My Time In Peru - Josh

Hi!  This is Josh.  After 2 plane rides being delayed, we finally landed in Peru and were greeted by about 10 people from Flores de Villa (at 2am!!).  Walter and Waltercito were there which was fun to see them!

                                     

                                     

Josh, Lance Walther, and Walther, Jr.

The first day we went to Flores de Villa and passed out flyers to people to invite them to the school.  We also got to see what the area would be like where we would be teaching.  We then went to Martha and Walter’s house and it was really cool to meet them for the first time even though we’d been writing them for 6 years.  We talked and got to know each other.  Their house was pretty nice for this area.  It had 3 stories but all 6 are still in the first floor in 2 bedrooms until they finish the other 2 floors.  Once they’re finished, Walter’s brother and his family will live on the 3rd floor.  They also had 2 dogs and a cat.  

                                               

Josh and Walther, Jr.

Teaching during the week was good.  I got to know the kids in our class (11 and 12 year olds).  Our theme was the Super Hero class.  There were 2 classes - about 25-30 kids in each so it was hard to get to know all of their names.  Many of them spoke English pretty well.  It was great doing Jeff’s games and teaching them English.

 

Josh and his new friends at school.

Josh and Walter

My favorite part was staying at the San Juan house.  The San Juan house is a place for college aged boys in Flores de Villa to stay that was started by David and Gina.  It’s like a dorm where they eat, sleep, play soccer together.  They’re like one big family (11 boys live there).  While they’re there they go to school, sometimes really long days.  A few of them have jobs - one is a cook at a nice hotel.  He is studying to be a chef - he cooked for us and it was delicious!!  I spent the night there with 2 other American kids on our trip.  We played soccer in the street - there’s not a lot of traffic because there’s a gate on each side of the street for protection.  Cars can’t go fast in Flores de Villa anyway because the streets are unpaved and there’s lots of garbage and dogs in the street.

                                    

San Juan Boys

We also played Pictionary which was difficult because some of them didn’t speak English and we didn’t speak much Spanish.  They had 2 translators named Berchi and Jimmy.  We talked and one of the American kids had brought some American food like pop tarts, chips and twizzlers.  They loved the food.  I hung out with Walter (a different Walter).  He’s studying computer science in college.  We had dinner at 10:30 at night - we had to wait that long for most of the guys to get home - some didn’t get home until midnight.  Once they were all home we got ready for bed.  I slept in a bunk bed in a room with Walter and his brother.

This was my favorite part because I got to connect with the San Juan boys and I liked them because they practiced their English and I practiced my Spanish.  We naturally connected even though they were 5-10 years older than me.  

Peru overall was a great experience and I loved meeting all the Peruvians because they put others first.  It helped me realize that even though you might have money and think you’re doing great, you might not have as much love as the Peruvians have.  They don’t take things for granted, they appreciate what they get - even if it’s small.  

Josh : )  (Josué)

English Camp Schedule

ENGLISH CAMP TEAM 2015 SCHEDULE

January 17

Carlos to Pick up Jim, Jan, Dick y Harriet. (Lan Air de Miami #2515 10:30pm)

Pedro to Pick up 35 personas (Delta #151 de Atlanta 12:15)

Worksheets to be copied and envelopes of $$ to be exchanged

Receive 40 individual bottles of water for hotel room

Sunday January

9:30   Team meeting/short orientation (come to meeting ready to leave hotel for whole day).

           Pass out t-shirts to wear

10:30  Leave hotel for FV

11:45   Walk through market w flyer and bag

12:00    Everyone helps clean school (12 rooms & patio); put together nine square

1:15      Men go to men’s lunch at Casa San Juan.           Testimony: Elgin Manhard  105 people

1:30      Women stay at school to have Lunch with Assistants & decorate classrooms 65 people

3:30       Everyone meet at MEDICAL POST to separate into groups for Home visits.

