Things just keep getting better

Musculos sin frenos: Me and Miguel Angel

Some of the older girls showing off good manners we taught them :)

Notice the pinky fingers. 

This one's got a smile for Hollywood: Lizet and me

Since the last update I have been having some good times with the kids at the Casas Hogares. It feels like we got through some of those growing pains and are now closer than ever. I had some trouble connecting with a few of the teenage girls when I first arrived. It may have been that they were shy, or just didn't really know what to think about me. But now, it feels like they have come to appreciate my visiting them. Things are good right now and I hope they just keep getting better!

Difficult week

Katiuska and Yasmin hanging out in the park

This past week has been pretty rough considering all the relational conflict that has come up between me and host family and teenage girls. It seemed like everyday there was something coming up.

In the host family I had a communication breakdown with the youngest of the brothers. Wouldn't you know it, all of us guys in the house were making claims on the remains of the food in the house. There were a few words exchanged between all of us and the youngest brother and I came out of this conflict with some hurt feelings. We were both joking with what we said, but for whatever reason the words we said were taken seriously. The next day I took him aside and apologized for what all that was said. He accepted my apology and now we are on good terms again!

In the same week I had a bit of a scare with the girls at the younger Casa Hogar. All 20 of us went to the park that is located a couple of blocks away from the house. We had a good time playing soccer, swinging on the swingset, and hanging off the jungle gyms. When it was time to go I found the girls all huddled around an young lady that was a stranger to me. When I came up I saw the young lady hide something away in her backpack. Again, there was conflict. They didn't understand why I needed to know what they were looking at. And they didn't understand that I wanted to know because I wanted to make sure that they were safe from all harm. That night I took them aside and apologized for getting upset and told them that I love them and cared for them; and that's why I was upset before.

I am so glad that these conflicts have come up. Naturally, I am wired to shy away from conflicts. And, naturally, the last thing that I want to do is to be the one to take steps to make amends. So, in these conflicts I have been given opportunities to make changes to this weakness of mine. I have come out of this week with my head still held high and I am more aware of all of our dependence on Jesus' love to see us through this life. I will never be able to do all things perfectly. And that's why I depend on Jesus.

Pool-time

Flex - off

Pretty hilarious - "El Pollito" y "El Patito"

Gringo attack

Jhassmanny and I have decided that every Sunday after Mass we will take one or two of the kids from the Casas Hogares out to do something. Usually we'll go play soccer with some other friends but this Sunday we went to the pool. We've only taken out the boys so far, now after Mother's day we will start taking the girls out. We haven't really planned it out yet. Boys are easy. All they want to do is play outside. We'll probably go grab some ice cream.

Working outside

Billy and Padre Tony getting dirty

Another view of the trench

Making some headway

Went on a hike and got a view of Misti

Some beautiful desert wildlife

A missionary team from St. Matthew's Cathedral in Dallas came out for a week to start the building process in a site called Via Ecologica. This is one of the mission sites for the Anglican Church here in Peru. It is about a 25 minute drive out from the city center of Arequipa.

After about 3 years of waiting the people of this area will now see the firsts of a brand spankin' new church. When I was here in Arequipa 3 years ago they had just bought the land, and now they are building. It is pretty incredible to see.

The work was really hard. We had 3 straight days of digging and picking making the trenches. And then finally we got down to the level that we needed to (a little more than a meter deep) and we saw some of the columns go up. The St. Matthew's team was able to make the foundation to the new temple. We were all very proud.

Thanks St. Matthew's!