Day 10 - Tuesday

Peru was such an amazing time. It was amazing to see how happy the boys were in each of the homes. They literally have what we had in our backpacks. Everyday each of them had a smile on their face and brought great joy to me and my classmates. All they have is each other and the love of Christ. I will never forgot these two boys who I spent quality time with. José was the first boy I bonded greatly with. We would always play soccer together and he would always call me “amigo.” He was a ball of energy who loved to be outside and pass the ball with me. The most heartwarming experience was when I passed the ball with a boy named Roy. Roy is eleven years old who has MS. It was very touching to pass the soccer ball with him and see him smile. Although I had to help him, he was determined to get the ball every time. No matter what, we can always count on Christ to help us and grow stronger.

 

                Pattymac

 

 

Day 9 - Monday

The morning started off as usual with a filling breakfast and tired eyes. However those tired eyes were quickly converted into competitive roars. It was day 2 of field day, which was extremely intense. Every competition this morning was a relay race in order to include everyone on their team. The first competition of the day was a race where we had to run down and put a rope through our body and then run back and tag the other person while each person’s team cheers on with a competitive spirit but some of us had a little too much competitiveness.  Anyways, after all the competitions were finished the points were counted, The Lions were in first, the Chickens in second, the Ducks (my team) in third, and the Monkeys in last. After that was finished everyone was EXHASTED but not too exhausted to play soccer and throw frisbee with some of the boys. Next up is lunch with some authentic Peruvian spaghetti!

-Banks Dupree

 

After we left the Oasis (bucket list of climbing up a massive sand dune in the desert: CHECK!), we all piled back on the bus and headed to where Billy and Kate told us we would pass out water. I don’t exactly know what I was expecting, but what we saw blew me away. Never before in my life have I seen such poverty. We drove through miles and miles of literal boxes: 8 by 8 square foot shacks of scrap metal, straw, and sand in the middle of the desert. We all got off the bus and followed this giant water truck on foot, walking through the streets. Whenever we stopped, crowds of people would surround us with dirty buckets to fill up with water using hoses attached to the truck. This would be the only water these people had for days! I was shocked by the conditions these families were living in, and even more shocked at the idea that there were hundreds of square miles like this all over Peru. We are SO BLESSED to live the way we do and have what we have; what I have realized is that with great blessings comes great responsibility.

-Ashlyn Swintek

Day 8 - Sunday

Field day with the kids was like most things on mission trips: you go in with a plan, but have to be fluid and flexible with everything you do. As game leaders, Stephen and I went in with a list of activities and a set order of activities. However, at lunch, a few hours before it started, we were told we needed to change our activities into games for a four-team competition. Rather than playing the games we originally thought of like soccer, kickball, and ultimate Frisbee, we did a number of relay races and a few games we learned through SouthLake.

Field day started with a game in which teammates were blind-folded and had to find each other using only animal sounds. This was the hardest game because all the kids who were not blind-folded were making noise and confusing the ones who were actually playing. We played this a couple of times and then moved into the relay races. We did a sack race, three-legged race, and wheel-barrow race. These brought out the competitive side in all the groups. There was a lot of humor watching people trip over each other and fall in both the sack and three-legged races. The racing got old too though so we moved onto the water balloon toss. This game consists of two team mates tossing a full water balloon back and forth and progressing backwards after each pair of successful tosses. We finished the day playing the shirt game. To play this, everyone received a bandana to put into his own waistband and wear as a tail. The goal for each player was to remove other people’s tails. The last team with players remaining won. This game created alliances between different team and helped have a sense of community between different teams.

All in all, the field day was successful. The participation of both the kids and the seniors exceeded my expectations. I thought the kids would have less motivation because they would not want to play some games the gringos were teaching them. I thought the seniors would not want to participate because the games were geared towards younger kids. Everyone played hard and I was happy with how the day went. Seeing us come together with the kids brought a lot of joy to my heart. Despite any kind of language or age barrier, everyone played as a team and showed the power a loving spirit can generate.

 

---Andrew Naspinski

 

Sunday we were able to spend more time fellowshipping with the boys at dinner and during a special movie night. For dinner we had meal of Agai de Pollo with rice and potatoes. It was so awesome to get to know the boys better, and see them interact with each other as well as all of the Southlake kids. They seem so different from the Girasoles at Kusi, but the one main similarity between the two groups is the joy that they both emanate in their every day lives. After dinner, we moved the tables, and set up a projector (we have been eating our meals hear outside in the “courtyard”). The caregivers brought the boys blankets, and we all settled in to watch Penguins of Madagascar. The littlest boy, Fernando, climbed into my lap and became enthralled with my water bottle and camera. By the time the movie was over, he was fast asleep in my lap, as were many of the younger boys in their chairs, and the group was ready for bed!

