Saturday, July 25, 2009
Photos thanks to some friends...
I cant upload my pictures until I get back home, but heres some pictures that I´ve gotten from some of my friends during my trip. Enjoy!
Street Children
I really encourage everyone to read the blog post by Billy Greenman about the street children that Scripture Union helps with-especially if you dont know a lot about it. It really does a great job of explaining what these children go through.
http://billyinperu.blogspot.com/2009/07/street-children-and-girasoles.html
Monday, July 13, 2009
Street Children and Girasoles
Every once in awhile, I think that I will write a post to share a little bit of background and information about Scripture Union Peru and its ministries for those of you who are not incredibly familiar with the organization. Because I am currently doing work that is specific to Scripture Union's Girasoles program, I want to start this series of posts by explaining a little bit more about this problem with street children that we experience here in Peru as well as in many other parts of the world. I will do my best to explain the issues to the best of my knowledge, but please have some grace with me as I am fairly new to the Peruvian culture. I do not have all the answers, and much of the following information has been gleaned off of other friends, such as Paul Clark, Billy Clark, and many of the house parents in the different Girasoles homes. I will warn readers ahead of time--this is heavy stuff, but it is real. Even in the darkest places, God is working! This is a longer post, but I encourage you to read through it, and learn how you can better pray for these children.
Where do these children come from?
There is not always an easy, clear cut answer to a question like this. Each child is different, so there is not just one blanket answer. With that said, the root of the problem is almost always extreme poverty. Behind the lives of many children on the street is a single mother who is struggling to provide for her family. In Peruvian culture, Latin American culture, and probably many other places around the world there is a definite double standard between the position of the man and the position of the woman in a household. It is culturally acceptable in Peru for a man to be the macho figure who can do what he wants, when he wants, and with whomever he wants. The sociological term for this is "machismo." It is not uncommon, especially in impoverished communities, for a man to have children with a number of different women. While the man goes around doing whatever he wants, the mother is expected to provide for and care for the children. Unfortunately, as is so often the case, poverty turns into a vicious cycle. When a mother can no longer provide for the children on her own, she is forced to attach herself to another, often times abusive, man for income.
So where do the children come from? Many times the reason that they end up on the street is very simple. From the mother's perspective, she can either abandon one child on the streets or try to care for everybody as the risk of starving the entire family. Paul Clark, the director of Scripture Union Peru, often uses the illustration of a life boat. When the boat is full one person needs to go overboard, or the entire boat will sink, and everyone drowns. There are other cases where the new boyfriend of the mother wants nothing to do with children from a different father, so he puts them out on the streets, or he at least abuses them until they run away on their own.
Other children begin spending days on the streets trying to sell small bits of candy, shine shoes, or just beg to try to provide income for the family. Many times, they are expected to bring home a certain quota daily, and if they do not meet that quota then they can expect to be beaten. Even when they do bring the proper amount of money home, very seldom does that translate to food on their plates. Many times the father will gamble the money away with his other friends or spend it away on beer to feed his alcohol addiction. After awhile, sometimes the boy decides that he would be better off living on his own rather than trying to meet an unreasonable quota and still not getting fed.
Once a child is out on the street, what becomes of him?
Nothing good is waiting for a child who is living out on the streets. To begin with, many of the populated cities in Peru have a fairly mild or sometimes downright cold climate. The leading cause of death of kids on the streets of Lima is pneumonia, among a host of other preventable or curable diseases, during the winter months of June, July, and August. Even if disease does not come upon a child, the streets are a world of drugs, gangs, violence, and abuse.
Street children in Peru's culture are the lowest of the low. They are generally feared and hated. Prostitutes would have higher social status than street children. Billy Clark often tells a story of a time when the work with the Girasoles had recently begun. He had taken some pictures with the kids, and he took the pictures to get developed. When he arrived to pick up the pictures, the man at the store recognized that the pictures were of street boys, so he asked Billy why he would be taking pictures of these nobodies. Billy answered and explained the ministry that Scripture Union has here on the streets. The man looked at Billy and coldly said, "You want a solution for this problem? Well I have one for you--one bullet for each head!"
One of the most common derogatory names used to refer to a street boy is "piraña," in English--piranha. The name comes from a common practice that some of the boys have of descending upon an unsuspecting person in a small pack. When they mug a person in this manner, they will sometimes even take the clothes off of the person's back. Because they are known for crimes like this, they are feared and hated. Thus, the cycle of poverty once again begins.
If a boy is living on the street, he is already categorized as the lowest of the low. So what are the chances that this young boy will get a legitimate job to support himself in a country where the unemployment rate is sky high? He cannot get a job, and he is hated by the majority of the people around him, so he goes and finds a hiding place to get away from the hostile world. If it were not for the sharp pain of hunger, a boy might well spend his entire life in hiding, but there a comes a point where hunger becomes so unbearable that he has to leave the safety of his secret spot.
Without employment, the child's next best option is to try to steal to survive. Sometimes this means stealing an apple from the market, but other times the boys will attempt to pick a pocket or grab someone's watch to trade for a plate of food. Some of the children on the streets become incredibly skilled at petty theft. I have spent a considerable amount of time with different boys living in our Girasoles homes, and they have shown me how easy it could be for them to get a watch off of my wrist or a camera out of my pocket without me even noticing.
Unfortunately, many of the kids--especially the youngest ones who are too slow to make a fast getaway--get caught and end up in the hands of the police. While there are many goodhearted and well intentioned people in the Peruvian police force, there are also many very abusive, corrupt police officers. It is hard to know exactly why police are often incredibly cruel to these children, but they are. Perhaps it is just the hatred that the culture has coming out in a tangible form. Maybe it is because these boys make the officers' jobs more difficult and more dangerous. Whatever the reason is behind the cruelty--it is absolutely unjustifiable. I have heard story after story. Boy's have been taken to a dungeon and used as a soccer ball to be kicked around. They have been forced to drink other peoples' urine. They have had water thrown on them and then electrical wires attached to their testicles. Sometimes a truck is filled with the children, and then they are driven out into the middle of the desert and left to find their way back into the city--some make it, and some don't. They have been fed sandwiches laced with rat poison...and sadly, the list goes on.
