tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87723409292402972972024-03-13T13:48:32.267-07:00Alissa's AdventuresUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-86462334254331357882014-01-27T11:04:00.000-08:002014-01-27T12:07:46.786-08:00Posture of forgiveness<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"></span><br />
This sermon is from Oct 13 2013. I was preaching in my home congregation, First Presbyterian Church of Garland and my CPM. My home congregation has a membership with a lot of connections all over the world. There are some who are recent immigrants and some who identify with people oceans away. Please feel free to read the Biblical text and listen to the sermon. Let me know if you have any questions or comments. <br />
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Jeremiah 29 1& 4-7(NRSV)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><sup class="ww" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Thus says the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="sc" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><sup class="ww" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><sup class="ww" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><sup class="ww" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="sc" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-82162784496377103172014-01-15T06:50:00.001-08:002014-01-15T06:50:55.068-08:00Child of GodThis past Sunday was Baptism of the Lord Sunday. In the return to "normal" life, we pack up our Christmas decorations, and the baptism often gets shelved along with Christmas. The wise men have gone home, Jesus and his family fled amidst the anguished cries of mothers all through the land and somehow we find ourselves past Christ's childhood and to his baptism. It is hardly a widely celebrated holiday, and yet we walk into church with the table dressed in white once again. What struck me this year were the words that came down. "This is my son in whom I am well pleased." I wonder what it was like for Christ to hear those words. Wonderful, awesome, terrifying? Surely Christ's humanity had his heart fill at these words. Perhaps Christ's divinity made those words even more powerful or longed for, a sign of the unity of the trinity, a moment of pure togetherness. People all over the world seek and wish for those words from their parents. We need them, yearn for them, work for them. And while my own parents have always been incredibly supportive, I have many friends who cannot say the same. Still, no matter the quality of our parents or the mistakes they have made, we have a bone deep desire to meet their approval. We want to make them pleased with us. Trouble is, while pleasing our parents may be what we think we want, our lives wont magically be filled by that approval. Our human parents cannot give us the approval we seek. It is impossible for them to fill us with worth. Blessedly for them and for us, our worth is not beholden to our parents. All of us are created as children of God. A God who looks upon us with love. This is my child in whom I am well pleased. Our yearning is for that same unity with the trinity. What a wonderful family to join. As we are baptized we recognize the claim that God already has on us. We participate in the relationship of the trinity. Our hearts are full of it. Maybe then, we can give that love to one another in a way that reminds us daily of God's call upon us. So whether our parents have always showed us love and support or whether they were never around, we can all draw comfort in the fact that God always identifies the worth in all of us. May the dove of peace come upon us all, reassuring us that we are in fact children of God. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-47753330004939093802013-12-28T07:23:00.000-08:002013-12-28T07:23:35.731-08:00Peace and PreparationThis sermon is from Dec. 4, 2011 at Beulah Presbyterian Church in Louisville, Ky. The text is Mark 1:1-8(NRSV). Feel free to read through it and then listen to the sermon. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">1:1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">1:2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">1:3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">1:4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">1:5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">1:6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">1:7 He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">1:8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-822384181628321832013-12-03T14:17:00.000-08:002013-12-03T14:19:21.872-08:00Matthew 22:34-46 This is the Bible text for the sermon entitled "Wont you let me be your neighbor". This text discusses the greatest commandment. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-27626730188384100952013-12-03T14:13:00.000-08:002013-12-03T14:13:27.371-08:00Wont You Let Me Be Your Neighbor Sermon <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I preached this sermon during my intern year at Beulah Presbyterian Church in Louisville Ky. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-74679150487762961252013-12-03T14:09:00.001-08:002013-12-03T14:09:54.504-08:00Wont you Let Me Be Your Neighbor Children's story <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-46637099651779652562013-12-03T12:10:00.000-08:002013-12-03T12:10:06.616-08:00Revive
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: Rockwell; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Rockwell; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">After a long while
of writing in other locations, I have decided to revive this blog. I have
gone back through and read while I wrote in Peru. Years after my YAV
adventure I am still astounded by the impact that my volunteer year has had on
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am still in contact with my
host family and my fellow yavs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
lot of people contributed to my YAV year and I am amazed at the continued
support I have received over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I went to seminary and again met some wonderful people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned a lot and was reminded of how
much I still have to learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then this
summer I went on a pilgrimage. You can read about it at
sisters-sojourn@blogspot.com.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
as I look to go on to the next step of my journey I am appreciative of the
ability to review the past. I will be posting some of my sermons and writings from the past to let you all know what I have been up to. Let me know if you have any questions. </span><!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-28962845426188328552010-07-07T09:02:00.000-07:002010-07-07T09:05:51.663-07:00A foot in Two worlds<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"> Well friends my time in Peru is coming to a close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have less than a month here in Peru and 1 week in my placement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is strange to be in this place, kind of half way in and halfway out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think it is kind of like the summer before my Yav year started, except there was more to prepare for, I knew less of what I was getting myself into, and I was definitely going into the unknown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now it almost feels like I had put pause on my “old life” and I am going back to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know better than to expect that things haven’t changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Even if everything there had stayed the same(which it hasn’t ) I have changed and thus can not go back to the life I used to have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am not saying that the change in me is that drastic, but whenever you spend a year away from something or someplace your perspective changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is also a strange phenomenon to be straddling two lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know that I have written about this before and thus will not fall into redundancy, but just know that the phenomenon of knowing that you are about to return to completely enter into a different life is a strange one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Advice for someone traveling to Peru:</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:84.0pt;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-48.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>There is a list of things you should always carry with you:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Bottle of water, toilet paper(you don’t want to get stuck without it), a jacket(in may be REALLY hot when you head out but you never know how long you will be out and it could get cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Plus a jacket is good emergency mosquito or sun protection), copy of your passport(just good to have), and cash(in Peru in denominations 5 or less cause no one wants big bills or has change)</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:84.0pt;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-48.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Never say you are hungry until you know what is being served(chicken foot soup any one?)</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:84.0pt;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-48.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>If you are going out to visit a small rural settlement in the mountains bring pepto and expect to be unavailable the next day</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:84.0pt;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-48.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">4.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>On that previous note expect to get stomach aches hard core</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:84.0pt;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-48.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">5.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>If you go to a wedding expect it to start at least an hour late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For other meetings and occasions, at least half an hour late.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:84.0pt;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-48.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">6.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Make sure you greet and say good bye to every one in the room individually (usually with a kiss on the cheek)</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:84.0pt;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-48.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">7.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Expect to be called gringo or gringa and don’t be offended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It can be used as a term of endearment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:84.0pt;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-48.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">I am sure there is much more and I will let you know when I think of it. Thank you again for all of your support and help. God Bless and I will try to post at least one more time before I head back to the States</span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-45432637521112747272010-06-14T16:44:00.000-07:002010-06-14T16:46:32.646-07:00La Oroya survey<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><div>The following is an email I received from one of my fellow yavs. Please fill out the survey and pass it on. God Bless! </div><div>Alissa King</div><div><br /></div>Hey<div>we need your help. We are trying to promote a survey about the current situation in La Oroya and I NEED you guys to help out. The following is a letter from the Red that we need emailed/blogged/shared in whatever way you can and then a link to a survey that we need as many people on as possible. PLEASE PLEASE pass this on to your contacts and promote it. It needs to be done by friday and every person makes a difference thanks. So here is the text and the link to the survey is <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LFVSTH9" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(42, 93, 176); ">http://www.surveymonkey.<wbr>com/s/LFVSTH9</a> :</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; color: rgb(255, 238, 221); line-height: 20px; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; ">Dear friends,</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; color: rgb(255, 238, 221); line-height: 20px; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; color: rgb(255, 238, 221); line-height: 20px; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; ">This is a critical time for the people of La Oroya, Peru, and we need to hear YOUR VOICE in order to help them. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; color: rgb(255, 238, 221); line-height: 20px; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; color: rgb(255, 238, 221); line-height: 20px; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; ">Here is a </span></span><a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LFVSTH9" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(42, 93, 176); text-decoration: none; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; ">5 QUESTION (YES/NO) SURVEY</span></span></a><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; "> regarding demands being made to the government of Peru by the company Doe Run Peru that will negatively affect the people and environment of La Oroya. Please take 3 minutes to fill it out. For an introduction to the issue, please read below:</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; color: rgb(255, 238, 221); line-height: 20px; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; color: rgb(255, 238, 221); line-height: 20px; "><div style="line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; "><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 19px; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; ">La Oroya is one of the ten most contaminated cities in the world (according to Blacksmith Institute). The population finds itself gravely effected by the contamination produced by the Metallurgical Complex operated by the mining company Doe Run Peru. This company belongs to the North American billionaire, Ira Rennert. Thirteen years ago the company committed itself to investing in the modernization of the metallurgical complex through the state mandated Environmental Clean-Up Program (known in Peru as the PAMA). To date, the company has not finished its commitment despite the fact that the mandated time frame has expired and despite that various extensions have been provided. </span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; "><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 19px; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; ">In the United States, the holding company, Renco Group, for Doe Run Peru has invested in new technologies at its smelter in Herculaneum, Missouri in order to meet the regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States (</span></span></span><span lang="ES-PE"><a href="http://www.doerun.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(42, 93, 176); text-decoration: none; "><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 19px; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; ">www.doerun.com</span></span></span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 19px; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; ">). </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div></div><div style="line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; "><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 19px; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; ">After many years of economic profit (the net gains of Doe Run Peru by the end of 2008 were $508 million – </span></span><i><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; ">La Republica</span></span></i><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; "> 28/03/2009), the mining company inexplicably declared itself in a state of economic and financial crisis. In June of 2009, it then halted the operations of the Metallurgical Complex in La Oroya, ceasing to fulfill its contracted obligations with its workers and creditors. In the face of this situation, the Peruvian State has tried to help the company through various opportunities to escape this crisis. Nonetheless, the company has taken advantage of the State in order to escape its responsibilities. And today, the start up of the plant comes with conditions placed by Doe Run Peru, which has placed new demands before the State. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></div><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 20px; "><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; ">IF the Peruvian State consulted with you about these demands by Doe Run Peru, what would you say? </span></span></span></span></i></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; color: rgb(255, 238, 221); line-height: 20px; "><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18px; "><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></span></span></i></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; color: rgb(255, 238, 221); line-height: 20px; "><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; ">Please take 3 minutes to fill out </span></span><a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LFVSTH9" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(42, 93, 176); text-decoration: none; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; ">THIS SURVEY.</span></span></a></span></span></i></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; color: rgb(255, 238, 221); line-height: 20px; "><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/goog_1650417962" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(42, 93, 176); text-decoration: none; "><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18px; "><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></span></span></span></i></b></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; color: rgb(255, 238, 221); line-height: 20px; "><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18px; "><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size: small; "><span style="color:#000000;"></span></span><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: small; ">THANK YOU!</span></span></span></span></i></b></div></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-81152729653452667492010-06-04T10:04:00.000-07:002010-06-04T10:19:54.819-07:00Get physical<div><!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Not sure if anyone is reading this anymore, but I am going to keep updating anyways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-char-type:symbol; mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings">J</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So I just got back from hiking the Inca trail!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That’s right folks all the way to Manchu Picchu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><!--EndFragment--> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCChtpXnarkw-mkZhkuVFrX1Ly4ZAeWYFqta3ZVAeSeRq2CxHG-pFZYnhqF6etswsv9ZW515IhfzJcV1v0U46rJSRkv4CvGZ7aDXHm1BlkxAATFXE8Qnh6jAxlr93dYK7R3Gzi6WNgj7l/s1600/IMG_4648.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCChtpXnarkw-mkZhkuVFrX1Ly4ZAeWYFqta3ZVAeSeRq2CxHG-pFZYnhqF6etswsv9ZW515IhfzJcV1v0U46rJSRkv4CvGZ7aDXHm1BlkxAATFXE8Qnh6jAxlr93dYK7R3Gzi6WNgj7l/s320/IMG_4648.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478966786548542306" /></a> <!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US">3 and a half days of hiking up and down mountains and exploring ancient ruins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was a pretty amazing experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This was the second time in my life to go camping and the first time to hike complete days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I guess the Inca trail was a good place to start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Walking through the ruins was really cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I mean I am not even an enthusiast when it comes to seeing ancient ruins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I enjoy hearing about the culture, but after a while looking at a pile of rocks seems a little ridiculous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The Manchu Picchu ruins are amazing because you can really see the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You can walk through rooms and try to imagine the people living there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I wonder what they would think about the tourist attraction it is now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Would they be proud to know their hard work is still being appreciated, or incensed to see that people are taking pictures of their alters and leaving pretzels as offerings?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I just cant imagine that they would be too pleased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><!--EndFragment--> <!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Did you know that the mountain is actually sinking at a faster rate than normal most likely due to how many people visit Manchu Picchu?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><!--EndFragment--> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCr61KGzWGnrKT9oUlc7T-2w6GHEesLGJ6zox1uYYGKm4MICEw5qiRpqc96rKDCSJlR-ktg4sqjTrWUuBgtsIYMJY30nzgEYKwBLJ_KVFhyphenhyphenDi7-WPxhLYhfEtj4VeAe1HhVjRMcGsM_1a/s1600/IMG_4565.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCr61KGzWGnrKT9oUlc7T-2w6GHEesLGJ6zox1uYYGKm4MICEw5qiRpqc96rKDCSJlR-ktg4sqjTrWUuBgtsIYMJY30nzgEYKwBLJ_KVFhyphenhyphenDi7-WPxhLYhfEtj4VeAe1HhVjRMcGsM_1a/s320/IMG_4565.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478966782350289522" /></a> <!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Okay so also for me the view of the mountains was most impressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The mountains are amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>While we were hiking, looking out over those mountains was an incredible sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think often we spend so much time admiring human creations (at least in this situation) that we forget the wonder of Gods creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I see the beauty in both, the ingenuity of the Inca structures and the sheer awe of the mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Let us not forget that the Incans built in a way not to destroy the mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They worshiped the mountains and held them sacred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I can't imagine their reaction to people coming from all over to look at their buildings and hardly noticing the mountains where they are located.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>All of that to say I liked the view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><!--EndFragment--> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhq1RoUUbeL5lnryzBkEF8mL1P-6D8Gc4kfwkOlI2C4Y_ZmLma12wgairIQz7EE5yEobZgTLLKow5njEe5vojmYJ15b1myNmzEFQ9tb_4-T8H47yKSAswiL3hTryf4EwU_g_m3pSArhwS/s1600/IMG_4552.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhq1RoUUbeL5lnryzBkEF8mL1P-6D8Gc4kfwkOlI2C4Y_ZmLma12wgairIQz7EE5yEobZgTLLKow5njEe5vojmYJ15b1myNmzEFQ9tb_4-T8H47yKSAswiL3hTryf4EwU_g_m3pSArhwS/s320/IMG_4552.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478966779396098434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17ZKU8EXNLblu2X97pCDAglXJ39xPHTOSIlVraHngNeDHGhn9dcHyvEKUNdSXBefJHroQ2eI9SByzY2CYg9t71_HHDqdHhOQ40hLuz63W6iCzt__0ZOTuV-aikA0HSfjsunm6F5gB6142/s1600/IMG_4527.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17ZKU8EXNLblu2X97pCDAglXJ39xPHTOSIlVraHngNeDHGhn9dcHyvEKUNdSXBefJHroQ2eI9SByzY2CYg9t71_HHDqdHhOQ40hLuz63W6iCzt__0ZOTuV-aikA0HSfjsunm6F5gB6142/s320/IMG_4527.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478966775395762402" /></a> <!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Oh and another thing I was amazed by, I am amazed by my body’s resistance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I mean don’t get me wrong I was tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That second day where you are climbing and climbing and you finally see the top where you are headed and the people are the size of fleas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Your breath escaped you and your telling yourself just a little further, but really you know there are still 3 hours of climbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Yeah that was hard, but I did it and was only sore for a couple days afterwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is kind of amazing what our bodies can do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><!--EndFragment--> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymTcX9YbLXcj4cQ7HixztWENy9PTSOm7f-p8-S5m0pk6jyruPhElS9yeEDWZTPE-HjC-5pxIPo18HACTKkoAf2celARB9sjsubEsi_ZNPpaouNGfuhWnFFsfNBn1km_u5qYJI9Dh1r7M9/s1600/IMG_4535.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymTcX9YbLXcj4cQ7HixztWENy9PTSOm7f-p8-S5m0pk6jyruPhElS9yeEDWZTPE-HjC-5pxIPo18HACTKkoAf2celARB9sjsubEsi_ZNPpaouNGfuhWnFFsfNBn1km_u5qYJI9Dh1r7M9/s320/IMG_4535.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478966771405826082" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Cambria, serif;"> <!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US">I think that we just need to give them a chance to shine more often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We need to push our limits physically and mentally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After all that is how we grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Do you really want the closest thing you do to pushing your physical limits to be watching an action movie?