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http://picasaweb.google.com/AEgger07/BestOfPeru?feat=directlink
Monday, June 22, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Home Sweet Home
Hello all...
For those of you who have been checking this blog everyday for updates I apologize for not being more consistent and thorough in writing about my experiences in Peru. Please forgive me!!
I am home now... I got home last night after two days of travel... ahhh.... There is no place like home.
I intend to add pics to this blog as soon as I get them... unfortunately I left my camera on a bus in Lima two days ago... but there IS hope of getting it back... not to worry. I am now just waiting for my friend Joe to send me my pics off his computer... thanks Joe. It could be a few days though. Be patient!
Oh how I wish to summarize this trip for you... and tell you all the stories and experiences in full detail... it is rather difficult though.
God is still working in my heart. I have been praying quite often since being home... not knowing exactly how to react or what to be thinking. I have peace though which I know is from the Lord. He is my Living Water, my Bread of Life, and I obey when He says "Come to me."
Please, when you see me, ask about my trip if you want to know more... and please understand there is so much I could tell you about, making it hard for me to know where to start. Have questions of specific things you would like to know. I would greatly appreciate it!!!
Goodbye for now.
For those of you who have been checking this blog everyday for updates I apologize for not being more consistent and thorough in writing about my experiences in Peru. Please forgive me!!
I am home now... I got home last night after two days of travel... ahhh.... There is no place like home.
I intend to add pics to this blog as soon as I get them... unfortunately I left my camera on a bus in Lima two days ago... but there IS hope of getting it back... not to worry. I am now just waiting for my friend Joe to send me my pics off his computer... thanks Joe. It could be a few days though. Be patient!
Oh how I wish to summarize this trip for you... and tell you all the stories and experiences in full detail... it is rather difficult though.
God is still working in my heart. I have been praying quite often since being home... not knowing exactly how to react or what to be thinking. I have peace though which I know is from the Lord. He is my Living Water, my Bread of Life, and I obey when He says "Come to me."
Please, when you see me, ask about my trip if you want to know more... and please understand there is so much I could tell you about, making it hard for me to know where to start. Have questions of specific things you would like to know. I would greatly appreciate it!!!
Goodbye for now.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Cusco OR Cuzco... whichever you wish...
Greetings from Cusco, Peru!!!
This is the city of the llama... the city that the Incans called their capitol... the most visited city in South America... oh yes... it is wonderful.
It is colder here than Iquitos... Cusco has had weather in the 60s... and it is so refreshing!! Well, it was the first day being here. I am starting to miss the warm humidity of the jungle actually, due to the cold-sore throat-cough sickness I now have. Oh well... I will get better soon I am sure!
This city is absolutely beautiful... it is hard to even describe in words. Cobblestone streets. Mountains covered in richly antique buildings. Colorful hats-scarves-bags-gloves. People speaking a new language at every street corner... so much diversity. I will definitely post pics when I get home... be patient. Check sometime after June 3 for the update!!
We have been shopping, exploring, hiking, and being guided on tours for the past three days. I have seen so many beautiful scenes... ones like my eyes have never seen before this. Today we visited Machu Picchu. It was beautiful! I got sick on the train ride over, however... and did not feel well the whole time... but am still thankful for the opportunity and tried to make the best of it. Bumpy train rides are definitely not my favorite means of transportation now... haha.
Anyone want any souveniers???? They have some pretty amazing stuff here... just let me know, ok?? Do not be shy!
Llama scarves and hats.
Leather wallets, journals, etc.
Colorful purses.
Exotic jewelry and artwork.
Much more.......
Love always
aShleY
This is the city of the llama... the city that the Incans called their capitol... the most visited city in South America... oh yes... it is wonderful.
It is colder here than Iquitos... Cusco has had weather in the 60s... and it is so refreshing!! Well, it was the first day being here. I am starting to miss the warm humidity of the jungle actually, due to the cold-sore throat-cough sickness I now have. Oh well... I will get better soon I am sure!
This city is absolutely beautiful... it is hard to even describe in words. Cobblestone streets. Mountains covered in richly antique buildings. Colorful hats-scarves-bags-gloves. People speaking a new language at every street corner... so much diversity. I will definitely post pics when I get home... be patient. Check sometime after June 3 for the update!!
We have been shopping, exploring, hiking, and being guided on tours for the past three days. I have seen so many beautiful scenes... ones like my eyes have never seen before this. Today we visited Machu Picchu. It was beautiful! I got sick on the train ride over, however... and did not feel well the whole time... but am still thankful for the opportunity and tried to make the best of it. Bumpy train rides are definitely not my favorite means of transportation now... haha.
