6 hours into our trip, we reached 16,000 feet and this beautiful view.
Madeline shows pictures to one of the boys at CENTRO GIRASOLES in Lima.
Church of San Franciso, in Lima.
Everyone enjoyed the doves flying in their faces at San Francisco.
Tara, Charli, and Ryan watch on at Kawai.
Riley is having a special visit to the vet today.
Today we had a meeting to discuss Spring training for next year's cross country team.....over 40 students showed up! I am so excited!
The other night I was grading some papers when I heard something that suspiciously sounded like a cat in a trashcan. I got up and walked over to find Riley, with his hiney sticking up in the air and his nose in the garbage. As I prepared myself to scold him, he popped his head up......except, I couldn't actually see his head because it was stuck in a sour cream container. I had to laugh! I will save the scolding for the next time and perhaps learn to take out the trash a little sooner.
one day
Catherine and Samantha conviced us to come to Panama!
Kate, Elizabeth, and Becky made some awesome dip....and even though Mexico isn't technically part of Central America, our happy bellies didn't mind :)
Sarah and Kierra went all out! Definitely gets my vote for most enthusiastic.
Yum, Audrey.....what is that delectable dish?by Russell Kelfer
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate...
and the Master so gently said,"Wait."
"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!"
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.
My future and all to which I relate
hangs in the balance and you tell me to Wait?"
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign.
Or even a 'no,' to which I'll resign.
You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply.
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
as my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
and grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting...for what?"
He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine...
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.
I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.
You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
you'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
when darkness and silence are all you can see.
You'd never experience the fullness of love
when the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
The glow of My comfort late into the night,
the faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.
You'd never know should your pain quickly flee,
what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
but oh, the loss if I lost what I'm doing in you.
So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
that the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still "WAIT"
Saturday, September 291 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
So, I am moving towards the end of July. I am excited about being in a new place, but sad about losing some great roomies. You have to meet my new neighbors, though...I think they might be great company!
Katie the brave! The first to prove
Facade of the old church at Yungay. The original town
The reason we go to Peru.
Seniors 2007 at 16,000 Feet
hermanas: sisters
Bryant found a new friend
How many men does it take to
Nick found some cowboys
Today was our final day with the children in Kusi. As we drove up we saw some little faces peeking out the door and then disappear once they realized we could see them. They were excited to see us....someone said they had prepared a surprise. As we went into the school, the children greeted us by putting multicolored ribbons around our necks. After the children marched in and sang their national anthem, we were invited to sing ours. Luckily, we didn't start too high :)
What followed was a series of dances by each grade. The first grade danced to a song about the vowels. Each student had one of the vowels on their shirt and did a little solo dance when their letter was mentioned. Later, another grade did a traditional dance. The song talked about giving and receiving baby chicks to show affection. The 6th graders' dance included traditional clothing in bright pinks and yellows and and ropes that they wove together to make a star shape as they danced in a circle. The final dance was to a christian song.
After the student's presentation and a very official thank you from the director of the school (Peruvian style: with big words and serious tone), we did our last day of VBS. Brian, Ani, Kelsey, and Katie led our last singing of "Eres mi todo" (you are my all), which had become sort of our theme song for the trip. Then Kelsey and Lauren reviewed Psalm 23 - with all the motions! After a skit about a lost sheep (with Sam's sound effects) and the Shepherd, all the children got in circles to make sheep sock puppets.....what a mess we made!!! Cotton balls and glue everywhere....missing sheep noses....felt pieces that didn't seem to stick just right....but finally....at the end....a lot of happy children with very cute puppets.
I felt the need to write again because so many different things happened today... some which can't be put into words but I will try my best. First, a few people were sick this morning but are all feeling better tonight. However, the rest of us are trying to figure out who's going to get it next... please pray that we'll all stay healthy for the long trip back!
This week has been amazing.... a trip I won't easily forget! we're all packing up now and getting ready to depart for lima at 6. Andy is very proud that he made 36 adobe bricks today! Seth says that the trip's been a lot of fun, but most importantly, the food's been really good, however, due to this trip, he vows that he's never getting married. Nick agrees. :) Katie had fun learning the Peruvian dances but she is upset that her nose is sunburned :(
Farai says, "despite the smells, the tiring work, and my sprained ankle, it's been really fun and I'm really glad I had the chance to come on this trip." Andrea misses her toilet and shower, however, she still had fun and loves all of the Peruvians. We can't wait to come home! See you all Sunday night!
