Saturday, June 11, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Friday June 10, 2011
Our last day...It's been a good trip, but I believe everyone is ready to get back home and see their families. We had a very busy day in Jesus yesterday, a great way to end the mission. The team has worked well together and new friendships made. Will be finishing up on home deliveries of food today, then a run to town to spend the last of ur soles before heading to the airport this afternoon. We have a long day ahead of us so continue to pray for us for traveling safety. We leave Cajamarca this afternoon at 4pm and the Texas folks will not get back to their hometown until Saturday at 9pm. Will try to update as we travel.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Wednesday June 8
This past week has been a blessing to us all. I really wish that I could relive each and every day that I have spent here. I initially fell in love with the Peruvians. They have such sweet personalities. We first arrived in Lima and were taken to our hotel. They actually had REAL KEYS! You don’t see that in America. Early the next morning, we visited the Indian Market, and boy did we have a blast! We showed up and they opened their shops so we “gringos” could do our shopping. We had our fun and got on our plane to Cajamarca. Arriving in the airport was a bit different. As we stepped out of the plane, we could look around and see farmland and cows. Our luggage was loaded up into a truck and we were off to Villa Milagro. You cannot imagine how many bags they can pack into one truck. They have some professional packing skills. The day after we arrived, we were sent off to the market to buy food for families that were chosen for us. Now, that was a challenge, considering we speak VERY LITTLE Spanish. However, they were very helpful and didn’t mind the difficulty in communication. Once we purchased our food, our groups were sent for delivery. Tears filled our eyes as the families thanked us over and over, and hugged and kissed us. The time spent at the orphanage was very heart-warming. We played for hours with the kiddos. It was extremely hard not to get attached. They were so grateful for everything we gave them. Not once did I hear someone complain about the food not tasting the way they liked it, or the toys not being good enough. (Not that I would have understood it anyway….) Within the next few days we were sent on a three hour bus ride to Chancay. I cannot begin to explain how beautiful the place that we stayed at was. We were so excited to see our room assignments and the rooms we were given. Everyone seemed to have a room but Monica, Mikayla, Becky, Vicki, and I. We looked around for our room for a couple of minutes until one of our Peruvian helpers came and unlocked this door in the middle of the hall. I’m pretty sure you can guess that it was our room. When I first stepped in the room, I thought, we’re sleeping in an attic… There was a stack of mattresses in the corner that we had to pull down and dress with sheets. After dinner, my roommates and I went back to our “attic” and started winding down for bed. I began to actually like our room. And I started to actually feel guilty for feeling the way I did about it when I first saw it. People here in Peru are lucky to have somewhere to sleep, and I’m going to complain about a roof over my head, a bed, and some blankets? We don’t appreciate the little things we have. It’s not about what we don’t have. We Americans focus on all of the things we don’t have. It’s all about what you have and being grateful for it. I didn’t see one orphan complain about not having something. I didn’t hear a single child complain about having to walk a mile or so to get to school. We Americans are very blessed and we don’t even see it. My prayer for returning to the states is, I will no longer complain about not having the right clothes or a ride to school. My prayer is that we will better appreciate the MANY things we are given. My prayer is that we can be more like the Peruvians, more Christ-like.
-Adrianne Jackson
6/8/2011
Hola! I am so blessed to have been chosen by God to proclaim His name here in Peru and to help fulfill the Great Commission. I feel like I have received more from this trip than the Peruvians have because my eyes have been opened to soooo many things. I have been convicted on my own wastefulness and the way I take many things for granted. For example when I complain to my mom that we have nothing to eat when we actually have a pantry full and there is just nothing that I want to eat. But here the people really don’t have anything to eat and often don’t know what their next meal will be. There were two boys in Chancay, Jose and Lenard, and they were absolutely adorable. They each had a bag of chips and they both insisted on sharing with me. This reminded me of Cain and Abel. Abel’s sacrifice to God was accepted because he gave his finest lambs, which were irreplaceable, while Cain gave some of his crop, which could easily be replaced the next harvest, and this was not accepted. These two boys reminded me of Abel because they gave that which was not replaceable, their food, which is so valuable here. It was so heart-warming to see that someone would sacrifice something so precious just to show appreciation. The other missionaries here are so fun we’ve become like a family and it’s kinda sad to go home. The first day here Becky and I were teamed with Danny, a pharmacist from Arkansas, to go shopping in the market for food in Cajamarca. He was so funny and we had a blast, him picking the items and Becky and I attempting to translate. The language barrier has been sort of challenging but it’s mostly fun because I know enough Spanish to get me by. I’ve been praying for help with communication and prayers have definitely been answered. However I’m pretty sure that “Estoy aqui para un viaje para Jesus Cristo” is not correct, but hopefully the message gets across haha. I’m excited to return to the states to share stories of this trip with everyone and to live a more grateful lifestyle for everything that I’ve been blessed with.