After facing this sort of abuse from the police force many of the children on the streets are very reluctant to continue to steal to survive. But what is left? No family to provide, no job to earn a living, no stealing for fear of getting caught. What other option is there? While it seems like the end of the road, there is one other option. It is safer in the sense that they will probably not be bothered by the police, but in actuality it can be far more damaging long term. The last option for survival is prostitution. In Peru and all over the world sex trafficking and sex tourism is on the rise. The boys will extend sexual favors in exchange for a small sum of money or just a plate of food. Sadly, I have heard there are some places on the internet where you can book a vacation in Peru that includes the services of these children. Of course it is illegal, but it isn't always easy to keep track of, and corruption means that sometimes a simple bribe is all it takes to keep the authorities off of your back.
At the end of the day after a boy has done whatever it is that he needs to to satisfy his hunger, he will probably scrounge around for a few coins to buy a bag of glue called "terokal," and he will go back to his hiding spot huffing the fumes from the glue. When asked why they huff the glue, they often simply answer, "Quiero borrarme" (I want to erase myself). We have now come full circle. They will hide once again until hunger drives them out from safety.
Scripture Union's program is for street boys. Aren't there any girls on the streets?
The simple answer to this question is that yes there are girls on the streets, but there are far more street boys. It is hard to know exactly why there are more boys than girls. Perhaps when a mother finds herself in the situation where she has to put a child out on the street so that the rest of the family can survive, she would opt to choose the oldest boy. It could be that she feels that her oldest boy will have the best chances of survival out on his own. Another factor could be that when a mother looks at her young boy, she imagines him to grow up to be just like all of the other men in her life--abusive, promiscuous, gambling, alcoholics who care very little for the well being of the family. On the other hand, the mother want to identify with her young daughter. She might imagine her to grow up going through all of the same abuses, and she may want to try to protect her daughter from the world that she has experienced. For these reasons, the boy ends up on the street, and the girl remains at home.
With all of that said, I think that the number of girls on Peru's streets is growing. There are some organizations who do work diligently with girls from the streets, and Scripture Union has at times partnered with some of these efforts. We have hosted some of these girls at our summer camp programs that we run. At this time, we are just not well equipped to meet the needs of the girls on a long term basis. We would need to have separate facilities from the boys and care for pregnant girls and infants among other resources. Poverty is everywhere, and hopefully we will never become so numb to it that we can just ignore it, but at the same time, because there are so many different problems we have to be really intentional about defining a very specific mission. If we tried to help solve every problem that presented itself, then we would be spread so thin that we would not be effective anywhere.
On a similar note, we also limit the number of boys at each of our Girasoles homes to about forty. The need is so great that we could easily open our doors to hundreds of children, and some places do. But again, we have a very specific mission. We hope to be able to provide not just for the physical needs of the boys, but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We really want the children in our homes to learn what it means to be a part of a loving, Christian family, and that mission would be impossible if we allowed for greater numbers.
How do the boys arrive at the Girasoles homes?
As is the case of many other questions, this one is difficult to answer because each boy has a different story, and there are many different means by which they arrive. To be honest, I am not the most qualified person to answer this question because I have very little to do with this specific part of the ministry. If you ever come to Peru, I encourage you to ask Pablo Lavado, the director of the Girasoles program, or any of the house parents at our different boys' homes. I know that sometime the house parents go out and do street work. They actually go find boys on the streets and tell them about the home. Sometimes word of our homes travels by word of mouth on the streets, and children show up because they heard about us from a friend. There are also times when children are referred to us by different government agencies when a case of abuse or neglect is discovered in the home.
What is the ultimate goal of the Girasoles program, and what have the results looked like?
Before I answer this, I want to reiterate once again that I am not the most qualified person to answer this question. I can say with confidence that the ultimate goal of the Girasoles ministry and virtually every other ministry of Scripture Union Peru is to bring children and their families to the feet of Jesus--the only true means of eternal redemption and transformation. In the case of the street boys, this is often a long process. When you tell a street child, "Jesus loves you," the meaning of the phrase seems so simple, but when you begin to look at it through their point of view, those three words can have a very different connotation. Most of the time, the boys in our homes have very little knowledge of who Jesus is. They have very little experience with any type of church, so Jesus really has no meaning. If they have any image in their minds of who Jesus is, it usually comes from the crucifix that is on display at the many catholic churches all over the country. Jesus is just a dead, bloody man on a cross. The term, "love," is another difficult one to communicate with a boy from the streets. In his world, love is always associated with some sort of sexual relationship. Try to look at it through there eyes--"Jesus loves you," can become an almost gruesome sentence.
While there is a lot of baggage to work through, we still believe that it is important to really explain who Jesus is and what true, unconditional love is. The full time Peruvian staff work day and night to care for and counsel the kids. They really do give themselves sacrificially to this ministry to help communicate this message to the boys. We have also found that the different foreign work teams that come to support Scripture Union also play an important part. A boy who has grown up being told that he is garbage will eventually start to believe those lies. In their mind God loves and blesses good people. Because the foreigners that come all of the way to Peru are usually pretty rich, God must love them. When they think about themselves, they believe that they are bad people, and God does not love them so He has not blessed them. Most of the readers of this blog will know that that way of reasoning is not true, but that does not change the fact that this is the way that the boys perceive the world. For a foreigner (again, a good person in the boys' minds) to come specifically to dedicate time towards bettering the lives of the children sends a loud and clear message to the boys that they are important people and that God does care about them. The short term groups help greatly to reinforce the message that the long term Peruvian staff and house parents are trying to communicate to the boys on a daily basis.
So what kind of results have we seen? As with most ministries of this nature, there are happy stories, and there are sad stories. We have found that no matter how hard we try to help a child adjust to life in one of our homes, there are some who just cannot cope with it long term. Perhaps it is they feel unworthy to live somewhere where they are so well cared for. Maybe after so much abuse, they just cannot grow to trust the Scripture Union staff. Some children have a hard time leaving their addictions to alcohol and drugs, and others just cannot adjust to living under rules and a daily routine after so much time of living without anybody telling them what to do. Whatever the reason is, there are boys who come and then leave our homes. We have an open door policy--we do not keep the children against their will. If we kept them under lock and key, then developing a bond of trust would be next to impossible.
