seeds) and aguaje (the outside looks the red scaly snake skin and
has a thin layer of bright yellow fruit underneath). We ate some typical food
from the jungle like tacacho (crumbly banana) and cecina (salty slice of pork).
And in Huánuco we ate the best popsicle I have ever had in my life – avocado!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WJPHyq2HvO4/Un6L-4zj6MI/AAAAAAAAARU/HFa2-06FgdQ/s1600/IMG_1041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WJPHyq2HvO4/Un6L-4zj6MI/AAAAAAAAARU/HFa2-06FgdQ/s400/IMG_1041.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Mary Kate, and Emma at La Ducha del Diablo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-odhZTQ1xwBw/Un6LjjYZvyI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/i0UNqXt1CSY/s1600/IMG_0405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-odhZTQ1xwBw/Un6LjjYZvyI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/i0UNqXt1CSY/s400/IMG_0405.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna, Me, Emma, Mary Kate at the end of our hike.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mGMuJBivVOo/Un6HjGp83eI/AAAAAAAAAPo/47y5WuuJcyA/s1600/Guaba+in+Tingo+Maria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mGMuJBivVOo/Un6HjGp83eI/AAAAAAAAAPo/47y5WuuJcyA/s400/Guaba+in+Tingo+Maria.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying out some guaba.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RLDlJNlq5pE/Un6M2BejglI/AAAAAAAAAR8/4LZZ6LzQuKw/s1600/IMG_1103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RLDlJNlq5pE/Un6M2BejglI/AAAAAAAAAR8/4LZZ6LzQuKw/s400/IMG_1103.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out of La Cueva de las Lechuzas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TBeUS2iutjw/Un6M8EDxIwI/AAAAAAAAASE/lYPHJ5dHJzs/s1600/IMG_1090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TBeUS2iutjw/Un6M8EDxIwI/AAAAAAAAASE/lYPHJ5dHJzs/s400/IMG_1090.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful river... muddy from the rain!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ts9ySWtIeL0/Un6NLWFYQ1I/AAAAAAAAASQ/R6YIvtg8Iv4/s1600/IMG_1137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ts9ySWtIeL0/Un6NLWFYQ1I/AAAAAAAAASQ/R6YIvtg8Iv4/s400/IMG_1137.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mountains look like a women sleeping on her back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
WORKSHOP IN LA OROYA</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
26 hours after arriving back to Lima from the weekend in the
jungle, I got in another car to head to La Oroya. I taught the first in an
installment of two workshops on creation care to a group of about 13 kids that
are part of the CAMBIALO program that I talked about in my first September
blog. It was good for my soul to study some theology again and let myself do
more reading than I needed to just because I was interested in the subject. I
also felt so extremely welcomed by them. When I arrived there was a delicious lunch
of green salad, chicken, and potato waiting for me that Esther, one of the
founding women of the Filomenas group, had made for me. She told me: “Normally
I would have made a soup, but I thought I’d make something special today for
our Abby.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The workshop was directed to a group of kids so there wasn’t
a super high level of sophistication, but we read Genesis 1 together to begin
with and eventually also looked at a section of Psalm 104. We spent some time thinking
about and expressing gratitude for the many blessings that we can enjoy in
creation. We then, through the guidance of the Psalm, looked at the intimate
relationships that exist between all things and how this can give us hope for
the future even as they see the big environmental problems facing them in La
Oroya. We did lots of activities, and it was really fun! I’ll be teaching the
second half in a couple weeks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the drive home I was confronted with a beautiful sight.
While it was raining in La Oroya it had been snowing at Ticlio Pass. There was
a thin layer of snow on all of the mountains and as we crossed to the other
side, I saw one of the most beautiful sunsets in my life. There was a bright
orange sky interspersed with a few thin wispy clouds set between two snow-dusted
mountains. Absolutely gorgeous. God is good.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
QUOTE OF THE WEEK</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(first verse of the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul”)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,<br />
When sorrows like sea billows roll;<br />
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,<br />
It is well, it is well, with my soul.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(And for those who care to know…)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"It Is Well with My Soul" is a hymn penned by
hymnist Horatio G. Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss. It is possibly the
most influential and enduring in the Bliss repertoire and is often taken as a
choral model, appearing in hymnals of a wide variety of Christian fellowships.
It is based on Psalm 146:1.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This hymn was written after traumatic events in Spafford’s
life. The first was the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, which ruined him financially
(he had been a successful lawyer and had invested significantly in property in
the area of Chicago which was decimated by the great fire). His business
interests were further hit by the economic downturn of 1873 at which time he
had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre. In a
late change of plan, he sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business
concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the
Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sea vessel, the Loch
Earn, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and
sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone …". Shortly
afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to
write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died. Bliss called his tune Ville du Havre, from the name of the
stricken vessel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Spaffords later had three more children, one of whom,
their only son, Horatio Goertner Spafford, died at the age of four, of scarlet
fever in 1880. In 1881, the Spaffords, including baby Bertha and newborn Grace,
set sail for Israel. The Spaffords moved to Jerusalem and helped found a group
called the American Colony; its mission was to serve the poor. The colony later
became the subject of the Nobel prize winning <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jerusalem</i>, by Swedish novelist Selma Lagerlöf.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
(just pulled from Wikipedia, but still really interesting!)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2076290592442351456.post-16996684467085634662013-10-18T09:43:00.003-07:002013-10-18T09:43:31.271-07:00Pictures<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DhBobyLqr4I/UmFayoBRacI/AAAAAAAAAL4/ssB2J-dvISA/s1600/IMG_0207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DhBobyLqr4I/UmFayoBRacI/AAAAAAAAAL4/ssB2J-dvISA/s400/IMG_0207.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of the sisterhood of the traveling bracelet! A great surprise after work.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PsYSjI1Fq_A/UmFhwQ0-mVI/AAAAAAAAAOI/D5r1ei01_X4/s1600/IMG_1006.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PsYSjI1Fq_A/UmFhwQ0-mVI/AAAAAAAAAOI/D5r1ei01_X4/s400/IMG_1006.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hildegaard´s! Such an encouragement to me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHmCzzun0_0/UmFayVQaCEI/AAAAAAAAAL0/b7swptSNb_U/s1600/IMG_0212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHmCzzun0_0/UmFayVQaCEI/AAAAAAAAAL0/b7swptSNb_U/s400/IMG_0212.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Caracol" stairs going down to the kitchen at CENCA.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2CeKFmGLwhY/UmFaeRTE5HI/AAAAAAAAALs/KRgSttEMiK0/s1600/IMG_0211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2CeKFmGLwhY/UmFaeRTE5HI/AAAAAAAAALs/KRgSttEMiK0/s400/IMG_0211.