Daily Sighting

Look what came home from school today with Luke and Sam!  I've had some happy and busy boys today!  Now, what to do with them??

Good Times and Goodbyes

This blog post is ridiculously too much at once, but maybe that's how life is at times, right?  Here I go:

We had a great 10 day visit with my sister and brother in law, but at the end of their trip we also said goodbye to Taylor, the most precious 17 year old girl who has been living with us since the first week of June.

Taylor spent two months with our family helping us with homeschooling, giving me a break from our daily routine, volunteering in the medical clinic, playing the guitar in the Wichanzao church, and volunteering in the orphanage two afternoons a week.  It  was such a blessing that the Lord sent her to us at a time when I was exhausted, burned out with our routine, and overwhelmed with the challenges of homeschooling for the first time.  She was a joy to our family, and feels like one of my own children now.  Her sweet spirit was so refreshing to us all, and she was such a godly influence on our children (and me, too),  but especially Sarah Caroline.  We were so sad to say goodbye,  and are missing her terribly, but are so grateful for the time we had her living with us.  

Also at the end of July we had to send to the US our amazing friend Lydia Rice.   She worked alongside Marcus in the medical clinic, and we started our journey to Peru with her last July, when she was kind enough to fly with our family and help guide us and all of our stuff through three airports on our way to Peru.  

Lydia recruiting patients for a medical campaign

Lydia with her precious parents during their March visit to Peru

We were so sad to say goodbye to her last month, but excited to see how the Lord will unfold great plans to use her for His glory!  Here are some words that were said to describe her at her "despedida" (going away party), that pretty much sum things up in describing her: 

- carinosa - caring

- con mucha accion - with much action 

- de pocas palabras - of little words

- trabajadora - a hard worker

- amorosa - loving

- tiene empatia -has empathy

- calidez humana - warmth

We had a great visit with my sister Rebecca and brother-in-law Justin the first week of Aug, and it was so much fun seeing them after ONE whole year!  Thankfully the vonage phone has kept us in touch, and it didn't feel quite as long as it really has been.  But I am missing her boys terribly, and the kids are missing their two cousins, who are almost 4 years old and 13 months old now!

While they were here we were invited by my friend Pia (whose son goes to school with Luke and Sam) to try out sandboarding, about an hour outside of Trujillo.  It was a beautiful place and a sunny day!

This is really how it's done - our new friend Enrique, and the one who showed us what to do 

Luke and his friend Salvador

We also took a quick trip (which involved two overnight bus trips) to Cajamarca, in the mountains.  We saw this beautiful view...

 and this:

scorpion

We visited the orphanage...

And while they were here the Smith's hosted the most fun Birthday Benefit Talent Show ever!  They raised 200 soles (about $70) for the medical clinic, in place of having everyone bringing gifts.  Everyone was so precious and full of talent, and the emcee (Allen Smith in many costumes) made it so much fun.  My brother-in-law Justin even got to make a debut performing the Chicken Dance.  And Ben took away the grand prize with this performance of a hula hoop dance.

Happy Birthday to Mary Allen, Adeline, Abigail, and Baby Eva

Luke did "cup stacking" and a card trick

Now after a three week break from school for Luke and Sam, and a week and a half break from homeschooling, we are back to our routine (whatever that really looks like?)....

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! 

Ephesians 3:20-21

Daily Sighting

This little bird will be our dinner...

why did I forget to ask for the chicken without the head and feet??

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

Baked Oatmeal

This recipe is one of our absolute favorite breakfast foods, thanks to my friend Candace for sharing it with me!  She told me about it before we moved to Peru, but I didn't try it until we got here.  I make it at least once a week, mostly because I have to cook something almost every day for breakfast.  Here, cereal is really expensive unless you buy a sugary kind, and there aren't quick breakfasts to buy - no muffin mixes, bisquick mix, canned biscuits, frozen biscuits, no Sister Schuberts, instant oatmeal, etc.  So, I've learned to plan ahead to cook something, or at the very least get up and fix toast and eggs.  Maybe we are starting our days a little healthier not having processed foods, although some days I do miss convenience!


Baked Oatmeal (from AllRecipes.com)

• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 
  
• 
  
• -Preheat oven to 350 degrees F 
• -In a large bowl, mix together oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Beat in milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Spread into a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• -Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes.

The original recipe says to had craisins, but we don't add them.  Enjoy!

