July in Peru

It's winter here in Peru, and we have gotten out our fleece jackets and warm socks! Some days have been mild, but others are freezing and bleak!  We have had lots going on, as usual.  One thing that never changes here, is that things are never the same!  

A few things that have been going on this month....

This weekend is "Fiestas Patrias" for Peru, which is their Indpendence Day.  To celebrate, Luke and Sam's school had a program.  I'm sure all of the songs were very patriotic, but unfortunately, I did not recognize them. 

Despite the difference in culture, kids are the same everywhere!  Some have a lot of expression, some are crying, and some (like my Sam), look like they would rather not be on stage in front of all these people!  

Luke taking part in a traditional Peruvian indian dance.  

I love that they have all of the children serve the adults at the school parties! 

Marcus started off the month working as a translator for a few days in Cajamarca, a mountain city about 6 hours from here.  First Presbyterian Jackson, MS was there for their annual mission trip, and this is what Steve Hill had to say about the week, "After one week of our medical/mission campaign in Jesus and Cajamarca we saw their doctors serve around 1,366 patients and their VBS team shared the Gospel with more than 700 children in 4 schools and two cities. Peru Mission supplied 9 translators for this task. All told they left the fragrance of Christ in more than 2,000 lives here."

We loved having Dr. Glover, a surgeon from Jackson, MS work with Marcus and Julton in the clinic for a week in July.  He  was able to do minor procedures in the office, and was a big encouragement to the community of Wichanzao.  He also was a huge encouragement to our family, and we were sad to say goodbye!

Our most recent team from Christ Covenant Pres in Hernando, MS.  They worked with cell groups of Cristo Rey church, worked in the medical clinic, and worked on the construction site of the church and future clinic in Parque Industrial.  I was able to go work with them one day, and use a shovel myself!  They were a great team, and we appreciate their friendship and their hard work!

This is the future medical clinic in Parque Industrial.  For now, one of the clinic doctors comes to work in this area once a week, but they are working towards providing more consistent medical care to this impoverished community.

The hole that was dug to hold a cistern for water to serve the clinic.

with my friend Julianna, Pastor Percy's wife, in front of the little church in Parque Industrial

These children were wandering around the work site, and one had a terrible fungal infection on her foot.   She was taken to the medical clinic for treatment, while the older sister stayed behind caring for the other little ones.  Pastor Percy was able to find some shoes for the little girl.  Their mother was in another neighborhood working in a restaurant, and they were on their own.  The little boy second from the right had dirty clothes on, with no diaper, and when we asked if he could be taken home and changed the older sister replied that there were no diapers or clean clothes at their house.  Thankfully someone found some wipes and was willing to give up their clean t-shirt for this little one.  

Parque Industrial

Miriam and the ladies from the Wichanzao church who cook lunch each day for the visiting teams