Sunday, February 24, 2008

Salaverry Beach

Friday afternoons are free during the summer to take the kids on field trips or do something fun together. This is the second time we've taken the kids to the beach. Unfortunately, both times the clouds have moved in and the weather is less than desirable. However... the kids seem to have a blast anyways! This beach is in the fishing and port city of Salaverry, which is only 5 minutes south of the orphanage.

Milagros

Nanci in mid air
Piero, Jonaton, and Abraham

Aracely

I finally got my crab pictures... although, like so many things in Peru, this little guy is surviving amidst some rough circumstances. He's missing his left pinchers and a leg or two... a youth at the beach thought it'd be fun to tear them off. Grrrrrr!

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Franklin's Birthday

As a volunteer, we get the privilege to take the kids out for their birthdays. Once a month, we take out all the kids with birthdays that month. Sometimes we can do this all at once, but other times we need to seperate groups for more fun. This month, Joel and I took out Franklin for his 8th birthday. He invited his friend, Abraham. Franklin chose to go to the movies and eat pizza... even though he had never done either before! A new, Western shopping area opened near Trujillo a few months ago and is full of restaurants (including Pizza Hut... however it's a fancy, expensive place, here) and a movie theatre.
We watched Alvin and the Chipmunks in Spanish. Abraham and Franklin shared popcorn and a coke. At times I thought they were more impressed with the snacks and the comfy chairs than the movie!
The boys' first time on an escalator! Franklin was a little freaked out, so we rode up and down a few more times just to get used to it! Franklin and Abraham were making a ruckus in the bathroom at Pizza Hut. Finally, I knocked on the door and opened it to see them playing with the automatic hand dryer. "Tia, Tia... seca!" "Aunt, Aunt... it dries!" They were a little confused on what it should be drying, so I gave my first lesson on using a hand dryer. They were amazed.


Pizza Hut... including fresh strawberry juice in fancy glasses, color pages and workers singing Happy Birthday in English and Spanish! Happy Birthday, Franklin!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Noche de las Madres

Joel and I hosted a special evening for the madre tutoras who live with and take care of our 40 children. Hayley, Erin and two other volunteers from Scotland helped by taking care of the kids for the madres. We set up a private room for the madres. The table was decorated with candles and we served pollo a la brasa (roasted chicken), which is a favorite and common dish in Trujillo. Afterwards, we served peanut M&M's for dessert and projected the movie Return to Me in Spanish. It was a night for the madres to talk, share, and laugh without kids. The children here receive so many blessings and often the madres' work gets overlooked. They have a tough job - a houseful of 8-12 kids every day, every night, all year round, with only 4 days off a month and two weeks vacation. They are truly servants of God with huge hearts for the orphans of Peru. It was a treat for us to be able to serve them for an evening.

Sarita (boys' house Tesoros del Rey), Veronica (boy's house Amigos de Jesus), Silvia (girls' house Luces ), Melva (girls' house Chispas de Amor)

Monday, February 11, 2008

First Crop

Radishes! The kids have participated in the entire process of gardening and have learned so much! It was an exciting day... radish salad!





Visitors Return to the US

The volunteer floor was full in January with the Miller Brothers, the Hansons and the other volunteers! It was fun! We had a full house with everyone here and some great conversations.
(Back Row) Hayley, Chuck Miller, Amy, Erin, Tom Miller,
Jerry Hanson and Robyn
(Front Row) Jackie Hanson and Jan Ruppel

Joel, Robyn and Tom Miller (my doctor and long time friend)


The children sang a farewell song for David Miller. They hugged him like crazy! The staff, volunteers and kids will miss him terribly!

Sunday, February 10, 2008

New Mural

Cristian, a young artist from Centro Biblico Church in Trujillo, donated his time and talents to painting our new outside wall near the street. It's an important mural, as it promotes the albergue and also helps direct the public to our building. Joel and I were invited to help him paint some of the details, along with a few other visitors, workers and children. Cristian even included a charactature of Vickie Miller reading a book with some of the children. MUCHAS GRACIAS, CRISTIAN!

Cristian and Elias show the rough draft
Cristian in his famous painting sombrero
Robyn painting the bordersElias and Joel's aunt Jan doing touch ups
Joel's mom and Joel
The mural is finished and all the kids say 'MUCHAS GRACIAS!'

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Fogata

In January we had Joel's parents and aunt here, along with David Miller (founder) and his two brothers. The visitor's floor was quite full. I invited my friends, Los Caimanes, to come and play music. We had a fogata (bonfire) and made s'mores (or at least it was close to s'mores.) It was a fun night!

David Miller, Abel, Tom Miller and Chuck Miller

Joel and Robyn leading the dancing


Yulianna, Jerry and Jackie

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Cuzco

Jerry and Jackie blessed us with a trip to Cuzco (including Machu Picchu) and the five of us enjoyed 4 marvelous days in the land of the Inca's.