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little section of the office where my desk is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1yOnr8_vaGo/UmFbSoSPnhI/AAAAAAAAAME/irQ6rtxur7c/s1600/IMG_0213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1yOnr8_vaGo/UmFbSoSPnhI/AAAAAAAAAME/irQ6rtxur7c/s400/IMG_0213.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My station is the one on the right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vK7G8coXong/UmFbqqIOkJI/AAAAAAAAAMU/wKNjxM4-zgc/s1600/IMG_0226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vK7G8coXong/UmFbqqIOkJI/AAAAAAAAAMU/wKNjxM4-zgc/s400/IMG_0226.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CENCA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UuYMjp7c1No/UmFcF_e4CYI/AAAAAAAAAMc/1naiAdDWmJc/s1600/IMG_0231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UuYMjp7c1No/UmFcF_e4CYI/AAAAAAAAAMc/1naiAdDWmJc/s400/IMG_0231.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Antonio de Padua church.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rliLDA7sWGw/UmFceBIqVDI/AAAAAAAAAMk/mVJdENPEF4A/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rliLDA7sWGw/UmFceBIqVDI/AAAAAAAAAMk/mVJdENPEF4A/s400/IMG_0232.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the garden area.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9KJ1oG88Hao/UmFcgncbsyI/AAAAAAAAAMs/buksfzLtKAY/s1600/IMG_0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9KJ1oG88Hao/UmFcgncbsyI/AAAAAAAAAMs/buksfzLtKAY/s400/IMG_0233.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other part and the side of the sanctuary with beautiful stained glass.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DTvxOqirE8E/UmFdAK3Ns4I/AAAAAAAAAM8/iktWa-10cKk/s1600/IMG_0234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DTvxOqirE8E/UmFdAK3Ns4I/AAAAAAAAAM8/iktWa-10cKk/s400/IMG_0234.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A convent next door.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-27jnApMzGRE/UmFeINtAmwI/AAAAAAAAANw/hhiPcQdRoPs/s1600/IMG_1015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-27jnApMzGRE/UmFeINtAmwI/AAAAAAAAANw/hhiPcQdRoPs/s400/IMG_1015.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tiny Nazarene church.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_pHVIovGgA/UmFdNpiKZAI/AAAAAAAAANE/tBt6RJlLPpc/s1600/IMG_1001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_pHVIovGgA/UmFdNpiKZAI/AAAAAAAAANE/tBt6RJlLPpc/s400/IMG_1001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larcomar. A mall built into the side of the cliff.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AkHW8cc445A/UmFkLfNq59I/AAAAAAAAAOU/mLd4pVB5T1k/s1600/IMG_0999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AkHW8cc445A/UmFkLfNq59I/AAAAAAAAAOU/mLd4pVB5T1k/s400/IMG_0999.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the coast from Larcomar.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lyu6Nkr2ZCo/UmFdjJTWuKI/AAAAAAAAANU/nl8ViO2OnM4/s1600/IMG_1003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lyu6Nkr2ZCo/UmFdjJTWuKI/AAAAAAAAANU/nl8ViO2OnM4/s400/IMG_1003.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miraflores. A memorial to the victims of a car bomb set off by a terrorist group.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iOvYQrSGXSU/UmFdp3w9TcI/AAAAAAAAANc/kY4r2IfhUzo/s1600/IMG_1005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iOvYQrSGXSU/UmFdp3w9TcI/AAAAAAAAANc/kY4r2IfhUzo/s400/IMG_1005.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite coffee shop so far!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OI5JfqcOsMg/UmFdxOr3EHI/AAAAAAAAANk/Un_vc5JmjLE/s1600/IMG_1007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OI5JfqcOsMg/UmFdxOr3EHI/AAAAAAAAANk/Un_vc5JmjLE/s400/IMG_1007.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moka italiano at Origen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xMLq0inI-2s/UmFeHsb9qMI/AAAAAAAAANs/eY9L-8ZxKiE/s1600/IMG_1016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xMLq0inI-2s/UmFeHsb9qMI/AAAAAAAAANs/eY9L-8ZxKiE/s400/IMG_1016.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My house is officially for sale. Moving is in my future.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2076290592442351456.post-78563717941548491312013-10-14T16:49:00.002-07:002013-10-14T16:49:44.668-07:00Exploration.<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Much of what I have been doing so far can fit into the
category of exploration.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
new places.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>foods.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>friends.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>communities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>work.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>churches.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>coffee shops.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>books.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
new forms of passing the time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is often that I have time to fill. I will get home from
work early or all of my family will be working on an evening or I will have a
Saturday to myself. It is strange getting used to living in an environment
where I can’t distract myself with internet or TV or homework all the time. I
have been learning to go on bike rides with the hope of getting a little lost
and having to really understand and get to know the area where I am. For the
first time in a while I have been an extremely faithful runner, going on at
least 3 or 4 runs a week. I walk to work and try to take a slightly different
route every day. I read a lot: newspapers and random publications I find at
work and, currently, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Abril Rojo</i>. I
find pleasure in discovering new embassies (Apparently this is the area where
they like to be located. There are SO many… Off the top of my head: Malaysia,
Japan, Poland, Russia, India, Italy, Guatemala, Belgium, El Salvador, Bolivia,
and Uruguay. These are only the ones I’ve actually seen too). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spend time in coffee shops and
teaching the puppy we currently have at our house how to “siéntete” (sit) and
“ven” (come).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another big area of exploration has come in the way of
finding a church. So far I have visited six different churches. Quick
observations:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cathedral of the Good Shepherd in Miraflores</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the church that Jed and Jenny attend. It is Anglican,
which is more or less a mix of Catholic and Protestant traditions. It is a
small chapel, and the service we attended had around 35 people. Good message
and apparently usually has good and decently contemporary music (the week we
visited there was no music because the music leader was gone). There was a
fellowship time after where we got to meet and talk with members of the
congregation. Possibility.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Peruvian Evangelical Church – Kilometer 13 in Comas</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is where one of the other YAVs, Blake, is working
during this year. There were a ton of kids, and they were included throughout
the service. They had upbeat and good music. The sermon was excellent as well. After
the service we had a really great time of conversation and getting to know the
community. If I lived closer, this would be a definite possibility. Check out
this YouTube video that Jed made of our visit: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwng959GmnU&feature=youtu.be">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwng959GmnU&feature=youtu.be</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Parish San Juan María Vianney of Magdalena del Mar</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is where my host family goes on occasion. It is only a
few blocks from my house. We went to a mass at 7:30 at night. There were
probably about 50 people there, and it felt like a very solemn service to me.