 

--Lydia Talbot                                                    

Day 7 - Saturday PM

As we arrived in Ica, the boys were all lined up waiting for us. They either wanted to hug you or shake your hand. It was a little awkward but funny. There are fewer kids here than there are in Kushi. There are more kids here that have mental and physical disabilities than in Kushi. What I do not get is how happy both homes are when most of the boys come from horrible backgrounds. It just amazes me to see there happy faces even though I have all this stuff but they have nothing. They are just so happy and it makes me happy to know that you don’t need anything because you have God. Even though we were all very tired, after dinner we played some games. We were each given a piece of paper and on it was an animal. I got a monkey, so I was on the monkey team. The first game was you had to use your animal sound and make a song out of it. Team monkeys sang the song Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, which was hiliarious! The next game was musical chairs, which our team didn’t win that either. After that we tried hot potato, which didn’t work the first time because the balloon got popped. After that game was a speaking game where you have four people from your team in a line. Then the boss speaks some word and you have to respond with the action he was giving. The action was different between all four groups, which make it so funny to watch. After that game we played the hot potato game again, which luckily the ball didn’t land on me! Then we said our good nights to the bed and I personally went straight to bed.

-Stephanie Bartel

Day 1 - Sunday

Day 1: Peru

We made it. PERU PERU WE CAME FOR YOU! It’s 1:15 am right now, and we are on a bus headed to our hotel in Lima. Despite our large group size, we did not lose any baggage or encounter any problems in customs. Praise the Lord! And, an added bonus…..our airplane had free movies we could watch. It doesn’t get much better than that for 30 something high-school seniors.

Even at night, Lima is beautiful. Tonight, we all get to sleep with our bellies full of airport food, our hearts expectant for all the Lord is going to do, and our bodies ready to get one last good night sleep/shower in our hotel before we head off on a 9+ hour bus ride tomorrow morning towards Kusi.

Pray for rest. Pray for heart change. Pray for our cups to overflow with love and joy towards all the souls we will encounter. But, most of all pray for God to us in ways that far exceed our expectations.

- Ansley

Day 2 - Monday

Day 2

After 5 hours of sleep, coordinating 82 pieces of luggage, and eating our first Peruvian breakfast, all 42 of us made it outside of the hotel ready to depart for Kusi. Little did we know, our bus was running an hour and a half behind, so we all trekked down to the coast to catch our first view of the Pacific. It was about a half a mile walk to the ocean, and we all arrived safely after dodging the crazy Lima drivers as we crossed the city streets. Unexpectedly, the ocean was down a steep cliff. We hung out in the city park, high above, overlooking the water. Many of the boys decided to play on the merry-go-rounds, while the girls took to the see-saws and the permanent exercise equipment, which provided all of us with quite a few laughs. After our excursion to the edge of Lima, we headed back to the Hotel and hustled to get the luggage and passengers aboard.

Although many of us slept through the first 3 hours of our bus ride, the majority of us were able to submerse ourselves in the beautiful views that accompanied us while we drove on the Pan-American Highway. Before turning off into the mountains, we stopped at a small gas station to eat lunch, use the restroom, and purchase our first Peruvian snacks. The next 6 hours of our ride contained quite a few switchbacks, and we appreciated all the Dramamine we could get. Before our final 2 hours of the trip, we stopped at a beautiful overlook that was about 11,000 feet above sea level. The view was incredible, and pictures were taken in excess. Complete darkness marked our last 2 hours up the mountain, and we arrived safely in Yungay. We were greeted by stray dogs and rain, along with 4 vans that took us about 15 minutes up the mountain to Kusi. Arriving in Yungay was a blessing, not only because we could now stretch our legs, but more importantly, we were able to catch our first glimpse of the van Southlake purchased for the boys in Kusi.

After we were transported to Kusi, luggage and all, we ate a much needed dinner that was generously provided by the cooks in there who stayed late to serve us. The food was fantastic. We had a fried rice dish that filled our bellies and made us even more thankful for sleep.

Continue to pray for us as we serve. We are so excited to be here!

