Orphanage Visits - Strikes - Medical Team

I love Moises!!!!!!

Katie pulling out a tooth!!

Carrie assisting the Dentist above.

Dad singing with Little Beltron 

Precious Moises.

Last week there were 2 days where we had a strike.  That means that no transportation is running and the people put huge rocks in the middle of the street so no one can drive on the roads.  There is actually another one today which is National, for all of Peru.  They do this because of the water issues here in Peru.  The Peruvians don't want to have to pay for water for their crops and b/c of having to pay for water they are raising the price of their crops.  So on these days where there has been no transportation, we have been walking up to the orphanage for the day which is about an hour walk.  Dad and Katie have been enjoying playing with the babies and children and helping to feed them...etc.  Dad and Beltron seemed to bond, he loves to sing a long to any song and learn new songs!  I am really starting to become attached to little Moises.  If I had to adopt one, it would be him! ;)

This week Katie and I have been helping with a medical team who is here.  We have been going out to small villages about an hour outside of Cusco and giving them free medical and dental care.  It has been such a great experience being able to serve the people here who have no access to care like this.  It reminds me of the CMDA mission trips I would help with while living in San Antonio across the border in to Mexico.  I was helping to translate for the doctors and dentists and saw a lot of interesting things.  We prayed with some of the patients and it was really touching to see how these people live and how they look to God for their only strength when they have nothing else.  Katie and I also were able to assist the dentist... Katie even pulled a couple teeth!  (I got a little weak seeing all the blood... not sure if I would be able to do that - it's a good thing Katie is the nurse in the family!)  We are looking forward to continue helping with the medical team here on Thursday!!  

Lots to catch up on...Dad and Kate's visitI

This is going to be a "to be continued..." entry b/c I am on my way out to help with a medical brigade for the week that is here for the week.  Katie and I assisted with the dentists yesterday and I helped to translate.  I want to go back to when Katie and Dad first arrived and fill you in on the activities when they first got here!  The second day they were here a Peruvian family invited us over for an early birthday dinner for me to prepare guinea pig for my birthday since my family was in town.  This is such a big honor here, and guinea pig is the best meat here in Cusco.  (funny huh?  some people have them as pets in the states...)  But we ate it and it was such a great experience spending time with this family.  I am so thankful for them and they are so hospitable!  The mother loves the USA and Israel.  She says she thinks they are God's chosen countries and prays for them everyday... she is such a blessing. 

The pictures are of their family outside of their house after lunch.  I love their little Dad.  He is so cute!!!  He loves to make me coffee when I come over b/c he knows I love it, and he makes it So good I don't even need to put creamer/milk in it!  Katie and I are holding the cuey (guinea pig) that we were about to eat.  I can't believe we ate it!!  It wasn't so bad.  It's really neat b/c their family has 4 kids also like mine and similar ages except for the youngest one.  The youngest girl, Frana is only 7.  More coming soon......

Thanks for all the birthday wishes!!!!     

Guinea Pig and Food cooked in a hole in the ground?

I tried Guinea Pig today and I actually liked it!!!  After church I went out to Tipon which is a little town further out about 20-30 more minutes with a group of people.  They were having a special meal where they cook all the meat - the beef, chicken, potatoes, corn down in a hole in the ground with hot coals and it's like a natural oven in the ground.  They cooked the guinea pigs in the oven and it was actually really good!!!  I never thought I would say I like Guinea Pig but the flavor was really smokey and good!  I love trying new foods!  These are a couple pictures of the food that was cooked down in the hole and the guinea pigs after they cooked them in the oven.  Not really sure what type of meat this is that I was holding... It was pretty good though! 

Absolutely lovin' Peru!! Happy Mother's Day Mom! :)

I am absolutely loving life in Peru!  The weeks fly by here!!  I have some good news about the cellos that La Salle ordered from Lima --  they should be in the beginning of this next week so I will be able to start teaching there very soon!  I am so thankful to be able to have the flexibility and freedom in order to get plugged in where I am led here and help with a variety of ministries here!  I am also really enjoying playing with the English Church that meets downtown on Sunday evenings!  Playing soccer with the boys from the orphanage every Friday afternoon is also so much fun!  They love this time of being able to run around outside and just have a great time!  I am really enjoying getting to know the kids from this orphanage, La Arca and the family that runs it.  

The bible study that I am doing with several of the older girls from this orphanage and from a few from the church is going so well!  This week we are going to start the book we decided on, Authentic Beauty.  Some of the girls had already translated it, so we will do it in spanish!  One of the girls from the orphanage who is in the bible study is having her quincinera next Friday!  This is like a sweet 16 birthday party except for when they turn 15 here.  It is a really huge deal here!  ALmost like a wedding!  She is inviting over 120 people and they just dance, talk, eat and do the traditional things there.  She asked me to be one of her "pases" which is one of her closest 15 girls who wears a special dress and holds flowers... not exactley sure how this works but it is kind of like a bridesmaid.  It will be really neat b/c this is the day my dad and sis katie get in so they are invited as well!  It will be neat to experience this with them here!  I'm so excited about them coming and showing them around here and the ministries I have been involved with here.  I am also so excited about going to Machu Picchu with them here!!

Last night I met up with a friend from Clemson, Micheal who is doing YWAM and coming through Cusco for the day.  It was so great to be able to hear about what he is doing with YWAM and what all he is learning.  So encouraging hearing from others who have similar views on missions and are passionate about similar things!

Today I am going to the Mother's Day Brunch at a tea house downtown with many of the ladies from all the different missions organizations here in Cusco.  It will be a nice time.   Wish my Mom could be here for it b/c I know how much she absolutely LOVES tea houses.  But I'm so glad that she is able to be with Laura and Trev and baby Lily Kate -- and Dad and Katie also in San Diego!!

One of my favorite quotes is.... "The world is a book and those who don't travel read only one page." -St. Augustine  I think this is soo true!  There are so many amazing things in this world and SO much to experience!  Why not experience as much as we possibly can in this world and enjoy all of what God created.  I feel like the more I travel and experience different cultures the more I really begin to understand about God and His love for us.