This was only the second time I have ever been to a Catholic mass, so I was
often lost as the rest of the people recited things they already had memorized.
There was a decent reflection and decent music. I’d return with my family if
they went again, but a no for the year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Christian Missionary Alliance Church of Pueblo Libre</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What could be defined as a mega-church. There were several
hunder people in attendance (although the majority didn’t show up until 15 or
20 minutes after it started in typical Peruvian fashion). I never have even
been to a mega-church in the U.S., so this was definitely a new experience.
They baptized 20ish people in a built-in pool at the front of the church, had
about a 15 person band up front, projected a live video of the service on a
screen up front, had an altar call after the message followed by a mass prayer
where everyone squeezed up together in the front of the church, and
announcements for the multiple big events that were happening during the week.
Decent music and decent sermon. Would return but probably not for the whole
year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nazarene Church of Jesús María</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I walked past this church on my way to CENCA one morning. It
was just a storefront with a sign above it that gave the times. Emma and I
decided to give it a try. We were 2 of 9 people in the service. Attached to the
back was the pastor’s house where kids kept running in and out of the service.
The pastor was a woman who was very welcoming and made sure we had song lyrics
and a Bible. The music was played on a boombox. The sermon wasn’t very meaty.
Good to see this faithful community meeting together. Probably will not return.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Parish San Antonio de Padua of Jesús María</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This I also discovered on my walks to and from CENCA. It is
a beautiful Catholic church that takes up an entire block with all the
additional buildings and services attached. A medium-sized service… Maybe 175
people at the noon service. Great music and great reflection. Even though it
was Catholic, I felt that, with a little time, I could learn the pattern of the
service and be able to participate more fully (except communion). They recite
the Nicene Creed and the Lord’s Prayer and do a call and response of St.
Francis’s famous prayer. Friendly and welcoming. Definite possibility.
Returning next week. Must start memorizing!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>**Pictures coming... I don't have them on my computer yet and want to get this posted while I have internet!</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
English:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where there is injury, pardon;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where there is error, the truth;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where there is doubt, the faith;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where there is despair, hope;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where there is darkness, light;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And where there is sadness, joy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To be consoled, as to console;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To be understood, as to understand;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To be loved as to love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For it is in giving that we receive;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Español:</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Señor, haz de mi un instrumento de tu paz.<br />
Que allá donde hay odio, yo ponga el amor.<br />
Que allá donde hay ofensa, yo ponga el perdón.<br />
Que allá donde hay discordia, yo ponga la unión.<br />
Que allá donde hay error, yo ponga la verdad.<br />
Que allá donde hay duda, yo ponga la Fe.<br />
Que allá donde desesperación, yo ponga la esperanza.<br />
Que allá donde hay tinieblas, yo ponga la luz.<br />
Que allá donde hay tristeza, yo ponga la alegría.<br />
<br />
Oh Señor, que yo no busque tanto ser consolado, cuanto consolar,<br />
ser comprendido, cuanto comprender,<br />
ser amado, cuanto amar.<br />
<br />
Porque es dándose como se recibe,<br />
es olvidándose de sí mismo como uno se encuentra a sí mismo,<br />
es perdonando, como se es perdonado,<br />
es muriendo como se resucita a la vida eterna.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2076290592442351456.post-33857594427292371042013-09-23T09:32:00.001-07:002013-09-23T09:32:25.716-07:00A Full Week of Work and Host Family Life Complete.<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">DESPEDIDA</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Many things have happened since my last
update. It has been a time of transition and change and practicing patience and
learning to appreciate quiet. The night before we all left, we had a goodbye
dinner and worship service together. It was a beautiful time for us to truly
take some time to celebrate the community that exists between us. We ate
bruchetta, the best lasagna I have ever had in my life, salad, and topped it
off with some Chilean wine. Well done, Jed and Jenny, well done.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">MY PERUVIAN HOME</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My host family has been extremely welcoming
to me:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;"> 1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">They gave me the big bedroom,
complete with my own personal roll of toilet paper. (I’m not really sure why
this is a thing since we all just use what’s in the bathroom anyway).</span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">My host mom makes me breakfast
in the morning. If she has to go to work early, she leaves it all set out on
the table. (Breakfast usually consists of something with bread – marmalade,
avocado, scrambled egg – and then a hot beverage. She makes this delicious
oatmeal drink that I can’t get enough of!) My host mom also packs me my lunch
every day. (Lunch is the biggest meal of the day, so they pack something big
like chicken and rice for example. The first day she gave me enough to feed a
family, and they gave me a hard time at the office for how much I had! We’ve
been working on portion sizes since.)</span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">They invited me to go to church
with them. (They’re Catholic.)</span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">They have already made plans to
celebrate Thanksgiving with me and try to understand some American traditions.
(We’ll see how authentic it ends up being.)</span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">They encourage me to invite
friends over whenever, and when Emma came over this afternoon they prepared a
huge and delicious meal for us. We ate pasta in a spicy red sauce with shrimp.
There was also freshly made passion fruit juice, sweet potatoes, and cucumbers.