Anyone want any souveniers???? They have some pretty amazing stuff here... just let me know, ok?? Do not be shy!
Llama scarves and hats.
Leather wallets, journals, etc.
Colorful purses.
Exotic jewelry and artwork.
Much more.......
Love always
aShleY
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Fellowship
The fellowship in this place is not like any I have experienced before.
We truly operate as family. Peruvians, or Peruanans as they refer to themselves, are SO hospitable, so loving, so open and relaxed. The culture here is definitely not time based, but rather people based.
Our group has definitely picked up on this cultural fellowship. Just a small expression of this is the fact that we have started giving each other pats on the back. It´s a small thing, but something our group would not have done at home.
Two days ago we visited a school for kids who have special needs. The kids were either blind, deaf, or had Down´s syndrome, etc. At first I was sad from what I saw, but after spending ten minutes there, I started to see the joyful spirits of the kids, ESPECIALLY when the ¨recess bell¨ rang!! Two ten year old girls immediately grabbed me and started playing volleyball with me in the small courtyard. Four or five others ran up and gave me a hug before they joined in the fun. Shortly after our volleyball fun, a 21 year old girl named Victoria gave me a fruit and told me to cut it up and eat it with salt. Her friend who referred to himself as James Bond also approached me and gave me his crackers. I sat down and talked with these two precious people in Spanish for a good twenty minutes. It was SO MUCH FUN. Several other kids joined us, and laughed at me as I tried to communicate in their language. It was such a blessing to be a part of their lives.
Oh dear... I have just been told to go grab my luggage... we are headed for Cusco in about an hour!
I apologize for not having the time to say more... because there is so much more!!!
Thank you for your prayers!
We truly operate as family. Peruvians, or Peruanans as they refer to themselves, are SO hospitable, so loving, so open and relaxed. The culture here is definitely not time based, but rather people based.
Our group has definitely picked up on this cultural fellowship. Just a small expression of this is the fact that we have started giving each other pats on the back. It´s a small thing, but something our group would not have done at home.
Two days ago we visited a school for kids who have special needs. The kids were either blind, deaf, or had Down´s syndrome, etc. At first I was sad from what I saw, but after spending ten minutes there, I started to see the joyful spirits of the kids, ESPECIALLY when the ¨recess bell¨ rang!! Two ten year old girls immediately grabbed me and started playing volleyball with me in the small courtyard. Four or five others ran up and gave me a hug before they joined in the fun. Shortly after our volleyball fun, a 21 year old girl named Victoria gave me a fruit and told me to cut it up and eat it with salt. Her friend who referred to himself as James Bond also approached me and gave me his crackers. I sat down and talked with these two precious people in Spanish for a good twenty minutes. It was SO MUCH FUN. Several other kids joined us, and laughed at me as I tried to communicate in their language. It was such a blessing to be a part of their lives.
Oh dear... I have just been told to go grab my luggage... we are headed for Cusco in about an hour!
I apologize for not having the time to say more... because there is so much more!!!
Thank you for your prayers!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
The Jungle
Oh wow!!!
I just had the best two days in the Amazon jungle EVER!!
We took three Peruvian ¨speed boats¨ out on the river, riding with the wind in our hair and waves at our feet. Stopping at a cute village called Tom Shiyaka, we purchased enough sweet break for twenty people, totaling, get this, A DOLLAR FIFTY! I had four pieces. Yummm...
When we finally arrived at our destination, we approached something I didn´t expect... an island like dock, totally surrounded by the brown waters of the Amazon... we liked to refer to it as a bungalow. Approximately fifteen camping tents filled one side, and six comfortable hammocks draped from the rafters in the middle of the complex. A PERFECT jungle getaway.
We enjoyed taking a canoe trip to explore the surroundings, more specifically the jungle trees that we were told were probably filled with snakes. Yeah right... we didn´t see any. (We did go alligator hunting last night however... and now I am a real jungle woman! haha. That´s a story of its own though. )
Our first night in the jungle was so fun. We swam in the river, danced around the ¨tree of life,¨ fell asleep in the hammocks, sang worship songs, and had wonderful fellowship.
The next morning we were wakened by the early morning sun... around five I am guessing. After breakfast and devotions, we all loaded into the boats to head to our first clinic destination. The village was a twenty minute hike from the ¨shore,¨ and we had a sweaty good time carrying all our supplies that far. We were drenched by the time we got there.
At the clinic I helpled a mere five people, but it was worth every minute. An eighty year old man had grossness in his ear, and his wife had dizziness and headaches. It is so hard when we can not do much. I was encouraged when we removed the junk from the guy´s ear, but heartbroken when we could only give his wife some advil to mask her symptoms.
