Piura Peru
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Summing Up the Trip - Random Thoughts
Well the trip is over and I have hardly had a chance to make any updates to the blog. This was such a good trip. From a ministry standpoint one of the best trips we have taken to Peru.
The week started with us arriving in Piura via a twelve hour drive from Chachapoyas. The vacation was a joint trip between the Harpers and the Trujeques. We spend a few days there and had a blast climbing the mountains and seeing some of the Beauty of the Peruvian highlands. It was exhausting, but fun.
The rest of the crew arrived in similar fashion. The Ritchies joined the Powells, Hasslers, and Mitch Smith in Lima for the flight to Piura.
The local church in Piura that we worked with is called Alpha and Omega Baptist Church. It is located in the outskirts of Piura. Piura is a beautiful city in Northern Peru. it is in the coastal dessert of northern Peru. The Pastor of the local church is named Segunto. He lives with his wife and four year old daughter in the church parsonage directly above the church. The church is very simple, but is very blessed to have a good sized building and a vibrant congregation that is willing to work hard for God.
We started our trip with dinner at a local restaurant that was provided by the church and discussed the week's activities. The next morning (Monday), we started the soccer camps.
The first camp was held in an area called City of the Son. This is a shanty town outside of Piura that was a short bus ride from the church. We spent Monday and Tuesday working in this area. At one point we had way over the amount of kids that we were expecting, but it was good. The entire community came out and watched us work with the kids playing volleyball and soccer. Tera and Julia also did a VBS activity with the little children between the ages of three to six. Alpha and Omega Baptist church has big plans for this shanty town. They wish to plant another church there and already have a couple of homes that they meet in for Bible study and kids activities. They are also saving up to buy a piece of property there to open a bakery to fund more church activities in the area. Pastor Segunto has a very self sufficient practical way about him. He is a big believer in Ministries being able to support themselves.
During breaks we would present the Gospel message to the kids and parents that were there. It was a great! On Tuesday Pastor Segunto did a quick sermon and we spent the rest of the afternoon doing volleyball and soccer championships. At the end Juan Barone handed out the medals to the winning teams.
Of course nothing goes smooth in South America, so after we were done and about to leave we realized that the bus that we were using had a flat tire. Andy, Wardell, and I spent the next hour and a half working with the bus driver to change the tire. The lug nuts would not budge and it was a real mess.
Our meals were provided by the church for the week, so for breakfast, lunch, and dinner we were able to go to the church and be fed. It was always a great time of fellowship. It enabled us to focus entirely on the ministry at hand.
The team consisted of the Powells, Harpers, Barones, Lisa Taylor, Ritchies, Hasslers, Trujeques, and Mitch Smith. The Hasslers also had their aunt join us from Lima and she was such a blessing working with the kids. Lisa Taylor had her mother join us from North Carolina since she was down there on vacation. The days were long and hard, but they were great.
On Wednesday we had a day off from the camps. We took the morning and went on a boat ride in Pieta where we saw tons of sea lions and local fishermen working on the day's catch. We also visited the oldest church in South America and spent a little time admiring the Pacific ocean where some of the boys went for a dip. The water was cold, but they had fun. That evening we went to a fellowship service with Alpha and Omega and it was a great time. We all sang and spent some time playing games. Shamon and Andy were picked on pretty hard with an activity that involved people dressing them up in other people's clothes. As Novene would say, "it was a mess."
Thursday and Friday were spent doing soccer camps again down the street from the local church at a school. It was a little more laid back then at City of the Son and we were really able to get to know the people. I had a blast playing soccer with some of the older kids. On Friday the local church members took over the task of presenting the Gospel to the kids and the two churches were really working as a team. We were able to fade back a bit and let them reach out to their local community. It was great.
On Friday night, we were presented some gifts from the Alpha and Omega church and everyone said their goodbyes. It was a great time and a great week of work. Of course, South America had one more surprise for us. The bus broke down again and on our way out the guys had to push the bus to jump start it. I have never push started a 30 passenger bus before, and it was not an easy task.
I hope to be able to update some more information about the week as I continue to process the entire experience. It was a good time, and right now I am a little overwhelmed with the whole thing.
Shamon
The week started with us arriving in Piura via a twelve hour drive from Chachapoyas. The vacation was a joint trip between the Harpers and the Trujeques. We spend a few days there and had a blast climbing the mountains and seeing some of the Beauty of the Peruvian highlands. It was exhausting, but fun.
The rest of the crew arrived in similar fashion. The Ritchies joined the Powells, Hasslers, and Mitch Smith in Lima for the flight to Piura.
The local church in Piura that we worked with is called Alpha and Omega Baptist Church. It is located in the outskirts of Piura. Piura is a beautiful city in Northern Peru. it is in the coastal dessert of northern Peru. The Pastor of the local church is named Segunto. He lives with his wife and four year old daughter in the church parsonage directly above the church. The church is very simple, but is very blessed to have a good sized building and a vibrant congregation that is willing to work hard for God.