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am not saying start by climbing a mountain, but take a walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Be a part of this world in a physical way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sprint across the parking lot instead of strolling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Do a little dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In the end you will be glad you did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So that’s my pep talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Keep in mind this is coming from someone who really can be the queen of inactive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I would say that has changed this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have found the joy and pride that comes from physical accomplishments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Why don’t you join me?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><!--EndFragment--> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-36221775677549673692010-04-27T08:55:00.000-07:002010-04-27T09:39:42.551-07:00Pink crowns, flowers, and Jesus<div style="text-align: center;"><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Semana Santa(Holy week) was great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The YAVs came to visit at the end and it just happened to be my bday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My host family had a party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There were games, a piñata, snacks, and a pink head band with antenna for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I really enjoyed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have to say that the type of games we played are generally shunned by adult communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Requiring people to sing, dance around, and do silly things is generally frowned on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Quite frankly I love it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Let me clarify I love it when every one participates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Isn’t true that the only difference between a game that is really fun is whether or not people are willing to get into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have never felt that too cool for school attitude(or too cool for stupid games for that matter)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know that some people feel self conscious or stupid but quite honestly as long as you really go for it you are going to have fun and so are the people around you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What are you afraid of?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Do you think people are really looking to judge you on your dance skills when it is part of the game to dance around?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The only people judging are those that feel too self conscious to participate themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Why do you want to cave to the superior attitude the give you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Okay stepping off my box now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Just saying it was fun to have a bday party where everyone participated in the songs and games(no matter their age).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was like being a little kid again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZx99lYcOtQ7_KF9vLFLmxcHL4loxolEBYM0QmnS1P2nUKvOm6kwTS-2xPpuENWwOSAC7Xv-SL4kvA6HXIxBdD97ssOsA9_8SopPKDLhJJme9yBzrYJUU4XZwCQSWHf3hqLR9I_eB6rYQ/s320/IMG_4201.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464848127892430290" /><div style="text-align: center;">These carpets are made in the streets with colored sawdust and flowers. Businesses sponsor them and as the processional with Jesus etc pass buy they bless each business that has one of these. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbnQKwxLCI4isxAjjQ3D7kznjUdFcRekcwBMYQWGk1qWYpUmYFu9yWZ1Hu_MjUTCjMSVYX0wCt7Ci6ii917VHxMHO2qVqDuIlc-Jjclpen-EmHp0GSRy4un8U0xpWrpiODpP1nY-YdFZu/s320/IMG_4097.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464848127175531714" /><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">I believe I mentioned the headband. Here it is :)</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrji9rVE9Uct28zo_vvywG6x7H0vcfCQDwcv0kMCHeTcX7uc40boKHuMIgp7unT9ZEX1zYOYeZf5iv_D3NdBUOLvXmd-KjfRX_ZlGX9Yz9_kg9gd9FqYRhoYeWkGOMyZI9cvCuZ2CDpGu/s320/IMG_4075.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464848117821037650" /><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal">Radio Amauta gace me flowers for my bday</p><p class="MsoNormal">While the YAVs were here I was kind of like ambassador between my 2 groups of people in Peru.<span> </span>That is always somewhat of a weird place to be, but I enjoyed having everyone together.<span> </span>I think being able to put different aspects of your life in the same place every once in a while is very important.<span> </span>It is like getting you work/school friends together with your church friends.<span> </span>It can be a little weird, but how much better is it latter to be able to mention the name of someone without 10 min of back story?<span> </span>It was a similar feeling when my family came and I am lucky to be able to experience it again.<span> </span>We went to several places that I had not yet been to and I just generally got to share my everyday Peru life and family with my fellow Peru Yavs.<span> </span></p><div><div style="text-align: center; "><p class="MsoNormal">I know that I am not giving you tons of info on what exactly we did but check out some of the other Peru Yavs’ blogs.<span> </span>They have expressed it quite well.<span> </span>The links are on the side of this blog.<span> </span></p></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiNFnAQ-FI5qaxc0kKkE3kC7lebOubi549KswVyBQGW8Nwr0q19xaxrq4Q2xf9Jt6qU2DHwYvH9pihZ235Cs9J2xs5p2yfzg3l-9wKaO65ouVUfpjylgWzz_tc0aPhkDmkcT5I_74nYxl/s320/IMG_4078.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464848112051809330" /><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh yeah and when I got back the night the YAVs left. I ended up being in a play that night. I am in the pink sheet with the orange scarf over my head on the left. My job was to leaf little kids around that at the last minute decided that they too wanted to be in the play. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTz9Pugoyn7isra_lWDWzSfgnuUgQs8FCBVc0LKXqVBru_EU3Tk-KUHB7W_l2KIbXQr2vbTsx44LSK7i_2LtPAGgKr5Tbp_D3FxQzK5FEASa8WxzkGAZnKjDmdi-6MuF9-6MyHOP9eoPPl/s320/IMG_4227.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464848134246916194" /><div style="text-align: center;">Well that is it for now. God bless. If you want to see more pictures you can go to</div><div style="text-align: center;">my facebook page. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;">http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2031523&id=35702103&l=e740a6bdc7</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; "> </span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-60260131394959123732010-04-22T09:54:00.000-07:002010-04-22T10:19:04.206-07:00How’s your faith doing?<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US"><div>The following is a random reflection. I challenge you to really reflect upon your life and faith as you read it. I offer no answers or earth shattering revelations. Only questions that I have been considering. I hope that you find them thought provoking or at the very least, that they let you know what has been running through my head. I preface this by saying that I am happy and doing well. In no way does the following essay represent a faith crisis or a sadness in my spirit. I feel I am growing stronger in my faith and it is partly do to the questions that are brought up by being placed in an environment very different than that which I have been in in the past. I watched a movie in the young adult group at the church called <i><a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3045791661492739387#docid=3036407821321676082">Faith like Potatoes</a></i>. The language used and the fervor of the video led me to come up with the following: </div><div><br /></div>Doubting faith at times is perfectly normal, but here is the thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In order to doubt faith you have to be actively thinking about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Actively participating in your search for faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How many of us actually think about our faith daily?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Is faith something you can put on when most convenient?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When you are in a church crowd you slip it on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You use the language you would never use in daily life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You talk about Jesus and grace, but leave it at that and carefully slip the language from your tongue back into the recesses of your brain to await the next time some one else wants to slip their faith tongue on and share with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Are you really comfortable living your life as a testament to Jesus Christ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Does that statement right there kind of make you cringe and squirm?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Does it make you think about the “uber Christian” you don’t want to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think that we have gotten so worried about being pc, about not being the pushy uber Christian, that we have lost an important part of the expression of our faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When did we become so jaded and cynical that talk of a possible miracle or someone devoting their life to God’s work is taboo?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A topic only to be brought up in the most closed of groups, or rather only to be analyzed from a historical or intellectual point of view?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When did feeling faith in God become so bad?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am not saying that we shouldn’t think about what we believe or that we should not look at the bible and our faith in an intellectual way. I am only saying that if we only do that, If we separate ourselves from our faith, compartmentalizing our church language into a small section of our being we loose a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am living in a community that freely discusses and lives their faith everyday and let me tell you quite frankly it often makes me uncomfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Praying about problems as a first response and wholeheartedly believing it will make a difference, talking about God working in the lives of all of us, and believing that God has a plan even in the worst of things is commonplace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Again, not that this does not exist in my world in the States, but really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How many of us when faced with the unexpected death of a loved one have the automatic reaction to thank God for their life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am talking first thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How many of us would be able to thank God for the day we got the news that something horrible had happened to someone we loved?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Is your faith a part of you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Does it define your being?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Do you live every moment as a prayer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Do you find peace in discussions of God or an uncomfortable squirming as you hope to use the right language, to make sure you don’t offend, or to avoid the chance of being labeled one of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“those people”(those Christians that speak so strangely as if with their whole heart).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is the challenge I am facing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How do I undo so many years of avoiding the topic of religion in public schools?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How do I bring my faith back into every part of me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How do I make sure to breath it? To feel it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>To live it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How do I focus when I pray on the feeling behind my words instead of the way they sound to others?