I'm sitting at one of my favorite places to journal, which happens to be the picnic table on the deck at my parents house. It feels kinda weird to call it that because I grew up here. But I guess I better get used to it not being my home anymore. I'm excited about what is ahead though.
As far as my time in Peru, it seems like only yesterday that i was packing up to head down there. But at the same time it seems like so much has happened since then, and much has happened. When I look back over our experience in Peru and wonder about a common theme throughout our time there, one sticks out vividly in my mind. The way I see it, the theme of the summer was God's provision.
It started with my passport problems at the beginning of the trip when I didn't know if I would even be able to go. But God provided two free flights the next day. It continued with the spiritual warfare that we faced upon arrival when many things seemed to be going wrong. But God's provision was again evident.
We saw God at work again when we faced relationship issues and personality conflicts within our team, but God provided patience and unity. Trouble again arose when Casey and I were robed and lost almost everything important that we carried. As we watched our valuables walking away we felt helpless and very weak. We didn't know why something like this would happen to us and we questioned ourselves on what we could have done differently. Could I have grabbed the gun?
But even as we were left with nothing and possibly no way to return home, God provided for us yet again. We both had new passports the next day and God provided a friend named Gabriel to help us through the process. Other friends helped us cancel our cards and calm our fears. Finally, a few of left Peru with severe swelling from many bug bites, but God provided again with his healing touch.
So now I sit here at home with a new passport, a new license (which I got today), a new check card, a phone on the way, and the reassurance that a friend from above has been and will continue to watch over me.
What a joy it was to serve Him and the people of Peru. Little did they know, but they were serving us as well. And now as I look ahead to what is coming I know that God will provide. I will hold loosely to the plans that I have made, because I know that God's plans are far greater. And I'm confident that He will find us a place to live and provide us with the strength to plan a wedding.
It's great to have someone who knows all our needs and just how and when to meet them. This summer has truly been an adventure, and may all the glory go to Him.
Until next time,
Kyle
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Almost through
Almost through our last work week here at Hannah's. As many of you know, Kyle and I were robbed while shopping on Sunday afternoon. It was a really scary experience, but I am glad that we are ok. Makes me really homesick, so I'm so looking forward to our trip home.
Kyle and I both lost our cell phones, so if you are trying to get in touch with us once we return I'm not really sure how we'll be able to do that.
After Sunday, I have been feeling pretty nervous and a little bit scared being here. God is working on my heart, and trying to get me to trust him more. Here are some verses I read today:
I lift my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121
Kyle and I both lost our cell phones, so if you are trying to get in touch with us once we return I'm not really sure how we'll be able to do that.
After Sunday, I have been feeling pretty nervous and a little bit scared being here. God is working on my heart, and trying to get me to trust him more. Here are some verses I read today:
I lift my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121
Saturday, July 17, 2010
One More Team!
It's Saturday night and for some reason I'm feeling kinda frustrated, but I'm not sure why. Maybe I'm just beginning to anticipate our return home in a little over a week or maybe I just had too much coffee to drink this afternoon. Probably the later. :-)
But it's been a great week with a fantastic team who got a great amount accomplished. I got the privilege of spending a whole day out in the community helping with their medical campaign which was a new and exiting experience for me. Although it was sad to see all of the basic medical and hygiene needs that the people of Chilca have, it was good to be a part of helping to meet them.
The new and final team this next week is from Pennsylvania so we're anticipating some great people. I really wan't to hit the orphanage hard this week. In a good way that is. :-) It would be really nice to get a good chunk of work done before we have to say goodbye.
The seven of us seem to be holding up pretty well, but with the imminent return home I think some of us are getting a little restless. It's tough because I really want to stay longer and see God continue to work here, but at the same time it's going to be so nice to be home again.
Thankfully God's got everything in his hands.
Until next time,
Kyle
But it's been a great week with a fantastic team who got a great amount accomplished. I got the privilege of spending a whole day out in the community helping with their medical campaign which was a new and exiting experience for me. Although it was sad to see all of the basic medical and hygiene needs that the people of Chilca have, it was good to be a part of helping to meet them.
The new and final team this next week is from Pennsylvania so we're anticipating some great people. I really wan't to hit the orphanage hard this week. In a good way that is. :-) It would be really nice to get a good chunk of work done before we have to say goodbye.