-Monica Riojas
-Adrianne Jackson
6/8/2011
Hola! I am so blessed to have been chosen by God to proclaim His name here in Peru and to help fulfill the Great Commission. I feel like I have received more from this trip than the Peruvians have because my eyes have been opened to soooo many things. I have been convicted on my own wastefulness and the way I take many things for granted. For example when I complain to my mom that we have nothing to eat when we actually have a pantry full and there is just nothing that I want to eat. But here the people really don’t have anything to eat and often don’t know what their next meal will be. There were two boys in Chancay, Jose and Lenard, and they were absolutely adorable. They each had a bag of chips and they both insisted on sharing with me. This reminded me of Cain and Abel. Abel’s sacrifice to God was accepted because he gave his finest lambs, which were irreplaceable, while Cain gave some of his crop, which could easily be replaced the next harvest, and this was not accepted. These two boys reminded me of Abel because they gave that which was not replaceable, their food, which is so valuable here. It was so heart-warming to see that someone would sacrifice something so precious just to show appreciation. The other missionaries here are so fun we’ve become like a family and it’s kinda sad to go home. The first day here Becky and I were teamed with Danny, a pharmacist from Arkansas, to go shopping in the market for food in Cajamarca. He was so funny and we had a blast, him picking the items and Becky and I attempting to translate. The language barrier has been sort of challenging but it’s mostly fun because I know enough Spanish to get me by. I’ve been praying for help with communication and prayers have definitely been answered. However I’m pretty sure that “Estoy aqui para un viaje para Jesus Cristo” is not correct, but hopefully the message gets across haha. I’m excited to return to the states to share stories of this trip with everyone and to live a more grateful lifestyle for everything that I’ve been blessed with.
-Monica Riojas
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Tuesday June 7, 2011
One, Twos, Tres….. (how Danny Ponder has begun to learn Spanish)
Wow, what a whirlwind three days. I have been witness to some amazing occurrences. This morning we woke up at 5:30 in hopes that we would still get a smidgen of hot water from the shower. Nope—all gone. We were served another wonderful breakfast by Peru’s own Paula Dean, Nancy, from Villa Milagro. I almost feel guilty eating the way we have, delicious meal after meal, but Brother Mike put my guilt at ease with his mini sermon tonight. The Bible clearly stated in Luke 10:8, “When you enter a town, eat what is set before you.” Yep, guilt gone.
We walked to the clinic this morning and it was so refreshing. The weather here has been much more pleasant than the weather in Arkansas from what I hear. God blesses these people with a landscape that cannot be described. I have taken almost 700 pictures, and none can do it justice. The gates were scattered with a few people, but more would pour in later. We had already been set up from the day before, so things began to move much quicker. People were triaged and sent to dental, medical, and lenses. At first people looked apprehensive, but that soon turned into appreciation. In the dental clinic, patients started to trickle in. Many people needed several extractions, but only wanted one or two teeth extracted. Several people wanted their teeth cleaned as well. Sparing you the dental terminology, we had a lot of what we needed, but not enough to help everyone. I got to anesthetize a few patients, a privilege reserved for dental hygienists and dentists in the United States. Every one who helped in dental was able to extract a tooth. The people of Chancay, and many other villages in the surrounding area, were very grateful. I know, because, I have been gifted with understanding people with wads of gauze in their mouth. Some women even let a few of us try on their prized possession, their sombrero to take “fotos”. It might not have been a very smart move, but it was an honor. Please pray that we do not have an outbreak of lice in the next few days.
Toward the end of the day, I made an unofficial transfer request to the Lenses area (our dental patients were completed for the time being). What heart warming moments I experienced. A man burst out after he put on a pair of reading glasses that allowed him to read John 3:16. I will never forget the smile on his face. It was a refreshing switch from dentistry. Although we probably clinically helped those people a little more, they weren’t always leaving with a smile if you know what I mean.
