Harvest and Daily Life

I think I have been in Peru long enough to finally fall into daily routine. What a day today was. I gave Alisson, a three year old a bath in a shower and only got half soaked. Talk about a messy experience!


Today was also day one of Angela and I taking over the garden. I brought Dante, Samir and Junior with me. Angela brought a bunch of her kids to. Luce (one of the cooks), Hugo (one of the workers who use to live in the Tesoro's with my afternoon boys), and Elias (one of the handy men) along with a bunch of other kids all worked together to harvest what was left of the corn and pull green leaves off for a pig they save scraps for. When that was finished, we dug up all the old stalks and weeds. It was a blast going through the corn stalks with the kids trying to find more ears. It was a great gift, bonding and working side by side with everyone.


I love Fall. It is probably the best part of living in the Northeast. The changing colors of the leaves and gentle cooling winds after a hot summer always brings a smile to my face. Well I didn't see the changing leaves, but it is cold here!! It feels like a fall day. Today in the garden, between the rows of corn, it really felt for a moment like I was back in a corn maze with my Dad so many years ago.

Some of the boys and girls thought it would be great fun to start a rotten tomato fight!! I tried staying out of the way but some spray got me too. It was not nearly as messy as that morning bath for Alisson!

I have been trying my hand at sewing these past few days. I am actually very shocked to say its going well. I started with little tears in seems worked up to holes in knees of jeans and now today.... (drum role please) I sewed a zipper back into place that was half falling off!! It actually looked like new. I was so excited that I showed the house mom, Milagros. She was so excited that she gave me hemming to do........ Ha. So that will be tomorrow's afternoon project. After garden, and before folding clothes, while I am helping with the children's homework. Wish me luck! Its a uniform for school. If I mess up, well... lets just pray I don't, OK?

I have so much more to write, but it will have to wait. Juliana (a 15yr old girl here) is on her way to have a Spanish/English lesson with me. :-)

On my way...

"Why do you want to go to Peru?"

"Why don't you help children here?"

Many people have been asking me these questions and so much more. Why? It can be easy to tell a friend at church "God told me to go. I returned from Peru the first time and he placed a love, a pain in my heart for the children. I have been thinking and praying about things I could do for them and now I am going to go and try to carry them out." Try saying that to a co-worker or family, friends that don't share your religion and it can be a difficult thing to explain. So instead of saying the out-right answer to "why", I am going to explain why I plan on doing there and what good I think will come of the mission, I believe God is sending me on.

I have no idea what to expect. I have some thoughts on what it may be like to be there, away from home for six months. I can't imagine what it will be like not seeing my parents, family and dear friends for that long. I am very close with my family and the thought of not seeing them every week hurts. Then I thought of the children, and I felt selfish. What about the children who have no family, who have not seen their friends in years? What can be done for the children who have been abused by those who were supose to love them?

My main goal for my time in Peru is to show the children love. Plain and simple. I want to show them the kindness I belive human nature has. I want them to know that I love them, but more importantly, that God loves them. No matter where they go in life, if they know God's love, they will never be alone or un-wanted.

In Peru, I want to do anything I can to make the children's lives a little brighter. If that means fixing a soccer net twelve times before we get through one game, or spending play time helping a child with math (I'll have to learn the problem first! :-).) so that they can proudly answer a question in class.

Since I will be a casita assistant, it will provide me with lots of time with the children. I hope to find out the likes and dislikes so that I can try teaching them different trades (little that I know), or at least get them interested in a path towards one, example: jewlery making, knitting and crocheting, planting/growing.... any ideas?

I also have some ideas that I am working on for fundraising for the children. Currently, the older children make jewlery that they sell to volunteers. The money they make goes into account for them that they get if they age out of the system. I would like to see some other ways for them to make the accounts grow. We will have to wait and see what God has in store.

One week to go!!!