On the other hand, there are many boys who have adjusted well to life at Girasoles. We do have children who I believe have come to a place of genuine faith in Christ. There are some boys (now men) who have graduated from the program and are maintaining a job. Many of our homes are fairly new, meaning that very long term results are yet to be seen, but I know children living in some of these homes who have dreams of being mechanics, bakers, policemen, military, and even pastors! Here in Cusco, our Girasoles home has only been open for just over a year. Most of the boys are between eight and twelve years old, and have a long way to go before they are ready to leave and live on their own. When the time does come, we will not just kick them out and never hear from them again. Just as any family, Scripture Union will always be these boys' family, and we hope to remain involved in their lives.
Other questions or comments?
The questions above are some of the most common questions that I get asked by work teams in Peru and by friends abroad. I know that many of you may have other questions or comments about this ministry. I welcome your thoughts. Reply to this post with a specific question, and I would love to share more.
Prayer and encouragement...
As I promised at the beginning of this very long post, this is not light reading. Even as I write it, I feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem. On our own, we can accomplish nothing. On our own, any work that we do is in vain. On our own, we will be quickly drained by the stresses around us. But GOD is bigger than all of that. With HIM we can accomplish anything. With HIM the work we do is for HIS kingdom. With HIM our strength is renewed day by day. Please do not read this post and leave feeling overwhelmed and useless in this world. Instead remember that God is in control, and he has a purpose and a plan. Pray for these children today. Intercede on their behalf that God might reveal himself to each of them--whether they are in one of our homes or not. Pray for the staff that work with the kids on a daily basis, that they may know that their reward waits for them in Heaven. Pray also for the culture here that is so resentful towards these boys. Ask God to soften their hearts--even to break their hearts for these boys. If we remain in HIM, then HE is faithful to remain in us. Be encouraged today by the words from Isaiah 40:27-31...
"Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, 'My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God'? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
http://billyinperu.blogspot.com/2009/07/street-children-and-girasoles.html
Monday, July 13, 2009
Street Children and Girasoles
Every once in awhile, I think that I will write a post to share a little bit of background and information about Scripture Union Peru and its ministries for those of you who are not incredibly familiar with the organization. Because I am currently doing work that is specific to Scripture Union's Girasoles program, I want to start this series of posts by explaining a little bit more about this problem with street children that we experience here in Peru as well as in many other parts of the world. I will do my best to explain the issues to the best of my knowledge, but please have some grace with me as I am fairly new to the Peruvian culture. I do not have all the answers, and much of the following information has been gleaned off of other friends, such as Paul Clark, Billy Clark, and many of the house parents in the different Girasoles homes. I will warn readers ahead of time--this is heavy stuff, but it is real. Even in the darkest places, God is working! This is a longer post, but I encourage you to read through it, and learn how you can better pray for these children.
Where do these children come from?
There is not always an easy, clear cut answer to a question like this. Each child is different, so there is not just one blanket answer. With that said, the root of the problem is almost always extreme poverty. Behind the lives of many children on the street is a single mother who is struggling to provide for her family. In Peruvian culture, Latin American culture, and probably many other places around the world there is a definite double standard between the position of the man and the position of the woman in a household. It is culturally acceptable in Peru for a man to be the macho figure who can do what he wants, when he wants, and with whomever he wants. The sociological term for this is "machismo." It is not uncommon, especially in impoverished communities, for a man to have children with a number of different women. While the man goes around doing whatever he wants, the mother is expected to provide for and care for the children. Unfortunately, as is so often the case, poverty turns into a vicious cycle. When a mother can no longer provide for the children on her own, she is forced to attach herself to another, often times abusive, man for income.
So where do the children come from? Many times the reason that they end up on the street is very simple. From the mother's perspective, she can either abandon one child on the streets or try to care for everybody as the risk of starving the entire family. Paul Clark, the director of Scripture Union Peru, often uses the illustration of a life boat. When the boat is full one person needs to go overboard, or the entire boat will sink, and everyone drowns. There are other cases where the new boyfriend of the mother wants nothing to do with children from a different father, so he puts them out on the streets, or he at least abuses them until they run away on their own.
Other children begin spending days on the streets trying to sell small bits of candy, shine shoes, or just beg to try to provide income for the family. Many times, they are expected to bring home a certain quota daily, and if they do not meet that quota then they can expect to be beaten. Even when they do bring the proper amount of money home, very seldom does that translate to food on their plates. Many times the father will gamble the money away with his other friends or spend it away on beer to feed his alcohol addiction. After awhile, sometimes the boy decides that he would be better off living on his own rather than trying to meet an unreasonable quota and still not getting fed.
Once a child is out on the street, what becomes of him?
Nothing good is waiting for a child who is living out on the streets. To begin with, many of the populated cities in Peru have a fairly mild or sometimes downright cold climate. The leading cause of death of kids on the streets of Lima is pneumonia, among a host of other preventable or curable diseases, during the winter months of June, July, and August. Even if disease does not come upon a child, the streets are a world of drugs, gangs, violence, and abuse.
Street children in Peru's culture are the lowest of the low. They are generally feared and hated. Prostitutes would have higher social status than street children. Billy Clark often tells a story of a time when the work with the Girasoles had recently begun. He had taken some pictures with the kids, and he took the pictures to get developed. When he arrived to pick up the pictures, the man at the store recognized that the pictures were of street boys, so he asked Billy why he would be taking pictures of these nobodies. Billy answered and explained the ministry that Scripture Union has here on the streets. The man looked at Billy and coldly said, "You want a solution for this problem? Well I have one for you--one bullet for each head!"
One of the most common derogatory names used to refer to a street boy is "piraña," in English--piranha. The name comes from a common practice that some of the boys have of descending upon an unsuspecting person in a small pack. When they mug a person in this manner, they will sometimes even take the clothes off of the person's back. Because they are known for crimes like this, they are feared and hated. Thus, the cycle of poverty once again begins.
If a boy is living on the street, he is already categorized as the lowest of the low. So what are the chances that this young boy will get a legitimate job to support himself in a country where the unemployment rate is sky high? He cannot get a job, and he is hated by the majority of the people around him, so he goes and finds a hiding place to get away from the hostile world. If it were not for the sharp pain of hunger, a boy might well spend his entire life in hiding, but there a comes a point where hunger becomes so unbearable that he has to leave the safety of his secret spot.