After seeing a fourteen year old who traveled very far alone because of a toothache, it was nice to take Spanish lessons from a few four year olds through chalk drawing animals on the sidewalk. It was hard to see all of those children whose size did not represent their age. I miss my girls so much, but from this experience I will be a better parent and a better person. I will be a better neighbor and a better Christian. I thank God for this trip and this opportunity to minister to these people through the many things we have done.
Amber
Wow, what a whirlwind three days. I have been witness to some amazing occurrences. This morning we woke up at 5:30 in hopes that we would still get a smidgen of hot water from the shower. Nope—all gone. We were served another wonderful breakfast by Peru’s own Paula Dean, Nancy, from Villa Milagro. I almost feel guilty eating the way we have, delicious meal after meal, but Brother Mike put my guilt at ease with his mini sermon tonight. The Bible clearly stated in Luke 10:8, “When you enter a town, eat what is set before you.” Yep, guilt gone.
We walked to the clinic this morning and it was so refreshing. The weather here has been much more pleasant than the weather in Arkansas from what I hear. God blesses these people with a landscape that cannot be described. I have taken almost 700 pictures, and none can do it justice. The gates were scattered with a few people, but more would pour in later. We had already been set up from the day before, so things began to move much quicker. People were triaged and sent to dental, medical, and lenses. At first people looked apprehensive, but that soon turned into appreciation. In the dental clinic, patients started to trickle in. Many people needed several extractions, but only wanted one or two teeth extracted. Several people wanted their teeth cleaned as well. Sparing you the dental terminology, we had a lot of what we needed, but not enough to help everyone. I got to anesthetize a few patients, a privilege reserved for dental hygienists and dentists in the United States. Every one who helped in dental was able to extract a tooth. The people of Chancay, and many other villages in the surrounding area, were very grateful. I know, because, I have been gifted with understanding people with wads of gauze in their mouth. Some women even let a few of us try on their prized possession, their sombrero to take “fotos”. It might not have been a very smart move, but it was an honor. Please pray that we do not have an outbreak of lice in the next few days.
Toward the end of the day, I made an unofficial transfer request to the Lenses area (our dental patients were completed for the time being). What heart warming moments I experienced. A man burst out after he put on a pair of reading glasses that allowed him to read John 3:16. I will never forget the smile on his face. It was a refreshing switch from dentistry. Although we probably clinically helped those people a little more, they weren’t always leaving with a smile if you know what I mean.
After seeing a fourteen year old who traveled very far alone because of a toothache, it was nice to take Spanish lessons from a few four year olds through chalk drawing animals on the sidewalk. It was hard to see all of those children whose size did not represent their age. I miss my girls so much, but from this experience I will be a better parent and a better person. I will be a better neighbor and a better Christian. I thank God for this trip and this opportunity to minister to these people through the many things we have done.
Amber
Tuesday June 7, 2011
We are back
We are back from a two day medical mission. We had a great time and saw God really work. Everyone had lots to do. Chris and Jimmy even pulled some teeth. We really miss everyone!!!!
I love you mom and dad. Thanks for taking care of eveything while we are gone. I love you Sam, Kimberly, Natalie, Matt, Pam, Brent, Allie, Nate, Cole, and Zeke. I can't wait to see you all!!!
Love,
Tabby
I miss you Ma, Granddad, Uncle Sam, Uncle Matt, Uncle Brent, Aunt Natalie, Aunt Pam, Aunt Kimberly, Allie, Nate, Cole, and Zeke.
Love,
Erin
cle
I hope all of you are having fun. I miss you Ma, Granddad, Uncle Sam, Aunt Kimberly, Aunt Natalie, Uncle Matt, Aunt Pam, Uncle Brent Allie, Nate, Cole,Zeke, Grandma, and Grandpa.
Love,
Kelsey
We are back from a two day medical mission. We had a great time and saw God really work. Everyone had lots to do. Chris and Jimmy even pulled some teeth. We really miss everyone!!!!
I love you mom and dad. Thanks for taking care of eveything while we are gone. I love you Sam, Kimberly, Natalie, Matt, Pam, Brent, Allie, Nate, Cole, and Zeke. I can't wait to see you all!!!