We started our trip with dinner at a local restaurant that was provided by the church and discussed the week's activities. The next morning (Monday), we started the soccer camps.
The first camp was held in an area called City of the Son. This is a shanty town outside of Piura that was a short bus ride from the church. We spent Monday and Tuesday working in this area. At one point we had way over the amount of kids that we were expecting, but it was good. The entire community came out and watched us work with the kids playing volleyball and soccer. Tera and Julia also did a VBS activity with the little children between the ages of three to six. Alpha and Omega Baptist church has big plans for this shanty town. They wish to plant another church there and already have a couple of homes that they meet in for Bible study and kids activities. They are also saving up to buy a piece of property there to open a bakery to fund more church activities in the area. Pastor Segunto has a very self sufficient practical way about him. He is a big believer in Ministries being able to support themselves.
During breaks we would present the Gospel message to the kids and parents that were there. It was a great! On Tuesday Pastor Segunto did a quick sermon and we spent the rest of the afternoon doing volleyball and soccer championships. At the end Juan Barone handed out the medals to the winning teams.
Of course nothing goes smooth in South America, so after we were done and about to leave we realized that the bus that we were using had a flat tire. Andy, Wardell, and I spent the next hour and a half working with the bus driver to change the tire. The lug nuts would not budge and it was a real mess.
Our meals were provided by the church for the week, so for breakfast, lunch, and dinner we were able to go to the church and be fed. It was always a great time of fellowship. It enabled us to focus entirely on the ministry at hand.
The team consisted of the Powells, Harpers, Barones, Lisa Taylor, Ritchies, Hasslers, Trujeques, and Mitch Smith. The Hasslers also had their aunt join us from Lima and she was such a blessing working with the kids. Lisa Taylor had her mother join us from North Carolina since she was down there on vacation. The days were long and hard, but they were great.
On Wednesday we had a day off from the camps. We took the morning and went on a boat ride in Pieta where we saw tons of sea lions and local fishermen working on the day's catch. We also visited the oldest church in South America and spent a little time admiring the Pacific ocean where some of the boys went for a dip. The water was cold, but they had fun. That evening we went to a fellowship service with Alpha and Omega and it was a great time. We all sang and spent some time playing games. Shamon and Andy were picked on pretty hard with an activity that involved people dressing them up in other people's clothes. As Novene would say, "it was a mess."
Thursday and Friday were spent doing soccer camps again down the street from the local church at a school. It was a little more laid back then at City of the Son and we were really able to get to know the people. I had a blast playing soccer with some of the older kids. On Friday the local church members took over the task of presenting the Gospel to the kids and the two churches were really working as a team. We were able to fade back a bit and let them reach out to their local community. It was great.
On Friday night, we were presented some gifts from the Alpha and Omega church and everyone said their goodbyes. It was a great time and a great week of work. Of course, South America had one more surprise for us. The bus broke down again and on our way out the guys had to push the bus to jump start it. I have never push started a 30 passenger bus before, and it was not an easy task.
I hope to be able to update some more information about the week as I continue to process the entire experience. It was a good time, and right now I am a little overwhelmed with the whole thing.
Shamon
Monday, August 3, 2009
The Mission Work Has Started
Well after a very long car ride we have made it to Piura. Piura is a beautiful city. It is very hot. Everyone arrived yesterday in different groups. Of course, my group got in last. We went to dinner with Pastor Segunto at about midnight and were up very early to start the day. I am beat. We have Internet access at the Hostel, and hot water. Hot water is such a bonus. It is amazing the things you consider luxioury. A few of us have already gotten stomach bugs, but we are getting a handle on it.
It is a blessing to work with the local church that we are working with. Their hospitality has been amazing. We are being fed all our meals by them, and the food is wonderful.
Today was our first day of soccer and volleyball camps. It was a blast. I was able to watch some very talented soccer players and joke around with them quite a bit. We were working in a local shanty town. It is amazing to see our two churches working together. It just feels right.
Pastor Segunto is very young, about my age, and has a wonderful wife and daughter. She reminds me so much of my daughter, Abby. The kids were very happy to be playing soccer and very attentive durring the presentations. I have a feeling we are going to be over run with kids tomorrow.
Shamon
It is a blessing to work with the local church that we are working with. Their hospitality has been amazing. We are being fed all our meals by them, and the food is wonderful.
Today was our first day of soccer and volleyball camps. It was a blast. I was able to watch some very talented soccer players and joke around with them quite a bit. We were working in a local shanty town. It is amazing to see our two churches working together. It just feels right.
Pastor Segunto is very young, about my age, and has a wonderful wife and daughter. She reminds me so much of my daughter, Abby. The kids were very happy to be playing soccer and very attentive durring the presentations. I have a feeling we are going to be over run with kids tomorrow.
Shamon
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