Pursuing Our Goals

By God's grace, in the last 6 months we have seen a lot of progress in the medical clinic here with many new patients and several additional services - laboratory, dental, and now ultrasound.  The most important factor is that peoples lives are changed spiritually, as a result of being cared for physically.   We are so blessed to play a tiny little role in God's plan for these people, and in giving them a little bit of hope. 


The big question that our friends and family keep asking us is "how much longer will we be here in Peru?"  To be honest, we don't know an exact answer to that question and are certainly praying for clarity.  We are very certain that God knows, and day by day we are trusting Him for guidance and wisdom.  We also know there is much more work here for us now, and we continue to build relationships on a daily basis.   To complete our work here through the remainder of 2011, we need to raise additional funds for our family and the medical ministry.   Our goal is to leave the clinic as self-sustaining as possible.  For this reason we are making this appeal and praying for the Lord's blessing.  Our goal is to raise an additional $20,000.   This amount of money is to cover our family's monthly living and ministry expenses, as well as expansion of services of the clinic.  

-Please Support our Family:

1. You can give monthly to our support account.    

2.  You can give a one time gift.

          To give to our support account you can make a donation online here or by mailing a      check written to Christian Missionary Society  with "Ueltschey Family" in the memo line.     A check can be mailed to:  

Christian Missionary Society

PO Box 53363

Knoxville, TN  37950

-Or give to the medical clinic to the following needs:

- Medicines - right now the pharmacy in the clinic is in need of restocking basic medicines such as tylenol, ibuprofen, blood pressure medicines, etc.  

 - Lab -  instrument needed for chemistry analysis, repairs needed for microscope

- Dental clinic - scaler needed for dental procedures

All of these things we can buy here in Peru, which logistically is the easier thing to do, but funds are needed for these items.  

To give to the medical clinic donate online here by designating your donation to the medical ministry.  Or mail a check made out to Christian Missionary Society with "Medical Ministry" in the memo line.  

All donations are tax-deductible, and we are very grateful for the support of our friends and family that have enabled us to work here this past year.  The needs are great, but our God is faithful and good!

"Truly, I say to you, as you did it for one of the least of these my brothers, you did it for me." Matthew 25:40

Happy 4th from Peru!

Thankful for the day of celebration with our American friends here in Peru, as part of our weekly Sunday afternoon lunch and worship.  Marcus stationed the grill cooking hamburgers and hot dogs, and we had great fellowship and food.  Afterward, all of our husbands headed to Cajamarca, a city in the mountains, to work with a visiting medical and dental team from First Presbyterian, Jackson, MS for the week.  

Daily Sighting

This man was treated by a doctor in the medical campaign last Monday, and was so grateful for the quick diagnosis of Bell's Palsy (and free medicine) he came back on Wednesday to say thank you. Here he is with our short term team coordinator and team administrator, Alleen McLain. We are grateful to Alleen for making all of this work possible, so that so many people here in Trujillo can be cared for, sometimes with a life-changing and eternal impact.

A View of Trujillo Through Video and Journalism

We were blessed to have a group from MS College to visit in May to do a story about the medical clinic, all because Marcus is a graduate of MC.  It was great fun to spend time with Tracey Harrison, Robbie Followell, Marlo Kirkpatrick, and Ethan Milner and we appreciate their hard work in putting our story together.   They really were coming to Peru to do a story about Grace Bateman Greene, who also is an MC graduate and started Peru Paper.  It is such a blessing to have some great photos and video of the things we see day to day, and we are thankful they took the time to come visit!   

Here is the link to the article that was written about Marcus and the clinic in the MS College Beacon:  


MC College Beacon: Doctors Without Borders


A link to the videos:


Doctors Without Borders
From Physical Care to Spiritual Care

The story about Grace Bateman Greene is so inspiring, and we are so thankful to know her and the ladies that are part of Peru Paper.   Here is the link to her story: 
http://www.mc.edu/beacon/feature-stories/peru-paper


A video with a look around our city, Trujillo, Peru
Exploring Trujillo, Peru


Another video I love about the ladies of Peru Paper:
What Good Is It, My Brothers and Sisters...


There is no way to watch this without tearing up... these ladies are so precious, and are so grateful for the work they have through Peru Paper.  To order or find out where they are sold near you, check out the website at https://www.perupaper.com.

Daily Sighting

Nila checking out the new sign to advertise for the new ultrasound machine at the clinic!  There is a lot of excitement in Wichanzao that this service is now offered in the area.  Here, ultrasounds are used for testing a variety of medical problems, as it is more cost effective and easier to have an exam by ultrasound  than CT scan.