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Do you feel your faith as well as think it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Or are you afraid to even ask this question?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Afraid of how the answer will call you to change the way you live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The question of feeling faith scares me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What does it mean if I am not there?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How do I risk separating myself from others by using language that makes so many uncomfortable?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How do I balance being truthful and faithful to what God calls us to be with being approachable and identifying with those that find that language distasteful?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How do I become the person I know I should be when becoming when that person may cause estrangement and loss or ridicule?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Estrangement by those that have, just as I have, separated their minds into two types of Christians, the Christians of the past (miracle believing, faith feeling, Jesus living, sacrificing Christians), and the now (academic, find explanation for miracles, faith talking, convenient Christians)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> How do we consolidate those two views into what our faith really is and really should be? </span>Well, for now I will leave it at that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am by no means trying to criticize your faith (here I go trying to temper my words and make them more acceptable again).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Instead I reflect on my own concerns and questions and leave it to you to identify your faith and how/if it makes up your whole self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I leave you with the question…Do you feel your faith as well as think it? </span><!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-32545281416473299472010-04-09T10:36:00.000-07:002010-04-09T10:44:17.150-07:00next year and struggles<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-USfont-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I wanted to make sure that everyone heard that I am going to Louisville Presbyterian Theological seminary. I am really excited and wanted to share the news with all of you. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My dad reminded me that I should be sure to include my struggles in my blog so that people can know that things are not always perfect. I have not included every little problem I have had, but hopefully this will give you an opportunity read some of the struggles I am having. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-USfont-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Right now I am struggling right now with a combination of planning things for next year, while still being present here.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It has been rather difficult.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There are some things that I know I need to accomplish that I cannot do until I get home.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Thinking about all these things and imagining next year makes me rather home sick.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It is strange too.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I know that I am not going back to the way things were.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I will be in a different state and all my friends are in different places as well.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My little sister is going to college, my oldest sister is having a baby, and my mom and dad are now beginning to look at what they are going to do when they grow up.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Even still I sometimes long to be in next year already.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It is some little things.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I am looking forward to being able to pick up the phone and call my friends and family.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I can talk to them now, but it is only if we are both online.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Also, I am really looking forward to having a definite plan and list of things to do.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It is weird what you miss.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I often have been in the office without things to do.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I know that the YAV year talks about being and not focusing so much on doing, but there have been many days when I have little to do and there really isn’t anyone else in the office.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Either that or they are in the office, but are working on their programs etc and there isn’t much I can do to help.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It is these times that I miss my to do list and goals.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One other thing I am looking forward to, strangely enough, is independence.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I thought by coming I would gain more of a sense of independence.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">That is definitely true.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I travel by myself to Lima and with the other YAVs on vacation.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Still along with that comes living with my host family.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I am helping with chores at specific times of day.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Don’t get me wrong I am fine helping with chores.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It is something I definitely should do as a working member of the family.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I am just used to doing chores on my own time schedule in college.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It is hard to adjust to being told when, where, and how to do all the chores again.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Besides that I don’t really have much of a social life with people my age.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I mean I go to the young adult service and work on the young adult program, but really the socializing that takes place is volley ball(which I learned early on I am really not good at) and church activities.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I think it is probable that some of the other young people do other things, but not having a key to the front door and not wanting to wake my family at night can make things difficult.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Plus quite honestly with going to church 2 times Sunday, Tuesday, and Saturday, being in the office all day, a meeting Thursday, and a radio program Saturday morning, while not having tons to accomplish, actually do I am doing a lot.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I am just looking forward to having my own schedule again.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-USfont-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span></span>All that being said I know that there are things from here that I will miss when I go back to the States.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One of the previous yavs talked about how she was homesick while she was in her placement, and homesick for her placement when she went back to the States.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I think that I can imagine what she was saying. Well I guess I will end this by asking you to keep me in your prayers. I will keep you in mine. Let me know what is going on in your life. God Bless!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><!--EndFragment--> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-52594577738433697882010-04-06T16:23:00.000-07:002010-04-06T16:34:14.337-07:00Donde está Jesús<div>This past week was holy week, as you all know. I spent holy week with my host family and with my fellow Peru Yavs. On Palm Sunday I was working in the nursery and was sad that I would miss the palms etc. Turns out that my church here in Huanta doesn’t do palms. I soon found out that there is a street processional. By the time we got the kids ready and left, it was already ending. As we are rushing down the street Esteban(the 4yr old) said, “?Donde está Jesús?”(where is Jesus?) I responded with well he is all around us, in our hearts, in the people we love. Now Esteban would have none of that he was like , “no like the man Jesús” When I didn’t know he quickly ran ahead to ask mom.<br />Now while Esteban clearly meant where is the man who is acting as Jesus is this processional it got me thinking. I recently have had several bible studies and read through a bible study for Rebecca. All of which talked about the second coming. The question of do we really live our lives like Jesus might come any minute. I am not talking about the sins we commit or how much time we waste. While that is a legitimate thing to look at I am more thinking about our thoughts. Do you really believe Jesus could come any day? Do you randomly think throughout the day hmm maybe Jesus will come again today? Do you ever wonder if you will encounter Jesus physically before you die? How do you think you would respond if someone said this guy/girl is the child of God come again? I know the events leading up to and following the second coming are scary to think about, but setting that aside, how would you feel if you met the physical Jesus?<br />There will be more to come about the rest of my Holy week, bday, and visit from the YAVs. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS__urfX2dHmQ09uTnNLQNSb-gtEJLJ17VXYY2JrdKuFZJoutYAR7r2V91_QpqNev6-ncStk51jTUrPcrkh9jO2pDHewNUhs-x7nSI0lH5C65LPtcKBGF-96Afk_2hT7OlgBG29wW2DwsD/s1600/IMG_4067.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS__urfX2dHmQ09uTnNLQNSb-gtEJLJ17VXYY2JrdKuFZJoutYAR7r2V91_QpqNev6-ncStk51jTUrPcrkh9jO2pDHewNUhs-x7nSI0lH5C65LPtcKBGF-96Afk_2hT7OlgBG29wW2DwsD/s320/IMG_4067.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457171527164568146" /></a>These are the Palms they use here in Peru. They are braided and twisted in to all sorts of patterns. Way cool huh?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CLYCGQ9yHpBmBuhB7Y5XWWZc8DIm5knOrTqi7dn5yWiaCfVQFsEXxQziosT9lG6JiQ359UFyrFM-Sa_bRHWdjSvO7ryyMbqwhhPW_32AgfjaQcX5MWL7klcSdMOcK59AxNa-e7G1OwXr/s1600/IMG_4063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CLYCGQ9yHpBmBuhB7Y5XWWZc8DIm5knOrTqi7dn5yWiaCfVQFsEXxQziosT9lG6JiQ359UFyrFM-Sa_bRHWdjSvO7ryyMbqwhhPW_32AgfjaQcX5MWL7klcSdMOcK59AxNa-e7G1OwXr/s320/IMG_4063.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457171522681567682" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-40904961854541291902010-03-10T15:01:00.000-08:002010-03-10T15:11:34.014-08:00coloring for the greater good and more<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Well, </p> <p class="MsoNormal">It has been a really long time, again, since I have updated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have been really busy and am now getting back into the regular swing of things. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The flooding in Huanta has kind of stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think there are probably people still working on fixing their homes or rebuilding but it hasn’t been raining as often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I want to thank all of you again for your prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think that it is amazing to have places connected in ways beyond just what you hear in the news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">February the Biblical Institute was going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They held classes at my church Cristo Rey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Young adults from all over Peru came to participate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I didn’t take any classes personally but it was interesting to be in the midst of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vacation Bible School was this past week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I didn’t get to help with the actual classes because I was out of town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I did, however, color tons of visual aids and cut a lot of name badges and letters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Hence the title of coloring for the greater good. </span>I also typed up all the words to all the songs so that they could use them with the projector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was a lot of work, but it was good to get to contribute towards that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I also felt very useful which is always a good thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was interesting to see the things that we take for granted when planning something like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For instance, die cuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Imagine cutting every picture and letter by hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Maybe I was just spoiled by having a mom that is a teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have been going through the process of applying for seminary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It seems a much harder process when you can’t call to ask questions or set up interviews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Phone interviews when you are out of the country get pretty complicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have pretty much gotten all of that turned in and will let y’all know when I make my final decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our YAV reunion this time was a weeklong retreat at the beach!