The meal concluded with canned peach for dessert and a hot tea. (They pulled
out all the stops!)</span><!--[if !supportLists]--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Ways life is different:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;"> 1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">At least compared to college
and summer camp, the house is so quiet. Everyone has very different schedules,
and it is hard to find times that overlap. I don’t have a community outside of
the house yet, so I’ve been doing a lot of reading. My current goal is to
reread <i>East of Eden</i>. I am well on my
way.</span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">No one gets to work on time. I was told to show up at 10:00am at the office, but the reality is that people are still filtering in until lunchtime. I more aim to arrive at 10:30 now so that I´m not always the first one to get there.</span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">Cold showers. The water heater
doesn’t work currently, and they do not seem to have any plans to fix it. Brrr!</span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">You never drink water out of
the tap. It has to been boiled or you have to buy bottled water. My family just
keeps a pitcher of boiled water handy all the time.</span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">They drink coffee all the time here, but it is always instant coffee with evaporated milk and sugar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YH91NjJd6_M/UkBjcXkR8jI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/qGfMQe6IBzE/s1600/IMG_0144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YH91NjJd6_M/UkBjcXkR8jI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/qGfMQe6IBzE/s400/IMG_0144.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from my window to the north.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BDmdZvjIYfs/UkBjPrJ99OI/AAAAAAAAAJE/6S065eDZ88c/s1600/IMG_0147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BDmdZvjIYfs/UkBjPrJ99OI/AAAAAAAAAJE/6S065eDZ88c/s400/IMG_0147.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One side of my bedroom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cYH099rJYkI/UkBjO8xgrsI/AAAAAAAAAJA/RRGuKeE9O0E/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cYH099rJYkI/UkBjO8xgrsI/AAAAAAAAAJA/RRGuKeE9O0E/s400/IMG_0148.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the other.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0lsSnofgEiw/UkBkHLrMMEI/AAAAAAAAAJg/oYEQNsDlwmQ/s1600/IMG_0151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0lsSnofgEiw/UkBkHLrMMEI/AAAAAAAAAJg/oYEQNsDlwmQ/s400/IMG_0151.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from my window to the south.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AaMLZIADwkM/UkBkT65n9NI/AAAAAAAAAJo/RoLuh8uiloc/s1600/IMG_0152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AaMLZIADwkM/UkBkT65n9NI/AAAAAAAAAJo/RoLuh8uiloc/s400/IMG_0152.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down the staircase.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hWGEv5AHZwA/UkBkE66FnYI/AAAAAAAAAJY/UJTHym-M2ok/s1600/IMG_0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hWGEv5AHZwA/UkBkE66FnYI/AAAAAAAAAJY/UJTHym-M2ok/s400/IMG_0155.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UQHWGFAz04s/UkBk9-QkvHI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/ZkFnXUM4UAM/s1600/IMG_0156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UQHWGFAz04s/UkBk9-QkvHI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/ZkFnXUM4UAM/s400/IMG_0156.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nCh7VF0gs20/UkBk2XiHW8I/AAAAAAAAAJw/jlUOdVUy99E/s1600/IMG_0157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nCh7VF0gs20/UkBk2XiHW8I/AAAAAAAAAJw/jlUOdVUy99E/s400/IMG_0157.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining area.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">MY WORK</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My volunteer work here will primarily be
with the two organizations CENCA (pronounced sen-ka) and Bridge of Hope Fair
Trade. I work with CENCA Monday to Wednesday. My work there will be with young
adults (jóvenes) in the one of the poorest districts of Lima, which also
happens to be the most populated. There are over a million people in San Juan
de Lurigancho and many of them migrated from cities in the mountains or jungle
areas during the years of terror in the ‘80s and ‘90s. There is a school that
CENCA runs on Wednesday nights in the outer edge of San Juan de Lurigancho
directed to jóvenes. It is called ESDEL (Escuela de Líderes). The main
objective is to educate and provide a forum for discussion for these jóvenes
about things like what it means to be a have political voice, their rights as
citizens of Lima and Peru, the importance of community building, etc. My job is
to help plan and implement different social activities for them as well as help
facilitate ESDEL. Monday and Tuesday will be dedicated to planning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">What a typical Wednesday will look like for
me (hopefully… this week was a little different, but the following is supposed
to be the norm): Get to work around 10:15am. Meet with Davis and Alberto, the
other two who are working with the jóvenes. Put together any materials that are
needed for the evening. (Last week it was basically making big flash cards. I
felt like an elementary school teacher.) Eat lunch. Have the afternoon free to
nap. Hop on a bus at 6:00pm to go out to San Juan de Lurigancho. Arrive in San
Juan de Lurigancho a little before 8:00pm. Facilitate ESDEL class from about
8:15-9:30. Hop on a bus to take me back to my house. Arrive back at my house
around 11:30pm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I work with Bridge of Hope on Thursdays and
Fridays. For the first month or so, Thursday will be dedicated to visiting the
different artisan groups in Lima. I will go with Jed and Jenny to learn how to
get to each of them. Fridays I will be in the office with Daniela, my
supervisor, working on whatever needs to be done. Right now I am compiling all
the orders from 2011-2013 into a spreadsheet to eventually give to the artisans
so they can track which client ordered which items in which month. Sometimes
the orders are really large and it is hard for the artisans to finish all the
items on time. With the information I am compiling, they can hopefully have a
better idea of what items they should have prepared based on past trends.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This Thursday I went with Jed, Jenny, and
Emma (she didn’t have to work that day, lucky for me!!) to visit the group
Emady in the morning. They are a group of women who sew. Their niche is with
shipibo fabric. This is a typical design from the jungle. They make bags, coin
purses, table runners, napkins, and many other things. They were super
friendly. I was greeted immediately by a huge hug from one of their sons,
Victor, who has Down’s syndrome. They then took us upstairs to the third floor
of their little house where their workshop is. We were surprised to see that they
shared the third floor with a small farm of chickens, turkeys, and rabbits!