The seven of us seem to be holding up pretty well, but with the imminent return home I think some of us are getting a little restless. It's tough because I really want to stay longer and see God continue to work here, but at the same time it's going to be so nice to be home again.
Thankfully God's got everything in his hands.
Until next time,
Kyle
Health Clinic
The other day, I went to a medical campaign in Chilca that Child Reach had organized. I've never been to something like that before. Medical attention and education is a great need in this place.
We were set up in a house connected to a school in town, where we had four nurses, two hired Peruvian doctors, and a Peruvian medical student. It seemed as if we were fairly well equipped, we even had different kinds of medicine to give away if it was prescribed by the doctor. We bought S/.500 worth of medicine at the pharmacy (about $200).
The house was full and everyone was so busy. Patients waited in line and watched as their friends and family were examined.
I was mostly sitting, taking everything in, and translating when I was needed. I was watching one nurse in particular. She was seeing a mother (the mother was fairly young, she couldn't have been older than 30) who brought her 3 year old son. She had already seen many doctors for his condition. The boy had a cataract completely covering his left eye. It was very pale and gray, and he couldn't see anything out of it. The mother said that every doctor she and seen in Peru said he would never see. All she wanted to know was if she took her son to the States, would he be able to see again (with the cataract surgery). I knew that any American eye surgeon could easily remove it and he would see. But I also knew it is nearly impossible to get in to the country for foreigners. I also knew the mother probably did not have money to pay for the medical bills or the trip.
The nurse told her she couldn't do anything for the boy. And his exam was over. The mother's next child was now being checked.
The boy, Sami, was standing on the ground, heckling his mom. So I picked him up and sat him on my lap. I put my hands in front of him and told him to pat my hands. He pressed both of his little, teeny hands on mine on mine and interlocked his fingers with mine. He was feeling the tops of my palms and pressing pretty hard for such a little one. It reminded me of how a blind person might feel someone's face.
I was holding him so tightly, and I snuggled his little head. I couldn't help buy think about how easily his condition could've been treated back home. Clearly, that would've been caught and treated. But not here. The resources weren't available to this momma.
Holding back my tears, I continued to play with Sami until it was time for him to go. I said a little prayer for him in my head, and said "ciao".
Then the line continued, people with coughs, rashes, pain, lots of snot...
We were set up in a house connected to a school in town, where we had four nurses, two hired Peruvian doctors, and a Peruvian medical student. It seemed as if we were fairly well equipped, we even had different kinds of medicine to give away if it was prescribed by the doctor. We bought S/.500 worth of medicine at the pharmacy (about $200).
The house was full and everyone was so busy. Patients waited in line and watched as their friends and family were examined.
I was mostly sitting, taking everything in, and translating when I was needed. I was watching one nurse in particular. She was seeing a mother (the mother was fairly young, she couldn't have been older than 30) who brought her 3 year old son. She had already seen many doctors for his condition. The boy had a cataract completely covering his left eye. It was very pale and gray, and he couldn't see anything out of it. The mother said that every doctor she and seen in Peru said he would never see. All she wanted to know was if she took her son to the States, would he be able to see again (with the cataract surgery). I knew that any American eye surgeon could easily remove it and he would see. But I also knew it is nearly impossible to get in to the country for foreigners. I also knew the mother probably did not have money to pay for the medical bills or the trip.
The nurse told her she couldn't do anything for the boy. And his exam was over. The mother's next child was now being checked.
The boy, Sami, was standing on the ground, heckling his mom. So I picked him up and sat him on my lap. I put my hands in front of him and told him to pat my hands. He pressed both of his little, teeny hands on mine on mine and interlocked his fingers with mine. He was feeling the tops of my palms and pressing pretty hard for such a little one. It reminded me of how a blind person might feel someone's face.
I was holding him so tightly, and I snuggled his little head. I couldn't help buy think about how easily his condition could've been treated back home. Clearly, that would've been caught and treated. But not here. The resources weren't available to this momma.
Holding back my tears, I continued to play with Sami until it was time for him to go. I said a little prayer for him in my head, and said "ciao".
Then the line continued, people with coughs, rashes, pain, lots of snot...
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Dos semanas mas
In two weeks we'll be coming back from Cusco and getting ready to hop on a plane to the States.
