Monday, June 30, 2008

Shout out from the Paz y Esperanza Team!

Praise the Lord! Today we had our first Peruvian protest experience. We marched along with some of the Paz y Esperanza staff in a peaceful demonstration to advocate for better educational and social services for the marginalized communities here in San Juan de Lurigancho.

On Friday we spent our second day at the lunch program at the Iglesia La Gracia de Dios (Grace of God church) which we will be serving at a couple times each week throughout the Trek. We helped the kids create their own rules for what makes a good program. The kids here not only get a nutritious meal that they otherwise would not have, they are also spiritually fed with God´s word and encouraging time in community. Some of our favorite rules that the kids came up with were:
  • Respecting adults and our brothers and sisters
  • Washing hands before eating
  • Brushing teeth after eating
  • Listening during the devotional
  • Not using dirty words

It´s cool to see the kids taking ownership for their own program.

Continuing with our list of our favorite things, our favorite things about Peru so far are:
  • The FOOD
  • potatoes at every meal
  • good warm beverages at every meal
  • getting lost (and found) on the crazy Peruvian bus system
  • Besitos (the kiss to greet)
  • black boogers (courtesy of Amy Gallagher)
  • Speaking (broken) Spanish
  • Our host families
  • Peruvian hospitality
  • Volleyball with the jovenes
  • Hearing people´s stories
  • What God is doing!!!

How you can be praying for us:

  • Health
  • Continuing to adjust to Peruvian culture, food, language, and relationships
  • Sensitivity to God´s voice and presence in our midst
  • Building relationships with the kids at the lunch program we are serving at a couple times a week
  • To encourage and be encouraged by the people we are working with at Paz y Esperanza, the churches, and our host families
With Love,
Amy ¨Eimi¨ Gallagher, Amy ¨Estrella¨ Lee, Brandon, Kelton, Laura, and Gracie