This group has been very diligent with the money they have earned through
sewing and are always ready and excited for new orders, even though there have
not been many recently. The group we visited in the afternoon is called Ichimay
Wari. There are many people that work together as potters. They make a lot
Christmas items like ornaments and Nativity scenes as well as other household
trinkets. They were in the middle of finishing a big order so we got to see
them working in full swing. Even though they were really busy, they gave us an
extremely warm welcome. One of the men met us at the main highway to make sure
we didn’t get lost on the way to their house. They also cooked us a big lunch
while we were there. We didn’t know they were going to make us food, so we had
eaten a little picnic in the taxi on the way, but we ate the food they gave us
anyway to be respectful. They put a little flair on the typical onion garnish
by adding mint leaves to it… It was delicious! It is amazing that the people
who most obviously don’t have a lot of extra money are always the ones who are
the most hospitable, making sure you are fed and comfortable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h0hfL9L1vW0/UkBlCGTn2SI/AAAAAAAAAKE/wj1BXtjJAWM/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h0hfL9L1vW0/UkBlCGTn2SI/AAAAAAAAAKE/wj1BXtjJAWM/s400/IMG_0169.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emady.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CfT9KKIam-M/UkBl5fMxppI/AAAAAAAAAKU/v6uLGkpNOQU/s1600/IMG_0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CfT9KKIam-M/UkBl5fMxppI/AAAAAAAAAKU/v6uLGkpNOQU/s400/IMG_0171.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple of their chickens!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VrQRlMHo3zQ/UkBmD0GOqrI/AAAAAAAAAKc/_HWRM6x8w5s/s1600/IMG_0172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VrQRlMHo3zQ/UkBmD0GOqrI/AAAAAAAAAKc/_HWRM6x8w5s/s400/IMG_0172.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other half of the third floor... and rabbits.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3WzTxwqaV4M/UkBl4AF9OcI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/XTX8YkXu4Cc/s1600/IMG_0173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3WzTxwqaV4M/UkBl4AF9OcI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/XTX8YkXu4Cc/s400/IMG_0173.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They even put the kids to work :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HZQd7_JEOWQ/UkBmxBsT0UI/AAAAAAAAAKs/6e66IwQv52s/s1600/IMG_0175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HZQd7_JEOWQ/UkBmxBsT0UI/AAAAAAAAAKs/6e66IwQv52s/s400/IMG_0175.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding a final glossy coat with her niece in the manta.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4b3kmhbIBM/UkBmrfEsGtI/AAAAAAAAAKk/kk-mv8fN3uI/s1600/IMG_0185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4b3kmhbIBM/UkBmrfEsGtI/AAAAAAAAAKk/kk-mv8fN3uI/s400/IMG_0185.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So well done! Look at the detail.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1JFEY0j3ZfA/UkBnvn9CpDI/AAAAAAAAALM/Q_d1TrpDnqI/s1600/IMG_0190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1JFEY0j3ZfA/UkBnvn9CpDI/AAAAAAAAALM/Q_d1TrpDnqI/s400/IMG_0190.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Their street. Theirs is the wooden one with cactus out front.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r9az5_Kywks/UkBnsv_bGGI/AAAAAAAAAK8/_ftu2O5Jrws/s1600/IMG_0198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r9az5_Kywks/UkBnsv_bGGI/AAAAAAAAAK8/_ftu2O5Jrws/s400/IMG_0198.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the hill they live on.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lFXAUWCT4tk/UkBnuZipnOI/AAAAAAAAALE/8bNTZwD5hXA/s1600/IMG_0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lFXAUWCT4tk/UkBnuZipnOI/AAAAAAAAALE/8bNTZwD5hXA/s400/IMG_0199.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moto-taxi. This is the mode of transportation in areas like this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">From <i>East
of Eden</i> by John Steinbeck:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> “You’ve
had that horse forever,” Adam said.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> “He’s
thirty-three,” said Samuel. “His teeth are worn off. I have to feed him warm
mash with my fingers. And he has bad dreams. He shivers and cries sometimes in
his sleep.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> “He’s
about as ugly a crow bait as I ever saw,” Adam said.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> “I
know it. I think that’s why I picked him when he was a colt. Do you know I paid
two dollars for him thirty-three years ago? Everything was wrong with him,
hoofs like flapjacks, a hock so thick and short and straight there seems no
joint at all. He’s hammerheaded and swaybacked. He has a pinched chest and a
big behind. He has an iron mouth and he still fights the crupper. With a saddle
he feels as though you were riding a sled over a gravel pit. He can’t trot and
he stumbles over his feet when he walks. I have never in thirty-three years
found one good thing about him. He even has an ugly disposition. He is selfish
and quarrelsome and mean and disobedient. To this day I don’t dare walk behind
him because he will surely take a kick at me. When I feed him mash he tries to
bite my hand. And I love him.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> Lee
said, “And you named him ‘Doxology.’”</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2076290592442351456.post-27516737038661152592013-09-11T11:40:00.001-07:002013-09-11T11:40:35.777-07:00Orientation Part Two<div class="MsoNormal">
EL OJO QUE LLORA</div>
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We visited a memorial called El Ojo Que Llora, The Eye That
Cries, to learn about the years of terrorism here in Peru. It is a labyrinth of
rocks with the names of people who died at the hand of a terrorist (mostly who
belonged to the Shining Path or the Revolutionary Movement of Tupac Amaru). It
was a powerful tribute to the thousands of people that died and a shock to me
to be reminded of how recent this all is. The last date I noticed was in 2000 –
only 13 years ago. The fear and threat of terror is very much a real and
current thing. There is a fear of trust among the people. It is a subject that
is never brought up in public and only talked about among trusted friends. This
is a little of the culture that I will be entering into.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k55-J51ZHpo/UjB2Q59q-wI/AAAAAAAAAG0/VYywvNgEbh4/s1600/IMG_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k55-J51ZHpo/UjB2Q59q-wI/AAAAAAAAAG0/VYywvNgEbh4/s400/IMG_0099.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of some of the rocks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XNt6n_SKCFg/UjB2Mo8JIoI/AAAAAAAAAGs/p92V9uRKBlc/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XNt6n_SKCFg/UjB2Mo8JIoI/AAAAAAAAAGs/p92V9uRKBlc/s400/IMG_0106.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each of these rocks is a mountain for whom to cry.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VCA_PCxg-K8/UjB3t-BzvhI/AAAAAAAAAHI/jTbWNx4vbIQ/s1600/IMG_0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VCA_PCxg-K8/UjB3t-BzvhI/AAAAAAAAAHI/jTbWNx4vbIQ/s400/IMG_0113.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justice spelled in flowers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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ON THE ROAD</div>