We finished that clinic by passing out toys and clothes...ahhh.... so much fun.
Ok... people are eating, I must be going. I will have to finish this later.
Keep praying!! God is so good!!!
I just had the best two days in the Amazon jungle EVER!!
We took three Peruvian ¨speed boats¨ out on the river, riding with the wind in our hair and waves at our feet. Stopping at a cute village called Tom Shiyaka, we purchased enough sweet break for twenty people, totaling, get this, A DOLLAR FIFTY! I had four pieces. Yummm...
When we finally arrived at our destination, we approached something I didn´t expect... an island like dock, totally surrounded by the brown waters of the Amazon... we liked to refer to it as a bungalow. Approximately fifteen camping tents filled one side, and six comfortable hammocks draped from the rafters in the middle of the complex. A PERFECT jungle getaway.
We enjoyed taking a canoe trip to explore the surroundings, more specifically the jungle trees that we were told were probably filled with snakes. Yeah right... we didn´t see any. (We did go alligator hunting last night however... and now I am a real jungle woman! haha. That´s a story of its own though. )
Our first night in the jungle was so fun. We swam in the river, danced around the ¨tree of life,¨ fell asleep in the hammocks, sang worship songs, and had wonderful fellowship.
The next morning we were wakened by the early morning sun... around five I am guessing. After breakfast and devotions, we all loaded into the boats to head to our first clinic destination. The village was a twenty minute hike from the ¨shore,¨ and we had a sweaty good time carrying all our supplies that far. We were drenched by the time we got there.
At the clinic I helpled a mere five people, but it was worth every minute. An eighty year old man had grossness in his ear, and his wife had dizziness and headaches. It is so hard when we can not do much. I was encouraged when we removed the junk from the guy´s ear, but heartbroken when we could only give his wife some advil to mask her symptoms.
We finished that clinic by passing out toys and clothes...ahhh.... so much fun.
Ok... people are eating, I must be going. I will have to finish this later.
Keep praying!! God is so good!!!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
If only I could do more...
ahhh.... what a day... bitter sweet.
It is such a burden on my heart not to be able to do more for the people that we see...
Only equipped with so many supplies and resources leaves me feeling hopeless and useless to give the people of the Amazon what they really need.
One 91 year old lady had cataracts, could barely see, had wheezing in her lungs, and was dizzy all the time with headaches around her eyes... what could I do besides give her pain medication... not much. It broke my heart. It was also hard that I could not even express to her my sympathy. The communication barrier is harder at times to deal with than at others.
Oh well.
God is in control... I am not the only one able to give hope to these people... I pray that the Lord will use my interaction with them in a way that I can not even comprehend. I trust that He will provide the hope that these people so desperately need.
p. s. The Amazon river and its tributaries are AMAZING. So much fun!!!
It is such a burden on my heart not to be able to do more for the people that we see...
Only equipped with so many supplies and resources leaves me feeling hopeless and useless to give the people of the Amazon what they really need.
One 91 year old lady had cataracts, could barely see, had wheezing in her lungs, and was dizzy all the time with headaches around her eyes... what could I do besides give her pain medication... not much. It broke my heart. It was also hard that I could not even express to her my sympathy. The communication barrier is harder at times to deal with than at others.
Oh well.
God is in control... I am not the only one able to give hope to these people... I pray that the Lord will use my interaction with them in a way that I can not even comprehend. I trust that He will provide the hope that these people so desperately need.
p. s. The Amazon river and its tributaries are AMAZING. So much fun!!!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Yummy!!!
Peruvian food is AMAZING.
Ok... going into this trip I thought I was going to have to ¨survive¨ on not very much food... you know... live a rough, deprived life on this mission trip. Boy was I wrong!!
I never knew rice, potatoes, chicken and beans could be prepared so many different delicious ways. Not to mention homemade peanut butter at every meal as well... and freshly squeezed juice daily!! Have I used enough exclaimation points yet?!!!!!
Ok. That´s all I have time for right now. People are waiting to use the computer.
Keep praying for us!!
Ok... going into this trip I thought I was going to have to ¨survive¨ on not very much food... you know... live a rough, deprived life on this mission trip. Boy was I wrong!!
I never knew rice, potatoes, chicken and beans could be prepared so many different delicious ways. Not to mention homemade peanut butter at every meal as well... and freshly squeezed juice daily!! Have I used enough exclaimation points yet?!!!!!
Ok. That´s all I have time for right now. People are waiting to use the computer.
Keep praying for us!!
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