Without employment, the child's next best option is to try to steal to survive. Sometimes this means stealing an apple from the market, but other times the boys will attempt to pick a pocket or grab someone's watch to trade for a plate of food. Some of the children on the streets become incredibly skilled at petty theft. I have spent a considerable amount of time with different boys living in our Girasoles homes, and they have shown me how easy it could be for them to get a watch off of my wrist or a camera out of my pocket without me even noticing.
Unfortunately, many of the kids--especially the youngest ones who are too slow to make a fast getaway--get caught and end up in the hands of the police. While there are many goodhearted and well intentioned people in the Peruvian police force, there are also many very abusive, corrupt police officers. It is hard to know exactly why police are often incredibly cruel to these children, but they are. Perhaps it is just the hatred that the culture has coming out in a tangible form. Maybe it is because these boys make the officers' jobs more difficult and more dangerous. Whatever the reason is behind the cruelty--it is absolutely unjustifiable. I have heard story after story. Boy's have been taken to a dungeon and used as a soccer ball to be kicked around. They have been forced to drink other peoples' urine. They have had water thrown on them and then electrical wires attached to their testicles. Sometimes a truck is filled with the children, and then they are driven out into the middle of the desert and left to find their way back into the city--some make it, and some don't. They have been fed sandwiches laced with rat poison...and sadly, the list goes on.
After facing this sort of abuse from the police force many of the children on the streets are very reluctant to continue to steal to survive. But what is left? No family to provide, no job to earn a living, no stealing for fear of getting caught. What other option is there? While it seems like the end of the road, there is one other option. It is safer in the sense that they will probably not be bothered by the police, but in actuality it can be far more damaging long term. The last option for survival is prostitution. In Peru and all over the world sex trafficking and sex tourism is on the rise. The boys will extend sexual favors in exchange for a small sum of money or just a plate of food. Sadly, I have heard there are some places on the internet where you can book a vacation in Peru that includes the services of these children. Of course it is illegal, but it isn't always easy to keep track of, and corruption means that sometimes a simple bribe is all it takes to keep the authorities off of your back.
At the end of the day after a boy has done whatever it is that he needs to to satisfy his hunger, he will probably scrounge around for a few coins to buy a bag of glue called "terokal," and he will go back to his hiding spot huffing the fumes from the glue. When asked why they huff the glue, they often simply answer, "Quiero borrarme" (I want to erase myself). We have now come full circle. They will hide once again until hunger drives them out from safety.
Scripture Union's program is for street boys. Aren't there any girls on the streets?
The simple answer to this question is that yes there are girls on the streets, but there are far more street boys. It is hard to know exactly why there are more boys than girls. Perhaps when a mother finds herself in the situation where she has to put a child out on the street so that the rest of the family can survive, she would opt to choose the oldest boy. It could be that she feels that her oldest boy will have the best chances of survival out on his own. Another factor could be that when a mother looks at her young boy, she imagines him to grow up to be just like all of the other men in her life--abusive, promiscuous, gambling, alcoholics who care very little for the well being of the family. On the other hand, the mother want to identify with her young daughter. She might imagine her to grow up going through all of the same abuses, and she may want to try to protect her daughter from the world that she has experienced. For these reasons, the boy ends up on the street, and the girl remains at home.
With all of that said, I think that the number of girls on Peru's streets is growing. There are some organizations who do work diligently with girls from the streets, and Scripture Union has at times partnered with some of these efforts. We have hosted some of these girls at our summer camp programs that we run. At this time, we are just not well equipped to meet the needs of the girls on a long term basis. We would need to have separate facilities from the boys and care for pregnant girls and infants among other resources. Poverty is everywhere, and hopefully we will never become so numb to it that we can just ignore it, but at the same time, because there are so many different problems we have to be really intentional about defining a very specific mission. If we tried to help solve every problem that presented itself, then we would be spread so thin that we would not be effective anywhere.
On a similar note, we also limit the number of boys at each of our Girasoles homes to about forty. The need is so great that we could easily open our doors to hundreds of children, and some places do. But again, we have a very specific mission. We hope to be able to provide not just for the physical needs of the boys, but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We really want the children in our homes to learn what it means to be a part of a loving, Christian family, and that mission would be impossible if we allowed for greater numbers.
How do the boys arrive at the Girasoles homes?
As is the case of many other questions, this one is difficult to answer because each boy has a different story, and there are many different means by which they arrive. To be honest, I am not the most qualified person to answer this question because I have very little to do with this specific part of the ministry. If you ever come to Peru, I encourage you to ask Pablo Lavado, the director of the Girasoles program, or any of the house parents at our different boys' homes. I know that sometime the house parents go out and do street work. They actually go find boys on the streets and tell them about the home. Sometimes word of our homes travels by word of mouth on the streets, and children show up because they heard about us from a friend. There are also times when children are referred to us by different government agencies when a case of abuse or neglect is discovered in the home.
What is the ultimate goal of the Girasoles program, and what have the results looked like?
Before I answer this, I want to reiterate once again that I am not the most qualified person to answer this question. I can say with confidence that the ultimate goal of the Girasoles ministry and virtually every other ministry of Scripture Union Peru is to bring children and their families to the feet of Jesus--the only true means of eternal redemption and transformation. In the case of the street boys, this is often a long process. When you tell a street child, "Jesus loves you," the meaning of the phrase seems so simple, but when you begin to look at it through their point of view, those three words can have a very different connotation. Most of the time, the boys in our homes have very little knowledge of who Jesus is. They have very little experience with any type of church, so Jesus really has no meaning. If they have any image in their minds of who Jesus is, it usually comes from the crucifix that is on display at the many catholic churches all over the country. Jesus is just a dead, bloody man on a cross. The term, "love," is another difficult one to communicate with a boy from the streets. In his world, love is always associated with some sort of sexual relationship. Try to look at it through there eyes--"Jesus loves you," can become an almost gruesome sentence.