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was pretty phenomenal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We all cooked different meals including fajitas, curry, pasta, and sushi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I learned how to body board and we swam in the ocean and pool a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We also had devotionals and reflection time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Each if us planned a devotional and it was fun to see the different ways people planned for us to worship or reflect together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We did affirmations and got to share why we love each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It really is a great group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No offense to the other YAV places but my very biased opinion is that the Peru group is the best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I can’t believe I am more than half way through this YAV year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I leave at the end of July and it is just really strange to think that that is less than 5 months away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know that 5 months seems like a long time but lets look at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This month is already in the second week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We have a reunion for 3 days at the end of March (My fellow YAVs will be here for my bday on the 31st) and then vacation at the end of May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then all of June we are in placement and July until the 15<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After that we have our closing reunion, a week of travel and then we are headed back to the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Weird huh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The halfway point seemed so far away at the beginning of the year and now we have passed it rapidly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If any one has any special requests from Peru you should let me know now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(No, I can’t bring back cuy (guinea pig) sorry guys)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am hoping I can work in seeing everyone when I get back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Unfortunately I will have about 3 weeks between when I get back and seminary and one of those weeks my family is taking me to Italy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Not that I am complaining about Italy but it should be interesting getting everything done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am pretty sure I need to have my wisdom teeth out at some point too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That should be tons of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So we need to work out when I am going to see everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Let me know when you are going to be in the Dallas area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If any of you are looking for more opportunities to give to the YAV program, my fund raising is finished but there are several that are not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I believe you can contact the yav program on the PC (USA) website (<a href="http://www.pcusa.org/yav/support.htm">http://www.pcusa.org/yav/support.htm</a>) and ask if specific YAVs have finished their fundraising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know that there are several in Peru that have not and that it is rather stressful to try to fundraise especially when already in Peru.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I had some questions about cultural differences and thought I would touch on that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I guess one thing that has been hard for me to adjust to is that when you enter a room here, even if people are in the midst of conversation you are suppose to go and greet them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I guess that interrupting is rude lesson that I learned growing up is hard to over right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>With that even if you just said hello you are suppose to go around to each person and kiss him or her on the cheek to say goodbye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This applies even when you just ran into someone in the street and said hi for a second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know that is something my family noticed while they were here as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It isn’t a big deal and I am pretty much used to it know but I have moments where I forget and that runs the risk of coming across as rude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There are also more defined gender roles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>People were surprised when I picked up and started helping move benches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is interesting though because I have also been in villages where the women helped carry dirt etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That was only when they weren’t preparing the meal but still.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Don’t get me wrong I have no problem dividing the work up that way, if everyone has a job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think the only time it is a problem is when one gender is not helping the other because their job is done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I haven’t really seen that part as much as I thought I would, but I know it exists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Still there is much less worry about putting people in gender roles and stereotypes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Volunteering to help cut fire wood or haul something got some funny reactions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My host family sometimes jokes that my last name is actually King Kong because I am so strong for a girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Oh another thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Movies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When someone tells you about a movie here they always tell the whole story including the ending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I can’t bring myself to do that and it drives me crazy when people tell me the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It always has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know there are people that do that in the States, but it is definitely not widely accepted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think I probably drive people crazy here when I don’t tell the end or enough details about a movie I have seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That is one difference I have not embraced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There is also a lot more of an attitude of what’s yours is mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If you bring a food item to work you are expected to share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>People will ask you to invite them to a piece of your gum, candy, or whatever else you have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This to has taken some getting used to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I don’t like to ask someone to give me some of what they have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>To me it is kind of the job of the person who has it to offer to the person who doesn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have to remind myself that it is just a difference culturally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I want to share but I don’t want it to always be expected or feel taken advantage of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know this really is a personal battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I need to get over that feeling and be gracious about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I mean not that I have ever said no or been huffy about it but harboring annoyance doesn’t do anyone any good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Lets see, what else?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Oh yeah work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There is a much more relaxed attitude about work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Often my host family and I have gone to a birthday lunch during the workweek and it doesn’t end until late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Or there is some meeting at the church or something else and no one seems to mind that it is in the middle of the workday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This has been a struggle for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I don’t want to just miss work all the time, but if I have nothing to do at work and others from the office are going is that okay?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I don’t wan to miss out on the relation ship part of why I am here and birthday lunches in the middle of the day seem to be a part of that. All of these differences are just that differences. I am not saying that my way is better or that my family and friends here in Huanta are wrong. I am learning more about myself and encountering new ways of doing things leads to reflection of why things are the way they are. For instance why are work schedules so tight? Isn't it just as important to maintain connections with people? </p><p class="MsoNormal">Let me know your thoughts. What cultural differences have you experienced? What about yourself has been changed by those experiences? </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I think that is it for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will post more pictures soon and keep y'all up to date on seminary decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> If you have any knowledge or advice about that I would be glad to hear it. </span>As always thank you so much for all your support! I hope to add more as I think of it and will continue trying to keep everyone informed. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">God Bless, </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Alissa King</p> <!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-66881035843380537102010-02-03T13:50:00.001-08:002010-02-03T13:54:39.733-08:00Update on the rainsHello all! <div>Things are somewhat better here in Huanta. It hasn't rained very hard in a couple days and we have had some sun. There still continue to be houses that are falling and flooding in outer parts near Huanta. Here at the radio we are getting together things to take to those affected. I know that is not much of an update, but I thought I would let you know. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Thank you guys for reading and praying for me and those around me. As always, God Bless! </div><div>Alissa </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-74871662362037931622010-02-01T13:23:00.000-08:002010-02-01T13:43:43.834-08:00Flooding in Huanta<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The following blog was written last week. I have been trying to post ever since. </div><div><br /></div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">I should update you about what is going on in Huanta. I too have been out of contact. We had no internet yesterday and no electricity for most of today. We have been without water all day as well. There was a big land slide about 5 blocks up or so. It really involved large rocks falling and blocking the gutters. Then the river and mud filled most of the houses up to at least half way of the 1st floor and a lot of time more. Most of the houses are as i said before are adobe and so when the floods came walls collapsed. Many have lost houses and all of there things. The city and other non profits have set up tents and given out raw food stuff but without places to cook and no clean water people are still hungry. Some families are sharing what they can. This has affected at least one complete city block, various other houses, and tons of houses in the mountains. Lots of crops have been killed along with animals. So far their are some dead and some missing people, but mostly in el campo. I havent heard any updates on numbers but i think yesterday it was 4 dead and 4 missing. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Today I went with the church to deliver breakfast and lunch. I am not officially there with the radio, but Samuel doesnt mind(he and Orlando were there too for most of it) and so I will continue to do what I can until Samuel asks me to do something else. I figure reading the history of Ayacucho can wait. Anyways, We took lunch at 2. We figured that people would have already eaten but that they could save it for dinner if they had. When we got to the tents, most had not eaten. We filled what pots and pans people had. Some cried and talked to the pastor about what they had lost. I almost cried when a mom and two kids had nothing to put their soup in because they literally had lost everything. A little girl their getting soup for herself heard them say they had no bowls and said that her family did. She went into her tent and got 2 Styrofoam bowls and gave them to this family. It was literally her sharing all her family had. By giving away those bowls she possibly gave away the only way for her family to have clean dishes. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Other than that flooding continues to be a concern. It hasnt rained for 2 days but this is just the very beginning of rainy season. I went with Samuel and World vision to check the levels of two of 5 lakes that are about an hour up the mountain. They are pretty full and they are looking for a way to keep them from over flowing and flooding more houses. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Radio Amauta has some damage but not much. We dont have water right now but hopefully that is temporary. It usually doesn't last more than a day. There are lots of roof leaks and I think they have someone looking to fix at least some of that. When it rains really hard we all go out to keep rooms from flooding by blocking off doors and keeping the water flowing to the back of the radio. That has only happened once so far. I feel that I am safe and more useful than I have been. I only hope that we can continue to do little things that help. One sad thing is that when I am out with the church a lot of people assume i am in charge cause i am the gringa. Or they use my coming as a definite sign that we are there to help. I guess we are there to help but it is not because of me. I wish I could do more. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">I luv yall and I only ask that you keep Huanta in your prayers. Surprisingly there are a lot of people in good spirits and praising good for the little help they are receiving. I dont know about you but while i see the beauty of God and people in the helping hands and good spirits I think it would be hard for me not to question why God allowed my house to flood in the first place. It is easy for me to see God in the good when i am not personally experiencing the bad but I dont know how i would feel if I was. I have found myself many times humming the prayers of the people song. I feel like the people of Huanta are living that song. They really are pulling together and being one in this crisis. All of the construction workers from all the sites in the city went to help yesterday and today. I just hope people dont forget and stop helping in a couple days. There is going to be more to come and there are still people living in tents. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;">Since what I wrote above things have dried out some but there have also been more houses destroyed. The rains will continue to come. Please keep Huanta in your prayers. God Bless.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEst-VF4rPgOWz7CJOCVoLBcYFJjPh-ERSoR28FhRxXQOcEkhQjjnL3ryqgr5jkXxxLTD-CLGY2sjLqtH5BbdKlk0fUjkQlie51SYpfu2itGSZ0rRa3_vqBqDihFqXvO5VZL-aBGsERr8/s1600-h/IMG_0742.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEst-VF4rPgOWz7CJOCVoLBcYFJjPh-ERSoR28FhRxXQOcEkhQjjnL3ryqgr5jkXxxLTD-CLGY2sjLqtH5BbdKlk0fUjkQlie51SYpfu2itGSZ0rRa3_vqBqDihFqXvO5VZL-aBGsERr8/s320/IMG_0742.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433391138829528786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEZN_qm_SB3AP2gWdU5PJl2pGwu-yVqMP-qDPzQ0tl5Pu5VUGR3gHbBGO1PiB5e9n_2tsI28DBWCDNRpi6X-WQO54FF54kzfOQcAoiKYtA2DA9rorQg86NWAeZsSXmoZldbSPwsqF4tV1/s1600-h/IMG_0710.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEZN_qm_SB3AP2gWdU5PJl2pGwu-yVqMP-qDPzQ0tl5Pu5VUGR3gHbBGO1PiB5e9n_2tsI28DBWCDNRpi6X-WQO54FF54kzfOQcAoiKYtA2DA9rorQg86NWAeZsSXmoZldbSPwsqF4tV1/s320/IMG_0710.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433391132905088898" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0t_bZlQw0zkkChCEByfNFp4VP6uDMA6ygdij7jiHWbmHxMGg_glYD5-r2BWj-imUbldvUci0OUuxNPrhOa9_eUnVRNbGQq26s4OSpYvtYd72ig_oAHAWGq1gPqRrEuAI4IPpsncmYuu7/s1600-h/IMG_0696.JPG"></a><div>This is not suppose to be a river. It is a street. The rocks are also not suppose to be there. They were brought by the water.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0t_bZlQw0zkkChCEByfNFp4VP6uDMA6ygdij7jiHWbmHxMGg_glYD5-r2BWj-imUbldvUci0OUuxNPrhOa9_eUnVRNbGQq26s4OSpYvtYd72ig_oAHAWGq1gPqRrEuAI4IPpsncmYuu7/s1600-h/IMG_0696.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0t_bZlQw0zkkChCEByfNFp4VP6uDMA6ygdij7jiHWbmHxMGg_glYD5-r2BWj-imUbldvUci0OUuxNPrhOa9_eUnVRNbGQq26s4OSpYvtYd72ig_oAHAWGq1gPqRrEuAI4IPpsncmYuu7/s320/IMG_0696.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433391126268967810" /></a><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-81903281493229938632010-01-29T14:58:00.000-08:002010-01-29T17:22:34.768-08:00Christmas break<div style="text-align: center;">First off thank you again to all of my supporters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Y’all are fantastic! I am so blessed to have some many supporting me with funds, time, and of course prayers. I hope that I am in your thoughts and prayers as you are in mine. I just finished my Christmas vacation and got to see more of Peru with family and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Most of my family came to visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I played translator but it was fun to have my family meet my host family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I got to show them around Huanta and share little aspects of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were kind of like a parade going down the street with people staring a little and kids following us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think my family enjoyed spending two days in the life of Alissa the YAV.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxVJzTmxceDfz5YKwSTueePdY9eFzmybqpemSCzGVS2r3QHe1cVGCt3_rIpCzd8IUJ8TuNyaDOrF9ffNmmlRBNL_hSScSKXDTynsOVN3RchvKyJnaAmuerbMa8Vb6wogWk1KdCQiI35DG/s320/IMG_0057.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432302311914505042" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">After that my family and I did some traveling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We went to Cusco, Manchu Pichu, Ariquipa, Colca canyon…I think that was it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was all very fantast</p><p class="MsoNormal">ic!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I did shed some tears as 10 days didn’t seem like nearly enough time with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I still have 7 more months and I knew that was it for family visits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know that I will be fine and will get to see them again sooner than it feels like right now, but it is still hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There is nothing to make you appreciate your friends and family like not getting to spend time with them like you used to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is weird not to be able to pick up the phone whenever and call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am so greatful for internet and skype that keeps me connected in a way that wouldn’t be possible before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-Zdpe0SlLWSb-NBvz3kLs6cU-rJD0bvw6VcIHdDavt9X0kVO6v1Vc72rGMFkkNBVmXuCvCmzY3vTr1RlQnNz-MH4wEUK-3j8X_2DILojYIdJsWTgivFXGVxlRMx1vDGvBAOf22evCT7g/s320/IMG_2765.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432302313259242034" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkWiQauGg5gVOV8c8f1-_2LrGaHVuDHmT3apSxnCNIucajAQOrGuvxXkmMSlF099Yj2_BVl8P21dYHQzv82WJz0K_sV_sJhADcYhoboOh3nJMuPgtMLyhIRHVN49J2-KsV69IjpV-Oo_f/s320/IMG_2826.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432302321323905106" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-USfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Okay well back to the trip, It was a little like st</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-USfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">epping into a different Peru.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A Peru were my family was there, there was always hot water, and we weren’t st<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ared at for being gringos(well at least after we left Huanta).</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We were in Touristy areas. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Areas where spending over <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">10 soles for a meal is normal.(that’s about $3.60)</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Usually I don’t eat out and when I am with the YAVs and we eat out, we are looking for the 6 soles or less Menú.(Menú is kind of like the special<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There are usually a couple of options and it includes an apatizer of sorts like soup or salad, a main dish<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, and a drink)</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I know it sounds cheap but it is all relative.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If you look at it I can get a 10hour first class bus ticket for 50 soles</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-USfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> which is about 18 dollars.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The hostels I stayed in with the YAVs were about 15-30 soles per</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-USfont-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> night(5-11 dollars)</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Compared to that a 10-20 soles meal is really expensive.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Anyways it was interesting to see my Peru world in a different way.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGYRHadRfEHRvb7MzpQPy6gpQOdaotR1WQ2gSWlIe2keWt5nGdNCfJeeVEnKms4XbKtjmw4MjHrUpc5iUBMw04XV4EjWCxh5knGYZxUDb0UeXWjJKpPWgiJOoB5snEuodqVuWCcE7nHrw/s320/IMG_2876.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432302322830930418" /><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><br /></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; ">Well after my family left I met up with some of the other YAVs to continue our travels.<span> </span>I went to Trujillo in the north of Peru.<span> </span>We got to see some really cool ruins.<span> </span>Chan Chan is a pretty big city of mud.<span> </span>I heard that right after we were there some kids on a graduation trip went in and destroyed some of it.<span> </span>I don’t really understand what possesses people to make them so destructive.<span> </span>I mean here these ruins have survived earth quakes, storms, and time and these kids make a mess of things.<span> </span>I think they needed to be taught a little more respect for history.<span> </span>Well speaking of respect for history we also saw Huaca de la Luna and it is incredible.<span></span>They have uncovered murals with the colors still in tack.<span> </span>It was really cool to see.<span> </span>They are still excavating and you can see the process.<span> </span>There is another right near by called Huaca del sol.<span></span>Apparently they lack funding to continue excavation but it is said to also be incredible so far.<span> </span>I think to see Huaca de la Luna it was worth going to Trujillo.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; ">Also there is a beach near by that is really nice.<span> </span>We were there on off-season so it wasn’t really crowded.<span> </span>We stayed in a really nice hostel right across the street from the beach.<span> </span>It was nice to get to relax and play cards with my fellow YAVs and talk about what is going on in our world.