MN Group!

Kari and I just finished working with a group from MN working on another church site. This project has been the most physically demanding project thus far, but a project I really enjoyed doing. Not only was the group from Riverside a GREAT group of people to work with, but there was plenty of support from the Nor Oeste church as well. As you can see from the following pictures, we started with a building, and ended the week with open land (and a few bricks and dirt). The church as purchased this property, but in order to build their church, they needed to tear down the current building. It looked like a lot of work in the beginning, but we were able to get a lot farther than I orginially thought.





Some of the work was rather teadious, such as cleaning off all the bricks one by one and moving them from one location on site to another, then loading them and moving them to another site. But the end result was great! Kari and I came home every day covered in dust and made the people who work at the house we are staying at laugh because we were beginning to look like Peruvians. Overall, as far as work is concerned, I think this was my favorite project...I really feel as though something was accomplished (not that I don't think the other groups accomplished things, because, believe me, they did, but after being able to a lot of hard physical labor, it just feels as though more was done, especially looking at it was before, and what it is after).

Here are a few more pictures to help you see what the week looked like!!













(I'll try adding more later, I just ran out of time...)

Journey Group Pictures

Here are some pictures from Peru group #2, enjoy!!

Journey Group

Well, a couple days ago, we said good bye to the second Peru mission group. This group was from Arizona...I'm going to have contacts all over the country by the end of my summer!!

It was a group of 9 people who were here for about a week. We continued on with the work at the Guardaria (where we were working with the first team). We moved bricks to the roof - again preparing for the 2nd floor to be built. Then, we also painted. We added color to the white walls the first team painted. The main color we painted was yellow. The main room and the hall has been painted yellow (the bottom half of the wall). Then a large back room has been painted green (again, only the bottom half). Then, out front, we painted a cream color on the bottom half of the wall and a bright blue around the windows. It's been fun waiting the building come together with the colors. It is much more bright and friendly and inviting now! (I'll add pictures later.)

It is fun watching the groups because every group is different. The group make-up and the people who come on each team. I have enjoyed getting to know the teams and becoming part of the group. It has given me ideas of how to help groups in the future.

Tomorrow I will be helping with another team, but this will be a short time as I will be going to Chepen and helping out with the church there while waiting for a team to come help with their construction project.

PA Group Pictures

Here are a few pictures of the PA group's time in Peru. There only a few few because of the time it takes to put them online...sorry. I've been having some computer and internet issues with these machines/connections here in Peru, so please have patience all summer!!

9th Anniversary Celebration

On Friday I arrived to Chepen in the afternoon to join in the 9th Anniversary of the CMA church there. In the afternoon I was able to visit the church before a bunch of people came and talk with some friends who were preparing for festivities.

A little after 8pm the festitives began. We had a time of singing with a pastor from Trujillo. Then there was a baby dedication for 2 babies. One baby was Jose, Pastor Juan and Marta's youngest son. The other was for Henry and Rosa's newest addition (yes, for those who have been to Chepen and know Henry and Rosa, they have had another baby! A 2 month old little girl named Rut Elena and sh'e adorable, looks a bit like her brother.) Then there was another pastor from Trujillo who shared a message with the congregation.

It was great being with the church again. There were about 90 people in attendance! It's starting to look more and more like a church - much farther than it was 2 years ago, our first time there. They now have a sound box, paint on the permanent walls, plus an enclosed roof (although it's only temporary). The ushers also dressed similarly to stand out - white tops with black pants.

After the service, we had a dinner. It was good, but, as usual, a lot of food. It was also a little more spicy than I'd like, but not bad. We finished the night off with cake! This time was also spent talking with people. I mostly talked with the people my age - those I know the best. It was great to just sit and talk with people. I didn't understand everything, but definitely more than my last visits - the good thing too was that they noticed the difference in my language abilities too! The party was so great, I didn't end up getting home until about 12:130am!

I must admit it si different being there alone, without a group of gringos. In some ways I liked it better because I'm seeing more what things are "normally" like. However, at times I wish I had some gringo with me. If I thought I got stared at lot with everyone, it's worse now because I know it's me they're looking at, not someone else in the group.

Chepen team members: I want you to know they remember everyone of you, even if it was only 1 yr you came. They have asked about each of you by name. I am sending you their love!

Hope Church particularly, but everyone is included in this: Continue to pray for this church. One group that was supposed to come isn't able to anymore, so in some ways that's a discouragement, although you won't hear anyone complaining. Thankfully, in Juyly we'll still have 1 group. The church has been issued a challenge. If they can raise $1000 by the end of June, Chuck, a missionary who used to work in Peru (and my director), has said he would get $7000 from outside sources. With this $8000, they can get the 2nd floor of the church at least started, if not finished. Pastor Juan is sure they can get their $1000 raised. He has challenged the people of the church to donate $10 each. He believes that at least 60 people will do that, giving them $600, needing to raise only $400 more. That last $400, he hopes to raise in a yard sale and by selling baked goods. Please be praying this month for this opportunity to raise $8000 for the church!

Also please be praying for Pastor Juan and family. The are working on getting their visas for coming to visit in Oct. As it is difficult to obtain visas to the US, please be praying for this process. I'm hoping to travel with Pastor Juan and Marta to Lima to visit the Embassy to try to help in this process. Please also be praying as they prepare mentally and spiritually to come. They have a lot of questions and concerns, but I know they are excited about the opportunity to come!

(Sorry this is so long and there aren't any pictures. Hope to get those up soon!)