Sorry for the delay in posting, but I am here safe and sound. I got to the albergue sometime Wednesday afternoon. I unpacked and said hello to some old friends and then then went to bed. I was very exhausted. Yesterday was my first full day here, and it was wonderful. I spent the morning helping in the kitchen (washing fruit baskets cutting open cans with a knife, snapping peas, peeling hot potatos with my fingers). Then I did ¨juegos¨ for a while in the afternoon. I tried to teach a little girl how to ride a bike, but she only wanted to pedal backwards... cause it was easier. We had a going away party for a girl who was adopted, and then it was bedtime again. Today I sat in on my first staff meeting, I am going up to the sand dunes later this afternoon, and then to a BONFIRE!!!! on the beach this evening. Life is fantastic!
Things in Peru tend to change a lot... so my responsibilities for the year have already changed. I am now going to be in charge of taking care of the vegetable garden too... yikes. It should be interesting. I think I am going to have a lot on my plate this year (even more than i thought before), but I am excited about all the ways I am going to grow and all the ways I can invest in the lives of the people here over my time in the albergue. More soon... and maybe some pictures too.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Heading to Peru!
Dear Friends, 
Three years ago during my summer break I spent two months in Trujillo, Peru at an orphanage named Hogar de Esperanza. It was an amazing experience, and I fell in love with the children and workers in the orphanage. I have wanted to return ever since, and God has worked it out for me to be able to again. As I am leaving I want to share some of the details about this next adventure with you so that you will be able to join with me in prayer.
Hogar de Esperanza is a beautiful home for about 40 kids. Hogar de Esperanza actually means Home of Hope, and that is exactly what it is to each of these kids. While the kids live there they know that they will be fed, clothed, educated, and most importantly, loved. This is a security that most of them did not have outside of orphanage. Most of the children come from homes with at least one parent, but they lived in such extreme poverty that the availability of food was an inconsistent luxury, clothes were at best rags, and education was not an option, as many of them were working to support their family by the time they could walk. In some cases the children were begging for food or change on the corners, selling candies, or washing car windows to earn enough money to have a meal a day. Some of the children do come from loving homes, but the parents gave their children to the orphanage because they knew that it could provide a better life for them. These parents come and visit their children on Saturdays, are involved in the parental training courses in the orphanage, and are working to secure a lifestyle that would allow their children to return to a safe home. Other children are not so blessed. They come from abusive homes or situations of extreme neglect. They come to the orphanage with deep scars and emotional trauma. The loving workers in the orphanage work with the children to build security and begin the healing process for each of them.
The workers at the
orphanage pour their lives and hearts in to the children. The kids are broken up into 4 casitas (houses), two for boys and two for girls. Each house has a "mother". These mothers live in the houses with the children day in and day out with only 4 days off a month, but they do it out of love. They care for the children as their own. They hold them when they cry, help them with their homework, throw them birthday parties, wash their laundry by hand, read to them, and teach them endless lessons. They are amazing women.
There are a lot of other workers that ensure the wonderful environment of Hogar de Esperanza. The two cooks, Luc and Philomena, shop, prepare and serve three meals a day 6 days a week for 70 people, which is no small task. There are also guards that ensure the safety of the children, grounds men who keep the place beautiful and running, social workers and psychiatrists who help the children deal with the realities of their lives, and countless others who work to give these children a home of hope.
I could not be more excited to join the team of wonderful workers for the next 9 months serving and loving the children. While I am there I will have full hands. I have been in contact with a volunteer who is there now coordinating things for this next year. She has asked me to fill her shoes and be the Volunteer Leader. Basically, this would include leading weekly meetings, helping resolve problems with volunteers and overseeing their schedules, mediating between volunteers and Peruvian staff and relaying information to the administration. I will also get to be involved in the daily activities of the orphanage by organizing 30 minute game times throughout the week, a 30 minute reading program, teaching English classes for mothers, continuing their jewelry program, and helping in the kitchen on market day (once a week).
I am so excited to go and be a part of the lives of these children. God has provided the financial means for this opportunity, but I could use all the prayer support I can get. I know it will be a wonderful experience, but I also know that there will be challenges. I would love to be in contact with you while I am down there. I will have internet access, but no mailing address. I appreciate all of your love, support, and prayer during these next 9 months.