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The road we traveled. Lima to La Oroya to Huancayo.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=-11.856599,-76.16272&spn=1.881508,2.334595&z=8&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=-11.856599,-76.16272&spn=1.881508,2.334595&z=8&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The drive. I missed better pictures because my camera was under the seat :/</td></tr>
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We got to take a short field trip into the Andes last week
to visit a couple of the projects that are part of the Red. The first place we
stopped was La Oroya. It was about a 5 hour car ride from Lima and we had to
pass over Ticlio Pass at an altitude of nearly 16,000 feet to reach the city
which itself rests at about 13,000 feet. We took some medicine to help with
altitude sickness but still some people got headaches and felt dizzy. I was
actually totally fine, although I could definitely tell that the air was a lot
thinner when I climbed a couple flights of stairs.</div>
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La Oroya is the home to the Doe Run mining project, which is
owned by U.S. billionaire Ira Rennert from New York. It is the only smelter of
its kind that can process many different types of metal, and as such, is a
valuable commodity for the mining industry. You can smell the smog in the air
as you drive down into the town and can see the rocks and mountains that are
chemically burned white from and acid rain and wind. Then you drive over the
brown river that is so contaminated the kids can’t go swimming in it. Nearly
all children who live there have high levels of lead poisoning. We visited a
group of women called Filomenas as well as a group of kids in a program called
CAMBIALO. Both are trying to raise the consciousness of their members as well
as the town of La Oroya, Peru as a whole, and the rest of the world about the
situation of the people of La Oroya. Filomenas seeks to empower women in this
process and CAMBIALO seeks to raise a new generation of young adults that will
affect great change. I will get to spend about one day a month with the kids
from CAMBIALO! Right now it’s looking like that time might be spent filming
some type of short movie or music video about a roof-top garden project they
are working on right now.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o-jAEh-KI_o/Ui-OxwCMVnI/AAAAAAAAAGM/kaPYzIq5dj0/s1600/visit+to+CAMBIALO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o-jAEh-KI_o/Ui-OxwCMVnI/AAAAAAAAAGM/kaPYzIq5dj0/s400/visit+to+CAMBIALO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids at CAMBIALO.</td></tr>
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Although from the outside it may look like Peru is doing
well economically with its average 6.5% growth for 10 years straight, the
situation is much more complicated. This growth and wealth is centered in Lima,
for one, and is only serving to increase the gap between the rich and the poor.
The middle class is extremely hard to define here. This growth also does not
show the situation of places like La Oroya and Chaquicocha.</div>
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We stayed the night in Huancayo and then headed up to see a
few sites where CEDEPAS is working. We saw many different examples of how they
are helping people develop more healthy and sustainable ways of living. They
have built greenhouses so fresh food can be accessed all year long, compost
toilets, solar heated showers, chimneys so smoke can escape out of the kitchen
roof instead of being trapped inside, separated bedrooms for parents and
children, rain water collecting receptacles, and pools where trout can be
raised for food.<br />
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OTHER THINGS WE’VE DONE</div>
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Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Lima.</div>
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Watch traditional dances at Breezes of Titicaca.</div>
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Hike from the district of Comas to San Juan de Lurigancho.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-spKeqKAKW1c/UjB539d1NJI/AAAAAAAAAIE/7QHyJt-_PEM/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-spKeqKAKW1c/UjB539d1NJI/AAAAAAAAAIE/7QHyJt-_PEM/s400/IMG_0139.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made it to the top finally!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3KISdxKQ9cQ/UjB5cne6qUI/AAAAAAAAAH0/D_aVnBOrEh0/s1600/IMG_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3KISdxKQ9cQ/UjB5cne6qUI/AAAAAAAAAH0/D_aVnBOrEh0/s400/IMG_0133.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YAVs with young adults from church in Comas.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-69t7g6UWkrM/UjB5VPYzYxI/AAAAAAAAAHs/TDbJuvI0fT8/s1600/IMG_0135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-69t7g6UWkrM/UjB5VPYzYxI/AAAAAAAAAHs/TDbJuvI0fT8/s400/IMG_0135.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foggy view of Lima.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mystical foothills of the Andes.</td></tr>
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Meet with Jesús from CENCA where I will be working.</div>
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Learn about the situation of water in Peru from Conrado, the
director of the Red.</div>
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Go to a national food festival called Mistura on Costa Verde
and try anticuchos (cow heart served as a kabob), ronda norteña (deliciously
seasoned beef, banana chips, and mashed potatoes), ceviche in a spicy passion
fruit sauce, spit-fire roasted pork, picarones (delicious donuts made from
sweet potato and pumpkin), cheese ice cream, arroz con leche, and a couple new
flavors of pisco sours.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dUQlkw2WWuI/UjC1XnmsNGI/AAAAAAAAAIU/Rdsl8QWNPhU/s1600/Chancho+al+Palo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dUQlkw2WWuI/UjC1XnmsNGI/AAAAAAAAAIU/Rdsl8QWNPhU/s400/Chancho+al+Palo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chancho al Palo.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bi8NXko8NJk/UjC1YtNRLtI/AAAAAAAAAIc/vdTVCfftOBM/s1600/Mistura.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bi8NXko8NJk/UjC1YtNRLtI/AAAAAAAAAIc/vdTVCfftOBM/s400/Mistura.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The group at Mistura.</td></tr>
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FUN FOR YOU</div>
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Peru in Nebraska youtube video</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/r_xBZcVEH1I?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></div>
