The Jungle Trip

I absolutely LOVE the jungle. Although it is not practical to live there long term,(due to lack of resources, communication ability, and financial or medical access) it is my favorite place to be. We arrived back in Huancayo on Sunday. Everyone was completely exhausted. For those who traveled by bus overnight, they probably were awake for over 24 hours (and they had to hang on to the back of a truck for 10 1/2 of those hours). Our daily schedule for the week was:

9 a.m. Kids' Club
3 p.m. Dance workshop for youth and a couples group

6 p.m. Movie

7:30 p.m. Concert (which consisted of choreographies, music, a drama, and Gospel presentation)

In each location we stayed two days. Wednesday was a travel day to go from Puerto Bermudez to Palcazu. I wish that I had pictures of the concert and more from the Kids' Clubs, but on the end of the second day in Puerto Bermudez, I discovered I had lost almost 200 of my photos (oh,well). The second location was too dark to get pictures of the concert.

Our presence in the jungle was an incredible encouragement for the missionaries who live and work there. In Palcazu there is only one man, Mario, working there. He cried the first night we were there because he was so touched that we came. I'm sure it is very difficult on him considering how spiritually dry it is.

We didn't quite have the turn out we had hoped for with our activities and the attendance seemed to drop on the second days, but in Mary Alice's words "we are just plowing the ground". It's probably one of the hardest parts of mission work when you don't see immediate results, but just have to cling to the knowledge that God is working.

Well, I don't know what else to say right now, there's just such of jumble of thoughts in my head. I'm still very tired from the trip. I will be leaving for Lima on Thursday morning and flying home on Friday night. I probably will not have a chance to update again. Please pray that I will have a safe and smooth flight home. Once again, I appreciate all the support and prayers!!!

Heading back to Huancayo

It was a 10 1/2 hour ride to La Merced from Palcazu. Arthur, Mary Alice, and I spent the night in La Merced and finished the last 4 hours on Sunday. The rest of the team took a bus Saturday night and arrived in Huancayo at around 5 a.m. Sunday morning.

Can you imagine 10 and 1/2 hours on the back of a truck like this?? You have to hold on tightly, too, because the roads are incredibly rough. The truck almost tipped over in the mud SOO many times. I hated to watch it. (Fortunately, I was able to ride with Arthur IN his truck.)

Mary Alice and Bejamin after the truck ride...it was a little dusty.
Mary Beth and I
From La Merced to Huancayo

Wiped out...

Miscellaneous- 3

Out to invite kids

Los Payasos

Paul and Josh getting ready for Kids' Club

Miscellaneous- 2

Kevin, Kathy, Mario with his two children (the local missionary) and Arthur
Milka and a local boy before Kids' Club
Kids' Club
Local children
Playing in the afternoon

Miscellaneous-1

Local boy
Mary Alice, Milka, and I before traveling from Puerto Bermudez to Palcazu
Paul and Moses
Justin and Kevin
Susan, Joel, and Crish

Palcazu

Travel from Puerto Bermudez to Palcazu

Puerto Bermudez

Adorable

This is too cute!

Fuzzy, Little Carolina

Today was a rough day. At around 3 o'clock this afternoon the Ivey's dog, Carolina, got run over. Mary Alice and Mary Beth are both taking it pretty hard. Mary Beth actually saw it happen. I have to admitt that I am having a hard time, too. I didn't realize how attached to her I had become. I'm really going to miss her.

Everytime I think I've got a hold of myself, I see Mary Alice or hear Mary Alice and tears begin all over again. Carolina and Mary Alice were always together. It's like half of her is not here anymore.

Mary Alice walked in earlier and I asked her how she was doing. She told me how she has been in her room writing in her journal about all the fun things she and Carolina did together so she won't forget them.

It's going to be a difficult few days...pray for us. I know she was only a dog, but now there is an empty place in the family. It's weird not hearing her collar jingling or her bark everytime the doorbell rings. Dinnertime will be very strange without her whining, yipping, looking at us with those sad, puppy eyes, and begging for a bite.

Some of My Favorite Pictures

These are some of my favorite pictures. (I have a TON of favorites!) I thought I would make them black and white just for something different.

Sheep in Huamantanga
Kids' Club
Kids' Club

This week has been quite uneventful. I have been recovering from another cold. I feel 90% better today. I think that's a good sign.

On Monday and Tuesday I didn't feel much like getting out. I mostly read, sat in the sun to stay warm, prayed, and slept. Taking it easy is the best way to recover no matter how difficult it may be. Unfortunately, I don't do it very often.

I had plans to go to school with Mary Alice on Wednesday, but due to a public school teacher strike and demonstration downtown, school was canceled (as a safety precaution). I was a little disappointed, especially after being in the house for 2 days, to learn that I couldn't go out for safety reasons.

Today, I had to register for GPC classes for the fall, so I wasn't able to go either. That turned out to be alright though. Mary Alice, Joshua, and Mary Beth all came home at around 9 with the news that school was canceled due to lack of attendance. Mary Alice said there was only one elementary school student there. So, it was another quiet day of reading and resting. I guess I can't complain though, I never get the chance to relax like this at home!!

P.S. If you want to know more about the teacher strike you can read this article: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/06/america/LA-GEN-Peru-Protests.php

Photos