-Ansley Rikard

Day 3 - Tuesday

Cam H.’s alarm clock woke us up at 6:00am with an overly happy, Apple-phone stereotypical ring…as planned. I think. Oh, and “us” refers to Lyn T., Cam and me, Jessica C….otherwise known as Profe.

Our bodies didn’t respond as readily to the alarm, however. Our plane ride on Sunday, bus ride on Monday and unfamiliar surroundings made waking up an extra hard chore. But soon the need for a hot beverage, excitement of being in Peru and desire to see the sun peak over the Andes Mountains motivated us out of our warm sleeping bags.

Breakfast was a quiet affair for our group…I’m guessing most of the girl’s faces were make-up free for the first time in…well, since their last rushed, make-up-less final exam day. J But this time, wearing Goodwill-found jeans, washed-out T-shirts from freshman year, and clean faces reflected a preparedness that was soon reflected in their attitudes and willing hands.

Mr. H. called us all to the “plaza” – the cutest concrete slab in the middle of Kusi that is the center of this white-washed adobe village. The “Alcalde”, or Mayor, of the town welcomed us officially and told us the story behind Kusi, the place we all believed was a simple Boy’s Home. We now know that the vision for Kusi is much farther reaching. Kusi is actually designed as a small village. What to us was perceived as a rustic, yet well laid out, camp grounds -  with bungalows, a dining hall,

an industrial kitchen (with none of the amenities we are familiar with, yet fully functioning!), several buildings used for school rooms and some unfinished structures – is actually a town! Therefore, “Girasoles”, the Boys Home we believed we were here to serve is just one ministry that Scripture Union is a part of. All the Southlake students listened with rapt attention as Kati, the woman we thought was just another sweet, God-serving member of the Scripture Union team, transformed into the true “mayor” of the town that she is! We pray this place becomes the refuge of peace, productivity and spiritual light that Scripture Union and Southlake have been working together to build for years now! It’s such a blessing to be a small part of this ministry.

Kyle, Noah, Emily, Meghan, Alison, Corbin, Alexa, John R., Jillian, Ansley, Ashlyn, Anna, Stephen, and Andrew and Kirby circled up right after the meeting in the “town square” to hammer out last minute details for day 1 of VBS with the primary school children. Although we had planned to have all Southlake students participate in the VBS, either as a “team leader” or a “support team member”, we soon discovered we needed to adjust our expectations. The director of the school felt (with good reason) that we would overwhelm the 30 elementary age students if all 31 of our high-school age students converged upon them. So, a new plan was formed: only the VBS team leaders carried out the VBS while the others went to various work sites to haul rocks or dismantle benches and clean plastic chairs in the town square. Feeling rushed and slightly unprepared, the VBS team leaders quickly walked through the new plan for VBS for today. Watching how that plan was carried out makes me almost cry just thinking about it. This is the first year, that I know of, that the students COMPLETELY created and lead the VBS on their own. This meant in a practical sense, that Ansley was the first one to step out in front of all these cute, but not-even-remotely-bilingual kiddos and welcomed them and prayed for them in Spanish. Alison followed her, with the help of Anna and Ashlyn, teaching the students the verses on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:14-17) in Spanish with hand-motions. Alexa, John R., Jillian and Corbin lead the students in song in Spanish. Kyle opened our Bible lesson with a skit in Spanish, and Noah spoke for over 15 minutes recounting the story of Joseph in Spanish!

Jesus has used these Southlake students to encourage me so much on this trip simply watching them confidently walk into uncomfortable territory trying out their Spanish and making connections with the workers and students. Watching Andrew and Kirby give directions in Spanish  - both of them! – made my heart burst with pride while they instructed the little guys on how to play “Sharks and Fishes” (their awesome translation of “Sharks and Minnows”). More Southlake students came to the soccer field and more smiles were given and pictures were snapped than can be counted as everyone joined the game.

 

After lunch, people went back to work moving rocks, pulling weeds in the square, and removing boards from benches readying them for a new paint job and new boards to replace the seats. The men moving rocks will be using some of those huge boulders to building foundations, retaining walls and possibly walk-ways. I overheard several guys bragging on Justin and Sasha’s strength. Not sure who’s winning the rock lifting competition at the moment…we’ll have to wait and see. The guys tell me that running uphill with a wheelbarrow filled with rocks is practically impossible because of the low oxygen levels. They tried. I’ll take their word for it. Sarah C. told me the story that she,  Emily and Meghan were trying to move a giant watermelon sized rock at on point. Even between the three of them, they weren’t able to move it an inch. Then Jonathan H. came over to assist and managed to not only lift the rock by himself, but carry it to where it needed to be. The girls were impressed…Although we (the chaperones) are trying our hardest to keep everyone hydrated and lathered in sunscreen, it’s amusing to watch people compare watchband and farmer’s tans after one day.