Things at the orphanage are going well and we're making a lot of progress. This week I've traded my plumber hat in and picked up an electrician one. Yesterday I spent all day installing outlets in all of the rooms. Hopefully I didn't cross any wires. :-)
Today we did mostly framing for the ceilings in the lower rooms.
Last weekend we spent Saturday in the nearby fishing town Pucusana where we got treated to a boat ride by one of the locals. On our one hour trip saw so much cool stuff. There were dozens of sea lions laying on rocks along the shore below high cliffs. We also say some absolutely gorgeous homes along the coast.
Can't wait to see whats left.
Until next time.
Kyle
Things at the orphanage are going well and we're making a lot of progress. This week I've traded my plumber hat in and picked up an electrician one. Yesterday I spent all day installing outlets in all of the rooms. Hopefully I didn't cross any wires. :-)
Today we did mostly framing for the ceilings in the lower rooms.
Last weekend we spent Saturday in the nearby fishing town Pucusana where we got treated to a boat ride by one of the locals. On our one hour trip saw so much cool stuff. There were dozens of sea lions laying on rocks along the shore below high cliffs. We also say some absolutely gorgeous homes along the coast.
Can't wait to see whats left.
Until next time.
Kyle
Friday, July 9, 2010
Before I forget...
So before I forget to write about this...On Wednesday, the SVPs went with Tony Kay to Lima to visit a part of town called Gamarra. Not to be confused with Gomorrah...:)
Gamarra is the area of Lima where there are many textile factories. Because of this, people there have hundreds of little shops and there are tons of buildings full of little shops up to four stories tall. I think it was the biggest crowd I've been in since I've been here. Basically picture a little less crowded than outside of Beaver Stadium on a football Saturday. We ate lunch in a little food court (did you know that they have Pizza Hut, KFC, and China Wok here?) That is where Tony Kay had a very interesting idea...we were each given 10 soles (about $3.50), and whoever could buy the best thing with their money would win! Well, you can only imagine what is available for that much money...I ended up with a little rhinestone ring, while Kyle and Blake acquired very racy men's underwear...Oy. Haha. I didn't take any pictures because I was told that Gamarra is a very dangerous place to be pick-pocketed. And I could see why, with how crowded it was. It is very hard to describe what it was like.
Today, we helped Silvia make a big Peruvian lunch for the Peruvian guys that work on the orphanage. We made three big dishes. One was chaufa, a pretty common thing down here. Another was called "papas rellenas" and they were mashed potatoes filled with ground beef, raisins, chopped hard boiled eggs and onions and shaped into little packets and then fried. Soo GOOD! I will definitely be trying this recipe at home....get ready family! :) We also made sweet and sour pork with hard boiled quail eggs in it! HA! It was so delicious, and I think the workers really enjoyed it. They are such great guys, and we love working with them every day.
Tomorrow we are going for a boat ride in a nearby town (Pucusana). Hopefully we get to fish a little, too! I'll take more pictures of that.
Gamarra is the area of Lima where there are many textile factories. Because of this, people there have hundreds of little shops and there are tons of buildings full of little shops up to four stories tall. I think it was the biggest crowd I've been in since I've been here. Basically picture a little less crowded than outside of Beaver Stadium on a football Saturday. We ate lunch in a little food court (did you know that they have Pizza Hut, KFC, and China Wok here?) That is where Tony Kay had a very interesting idea...we were each given 10 soles (about $3.50), and whoever could buy the best thing with their money would win! Well, you can only imagine what is available for that much money...I ended up with a little rhinestone ring, while Kyle and Blake acquired very racy men's underwear...Oy. Haha. I didn't take any pictures because I was told that Gamarra is a very dangerous place to be pick-pocketed. And I could see why, with how crowded it was. It is very hard to describe what it was like.
Today, we helped Silvia make a big Peruvian lunch for the Peruvian guys that work on the orphanage. We made three big dishes. One was chaufa, a pretty common thing down here. Another was called "papas rellenas" and they were mashed potatoes filled with ground beef, raisins, chopped hard boiled eggs and onions and shaped into little packets and then fried. Soo GOOD! I will definitely be trying this recipe at home....get ready family! :) We also made sweet and sour pork with hard boiled quail eggs in it! HA! It was so delicious, and I think the workers really enjoyed it. They are such great guys, and we love working with them every day.
Tomorrow we are going for a boat ride in a nearby town (Pucusana). Hopefully we get to fish a little, too! I'll take more pictures of that.
