Tour of Hogar de Esperanza

Welcome to Hogar de Esperanza! Here are some pictures to show you where we will be until April. It really is great here and the accommodations very comfortable. We have been here for Three weeks and our room definitely feels like home. Our room is very large, clean, and colorful. There are three main buildings for the orphanage; two buildings for the children, divided into four houses (two boys and two girls homes), and then the main building, which holds the apartments, kitchen, laundry room, offices, chapel, and class rooms. There is a very nice playground and many lawns to play soccer on. Also, there are gardens and fields where they grow numerous types of vegetables. On the East side of the Alburgue are the sand dunes and mountains, and no more than a half a mile West is the ocean.

The West side of the main building. The class rooms are the doors on the bottom floor, and the apartments are the second floor. Our room is the window on the far right.

This picture was taken looking East. The Alburgue rests at the base of the sand dunes. The two white buildings are the homes for the children.

This is also an East-facing view, showing the playground, small garden, and part of the second floor. This picture was taken from the roof, it is a beautiful place!

Our bedroom is simple but very comfortable, with plenty of closet space and some beautiful Peruvian artwork.
Here is where we spend much of our time (the food is great, but it goes straight through you!). I can't help but think of my friend Andrea everyday because there are penguins on our shower curtain:)
Our living room is also very nice and spacious, and yes, those are fresh mangos on the table!!! I eat at least one a day!

We are both on the roof, where we like to spend time watching the sunset over the ocean. The sunsets are always so wonderful here. Look at how dark we are!

Changing hearts

Hello everyone, I thought I should post a blog to let you all know we are not dead. Much has happened since the last time I wrote. We have been having a great time, and this week has been a lot of fun. Last week I failed to mention our ventures outside of the orphanage, so that is where I will start.

Our first big day out in Trujillo was the Sunday before last. We went to church with Liz, the manager here at the orphanage. It was a great church, where we immediately felt welcome. It was also a big relief, as one third of the people there are from the U.S. It was the first time we really were able to speak English. Everyone was so open and inviting, and we were invited to have dinner with several people. The church is very contemporary and similar to what we go to at home, but in Spanish. It was so amazing to see how friendly these people are. We hung out with people after church and made a lot of close Friends right away.

On Wednesday of last week we went to Pastor Ricardo's house for dinner. We had a great time as we got to know one another and share stories. His wife was a great cook, and she left out the chicken toes! It was an awesome experience to be invited into his home and have fellowship with other Peruvians.

Last Friday, a large group from Boston came. They are a very special group, in which Adam and I have built a strong friendship with. They came to start the Alto Salivary Water Project, which Adam has been working on. It is absolutely AMAZING to see what God is doing with this area of Peru. First, let me tell you about this area of Trujillo (Parents, don't be alarmed!) It is a very rough area, very poor, and the people cannot be trusted. They live in an area where they have to lie, cheat, and steal to survive. There is a young man that sits in the street in the heat and eats sand all day long. Alto Salivary hurts your heart when you see how they must live and survive. Currently, the people here must pay for dirty water or walk to the orphanage to fill bottles with clean water. They live on top the the sand dunes where the sun is very intense, and water is needed. This water project will bring fresh, clean water straight out of the mountains into their neighborhood.

When the Boston group first started to work on the project, locals would stand off to the side and watch. Some were happy to see us there, others were curious, and some were unsure of what to think. The first day there were minor complications, and the project was at a standstill. The workers sat down and prayed about the project. When it came time to put all the tools and equipment up a man from the village offered the space in his store. This is important because the man would not let us use his store before, but something changed in his heart when he saw the group pray. Since then many locals have been helping out. People are bringing their own tools to lend a hand, borrowing our tools, and returning them. Women of the village are also lending a helping hand, and are very tough workers.

A woman hard at work.

All week has been awesome, as we have been watching God move through the hearts of the locals. They have been witnessing something very foreign to them. The locals have realized that there is something different about these gringos. They are watching the Americans build a water tower for the people of the area, and it costs them nothing. They are watching the Americans care for their people and play with their children. People's hearts are changing in Alto Salivary as they see love, compassion, and hope be brought into their village. They have seen how the Boston group treats one another, and how they interact with the locals of the village. Relationships have been built and tears formed in the eyes of many villagers when the Boston group completed their last day in Peru. They plan to return in August. It was sad to see them go, and we will definitely miss their accent!

A very special family we met at Alto Salivary.

Adam shared his faith with some people our age. He is amazed at how responsive they are, they want what the Boston group has, a relationship with Christ. Several people at Alto Salivary have made the decision to have a personal relationship with God this week. The water tower, when completed, will out last the people who built it, and the decisions that have been made this week in the hearts of locals will last for eternity. Not only is God bringing fresh drinking water to this village, He is also bringing them hope, health, and a future.

The last day at the water tower site, with some locals that helped out.