In Christ,
Sam Smith
Prayer Requests:
Safety while travelling (I fly out on August 26th)
Adjusting to my new schedule and surroundings
Using Spanish to communicate
Forming Relationships with the other volunteers
Each of the children and workers
Three years ago during my summer break I spent two months in Trujillo, Peru at an orphanage named Hogar de Esperanza. It was an amazing experience, and I fell in love with the children and workers in the orphanage. I have wanted to return ever since, and God has worked it out for me to be able to again. As I am leaving I want to share some of the details about this next adventure with you so that you will be able to join with me in prayer.
Hogar de Esperanza is a beautiful home for about 40 kids. Hogar de Esperanza actually means Home of Hope, and that is exactly what it is to each of these kids. While the kids live there they know that they will be fed, clothed, educated, and most importantly, loved. This is a security that most of them did not have outside of orphanage. Most of the children come from homes with at least one parent, but they lived in such extreme poverty that the availability of food was an inconsistent luxury, clothes were at best rags, and education was not an option, as many of them were working to support their family by the time they could walk. In some cases the children were begging for food or change on the corners, selling candies, or washing car windows to earn enough money to have a meal a day. Some of the children do come from loving homes, but the parents gave their children to the orphanage because they knew that it could provide a better life for them. These parents come and visit their children on Saturdays, are involved in the parental training courses in the orphanage, and are working to secure a lifestyle that would allow their children to return to a safe home. Other children are not so blessed. They come from abusive homes or situations of extreme neglect. They come to the orphanage with deep scars and emotional trauma. The loving workers in the orphanage work with the children to build security and begin the healing process for each of them.
The workers at the
orphanage pour their lives and hearts in to the children. The kids are broken up into 4 casitas (houses), two for boys and two for girls. Each house has a "mother". These mothers live in the houses with the children day in and day out with only 4 days off a month, but they do it out of love. They care for the children as their own. They hold them when they cry, help them with their homework, throw them birthday parties, wash their laundry by hand, read to them, and teach them endless lessons. They are amazing women.There are a lot of other workers that ensure the wonderful environment of Hogar de Esperanza. The two cooks, Luc and Philomena, shop, prepare and serve three meals a day 6 days a week for 70 people, which is no small task. There are also guards that ensure the safety of the children, grounds men who keep the place beautiful and running, social workers and psychiatrists who help the children deal with the realities of their lives, and countless others who work to give these children a home of hope.
I could not be more excited to join the team of wonderful workers for the next 9 months serving and loving the children. While I am there I will have full hands. I have been in contact with a volunteer who is there now coordinating things for this next year. She has asked me to fill her shoes and be the Volunteer Leader. Basically, this would include leading weekly meetings, helping resolve problems with volunteers and overseeing their schedules, mediating between volunteers and Peruvian staff and relaying information to the administration. I will also get to be involved in the daily activities of the orphanage by organizing 30 minute game times throughout the week, a 30 minute reading program, teaching English classes for mothers, continuing their jewelry program, and helping in the kitchen on market day (once a week).
I am so excited to go and be a part of the lives of these children. God has provided the financial means for this opportunity, but I could use all the prayer support I can get. I know it will be a wonderful experience, but I also know that there will be challenges. I would love to be in contact with you while I am down there. I will have internet access, but no mailing address. I appreciate all of your love, support, and prayer during these next 9 months.
In Christ,
Sam Smith
Prayer Requests:
Safety while travelling (I fly out on August 26th)
Adjusting to my new schedule and surroundings
Using Spanish to communicate
Forming Relationships with the other volunteers
Each of the children and workers
Contact Information:
Please stay in touch!
Email – Samtravels08@gmail.com
Blog - http://samtravels08.blogspot.com
Skype – samantha.smith407
Cell Phone – (434)509-8265
“The aim of our charge is Love
that issues from
a pure heart
and a good conscience
and a sincere faith.”
1 Timothy 1:5
Below there is a list of needs the orphanage currently has. There is an American street address where supplies can be sent at the orphanage’s website – www.Perukids.com
Ink cartridges for printers
Spanish children's books
Small colored seed beads and jewelry clasps for our jewelry project
Used laptop computers
Card games
Board games
Bright colored copy paper
Bike pedals, bike seats and tire tubes - all kid sizes
Thin marker sets of 12
Large dry erase marhers (no chisel) in red, blue and black
Personal pencil sharpeners
Masking tape 1’ wides
Clear packing tape
Pink erasers
Thick permanent markers in black and clue
Thin permanent markers in black and blue
Bottles of school glue
Glue sticks
Copy paper in bright colors
Regular size craft sticks
Children’s scissors
Colored pencils sets of 12
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