<span></span></p><div style="text-indent: 48px;"><br /></div></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76sWrgs5fMdIz6RdecRYoK3snp-ZAlM_Ai0V2INEW5j_xOrKDs8NCWIcGtJ7-nP9XHrXsvlqamh-G5YlghS3qXczXWV0bq-eI1YtRq30jOG86fom_003OjbBgGwgS1ISskwy4wk10LQBb/s320/IMG_3014.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432302328613474034" /><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After that we went to Harez to meet up with a friend of Sarah Alta’s that is in the Peace core there.<span> </span>We got to see an amazing place in the mountains with a glacier and a lake that was just gorgeous.<span> </span>We also went to this place where they were playing US pop song as background music.<span> </span>I think the other YAVs were stunned to see how many of the songs I knew.<span> </span>I told them songs just stick in my head really easily but Anna proceeded told me that I may have a talent as a human jut box.<span> </span>Well I guess if seminary doesn’t work out I have another option.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFSlDTOIQmAPXkrTs84uI0b74CE7XBtUswDLr5ktGIY5naq7FeD1YyOAY64z4_j3AhaXjwGhQqPMxFHdaV9jtiiYm7X0yHzJASmuRAqsvj_7hqqOPgV0pnHHZgWRAjvHixeQePi5gC_ke/s320/IMG_3090.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432304814991742290" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center; "><div style="text-indent: 48px;"><br /></div><div style="text-indent: 48px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzJDQ67YlJaDJYZq_ZAXrIyjEvHjdFKrqC__N-eYIcJWdXBcF0zh4kD_eQnXxZH-bpV83RMAx6WgBeMRQlYiojpgJvyl8fzhwgqa_9XOv3FDIfrzcnWoeVdsU1kkw5h4D0tDwPahRZXIi/s320/IMG_3105.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432304817382132242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-72237928481723920102009-12-11T09:56:00.000-08:002009-12-11T10:06:19.726-08:00PodcastHey guys i forgot to put this on here. This is a Podcast put together by Joe(another YAV) for Red Uniendo Manos. I am on here talking about my experience in Ojoyo and some of the things people said they were thankful for. It can give you some sense of what's going on and keep you up to date on some of the issues here in Peru. It also will give you more info about some of the YAVs. Don't worry it is translated into English. <div>http://kuzka.podbean.com</div><div>Oh yeah and like Joe says at the end of this, if any one wants to hear more about what I am doing, have their youth group ask questions, or anything else I am more than willing to give more info. We can video chat through skype or email back and forth. Just let me know and we can set something up. </div><div>Thanks guys and again I miss you all! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-51201744357027249092009-12-10T15:05:00.000-08:002009-12-10T15:11:46.617-08:00MERRY CHRISTMAS<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzq75or4_viGx4ou_SM780JTkr5ruRXtFblUHfPQt4Y46Isn2MMtIJUYGjkz1pAM3dm4BeafLycVRvhJNIHrQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div>This is in Spanish, English, and Quechua/Kechwa. :) Cool huh!</div><div>Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-90487658227997526122009-12-10T13:51:00.000-08:002009-12-11T10:23:28.910-08:00Visits, Thanksgiving, and Madrina, oh my!<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Okay so it has been a while since I wrote and I feel like I have been really busy.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lets put it this way, the last 3 weeks I have not been here for the weekend.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I have traveled to 2 communities and had Thanksgiving in Lima.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I have started teaching English classes (although for a while we haven’t had them due to people at the office being busy or gone), I have translated another document, preached 2 sermons and I became Madrina (Godmother) of a church in Moya, Tambo.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Some explanation.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lets start with my work in general at the radio.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I still have times when there is not much to do, but I feel that is changing.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The English classes give me lessons to prepare and though we haven’t had them at the radio in two weeks, I have been going to the church once a week to have a conversation class with the pastor and his family that is going really well.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Also, Samuel (my boss) asked me to begin preparing sermons so that he can just ask me to preach whatever time he wants.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So, with that I have been filling a lot of my time.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then of course I still manage to have time to sit and chat with people that come in or sometimes Samuel bounces ideas off of me.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My schedule is pretty flexible and so that still gives me time to do things like go and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> hear </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Valerie</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">my little host sibling) sing in a Christmas program. (I will be posting video).</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Ok so now my second visit to a village outside of the city.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So we went to Huayra pampa.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It was really beautiful.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We went to help with a roof raising (literally) but when we got there it turned out they didn’t have the supplies.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">They couldn’t call to let us know cause no one has a phone.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So they fed us breakfast and I took pictures, Samuel helped them cut and carry tree trunks up to the church and I took pictures, they fed us lunch and I took pictures, and we had a prayer service and I took pictures.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">If you hadn’t guessed my job was to take pictures.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Besides taking pictures I did one other thing.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I got sick.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I mean stomach-twisting sprint to the bathroom sick.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The bathroom happened to be a porter potty that consisted of a hole in the ground but I didn’t really care at that point.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I continued to feel awful the whole 5hrs we were there and then threw up on the way home.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Needless to say I wasn’t exactly very animated or interactive.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I really worried Samuel who even escorted me into the radio to tell my host mom I was sick.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I think mainly he was worried because when I threw up I vaulted out of the car at a place we had stopped to take a picture.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Everyone kept saying don’t get out and I was like I'm going.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Turns out it is because it wasn’t exactly the safest place to get out of the car.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">They were worried I would fall off the edge of the mountain.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Needless to say I didn’t, but I did continue to feel sick the rest of the night and the next day, and there went my weekend.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Still it wasn’t a complete loss.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It is a good story and I have some cool pictures.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Plus now when we go on a trip if I don’t throw up it is considered a success.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You can see the pictures at </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2028227&id=35702103&l=bc63c3a821</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Thanks giving:</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I spent Thanksgiving in Lima with the rest of the YAVS at Debbie’s house (our site coordinator) We actually went to Alexandra’s house thanksgiving day.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She works at Red Uniendos Manos with Debbie.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://www.manosperu.org</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We all cooked something and I made my families stuffing recipe.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It was my first time to make it and I was a little worried.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Partly because I had to add spices to the sausage to make it right and make the bread part (we usually do that out of a bag) it turned out really well.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lots of people said that it was really good.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The texture was a little different due to the difference in bread, but I think I may try to talk my family into trying to make the bread next year too.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We all got together and ate.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I think it was probably one of the most significant thanksgivings I have had.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There were some Peruvians there that were celebrating thanksgiving for the first time.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As such we each explained our dish and talked about the traditions that go along with thanksgiving.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Alexandra read a document written by a Native American (I cant remember who it was, sorry) that talked about sharing the earth and being a part of it.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She then read a document written by a Peruvian that was along the same lines.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It was cool to really experience the sharing of customs.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I think for me one of the best parts was reflecting on all that I have learned about Peru and Peruvian customs and sharing a little in return.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We also shared what we were thankful for.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One of the YAVs commented that this was their first thanksgiving away from their family and it was mine too.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She then talked about how while that was true that being together with the YAVs and the people from the Red, the Presbytery, etc, made it so that we were creating a new family of sorts.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Almost every single person in the room was from somewhere else.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Whether that be the states (a wide range of states by the way), or somewhere else in Peru.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For all of us to come together is quite amazing.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It really felt like each of us was put there for a reason.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Each person was there because they were doing something in Gods plan.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There was a lot of joy passed around and while there are plenty of times I miss my family, it was amazing to find that on Thanksgiving Day I wasn’t especially homesick.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I am thankful for my family in the states and my Peruvian family here, and my YAV family that we have created.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">After all what is thanksgiving about if not having your heart filled with thanks for those around you and those that cant be there?</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So to everyone out there who has been in my life in anyway, thank you.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I know that the people I have come in contact with have made me who I am today and will continue to shape me in the future.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I thank God for all of you.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p> <span style="font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-USfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Moya, Tambo.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I visited a place called Moya in Tambo, which is in Ayacucho, which is in Peru.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I hope that gives you an idea of where it is but if not, it is in the mountains.