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This is where I will be living starting Thursday!</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=307+Jr.+Trujilllo,+Lima,+Lima+Region,+Peru&aq=2&oq=307+jr+&sll=-11.93454,-76.121521&sspn=1.617651,2.466431&t=h&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Jr.+Trujillo,+Lima,+Lima+Region,+Peru&ll=-12.042967,-77.029627&spn=0.001579,0.002409&z=14&layer=c&cbll=-12.09616,-77.062813&panoid=witmbMWRyhnG2OSTSYBHeQ&cbp=12,261.3,,0,-3.63&output=svembed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=307+Jr.+Trujilllo,+Lima,+Lima+Region,+Peru&aq=2&oq=307+jr+&sll=-11.93454,-76.121521&sspn=1.617651,2.466431&t=h&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Jr.+Trujillo,+Lima,+Lima+Region,+Peru&ll=-12.042967,-77.029627&spn=0.001579,0.002409&z=14&layer=c&cbll=-12.09616,-77.062813&panoid=witmbMWRyhnG2OSTSYBHeQ&cbp=12,261.3,,0,-3.63" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger
Map</a></small> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2076290592442351456.post-19777121208070929142013-08-31T16:09:00.000-07:002013-08-31T16:12:55.015-07:00Orientation Part One<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">ORIENTATION<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Almost two weeks have passed now since I left home to embark
on this adventure of being a YAV. August 19<sup>th</sup> – 26<sup>th</sup> I
was in Stony Point, New York for a week of orientation. There were 68 YAVs in
attendance; this was a mixture of national and international volunteers. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9nXVqMwMcEw/UiJx0ZMMclI/AAAAAAAAAFg/uql9GPJaolM/s1600/Limo+in+NY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9nXVqMwMcEw/UiJx0ZMMclI/AAAAAAAAAFg/uql9GPJaolM/s400/Limo+in+NY.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got picked up by a limo at the airport! Not expected.</td></tr>
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We went over many topics during the week to help prepare us
for what lies ahead. We also spent a lot of time reflecting on our own
strengths and weaknesses, studying the Bible, and praying. One lesson that stood
out was a basic summary of globalization. We began to look at how the United
States has gotten involved over the years in the economy and politics of other
countries and how that has affected the way these countries function today. It
was only the beginning of what I know will be a large part of what I learn and
see this year, but it began to put a weight on my heart to do what I can to
right these wrongs and to bring justice in this broken world.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fIXIdDzkrRs/UiJxzl_rP4I/AAAAAAAAAFM/efiLc76z8Os/s1600/Central+Pres+Haverstraw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fIXIdDzkrRs/UiJxzl_rP4I/AAAAAAAAAFM/efiLc76z8Os/s400/Central+Pres+Haverstraw.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was commissioned at Central Pres in Haverstraw, NY.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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TRAVEL</div>
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We left Stony Point at 8:00am on Monday morning and didn’t
arrive in Lima until 4:30am on Tuesday morning. The travel wasn’t supposed to
take as long as it did, but our very first flight out of New York was delayed
and we missed the next two legs. The airline got us another flight direct to
Lima that left at 11:55pm. When we tried to check in for this flight, though,
we were told that we could not board the plane without having a return flight
within 6 months (the one we had was 7 months). We tried calling all of the YAV
staff, but they were all on a flight back to Louisville together and couldn’t
receive calls. We were able to get in touch with the travel agent and she
worked hard to get us return flights. It took a long time, and we
camped out at the check-in counter for 4 or 5 hours. Finally, we made it and
were greeted by Jed and Jenny’s smiling faces!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tytVnbTO1YM/UiJx15W8OkI/AAAAAAAAAFw/oGWAXspWriQ/s1600/Llegamos+a+Lima.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tytVnbTO1YM/UiJx15W8OkI/AAAAAAAAAFw/oGWAXspWriQ/s400/Llegamos+a+Lima.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4:30am in the Lima airport. Lookin' good!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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FIRST IMPRESSIONS</div>
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These first days in Lima have been a rush. Everything is
going so quickly, and I am doing what I can to not let anything pass me by. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been busy getting to know the
city a little bit and learning how to ride the buses and taxis here. You would
be amazed at how crazy the traffic is here. Drivers are totally crazy and any
driving laws we have in the U.S. probably don’t apply here. Even things I
thought were a given – like driving in your own lane – are totally ignored in
Lima. I’ve begun to figure it out, though, and could get where I wanted to go.</div>
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I have been lucky this week to get to meet my host family
already and many of the people I will be working with at a little commissioning
service that we had at the office of the Joining Hands Network. I met Davis and
Jesús from CENCA, Daniella from Bridge of Hope Fair Trade, and my host mom
(Ada), brother (Chente), and cousin (Davíd).</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CQLUvLjWZ1M/UiJxzxqBFwI/AAAAAAAAAFc/pbqi37xcDtU/s1600/Bienvenido+Reunio%25CC%2581n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CQLUvLjWZ1M/UiJxzxqBFwI/AAAAAAAAAFc/pbqi37xcDtU/s400/Bienvenido+Reunio%25CC%2581n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Thursday we went out to the edges of Lima to an area called
Las Torres. We visited one of the artisan groups called Ima Sumacc that I will
be working with this coming year. They are a group of five women living close
to each other who learned to knit and sew in order to have a way to make money.
They primarily make children’s hats, scarves, gloves, and stuffed toys. I was
incredibly impressed by the quality of what they make! However, it was shocking
to see the conditions in which they live. It is very much a shantytown. As we
drove in the taxi out there, there was a striking difference between the
Miraflores district we drove through that has a big mall and wide streets and
beautiful houses to this mess of tiny dirt roads full of trash and stray dogs.
All of their houses are built on steep sandy hills that could slide at any
moment. Peru is known to have earthquakes, and even a smaller scale earthquake
could take out their entire community. The women were also telling us that they
did not even have electricity or water until two years ago. I cannot imagine
living like this, yet they assured us that they were happy with what they had
because some people had it worse. I wanted to share this brief story now, but
there will be a lot more coming about what Bridge of Hope is trying to do in
communities like these.</div>
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<a href="http://www.fairtradeperu.com/imasumacc_en.html">http://www.fairtradeperu.com/imasumacc_en.html</a></div>
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We also have done some fun things to get to know the history
of Peru. We went to the anthropological museum and to the St. Francis of Assisi
Catholic Church. At the church, we got to go into the catacombs beneath! What a
crazy and fun experience. My theology brain was nerding out a little bit… I
could have stayed in there for a long time exploring and reading old books in
the library and learning more about St. Francis. The tour guides were scooting
us along though, and I don’t think anyone else found it as great as I did!