 

Mr. H., Ms. Cam, Ms. Lyn, Kate (our missionary leader), Alexa, Meghan, and Claire spent most of the day unpacking the 45 ministry bags Southlake sent with us filled with gently used clothing, uniforms, toothbrushes, books, games, etc. for the boys and girls homes that Scripture Union runs. They unloaded, sorted by size, refolded, and repacked the items designated to specific homes.

 

Stephanie, Claire, Kelsey, Sarah Y., Lydia, Kirby, and Ansley spent HOURS using 2 tiny wrenches, 1 hammer and lots of brute strength and creative reasoning to dismantle the wooden boards (seats and backs) from the metal frame benches in the town square. The screws were rusted to the bolts, so you can imagine the difficulty. But all girls worked steadily, enjoying each other’s company. They were surrounded by little Peruvian bodies as the children came out to the square during recess to watch. Cassidy, Sarah C., Anna, Emily, Ashlyn, Jillian, Alexa, Meghan did several odd jobs throughout the day including weeding (um…can anyone say “spiders”?), cleaning, changing lightbulbs (without a ladder…those 3 people cheerleading pyramids came in handy), etc.

 

During free-time most of the boys went up to the soccer field to play agains the Kusi kids. Girls took showers and came back out to watch the game and the sunset over the mountain peaks. Dinner was an especially fun time since the boys came to eat with us. I had the privilege of sitting with Hayden, Dan, Alex and Sasha who asked me to come translate for them so they could speak with our friends from Kusi. I loved hearing about the soccer game (amazingly Southlake trumped the Girasoles, but I was told it wasn’t a fair game since we outnumbered their team). Watching Hayden and Sasha especially try to communicate was very fulfilling to see true communication happen even without my help.  Dan kept us entertained with senior year memories and Alex put in his two cents at the just the right moment to keep us laughing.

 

The evening concluded with an unexpected twist. We cleared the dining hall leaving only the benches lining the walls. A strobe light was hung and a sound system rigged up for some choreographed dances the boys had prepared for us. After the first dance, all of a sudden, the power went out leaving us in complete darkness. Several of us turned on our flashlights and we filled our last half hour together with short words of thanksgiving for the opportunity to be together and an impromptu sing-along. Ending the evening with a time of singing to our God in Spanish and English (sometimes at the same time) was somehow so very appropriate. We don’t know when the power will come back on. We’re not sure how that will affect showers and cooking tomorrow. But it doesn’t matter. We know our God. And He knows our needs. He cares about our unity and love for one another and He gave us this special night. As I lay down for some much needed sleep in complete darkness, I think on the lyrics we just sang together, “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart. I want to see you. I want to see you.”

 

-         Jessica Campbell

 

 

 

Day 4 - Wednesday

I love seeing all of the street dogs running around but the temptation to pet them is stronger than ever because they are all so cute! I have made friendships with many of the boys and I try my best to communicate with them even though my Spanish is not great. I love it here but I miss home more than expected. I am thankful for all the snacks I brought because the food is very different! lol
-Sarah Corley


I am obsessed with Kusi and all of the people here. It is so cool to see God working through all of us, even though the language barrier has made it more difficult for most of us. The scenery here is so beautiful, especially the sunset last night behind the mountains. I am so thankful for my time here, but I miss my mom. :)
-Cassidy Brown

I didn't ever realize how much of a blessing this trip would be. Watching the boys and playing with them has inspired me. The boys in Kusi may have nothing but they have this amazing joy about them. To see such young boy that have been through so much pain, yet still praise God for everything is so amazing. The mountains are so beautiful and being able to watch the sun rise and set each day is something unforgettable. Communicating with the boys, however, has been the biggest blessing of all. I am so thankful for being able to go on this trip and I cant wait for the day to come.
-Jillian Snider

Kusi has been an amazing experience. I have been amazed by the boy living in Kusi. They have nothing compared to us, but they are so willing to help us in our work. Their hearts are so willing to serve. I cannot imagine going through what they have been through, yet caring about everyone else and lending a helpful hand. They are some of the sweetest and cutest boys ever. Also, being surrounded by such a gorgeous scenery is a blessing. I could not ask for a better senior trip.
-Sara Yang