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It was a small village; although not as small as Huayra pampa it is still pretty small.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">They too were putting a roof on a Presbyterian church.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">First off I didn’t get sick </span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQyhNh3aasuLNdB04MG9zlXiCWEt2Gas_fYFFSkh8vHzE-JIV61cOkE5WeAMAicQAVQciwyzmo4eKFD6thgih9ZRaolQVGtT8tju_nRvW1KjhiRTbu-NIihVb0oU3VyiHdp0_rAwh1rhf/s320/IMG_1778.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413731804582505138" /><p class="MsoNormal">Helped carry dirt out of the church to level the ground,</p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9rJIUXq4zmQI0ZPY7L5xBeXUNBaqL8V63uHUAsHw5Mr7ZiiLMp7uyATn4pOIhWNXrXqxWBv1X1mhQOXIFYkVcnO2r-CTnA17dP7qmCELmkpq-82CQEj6w61hyPARmCi57LjOy3ySYyCn/s320/IMG_1876.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413733405849728674" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Helped teach some kids a couple songs,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyVCR1gqCMZ_bmi0E7IyNstShYANM093OaE8UxvQktoL67A2a3mlyov58iZV4H_IMbMgzBfILf644r3_MkqBQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p class="MsoNormal">And took like a hundred pictures of kids that wanted to see there pictures on my camera.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9QcTPSYX5eKU-eTJ-QOmjCuoFW1xs1GgsA1U0fD_FEkXYFOclAMPHNXQaQ3qXvsEjKT6at6lzm9k10jbR-OvXUyVn74r5VMUvOUnTS7PbNwm06iuUBULTVZHfPHv6856_7OlkV3itoHt/s320/IMG_1799.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413738682015285058" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsCXc40ZSuKN0qmHXtiMU0mYEMQ-be9ZJsdRArSG1YQaaRZBp4eDISPCmSLwMR8caYSlCMSDXavZlAX0n0kWS_qerR63ba3l_btStdopAt-iFHigatlCWuTRTephyXkwJ5kjMTQUtYTeI/s320/IMG_1806.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413738675498889522" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal">Halfway through the day my boss’s wife asked me if I had my things to sleep there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I laughed thinking she was joking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I found out latter she wasn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>No one told me there was a possibility we would sleep there, but we did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We stayed late to have a church service with everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was a little irritated that we were spending the night and I hadn’t really been told.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Turns out one of the reasons we stayed is because the church members wanted to make me the Madrina (Godmother) of there church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I felt horrible for being frustrated earlier and quickly changed my attitude. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is funny how God works huh?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They had me cut the ribbon to enter the church, </p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_Uh3bTX-KKAkjzdsU8eXj1yPkH7EUekJAHcwmh_3cxLnxphdHQt92MQVbu0CAVaM3ctFf1VIf70k7nCLXvhRny9FqoGKNn5TmdRyQxd8u36moMPTpbqXbsPeLRT1_rQWQ1mR-tCUyKug/s320/IMG_1949.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413742976043943554" /><p class="MsoNormal">, I preached, and then took tons of pictures with everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When we went to go to sleep I swear everyone in town gave me a blanket t</p><p class="MsoNormal">o use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They even tucked me in. </p> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFxEZvPkrzRVtx6hZQrGWLLC-lwEk8CSOJTbTxUEbAM9IOO8iZhWtzmPJUOZK5p600o1gwzsFY3c40DNKVSjidCpqffRlsh2mwcDZYwxTYVOwLLpbSO3xtqoehRswuBgIyemtnDkAnRcn/s320/IMG_2008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413742979980522978" /><p class="MsoNormal">The next day breakfast was cuy (guinea pig) to celebrate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We also had potatoes, cheese, and soup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I didn’t finish and packed most of it up (besides the soup) to take back with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We prayed to leave and took tons of pictures again</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RGDTR-LyugnC5v49AUoqSJk6ndId8f7tcOEsbCqeA7a3lz6QmWTItgPrdNlV33DsCmAgRyuT7C-x7sPC37_7Y91KD5BtyzgD61iWToHEzh7asBAEgYge2TLl47gcP-V9qbk6PXTCdc-E/s320/IMG_2033.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413742996874917714" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14BoRf9vQV4_B8tYEgwfP9_43u7uM1fiJ2OLs-Z8FGdqYx3X0OS8FjfYmbGzOlVYeCMksrVP7700yRMJfCQFucVOnqGD9O9pu-bnx9oGYXSCjUcw1A3QFvdSyBFaB5xnLTzWGQI68so_G/s320/IMG_2040.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413742988563354914" /></p><p class="MsoNormal">They gave me a whole lot of onions as a parting gift</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We walked down to Tambo (which was a pretty good hike by the way)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And spent the rest of the way finding cars to take us back and ridding back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was exhausted but all in all it was a really good trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If you want to see the rest of the pictures you can head to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2028604&id=35702103&l=d39e691e2a">http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2028604&id=35702103&l=d39e691e2a</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">All and all it has been a busy month so far and will probably continue to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My family is coming to visit for Christmas so if you want to send a letter or anything for me and or the other yavs, without paying postage now is the time. For any families of other yavs that aren’t coming, my family will be more than happy to bring Christmas presents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Just shoot me an email at <a href="mailto:Alissadking@gmail.com">Alissadking@gmail.com</a> and I can get you their address. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am excited to see my family and show them around Huanta.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I got a box in the mail from them with all sorts of fun stuff that is sure to make me gain weight (chocolate, supplies to make chocolate chip cookies, blueberry syrup, etc).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol; mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have been sharing my box with those around me which has been especially fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have some new movies that came in my box and a lot of them have both Spanish and English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have already lent some out and have had fun talking about the movies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They also sent English vocab cards that have been fun here with my host family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I may lend them out to people in my English class as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So again thanks family for the box!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I really appreciate it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For all those who are wondering it took about 3 and ½ weeks to get here. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Well I miss you all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Happy late thanksgiving and I hope everything is well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It may be cliché but let me know what you are thankful for and whom you spent thanksgiving with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I love you all!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Alissa </p> <!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-54303084273779536842009-11-18T13:30:00.000-08:002009-11-18T13:32:44.348-08:00What's up?Okay so I want to know how your lives are doing. What's up with all of you? What are your plans for thanksgiving? What's the weirdest thing you have eaten lately? What are your future plans? Just wondering. Let me know.<div>Alissa</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-50757820594261161102009-11-12T08:21:00.000-08:002009-11-12T08:35:17.616-08:00Pictures my host family and me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HZSfPNKnseMncF4cZPX7fxY3tJ9rBkiiWS_0-90LJ5X9ZrkZoS3zkvCTbXMhR4qXEiqGV5lUu3CXUwK9ph1mKFNpRTgLek5ztExDjBY_Oqru-GkzmfVhvwwyBSR2VIkAF9ELzzXgB6Nn/s1600-h/IMG_1111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HZSfPNKnseMncF4cZPX7fxY3tJ9rBkiiWS_0-90LJ5X9ZrkZoS3zkvCTbXMhR4qXEiqGV5lUu3CXUwK9ph1mKFNpRTgLek5ztExDjBY_Oqru-GkzmfVhvwwyBSR2VIkAF9ELzzXgB6Nn/s320/IMG_1111.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403254758665544498" /></a>This is my host family and me, all in the backseat of a VW bug. It lives here at the radio too and they call it the frog. :) There were 3 more people in the front. That makes 9 people in all. Thats nothing once we fit 15 in a taxi. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LXZ5hgmLCA-3tOm4yolhAeeGVje2eK07wB6y_2Rv-vmQXfEIkCRk7d8bZ61xGExRm7fiVli_yv30SfLiM65hOFqS2cLCLILc_biJ5y7xqgn71pUitIycz5__URAzj-KAzuOjTRolUPjr/s1600-h/IMG_0973.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LXZ5hgmLCA-3tOm4yolhAeeGVje2eK07wB6y_2Rv-vmQXfEIkCRk7d8bZ61xGExRm7fiVli_yv30SfLiM65hOFqS2cLCLILc_biJ5y7xqgn71pUitIycz5__URAzj-KAzuOjTRolUPjr/s320/IMG_0973.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403254753088371986" /></a>This is a pic of my host family and I playing in the part. There are TONS more(jumping photos, spinning photos, pics of the kids, etc) so let me know if you want to see them and I can try to post more.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcyfmbjOVoYJBly0Seq1OTZIKbaE-SYcCRRbx5LuU0cZ35nELQPhnSQEfn8ZiSZivYDLw7l09frrls3u7eB4bLpxkv1DjR-nn5A_uHF81rvSfdNwdfH9ZNRYiZ-tTRYn4GwWglCEnpoe1/s1600-h/IMG_0988.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcyfmbjOVoYJBly0Seq1OTZIKbaE-SYcCRRbx5LuU0cZ35nELQPhnSQEfn8ZiSZivYDLw7l09frrls3u7eB4bLpxkv1DjR-nn5A_uHF81rvSfdNwdfH9ZNRYiZ-tTRYn4GwWglCEnpoe1/s320/IMG_0988.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403254745712754146" /></a>This is my host family; Luz(the mom), Orlando(the dad), Esteban(4), Valarie(7), and Pricilla(1 1/2)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-80941270728269904592009-11-12T06:12:00.000-08:002009-11-12T06:34:46.871-08:00videos<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzJPAQOhLqb_JhzXYU3ie852_ILkDPenvtTJUWXUjpl6sRzgDy5HZ_9SxXmOSRKA9XhuqEWqA7TnC7GZDy00w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div>This is a video of my little host sister playing with a cat. I just thought it was cute. I hope it makes you smile. </div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxZxX3MepIjdiRFu3Cz_9QWJdYJ2oAxOSUHz3Krt072bJAmHMDdD-uh2FAsrJQF6bVGm3M8v6QhpzO3tkbIJg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div>This is a video of some of the listeners of the radio singing in Quechua on the radio for the anniversary celebration. 49 years this year! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8772340929240297297.post-46760173026939682952009-11-04T15:32:00.000-08:002009-11-04T15:33:47.533-08:00Have you ever kicked a chicken?<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">No, this is not a philosophical question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I really mean have you ever kicked a chicken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now before you get irritated about the rights of said chicken I have to say in my defense that she bit me first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am pretty sure she thought my toe looked like a tasty morsel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I guess that will teach me for wearing sandals out to give the leftovers to the chickens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have noticed ever since that chicken seems bolder and I must repeatedly act like I am going to kick this said chicken again to keep it from trying to grab another sample of my feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know you think I would have learned not to wear my flip flops but it seems silly to change shoes to wash dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(The sink to wash dishes is where the chickens are)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Plus I am determined not to let this chicken get the best of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know this seems a silly topic for a blog entry but it really struck me and I thought it was a funny story to share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> So have you? Have you ever kicked a chicken?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">P.s. as far as I know the chicken was not harmed in this exchange.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Oh ya and neither was I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4