Guinea pigs, bugs, and cold showers... need I say more? Despite the sparse commodities, Peru is amazing! It is definitely a trip I'll never forget! To start with, I will never forget Henry, the cute little guinea pig that Andy and I bought today at the market. We bartered for it with the help of our spanish friend, Billy. Henry only cost 9 soles which is about $3. I got to carry him back to the restaurant. He squealed and I loved him... and then I watched the lady at the restaurant break his neck Ok, so I didn't really watch it, I was in the room but I covered my eyes. Thirty minutes later, Henry came out fully intact (minus the fur) and cooked on a plate. His head was still on and his teeth were still in his mouth! He tasted like tough, greasy chicken... I miss the little guy but Seth enjoyed devouring him!
After watching Henry's murder, we took an hour bus ride up to the glacier lake. It was truly breath taking. Huascaran, the famous mountain around here, was gorgeous. A song that we sing at my church often kept running through my head: "The heavens declare Your greatness, the oceans cry out to You, the mountains they bow down before You, so I'll join with the earth and I'll sing my praise to You!" Yesterday, I read the last few chapters of Job. God is humbling Job and showing Job how small he truly is to the Almighty God... seeing this amazing beauty reminded me of that as well. I can't help but feel small as I look around me.
Robby, Karissa, and Seth are next to me as I type this. Robby sums up his experience in one word: "Bueno!" Seth says "Howdy!" and that all of the 20 flavors of icecream in this city are amazing. He also loves everyone and is very tired. Karissa is proud of herself for hiking down the mountain today without falling! She was one of the few who didn't... I was one of the many that did-figures.
I just wanted to write a quick note letting you know what we did today. First we got up and walked thru a market. Oh my goodness, some people in my class bought a cute, helpless guinea pig and had the restaurant kill and cook it! ahh...i thought i was going to be sick. apparently it is a widespread peruvian custom, but i dont care. gross and sad.
it has been such a cool experience to get to hang out with street boys in kawai, lima, & cusi. ive only got to spend a few hours really so far with each group & still so many have captured my heart with their smiles, joy, affection. im learning how much you can communicate without words. if you have a camera & you like playing games, then you can make many best friends with these amazing kids.
today was our day off, touristy, sightseeing day. we walked
one final thought before i go. i read revelation 5 two nights ago about the blood of Christ ransoming people from every tribe & every tongue. that verse took on new meaning for me in the past week because for the first time im being exposed to a culture & people completely different from myself. though so so many things are different between me & one of the street boys here, one thing remains the same. the blood of Christ saves us both. oh how wondrous & powerful is the blood of God which penetrates into all peoples, cultures, & languages to save man from sin & give them life everlasting.
we went dune buggying on saturday, and it was very roller coastery. we also sandboarded, and i cut up my arm, but it was well worth it.
we had our first vbs and work day yesterday, and there were little girls there and the school as well. two little girls, leidy and julia, clung by my side nonstop. they were so cute and i got lots of pictures with them. today we went to a glacial lake and went hiking, which was absolutely gorgeous. i didnt get to enjoy the hiking part as much though there were no bathrooms :) but i got lots of pictures. tomorrow and friday we will go to the same school and hang out with the kids.
Peru is amazing! Yesterday (Tuesday) was our first work day at Kusi and also our first Vacation Bible school, it was amazing. The children were delighted that we were there to help. We were honestly all sore last night. Once we returned to the hostal, due to the amount showers being taken the power went out. Yet again another freezing cold shower, haha, I must admit though, I am getting used to them. The power finally did come back on during worship. Today we went to Huascaran, where we went on small boat rides, the lake was FREEZING, but the scenery was breath taking. We then went on a hike down a mountain trail. We hiked for a hour and half. It was beautiful, but not easy. We all made it through the trail and back onto the bus we then headed back to Caraz to spend the rest of the day going to the market. This trip has been amazing and I am loving every second of it. Like brian said, it is a painful site sometimes, but God truely has great things planned for this area. I love and miss you all!!!! We are all safe and we appreciate all your prayers!!!
"You don't understand, Miss Jackson...You have no idea what the air pressure is doing to my stomach." - Alix Bowman
"You think YOU had a mudparty!" - Clare, who had been mixing mud and straw with her feet to the girls who were making the bricks.
hey friends and family,
On the first day here, the group took a trip to Las Islas Paracas. The islands were breathtaking. Birds flew overhead by thousands (poor Ani Arntz was splattered twice), and the seals basked in the sunlight. The caverns everywhere reminded me of stories about pirates and hoards of buried treasure, though it is likely that the caves are only home to bats and marine life.
Hola!
Blessings and ADIOS!