Pastor John, of the Boston group, sharing some final words with the locals. It was very moving and the locals were sad to see the Americans leave.

Ups and Downs

Everyone, we have an announcement to make. It happened sooner than we thought, and sooner than I had hoped, but I (Kris) helped change a diaper! Well, kind of, I stood behind the madre and used all the Spanish I knew to tell her I was afraid and had no idea what to do. After going into the boys' house I asked the madre, Sarita, if I could help with anything, well that was a dumb idea. She just looked at me and then the baby and smiled. I have been holding him more. His name is Jose David, and he always waddles up to me and reaches his hands out to me, it is kinda cute!

I had a melt down the other day. Things are going great overall, but on Monday I started Lectura, where I have to teach a reading class. For one, I have never liked reading out loud, I don't read in Spanish, and when I ask questions at the end I have no idea what their answers are, so I smile and say good job. I had a group of kids all 6-10 years old and did not know how to teach them, or control them. Since then, I have taught a couple more classes and things are going very well. I am learning very quickly, plus it helps me learn as I read children's books in Spanish.

Adam has been working on the water project, where they are making clean water available to the people of this area. As for now, Peruvians have to walk many miles to get water from the orphanage, or pay money for dirty water. It is a great project to be apart of, but Adam comes home tired and sore, as it is a lot of hard work. While being apart of this project, Adam has learned about the corrupt politics and policemen here. Some people do not like this project because it will affect them making money off of dirty water. Also, a couple days ago they got stopped by a policeman and had to pay money (2 soles about 75 cents) for no wrong doing. Unfortunately the ploice make up stories so you have to pay them.

Let the fun begin!

This has been a very humbling experience so far. We have had a great time learning spanish and meeting people. We can already see our spanish improving, although I (Kris) did tell someone I have three husbands, in attempt to say I've been married for three years. I have become one of the following: a nerd, a good student, a very committed person, or just desparate, as I read the Spanish-English dictionary when we go to bed.

The food has been great here. We get three meals a day, which Adam loves, and everything is very fresh. I have had some very tasty, and juicy mangos. The food is almost always unique and colorful.

Yesterday definately broke me in for what is to come, as I completely had to let go of my obsesive compulsiveness. For starters, during lunch we sat with the girls. They were delighted to have us sit next to them. I was enjoying my meal when the cute little girl, Brigitte, next to me sneezed on my arm and plate. I admitt I was a little discusted, but here you just don't waste food. Another interesting experience was at dinner. We had chicken noodle soup, which included the whole chicken, even the feet. The girls loved them, they ate the skin and even sucked on the toes. God knows me well, my bowl had a piece of white meat!

Before dinner we spent time in the girls' house, where they sat me down, brushed my hair, and "styled" it. Then followed my new doo with lip stick and eye shadow. I guess my make up just wasn't dark enough. After looking magnificantly colorful, they soaked me in perfume. I was't fond of using thier lipstick and was afraid I'd get lice, but none so far. But like I said, what a humbling experience! It was hard not to worry about such things, but gratifying to put myself last and enjoy watching the children delight in our presence. They call us tia y tio (aunt and uncle). I don't know why, but they say it with much enthusiasm.

Well, it is now time for me to go play hide-and-seek with the ninos y tio!

Welcome to Peru!

Wow, what a challenge! Not many people speak English, so we are on the fast track of learning Spanish. It took two days to get to Trujillo. Then we slept in the Lima airport until our bus at 8:00 a.m. Then it was an 8 hour bus ride to Trujillo from Lima. Sleeping in the airport wasn't too bad, we kicked back in the chairs, but really didn't get much sleep. We met a junior in high school named Sabastian, who has dual citizenship in USA and Peru. He helped us become familiar with the culture and what to expect. Aside from Sabastian, no one spoke English on our trip, which made it a tough two days. I know we will be learning fast, since we will be hearing only spanish for three months! We are excited to learn the language.

The bus was exciting, aside from Kris being car sick the entire time. It was a double decker bus, we sat on top. Sabastian told us that Peruvians make the sign of the cross before they get on a bus because they are so dangerous. Ours was nice and safe, although, we did pass a burning double decker bus on the side of the road... Yikes!

Once we arrived at Hogar de Esperanza (Home of Hope) the children were all waiting inside the gate for us. When we got out of the car they started to sing a bienvenidos (welcome) song in spanish. Then all the children ran up to us and gave us a hug and kiss on the cheek. The youngest is one year and the oldest is 11 years. They were all very excited to see us.

I, Kris, was very overwhelmed listening to everyone speak Spanish. It was very challenging, but I enjoy the challenge of learning the language and making a difference in peoples lives. Not being able to speak the language also challenges me to put God first and rely on Him, for it is in my weakness God gives me strength. I believe we will grow immensley on this trip both spiritually and as individuals. I am also very excited to share this adventure with my husband. God, thank you for this opportunity!