While there is a lot of baggage to work through, we still believe that it is important to really explain who Jesus is and what true, unconditional love is. The full time Peruvian staff work day and night to care for and counsel the kids. They really do give themselves sacrificially to this ministry to help communicate this message to the boys. We have also found that the different foreign work teams that come to support Scripture Union also play an important part. A boy who has grown up being told that he is garbage will eventually start to believe those lies. In their mind God loves and blesses good people. Because the foreigners that come all of the way to Peru are usually pretty rich, God must love them. When they think about themselves, they believe that they are bad people, and God does not love them so He has not blessed them. Most of the readers of this blog will know that that way of reasoning is not true, but that does not change the fact that this is the way that the boys perceive the world. For a foreigner (again, a good person in the boys' minds) to come specifically to dedicate time towards bettering the lives of the children sends a loud and clear message to the boys that they are important people and that God does care about them. The short term groups help greatly to reinforce the message that the long term Peruvian staff and house parents are trying to communicate to the boys on a daily basis.
So what kind of results have we seen? As with most ministries of this nature, there are happy stories, and there are sad stories. We have found that no matter how hard we try to help a child adjust to life in one of our homes, there are some who just cannot cope with it long term. Perhaps it is they feel unworthy to live somewhere where they are so well cared for. Maybe after so much abuse, they just cannot grow to trust the Scripture Union staff. Some children have a hard time leaving their addictions to alcohol and drugs, and others just cannot adjust to living under rules and a daily routine after so much time of living without anybody telling them what to do. Whatever the reason is, there are boys who come and then leave our homes. We have an open door policy--we do not keep the children against their will. If we kept them under lock and key, then developing a bond of trust would be next to impossible.
On the other hand, there are many boys who have adjusted well to life at Girasoles. We do have children who I believe have come to a place of genuine faith in Christ. There are some boys (now men) who have graduated from the program and are maintaining a job. Many of our homes are fairly new, meaning that very long term results are yet to be seen, but I know children living in some of these homes who have dreams of being mechanics, bakers, policemen, military, and even pastors! Here in Cusco, our Girasoles home has only been open for just over a year. Most of the boys are between eight and twelve years old, and have a long way to go before they are ready to leave and live on their own. When the time does come, we will not just kick them out and never hear from them again. Just as any family, Scripture Union will always be these boys' family, and we hope to remain involved in their lives.
Other questions or comments?
The questions above are some of the most common questions that I get asked by work teams in Peru and by friends abroad. I know that many of you may have other questions or comments about this ministry. I welcome your thoughts. Reply to this post with a specific question, and I would love to share more.
Prayer and encouragement...
As I promised at the beginning of this very long post, this is not light reading. Even as I write it, I feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem. On our own, we can accomplish nothing. On our own, any work that we do is in vain. On our own, we will be quickly drained by the stresses around us. But GOD is bigger than all of that. With HIM we can accomplish anything. With HIM the work we do is for HIS kingdom. With HIM our strength is renewed day by day. Please do not read this post and leave feeling overwhelmed and useless in this world. Instead remember that God is in control, and he has a purpose and a plan. Pray for these children today. Intercede on their behalf that God might reveal himself to each of them--whether they are in one of our homes or not. Pray for the staff that work with the kids on a daily basis, that they may know that their reward waits for them in Heaven. Pray also for the culture here that is so resentful towards these boys. Ask God to soften their hearts--even to break their hearts for these boys. If we remain in HIM, then HE is faithful to remain in us. Be encouraged today by the words from Isaiah 40:27-31...
"Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, 'My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God'? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
July 22, 2009
I can´t believe how quickly time passes. 8 days. That´s all I have left in this beautiful country that I´ve become so attached to. I´ve seen the big cities, the beach, the mountains, and now I´m in the jungle. Which for me, considering all of the bugs, is one of the least likely places for me to enjoy, but I´m starting to fall in love with this place too.
Each of these homes are so different, but they are all done with such love, and I can´t believe all the great things that are going on in these places.
More than anything, I´ve really enjoyed really getting to know the boys here. I´ve seen them so happy and excited about things. Yet at other times, the looks I´ve seen in some of thier eyes almost scares me. I wonder what they think about sometimes. I wish that I could make them understand the love that has to be so difficult to accept and understand.
Each of these homes are so different, but they are all done with such love, and I can´t believe all the great things that are going on in these places.
More than anything, I´ve really enjoyed really getting to know the boys here. I´ve seen them so happy and excited about things. Yet at other times, the looks I´ve seen in some of thier eyes almost scares me. I wonder what they think about sometimes. I wish that I could make them understand the love that has to be so difficult to accept and understand.
July 18, 2009
After four hours of sitting on a plan for what was supposed to be a 1 1/2 hour flight, we finally made it to Iquitos, Peru. We are literally in the middle of the jungle. As I got off the plane and looked around, it reminded me exactly of where I have always imagined Jim Elliot dying in the middle of Ecuador.
Yesterday, was crazy. I had dinner with one of my friends in Lima, which required two 50 minute taxi rides between the airport and jockey plaza. Luckly for me, Im still alive. :-)
On the way back, my taxi driver was a Johova´s whitness. We seriously had a 50 minute (good-natured) debate the whole entire ride...we both had our Bibles out and everything. (thank you Lord for my spanish-english Bible, and Mr. Nerness´ Bible class!)
I´ve heard so much about this place, and I can´t wait to see it for myself!
Yesterday, was crazy. I had dinner with one of my friends in Lima, which required two 50 minute taxi rides between the airport and jockey plaza. Luckly for me, Im still alive. :-)
On the way back, my taxi driver was a Johova´s whitness. We seriously had a 50 minute (good-natured) debate the whole entire ride...we both had our Bibles out and everything. (thank you Lord for my spanish-english Bible, and Mr. Nerness´ Bible class!)
I´ve heard so much about this place, and I can´t wait to see it for myself!
July 15, 2009
In the last two days, I think I´ve seen more forteresses and temples than most of the Incans Indians saw themselves. The Incans were obviously brilliant people. Thier structures withstand earthquakes, their inventions are incredible for thier time period, and how they were able to make these huge structures out of these huge rocks with such limited tools is amazing.
And yet, today, every single place is in ruins.
No matter how many things we as humans come up with, or how incredible our technology becomes, the things of this earth will not last. They will all come to ruin, but the things of God will last forever.
It is only through Him that we can do any of what we are doing now.
You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.
-Psalm 18:28-35
And yet, today, every single place is in ruins.
