Sundays in Arequipa

10:30 Mass

It'll go for about an hour and 45 mins minimum.

Then there's some hanging out. Fiorella and Christian (one of my host brothers).

Leaving so soon?? Kids from the Casas Hogares taking off.

Then it's time for a big Sunday lunch.

Sundays are always a fun time. I live up above the church so everyone has to come to me for church! I don't have to travel anywhere, just walk down the stairs and I'm there. The church is called Cristo Redentor. In the service we get to sing a bunch of great and lively songs accompanied by guitar, piano, and sometimes flute. Clapping is the norm. There is usually about a 45 minute sermon (depending on who is giving the sermon). Then we usually hang out and talk for a while with everyone who is willing to stick around.

For the host family and I, us boys usually go out and find a court to play futbol on, and everyone else usually stays around the house. I'm starting to understand the game a little bit better, but I still feel like the "gringo" on the court. Sometimes those things never change. We usually ride home in a "combi", which is the bus system here. I'll describe that in a later post. We get home, chow down something delicious, and then who knows from there...

First day of Spanish class...for me!

Today was MY first official day of classes. I'll be going two times out of the week to learn more Spanish. I go on Thursday and Friday mornings. My teacher and I will be focusing on history, culture, and politics of Peru. It is not a formal thing; we'll have discussions and work on vocabulary mainly. One career path that I find interesting is being an emissary, which requires lots of knowledge about different cultures and political situations. I'm just testing the waters here and there.

A few lines from the heart

Skin and Bones

He's on his knees again

Begging all the passers by

For a coin or some bread

If he had never asked

He'd more likely be dead

I'm considered by few

To be a poor man

But I try my best

Working out my sympathy

For those that many detest

My mother and father

Taught me lessons in love

But God has taught me

That it's better to be blind

So love can be free

The color of my skin

Is a slight shade of olive

My brothers and sisters

Are many shades of you

And my love is never of colors

Under all our suites and dresses

Under all our colored vestments

Underneath our tattered robes

All we are is skin and bones

And then, there's the soul

-JM

More Redeemer Team Pics

Church of the Redeemer Team with the kids at San Jose

Julio Cesar, Me, Juan Diego, and Tamara Listening to the music

Tamara feeling it

Mary Margaret showing Jonathan the next note

The older ladies at San Jose: Adda Margooth, Hermelinda, Maricruz, and Katiuska

I really enjoyed Mary Margaret's time with the kids. She did a great job making the them feel special by having them play the violin with her help. All the kids loved getting a little bit of the spotlight. It is hard to be one of nineteen and feel like you ever get enough attention.

Overall, the team did a great job. I enjoyed them very much and am glad that they came to share a lot of God's love with all of the children here. They all got a little more attention this past week than many others. Thanks guys.

Breathin' easy

Me with my host mom María and my host dad Padre Juan Carlos

Edgar

Victoria 

Marta and me

Playing a new card game.

A team from Irving, Texas came in for a short term mission trip this week. This monday evening the team shared some of their stories with the kids at the older orphanage about how they came to be in the professions that they are practicing now. This was to help the kids get an idea of what they might like to do in the future. After the stories we did some arts and crafts and played games. It was a fun evening and I got a good opportunity to take some pictures of the kids I get to hang out with here in Arequipa.

During the day we also went out to San Lucas School to do some activities there. I helped in the group that taught the kids how to play baseball. No Jose Consecos in the group but at least no one got a black eye from a stray foul ball. A success in my book! Some of the team members do pretty well with communicating in Spanish, but for the most part I have been their translator. I have enjoyed it and am glad that this gift is being put to good use.

Hangin' with the Chibolos (Kidos)

This last week I have been spending most of my time at the school San Lucas and at the two orphanages, which means spending lots of time with kids. I thought that I would be the one blessing them, but really it feels more like they are the ones blessing me. The kids at the orphanages have so much love to give, but they rarely have anyone to share it with. So, the two hours that I spend with them I get a big dose of smiles, hugs, and laughter. My host brother Jhassmanny and I went to the younger kids' house last night and ended up spending about 4 hours there helping with homework and then dancing swing, Indian leg wrestling, and lots of "pick me ups." Jhassmanny took some video with his phone. We watched the videos over and over again.

I am so beside myself about how well things are going here. It can only be by God's will that things can go so smoothly. I love being with the kids. I have thrived in the Peruvian culture. My Spanish is pretty darn good. I am so glad that I am here.

Dogs

Calvin-cito

Calvin and Bruce

These are the 2 new additions to the host family since the last time I was here in Arequipa. One is a mutt with German Shepherd somewhere in him and the other is a Peruvian hairless dog. The Incans bread these dogs to be a bed warmer (like a living electric blanket!). My host family says that they cure all kinds of ailments. One of my host brothers lays him by a sore muscle and swears that the next day his soreness in his muscle doesn't bother him anymore. Another one of my host brothers says when he had a sore throat, he would put the dog on his throat and the soreness goes away. I'm still a little skeptical... and i don't really want to sleep with a dog lying on my throat. That would be awkward.

First day of school

I went to the opening ceremonies of the school I'll be working at. It's called San Lucas. I was introduced as the Physical Education teacher. Everyone turned around to look at me and a friend heard some of the kids say "él es grandísimo" (he is huge!) My host brother and his girlfriend Karola and myself went to attend together. I have had a lot of fun getting to know all of them better. They will be working at the school as psychologists and I will be helping in English classes and PE.