Jerry Sittser… You have officially converted my into a theology and church
history nerd forever.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xr6VIDbHGUQ/UiJx0I4PX5I/AAAAAAAAAFk/LDkJbDcWK20/s1600/Iglesia+San+Francisco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xr6VIDbHGUQ/UiJx0I4PX5I/AAAAAAAAAFk/LDkJbDcWK20/s400/Iglesia+San+Francisco.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Iglesia San Francisco</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gchheiJLVXI/UiJxzgyUFaI/AAAAAAAAAFU/nLbDpR2eJwE/s1600/Iglesia+San+Francisco+puerta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gchheiJLVXI/UiJxzgyUFaI/AAAAAAAAAFU/nLbDpR2eJwE/s400/Iglesia+San+Francisco+puerta.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front doors of the church.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am looking forward to spending more time with this wonderful group of YAVs and our incredibly loving and welcoming site coordinators! They have already become a little family down here, and I can't wait for more adventures.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2076290592442351456.post-89603096586213254442013-07-23T22:00:00.001-07:002013-07-23T22:00:18.504-07:00The Basics<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">SUMMER UPDATE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Well, friends, the day is getting near. I am
less than a month away from beginning my YAV year! It still is surreal to me
that I graduated from Whitworth already and that I will be abroad for almost an
entire year. I am getting really excited, though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This summer I am leading the Compass program up
at Camp Spalding so I have been very busy to say the least. It has been an
incredible summer so far with two more weeks of adventure to come still. We
just got back from backpacking last week with Peak7 Adventures. The girls did
the High Divide Loop in the Olympic Mountains and the boys went somewhere in
the Sawtooth Wilderness in central Washington.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aYswBapPcfE/Ue9aS5qr9-I/AAAAAAAAAEA/KJ6sLTpr1pc/s1600/1078963_10200990791045038_780162774_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aYswBapPcfE/Ue9aS5qr9-I/AAAAAAAAAEA/KJ6sLTpr1pc/s400/1078963_10200990791045038_780162774_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About to embark... Look at the amazing color spectrum!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IGE2HPtzMRs/Ue9al4FtdjI/AAAAAAAAAEI/apwmeyKSVpg/s1600/1074350_10200990802965336_587479524_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IGE2HPtzMRs/Ue9al4FtdjI/AAAAAAAAAEI/apwmeyKSVpg/s400/1074350_10200990802965336_587479524_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Olympic Mountains with Blue Glacier and Mt. Olympus at the center.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I have this week off to recover from backpacking
and prepare for our mission trip in Seattle. It has also been and promises to
be a good week to get some things figured out for Peru and connect with old
friends in Spokane before I take off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I just wanted to share with all you what has
been going on since I last was in communication. I have already raised the
minimum amount I need to fund this year in Peru thanks to generous donations
from many of you and from my home church, Covenant Pres, in Boise. Thank you
for being so supportive of the work that I will be doing! If you would still
like to be involved financially, there is still a need. Any money that is
specified to me will go directly to the work I am doing in Peru.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">UPDATE ON WHAT I WILL BE DOING IN PERU<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For those of you who don’t know, through the Young
Adult Volunteer Program (YAV) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), I will be
joining over 70 other young adults serving at 16 different sites both here in
the United States and around the world. While I am still learning about my
specific responsibilities, I will be working with the Red Uniendo Manos Perú,
the Peru Joining Hands Network. The desire to address the root causes of
poverty is what pulls the 12 Peruvian institutions in the Peru Joining Hands
Network together. Each institution has its own work in different communities in
Peru, but together they do advocacy in environmental justice, economic
development and human rights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I will specifically be working with the Bridge
of Hope Fair Trade program. The program works with 14 artisan groups, half of which
are in the Andes and half in Lima. About 90% of the artisans are women, most of
who live in extreme poverty. The Fair Trade program works with each artisan
group in developing them as individual persons, groups, and as artisans. I will
spend significant time developing relationships with the artisans - spending
time with them, understanding their context, sharing stories, and eventually
helping lead workshops on self-esteem, leadership, and group dynamics. This
opportunity will allow me time to share the good news of Jesus Christ by
showing these people how valuable they are and how much they are loved and
accepted by Christ and by the community of believers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Recently I also learned that instead of working
full time for Bridge of Hope, I will split my time with an organization called
CENCA. They need a volunteer to work in leadership development with young
adults and mothers. CENCA works in Lima in an area that is very impoverished.
Most of the families have migrated from the mountains to the city and lack
basic necessities. Because of this there are many problems with young people
who cannot get work or cannot study.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">MY HOST FAMILY!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the most exciting things for me has been
finding out who my host family is! I will be living with a family in Lima for
the duration of the 11 months. The mother of the household is named Ada. Her
husband died about eight years ago, so she lives with her sons and daughter in
the house. The oldest son is Chente. He is 33 years old and a musician like his
father. Then there is Mario, who is 20 and Maria who is 18.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I got to Skype with Chente for a little while
this past weekend, and they seem extremely welcoming and excited to have me
stay with them. He said that I need to try <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cuy</i>
(guinea pig) while I am down there because that is a traditional Peruvian food.
I’m hoping that I can get some guitar lessons while I’m down there too!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xWfgTromf9I/Ue9cVCApeNI/AAAAAAAAAEY/wB_GvsQJ-UY/s1600/Chente+y+Ada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xWfgTromf9I/Ue9cVCApeNI/AAAAAAAAAEY/wB_GvsQJ-UY/s400/Chente+y+Ada.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11.5pt;">OUTLINE OF THE NEXT YEAR</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">July 27 – August 2<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Compass
Urban Plunge in Seattle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">August 4 – August 10<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Last
Week of Compass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">August 11 – August 18<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
week of prep in Boise<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">August 19<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Fly
to New York for YAV training<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">August 26<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Fly
to Peru!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">August 27 – September 11<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Orientation
in Peru with the other YAVs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">September 12 – November 23<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Phase
I in my site<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.5in; text-indent: -2.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">November
24 – November 29<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Retreat
1 in Huacho/Caral (celebrate Thanksgiving with the other YAVs)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">November
30 – December 25<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Phase
II part A in my site (spend Christmas with my host family)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.5in; text-indent: -2.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">December
26 – January 3<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Vacation
1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">January
4<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>YAV
Holiday Gathering<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.5in; text-indent: -2.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">January
5 – February 28<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Phase
II part B in my site<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.5in; text-indent: -2.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">March
1 – March 7<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Retreat
2 in Mancora<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.5in; text-indent: -2.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">March
8 – May 18<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Phase
III in my site<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">May
14 – May 17<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Retreat
3 in Paracas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">May
18 – May 24<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Vacation
2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">May
25 – July 10<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Phase
IV in site placement<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">July
11<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Say
goodbye to sites<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">July
13 – July 18<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Retreat
4 in Huancayo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">July
19/20<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Return
to U.S.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06047414132497896460noreply@blogger.com2