1.    Lounsberrys, Manhards, Steinkes, Jeff (7)  Martha Mamani                   David

2.    Parkhurst (2) Kuehls (3)                               Mayra/Roxanna                   Gina

3.    Smiths (3) & Boyers (2)                                Alexandra, Brandon            Brenda Rivera

4.    Ottos, McNeills (4)                                        Sofía S./Angelly                  Rosa Marcia

5.    Boltins & Maxons (5)                                    Anamaria, Anais                  Luzvenia                 

6.    Galloways, (4)                                               Flor                                      Valeria, Ely

7.    Moultons (3)                                                  Maruja                                 Yasmina

8.    Wendy, Susan, Taylors (4)                              Silvia E, Cleofe & nietos     Esteyssi

5:30pm  Return to Medical Post and leave for Miraflores

5:30pm  Kuehls to meet with Gabriela, Fabio, Jean Paul in Gabriela’s house (Yasmina)

5:30pm  Boyers to Leoncio’s house (David)

5:30pm  Wendy to Adela’s house (Rosa Marcia)

7:00pm  Be at the medical post. CARLOS TO RETURN Kuehls, Boyers & Wendy TO HOTEL

MONDAY January

8:15         To Flores de Villa

9:30-11:30         Morning classes        

11:45         Clean up classroom, get on bus to return to Miraflores

11:45         13 people are staying for Mostacillas; meet in Ranelle’s classroom to eat sandwiches

                  Lydia, Abby, Megan, Crosby, Riley & Blake to go to Casa Darling with chicos y chicas

(If staying all day, please bring change of shoes, shirt for dinner if necessary)

12:15          Go to Children’s Club for Mostacillas meeting with women

1:00pm       Retreat meeting while lunching at hotel with David (Ed, Elgin, Lance, Bruce, Chris…)

2:00pm       Gloria & Jan to Carmen Poma (Translator: Gina)

2:30             Bus Returns to Flores de Villa.

3:30-5:15     Afternoon classes

5:30 sharp     Leave school to go straight to dinner.

6:00               Team Dinner: Salto de Fraile

TUESDAY January 20  

8:15               Be on bus to leave for Flores de Villa

9:30-11:30     Morning classes (bring small bills)

11:30              Sale of Peruvian hand-made products:

12:30-2:45      Lunch Casa San Juan

Testimony:      Lance Steinke  (DAVID stays with group)

2:00-3:10         2:00 Lounsberrys to Claudia’s house                  Translator: Gina        

2:00                 Kuehls: Raymunda y Edith    Translator: Yasmina

2:00                McNeils to Ana’s house            Translator: Rosa Marcia

3:15-5:30        Afternoon classes. Be at the school at 3:00pm

5:30                Group returns to Miraflores.  Dinner on your own; special get-togethers below:

Maxsons – Anamaria, Anais, Jesús          (Translator: Rosa Marcia)

Kuehls – John V, Vitols, Jorge Luis, Milagros, Norma Paola, AnaLiz, Gabriela, Katy, Sergio          (Translators: Josselyn y Marilú)

Boyers – Leyla                   (Translator: Gina)

Kirsten – Ely y Janeth Elizabeth  (Translator: Valeria)

WEDNESDAY  January 21 

8:15                 Be on bus to leave for Flores de Villa

9:30- 11:30      Morning classes 

11:45                Bus leaves for hotel

11:45               Wendy & Susan lunch at Amelia’s house

1:30                 Wendy & Susan dessert at Mirtha’s house

12:00               Harriet & Maxsons to have lunch at Julia Alarcon’s house (Rosa Marcia/Berchy)

1:30                 Chris & Emily w/ David & Gina

11:45                Kuehls lunch at Gregoria’s                   Translator: Yasmina

1:00                  Kuehls to Katia’s & Juan Carlos

2:00                  Kuehls to Lupe  

11:45                Galloways lunch at Nelly Carmen’s house          Translator: Valeria & Ely

1:30                  Galloways to Janeth Elizabeth’s                 

2:30                  Bus Returns to Flores de Villa.  Those in FV be in school at 3pm.

3:30-5:30         Afternoon classes 

5:30                  Return to hotel. Men will stay in FV for Men’s Bible study.