No matter how many things we as humans come up with, or how incredible our technology becomes, the things of this earth will not last. They will all come to ruin, but the things of God will last forever.
It is only through Him that we can do any of what we are doing now.
You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.
-Psalm 18:28-35
Saturday, July 18, 2009
I`m off!
I just met the group from South Carolina at the airport. Our flight leaves at 4:55 AM.
Since I`ll be in the jungle, i will have very limited to no internet acess, but I will update everything when I get back.
Thanks for your prayers!
Since I`ll be in the jungle, i will have very limited to no internet acess, but I will update everything when I get back.
Thanks for your prayers!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
July 13, 2009
Church last night was incredible. The worship was one of the most amazing things I´ve whitnessed on my trip so far. If I had all the money in the world, I would want to fly down here every Sunday afternoon to be a part of what is going on here. I definitely needed it.
Today, Billy and I went to 8 different tourist sites. Museums, ruins, monuments. I´m exhausted. Tomorrow is another day of touring Cusco. It looks like I´m going to get even fewer days with the boys here. Maybe one (or two) at the most. :(
But I´ll definitely take whatever I can get!
Today, Billy and I went to 8 different tourist sites. Museums, ruins, monuments. I´m exhausted. Tomorrow is another day of touring Cusco. It looks like I´m going to get even fewer days with the boys here. Maybe one (or two) at the most. :(
But I´ll definitely take whatever I can get!
La clama de mi corazon
no basta solo con cantar,
no basta solo con decir
no es suficiente solo con querer hacer
es necesario morir.
no basta solo con soñar
no basta solo con pedir
no es suficiente solo con querer tener
es necesario morir.
Dame tu vida,
esa clase de vida que sabes dar
dame tu vida,
yo quiero vivir solo para ti
dame tu vida,
resucítame en ti, yo quiero vivir solo para ti.
yo quiero vivir solo para ti.
yo quiero vivir solo para ti.
yo quiero vivir solo para ti.
no basta solo con decir
no es suficiente solo con querer hacer
es necesario morir.
no basta solo con soñar
no basta solo con pedir
no es suficiente solo con querer tener
es necesario morir.
Dame tu vida,
esa clase de vida que sabes dar
dame tu vida,
yo quiero vivir solo para ti
dame tu vida,
resucítame en ti, yo quiero vivir solo para ti.
yo quiero vivir solo para ti.
yo quiero vivir solo para ti.
yo quiero vivir solo para ti.
July 12, 2009
We took the group from Scotland to the airport today. The next group comes on the 15th. The plan is to go to church tonight with some of the boys from the center here. We have two free days here before the next work team comes, so we´ll be able to spend a couple days in Cusco seeing some of the tourist sites in the area. On friday afternoon, I leave for Lima, and then I´m off to Puerto Alegria. Thanks to Billy, the intern that I´m with right now, I´ve heard plenty of insect stories to makeme want to stay right here in Cusco.
Serioulsy, I love the Urabama area. The most beautiful place with the most beautiful kids. I would be content to stay here forever.
Please pray that these next few days go smoothly and that next next work team (another scottish one!) makes it here safely!
Serioulsy, I love the Urabama area. The most beautiful place with the most beautiful kids. I would be content to stay here forever.
Please pray that these next few days go smoothly and that next next work team (another scottish one!) makes it here safely!
July 11, 2009 (PM)
I could stay here forever. I don´t know how I will ever be able to leave these kids. It was so neat to be able to see the boys I knew from last year again. I brought Oscar a picture of of us together from last year--you should have seen the smile on his face. The rest of the day he wanted to be by my side and hold my hand. I also met another boy today named Christian. He may be the most precious boy I´ve ever seen. We played together all day, his laughter is absolutely contagious.
Today, sitting on the ground with Christian in my lap and at least six other boys surounding me as we told stories,made videos, and looked at pictures, with the mountains all around us, in a place with so many memories, is perhaps one of the most content and happy times of my life.
This organization is doing incredible things. By comingback year after year, I get to show these sweet children that there ARE many people who truly love and care about them. They all come from such awful situations and backgrounds--and showing this love to them will help them understand the love that there TRUE Father has for them!
Today, sitting on the ground with Christian in my lap and at least six other boys surounding me as we told stories,made videos, and looked at pictures, with the mountains all around us, in a place with so many memories, is perhaps one of the most content and happy times of my life.
This organization is doing incredible things. By comingback year after year, I get to show these sweet children that there ARE many people who truly love and care about them. They all come from such awful situations and backgrounds--and showing this love to them will help them understand the love that there TRUE Father has for them!
July 11, 2009 (AM)
The things here do not cease to amaze me. It´s funny how different life can become without some of the things I have become so acustomed to. It´s ironic really--back home there is a constant desire to get the next ´new thing´ that promises to make our life simpler. Yet here in Peru, without any of these things, I find myself more content than anywhere else. The stars here are so brilliant, I wish you could see them. It brings me to the realization that thier creator must be even more so!
Psalm 89:6
For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?
Psalm 89:6
For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
July 9, 2009
Urabamba , Peru. I´d forgotten how much i love this place--there´s just somethings about it that makes me smile. I could go on and on about these mountains. They´ve got to be the pst gorgeous on earth-a tiny reflection of the beauty of their creator. Their physical presence is a constant reminder of how samll I am, and how much God is in control. Urabamba is just outside of Cusco, but is far enough away that its not swarmed with tourists, and not every peruvian on the street is trying to sell you something.
Seeing all the familiar places again was incredible, so many memories, and definitely worth the early morning this morning. We´re even staying at the same hostal I stayed at last year!
Tomorrow will be my 2nd trip to Machu Picchu. The people here are so intriguing to me...I´m back in Cusco...no puedo creerlo!
Seeing all the familiar places again was incredible, so many memories, and definitely worth the early morning this morning. We´re even staying at the same hostal I stayed at last year!
Tomorrow will be my 2nd trip to Machu Picchu. The people here are so intriguing to me...I´m back in Cusco...no puedo creerlo!
July 7, 2009
They say that if you can drive in te streets of Lima, you can drive anywhere, and after today, there is no doubt in my mind. It´s more like walking on a crowded sidewalk then driving on a road with the rules I´m used to. We have gone the wrong way on one of the busy streets just outside the city, we´ve come to a screeching halt before going under a bridge, and then decided to back up (in the 24/7 rush hour traffic of downtown Lima) and take a different route, and much more.