Love,
Tabby
I miss you Ma, Granddad, Uncle Sam, Uncle Matt, Uncle Brent, Aunt Natalie, Aunt Pam, Aunt Kimberly, Allie, Nate, Cole, and Zeke.
Love,
Erin
cle
I hope all of you are having fun. I miss you Ma, Granddad, Uncle Sam, Aunt Kimberly, Aunt Natalie, Uncle Matt, Aunt Pam, Uncle Brent Allie, Nate, Cole,Zeke, Grandma, and Grandpa.
Love,
Kelsey
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Sunday June 5, 2011
Saturday was a long and fulfilling day. We started our day by going to the market downtown which is an experience in itself. It's a large building covering about a block that houses 150 (más o menos) small stalls selling everything you could want except maybe Doritoes... Yarnell's ice cream...packaged meat...it's all fresh and hanging to be bought... including organ meats, cows feet, chicken feet, sheep feet, duck feet, pigs feet (I have pictures of all if you don't believe me) along with cow heads, sheep heads, chicken heads, duck heads, pig heads...well, you get the picture without me showing you, I think. We split into teams of 5 and each team bought staple food for 2 families each to last 2-4 weeks. None of the vendors speak English, so it was a challenge for some to negotiate a deal. In the afternoon, we came back to Villa Milagro and separated the food and then made some of the deliveries to the families that had been selected by the VM staff and Monte Sion Church as being the neediest. It's always an emotional experience to go into their homes, such as they are and actually see how they live and feel their gratitude for what we bring. We all wished we could have given more.
Saturday evening, we went to the orphanage and played with the children, then had a weiner and marshmallow roast. Several ladies bonded with the llama but couldn't get too close for fear of getting spit on. The children are shy at first but quickly respond to all the attention. Most ate 2-3 hotdogs and one little boy ate 5 on our last count.
This morning (Sunday), we had church here at Villa Milagro with Bro. Mike Shy delivering a wonderful message on knowing God. Today is a very important election day in Peru, the presidental run-off. In Peru, you must travel back to your home town to vote, or pay a high fine and it is illegal to conduct any kind of meeting such as a church service. Therefore, they did not have church at Monte Sion where we usually go, plus Pastor Elmer is from the coast and had to travel home to vote. We have been busy packing and getting ready to go to a village called Chancay that we have been to before, about 3 hours away. We'll be leaving sometime after lunch and will probably not be back in contact until Tuesday evening. Everyone is well, almost...one of our dentist is a little under the weather after playing soccer with the kids at the orphanage last night...altitude, altitude, altitude! He's says he's feeling OK now. Please continue to pray for us as we travel and hold clinic in Chancay!
Saturday evening, we went to the orphanage and played with the children, then had a weiner and marshmallow roast. Several ladies bonded with the llama but couldn't get too close for fear of getting spit on. The children are shy at first but quickly respond to all the attention. Most ate 2-3 hotdogs and one little boy ate 5 on our last count.
This morning (Sunday), we had church here at Villa Milagro with Bro. Mike Shy delivering a wonderful message on knowing God. Today is a very important election day in Peru, the presidental run-off. In Peru, you must travel back to your home town to vote, or pay a high fine and it is illegal to conduct any kind of meeting such as a church service. Therefore, they did not have church at Monte Sion where we usually go, plus Pastor Elmer is from the coast and had to travel home to vote. We have been busy packing and getting ready to go to a village called Chancay that we have been to before, about 3 hours away. We'll be leaving sometime after lunch and will probably not be back in contact until Tuesday evening. Everyone is well, almost...one of our dentist is a little under the weather after playing soccer with the kids at the orphanage last night...altitude, altitude, altitude! He's says he's feeling OK now. Please continue to pray for us as we travel and hold clinic in Chancay!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Saturday June 4, 2011
Up and having breakfast, Doyne says we are doing something that nobody else in Peru is doing, eating biscuits and gravy, plus eggs and ham. We've had one with a little upset stomach (Hunter Cummings), but he is feeling better this morning. We are going to divide into teams and go to the market to buy food for 10 poor families this morning.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
44 people, 88 checked bags and about that many carry-on's and we all made it to Lima! Going to the Indian market for a little shopping (first things first, of course!) and then leaving hotel at 11 this morning for airport and afternoon flight to Cajamarca. All is well (a little tired, but well) after arriving at hotel at 2:30 this morning.
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