Day 6 and 7 - Fri/Sat

Picture this…hours before leaving on a bus ride through the night, the only pipe bringing water to Kusi breaks. No water=no shower and no toilet. That means when the time came to use the restroom…the only option was to: find bucket, walk down to river (just waiting to strike someone with bacteria of all sorts), fill bucket, walk the bucket to nearest toilet, fill toilet, hope for the best. Needless to say, it was successful. Jump forward a few hours, post tear-filled-goodbyes, and an hour past my bedtime, we board a double decker bus and emotionally, physically, and spiritually prepare ourselves for a drive to reveal the true personalities of your SLCA class of 2015. An unfortunate habit I have become accustomed to is sleeping laying down. After a few sleepless hours of trying to find a comfortable sleeping position sitting up, I resolved my ‘first world problem’ with the only logical solution. Although topped with a film of stale cookie crumbs, persistent shoe-loving dirt particles, and any bacteria waiting to infect another victim, the floor was calling my name. I wrapped my body in a blanket to give my immune system an inkling of hope, and stretched out to assume my all too familiar yet comfortable beyond description position. I’d like to end my story with a description of my sleep as though it was being executed by the one and only sleeping beauty, but it was not that glamorous. The 7 hour and 40 minute drive felt exactly 7 hours and 40 minutes. But we have made it to Lima. We are alive. And God is good. So is CVS brand sleep-aid.

---Kirby Hutcheson

Day 6 - Friday

Today, our group visited one of the most beautiful sites in all of Peru.  About an hour drive above Kusi, we visited Glacier Lake in between two large mountains.  It was beautiful to see the clear sparkling water and the tall waterfalls falling from the rocks.  Compared to Lake Norman, it was an unbelievable sight.  The best part of the day was watching the brave young men jumping into the ice bath of a lake.    They took a running start from a dock and jumped straight into the 45 degree waters!  As we watched from afar, it was funny to hear them yell once they reached the lake surface!  Our group also stopped at multiple places to take unforgettable pictures.  Some picture locations were in front of the lake and others included places directly in front of Huanday, the tallest peak in all of Peru roughly 18,000-19,000 ft. above sea level.  It was relaxing to finally get the opportunity to vacation around the grandest attractions in all of Peru after working the three previous days.  After five days in Peru, our experience has been unbelievable to not only see great sites, but to also work with the boys in Kusi.  It humbles me to see how content these kids stay with such little they have.  It is also humbling to lose to the boys every time we play them in soccer!  Our mission was to change these boys’ lives, but they have changed our lives just as much. 

 

-Corbin Hockensmith

 

Potatoes, beef, chicken, pork, corn, and other various items. We ate a traditional Peruvian meal, Pachumancha. What makes this meal so traditional is the way it was cooked. Kusi is equipped with something similar to an underground oven. It is basically a hole lined with stones. At a very early hour in the morning, a fire is lit in the oven. After, each ingredient is put into the oven. Next, the oven is covered with multiple layers of tarps. The food cooks for an hour all together. Once this hour is over, all the food is taken out of the ground. The meat taken out of the oven is perfectly seasoned and wrapped in something similar to a seaweed leaf. Also, an ear of corn is served with each plate of food and tastes rather plain. Next, a slab of corn and beans was served wrapped in a leaf. It was not my favorite simply because all the ingredients were mushed together into a slab. Potatoes and a root similar to a potato was given to us. Having so many starches, I was a little overwhelmed, but I was amazed by how well each one was cooked. Finally, there was a sweet mushed desert with raisins. It was wrapped in a different type of leaf. Again, this had the consistency of a mush and was not my favorite. Over all, it was a good experience that helped me dive into the Peruvian culture.           

 

-Sara Yang

Day 5 - Thursday

On the very last workday at Kusi, Kathy had a special job that she wanted completed. I, Anna Schuldt, was volunteered to help, and I gladly did. Three old, oil drums sat in the long grass, their lids coated with a thin layer of rust. Kathy wanted them to be repainted and decorated as a gift to Kusi and to the Girasoles boys. Primer and black paint were mixed with thinner to be enough to cover the entire outside of the drums. A group of girls and I sanded the tops of the drums to rid them of the rust then hauled the drums onto three, small plastic tarps and immediately began to paint the first and second layers. After applying the coat of black to the drums, they looked shiny and brand new. We took a break and went to help with the vacation Bible school going on in the school.