My God is the God of miraculous happenings. There have been so many incredible things that have happened so far, and I know there are so much more to come.
I´m going to miss the spanish immersion that I thave had here in Kawai. ´With 1/3 of the team being peruvian, I ended up talking in spanish much more than usual. I´ve made some amazing friendships here, and Im really going to miss seeing these people!
cusco is coming up soon!
My God is the God of miraculous happenings. There have been so many incredible things that have happened so far, and I know there are so much more to come.
I´m going to miss the spanish immersion that I thave had here in Kawai. ´With 1/3 of the team being peruvian, I ended up talking in spanish much more than usual. I´ve made some amazing friendships here, and Im really going to miss seeing these people!
cusco is coming up soon!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Updating...
JULY 5, 2009
These last few days have flown by. I´ve gotten to know a lot of very interesting people. It´s been incredible to hang out with the people who speak spanish. The more I do, the easier it seems to get. The last several days have been super busy with patients, but today is Sunday, so we took a rest from working. We spent the day resting and playing with the boys. We got absolutely murdered in fútbol. I think the final score ended up being gringos-3 peruvians-10. I really enjoy the work down here, and i think I´m even starting to get used to the cold showers!
Today, we were in the market in Mala, and everyone looked at us like they had never seen white people before...one guy even took a picture of us as we walked by! But we´ve been taking pictures and shooting video flim all week, so I guess what´s fair, is fair. :)
Everyday I see more poverty. Every day I see a patiet who is diagnosed with little hope. We had to rush a lady to the hospital just yesterday who needed immediate attention because her blood pressure was so high that she was in real danger of going into a coma any moment. You should see the bathrooms in the schools here. They are far worse then I could imagine on my own. It brings the question, why? Why is this allowed? How could God allow such extremes? What did I do to be so blessed?
But it´s easy to realize that God´s ways are not my ways, and that trying to understand them is not my job. I love how it is put in Proverbs 11:5:
As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is formed in the mother´s womb,
so you can not understand the works of God, the Maker of all things.
God is definitely working on my mind. I have such a heart for these people. It will be neat to see where he leads...
These last few days have flown by. I´ve gotten to know a lot of very interesting people. It´s been incredible to hang out with the people who speak spanish. The more I do, the easier it seems to get. The last several days have been super busy with patients, but today is Sunday, so we took a rest from working. We spent the day resting and playing with the boys. We got absolutely murdered in fútbol. I think the final score ended up being gringos-3 peruvians-10. I really enjoy the work down here, and i think I´m even starting to get used to the cold showers!
Today, we were in the market in Mala, and everyone looked at us like they had never seen white people before...one guy even took a picture of us as we walked by! But we´ve been taking pictures and shooting video flim all week, so I guess what´s fair, is fair. :)
Everyday I see more poverty. Every day I see a patiet who is diagnosed with little hope. We had to rush a lady to the hospital just yesterday who needed immediate attention because her blood pressure was so high that she was in real danger of going into a coma any moment. You should see the bathrooms in the schools here. They are far worse then I could imagine on my own. It brings the question, why? Why is this allowed? How could God allow such extremes? What did I do to be so blessed?
But it´s easy to realize that God´s ways are not my ways, and that trying to understand them is not my job. I love how it is put in Proverbs 11:5:
As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is formed in the mother´s womb,
so you can not understand the works of God, the Maker of all things.
God is definitely working on my mind. I have such a heart for these people. It will be neat to see where he leads...
Updating...
JULY 2, 2009
Wow. What a day. I finally got to Kawai aroung 1 AM this morning. Right now, I have a whole building to myself because they didn´t want to wake anyone when I got in so late last night, but I´m planning on moving in with some other people tomorrow. As soon as I got here, I layed my sleeping bag down on one of the bunks (which, by the way, is too short for me-no surprise here!) and crashed. I met some people at breakfast this morning before we took a two-hour bus ride to a school in the area. We set up the medical clinic - and for being literally in the middle of nowhere, with no electricity-was pretty impressive. 236 people were seen/diagnosed by doctors, 60 some were helped by an eye doctor (who worked all day without lunch or breaks), dentists saw lots of patients and both pulled teeth and filled cavities., and we processed tons of perscriptions in the farmacia. :)
The first thing i did was help translate for a small group who went aroind to the classes and and did health education-which consisted of teaching them how to brush thier teeth and wash thier hands. While we think of these things as second nature, for these kids, It could mean the difference between being healthy and getting very sick and ending up with no teeth! Afterwards I got to help in the pharmacy and took the medicines to the waiting room and explained to the mothers what to do/how often/when to give thier kids the medicine. These people needs are tremendous and it is such a good feeling to know that you really are making a difference in these kids´ lives. The poverty in which they live is unexplainable. The bathroom at the school was awful-waste filled the hallway. I want more than anything to be able to explain to these kids that there is hope, and where it is found.
We got to see the boys at Kawai after supper. I´ve missed the bright happy faces of these boys and it reminded me so much of last year´s trip!
I´m going to bed as we need to get up early tomorrow for another medical clinic. I hope the bed bugs don´t bite--because the ones flying around in the air of my room certainly do!
Wow. What a day. I finally got to Kawai aroung 1 AM this morning. Right now, I have a whole building to myself because they didn´t want to wake anyone when I got in so late last night, but I´m planning on moving in with some other people tomorrow. As soon as I got here, I layed my sleeping bag down on one of the bunks (which, by the way, is too short for me-no surprise here!) and crashed. I met some people at breakfast this morning before we took a two-hour bus ride to a school in the area. We set up the medical clinic - and for being literally in the middle of nowhere, with no electricity-was pretty impressive. 236 people were seen/diagnosed by doctors, 60 some were helped by an eye doctor (who worked all day without lunch or breaks), dentists saw lots of patients and both pulled teeth and filled cavities., and we processed tons of perscriptions in the farmacia. :)
The first thing i did was help translate for a small group who went aroind to the classes and and did health education-which consisted of teaching them how to brush thier teeth and wash thier hands. While we think of these things as second nature, for these kids, It could mean the difference between being healthy and getting very sick and ending up with no teeth! Afterwards I got to help in the pharmacy and took the medicines to the waiting room and explained to the mothers what to do/how often/when to give thier kids the medicine. These people needs are tremendous and it is such a good feeling to know that you really are making a difference in these kids´ lives. The poverty in which they live is unexplainable. The bathroom at the school was awful-waste filled the hallway. I want more than anything to be able to explain to these kids that there is hope, and where it is found.
