Livin' out the Triangle.

Last Sunday I returned to the camp I am working at this summer....Crossings! I'm at the Cedarmore campus in Bagdad, KY...about 2 hours away from Pendleton County. I was absolutely ecstatic to see all of the staff again & start camp, despite nervousness about not remembering things from training, which was at the very beginning of June. It had been three weeks since I left camp & I had to jump right into the swing of things on Monday.
However, this week was absolutely phenomenal. It is amazing to see these students grow in their relationships with God! I had a group of 15 fantastic middle school girls with all different personality types. Our Bible study theme this year is Washed & each day covers a topic under this theme: Stained, Soaked, Scrub & Shine. The week begins with the recognition of sin in our lives through the story of the woman who pours her expensive perfume on Jesus' feet. It then transitions into the recognition of ourselves in the Pharisees from the story, who merely follow the rules of religion, rather than develop a true relationship wih God. The week proceeds to teach students how to practically change their lives for the glory of God - through living out the Triangle & the beyond effect. Crossings' Triangle promotes three points - Love God through abiding in Him, Love People through being humble & Be a Servant to both God and people. the beyond effect encourages students to combine their passion & burden in order to reach out to the least of these.
Anyway, that's basically how things go down at camp...in the midst of Worship services and POIs (P-P-P-POI!) - which are the activities students choose to participate in such as ziplining, climbing, messy games, indoor games, fishing, etc. This week was so great overall! However, its hard during a short week to have one-on-ones with all 15 girls in your group. Therefore, I was trying to pick out which of the girls I thought I really needed to talk to. Two girls in my group seemed to be doing fairly well and were not at the top of my list for one-on-ones, as sad as it is to say. I wanted to be able to talk to everyone, but just did not think I would have time. However, at dinner one night one of the two girls came up to me & said, "Brittany wants you to come sit with us," referring to the other girl. As I joined their table, everyone left but Brittany & she began pouring her heart out to me. It's awesome that even when we miss something God is right there to point it out to us! Brittany really needed someone to talk to & I'm thrilled to say that our conversations actually impacted her! It's amazing. In addition to this, I had some other girls in my group who responded to God's callings in their life through the  beyond effect & to a stronger relationship with Him.
I could really go on forever about this week at camp!!! Please keep our students in your prayers as the summer goes on! Also, if you would like to send me mail (Please write me!!!!!) I do have an address at Cedarmore: 3083 Cedarmore Road Bagdad, KY 40003.

Machu Picchu y Movimiento el Pozo!

Sooo I thought I would write a quick update as tomorrow is my last day in Peru! I'm sad to leave! :(
Anyway, yesterday we went to Machu Picchu!! It was absolutely incredible. I cannot even believe the amount of work that was put into building the ancient Incan city. It is absolutely gorgeous. It was definitely  a huge item crossed off of my bucket list! After hiking for awhile some of us sat in secluded spots in the ruins & just took in the scene...the mountains, valleys, buildings & all.
After we left Machu Picchu we took a train from Aguas Calientes back to Cusco...a FOUR HOUR train ride. However, a paper airplane war broke out after this older German couple turned their placemats into airplanes. Within minutes the entire section of the train (with about 60 people...only ONE of whom was a child) were throwing airplanes & clapping & cheering. Even our attendants joined in on the fun! Nevermind all of the different languages being spoken, we were all able to find entertainment amidst the boring train ride.
We arrived back to the city of Cusco just in time to see some gorgeous fireworks over the city! It was such a wonderful day in all...it definitely seemed surreal!
Today we woke up super ealy (had to be down the hill to the bus at 5:30 with all luggage packed) 7 we flew back to Lima at 7:40. Once we were back to Lima we reconnected with Lucy and went to an amazing panaderia! It was sooo good. Afterward we returned to the hotel then met at 3:30 for our last scheduled event for the trip. We went to the nonprofit organization Movimiento el Pozo which has been working to rehabilitate victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation since 1976. The organization was amazing & it was awesome to hear how they were approaching the issue psychologically, legally & sociologically. Despite some ups & downs in the interview, the woman provided such wonderful insight!
Tonight we went out for the last time to an amazing dinner! Then we got ice cream at a heladeria with Italian gelato. Mmmmmh. It was quite the end to my trip.
Well tomorrow is our last day so we are going to grab lunch & shop at the market one last time! Then I will be flying back into Los Estados Unidos lateee tomorrow night! Thanks everyone for your support with this trip! It has been such a wonderful learning experience! :)