                         Crosby, Blake, Riley to spend night at Casa SJ; leave w/ chicos (Berchy) from school

6:00                  Bruce & Ranelle to dine at Yasmina’s house. Work night for Ranelle w/ Mostacillas

6:00                  Jeff, Chris, Elgin, Jim T, Jim P, Jon, Glenn, Lance, Rick & David dine at Santos’

6:15                  The rest of the group dine on their own in Miraflores  

8pm                  Men’s Bible study in FV;         Testimony: Glenn Galloway and Rick Moulton

9:30pm             Men & Ranelle return to Miraflores in the bus

THURSDAY  January 22

8:15                  Group leaves for Flores de Villa

9:30- 11:30       Morning classes        

11:45                 Bus leaves for hotel                                                      

12:30                 Boyers /  Florentina          1:30    Boyers/ Marcelina         Translator: Rosa Marcia

12:30                 Kuehls/ Gabriela               1:00    Kuehls/ Katy at school  Translator: Yasmina

1:30                   Kuehls/ Vitols                    2:00    Kuehls/ Jorge Luis        

2:30                   Kuehls/Milagros at school to be confirmed

12:30                 Wendy to lunch at Carlos’s house; 1:30 Wendy to Rossana’s (accounting)  Gina

2:30                   On bus to return to Flores de Villa. Those in FV be at the school at 3pm 

3:30-5:30          Afternoon classes

5:30-6:00          Quick debrief in bus before going up to Casa Darling

6:00-7:30          Dinner at Casa Darling.  Lydia, Megan & Abby to spend night      
                          Testimony: Kirsten Galloway                                 

FRIDAY  January 23 

8:15                  Be on bus to leave for Flores de Villa

9:30- 11:30       Morning classes.  Jimmy, Walther, Gerardo to give testimonies in classes  

11:30                 Clean up classroom and head to bus

11:45-2:45         ?????

2:45                   Return to Flores de Villa

3:30-5:30           Afternoon classes.  Frida, Vivian, Leyla to give testimonies in classes.

5:30-6:00           Clean up classroom and patio.

6:00                    Ed, Berry, Elgin, Sally, Lance, Josh, Jeff, Dick could leave from FV to go to   
                           Cieneguilla

6:30                    Go straight to group dinner at Luchita in Chorrillos 

SATURDAY  January 24

7:15am              Peruvian Men leave for Cieneguilla

10:00                  Indian Market        

                           LUNCH on own        

2:00                    Leave for Flores de Villa

2:45                    Elderly “Old Hats” Bible study                  Testimony: Jim Taylor

4:00                    Women’s Bible study                                  Testimony: Wendy Marple

6:00                    Return to Hotel

7:00-8:30            Debrief and Pizza at Hotel in upper room.

8:30pm               Bob, Bruce, Crosby, Chris, Jon O., Jim T leave for Cieneguilla

9:30pm               Leave hotel for airport DL 150 departs Lima 1/26 at 1:45am arrives Atlanta 8:40am

SUNDAY January 25

Lunch on own

1:00                    Leave for Flores de Villa

1:30                    BUS LEAVES FOR CIENEGUILLA IMMEDIATELY AT DROP OFF

                           Last minute instructions, etc.; planned pick up of Mostacilla Product in Children's    
                           Club (maybe some interviews could be done here).  Ranelle goes to Carmen Poma’s
                           house to pick up product…

3:00                    Decorate Children's Club for men

4:30                    Meet in Children’s Club to receive men returning from retreat

6:30                    Return to Miraflores

9:30                    Leave for airport  DL 150 departs Lima 1/26 at 1:45am arrives Atlanta 8:40am

Men's Retreat Schedule

Men’s Retreat Schedule

El SÁBADO, 24 DE Enero

07:30 AM – Meet at the Pueblo

07:45 AM – Depart for Ceneguilla Retreat center - David

09:15 AM – Arrive/Room Assignments/Snack

09:45 AM – 12-00 AM            SESSION #1

-        Welcome/Introductions  - Elgin - 30 minutes

-        Song by locals – 10 minutes

-        I am somebody – Elgin - “Yo soy alguien porque Dios me hizo alguien." – 5 minutes

-        Testimony – 10 minutes

-        Talk #1 – Elgin Manhard - 30 minutes

Where are you heading?  This is a talk about God reaching down and giving us faith.  He has these men here for a reason and I want them to know what the reason is.

This talk is about the men.  How’s your life so far?  Is it going the way you want it to?  Are there things that could be different/better?  Why are you here?  Is this a time to make your life the best that it can be?  You are here for a reason.  God’s got a plan for you.  Let’s look at what God’s plan might be.

o              Let’s examine our life – How’s it going?

o   Why are you here?

o   You are special, God, the creator of all things, has chosen you to be here?