                After lunch Kathy walked into the center of Kusi with a huge smile on her face and a box in her arms. She unloaded the box displaying the new colors to decorate the black outside with. The bright yellow, green, and brown were the perfect colors to paint the design that Kathy wanted onto the sides. First I used chalk to write the words for the others to trace. I went back and used the special colors to paint girasoles, or sunflowers, onto the sides of the drum. While painting, I was able to spend time with some of the little boys, talking and joking with them. It was amazing to be able to leave something there that was a little more personal for the boys to be able to use.

----Anna Schuldt

                 Day 6 was definitely an eventful and enjoyable one. VBS continued their lessons on the Armor of God by focusing on the story of David and Goliath to teach the boys the importance of faith. After that, the Southlake boys went to lunch at a former Girasol boy’s restaurant (Sixto). Then we were in for a surprise. Billy took us on a walk and ended it at a basketball court in the heart of Yungay. There we played a semi-pro Peruvian team named Rosario. I’m not trying to make excuses, but we all were still in jeans and work boots. The score is not important because after all, we are on a missions trip.

                When we got back to Kusi, Katy commemorated our time working there by planting a small tree in the Main Square. It was special to see something in Kusi permanently placed to remember Southlake. Later that night, Rosa organized for a local dancing group to perform a very impressive 10 minute dance, and then they invited us to dance with them. We didn’t embarrass ourselves too much. Like the day already wasn’t cool enough, the boys and us gathered around a bonfire, and 3 of the Girasoles and 4 Southlake students shared their testimonies. I felt extremely grateful for the life we live in the States because some of the boys have gone through things in 6 years of their lives that most of us won’t experience in our entire lives. To end the night, we said goodnight to the boys, and then Bungalows 1-3 had their bungalow wars with bamboo sticks (coming to TV soon).

-Noah VanWingerden

Day 4 - Wednesday

We have had such a special time thus far and we know it will continue.  Lots of hard work for all of us with moving big rocks or gardening or painting benches or running the VBS but we are all having a great time and working well together.  It is certainly a great experience and a great opportunity to see a different culture.  I have been greatly humbled by seeing how much joy is in the hearts of people that have so little.  They know that everything they need will be provided for by the Lord so they know to live in the moment for the Lord in a way that shows that they are fully surrendered to God.  Their joy and happy spirits are completely contagious and humbling.  It is fun to try to communicate with the little Spanish that I know.

------Kyle Hammill----------

Yesterday was an interesting work day. We began by energizing with some delicious breakfast, then jumped straight into the manual labor. Most of the morning was spent digging for a pipe which turned out to be the wrong pipe, but that was okay because we were then rewarded with lunch. In the afternoon we fixed the right pipe, so everything tuned out to be okay. Our Peruvian leader handled the confusion better than most of us; always the patient, happy worker, which just goes to show how different our cultures are. Today’s work was hard, but not worth mentioning. What was special about today was hiking down to the nearby ‘holy ground’, a city which was subject to an avalanche about 45 years ago and was completely covered. Various monuments littered the empty area, which was beautiful despite its tragic past. At the end of the ground stood remnants of the city’s tall cemetery, a place of refuge for about a dozen or so citizens nearly half a century ago. Supposedly, the survivors saw the oncoming danger and fled, running up the cemetery’s many steps; traditionally, visitors run the steps in homage. Out of breath, and at the top of our destination, we were able to look around the beautiful valley which was home to so many people those many years ago, and which we called home for this short week. 

----Garren Hatley----

We’ve only been here a few days, but it’s already more than safe to say our time here in Peru has been a truly unforgettable experience.  Peru is a beautiful country as is, but what made it amazing was what we’ve gotten to do here as a class.  It’s certainly been difficult hauling rocks and pulling weeds under the heat and high altitude, and the idea of helping lead a VBS entirely in Spanish felt like a major push out of our comfort zone at first.  But when we realize we’re making a difference in the Kingdom through those things, it almost feels like a privilege to brave the sunburns, spiders, and freezing cold showers as we work.  Getting to hang with the street boys has also been a great experience.  I’m amazed that I’ve made quality friends here without speaking a word of English.  The chances God has given us to do things we never thought possible and make a positive impact on the lives of others have made this a trip like no other.  I’m excited for what lies ahead for our next week here.

----John Robertson----

And the journey begins!

Safe and sound, chattin' it up while waiting for our flight to Peru.