Cuy, Ninos y Plaza de Armas

Let's pretend like the "n" in Ninos has the correct accent over it. :) Today we ventured into the downtown square of Cusco & we were able to see some of the festivities...in fact, some of the Peruvians invited us to join in! It was so much fun! We also walked to an indoor market where we had fresh juice...mango & orange. Yum. The Plaza de Armas, which is the downtown square is absolutely beautiful with so many different flags & two very intricate Cathedrals.
After our morning city tour we traveled to two more Incan ruin sites. They were awesome, but tiring! Then, we traveled to the Childrens' Home Hogar de las Estrellas to spend the afternoon with the children with special needs. The children are so sweet! As I have mentioned before, we are staying in the hotel section of Hogar de las Estrellas which helps fund the children's home. Many of the children have different disabilities such as physical handicaps, Autism, Down's Syndrome and/or deafness. The children who have mental handicaps and will be unable to find jobs are able to live at the home for the rest of their lives with care. Those who are deaf are taught Sign Language and, with help of the caretakers at Hogar de las Estrellas, are able to find jobs after they turn 18 or 19. If they cannot find a job in the city they are paid to work at the Home and are able to continue living at the home. It is a great system that really benefits these children and adults who are completely shunned by society!
Alright, well tomorrow we are off to Aguas Calientes to prepare for MACHU PICCHU on Monday! Yeahhh! :)

Ciao Lima, Hola Cusco!

Yesterday we woke up super early (we left the hotel at 5:30am!) & headed to the Lima airport to fly to Cusco! Our flight was delayed for an hour, so we sat at the hotel from about 7:00 am until 10:30 am...quite awhile! The flight was only 45 minutes, though, and they actually served food, which was nice.
Once we arrived in Cusco we were welcomed by Paola & Ruben (aka Poncho), our host & guide while in Cusco. We were taken to Hogar de las Estrellas...a hotel and home for children with special needs located in downtown Cusco. Hogar de las Estrellas is wonderful (minus the lack of heat and hot water...but it's all good! :) They brought us a heater for each floor, so it is great now!) and the view off the balcony is absolutely astounding. There really aren't words. Hogar de las Estrellas overlooks all of downtown Cusco & has a beautiful view of all of the mountains surrounding the city. I thought the view in San Bartolo was beautiful, but this is majestic. However, the only problem is the altitude. Unfortunately, the altitude change was not my friend & I felt ill all night last night. Luckily, I am feeling much better now & made it through the day feeling decent! Due to the possibility of altitude sickness, we all spent the day resting & taking it easy.
However, today was jam packed! We started out the day at the Chincheros, an old Incan sight where the Spaniards had come in to build a church (the story is rather gruesome & sad for the Incan people, but the view of the mountains was wonderful!). Then, we took another drive up the mountain to Moray, another Incan sight where they built different circular levels in order to plant different crops at separate temperatures. Finally, our last trip was to Masal Sal, where the people in the town collect salt to sell, in the midst of the mountains.
After we toured, we went to Mosoq Ronay, a home for children who were formerly homeless. We ate lunch with the children and spent the day with them! They were so awesome! I love the way the people run Mosoq Ronay. They have a system set up that allows for each of the children to learn how to sew & bake. Then, they sell the products in order to keep the home running. It is so well kept & the children seemed so happy and well-educated. In fact, I hung out with a 14-year-old girl named Kantu & she asked me questions in English & I responded in Spanish. It was great. :) Plus, since the children are taught different trades it gives them more opportunities for success after they leave the house in finding jobs. And, since they are required to attend school and have connections at the home, they are often able to study at the university in Cusco!
Basically, I love Cusco...muchos. Also, I love the children of Peru...they are SOOO sweet & great. And I have learned so much Spanish since being here! I'm trying to take in as much as I can. Well...until tomorrow...ciao!

Casa Veronica

Today we drove to another part of Lima to spend the day with the women & children at Casa Veronica (Veronica's House). The house holds living quarters for approximately 20 women & their small children, as well as multiple rooms for sewing & programs hosted by Generacion. Outside, there is a volleyball court & garden, where pomegranates, olives & other fruits & veggies are grown. They also raise chickens & rabbits in the backyard. A building located behind the house is under construction, paid for by Not for Sale, and will host cosmetology & cooking classes once the project is finished!
The girls who are living at Veronica's House are generally between 14 & 21 and the majority of them have one or two young children. The house is a shelter for girls who are victims of sexual exploitation....often homeless & have either been trafficked or sought prostitution as a way to make money, even though they were not of legal age to give consent. One of the women had a baby shower today, so we all took part in a Peruvian baby shower...which was fun! :) The kids at the house were adorable, but it was so sad to see girls who are YOUNGER than me who have already been through so much. Some of the girls shared their stories & it was devastating.
Anyway, here's a cool story from the day! This morning a young boy named Cristofer came to our hotel to eat breakfast with us - he is one of the Surfing Tribes kids who we hung out with yesterday. We became good friends...he liked my phone & my camera & he really wanted me to listen to his reggaeton music, which I was ok with. :) However, he dropped his headphones & they broke. He was pretty bummed about it & moped for awhile. Now, before the trip I looked absolutely EVERYWHERE for my old iPhone or my iPod nano & I could not find either one, which meant no music for my trip. However, in the midst of my searching I went ahead & packed my headphones in hopes of finding my iPod. Therefore, I had a pair of headphones with me and no use for them! Soooo I ran up to the room & brought Cris the headphones...the kid was THRILLED. It was pretty cool! What an awesome God thing, right?
Wellllll I'm off to bed! We have to be ready by 5:30 am to fly to Cusco in the morning! To las montañas we go...leaving la playa behind! (Spanish lesson: montañas - mountains, playa - beach)

Una dia con los niños de Surfing Tribes!