§  Every hand is differently made by God

§  We are inscribed on God’s hands

o   Time to step back and look at your life

- Posters – 30 minutes

            - Palanca – 10 minutes                                    2hrs and 5 minutes (0r so)

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM            Games and free time

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM                        SESSION #2      (Start decorating for the dinner)

-        3 Songs by locals – 15 minutes

-        I am somebody – 5 minutes

-        Testimony – 10 minutes

-        Talk #2 – Lance Steinke – 30 minutes

Who do you follow?  We all follow something or someone.  We have idols in our lives.  We hold onto things that we think are important to us when if we look at them they really aren’t helping us.  They are hollow.  We need to let go of them if they are not good.  God is one of the things we could hold on to.  Is He worthy?  Should we follow him?  Look what he did for you.

o   We all follow some thing.

o   Who are you following?

o   What do you need to let go of?  Monkey and coconut story

o   God chose you, that is why you happen to be here.

o   Who do you want to follow, Christ died for us.

o   Stations of the Cross

-        Posters/Presentations – 45 minutes

-        Palanca – 10 minutes                     1 hour and 55 minutes

-        Short skit  if needed

06:00 PM – 07:00 PM      Agape Dinner – Women seat the men, rest serve the dinner.  Men in white shirt and pants.

07:00 PM – 07:15 PM      Break

08:00 PM – 10:00 PM            SESSION #3

-       I am somebody – 5 minutes

-       Song by Locals – 15 minutes

-       Testimony – 10 minutes

-       Talk #3 - Jeff Lindsay – 30 minutes

You are not alone – One of the things about following God is that He is always there?  No matter how broken we get God’s promises to stay with us and also to forgive us.  He believes in us and thinks we are lovable, capable, and not alone.  So the choice is ours, do we want to trust God or do we want to trust our fears?

o   God is always there

o   We are all broken

o   You are forgiven

o   You are lovable, capable, and not alone

o   What do you want to feed, your fears or your trust

-       Posters/Presentation – 30 minutes

-       Communion – Jeff - 30 minutes

-       Palanca – 10 minutes                     2 hours and 10 minutes

10:00 PM – 11:30 PM – David – Bonfire and praise     

     

EL DOMINGO, 25 DE Enero

07:15 AM – 07:45 AM            Wake up activity

07:45 AM – 08:30 AM            Clean up, pack, and quite time                                               

08:30 AM – 09:00 AM             Breakfast

09:00 AM – 10:30 AM                        SESSION #4

-        I am somebody – 5 minutes

-        Songs by locals – 10 minutes

-        Testimonial – 10 minutes

-        Talk #4 – Ed Lounsberry – 30 minutes

Our life as followers of Jesus needs to be lived intentionally.  We need to participate.  Like anything good it takes work to make it better.  There are lots of good tools for us to use:  Quiet time, bible study, church, worship, prayer, reflection, and many more.  We do these things not because we have to we do them in order to let God transform us.  One other thing that is vital to the Jesus Centered Life is making our world a better place.  We are God’s hands and feet now.  He can use us so expect to be used to help others.

o   The tools of faith

o   Letting God transform you

o   You are God’s hands and feet now

o   Heighten your expectations

-        Poster/presentation – 30 minutes

-        Palanca – 10 minutes                     1 hour and 35 minutes

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM            Snack and skit

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM                        SESSION #5

-        I am somebody – 5 minutes

-        Song by locals – 10 minutes

-        Talk #5 – Bruce Keuhl – 30 minutes

Jesus Centered Community   All of us are broken and in need of the help of others.  We need each other.  That is why it is so important to stay in the family.  To comfort others and to be comforted when we need it.  Group time is essential.  Look for it, lead it, and let God use you when you are with them… for their benefit.

o   We are all broken

o   Need each other

o   The Family of Followers of Jesus

-        Palanca – 10 minutes                     55 minutes

12:15 PM – 01:15 PM            Lunch/Pack/Free time 

01:15 PM – 02:45 PM              Group Sharing - David

-        Where were you spiritually on Friday Night?

-        What did you experience/learn this weekend?

-        What are you going to take with you when you leave?

-        What are you and God going to do with your life now?

02:45 PM             - 04:30 PM            Depart for Flores

04:30 PM – 06:30 PM             Public sharing – David and Gina

(Note:  Speakers use “followers of Jesus” rather than “Christians”.  And the “Jesus centered community” and/or the “Jesus centered family” rather than the “Christian family” or “Christian community”)