We got to see the boys at Kawai after supper. I´ve missed the bright happy faces of these boys and it reminded me so much of last year´s trip!
I´m going to bed as we need to get up early tomorrow for another medical clinic. I hope the bed bugs don´t bite--because the ones flying around in the air of my room certainly do!
Updating...
JULY 1, 2009
In a strange way, it doesnt seem that long ago that I was on my last very cramped international flight coming back from Perú last summer. As the city started to disappear beneath us last summer, I remember coming to the realization that I may never see those boys in Cusco again. I could have never imagined that God would provide the opportunity to go back the very next summer. I am very excited to see the boys once again!
As soon as I land, the plan is to connect with Billy, and then he´ll take me to Kawai tonight. This way I can be ready to help translate for the medical team in the morning.
My prayer is that I will live out 1 Tim. 4:12 during this trip. Traveling alone is something I´ve never done before, but so far, I´ve found it just deepens my dependance on God.
...que mi vida sea para ti, como un perfume a tus pies...
In a strange way, it doesnt seem that long ago that I was on my last very cramped international flight coming back from Perú last summer. As the city started to disappear beneath us last summer, I remember coming to the realization that I may never see those boys in Cusco again. I could have never imagined that God would provide the opportunity to go back the very next summer. I am very excited to see the boys once again!
As soon as I land, the plan is to connect with Billy, and then he´ll take me to Kawai tonight. This way I can be ready to help translate for the medical team in the morning.
My prayer is that I will live out 1 Tim. 4:12 during this trip. Traveling alone is something I´ve never done before, but so far, I´ve found it just deepens my dependance on God.
...que mi vida sea para ti, como un perfume a tus pies...
finally some internet!
Wow! I cant believe it has been a week already! I just have a little time here before breakfast, but Im planning to update more in detail later.
I just finished a week in Kawai. The center is sitting literally right on the ocean. It was unlike anything Ive ever done before. I really enjoyed working with a medical team, and it was incredible to see the impact that we were having in these kids lives. I met some really neat people on the trip, and it was amazing to see how quickly we came together. About a third of our team was Peruvian, and I enjoyed getting to know them, and get even more immersed in the language! :)
Yesterday was pretty hectic. There was supposed to be a transportation strike in Lima yesterday, so we needed to get up at 3 AM to be on the road a little after 4. Unfortunately, as soon as everyone was on the bus, it broke down, and we werent able to get on the road until 6. We finally made it to Lima and toured some catacombs and did some shopping in the market!
In the market I met up with the new group that I will be going with to Cusco. They are all from Scotland! Christy (a teacher from my school) was also here with the group. We spend the whole night at dinner laughing at eachothers weird words and expressions. They pronounce aluminum foil, like al-you-MIN-ee-um.
Were just about to leave for a bus tour in Lima, and then our flight leaves early tomorrow morning for Cusco! Please pray for safe travels and that our group will truly set an example for the people we come in contact with!
I just finished a week in Kawai. The center is sitting literally right on the ocean. It was unlike anything Ive ever done before. I really enjoyed working with a medical team, and it was incredible to see the impact that we were having in these kids lives. I met some really neat people on the trip, and it was amazing to see how quickly we came together. About a third of our team was Peruvian, and I enjoyed getting to know them, and get even more immersed in the language! :)
Yesterday was pretty hectic. There was supposed to be a transportation strike in Lima yesterday, so we needed to get up at 3 AM to be on the road a little after 4. Unfortunately, as soon as everyone was on the bus, it broke down, and we werent able to get on the road until 6. We finally made it to Lima and toured some catacombs and did some shopping in the market!
In the market I met up with the new group that I will be going with to Cusco. They are all from Scotland! Christy (a teacher from my school) was also here with the group. We spend the whole night at dinner laughing at eachothers weird words and expressions. They pronounce aluminum foil, like al-you-MIN-ee-um.
Were just about to leave for a bus tour in Lima, and then our flight leaves early tomorrow morning for Cusco! Please pray for safe travels and that our group will truly set an example for the people we come in contact with!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Hello, everyone!
I talked to Catherine this morning. She hasn't been near an internet cafe to update her blog, but asked if I'd do a brief update. She may have internet access Thursday when she gets to Cusco.
Catherine has been with a medical team in Kawai since she arrived (7-1). They are working in schools. The children are examined, and then, if additional care is needed, they are seen by an appropriate health care provider--dentist, eye doctor, etc. Catherine's helping with health education--showing kids how to brush their teeth, wash hands, etc. I believe she said they're seeing around 200 students a day! She's also been a "runner"--taking prescriptions to appropriate people, and she's interpreting when people have questions.
It sounds like the days are full, but good. When she called, they were traveling to another school in another town. On one side of the road you could see the ocean, on the other--mountains!
Tomorrow she is leaving with the medical team for the airport. They plan to leave super early as there is to be a strike at the airport. She asked that we pray there would be no complications with that.
Thanks for praying!
Jolene Wolter
I talked to Catherine this morning. She hasn't been near an internet cafe to update her blog, but asked if I'd do a brief update. She may have internet access Thursday when she gets to Cusco.
Catherine has been with a medical team in Kawai since she arrived (7-1). They are working in schools. The children are examined, and then, if additional care is needed, they are seen by an appropriate health care provider--dentist, eye doctor, etc. Catherine's helping with health education--showing kids how to brush their teeth, wash hands, etc. I believe she said they're seeing around 200 students a day! She's also been a "runner"--taking prescriptions to appropriate people, and she's interpreting when people have questions.
It sounds like the days are full, but good. When she called, they were traveling to another school in another town. On one side of the road you could see the ocean, on the other--mountains!
Tomorrow she is leaving with the medical team for the airport. They plan to leave super early as there is to be a strike at the airport. She asked that we pray there would be no complications with that.
Thanks for praying!
Jolene Wolter
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