What an awesome day! Today we walked down the street from our hostal to La Casa de Generacion in San Bartolo. This house is home to 18 children who were formerly living on the streets of San Bartolo who were taken in by Lucy Borja. Some of the children are trafficking victims &/or abuse victims. As soon as we arrived to the house, one of the young boys, Josue, ran to me & gave me a HUGE hug & kissed me on the cheek. Everyone kisses on the cheek here, which is something I'm not accustomed to! It's so interesting, though! I love different cultures! I have kissed sooo many people on the cheek already during this trip.
 We began the day with everyone introducing themselves and some of the teenagers shared their stories of living en las calles - in the streets. One of the boys ran away from abusive parents when he was FIVE years old  & was eventually taken in by Lucy at the other Generacion house in Lima that we visited yesterday. After introductions & stories we hung out with the children for the majority of the day. One of the little girls, Nicole, clung to me! She was adorable, despite her constant tickling! :) The entire day she took pictures on my camera, played games with me, sang to me & showed me around the house. It was hard to speak to her too much, but we were still able to communicate! The kids are absolutely wonderful & the day was all about them. In a house with close quarters, after living without parents for years, they were yearning for love & attention. It was such a great day with the children. What Lucy & the other Generacion volunteers are doing for these children is absolutely amazing. They are giving these children a chance at education & community, as well as a future. Many of the kids are competing in surfing competitions, as they are taught how to surf, skateboard AND play music at the Generacion house. Honestly, I could learn so much from these children!
Great day, overall, filled with wonderful children & more amazing Peruvian food! Yum.

Chichamorado y Cuy!

[Disclaimer: I know this is long, but its an easy way for me to journal my trip, as well, so that I can remember everything that happened, while simultaneously sharing it with family & friends - sorry for the length!]
Hola amigos! This trip has already been so amazing! Yesterday, after sleeping for hours thanks to my 4:30 am arrival & lack of sleep from Miami to Lima, I met up with some group members and they took me out for my first Peruvian meal! The food was SOOO GOOD. I had Pescado de Costa - fish rolled in Parmesan Cheese & cooked in a shrimp sauce, served atop cooked asparagus & potatoes. It was wonderful. I was also convinced to try chichamorado, a purple colored juice (hence the morado) made from corn, mixed with fruit juices. Not too bad! Also, there are three female non-traditional ministry students from Canada on the trip which has made for great conversations!
Today was our first day with planned activities. We met with our trip leader, Lucy Borja, who founded Generacion - a non-profit organization which seeks to rehabilitate ninos de calles, street children, who are displaced due to a number of reasons. These children are more susceptible to trafficking as they are easily tricked by traffickers who promise them a better life. We were introduced to two former street children who helped give us the historical context of child homelessness in Lima, primarily due to former government corruption as well as the Shining Path terrorist group who were actively murdering and terrorizing communities during the 1980s-90s. They gave us a tour of Lima, taking us to a variety of monuments and historical sites. We toured a Cathedral & went into the Catacombs which were really creepy - we saw thousands of bones of people who were buried there in the 1800s, I do believe. The Cathedral was beautiful, though! In the Cathedral there was a painting of the Last Supper, in which they were eating Cuy - GUINEA PIG! I found this to be awesome. Also, I learned the Spanish word for guinea pig, which is fantastic.
We then went to La casa de Generacion for lunch, which again was amazing. Peruvian food is wonderful! Then, we traveled to El Ojo que Llora - The Eye that Cries - memorial which pays tribute to the 30,000 lives lost during the terror reign of the Shining Path, as well as the government induced massacres during the 1980s & 1990s. The monument was beautiful, a stone labryinth surrounding a stone with water pouring from it to represent a crying eye. A human rights activist shared with us the history behind the monument & one of the Generacion children told us of how her father lost his life during this time protecting her & her siblings.
Afterward we headed back to the Hotel Senorial to pick up our luggage as we transferred to San Bartolo. After surviving an hour drive in Peruvian traffic (there are no words to describe driving in Peru), we stopped for candy bars & bottled water! Then, we arrived at Hostal 110. Despite having "hostal" in the name, this place is wonderful. I feel bad staying here, but the view is absolutely gorgeous. I'm sharing an apartment with two other women & our apartment overlooks the Pacific coast. It is the most beautiful view I have ever seen. In fact, as I am typing this I am glancing out the open window toward the Pacific. Yes, I can hear the waves. It is crazy.
Wellllll, yes I know it has been a LONG post, but I wanted to update everyone & have this to look back on, as mentioned earlier. Also, for those of you who are very familiar with Spanish, I have yet to figure out how to use accents in this blog, but I know they belong in words such as Senorial & Generacion. :)